SE Illinois News

City of Harrisburg City Council met March 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Harrisburg City Council met on March 21, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. at the City Hall located at 110 E. Locust 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 Bobby Gentry from River of Life Church led the group in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to approve the consent agenda.

Regular Meeting Minutes – March 07, 2024

Harrisburg Hardware - $8.96 - #116496 – Business District

Landis Wall & Ceiling – 24,900.00 - #030724 – Downtown TIF

Landis Wall & Ceiling - $2,300.00 - #03724 – Downtown TIF

Barnes Lumber - $54.38 - #551903 – Business District

Barnes Lumber - $35.96 - #551907 – Business District

Moran Economic Development - $1,260.00 - #2305 – TIF

Barnes Lumber - $359.94 - #551840 – Business District

Tree Top Products - $8,089.65 - #124137 – Downtown TIF

Barnes Lumber - $49.98 - #552099 – Business District

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

Commissioner Cynthia Potter stood up and spoke as a citizen during the meeting. She discussed the issues with having a property that has waste. There are health effects with improper waste disposal. She talked about issues within the city such as garbage, trash, refuge, discarded material, abandoned vehicles, and human/pet waste matter. There have been several citizens complain and none of these have been addressed. She has notified all commissioners and Mayor. There are squatters within our community.

Commissioner Cynthia Potter addressed these issues with Commissioner Rupert Johnson. She asked if the city has codes which should be enforced. She read some of the codes aloud to council. She wants council to address inoperable vehicles. She discussed improper parking due to abandoned vehicles. There are numerous codes being violated.

On November 16, 2023, there was a discussion regarding an elderly and handicapped program. She asked if anyone has utilized this program. She asked is the code enforcer was writing citations regarding these violations? Commissioner Rupert Johnson stated some of these issues are police matters.

She asked if this council is willing to have the community suffer due to squatters. She stated individuals are allowed to live in campers and portable buildings which is a code violation. Commissioner Cynthia Potter asked why inoperable vehicles are not being addressed. Mayor John McPeek is in agreement with Commissioner Cynthia Potter. He has also called the code enforcer and nothing gets done. Commissioner Rupert Johnson stated these issues will be taken care of. Mayor John McPeek stated the code enforcer is not doing his job.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson stated you cannot get blood out of a turnip, if the citizen cannot afford running water then they cannot afford a ticket. Mayor John McPeek stated the code enforcer should be writing tickets. Commissioner Cynthia Potter is not worried about tickets, she is concerned about cleaning up the city. She stated Commissioner Rupert Johnson had created a program for the elderly and handicapped, and Commissioner Roger Angelly had requested a list of guidelines. Commissioner Rupert Johnson has not presented a list of guidelines to council. Commissioner Rupert Johnson stated they have been cleaning up some properties.

Commissioner Cynthia Potter asked if this council is willing to do something to clean up the town? Mayor John McPeek stated the code enforcer will not write tickets or enforce the code. The code enforcer is scared of the people. Mayor John McPeek stated a police officer is willing to assist the code enforcer when needed. Commissioner Rupert Johnson asked if council expects his employees to handle the human waste. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said the property owner should be responsible for cleaning up their property.

There was a an open discussion about putting the code enforcer in another department. All commissioners, except Commissioner Rupert Johnson, agreed something needs to be done about the code enforcer. Commissioner Roger Angelly stated the council needs to start doing something different. Mayor John McPeek stated if the code enforcer comes back to his department, David Williams will not continue to be the code enforcer. Commissioner Cynthia Potter agreed to take the code enforcer in her department. Mayor John McPeek stated the code enforcer will not abide by the code book.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson said you are dealing with people who do not have any money. Commissioner Roger Angelly stated something needs to be done because it is not fair to the next-door neighbors. Mayor John McPeek stated the code enforcer mails out letters to deceased citizens, and he when he notified the person is deceased, he continues to mail the expense letter to them anyway. Council agrees to address the issues.

Mayor John McPeek opened the only sealed bid for the wheelchair lift project for City Hall. The sealed bid was from Murphy Elevator in the amount of $98,400.00. This project is being funded by a grant, and will make City Hall ADA accessible. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to accept the sealed bid from Murphy Elevator for $98,400.00. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek stated there were no sealed bids for the sale of property at this time.

Mayor John McPeek stated the bid opening for the fence project at 1 E. Poplar Street was rescheduled for March 25, 2024. The bid will be awarded at the April 04, 2024 council meeting.

Mayor John McPeek stated council will go into executive session to discussion property acquisition.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve Ordinance 1876 for the sale of property at 130 State Street. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to authorize Brown and Roberts to conduct the inspection at the Sahara Retention Impoundment Dam. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Attorney Kolby Smithpeters stated he will discuss 701 Commercial Street later in the meeting.

Attorney Kolby Smithpeters said 417 S. Ledford Street needs to be demolished. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to authorize Attorney Kolby Smithpeters to acquire 417 S. Ledford Street. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek gave an update to council on several properties. Attorney Kolby Smithpeters has filed judgements in court to obtain the right to tear down the structures. He will keep council updated.

City Treasurer Alex Jackson presented the FY 24/25 budget. This budget will sit out for ten days in the clerk’s office for review. She asked council to review the budget as changes can be made before it is voted on.

City Treasurer Alex Jackson stated there will be a public hearing at City Hall on Thursday April 18, 2024 at 7:45 regarding the budget.

Commissioner Roger Angelly stated the city will need to address water/sewer rates as a result of Saline Valley’s rate increases. Clark Cameron from Illinois Rural Water presented a study to council. He went over the water rate study with council. These numbers came from the water clerk and water department. The loss looks high, but some of this is maintenance such as hydrant flushing. The old billing system is not great, and there seems to be an issue with the master meter from Saline Valley and pass through gallons being sold. He believes the actual loss is only about 20%.

Clark Cameron continued the discussion regarding water and sewer data, existing rates, rate changes, and suggested changes. His suggestion is to lower the minimum gallons to 2,000 and raise the water consumption to $11.00 per thousand for a profit of $177,628.37. His suggestion for sewer is to increase to $10.00 per thousand for a profit of $101,288.85. This won’t punish those on the fixed income, just affect those using the water. This council seems to be proactive and has very knowledgeable staff. The staff provided everything asked for, there is an interested council for the issue, and council needs to stay ahead of this.

Mayor John McPeek asked if there is an option to raise the rates for customers out of city limits. Commissioner Roger Angelly stated the city is getting a new billing system and a new master meter at Saline Valley has been ordered. The billing system is part of the problem. The pass-through meter has been addressed as well.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson reminded citizens that the last day for Spring Clean-Up is this Friday. He also announced Spring Clean-Up at Harrisburg Lake will be April -1 through April 05, 2024.

Mayor John McPeek reminded the citizen to utilized Spring Clean-Up as it ends on Friday. Please continue to clean your yards, and to stop littering.

Mayor John McPeek made the motion to go into executive session to discuss property acquisition. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Adjourn: 9:04 a.m.

Reconvene: 9:24 a.m.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to return to open session. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. 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.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to authorize Attorney Kolby Smithpeters to accept the assignment and acquire of the property and present the foreclosure of 701 Commercial Street. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

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

Adjourn: 9:25 a.m.

https://www.thecityofharrisburgil.com/minutes