City of Harrisburg City Council met April 7.
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.
Pastor Jerry Wells from Dorrisville Social Brethren Church led the group in prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor John McPeek thanked everyone for the love and support after the loss of Roxanna Nicholes. She will be missed.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the consent agenda.
Regular Meeting Minutes – March 17, 2022
Crystal Henderson - Relinquish Lake Lot – 2nd Addition, Block 2, Lot 21
Molly Douglas – Petition to Lease Lake Lot – 2nd Addition, Block 2, Lot 21
BJ Moore – Petition to Lease Lake Lot – Southeast Addition, Lot 5
Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Citizen Kendra Gilley had an open discussion with council regarding allowing chicken to be inside city limits. She requested the current ordinance be changed and allow citizens to have chickens within city limits. She presented ordinances from other cities showing their rules and regulations for chickens. She asked council to review the information she presented and consider changing the current ordinance. Council stated they will review the information and discuss this topic with Attorney Kolby Smithpeters.
Citizen Sharon Vandenberg asked council to address the dogs running loose in her neighborhood. Commissioner Raymond Gunning asked her to call dispatch or the animal control officer.
Citizen Torch Wilson would like to see flowers planted in a section of the Malan Junior High property.
Alex Watkins stated a new business will be coming into town. He has worked with Keith Moran to draft a TIF agreement. The only incentive to this business is a property tax freeze over a five year agreement. The owners are ready to start the renovations.
Commissioner Ron Morse made the motion to authorize Mayor John McPeek to execute the TIF/Business District agreement with Caitlyn and Andrew Rowland, The Parlor. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Alex Watkins stated the city will need to sell the property to these individuals for $1000.00. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to authorize Attorney Kolby Smithpeters to draft the agreement for 9 East Poplar Street. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown presented the 2022 MFT Municipal Estimate to council. Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to approve the 2022 MFT Municipal Estimate cost of $406,005. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown presented the 2022 MFT Resolution for maintenance to council. He stated Eric Boe and Superintendent Kenny Mayhall has worked together to create the 2022 MFT projects. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve Resolution 22-0407 for the 2022 MFT maintenance of $415,000. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown presented the MFT maintenance engineering agreement to council. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the MFT maintenance engineering agreement. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown discussed the Harrisburg Lake dam inspection with council. Superintendent Kenny Mayhall stated the inspection should take place in June 2022. Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to approve to proceed with the Harrisburg Lake dam inspection. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek stated the city will be accepting bids for the demolition of 1 E Poplar Street. These buildings cannot be restored. They are beyond repair. He stated bids must be sealed, submitted to the City Clerk’s Office no later than May 11, 2022 by 10:00 a.m. The bid opening will be held at 10:00 a.m. on May 11, 2022 in council chambers, and the bid will be awarded during the May 19, 2022 council meeting.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to authorize the City Clerk to advertise for sealed bids for demolition of 1 E. Poplar Street. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek stated the city will be accepting bids for the sale of 22 W. Walnut Street. He stated bids must be sealed, submitted to the City Clerk’s Office no later than May 19, 2022 by 3:00 p.m. The property is being sold “As Is” and the bid opening will be on May 19, 2022 during the regularly scheduled council meeting.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to authorize the City Clerk to advertise for sealed bids for 22 W. Walnut. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek stated the city will be accepting bids city owned property trash service, such as the Street/Alley building, Water/Sewer building, Pruett building, etc. This is not a bid for residential trash service. He stated bids must be sealed, submitted to the City Clerk’s Office no later than May 19, 2022 by 3:00 p.m. Bids will be opened on May 19, 2022 during the regularly scheduled council meeting.
Commissioner Ron Morse made the motion to authorize the City Clerk to advertise for sealed bids for the City of Harrisburg garbage service. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Alex Watkins discussed ARPA funding allocation. The City will receive a total of $1,157,293.06. These funds have very specific uses and cannot be spent on just anything. The best way to allocate the funding, help put the city in the best financial position, is to allocate a majority of the funding to the Phase II Water which is one of the categories. It falls under the category of improvements in water and sewer infrastructure. The Phase II water project qualifies for debt repayment.
The City Treasurer has reviewed this and it will save the city in interest payments. This will pay down a debt in the water department by $1,100,000. The remaining $57,293.06 will be used for emergency uses. This will benefit all of Harrisburg. Commissioner Raymond Gunning thanked Alex Watkins for his dedication to the City.
Commissioner Ron Morse made the motion to approve Resolution 22-0407A for ARPA funding allocation. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Assistant Chief of Police Nathan Moore discussed a new program for the Police Department. This program will replace the existing program which is over thirty years old. This program will assist with inventory, court schedules, evidence photos and will also work with the Sherriff’s Department and Central Dispatch. The City Treasurer stated the program will be paid out of CURES money. There is a three-month trial period to see if it works before committing to an agreement. The purchase price for the system is $24,599.55. The yearly fee is $21,600.00.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the purchase of the 10-8 system for the Police Department. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Assistant Chief of Police Nathan Moore stated five police vehicles have been retired from the fleet. He would like to advertise three of them for sale. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to authorize the City Clerk to advertise for sealed bids for the sale of three used police vehicles. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Roger Angelly stated there has been an increase in returned checks. Increasing the fee may deter citizens from writing bad checks. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to increase the return check fee from $25.00 to $35.00. Seconded by Commissioner Ron Morse. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes, except Commissioner Rupert Johnson voted no. Motion carried.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson reminded citizens that Spring Clean-Up is being held April 18 through April 30, 2022. Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to authorize the City Clerk to advertise for the 2022 Spring Clean-Up from April 18 through April 30, 2022. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek stated there is an open position on the Airport Board. Mayor John McPeek made the motion to appoint Dan Dearing to the Airport Board through May 2024. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning . A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek stated there are several burned homes that needs to be addressed. There are three on Sloan Street and one on Granger Street. These homes are causing potential danger and need to tore down. Mayor John McPeek made the motion to authorize Attorney Kolby Smithpeters to move forward with the legal process for 25 W Sloan St., 519 W. Sloan St., 727 W. Sloan St., and Granger Street (address to be obtained). Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek announced the following: Improvement are going to begin on Poplar Street with repaving, Upcoming projects uptown, Pancake fundraiser for the Sasquatch Festival, and Spring Clean-Up. He encouraged the citizens to take your trash cans back to you house after your regular trash pickup. Trash cans are all over town and does not look appealing. The winds have been blowing them into the street.
Mayor John McPeek stated: Please, please, please stop littering.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning announced the Fortress had volunteers cleaning up trash along the bike path. He thanked them for their efforts. The Presbyterian Church will be doing the highway clean up when the weather is a little better.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Ron Morse. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Adjourn: 6:45 p.m.
https://www.thecityofharrisburgil.com/_files/ugd/3acc7b_bfdde70fa53741eead9216bd5fe3be03.pdf
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