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Home My WebLink About1-17-06 City Council Meeting Minutes A regular meeting of the Canton City Council was held on January 17, 2006 in Council th Chambers at 50 North 4 Avenue, Canton, Illinois. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OPENED THE MEETING FOLLOWED BY THE INVOCATION GIVEN BY CITY CLERK NANCY WHITES. Mayor Heinze asked for roll call at 6:30 p.m. Present – Aldermen Jim Hartford, Joe Berardi, Larry Sarff, Les Carl, Rick Reed, Eric Schenck. Absent – Alderman Kevin Meade. MINUTES OF JANUARY 3, 2006 COUNCIL MEETING. Motion and second by Aldermen Hartford/Sarff, the minutes of January 3, 2006 be accepted and placed on file. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. MINUTES OF JANUARY 10, 2006 CLERICAL COMMITTEE MEETING. Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/West, the minutes be accepted of January 10, 2006 as amended, and placed on file. (Amendment: The voting on sending the Wal- Mart re-zoning to the Public Works, Water & Sewer Committee was not unanimous. Alderman Meade voted no.) The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. BILLS FOR DECEMBER. Motion and second by Aldermen West/Sarff, that all bills properly presented for payment be paid. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck Reed, Carl, West, Sarff, Berardi, Hartford. NAYS – None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. th TREASURER’S REPORT. City Treasurer Kathy Luker reported at the January 10, 2006 Clerical Committee meeting that the Health Care Fund is finally in the black. This was due to the fact that the month of December 2005 premiums were up, while health care claims were down and there were reinsurance payments received during the month of December. She wanted to make a clarification of the statement. The biggest reason that the fund was finally in the black is a Loan from Working Cash to the Health Care Fund for $390,000 from prior years. The City of Canton Payroll checks as of 2006, ADP provides the City of Canton with their payroll service. The ADP checks are covered by their bank, and the City of Canton payroll checks clear through the city’s checking account at the local bank in Canton, Illinois. Motion and second by Aldermen Carl/Reed, to accept the Treasurer’s Report. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Finance. Council Action None. Legal & Ordinance. Council Action Alderman Larry Sarff chaired the committee in the absence of Alderman Kevin Meade. Create Long Range Planning Committee. Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/West, to accept the combining of Streets & Garbage Committee with Public Works, Water & Sewer Committee; and the creation of a Long Range Planning Committee. Discussion. Mayor Heinze said he was not in a hurry for this change, but wanted to have in place by May 1. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Hartford, Berardi, Sarff, West, Carl, Reed, Schenck. NAYS – None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. 1 Council meeting 1-17-06 Budget System of Property Taxation. Alderman Sarff called on Alderman Carl to give a brief description of the recommended change. Alderman Carl recommended the acceptance of the Budget System rather than the adoption of the Appropriation Ordinance the city currently is using. If we don’t use the Budget System the city will need to hire a Budget Administrator. This would give us better time to prepare the budgets, and we will have a permanent Budget Administrator that can advise council during the year. Motion and second by Aldermen Carl/Sarff, the adoption of the Budget System instead of the procedure of adopting an Appropriation Ordinance. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Reed, Carl, West, Sarff, Berardi, Hartford. NAYS – None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Community & Industrial Development. Council Action Economic Development Transition Committee Proposal. Guest speaker Craig Zilly President of the Chamber of Commerce spoke on the following…Mayor Heinze appointed a number of people to a newly created committee known as the Economic Development Transition Committee to develop a new model for economic development. Have been very pleased of the efforts put forth by Mark Rothert and this committee. The Chamber of Commerce feels the proposal submitted by Mark Rothert at the committee meeting last week is one that would make the Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development the most beneficial for all of us in Fulton County. We feel by combining the offices of Economic Development Director with the chamber and having the Spoon River , College office of Career & Work Force Educationheaded by Carol Davis right across the hall. The third floor of the Opera House could be a launching pad for the road of economic recovery of this area. We urge the City Council to pass the proposal set forth by Mark Rothert. We urge the City Council to get on board with the Spoon River Economic Development Plan and let Mark concentrate on the job at hand. We feel the Chamber of Commerce role in SRPED is one of fund raising and cheerleader. And we encourage other organizations to join us. We need your ideas, your enthusiasm and your positive support. Let tonight be a positive and enthusiastic journey for Canton and Spoon River Country. Motion by Aldermen Berardi/Schenck to support the concept of SRPED. Discussion. Alderman Berardi said he has two concerns. 