City of Harrisburg City Council met March 3.
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, Roger Angelly, Rupert Johnson and Ron Morse answering roll call.
Mayor John McPeek thanked Pastor Jerry Wells for attending and participating in the Leap Day Tornado memorial service.
Pastor Jerry Wells from Dorrisville Social Brethren Church led the group in prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the consent agenda.
Regular Meeting Minutes – February 17, 2022
Check Register and Warrant Report – February 2022
Brown & Roberts, Inc. - $294.22 - #2021-149
Seconded by Commissioner Ron Morse. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek stated the timber bids will not be opened and will be returned to both bidders.
Alex Watkins discussed the Request for Proposal for Durham’s Hardware. At this time there were no proposals submitted for this property. There are four store fronts at this location with approximately 16,000 square feet. Commissioner Ron Morse made the motion to authorize Alex Watkins to approach real estate developers for Durham’s Hardware. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Alex Watkins presented a proposal for The Burg Café. One proposal was submitted and it is a strong proposal. The proposal has been forwarded on to Moran Economic Development for review. This seems to be a strong proposal, be a benefit to the city, and will revitalize this property. Mayor John McPeek stated the building need extensive renovations.
There was a discussion regarding the building and required renovations. Commissioner Roger Angelly stated this would create jobs and start paying taxes. Alex Watkins stated the formal agreement will give the timelines for the project. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said the city will receive sales tax from this proposed business. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to authorize Alex Watkins to move forward with the formal agreement process. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Treasurer Alex Jackson requested to use the credit card on an as needed basis up to $500.00 without prior approval from council. She stated it hard to make local purchases due to supply and demand. She also stated some items are cheaper online. The purchases will still be approved on the warrant reports. Commissioner Ron Morse made the motion to authorize the City Treasurer to make credit card purchases up to $500.00 without prior authorization. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning held a question and answer discussion regarding the proposed ambulance service. Commissioner Roger Angelly stated he is in support of the ambulance service for Harrisburg; however, he would like to see a plan. He would like it to include the start up cost, administrative cost, collections, staffing to make sure the city has the funds to proceed.
Commissioner Roger Angelly asked if a call is within city limits, will the citizen receive a bill? If a citizen within city limits utilizes the Fired Department, there is not a bill for a fire call. He would like to know the answer to that question. He would like to know if the city is the primary provider or secondary?
Fire Chief John Gunning stated the service they are providing now is nothing different that what they will provide once they are licensed. He stated they need a cot and a monitor to transport to the hospital. Supplies have already been purchased.
Commissioner Roger Angelly asked if the vehicle being used now can be used to provide the transport service. Fire Chief John Gunning stated the city will not need to purchase additional ambulances. The service will use the existing rig. Fire Chief John Gunning stated the nationwide trend is for firehouses to provide this service. He stated private businesses come and go. Fire Chief John Gunning stated this is a beneficial step for the citizens and for the city which will generate revenue. He is hoping that it gets to the point, where their budget is taken care of with the calls and the money goes back into the general fund to do other things.
Fire Chief John Gunning stated if a citizen signs a refusal of services when the ambulance is called then there will not be a charge to the citizen. Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated the firehouse is averaging five to seven calls per day in Harrisburg. Fire Chief John Gunning stated they are at 315 call to date.
Commissioner Roger Angelly asked when both Deaconess and Harrisburg goes out, did Harrisburg need to go out as well? Fire Chief John Gunning stated they will not overlap with Deaconess. He stated he spoke to Deaconess before setting this in motion and they are welcoming the Harrisburg ambulance. Commissioner Roger Angelly asked if both providers show up to a call, who gets to charge. Fire Chief John Gunning stated the provider who transports gets to charge.
Fire Chief John Gunning discussed the fee for billing. He stated the proposed company is not charging for them to come in to set it up. They are waiving those fess and it is on a five-year commitment. The proposed company will handle all billing and all reports which is forwarded to the State. They overlook and scan all reports. If there is a glitch in the report, it could cause IDPH to kick it out and it will be sent back for correction. If 1200 calls are ran in one year, that is $990,000. This company gets paid only when they collect the money. They do not charge for anything unless they collect money from insurance, Medicare/Medicaid, or private pay. It is a 6% to 7% charge. Most companies charge 10% to 12%.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning said the insurance through William’s and Associates is not much at all. Fire Chief John Gunning said the insurance is not going to change even if they transport. Fire Chief John Gunning said the city can provide a service and not cost the city any money. If this service goes to a glitch, the city can go to a paramedic service with a simple transformation and only hire four outside paramedics. That would allow the city to run ALS. This would change the fee in the billing process.
Commissioner Roger Angelly asked for the plan. Fire Chief John Gunning stated he would get the numbers together. Commissioner Raymond Gunning said having three men per shift will save overtime. Fire Chief John Gunning stated three men per shift help to avoid a recall of men. When two men are on a shift, and a guy takes off, that leaves the fire department with one man which means the department needs to have a recall man causing overtime.
Commissioner Ron Morse asked stated if council is waiting on that report, shouldn’t council wait to hire an additional fireman? Commissioner Roger Angelly suggest waiting for the additional new hire until the next meeting. There will be one replacement hire at this meeting, but the additional hire should wait. Commissioner Ron Morse would like to wait until Treasurer Alex Jackson has been able to get numbers for the new budget. Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated moving forward, they would like to be online in June for the EMT services.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to hire Jared Sieveking (replacement for the employee resigning) as a firefighter at the rate of $16.15 effective March 16, 2022 pending the passing of his physical and drug screen. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated he will table the additional new hire in the Fire Department.
Commissioner Roger Angelly thanked Mayor John McPeek for the excellent memorial service for the Leap Day Tornado.
Mayor John McPeek reminded the citizens to stop littering.
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: 6:27 p.m.
https://www.thecityofharrisburgil.com/_files/ugd/3acc7b_7a9ffabaa0424d22968cbcb25409d73b.pdf
Alerts Sign-up