SE Illinois News

City of Harrisburg City Council met May 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Harrisburg City Council met on May 16, 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 Jonathan Brown answering roll call.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning led the group in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

Regular Meeting Minutes – May 02, 2024

PSD - $18,080 – Spring Clean Up – Business District

Mike Sullivan Electric - $1,479.09 - #508 – Business District

Moran Economic Development - $5,180.00 - #2372 – Dtown TIF/Veterans Drive TIF

Classic Garden - $22,745.00 - #47864 – Business District

Relinquish Lake Lot – Nathan Prather – 2nd Add, Block 2, Lot 4

Petition Lake Lot – Connie Prather – 2nd Add, Block 2, Lot 4

Relinquish Lake Lot – Steve Quertermous – 1st Add, Block 2, Lot 8

Petition Lake Lot – James/Lydia Nixon – 1st Add, Block 2, Lot 8

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

Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve Resolution 24-0516 for Timber Trails Apartments. 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 approve Resolution 24-0516A for Subway. 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 approve Resolution 24-0516B for Little Taste of Sicily. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek held a discussion with council regarding dilapidated buildings and properties. There are houses and buildings in town that in bad shape. The city needs to get a plan of action. There is a house on Sloan/McHaney which needs to be torn down. This house is tied up with the bank and insurance.

Superintendent Kenny Mayhall said is gave the owner of the old bait shop until today to decide if he was tearing down the burned building or if the city would be tearing it down. He will let the council know what happens at the next meeting.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown asked what was the biggest problem with obtaining these properties. Attorney Kolby Smithpeters replied there are liens, mortgage, and sometime you cannot locate the property owner. If the trustee obtains it through taxes, you have to wait three years before the city can make a purchase.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown held an open discussion on the option of writing tickets. There is an ordinance to write tickets and the city should be following the ordinance. He stated maybe the council could look at changing the ordinance to increase the fine. Attorney Kolby Smithpeters stated the fine can be up to $1,000 per the state statute. Commissioner Jonathan Brown said the city needs to put pressure on the citizens by issuing tickets. Commissioner Roger Angelly stated if one person received a ticket, then perhaps the other citizens would realize they need to clean up their property. Mayor John McPeek was in agreement with being more aggressive with issuing tickets.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson stated he feels the council should allow the property owner to clean their property rather than sending in city employees to clean it up. It is cheaper to offer them a dumpster than having city employees doing the work. Commissioner Raymond Gunning expressed his concern about offering dumpsters because other citizens will request dumpsters. The question was asked whether or not the citizen on Sloan/Webster has been issued a ticket. Commissioner Rupert Johnson stated yes.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown stated if no tickets are being issues, then there is no pressure to clean up the property. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said a ticket is not a jail offense. Commissioner Roger Angelly stated citizens should not be allowed to live on a piece of property without proper water and sewer.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown would like to see the ordinance followed, issue tickets, raise the fines, and get a court date set if they do not comply. There are a lot of programs within our area that help people get work. Mayor John McPeek would like to see the property owner receive the ticket. Most of these homes in this condition are a result of renters. The landlord does not make them keep it clean. If the property owner received the ticket, he believes the properties will start getting cleaned up.

Eric Boe with Brown and Roberts, Inc. presented the MFT bid tabulations from the bid letting held at City Hall on May 10, 2024. There were four companies who placed sealed bids for this year’s MFT projects. He stated Illini Asphalt was the only bidder for asphalt and seal coat. Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to accept the bid from Illini Asphalt in the amount of $94,095.00. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Eric Boe with Brown and Roberts, Inc. stated Beelman Logistics, LLC was the lowest bidder for the coarse aggregate rock. Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to accept the bid from Beelman Logistics, LLC in the amount of $25,969.50. 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 approve Resolution 24-0516C for the MFT project. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Attorney Kolby Smithpeters stated he did the research regarding 311 West South Street. There is no mortgage or liens against the property. The owner wants to give the property to the city. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to authorize Attorney Kolby Smithpeters to draft the deed to obtain 311 South Street. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated a seized car is now available to be sold. The car is a 1998 Pontiac Firebird with 74,300 miles. The minimum sealed bid required is $6,000.00. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to authorize the City Clerk to advertise for sealed bids for the 1998 Pontiac Firebird. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Roger Angelly stated Brandi Gaskins has decided to take a job in Carmi. She gave her notice and he and Superintendent Jason Haney asked the Chief Water Clerk if she would like to be the new office manager. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to hire Traci Kleinfeldt as the Water Office Manager effective May 16, 2024 starting at $50,000 a year. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Roger Angelly stated a position became available when Traci accepted the manger’s position. He interviewed someone and she has accepted the position of Chief Water Clerk. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to hire Lexee Fulkerson as the Chief Water Clerk effective May 20, 2024 at the starting rate of $19.788 pending the passing of a physical and drug screen. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Roger Angelly held a discussion regarding the ambulance service. He believes the county should help cover some of this expense. Attorney Kolby Smithpeters stated he sent a letter to the county. Mayor John McPeek said he received two phone calls from county board members to discuss this issue. Next week, Mayor John McPeek will schedule a meeting with members of the county board and see if there can be an agreement reached.

Commissioner Roger Angelly stated the county said they had no money to help, yet they are putting a $500,000 bid on a building. Commissioner Raymond Gunning said he was told the county wants to negotiate with UMR Ambulance Service. Why couldn’t they just assist with the Abbott expense instead of negotiating with UMR. Mayor John McPeek stated it is a state statute to tone out the Abbott ambulance, Harrisburg ambulance, Harrisburg Fire Department and Harrisburg Police Department. He thinks the city should not continue paying for central dispatch until an there is an ambulance agreement with the county. Commissioner Roger Angelly stated this agreement needs to be revisited and to meet with the county.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to authorize the city clerk to advertise for sealed bids for the property demolition. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to authorize the city clerk to advertise for sealed bids on the sale of property. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson stated a list of the properties are in the city clerk’s office.

Commissioner Roger Angelly stated the Harrisburg High School seniors used the amphitheater for an event. It was a nice event and everyone had a great time.

Mayor John McPeek reminded the citizens of the upcoming Memorial Day Service at Little Arlington that starts at 10:00 a.m. on May 27, 2024. The July 4th fireworks will be at the City Amphitheater. There will be a DJ, possible food trucks, and the fireworks will begin at 9:00 p.m. Please stop littering.

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: 8:32 a.m.

https://www.thecityofharrisburgil.com/minutes