City of Fairfield City Council met June 11.
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; Brett Coale; Jim Griffith; Tyler Lampley; Eugene McGill; Jerry Lisenbee; Terry Stahl; Gary Moore
Also Present: Amanda White, Wayne County Press; Ken Otey, WFIW Radio; Silas Eckleberry, Assistant Police Chief; Andrew Miller, Fire Chief; Dian Downs; and other citizens from the community.
The minutes of the meeting of May 28, 2019, agendas and bills of June 11, 2019 were sent out to those entitled to receive them. Mayor Maguire asked for approval of the minutes for the May 28, 2019 meeting. Motion by Alderman Lampley, seconded by Alderman Stahl to approve the minutes of the meeting of May 28, 2019.
Vote yes: Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; McGill; Moore; Stahl; Barbre; Coale
Vote no: none
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried.
Mayor Maguire asked for approval to pay the bills for the June 11, 2019 meeting. A motion was made by Alderman Barbre, seconded by Alderman Coale to approve the bills for payment.
Vote yes: Lampley; Lisenbee; McGill; Moore; Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith
Vote no: none
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried.
Ordinance No. 19-0611-172/Imposing a Tax Upon Persons Engaged in the Business of Renting, Leasing or Letting Rooms – Currently there is no tax upon any motel or hotel within the city. The surrounding cities have a hotel/motel tax but Fairfield does not. The state allowable tax rate is 5%. This ordinance would impose a 5% tax on hotels, motels, bed & breakfast facilities, etc. The tax will begin July 1, 2019. The revenue generated can only be used to promote tourism for the City. The City already has a recreation fund so the tax money generated will be deposited into that account. A motion was made by Alderman Barbre, seconded by Alderman Griffith to approve this ordinance.
Vote yes: Lisenbee; McGill; Moore; Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith; Lampley
Vote no: none
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried and Ordinance No. 19-0611-172 approved and duly adopted.
Ordinance No. 19-0611-173/Amendment to Ordinance Regarding Specifications of Water Lines – Our existing code of ordinances regarding water lines states that K copper has to be used and we need to amend the ordinance to allow the use of polyethylene tubing. A motion was made by Alderman Stahl, seconded by Alderman McGill to amend the water ordinance to allow the use of polyethylene tubing.
Vote yes: McGill; Moore; Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee
Vote no: none
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried and Ordinance No. 19-0611-173 approved and duly adopted.
Ordinance No. 19-0611-174/Establishing a Policy for Non-Employees Riding in City Owned Vehicles – Mayor Maguire stated this policy would allow elected officials, appointed officials, and the immediate family and/or step-family of city officials and employees (which shall include the parents, brothers, sisters, spouse or children of said city officials and employees to ride in parades and special events. This policy supersedes the existing police department policy. Vendors, contractors, engineers, and any duly authorized agent doing work for the city are authorized passengers in vehicles or equipment owned by the city during the business day but must be accompanied by either a city official or city employee. All drivers and passengers must wear seat belts and everyone must obey traffic laws. The current policy concerning the courtesy vehicle at the airport will still be in place. A motion was made by Alderman Moore, seconded by Alderman Coale to approve this ordinance establishing a policy for non-employees riding in city owned vehicles.
Vote yes: Moore; Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; McGill
Vote no: none
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried and Ordinance No. 19-0611-174 approved and duly adopted.
Miscellaneous – Alderman Moore would like the Council to look into the possibility of establishing a municipal court. He thinks the municipal court could generate revenue. Mayor Maguire, Chief Colclasure, and Attorney Rice have already been having discussions on this matter. There is a limitation on what can go before municipal court. Most city ordinance code violations could go before the municipal court but traffic law violations could not. Building code violations and dilapidated building violations would not be able to be considered in municipal court. We also need to look at changing our fine structure in our code. Mayor Maguire will continue to research the possibility of establishing a municipal court and feels this would be beneficial to the city.
Miscellaneous – Alderman Moore also would like to allow side-by-sides and golf carts to be ridden on the city streets with a valid permit issued by the city. This has been discussed by the Council and an ordinance had been prepared in the past. City Clerk Hutchcraft will research the discussions that occurred in previous meetings. The majority of the Council supported moving forward with this. The vehicles would have to be street legal and a permit would be required before being allowed on the streets. The police department would issue the permit and inspect them.
Miscellanous – Alderman Griffith stated the City has always tried to follow the laws concerning the Open Meetings Act and we have been recently questioned about how we are complying with these laws. He asked if other offices that are subject to the open meetings act are also being questioned about their compliance. Mayor Maguire stated that we are not responsible for other public bodies but we have to be responsible for ourselves. We need to make sure that we are doing what we should be doing regardless of what others are doing.
Miscellanous – Alderman Lampley distributed to the Council a revision of the trailer ordinance with an overview of the changes that have been made. He asked that everyone review it and to reach out to the committee with any comments or changes that might be needed. He would like to be able to bring this to a vote soon.
Miscelleneous – Alderman Stahl asked the status of the dilapidated buildings that the Council had discussed previously. He was specifically asking about the barn on Leininger Rd. Mayor Maguire stated that the owner has been given ample time to remedy the situation and he will direct the City Attorney to move forward with court proceedings on this property as well as the property located on First Street.
Adjourn Meeting – Motion by Alderman Barbre, seconded by Alderman McGill to adjourn the meeting.
Vote yes: 8
Vote no: 0
Mayor Maguire declared meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
http://www.fairfield-il.com/s/11-Min-June-11-2019.docx
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