City of Fairfield Council met April 9.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
Meeting called to order by Mayor Brent Maguire at 6:00 P.M.
Prayer led by Mayor Maguire followed by the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
City Clerk Tina Hutchcraft called the roll:
Mayor: Brent Maguire
City Clerk: Tina Hutchcraft
City Treasurer: Julie Duncan
City Attorney: Darrin Rice
Aldermen: Ralph Barbre; Mike Pottorff; Jim Griffith; Tyler Lampley; Eugene McGill; Jerry Lisenbee; Terry Stahl; Ed Prince
Also Present: Amanda White, Wayne County Press; Ken Otey, WFIW Radio; Tyler Lashbrook, Electric Department; Silas Eckleberry, Assistant Police Chief; Dian Downs; Flo Simpson, FADC; and other citizens from the community.
The minutes of the meeting of March 26, 2019, agendas and bills of April 9, 2019 were sent out to those entitled to receive them. Mayor Maguire asked for approval of the minutes for the March 26, 2019 meeting. Motion by Alderman Lampley, seconded by Alderman McGill to approve the minutes of the meeting of March 26, 2019.
Vote yes: Pottorff; Prince; Stahl; Barbre; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; McGill
Vote no: none
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried.
Mayor Maguire asked for approval to pay the bills for the April 9, 2019 meeting. A motion was made by Alderman Barbre, seconded by Alderman Pottorff to approve the bills for payment.
Vote yes: Prince; Stahl; Barbre; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; McGill; Pottorff
Vote no: none
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried.
Public Comments - Joe Harrelson addressed the Council concerning problems he is having at his residence on George Street. These issues have been brought before the Mayor, City Attorney, and City Council in the past. He claims to have been harassed by his neighbors and said they are trying to run him off his property. He asked for the Council to make his neighbors comply with the regulations and laws that he claims are being broken on his property. He stated he has not received any help from local law enforcement.
Resolution-Interfund Loans between the General Fund, Electric Fund, and Gas Fund – A couple of years ago the City refinanced some bonds and loans. This refinancing required us to be rated by S&P Global Ratings. During the rating process the S&P questioned how our transfers from the different funds were being handled. When our audit was conducted by McDowell, Kenshalo, and Jesop they referred to it as transfers and Kemper (our current auditor) referred to it as loans from one fund to another. The wording “loans” in the audit raised the question from S&P as to whether or not these had to be paid back. Kemper told us they are really considered interfund transfers and not loans and the wording will be changed in our audit from now on. They also suggested that the City Council approve a resolution each year in April to authorize the transfer of funds to officially document what has been done. This should eliminate any questions the S&P might have or any confusion about the practices of the City. This resolution refers to them as interfund loans because that is how they are referred to in last year’s audit. Next year they will be referred to as interfund transfers. A motion was made by Alderman Griffith, seconded by Alderman Stahl to approve the resolution forgiving loans between the City of Fairfield general fund, electric fund, and gas fund.
Vote yes: Stahl; Barbre; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; McGill; Pottorff; Prince
Vote no: none
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried and Resolution No. 19-0409-300 approved and duly adopted.
Update on the Trailer Ordinance Amendment – At the last meeting we tabled an amendment to our trailer ordinance. The trailer committee has met with the Zoning Board of Appeals and provided the Council with a rough draft of changes to the ordinance for review. They hope to have a final draft to the Council for consideration at the April 23rd meeting.
Update - Mapping the Future of Your Community – Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs – Gisele Hamm with the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs made a presentation to the Council at the last meeting about “Mapping the Future of Your Community”. It was the consensus of the Council to move forward with this program. Mayor Maguire has appointed a steering committee and they will meet with Gisele Hamm on June 11th to begin the process. More complete details about this program will be covered at a press conference to be held Thursday, April 18th at 10:00 a.m.
Miscellaneous – Mayor Maguire reported that the City has received an EPA grant for energy efficiency at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The total project will be approximately $162,000 and the city’s portion will be a little over $16,000. This will allow us to do a lot of automation at the plant and will give us potential savings in energy efficiency.
Executive Session – Alderman McGill made a motion, seconded by Alderman Griffith to go into Executive Session to discuss Section 2(c)(21) – discuss minutes of closed session meetings and Section 2(c)(2) – the collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives.
Vote yes: Barbre; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; McGill; Pottorff; Prince; Stahl
Vote no: none
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried.
Return to Regular Session – Alderman Pottorff made a motion, seconded by Alderman Barbre to return to regular session.
Vote yes: Barbre; Pottorff; Griffith; Lampley; McGill; Lisenbee; Stahl; Prince
Vote no: none
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried and Council returned to regular session at 7:42 p.m.
Adjourn Meeting – Motion by Alderman Lampley, seconded by Alderman McGill to adjourn the meeting.
Vote yes: 8
Vote no: 0
Mayor Maguire declared meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
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