City of Harrisburg City Council met Feb. 17.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The Harrisburg City Council met at 6:00 a.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 and Ron Morse answering roll call. Commissioner Roger Angelly was absent.
Pastor Jerry Wells from Dorrisville Social Brethren Church led the group in prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner Ron Morse made the motion to approve the consent agenda.
Regular Meeting Minutes – January 20, 2022
Special Meeting Minutes – January 26, 2022
Check Register and Warrant Report – January 2022
Earth Services - $113,500.00 - #20220120-1 – TIF
E.T. Simonds - $17,205.59 – Mill St./Ogara St. Pay Estimate #3
Ryan Pate – Relinquish Lake Lot – Southeast Addition, Lot 2
Jacob Palmer - Relinquish Lake Lot – Southeast Addition, Lot 5
Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to release the $500.00 mobile home damage deposit back to Jarrett and Ashley Gifford. Seconded by Commissioner Ron Morse. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek opened the only sealed bid for the police building extension project. The bid was from Lane Erectors at a cost of $17,479.00. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to accept the sealed bid from Lane Erectors for $17,479.00. Seconded by Commissioner Ron Morse. A roll call vote was taken
Fire Chief John Gunning discussed EMT training, billing and an ambulance service. The Fire Department has been running a first responder since May 2021. The plan is to become a transport ambulance. He presented information on a billing company if council chooses to do so. The training classes start in April and goes through June. There is money in the Fire Department training budget for this.
If there is BLS transport, they can bill up to $800-$900 per run. There is a difference in pricing for Medicare vs. private insurance. The state will pay $8.00 per mile for the first seventeen (17) miles. The funds are available for the classes, education and this project should be ready by the end of June.
The billing company does not charge for the service; however, there is a 5% fee on anything they collect. The provide all auditing reports. They work with IDPH, have attorney’s on staff and seventy-nine (79) people on staff that do collections. They supply the software, set it up at the Fire Department once the City enters into a contract which is non-monetary and a five (5) year contract. The Fire Department will not do any billing. The Fire Department will receive money from collections through this company.
Deaconess is 100% supporting of the Fire Department having a BLS ambulance. Fire Chief Gunning stated the Fire Department is just a backup. The Fire Department will be able to handle the City of Harrisburg for calls.
Fire Chief Gunning stated the projection of calls is roughly 2600 calls this year. Out of 2600, if all 1200 of those were all insurance, the first year would generate about $990,000. If 40% was Medicaid and rest insurance, it will be about $700,000. Fire Chief Gunning spoke to the insurance provider, and the City is already covered for this service.
Treasurer Alex Jackson inquired about the expense for the rig and equipment. Fire Chief Gunning stated equipment has been purchased with Bill Ghent’s safety money. A cot and a monitor still needs to be purchased. There are funds available with the spiller pay money and the foreign fire money. Fire Chief Gunning state they will do whatever they need to do to get it equipped.
More and more Fire Departments are assisting with ambulance calls and Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated this service will stay inside the city limits. Fire Chief Gunning stated his department will need one more staff.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the Fire Department to start EMT classes. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Alex Watkins reported on the final details of the ICIJA grant. He stated the City did not receive the monetary funding from the grant; however, the City did receive some good feedback and helpful data. Commissioner Ron Morse made the motion to submit the final closeout on the ICIJA grant. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Justin Dartt from Dartt and Company gave an update on the audit. Treasurer Alex Jackson has been working hard to get the office back in line. This did not happen overnight and it will not be fixed overnight. He assured council the MFT money is not locked up and will not be locked up. He is aware of the GATA issue. The six-month extension is up. The extension for FY21 will be up in April. Justin Dartt and his firm were to start in August 2021 and there were several delays
by the previous Treasurer. Since Treasurer Alex Jackson was hired, things have began moving forward. Justin Dartt would like to come back in late April to finish testing. There are three solutions:
1) Disclaim and opinion; however, that is not recommended.
2) Hire another auditor; however, everyone is too far into this audit to start all over.
3) Come back in late April to finish up field work
If everything goes well, looking at the end of May to finish FY20. The goal is to come in and finish FY20, roll right into FY21, have that taken care of, and schedule in late July/August to finish up FY22. This will get the City in compliance. Council is in agreement to continue with Dartt and Company to complete the audits. If there are any further questions, please call Justin Dartt.
