City of Fairfield City Council met March 10.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
Meeting called to order by Mayor 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: David Mills, Wayne County Press; Ken Otey, WFIW Radio; Andrew Miller, Fire Chief; Keith Colclasure, Police Chief; Silas Eckleberry, Assistant Police Chief; Josh Boyd, Water Filtration; Tyler Lashbrook, Electric Distribution; Travis Williams, Airport Manager; Flo Simpson; Lincoln Duncan, BHMG; Dian Downs; and other citizens from the community.
The minutes of the meeting of February 25, 2020, agendas and bills of March 10, 2020 were sent out to those entitled to receive them. Mayor Maguire asked for approval of the minutes for the February 25, 2020 meeting. Motion by Alderman Griffith, seconded by Alderman McGill to approve the minutes of the meeting of February 25, 2020.
Vote yes: McGill; Moore; Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee
Vote no: none
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried.
Mayor Maguire asked for approval to pay the bills for the March 10, 2020 meeting. A motion was made by Alderman Barbre, seconded by Alderman Coale to approve the bills for payment.
Vote yes: Moore; Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; McGill
Vote no: none
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried.
2020 Census – Wayne County Health Department – Mark Elliott with the Wayne County Health Department spoke to the Council about the upcoming 2020 Census. He talked about the importance of responding to the census. The census determines our congressional representation and where billions of dollars of federal funding will go. A complete count helps ensure that services like Medicare, Medicaid, social security, and public transportation can support those who need them. We need to do what we can to get the word out of the importance of completing the census. Every household should start receiving official census bureau mail between March 12th and the 20th. It is vital that every person is counted.
Discussion of Electric System Planning Study for BHMG – Lincoln Duncan with BHMG addressed the Council about the study they have completed for the city’s electric system. He told the Council that we need to secure a reliable backup power source. We own a 69 kV transmission line between the Fairfield Distribution Substation and a 69 kV breaker station owned by Wayne-White and Hoosier Energy. We have a contract with IMEA to purchase power so they would be need to to secure a formal agreement with Wayne-White and Hoosier Energy to allow this connection to be used as an emergency backup power source. Mr. Duncan did point out that Wayne-White backup power would only be provided seasonally. If there was a peak load in July or August it may coincide with their peak load and they may not have adequate power. It could be more reliable with additional work being done. This will all have to be investigated further. If this were all to come about we might be able to cancel our power agreement with SIPC for backup power with the south line. Mr. Duncan also stated the city needs to begin an integrity pole testing and replacement program and we need to have a mapping program for our electric utility system. Circuit breakers and relays also need to be tested. The relay testing needs to be done before any new breakers are installed. All of this work is needed but will be very expensive. The Council will continue to prioritize the work but all agreed the backup power agreement needs to be completed as soon as possible.
Airport Operations Agreement and Update on Fuel Farm Project – Airport Manager Travis Williams told the Council the fuel farm project is completed and is now up and running. He also told the Council that Farm Air has been sold. The new business, Ag Monkey, is owned by Jason Robinson and he has plans to expand the business which would mean increased fuel sales for the airport. Travis presented an operations agreement between the City of Fairfield and Ag Monkey and asked for Council to approve the agreement. A motion was made by Alderman Lampley, seconded by Alderman Griffith to approve the airport operations agreement with Jason Robinson (Ag Monkey).
Vote yes: Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; McGill; Moore
Vote no: none
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried.
Discussion of Joint Review Board Meeting on March 4th - Last week a TIF Joint Review Board meeting was held and the TIF committee was in attendance. The Council previously approved a $200,000 project for the high school but we have since learned that we will not be able to give the funds as planned. We have figured out a way to honor that agreement and that will involve a distribution of TIF funds to all the taxing bodies according to their portion. The TIF committee will be holding a meeting this week and they will most likely recommend approval of this distribution of funds to the full Council at the next meeting. Mayor Maguire also stated that previously we were going to have Kemper CPA conduct a study of previous expenditures of TIF funds but it has been decided that this in no longer needed at this time. Kemper has been instructed to halt this work.
- Alderman McGill left the meeting.
Redevelopment Agreement for Gifford Properties – Andrew Gifford has purchased the former Larry Moore Insurance building. He plans to renovate the building and create a commercial space downstairs and an apartment space upstairs. The TIF Committee is recommending Council approve a redevelopment agreement in the amount of $24,000 for this project. A motion was made by Alderman Barbre, seconded by Alderman Stahl to adopt the ordinance to approve the redevelopment agreement for Gifford Properties.
Vote yes: Barbre; Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; Moore; Stahl
Vote no: none
Absent: McGill
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried and Ordinance No. 20-0310-200 approved and duly adopted.
Redevelopment Agreement for Jennifer Beck – Jennifer Beck owns property located at 108 East Main. This redevelopment agreement would help with the cleanup of a sewer backup and mold remediation at this property. The TIF Committee is recommending approving 100% of the eligible expenses up to a maximum of $5,725.91. A motion was made by Alderman Griffith, seconded by Alderman Barbre to adopt the ordinance to approve the redevelopment agreement for Jennifer Beck.
