City of Harrisburg City Council Met Jan. 7.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
The Harrisburg City Council met on January 07, 2021 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, Rupert Johnson, Roger Angelly and Ron Morse answering roll call.
Pastor Jerry Wells from Dorrisville Social Brethren Church led the group in pray and the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Mayor and City Council presented Michael Sullivan with a plaque for his sixteen years of dedication and service to the City of Harrisburg not only as the Animal Control Officer, but for his time donated on many occasions. Mike Sullivan has retired as the Animal Control Officer, but will remain an active member within our community and will continue to volunteer his time to the City. The City of Harrisburg appreciates his dedication and hard work.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the consent agenda.
Special Meeting Minutes – December 10, 2020
Check Register and Warrant Report –December 2020
Environmental Resources, Inc. - $82,500.00 – TIF - #2080
Moran Economic Development - $665.00 – TIF - #1417
Wiggs Excavating - #20-083-05 - $87,574.31 – 2014 Watermain Rehab Phase II
Brown & Roberts, Inc. - #2020-083- #5 - $9,783.90 – 2014 Watermain Rehab Phase II
Petroleum Automation Consultants, Inc. - $8,667.00 - #20187 - TIF
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 mobile home damage deposit to Bruce Leathem located at 1205 ½ McHaney Road. Mr. Leathem has met and passed all inspections required regarding this mobile home. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to release the damage deposit of $500.00 back to Bruce Lethem. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried
Alex Watkins gave an update on the grants he has applied for on behalf of the City of Harrisburg. Over the past eight months, the City has applied for $1,400,000.00 in economic assistance/grant funding. The City has been denied $250,000, but awarded roughly $500,000 in funding for various purposes. That leaves $650,000 currently outstanding while we wait on the determination. There are some exciting things planned for the departments in the near future. Council and Mayor thanked him for his hard work.
Mayor John McPeek stated council will go into Executive Session to review the Executive Session minutes from August 06, 2020 through November 05, 2020.
Commissioner Ron Morse stated that Randy Nyberg from the former Randy’s Uptown Market has offered to sell his building to the City. The building could possibly be a good location for the Police Department or other options. He has not been told a price, but he wanted to pass this information along to the other council members. It is a good location and would be worth taking a look at in the near future.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning and Police Chief Michael Riden informed Council about the K9 unit which was approved. Chief Riden and a couple of other officers has picked out the dog. He will be an addition to the Police Department. This will require a new vehicle. With the tow fee which was implemented last October, there is enough money in the account to purchase a vehicle. There is enough money to purchase the vehicle and equipment for the K9. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to authorize the City Clerk to advertise for sealed bids for a K9 unit vehicle. Seconded by Commissioner Ron Morse. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Police Chief Michael Riden presented information to Council and Mayor regarding his department. There are currently twelve officers in the department. Last month alone, there was over 1,000 calls for service. An additional officer would free up some time to do investigations. The State’s Attorney believes that it would be a great addition, it would help her office and Chief Riden stated it would help the citizens of Harrisburg. This would give the department thirteen officers. An officer will be retiring in June 2021. Chief Riden said there is money in the budget to pay a new officer.
The Merit Board conducted the interviews and there are officers qualified and PTI trained. They are street ready which cuts down on the city cost in having to train an officer. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to the request the merit board and authorize the City Clerk to contact the Merit Board for recommendation of the name of a new hire Police Officer. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Marc Hodge, President of Merit Board, has the list for a new hire. There is little training for these individuals.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated the Fire Department had some firefighters come in and work additional shifts due to the virus. He would like the council to approve some carry over time because these guys had to come in and cover shifts. He stated it is only just those days they were not able to use. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the carry over days. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson requested Executive Session to discuss Personnel.
Mayor John McPeek hopes everyone had a happy holiday season, Happy New Year and they enjoyed time with their family. He thanked everyone who helped with the Christmas Parade and Christmas in the Courtyard. It was a big success. Please remember to stay safe, mask up and social distance. Please stop littering. Mayor John McPeek thanked the Fire Department as they have been busy with accidents.
Citizen Nathan Hayes approached Council and Mayor with an issue in the Street/Alley Department. He was excited about getting hired, but today his feelings are the exact opposite. He stated he was made aware of some racial remarks, but was denied the opportunity to file a grievance. After some time, he was informed that he would be working in the cemetery. He was excited about that but little did he know, he was informed that multiple police officers and his boss attended a party. He was told the comment was made that the only reason he was hired was because he is the only black guy in Harrisburg without a felony and Rupert just happened to stumble across him. He called the Chief of Police and asked him to talk to his officers and asked them to stop talking about him. He again asked if he could file a grievance and was denied because it didn’t happen at work. Mr. Hayes found that strange because he was suspended for five days without pay because of something that was done outside of work.
Not too long after that, he was informed that he had too many complaints about his while working in the cemetery. He was never told what the complaints were and was removed from the cemetery. He comes to work to work. He has text messages stating how good of a job that he does. He does not need his superiors asking for personal favors at his bar. He does the best he can at work every day.
Things are getting out of control at the Street/Alley Department. Council received a copy of the incident report completed by Mr. Hayes regarding January 04, 2021. He sees favoritism, nepotism and racism while being in the Street/Alley Department. He has seen a man written up for calling in two minutes late while others being allowed to do whatever they want. There is an employee who has had multiple pictures taken of him at home, local pharmacies and posting on social media. These pictures have been taken while he was supposed to be working. Mr. Hayes and other employees have asked why this employee gets away with these actions. The answer is always the same “you know I can’t do anything”. Mr. Hayes is assuming it’s because who this employees’ close friends are.
Mr. Hayes asked his superior two questions: Did this employee have permission and did he use an hour of personal time. I was attack verbally while sitting down. He believes his superior should have been escorted off the property immediately yet Mr. Hayes is again suspended without pay until further notice. Mr. Hayes has filed an official police report. The other employees were asked if they would like to file a police report and he was told they all said no. He was also told from some of the co-workers that they would have told what happened if they had not been asked in front of each other. He was simply suspended without pay simply because he asked questions. He asked other council members if this was insubordination and they said no. He asked Council to please fix this hostile work environment.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to go into Executive Session to discuss Executive Session Minutes and Personnel. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Adjourn: 6:21 p.m.
Reconvene: 7:15 p.m.
Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to return to open session. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried. Mayor John McPeek presided over open session with Commissioners Raymond Gunning, Roger Angelly, Rupert Johnson and Ron Morse answer call.
Mayor John McPeek stated the Executive Session minutes from: August 06, 2020 will be open, September 03, 2020 will remain closed, September 10, 2020 will remain closed, October 15, 2020 will remain closed, November 05, 2020 will remain closed.
Mayor John McPeek stated no action was taken on personnel.
Commissioner Ron Morse made the motion to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Adjourn: 7:17 p.m.
https://www.thecityofharrisburgil.com/minutes
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