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City of Harrisburg City Council met May 2.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Harrisburg City Council met on May 02, 2024 at 6:00 p.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 Jonathan Brown answering roll call.

Pastor Lynette Barnett from the First United Methodist Church led the group in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the consent agenda.

Public Hearing Minutes – April 18, 2024

Regular Meeting Minutes – April 18, 2024

Special Adjourned Minutes – April 29, 2024

Check Register and Warrant Reports – April 2024

Sherwin Williams - $3596.60 - #3907 – MFT

City Limit Motors - $5000.00 – Veterans Drive TIF

Brown & Roberts, Inc. - $134,100.00 - #01 – Business District

Keith Williams – Petition Lake Lot – 4th Addition, Lot 20

Brittney Hopkins – Relinquish Lake Lot – 2nd Add, Block 2, Lot 24

Joe Brown – Petition to Lease – 2nd Add, Block 2, Lot 24

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

Citizen David Gabbard commended council on the improvements throughout Harrisburg and at Harrisburg Lake. He stated “these things do not go unnoticed”. There have been improvements with the streets, tear down of houses, and some new businesses in Harrisburg. The lease holders at Harrisburg Lake have been cleaning up their areas. There is a new dock and playground equipment at Harrisburg Lake. There is more traffic and visitors as well.

He thanked council for their continued leadership and dedication to make things better for our town. He said there will still be those individuals that just want to complain, but he said things are getting better.

City Treasurer Alex Jackson stated the Timber Trails TIF agreement has been signed by all parties. They requested an extension to complete the project. Julie Nelson from Timber Trails stated the expected start date is mid-July and the project will be completed within twelve months. This apartment complex will have 50 units. She thanks the city for their support and help with this project. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the extension for Timber Trails Affordable Housing Complex. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Attorney Kolby Smithpeters discussed the addition of transitional homes to the mobile home ordinance. Transition homes has guidelines before they can be installed. These homes are for supportive services. There will be a flat rate of $500.00 for the application process. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve Ordinance 1879 to include transitional homes. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

A mobile home application for 1340 W. Robinson Street was presented to council. Fire Chief John Gunning informed the city clerk that this property has been inspected and they can proceed. The application fee and deposit has been paid. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the mobile home application John Rush/Tonya Doom at 1340 W. Robinson St. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Attorney Kolby Smithpeters stated 216 National Street has an abandoned trailer on the property. This trailer is dangerous with vulgar graffiti on it. Attorney Kolby Smithpeters informed council this is just a demolition and the city will not own the property. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to authorize Attorney Kolby Smithpeters to begin the legal process in order to demolition the trailer at 216 National Street. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown held an open discussion with council regarding CDL in the 318 contract. There is an employee needing to still obtain his CDL which now requires the school training. The new training came into effect after the 318 contract was signed.

Commissioner Roger Angelly stated the city should only hire individuals who already have their CDL. If this employee does not meet the requirements of the contract within the one-year probation period, they should be subject to dismissal. Commissioner Jonathan Brown asked Commissioner Rupert Johnson where this training will be paid from. Treasurer Alex Jackson stated Commissioner Rupert Johnson does not have a training line item. He will have to take the funds from a different line item in his budget to cover this expense. Commissioner Jonathan Brown asked what happens if the employee quits or is fired.

Attorney Kolby Smithpeters stated during the 318 contract negotiations, new language should be put in the contract regarding CDL requirements. Commissioner Rupert Johnson does not believe the city will be able to hire people with CDL at the city pay rate.

Commissioner Roger Angelly stated this individuals address appears to be Equality. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said he lives on Webster Street in Harrisburg. Superintendent Kenny Mayhall stated the employee has not changed his drivers license address.

Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to authorize Attorney Kolby Smithpeters to draft an agreement regarding CDL requirements. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown stated all sidewalks need to go through the bidding process in order to apply for sidewalk grants. If awarded the grant, this will allow the city treasurer to apply for reimbursements. Commissioner Jonathan Brown made the motion to authorize the city clerk to advertise sidewalk projects as needed to remain in compliance with the upcoming grant application. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated council will go into executive session to discuss property acquisition.