Vote yes: Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; Moore; Stahl; Barbre
Vote no: none
Absent: McGill
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried and Ordinance No. 20-0310-201 approved and duly adopted.
Redevelopment Agreement for Tina Lee Turner – Tina Turner is the owner of Black’s Fashion Flowers. This redevelopment agreement would help to repair and renovate the flower shop. The TIF Committee is recommending approving $4,100 toward the project. A motion was made by Alderman Stahl, seconded by Alderman Coale to adopt the ordinance to approve the redevelopment agreement for Tina Lee Turner.
Vote yes: Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; Moore; Stahl; Barbre; Coale
Vote no: none
Absent: McGill
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried and Ordinance No. 20-0310-202 approved and duly adopted.
Storm Sewer Project for the City of Fairfield – We have several areas along West Main Street where the storm sewer is in need of repair. Those areas included the inlet in the SE quadrant of the intersection of NW 2nd Street and Main and the concrete lid on the storm sewer manhole on the south side of Main Street in front of the Chop Shop. The repair of these two areas will improve storm water flow and help mitigate flooding issues in that area. The TIF Committee is recommending Council approve $11,000.00 for this project. A motion was made by Alderman Stahl, seconded by Alderman Lampley to adopt the ordinance to approve this redevelopment project for the City of Fairfield not to exceed $11,000.00.
Vote yes: Lampley; Lisenbee; Moore; Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith
Vote no: none
Absent: McGill
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried and Ordinance No. 20-0310-203 approved and duly adopted.
Approval of Street Resurfacing Project for the City of Fairfield – The Illinois Department of Transportation will be resurfacing approximately 2.1 miles of Main and Delaware in 2021. The City is responsible for parking lanes, curbs and some of the sidewalk intersections. IDOT has provided an estimate in the amount of $644,721.00 for this work to be completed. The TIF Committee is recommending approval of this project. A motion was made by Alderman Coale, seconded by Alderman Lisenbee to adopt the ordinance to approve the redevelopment project for the street resurfacing of parking lanes, curbs, and sidewalk intersections along Main & Delaware for the City of Fairfield.
Vote yes: Lisenbee; Moore; Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith; Lampley
Vote no: none
Absent: McGill
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried and Ordinance No. 20-0310-204 approved and duly adopted.
Approval of Street Resurfacing Project for Connecting Roads between Main & Delaware – Mayor Maguire told the Council that when IDOT resurfaces Main & Delaware he would like the City to have the connector streets between Main & Delaware resurfaced in conjunction with this project. The streets would include Airport Road, Clarence Avenue, SW 11th Street, SW 7th Street, SW 6th Street, SW 4th Street, SW 2nd Street, SE 2nd Street, SE 3rd Street, SE 4th Street, and SE 6th Street. Connor & Connor have estimated the cost at $433,090.00. The TIF Committee is recommending approval of this project. Mayor Maguire also mentioned that he had reached out to IDOT about making repairs to First Street but they said this work could not be included in the project. Alderman Lisenbee made a motion, seconded by Alderman Lampley to adopt the ordinance to approve the redevelopment project for the connector road project for the City of Fairfield.
Vote yes: Moore; Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee
Vote no: none
Absent: McGill
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried and Ordinance No. 20-0310-205 approved and duly adopted.
Engineering Agreement with Connor & Connor – In order to complete the connector road project we need to approve an engineering agreement with Connor & Connor. A motion was made by Alderman Lampley, seconded by Alderman Coale to approve the engineering agreement with Connor & Connor for the road resurfacing project.
Vote yes: Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; Moore
Vote no: none
Absent: McGill
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried.
Street Closing Request for FCHS Prom - FCHS Principal, Jill Fulkerson has requested closing the 200 block of Southeast 2nd Street between Center Street and Delaware Street from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., on Saturday, April 25th for their 2020 prom. A motion was made by Alderman Barbre, seconded by Alderman Griffith to approve this request.
Vote yes: Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; Moore
Vote no: none
Absent: McGill
Mayor Maguire declared motion carried.
Rezoning Request for 206 & 208 NW 7th Street – A public hearing was held earlier about rezoning this property from an R-2 zone to a B-1 zone. Jewel Poole owns this property but was not able to attend this meeting. She had previously stated she might be interested in placing a storage facility on this property. Some of the aldermen would like to know exactly what her plans are before approving the rezoning request for this property.
Drug and Alcohol Policy – The Council discussed the proposed drug and alcohol policy. The new contract with the IBEW allows for random drug testing for the employees. Questions were asked about what disciplinary actions would be taken if someone were to fail a drug test. After some discussion it was decided that we need to reevaluate our existing policies in the union contracts.
Discussion Concerning the Fairfield Economic Development Committee – At the last meeting Alderman Lampley suggested that members of this committee should be residents of the city or own a business in the city. This language will be added. Mayor Maguire reported that he has had interest from individuals who would like to serve on this committee.
Adjourn Meeting – Motion by Alderman Lampley, seconded by Alderman Stahl to adjourn the meeting.
Vote yes: 7
Vote no: 0
Absent: 1
Mayor Maguire declared meeting adjourned at 7:36 p.m.
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