City of Harrisburg City Council met Aug. 20.
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 roll call.
Pastor Laurie Fields from the First Presbyterian Church led the group in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the consent agenda.
Public Hearing Minutes from August 06, 2020
Regular Meeting Minutes from August 06, 2020
Illini Asphalt - $19,805.52 – Invoice 1513 – MFT
Harrisburg Lake:
Relinquish – David & Robin Gabbard – 1st Addition, Block 1, Lot 19
Relinquish – Jeannine Lappin – 2nd Addition, Block 1, Lot 4
Petition to Lease – David & Robin Gabbard – 2nd Addition, Block 1, Lot 4
Seconded by Commissioner Ron Morse. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek opened a sealed bid from Barter Masonry Inc. for the tuck pointing of the west wall of City Hall. After a discussion of this project, council decided to table this project.
Mayor John McPeek presented an ordinance regarding the public comment policy. A policy was adopted in 2008, we need to make this policy into an ordinance. Commissioner Ron Morse made the motion to approve Ordinance 1813 Policy for Public Comment. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Fire Chief John Gunning presented a mobile home permit from Larry and Brenda Hogg. The mobile home will be located at 716 Hazel Street. It is a 32 x 48 mobile home. The site has been inspected and they meet all requirements. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the mobile home permit for Larry and Brenda Hogg at 716 Hazel Street. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Fire Chief John Gunning stated a portable building/tiny home was installed at 309 N. Lewis Street. The owner stated this will be a storage building and eventually make this her office. Council stated if the owner uses it as storage she will not need to complete the permit. However, if it turned into an office she will need to file a permit and pay the fee.
Mayor John McPeek asked Fire Chief John Gunning if the report has been returned from the EPA regarding the property in Dorrisville. He stated not yet. Commissioner Roger Angelly thanked the Fire Department for sending men over to help the West Frankfort Fire Department in a time of need due to COVID-19.
Mayor John McPeek stated Personnel is to appoint a superintendent for the Street/Alley/Public Property Department. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said the department has not had a superintendent since early July. Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to appoint Kenneth Mayhall as the Public Property/Street/Alley Superintendent effective immediately with a starting salary of $75,000.00 a year, and retroactive backpay to July 01, 2020. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. Commissioner Roger Angelly thought the nepotism ordinance was going to be revised from step to half. Commissioner Rupert Johnson stated the State law states that after 18 if there is no adoption, then there is no step sibling. Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated someone needs to supervise the guys. Commissioner Roger Angelly said the step brother means nothing after eighteen. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said that is correct. Commissioner Roger Angelly asked if that part of the ordinance is null-and-void? Commissioner Rupert Johnson said yes. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes except Commissioner Roger Angelly and Commissioner Ron Morse voting no. Motion carried.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated the incident regarding the deposit is still currently under investigation. The Department of Revenue is also assisting with the Illinois State Police and looking at the case. Due to the pandemic since March things have slowed down, but hopefully soon we will have a report back. He thanked everyone for their patience in this matter and will let everyone know the outcome.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve Ordinance 1814 relating to the Release and Cleanup of Hazardous Materials or Environmentally Damaging Substances. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Roger Angelly asked Superintendent Jason Haney to present the Mayer Network VOIP phone system proposal. Superintendent Jason Haney stated we do not have anyone to work on the current phone systems. A retired gentleman use to be come and work on the phones as need, but he longer works on them. This has been discussed before. The current proposal offers free phones, installation, hosting and license support is free. They will take care of any problems. This will be for all departments. This is a three-year contract with a monthly service fee of $236.44. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the VOIP phone system with Mayer Network and authorize the City Clerk to sign the contract. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Superintendent Jason Haney presented Invoice Cloud. This is an online bill pay system. This will be linked to the City website. There is a $100.00 monthly fee to utilize this system. Customers will be able to log in, see their bill and pay online. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to use the Invoice Cloud System 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 discussed moving the water office down to the Veterans Drive building. This will allow the office to be user friendly and handicap accessible. This will allow the Water/Sewer employees to be under one roof. There will be some remodeling done to the building to allow this move. The cost will be around $9,000.00. The Treasurer’s Office is required to make a daily deposit, so the Treasurer’s Office can come to the new location to count down the drawer and then go directly to the bank to make the deposit. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to move the Water/Sewer Office from City Hall to the Water/Sewer Maintenance Building. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson is looking at some property from the Illinois Youth Center for the cemetery. Senator Dale Fowler suggest having Brown and Roberts Inc. survey the property. This information will be given to the Governor. Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to authorize Brown and Roberts Inc. to survey the property. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson stated that his department is under a hiring freeze. He states if the City acquired an additional 40 acres from Illinois Youth Center for the cemetery, he states he will need more men. It is impossible for two men to take care of that much property. Mayor John McPeek said everyone came together this week to take care of the cemetery. Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated it takes a few days to mow and they did it with nine guys. We need to wait to hire anyone to see if we obtain the property. There are more than two men in the department. There are two dedicated to the cemetery. He suggested spraying around the tombstones in a sensible manner and to also weed eat. He would rather have people complain about dead grass than the grass being three feet tall.
Mayor John McPeek announced our first drive-in movie night was a huge success. There were about 75 cars and everyone stayed in their cars and it was great. Each month, the city will have events. The next movie night will be in October. He thanked the Fire Department for assisting the West Frankfort Fire Department. He thanked Mike Sullivan and the Boy Scouts for helping to cleanup and weed eat the cemetery.
No public comments.
Citizen Mr. Jones thanked one of the lessees from Harrisburg Lake for cleaning up the trash. She collected fifty bags of trash. He asked if some signage could be put up regarding the trash. Commissioner Rupert Johnson will get a dumpster at Harrisburg Lake and will have his employees come out and take care of it.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Adjourn: 6:30 p.m.
https://www.thecityofharrisburgil.com/minutes
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