1) The citizens of Canton has given the CADC $8,333 a month for over a period of 26 months. That amounts to $233,333. The Fulton County Board gave $27,500. All this money is the citizen’s money. Alderman Berardi said he was having a problem with CADC saying the $60,000 they have is not part of the $260,000 that the city had given. 2) Alderman Berardi wants the CADC to give the City back the $60,000 and we will put it in the General Fund. We need to have accountability. Mayor Heinze mentioned to Alderman Berardi he was the chairman and don’t accuse Mr. Byerly of not paying the city back on the home Mr. Byerly had. It was CADC who gave him the down payment. Alderman Berardi said we can’t find some $1,880 worth of furniture and a card scanner is also missing. We are talking about accountability of money. Alderman Berardi asked a question of Alderman Carl. Are these questions out of line? Alderman Carl said they were not out of line as the Economic Development Director should be accountable to the City. Alderman Heinze said he did not want to look so much in the past that we can’t figure out what to do in the future. Alderman Schenck said he agrees with Alderman Berardi that some of these are related, and the City has a fiduciary responsibility. Alderman Schenck said he was very much in favor of this concept. The $100,00 is a reasonable amount. More details need to be worked out when transferring those funds. Alderman Berardi thought the overall picture from the Budget is 1% and he asked Mark Rothert if that was a true projection? Mark answered the percentage is around 1.7%. 2 Council meeting 1-17-06 Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Hartford, Berardi, Sarff, West, Carl, Reed, Schenck. NAYS – None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Negotiations, Grievance & Personnel. Council Action None. COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR HEINZE. Appointment of TIF attorney. Mayor Heinze mentioned the appointment was for a residential TIF attorney from the Motion firm of Miller, Hall & Trigg of Peoria. and second by Aldermen Sarff/Berardi, the appointment of the Law Firm of Miller, Hall & Trigg be confirmed. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Reed, Carl, West, Sarff, Berardi, Hartford. NAYS – None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Motion by Aldermen Sarff/West, the appointment of Dustin Pollitt as Code Enforcement officer for the City be confirmed. Discussion. Mayor Heinze said that Dale Berry has done a terrific job the last 20 years for the city. He will do any job you assign him to, and will do quite well. Police Chief Don Edwards mentioned that several interviews were conducted. Feels Dustin Pollitt will be well suited for Canton and recommended the appointment. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Hartford, Berardi, Sarff, West, Carl, Reed Schenck. NAYS – None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Motion and second by Aldermen Reed/Sarff, the appointment of Carol Kohler as the mayor’s secretary be confirmed. Discussion. Mayor Heinze mentioned that Carol will be paid $21,000 per year. She has taught English for 15 years. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Reed, Carl, West, Sarff, Berardi, Hartford. NAYS – None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Mayor Heinze announced that the City employees report to the mayor, not the Aldermen. Authority to rent excavator for demolition. City Attorney Jim Elson stated this is Motion needed for the demolition of a house located at 352 West Spruce. and second by Aldermen Reed/Carl, to allow the rental of an excavator for demolition of a house located at 352 West Spruce. Discussion. Alderman Carl wanted to know the cost? Public Works Director Clif O’Brien mentioned he would bring the estimate to Public Works, Water & Sewer committee next week. Feels the cost should be around $900 plus freight Motion if use for two days and landfill fees. and second agreed to amend the motion to add the filing of a lien on the property. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Hartford, Berardi, Sarff, West, Carl, Reed, Schenck. NAYS – None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Acknowledge Beautification Gifts. Chris Brewer on behalf of the North Central Behavorial Health System gave $500.00; also, Todd Hall of CEFCU was happy to donate $500.00 as they celebrated 10 years in Canton last September. (Thank you to both entities who want to see the community come to life with vibrant colors in flowers and plants.) OLD BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS: ORDINANCE – RE-ZONING REAL ESTATE FROM AG-1 AGRICULTURE TO B-2, GENERAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT (WAL-MART STORES INC.). First reading, read by title. 3 Council meeting 1-17-06 Alderman Reed ask for Water Treatment Plant Supt. Greg Pollitt to give a report on the water level. Greg said 73 inches down. Mayor Heinze reminded the citizens to always be conservative. Water is a precious commodity. Greg reported the lowest has been 169 inches. Adjournment. Motion and second by Aldermen Hartford/Berardi, to adjourn. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. The regular scheduled council meeting adjourned at 7:08 p.m. ______________________________ Nancy Whites, City Clerk APPROVED: ___________________________ Rodney W. Heinze, Mayor 4