Roth Clayton from Clearwave updated council on the Clearwave development project. He reassured council that Clearwave is moving forward and will be ready in March to finalize some details. There is every intention to build/provide residential in Harrisburg in 2022. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to contact Clearwave.
Brown and Roberts, Inc. presented a Supplemental Resolution for Mill/Ogara St. The total project ran over about $10,000. This will allow expenditures of Motor Fuel Tax money. Commissioner Ron Morse made the motion to approve Resolution 22-0217. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown discussed applying for IEPA for some unsewered funds. He will apply for the unsewered funds during the next funding cycle.
Alene Carr with SIRPDC presented an ordinance amending the territory of Saline County Enterprise Zone. There is a request to expand the enterprise zone. There are four new projects and they need to be included within the zone. These new projects will create around 300 construction jobs. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve Ordinance 1843 amending the territory of Saline County Enterprise Zone. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Alene Carr with SIRPDC discussed the intergovernmental agreement. This agreement adds the new maps. Commissioner Ron Morse made the motion to approve the intergovernmental agreement. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Alene Carr with SIRPDC requested the Mayor to sign the application certification for the approved enterprise zone. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to authorize Mayor John McPeek to sign the application certification. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Alex Watkins presented a proposal for services. The City of Harrisburg will start using SIH for physicals, and drug screens now that Dr. Alexander is no longer with HMC and HMC is merging with SIH . The cost is cheaper than the prior service being used. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve using SIH as a provider for physicals and drug screens. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek discussed 1 E. Poplar Street project. Mayor John McPeek made the motion to hire Environmental and Associates, LLC in the amount of $1700.00 to see if there is any asbestos present. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated a firefighter has put in his resignation. He would like to hire an additional firefighter to make three employees per shift. Once the department begins with the EMT service, this will not only help the community but will generate revenue and free up money for the general fund. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to hire two firefighters and request the City Clerk to contact the Merit Board for two names. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Two of the firefighters will be awarded with a merit service award on February 24, 2022 at the Fire House if anyone would like to attend.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson discussed the repairing of steps at City Hall. He currently has a bid of $10,000 for the repairs. He will get an estimate for heating the front steps and see about putting a wheelchair ramp on the steps. He will request a new estimate and report back to council.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson discussed the Cemetery/Harrisburg Lake budget. He would like to see that as a line item in his budget for all the money generated from the cemetery and Harrisburg Lake. This will allow him to keep an eye on the spending. Treasurer Alex Jackson said this is possible, but council needs to keep in mind this will take away roughly $100,000 causing a deficit in the general fund. This will result in making cuts in the general fund.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to hire Nathan Shaw at $19.685 effective March 01, 2022. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson discussed an additional new hire for public property. Commissioner Ron Morse asked if there was money in his budget for this new hire. Treasurer Alex Jackson stated there is enough money in the budget for four paychecks which will finish out this fiscal year. She has not started working on the new budget and does not know what the new budget is going to look like with all these changes. At this point, she does not know if it good to hire someone who could be laid off in May. She needs time to work on the budget. She wants to be forthright with this information.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning would not recommend the self-sufficient budget with removing $98,000 out of the general fund. Commissioner Raymond Gunning asked the new hire if he was okay with the possibility only receiving four paychecks during this budget year. The new hire was in agreement.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to hire Gabe Adams at $19.685 effective March 01, 2022. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes, except Commissioner Ron Morse voting no. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek stated Harrisburg is over saturated with video gaming. He is suggesting a cap of 130 terminals in the City of Harrisburg. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve Ordinance 1844. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek stated we lost citizen Rick Lane on February 14, 2022. Several individuals would like to recognize Rick Lane in some way. Mayor John McPeek stated Commissioner Roger Angelly suggested a street name change. Mayor John McPeek made the motion to change the O’Gara Street Extension to Rick Lane Drive. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to adjourn. Seconded Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Adjourn: 6:47 p.m.
https://www.thecityofharrisburgil.com/_files/ugd/3acc7b_596f28e738fb479a9694e069d4c09ed8.pdf
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