SE Illinois News

City of Harrisburg City Council met Jan. 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Harrisburg City Council met on January 16, 2025 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, Rupert Johnson, and Jonathan Brown answering the roll call. Commissioner Roger Angelly was absent.

Pastor Jerry Wells, Dorrisville Social Brethren Church led the group in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor John McPeek opened the meeting by expressing his sincere gratitude to all city employees for their exceptional efforts during the past week. Every department rose to occasion and went above and beyond. He stated this city has the best employees in Southern Illinois. There is still a lot of cleanup. Please put your tree limbs near the curb and the city will eventually get to them. The cemetery took a beating, and this will be addressed and be cleaned by the spring.

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

Regular Meeting Minutes – December 19, 2024

Check Register and Warrant Reports – December 2024

Novacom - $2,890.00 - #31865 – Business District

Novacom - $3,500.00 - #31866 – Business District

Sargent Electric - $3,754.10 - #2635 – TIF

Anderson Overhead Door - $10,945.00 - #89851 – Downtown TIF

Roy Walker Communications - $75,836.00 - #150629 – Business District

Barter Masonry - $8,500.00 - #6 – TIF

Carol Wallace - $20,000.00 – TIF

Brown & Roberts, Inc. - $10,750.39 - #2023-268 – DCEO/Watermain

Fugate – Relinquish Lake Lot – 2nd Add, Block 2, Lot 1

Williams – Petition Lake Lot – 2nd Add, Block 2, Lot 1

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

Mayor John McPeek opened the only sealed bid for the façade project at City Hall. The sealed bid was from Barter Masonry in the amount of $21,500. Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to approve the sealed bid from Barter Masonry in the amount of $21,500. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek opened the following sealed bids for the sale of property at 105 E. Rose Street. The bid was from Larry Smith in the amount of $1,275.00. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to accept the sealed bid for 105 E. Rose Street from Larry Smith in the amount of $1,275.00. Seconded by Commissioner Jonathan Brown with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek stated there was a bid opening at City Hall on January 14, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. for the purchase of a used police vehicle. There were three bids sealed bid was from Chicago Motors, Inc. One bid was for a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe with 31,379 miles in the amount of $33,495.00 and a 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe with 37,746 miles in the amount of $34.495.00. Police Chief Nathan Moore stated he would prefer the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe as it has less miles.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to accept the sealed bid for the used 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe from Chicago Motors, Inc. in the amount of $33,495.00. Seconded by Commissioner Jonathan Brown with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

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

Matt Tosh from Brown and Roberts, Inc. presented pay estimate #1 from Wigg Excavating. This is a progressive pay in the amount of #96,016.59 from the DCEO grant. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to accept pay estimate #1 from Wiggs Excavating in the amount of $96,016.59. Seconded by Commissioner Jonathan Brown with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek stated the discussion regarding OTTD, LLC is being tabled.

Steve Williams from FSB Insurance presented the council a renewal rate for the city’s property casualty insurance. He stated the there is an increase in the work comp premium due to the amount of claims last year. He believes the premium will go back down with Bliss McKnight which holds the liability insurance due to water/sewer back up claims. Commissioner Rupert Johnson asked how long the city will be in a higher bracket. Steve Williams stated there is a five year look back and the city still has open-work comp claims. The council thanked Steve Williams for the update.

City Attorney Kolby Smithpeters discussed with the council electrification services with Ameren.

This is a $50,000 grant from Ameren and this money must be used on a green infrastructure. If the city chooses not to proceed with any project, the city will give the $50,000 back to Ameren. The current project being discussed is installing EV Stations with the city. The city will be required to do reporting requirement with Ameren. Commissioner Jonathan Brown made the motion to approve the electrification services agreement with Ameren. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

City Attorney Kolby Smithpeters presented the memorandum of understanding between the City of Harrisburg and Abbott EMS. He stated this freezes the rate and there will not be an increase.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the memorandum of understanding between the City of Harrisburg and Abbott EMS. Seconded by Commissioner Jonathan Brown with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

A representative from D & D Electric informed the council of a change to the solar project at the Fire Department. It will include a battery backup. This is a design change and does not change the amount of the project. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve change order with D & D Electric at the Fire Department. Seconded by Commissioner Jonathan Brown with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Attorney Kolby Smithpeters presented a purchase contract for 1017 S. Hobson Street. The purchase is from the trustee in the amount of $820.00. This will be a property that can be demolished. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to purchase 1017 S. Hobson Street from the trustee for $820.00. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Attorney Kolby Smithpeters stated they will discuss the FOP contract when the council comes out of executive session.

Attorney Kolby Smithpeters stated the change in the IDNR agreement is to extend the term to ten years. This is an easement next to the bike path. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to authorize Mayor John McPeek to sign the IDNR agreement. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek stated the council will go into executive session for the review of executive session minutes.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning requested to table the request for a new hire name from the merit board. He also requested to table the full-time new hire.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning informed the council for the need to hire a part-time police officer. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to hire Derek Hargrave as a part-time police officer effective February 01, 2025 at the rate of $25.00 per hour pending the passing of his physical and drug screen. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek stated that Commissioner Roger Angelly asked him to present the part-time hire for the water/sewer department. Mayor John McPeek made the motion to hire Blake Stacey effective February 03, 2025 at the rate of $20.435 per hour pending the passing of his physical and drug screen. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson explained the need for the emergency call out independent agreements. This will allow the city to use these contracts when there is an emergency.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to authorize Mayor John McPeek to sign the emergency call out independent contract agreements. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson thanked his employees as they went above and beyond during the ice storm.

Citizen Sharon Vandenburg stated she is unhappy with the late fees and debit/credit card fees at the water/sewer department. City Treasurer Alex Jackson responded that the city does not get those fees. The credit card company implements those fees. These fees are cheaper than the previous company the city was using. The council passed an ordinance passing those fees on to the customer.

Mayor John McPeek reminded citizens to please stop littering.

Mayor John McPeek made the motion to go into executive session to discuss collective bargaining and review of executive session minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Adjourn: 8:28 a.m.

Reconvene: 8:54 a.m.

Mayor John McPeek made the motion to return to open session. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning 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, Rupert Johnson, and Jonathan Brown answering the roll call. Commissioner Roger Angelly was absent.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to keep the following executive session minutes closed: August 01, 2024; August 15, 2024; September 05, 2024; September 19, 2024, but open the personnel portion; October 03, 2024 and October 17, 2024. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the FOP contract as discussed and presented. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek made the motion to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Adjourn: 8:55 a.m. 

https://www.harrisburgillinois.com/council-agenda-minutes/council-minute-01-16-25