City of Harrisburg City Council met July 18.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
The Harrisburg City Council met on July 18, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Room of City Hall in Harrisburg, IL.
Mayor John McPeek called the July 18, 2019 meeting to order. Mayor John McPeek presided over the meeting with Commissioners Raymond Gunning, Roger Angelly, and Rupert Johnson present and answering roll call.
Pastor Bobby Gentry from the River of Life Pentecostal Church led the group in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor John McPeek let the citizens know we have new televisions in the Council Room and in the downstairs ADA room. This will allow handicapped citizens to attend our Council meetings.
Mayor John McPeek discussed some issues with the water main project and Bryant Construction. He asked that the piles of rock be cleaned up. Jim Brown reassured the Council the sidewalks will be repaired and the rock piles will be removed as there is a one year guarantee. A lot of old sidewalk have been torn out, but will be replaced with new sidewalks. Commissioner Roger Angelly stated this is a slow process and the City along with Bryant Construction is doing the best we can and are putting in a new water system. He asked the citizens to please be patient during this project. The roads, sidewalks and any mess will be cleaned up in a timely manner. Mayor John McPeek said he was pleased with the work from Bryant Construction in the past and is sure he will take care of the issues addressed.
Jim Brown informed Council that Frontier still needs to do a splice in order to finish their project. He stated if Frontier does not completed the project in the next few days, a letter will be sent requesting the completion.
Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the Consent Agenda.
1. Check Register and Warrant Report – June 2019
2. Brown & Roberts – 2018 USEPA Sludge Report - $1,475.60
3. Brown & Roberts – 2014 Water main Rehab Phase I – C/I - $13,286.65
4. Brown & Roberts – Mill Street Extension C & I - $6,166.27
5. Bryant Construction Co. Inc. – 2014 Water main Rehab Phase I – Pay Estimate #2 - $221,624.56
6. W.S. Darley – Kyle Chambers FD Clothing – Council Contingency - $398.95
7. Southern Illinois Embroidery – Kyle Chambers FD Clothing – Council Contingency - $125.94
8. SI Workwear – Kyle Chambers FD Clothing – Council Contingency - $99.99
9. LaFarge - $248.98 – MFT
10. LaFarge - $2,215.50 – MFT
11. LaFarge - $3,451.88 – MFT
12. LaFarge - $1,740.27 – MFT
13. LaFarge - $247.99 - MFT
Seconded by Ron Morse. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek announced that in a couple of weeks, Country Financial will start construction on Mill Street. He is very pleased to see a new business going in the new area.
Jim Brown from Brown and Roberts discussed the Sidewalk Improvement and ADA Compliance grant for $75,000 which requires some Administration. Alene Carr from Southeastern Illinois Regional Planning will work with the City in order to complete the administration part of this grant.
Jim Brown from Brown and Roberts discussed the change order for the 2014 Watermain Rehab Phase 1. The change order consist of increasing material cost by $130.00. It allows us to keep up with the quantities and is helpful to all parties involved.
Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to approve Resolution 07-1819 amending the Engineering Agreement for $130.00. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown from Brown and Roberts discussed sanitary sewers. The City has attempted to acquire an IEPA loan to utilize the sewage treatment facilities we currently have which is 60 acres of storm water lagoons. We have been trying to get funds for a pumping station. We would like to install a pumping station and then pump directly into our storm water lagoons with raw sewage. Currently, the only thing that goes into the storm water lagoons is excess flow from the sewage treatment plant.
We have been working on this for several years, gotten through the pre-application stage, and if you would like to proceed we now go into the application stage. This is part of the revolving fund loan of 1.7 million dollars and if things go as we expect, 45% of this will be a grant and the majority will be a 1% loan for 30 or 40 years. The revolving loan fund will be put toward this and it must be expensed first. There is a great deal of infiltration. It drains about half of the city. This is why we call it optimization.
Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to approve the application for the STP Optimization of the Sewage Treatment Plant. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown from Brown and Roberts stated IEPA has reviewed the Engineering Agreement regarding the STP Optimization and would like additional verbiage in which an amendment has been prepared and presented with the verbiage. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to approve Resolution 07-1819. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Ron Morse presented the 2019 IEPA Annual HPDES fee of $17,500 for the sewer permit. This is for discharge of water into the watering station which has been paid since 2002. This fee depends on the class of plant. The City is over one million gallons a day which is how this fee comes about.
Commissioner Ron Morse made the motion to pay the 2019 IEPA Annual HPDES fee of $17,500 under protest. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes under protest expect Commissioner Rupert Johnson voted no. Motion carried.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning informed Council and the citizens the Masonic Lodge petitioned for the Penny Pinch which will be held on August 17, 2019 at the corner of Main and Sloan and at intersection of Rural King and Sarah Street. This will be for the widowed women’s of the lodge.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to allow the Mason Lodge to hold the Penny Pinch. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Fire Chief John Gunning informed Council about Impact 2019. We are partnering with Harrisburg Medical Center and the area churches and they have asked if they could use our plant generated lights to help with lighting issues for safety reasons. The East end of the Fairgrounds has very little lighting. The light plants belong to our ESDA Department and the request is to utilize these light plants for Impact 2019.
Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to allow Impact 2019 to use the light plants. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning talked about the City currently responding to outside fire calls, and he has had several request in returning to the previous coverage. We currently only cover the Township. When we have a structure fire outside of our limits, we respond as mutual aid. If we extended our coverage and are the first to respond to a fire call, we will have the option to recover our cost through the insurance provider. He would like to cover the outside of town with Harrisburg residence being first priority.
Fire Chief John Gunning presented a coverage map of our current coverage. He discussed the statistics for the last 10 years and we have 94-97% collection rate on outside fire calls. When we go to a fire on the state right- of-way call, there is no charge. There was only one or two who did not pay in the last 10 years and some individuals was set up on a payment plan. The County Board Chairman is all for allowing us to return our previous call coverage. There is a $2,000.00 fee for a fire call and this rate can be increased if necessary. Harrisburg citizens are number one and we will still assist other Fire Departments. There is always a bill for any reason for a fire call. A determination to dismiss a fire call can be made if it is a false call or a prank call. Fire Chief John Gunning will contact the 911 board and they will need to make the approval as well.
Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to return to the previous outside fire call coverage. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning clarified amending ordinance 1449. This only allows a person who owns property in Harrisburg, who live out of town, and comes visit for a 30 day period in a recreational vehicle. If they wish to stay any longer than the 30 days, it must be approved but cannot exceed 90 days.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson stated this needs ordinance needs to be done away with all together. Commissioner Raymond Gunning said we need this ordinance. Commissioner Rupert Johnson states this is on private property, they should be able to put whatever they want on their property, and they are paying taxes. Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated he does not think anyone should be allowed to live in a camper or a portable building. This could drop property value.
Fire Chief John Gunning clarified this ordinance will allow people who own a piece of property in Harrisburg to come and park their camper or RV on their property to visit up to 30 day but no longer than 90 days. It does not affect having a camper or RV on your property, but you cannot live in the camper or RV.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning tabled this issue and further discussion will be held regarding this ordinance.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning informed Council that there will be no need for Collective Bargaining in Executive Session.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to approve a temporary street closure on College Street from Granger Street to Ledford Street in front of the Harrisburg High School from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. as requested for the 2019 HHS All-Class Reunion on August 10, 2019. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to approve Resolution 07-1819A for a temporary street closure on August 17, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to midnight at Poplar Street from Main Street to Mill Street as requested for the Summer Bash. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Roger Angelly talked about the new project in the Water and Sewer Department. He has held off as long as he can for hiring replacement employees. His employees are working hard and his department are shorthanded. Treasurer David Cox informed Council there is money to replace employees in the Water and Sewer Department.
Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to hire David Owens at $17.00 an hour per the contract in the Water Department starting August 01, 2019 pending passing his physical and drug screen. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to hire Kevin Rexing at $17.00 an hour per the contract in the Sewer Department starting August 01, 2019 pending passing his physical and drug screen. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Roger Angelly tabled hiring a Sewer Plant Operator. He is still talking to an individual for this position.
Commissioner Roger Angelly informed the Council and citizens that someone has posted a job opening on Indeed for a Water/Sewer Superintendent for the City of Harrisburg. This was not posted by anyone from the City of Harrisburg. Please disregard this post on Indeed.
Mayor John McPeek said he thought that by now some of our long term employees would have been attempting to go to school and get their Operator License. Commissioner Roger Angelly said Carson Riley was starting the process; however, he since found a new job away from here. Commissioner Raymond Gunning said David Williams was working on getting his Class 4, but got moved to a different department. It takes eight years to get the license if you just work, but if you go to school it only take four years.
Mayor John McPeek said the City gets complaints daily regarding County issues. He would like for the citizens of Saline County to understand that the City of Harrisburg takes care of the City of Harrisburg. There is nothing we can do about the look of the Courthouse. He agrees that the Courthouse needs to be cleaned up and should be ashamed that it looks the way it does. There is a difference between the City of Harrisburg, County, Park Board and the Township. The City of Harrisburg does not have control over those areas.
Mayor John McPeek asked everyone to be safe during the hot weather. The citizens are more than welcome to come up to City Hall or possibly the Pruett Building to get out of the heat. Commissioner Raymond Gunning said the Harrisburg Detention Center will allow citizens to come in and cool off.
Sharon Vendenberg spoke to Council about the water billing cycle. She does not receive her Social Security check until the third of each month and the bill is due on the last day of the month. This will cause her a late penalty if she does not pay it by the end of the month. Please consider changing the cycle.
She asked for new sidewalks in their area. She trips over broken sidewalks. She was told that her sidewalks were not bad enough to repair. She asked who she goes after if she falls because of one of the broken sidewalks.
She asked the Police Department to please police her neighborhood due to thieves and drug activity. She said a young boys bicycle was stolen. She has a neighbor who is a disable Veteran and his house was broken into. She said he did not have insurance and would like more police patrol. She said people run around at 3 -4:00 a.m. and sees a lot of suspicious activity. She was instructed by Mayor John McPeek to contact the Police Department when she sees suspicious activity.
She said people are running stop signs regularly at O’Gara Street. She stated there are a number of children in her neighborhood and would like the Police Department to watch for this issue.
Diane Taborn asked City Council about infrastructure. She asked if the City was attempting to get big businesses to Harrisburg. She would like to see something other than fast food. Mayor John McPeek said he toured Harrisburg Medical Center and they employee 400 full-time employees, 100 part-time employees and their payroll is 2.5 million dollar payroll every two weeks. Diane Taborn stated Harrisburg has a lot of employees, but what about the unemployed citizens? Mayor John McPeek said it is hard to get business to come to Illinois due to the taxes. Treasurer David Cox said he is talking to a Calling Center from Marion who is looking to move to Harrisburg. This could possibly bring 200 jobs to Harrisburg.
Mike Gauch, Superintendent of Harrisburg School District, asked about the vacated alley. He was informed that he has been approved and can proceed accordingly. He said the finances have turned around and they are looking for employees in the school system. He is talking about cooks, janitors, aides, and bus drivers. He encouraged the citizens to complete an application at the Central Office on 411 W. Poplar.
Robert Chambers asked City Council to look at the property on the corner of McPherson and Largent Street. The house is not visible and the issue needs to be addresses. Mayor John McPeek assured Robert Chambers that the issue is being looked in to.
Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Adjourn: 6:50 p.m.
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