Commissioner Roger Angelly stated council came to a mutual agreement regarding a Wastewater Plant Manager. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to approve Ordinance 1880 for a Wastewater Plant Manager. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to appoint Ryan Collins as the Wastewater Plant Manager effective upon receiving his license. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson discussed the need for summer help for the code enforcer. He stated the citizens expect the city to be cleaned up. There is only one employee in the code enforcement department. He would like to find money to hire summer help. Commissioner Raymond Gunning asked if any other employees from his department could help the code enforcer. Commissioner Rupert Johnson stated that is a possibility after Memorial Day.

Commissioner Roger Angelly is not in favor of summer help. Commissioner Jonathan Brown stated summer help was not budgeted. He is in favor of summer help if you find the right people. He informed council that there is an Earn Fair Program through the township that citizens can utilize. The township is looking for people to apply. We should utilize the resources that we have.

The code enforcer has a lot to mow. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said the code enforcer can’t do all the work the citizens expect him to do by himself. Commissioner Roger Angelly likes the idea of moving someone from the department over to help the code enforcer.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown asked if the summer help would go through an application process. Commissioner Rupert Johnson confirmed there is an application process. Commissioner Jonathan Brown stated the biggest issue is funding summer help. Treasurer Alex Jackson stated there are no grants for salaries.

Mayor John McPeek made the motion to appoint Ron Morse as the Safety Director. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek held an open discussion with council regarding the ambulance. The city pays $385,000 to service the entire county. He believes the surrounding towns and the county should help fund the ambulance. He stated 50% of the calls for the ambulance are outside of Harrisburg.

Commissioner Roger Angelly thought the plan was for the Harrisburg ambulance to cover Harrisburg. Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated by law, if Abbott is unavailable then the city ambulance must respond. He stated Abbott said they aren’t required to outside the city as they have been contracted with only Harrisburg; however, council agreed to let Abbott go outside the city. Commissioner Roger Angelly said Abbott would provide an additional ambulance if needed instead of sending the Harrisburg ambulance, and now we are sending the Harrisburg ambulance out.

Mayor John McPeek stated the $385,000 is hurting the City of Harrisburg. Attorney Kolby Smithpeters stated it would not hurt to meet with the other towns and the county for this discussion. Mayor John McPeek would like Attorney Kolby Smithpeters to send a letter to the surrounding towns/Mayors and county board to set up a meeting Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated there needs to be a meeting to discuss the issue.

Mayor McPeek stated instead of the county buying the Clearwave Building for storage, they should help the city with the ambulance. Attorney Kolby Smithpeters suggested getting the number of calls and where the ambulance is going for the past year. Mayor John McPeek stated Fire Chief John Gunning said in a previous meeting the ambulance will only go out of the limits for automobile accidents or critical calls, and the ambulance will stay within the designated boundaries.

Mayor John McPeek stated he thought the county would come to the city by now to provide assistance. Police Chief Nathan Moore reminded council that Abbott agreed to send a third ambulance from Franklin County if needed. Council agrees to have Attorney Kolby Smithpeters send a letter to set up a meeting with other towns and the county.

Citizen Dennis Gauger asked if there could be a county wide ambulance and put it on a referendum for a vote. Everyone needs to sit down and find a solution. He congratulated Mayor McPeek and the council for standing up for all of Saline County.

Mayor John McPeek stated council will go into executive session to discuss possible litigation.

Mayor John McPeek reminded the citizens about the Memorial Day Service at Little Arlington Cemetery on May 27 at 10:00 a.m. Also, please stop littering.

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

Adjourn: 6:37 p.m.

Reconvene: 702 p.m.

Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to return to open session. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. 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, and Jonathan Brown answering roll call.

Mayor John McPeek stated this is no action regarding property acquisition.

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: 7:03 p.m.

https://www.thecityofharrisburgil.com/minutes