City of Harrisburg City Council met July 16.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
The Harrisburg City Council met at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Room of City Hall, Harrisburg IL.
Mayor John McPeek called the meeting to order. Mayor John McPeek presided over the meeting with Commissioners Raymond Gunning, Roger Angelly, Rupert Johnson and Ron Morse answering call.
Rusty Morecraft, Director of the Southern Baptist Association led the group in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the consent agenda.
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Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Keith Moran requested the ordinance regarding the public hearing for the business district be assigned an ordinance number. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to assign the ordinance that was passed at the July 18, 2020 meeting to be assigned as Ordinance 1809. Seconded by Commissioner Ron Morse. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Eric Fodor from Southeastern Illinois Regional Planning presented a resolution for a Community Development Block Grant. This resolution is required for the grant. These funds were derived from the City’s Revolving Loan Fund. The fund was dissolved the money is being given back to the communities in the form of grants. The money had originally been earmarked for the STP project, but the IEPA was able to forgive some of the loan that they would have given the City in exchange for moving quickly.
There will be several waterline upgrades in the area around West Side School particularly Durham Street, South Street, Ledford Street and Raymond Street. Then it will continue on with part of Mable Street around Taylor Field. This grant will be $462,867.54 worth of work. Mayor John McPeek stated that Harrisburg had the Revolving Loan Fund and this allowed people to come and borrow from it, but the State did away with the program. This is the money left from the Revolving Loan Fund and if we do not spend it, it goes back to the State. This money is being well spent.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to pass Resolution 20-0716 for the Community Development Block Grant. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Matt Tosh from Brown and Roberts Inc. presented Change Order #9 regarding the 2014 Watermain Rehab Phase I. The contract time had been extended to July 15, 2020 and the contractor needs additional time. They are requesting an additional 47 days which will extend it to the end of August. Commissioner Roger Angelly asked if this included the brick work. Matt Tosh stated it did include the brick work. Commissioner Roger Angelly stated he know citizens have complained about the project being slow, but Mr. Berry is a new business man and started his business in Harrisburg and bought a home in Harrisburg. We should be trying to help business people. He is just getting started and we should help all we can. Mayor John McPeek talked with Mr. Berry and he thinks it might be done before the deadline.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve Change Order #9 of the 2014 Watermain Rehab Phase I. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Treasurer David Cox presented a bid for two copy machines from Tri-State Business Equipment for $16,324.00. The copiers will be in the City Clerk’s Office and the Treasurer’s Office. The retail price is $37,000, but they are giving the City a government price. The City Clerk’s office got a copier in 2012 for $6,131.00. In 2014, the Treasurer’s Office got a copier for $8,934.00. These were purchased used. These copiers are worn out and parts are no longer available. The copier from the Clerk’s Office will be given to the Fire Department (at their request) because they only have a desk copier. Tri-State will give the City credit for the maintenance agreements.
Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to approve the bid for two copies machines from Tri-State Business Equipment for $16,324.00. Seconded by Commissioner Ron Morse. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Ron Morse stated the annual NPDES, which is the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System, has a fee of $17,500.00. We pay this under protest, but it is required to be paid. Commissioner Ron Morse made the motion to pay the 2020 NPDES annual fee of $17,500.00 under protest. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to accept the bid from Diamond Equipment for a new Takeuchi TL 8 Rubber Track Skid Steer less the trade of a 1998 Case 1845 C for $42,817.00. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson discussed amending Ordinance 1753. The ordinance currently states: The Commissioner of the Public Property Department shall employ all laborers, with the consent of Council, as may be necessary to do the work of his department. All employees so hired shall be under the direct supervision of and assigned duties by the Superintendent appointment pursuant to Section 2-96.5. Commissioner Rupert Johnson would like to add: However, if the Superintendent has a family member under his supervision, the Commissioner shall be the direct supervisor of said family member to not cause a nepotism problem.
He stated there is a man that is qualified to be the superintendent and he has a step-brother that works in the cemetery. He is qualified to do the job, but we cannot give him the job until this is resolved because it will cause a nepotism problem. They are good workers and have worked for the city. It is not fair for him not to be able to take a promotion because of this.
Commissioner Roger Angelly said we are trying to resolve the previous issue, so it will be hard from him to do anything until the other grievance is resolved. He said they are good workers and he would like to get through this issue before jumping on this one. Commissioner Ron Morse agrees and suggest having the City Attorney look into any ramifications. Commissioner Raymond Gunning asked Attorney Kolby Smithpeters if he has looked into the union part of it. Attorney Kolby Smithpeters said he will look into it.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated he thinks the contract states the Superintendent is over both departments. He asked Kenny Mayhall if there was going to be any problems with the union if this takes place? Kenny Mayhall said the contract does not specify nepotism. Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated the superintendent is over the Public Property and Street/Alley. The employee is the step-brother. Attorney Kolby Smithpeters needs to find out if there is not an issue. Mayor John McPeek said something needs to be decided. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said if he got someone else, they would have to learn everything about how the city does things.
Commissioner Ron Morse agrees with Commissioner Roger Angelly and that we need to get the other issue resolved. This would give Attorney Kolby Smithpeters time to research the ramifications if any. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said the current issue is a union issue, but this change is a city issue. The ordinance is tying our hands. The city is over the ordinances, not the union. Commissioner Roger Angelly said it caused a problem before when they had nepotism. They also called it favoritism. He went and sat with the guys and listened to them say that very same things. He would like to get this issue resolved before taking on another one. Mayor John McPeek suggested taking out step brother/sister and putting in half brother/sister. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said he was okay with that. Commissioner Raymond Gunning said to take out step brother and change it. Attorney Kolby Smithpeters said an ordinance can be drafted for the next meeting.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson discussed a bucket truck for $18,000.00 He presented the expenses for the last three years. Each year, the department spent more than was budgeted. The department has already gone over the budgeted line item for this year.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to purchase a 2009 Ford F550 Bucket Truck for $18,000.00 contingent on if it is in good shape and runs good once it has been checked out. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek thanked the Water/Sewer Department for their hard work. They have been putting in a lot of hours and it is appreciated. He also thanked the Street/Alley Department for their clean-up efforts around the City, Cemetery, and Arrowhead Shopping Center. He encouraged all citizens to Step-Up to Clean-Up and stop littering. Mayor John McPeek announced the city has been okay to tear down the property at the corner of Hobson and Longley.
Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Ron Morse. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Adjourn: 6:22 p.m.
https://www.thecityofharrisburgil.com/city-council-minutes
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