SE Illinois News

City of Harrisburg City Council met Sept. 19.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Harrisburg City Council met on September 19, 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.

Pastor Jerry Wells from the Dorrisville Social Brethen 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 – September 05, 2024

D & D Electric - $10,000 - #4028 - Business District

D & D Electric - $10,000 - #4029 - Business District

D & D Electric - $10,000 - #4030 - Business District

D & D Electric - $10,000 - #4031 - Business District

D & D Electric - $10,000 - #4032 - Business District

D & D Electric - $10,000 - #4033 - Business District

D & D Electric - $10,000 - #4034 - Business District

Cardinal Buildings - $19,146.00 - #090624 - Business District

Murphy Elevator - $29,600.00 - #37623 – DCEO

Moran Economic Development - $840.00 - #2487 – TIF

Rural King - $299.00 - #218746 – Downtown TIF

R.P. Lumber - $114.97 - #2847046 – Downtown TIF

Barnes Lumber - $16.08 - #557812 – Downtown TIF

Barnes Lumber - $180.48 - #557009 – Downtown TIF

Barnes Lumber - $53.94 - #557872 – Downtown TIF

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

Citizen Cindy Potter was not able to be at this meeting. Her mother passed away so please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Mayor John McPeek opened the only sealed bid from Roy Walker Communications for two storm sirens in the amount of $80,124.00. These will be paid out of Business District Funds. This bid is for American Signal Tempest T-121 sirens along with 2 55” wood poles, delivery and installation. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to accept the sealed bid from Roy Walker Communications for two storm sirens paid out of Business District in the amount of $80,124.00. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Attorney Kolby Smithpeters presented the agreement for the fill dirt as requested. This dirt will be used for an upcoming business project. The purchase of the dirt is contingent if the deal goes through. The buyer will remove the fill dirt up to 13,000 cubic yards in the amount of $18,000.00. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion approve the fill dirt agreement as presented. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Attorney Kolby Smithpeters stated the ordinance for the fill dirt goes along with the fill dirt agreement. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to approve Ordinance 1887 for fill dirt. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek stated the council will go into executive session to discuss collective bargaining.

Matt Tosh with Brown & Roberts, Inc. discussed the elevated water tank painting project. This is the water tank on St. Mary’s Drive. This resolution will allow Brown & Roberts, Inc. to start the planning and secure the funds. As of right now, the grant will cover 71% of the project.

Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to approve Resolution 24-0919 for the elevated water tank painting project. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

City Treasurer Alex Jackson presented the FY23 audit. Justin Dartt was unable to be at the meeting due to health reasons. She went through the audit as prepared by Justin Dartt. She discussed the findings, financials, breakdown of expenditures, pension funds, and she recommends reading the notes in the report. She announced the city is now completely caught up on their audits. The auditors will now begin working on the FY 24 audit.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown made the motion to accept the FY23 audit as presented. 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 Ordinance 1888 for the sale of surplus property at 442 W. Church 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 approve Ordinance 1889 for the sale of surplus property at 106 E. College 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 approve Ordinance 1890 for the sale of surplus property at 521 W. Barnett Street. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

City Treasurer Alex Jackson discussed the proposal for Ridge Investment Group, LLC. This is a new business coming to Harrisburg. The proposal is to be paid out of Business District Funds. This proposal was sent to the city’s economic development group for review. Moran Economic Development agrees that this is a great proposal and gave the city two options.

The business developer is requesting $300,000 for their $2.2 million dollar project. The two options are: 1) pay the developer over a five-year period or 2) pay the developer $100,000 upon completion and then pay the developer $50,000 a year for four years. The developer prefers options one. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the request from Ridge Investments and to pay them $100,000 upon completion and then $50,000 a year for the remaining four years. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek stated the concrete at the Fire Station needs repaired. The discussion consisted of ensuring the concrete is thick enough and it is done correctly. Fire Chief John Gunning stated the weight of the trucks over the years has damaged the concrete. Commissioner Roger Angelly wants to make sure what is underneath the concrete is also repaired. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to authorize the city clerk to advertise for a concrete project at the Fire House. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

The following departmental reports was presented to council as follows:

Superintendent Kenny Mayhall of Streets/Alley: Helped with rock at the police building, repaired storm sewers, removed trees, crosswalks, painting parking spots/blocks at City Hall, cleaned City Hall for some upcoming events, wheelchair lifts installed, 100 E. Mable demolished, 315 E. Poplar demo is almost completed, opened up an alley which was a big project, poured wheelchair ramp concrete, street sweeper has met the 800 hour goal, and cemetery has had 11 burials with 12 plots sold generating $7,700.

Police Chief Nathan Moore: In August the department had 978 calls, 64 offense reports, 27 court appearances, 92 traffic stops, 1,736 security checks, 68 training hours, issued 31 written warnings, towed 8 vehicles, 173 stationary patrols, 25 traffic crashes, 105 criminal arrest, 3 juvenile arrest and issued 40 traffic citations.

Code Enforcer Jacob Palmer: 109 complaints, 37 trash violations, 6 vehicles, 2 stagnant pools, 35 trustee properties, issued 10 tickets, he had 40% corrections in violations, and he had a 60% homeowner correction.

Fire Chief John Gunning presented yearly totals for his department. So far there have been 332 medical calls, 32 service calls which are outside the city limits, 105 medical discharges, fire calls have been 111. The total calls for 911 is 1,081 and outside the city limits for medical is 1,086 for the year.

Superintendent of Water/Sewer/Flood Control Jason Haney: 4 watermain breaks, three caused by fiber companies, 3-4 guys doing Julies, Garden Heights project is finished, Brady Street watermain is in and they now will go back and put in individual services, the pump at the sewer pump went out and has been sent off, one lift station has gone down and redoing the lift station, 135 shut offs and turned back on. There have been 13 sewer calls.

City Clerk: Working on the upcoming Sasquatch Festival, started typing the code book and hopefully corrections/changes will be made starting in 2025.

City Treasurer: Water/Sewer is in the black for the first time in a long while, 163 runners for the Sasquatch 5k, and working on the upcoming audit.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated the merit board completed the captain testing. There is an available captain position available with the retirement of Rick Mallady. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to promote Dustin Gunning as a Fire Captain. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated he will discuss collective bargaining after the executive session.

Commissioner Roger Angelly discussed the need for fencing around the water barn and at the roundhouse yard. The roundhouse has been broken into several times. The items will be moved to the front of the property. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to authorize the city clerk to advertise the fencing project around the water barn area. 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 authorize the city clerk to advertise for an electronic fence at the roundhouse. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Roger Angelly has had an employee give him two weeks’ notice. He will be filling this position. He would like to discuss a few things in executive session about this position.

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

Mayor John McPeek announced the following: 4th Annual Sasquatch Festival is October 05, 2024. We have been working very hard on this festival. There are roughly 100 cars for the car show and over 100 craft vendors scheduled.

Boo in the Burg is scheduled for October 24 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Halloween will be October 31 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

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

Adjourn: 8:32 a.m.

Reconvene: 9:07 a.m.

Mayor John McPeek 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 Jonathan Brown answering roll call.

Mayor John McPeek stated there is no action regarding collective bargaining or personnel.

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: 9:07 a.m.

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