SE Illinois News

City of Harrisburg City Council met Nov. 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Harrisburg City Council met on November 16, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. at the Harris-Pruett Building located at 107 E. Church Street, 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 Cynthia Potter answering roll call.

Pastor Laurie Fields of 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.

Regular Meeting Minutes – November 02, 2023

PSD – Fall Clean Up - $16,200 – Business District

Ray O’Herron - $152.99 - #3174033 – Council Contingency

Siegel’s Uniform - $164.98 - #552334-1 – Council Contingency

Siegel’s Uniform - $156.98 - #552332-1 – Council Contingency

Amazon - $22.48 - #111-2265479 – Council Contingency

Galls - $868.99 - #025959680 – Council Contingency

Prestige Project Mgt. - $67,255.96 Final - #3144 – Business District

Murphy Elevator Company - $54,600.00 - #28976 – Business District

Robinson Masonry - $24,800.00 - #432089 – Business District

Wasted Disposal - $3,000.00 #11-2023 – Business District

Moran Economic Development - $14,140.00 - #2183 – TIF/Business District

Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Pastor Laurie Fields thanked the City of Harrisburg for their help and support with the 4-C’s. They have given food out to over 1,600 people. She said they are always taking cash donations to help buy food.

Mayor McPeek stated there was no sealed bids to open for 521 W. Barnett Street.

Jim Brown from Brown and Roberts, Inc presented the bid tabulation from the opening held on November 08, 2023 at City Hall for the overlay project on Dorris Heights Road and two parking lots uptown and the Main Street area. Samron Midwest bid was $523,677.50 which was under the projected cost by 2.43% and E.T. Simonds Construction was $528,218.85 which was under the projected cost by 1.58%. Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to accept the bid proposal from Samron Midwest for $523,677.50. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek stated council will go into executive session to discuss collective bargaining and potential litigation.

Attorney Kolby Smithpeters presented council with purchase contracts for properties that need to be torn down. These properties are: 629 Lincoln Street, 415 Vine Street, 519 W. Elm Street, and 442 Church Street. The City can purchase the properties from the Saline County Tax Agent for $820.00 each and then tear the properties down. Commissioner Cynthia Potter made the motion to purchase the properties from the Saline County Tax Agent for $820.00 each. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek stated the city did not receive any bids for the request for proposal for the ambulance service. Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated he will be meeting with the county committee, sheriff, chief of police, and fire chief to discuss the ambulance service on December 04, 2023. Mayor John McPeek suggested to rewrite the request for proposal making the ambulance provider the first responder instead of secondary.

Two ambulance representatives was present and discussed the current RFP. The city’s RFP call volume was incorrect, there was too many restrictions, the number of transports needs to be included for an accurate revenue account, and call data is important to determine a subsidy cost. The provider should be able take ALS and BLS calls. The contract should be longer than two years.

An open discussion was held between council and the ambulance representatives regarding the cost of running an ambulance, the number of ambulances, and deployment of an ambulance. There needs to be true and accurate data in the RFP in order to keep the cost low to the city. Call data is very important to give an accurate proposal. There are a variety of way to write the RFP, but it is up to how much the city is willing to support it.

The only way to get enough ambulance is by locking them into a contract, and there will need to be a subsidy. Allowing an ambulance to run transfers helps with the cost of the subsidy. It is a balancing act. Commissioner Raymond Gunning said there have to be some negotiations with the calls. He wants to still be able to cover Harrisburg. Parameters need to be set up with the provider and the city. Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated we need to make this work.

Jim Brown with Brown and Roberts, Inc. discussed the application process for the TARP grant. TARP mean Truck Access Route Program. He informed council that if this grant is awarded, the area will be designated as a truck route. He encouraged council to decide on the designated area for this grant. The grant will pay for about 20% of the work. The application must be submitted by January 04, 2024.

Mayor John McPeek stated he was told by IDOT that the city should be applying for all grants. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to authorize Brown and Roberts, Inc. to apply for the TARP grant. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Cynthia Potter wished everyone a great Thanksgiving.

Commissioner Roger Angelly asked to table the discussion regarding water/sewer rates until the study from Illinois Rural Water Association is completed. Mayor John McPeek stated he wants all citizens to know the water increase is solely caused by Saline Valley Conservancy District. Saline Valley Conservancy District has raised our water purchase rates by 27% over the last three years. They are building a new million dollar building as well. Commissioner Roger Angelly stated he will be presenting the information when it becomes available. Commissioner Rupert Johnson would like to look into getting our own water.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson discussed with council the need to help the community elderly and handicap with their property cleanup. He stated the aging population in our town, who continue to pay property taxes, cannot keep up with cleaning their property. Our goal is to clean up Harrisburg. Mayor John McPeek asked if there is a list of guidelines? Commissioner Roger Angelly would like Commissioner Rupert Johnson to present the guidelines to council before making the motion.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson said this program will be handled on a case-by-case basis. David Williams tells Commissioner Rupert Johnson there are people not able to clean up their property. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said writing a ticket does no good. The main goal is to clean up the town.

Commissioner Cynthia Potter asked who will be making the determination on the case-by-case basis? She asked about the liability aspect of this program. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said he and David Williams will make the determinations. She stated it is wonderful to clean up the city, but there needs to be some parameters with the program.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to adopt an elderly and handicapped assistance cleanup program. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes, except Commissioner Cynthia Potter voting no. Motion carried.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson stated their back hoe burned up in a fire and is a complete loss. Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to authorize the city clerk to advertise for sealed bids to purchase a used track hoe. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek stated it was time for the inside of City Hall to be painted. It is time for fresh new colors. Mayor John McPeek was interested in obtaining sealed bids for the project; however, Commissioner Rupert Johnson is confident that his men can paint city hall. No sealed bids will be obtained for this project as the public property department will be painting city hall.

Mayor John McPeek would like to have a fence put up around 1 Poplar Street. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to authorize the city clerk to advertise for sealed bids for a fence a 1 Poplar Street. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek announced: Welcomed Shelia Johnson to City Hall as the new Deputy Treasurer, Christmas in the Courtyard on November 30 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Lights Parade on December 14 starting at 6:00 p.m. and please stop littering.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to adjourn and go into executive session to discuss collective bargaining and potential litigation. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Adjourn: 8:42 a.m.

Reconvene: 9:02 a.m.

Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to return to open session. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek called the meeting to order. Mayor John McPeek presided over the meeting with Commissioners Raymond Gunning, Roger Angelly, Rupert Johnson and Cynthia Potter answering roll call.

Mayor John McPeek stated there was nothing to act upon regarding collective bargaining or potential litigation.

Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Adjourn: 9:03 a.m.

https://www.thecityofharrisburgil.com/_files/ugd/3acc7b_8698b1f902ad42e0a3887e02992befe3.docx?dn=R11-16-23.docx