Harrisburg City Council met Nov. 21.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
The Harrisburg City Council met on November 21, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Room of City Hall, Harrisburg IL.
Mayor John McPeek called the November 21, 2019 meeting to order. Mayor John McPeek presided over the meeting with Commissioners Raymond Gunning, Roger Angelly, and Ron Morse present and answering roll call. Commissioner Rupert Johnson was absent.
Pastor Jerry Wells from the Harrisburg Ministerial Alliance led the group in pray and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the consent agenda.
Regular Meeting Minutes November 07, 2019
Ameren Illinois – Street Light Project – TIF - $9675.00
Seigel’s Uniform – Invoice 425039 – Council Contingency – New Hire Gear PD - $69.99
Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Fire Chief John Gunning asked Council to release the $500.00 damage deposit from Rosie Miller. She recently put in a mobile home at 1129 S. Feazel Street. A final inspection was completed and there was no damage and she complied with all codes. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to release the $500.00 damage deposit to Rosie Miller. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Rick Colyer from Saline County Ambulance approached Council and stated he had met with most of the Councilmen and the Mayor regarding county wide ambulance service. He asked if anyone had any questions as this time. No one had any questions.
Angela Webb, Operations Manager from Deaconess Illinois EMS stated they appreciate the support from the City of Harrisburg regarding the city ordinance vote of approval. They look forward providing health care services and partnership in Harrisburg with Harrisburg Medical Center and Air Evac team. She asked if anyone had any questions. No one had any questions at this time.
Jim Brown with Brown and Roberts Inc. stated the City is in the middle of the Water main Project Phase I. He has talked to Chad Rice who is the grant manager in Springfield. An application has been filed for Phase II and he is ready to process it. Currently the City is approved for $2.75 million of which $800,000 is forgiveness and the remainder $1.95 million is a 30 year loan at 1.5%. Harrisburg does not get the 1% because the total service area is over 10,000 people which includes Harrisburg and the two water districts. This causes the interest rate to be at 1.5%. When the application process started the formula was 75% forgiveness with a $1.5 million maximum forgiveness. Now it is a 60% forgiveness with an $800,000 maximum forgiveness.
There are a couple of choices for this project. The City of Harrisburg can proceed with the $2.75 million project as is or potentially divide Phase II into IIA and IIB. If it is divided, each project will be about $1.33 million with an $800,000 forgiveness. The debt service would be about $22,200.00. Phase IIB would be $1.42 million with an $800,000 forgiveness and an annual service debt of about $25,800. This project will wrap up the water main project. Jim Brown said there is a possibility of an increase in the forgiveness in the future. The interest rate could also increase. A new application will need to be submitted if the City of Harrisburg chooses to proceed with Phase IIB. An analysis of the City’s income and expenses for the water department indicates rates will not have to be increased with the entire $2.75 million project. The big factor is that in 2023, the debt service is going to drop down $183,499 a year. There is a loan for the water meters at 4.39% and it will go away in 2023. The ability to pay the debt service will increase. Jim Brown said the terms can change and there are a lot of takers. It will be locked in under the intended use program right now. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to approve to proceed with the $2.75 million project as is. Seconded by Commissioner Ron Morse. A roll call vote was taken with all voting yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown stated that the meter project is presently financed at $4.39%. He said if there is no pre- payment penalty, it would be beneficial to look at potentially refinancing the loan. Municipal bonds are in the neighborhood of 2.5%. Treasurer David Cox will look at possible refinancing option.
Jim Brown with Brown and Roberts Inc. presented a resolution from IDOT for permit number 9U-3213- 19 for the STP Optimization Project. One of the things to be done is a sanitary sewer force main going under Bill Franks Drive at the IL 13 Bypass. There a utility permit with IDOT that must be sent in to get permission to bore under the highway. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to approve Resolution 19-1121 for permit number 9U-3213-19. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown with Brown and Roberts Inc. presented information for the sewer optimization project. When it occurs, a pump station will be built and it is boring is required. He presented a proposal from Holcomb Foundation Engineering to do a single soil boring to classify the soil. This will help determine if there is rock is present. The cost is $1648.00. Commissioner Ron Morse made the motion to approve invoice of $1648.00 to Holcomb Foundation Engineering. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown explained the City has two side channel reservoirs used for water supply. About 15 years ago there was so much infiltration and inflow that goes to the City sewage treatment plant that the treatment plant could not handle it. The excess flow was pumped into the side channel reservoirs. The side channel reservoirs was converted into storm water receiving lagoons. We pump out there during normal flow and lower normal flow, we bring in that back into the sewage treatment plant. Those are almost 70 acres of surface area. Sewage treatment is often done with lagoons because of the surface area. The City has the ability to do preliminary treatment in the lagoons before it comes back to the sewage treatment plant. We are trying to utilize that and it is called the optimization of the lagoons. This project is slowly progressing through funding. It entails a pumping station that intercepts the west Harrisburg drainage area which is located near the bike path on Walnut Street and along Veterans Drive to the lagoon. This will talk approximately half the load off of the sewage treatment plant and will allow the plant to last longer.
Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to approve Ordinance 1795 for Sale of Property located at 212 E. Ford Street. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve Ordinance 1796 for Sale of Property located at 322 W. Elm Street. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Attorney Kolby Smithpeters stated the exclusive ground ambulance ordinances gives Transcare Medical Transport & Logistics, LLC dba Deaconess Illinois EMS an exclusive right to be an exclusive provider for ambulance of emergency services and inner facility transfers in the City of Harrisburg. If this ordinance passes, the City will enter into an agreement with Deaconess Illinois EMS. Commissioner Roger Angelly would like to table this issue until everything has been reviewed.
Attorney Kolby Smithpeters notified Council the Ameren Franchise Agreement has expired. This gives Ameren the right to construct, operate and maintain the utility system. They pay the City of Harrisburg an annual fee. He asked Council to authorize him to negotiate the Ameren Franchise Agreement. When the contract is in agreement, he will present an ordinance to pass. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to authorize Attorney Kolby Smithpeters to negotiate the Ameren Franchise Agreement. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek presented the petition to vacate an alley. This alley is located behind the old Daily Register. There will be a public hearing on December 19 regarding vacating the alley. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to accept the petition for consideration to vacate the alley between 40 S. Main Street and 35 S. Vine Street. 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 authorize the City Clerk to advertise the public hearing to be held prior to the December 19, 2019 council meeting regarding the vacating of the alley between 40 S. Main Street and 35 S. Vine Street. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried. Mayor John McPeek stated a new business will opening in the old Daily Register in the near future.
Mayor John McPeek presented the ordinance to establish a license fee and regulation for adult use cannabis dispensing organizations. The license fee will be $3500.00 per year. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to approve Ordinance 1797 for the Cannabis Dispensing License Fee. Seconded by Commissioner Ron Morse. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek informed the citizens of the new Enterprise Zone. This zone will allow a new business to build in the zone and there will be no sales tax on building materials. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to accept the Enterprise Zone Map as presented. Seconded by Commissioner Ron Morse. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried. Mayor John McPeek encouraged new business to take a look at the Enterprise Zone and to look at the TIF area as well.
Treasurer David B. Cox presented the 2019/2020 tax levy. He stated this is an estimate of the levy to be filed with the County Clerk on or before the last Tuesday in December. This year’s levy will be filed on December 20, 2019. The levy will be available for review for the next 20 days in the Clerk’s Office and in the Treasurer’s Office. The city is complying with the Truth in Taxation Act. This year’s levy will not be increased. The levy will remain the same as the 2018 tax year levy of $1,845,327.00. He asked Council to approve the estimated taxes to be levied for the fiscal year beginning the 1st day of May, 2019 and ending the 30th of April, 2020 in the amount of $1,845,327.00. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to accept the estimate of the 2019/2020 tax levy to be displayed for twenty days. Seconded by Commissioner Ron Morse. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commission Raymond Gunning asked to discuss contract negotiations in Executive Session.
Commissioner Roger Angelly stated a determination has been made to change the billing system in the Water/Sewer Department. The current program is not user friendly, turnaround time for support calls can cause delayed billing, and the current program cost more to operate than LOCIS. The City Attorney has reviewed the proposed LOCIS contract. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to enter into an agreement with LOCIS for the water/sewer department. 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 authorize the City Clerk to sign the LOCIS agreement. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek announced the following:
1. Small Business Saturday – November 30, 2019. Please remember to shop local
2. Lighting of the Christmas Tree – December 10, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at the Saline County Pioneer Museum
3. Christmas Lights Parade – December 12, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.
4. Shop with a Cop – Saturday, December 14, 2019 – This the 23rd year.
5. Blessing of the County – December 13, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at the Saline County Pioneer Museum
Citizen Sharon Vandenberg stated she came home one afternoon and found equipment in her yard digging. She now realizes it was for the water meter. She was not asked if they could go on to her property. Her yard was messed up by the digging. She tries to keep her yard looking good. Mayor John McPeek assured her that the grass will be replaced. She stated she had decent grass and would like to make sure she gets the correct type of grass replaced. She would have appreciated a phone call letting her know that someone would be digging in her yard. She thanked everyone for listening to her.
Citizen Danny Gibbs thanked the City Council on not increasing the tax levy. He stated the County passed the levy at 1.8% less than last year. If the rest of the taxing bodies within the County will do the same, then we have something for us to look forward to and there will be no increase in real estate taxes.
Mayor John McPeek made the motion to go into Executive Session. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Adjourn: 6:31 p.m.
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