/City of Fairfield City Council met Nov. 12.
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; Jerry Lisenbee; Terry Stahl; Gary Moore
Absent: Alderman Eugene McGill
Also Present: David Mills, Wayne County Press; Mike Dreith, WFIW Radio; Andrew Miller, Fire Chief; Keith Colclasure, Police Chief; Silas Eckleberry, Assistant Police Chief; Dian Downs; Tyler Lashbrook, Electric Department; Kevin Leonard, Water Distribution; Flo Simpson; and other citizens from the community.
The minutes of the meeting of October 22, 2019, agendas and bills of November 12, 2019 were sent out to those entitled to receive them. Mayor Maguire asked for approval of the minutes for the October 22, 2019 meeting. Motion by Alderman Stahl, seconded by Alderman Lisenbee to approve the minutes of the meeting of October 22, 2019.
Vote yes: Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; Moore; Stahl; Barbre
Vote no: none
Absent: McGill
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried.
Mayor Maguire asked for approval to pay the bills for the November 12, 2019 meeting. A motion was made by Alderman Barbre, seconded by Alderman Coale to approve the bills for payment.
Vote yes: Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; Moore; Stahl; Barbre; Coale
Vote no: none
Absent: McGill
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried.
Ordinance No. 19-1112-189/Zoning Amendment for Short Term Rentals – The Council had previously discussed a zoning request to allow the letting of rooms on a daily/nightly basis. The Mayor stated that it was the consensus of the Council to not change the zoning but to consider a proposed ordinance that would allow a special exception for short term rentals in all of the residential zoning districts (R-1, R-2, and R-3). Each homeowner would have to apply for this special exception. Mayor Maguire had asked the Council to review the proposed ordinance. Currently short term rentals are not allowed in residential districts. A public hearing was held earlier about this special exception. The Zoning Board also held a public hearing concerning this special exception and they voted 4 to 3 to not allow an exception for short term rentals in residential districts. It was a closed vote and no one expressed a reason for voting no. Currently there are two homes listed on the internet as being airbnbs. These two are located in commercial districts. One of those has been contacted about the hotel tax and they have registered. Flo will notify the other one about registering for the hotel tax. If this amendment to the zoning ordinance is approved each individual will still have to request a hearing before the zoning board to get a special exception granted. A motion was made by Alderman Coale, seconded by Alderman Lampley to approve the ordinance amending the zoning code to allow a special exception for short term rentals in residential districts.
Vote yes: Lampley; Lisenbee; Moore; Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith
Vote no: none
Absent: McGill
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried and Ordinance No. 19-1112-189 approved and duly adopted.
Discussion of HLR’s Phase 1 Proposal for Planning of Lakeside Reservoir Restoration – Storm Kollak with HLR presented a proposal for Lakeside Reservoir Restoration. When HLR recently conducted their flooding investigation, many issues pointed back to the lakeside reservoir. In order to get the reservoir back it is going to require a lot of planning, permitting and funding issues. It will require coordination with the EPA, IDNR and the Army Corp of Engineers. They will be involved in everything that is done. Mr. Kollak stated that if we can show some of the larger agencies such as EPA, IEPA, and FEMA that this restoration not only has recreational benefits and storm water benefits, but also show that it is a disaster mitigating measure, there may be grants available to help with the cost. This project could cost anywhere between $1 million to $2 million. Mayor Maguire asked the Council to look over the proposal. Mayor Maguire will continue to have further discussions with Mr. Kollak and the Park District about this project.
Leachate Agreement with Republic Services – A representative with Republic Services told the Council the current agreement they have with the City expires January 17th. They would like to renew the agreement. Any water that touches the trash at the landfill is considered leachate. The landfill has a collection system that catches the water that filters through the trash. When the tanks are full it is transported to the wastewater treatment plant. This new agreement is for five years. Alderman Stahl did ask if there is a possibility of opening the landfill back up to the public. The Republic representative stated is was closed due to economic reasons and he doesn’t think it will be reopened. A motion was made by Alderman Lampley, seconded by Alderman Moore to approve the Leachate Disposal Agreement with Republic Services.
Vote yes: Moore; Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee
Vote no: none
Absent: McGill
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried.
Sale of Vehicles and Equipment – Mayor Maguire stated that we have two trucks and a welder he would like to offer for sale. We have a 1989 Ford 350 dump truck from Street & Bridge and he would like to have a minimum bid of $2,500 required for this sale. We also have a 1989 Chevy truck from the airport and a Lincoln Arc Welder from the garage department with no minimum bid required. A motion was made by Alderman Griffith, seconded by Alderman Barbre to approve seeking bids for the sale of the trucks and welder.
Vote yes: Moore; Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee
Vote no: none
Absent: McGill
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried.
Second Meeting in December – The second meeting in December falls this year on Christmas Eve. A motion was made by Alderman Barbre, seconded by Alderman Coale to reschedule the second meeting in December to Monday, December 23rd.
Vote yes: Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; Moore
Vote no: none
Absent: McGill
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried.
Miscellaneous – Alderman Coale spoke about the line of credit the Council secured from Fairfield National Bank at a previous meeting. He asked if we had solicited other banks in town to see if they would have been willing to offer us a line of credit and perhaps we could have secured a better interest rate. Mayor Maguire stated that we had not because we have all of our accounts at FNB. Julie Duncan stated that normally the other banks cannot beat what FNB offers. Mayor Maguire stated that based upon the Council approval for the line of credit, the paperwork has already been signed. We will leave it as is for now but in the future we will check with the other banks as well.
Miscellaneous – Alderman Moore asked what the proper procedure is for getting something placed on the agenda. Mayor Maguire stated that if an alderman has an item he would like to have on the agenda he should speak with him about it. After discussing it and they still feel it is something that needs to be on the agenda, the Clerk would make sure it is included.
Miscellaneous – Alderman Coale asked if the Mayor has followed up with Mr. Podolsky about Atkinson Forest. Mayor Maguire has met with Mr. Podolsky. Even if the city doesn’t commit anything financially we might still be able to enter into some kind of agreement that would allow private funds to start being used on projects. Mr. Podolsky’s concern is that the Podolsky Trust would need a 501c3 they could give to. We have that through our recreation fund but we would need to see how that would affect the city from an auditing and financial perspective. The park board is also a 501c3. Mayor Maguire also suggested that maybe a community foundation needs to be created specifically for Atkinson Forest.
Miscellaneous – Alderman Moore asked if we had received our audit. Mayor Maguire hopes to receive a draft by the end of the week.
Executive Session – Alderman Barbre made a motion, seconded by Alderman Stahl to go into Executive Session to discuss Section 2(c)(21) – discuss minutes of closed session meetings; Section 2(c)(2) – collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees; Section 2(c)(1) – the appointment, employment, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body; and Section 2(c)(23) – contracts relating to the purchase, sale, or delivery of electricity or natural gas.
Vote yes: Barbre; Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; Moore; Stahl
Vote no: none
Absent: McGill
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried.
Return to Regular Session – Alderman Barbre made a motion, seconded by Alderman Moore to return to regular session.
Vote yes: Barbre; Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; Moore; Stahl
Vote no: none
Absent: McGill
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried and Council returned to regular session at 8:43 p.m.
Adjourn Meeting – Motion by Alderman Stahl, seconded by Alderman Lampley to adjourn the meeting.
Vote yes: 7
Vote no: 0
Absent: 1
Mayor Maguire declared meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
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