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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-26-07 Mechanical Committee Meeting Minutes MECHANICAL COMMITTEE MINUTES Tuesday, June 26, 2007 – 6:30 p.m. th Historic Depot, 50 North 4 Avenue Mayor Rodney W. Heinze called the committee meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Those in attendance of Aldermen – Eric Schenck, Joe Berardi, Larry Sarff, Craig West, Kevin Meade, Jason Strandberg, Sonya Lewis. Absent – Aldermen Les Carl. Others in attendance – Mayor Rodney W. Heinze, City Clerk Nancy Whites, Public Works Director, Police Chief Jeff Fritz, Fire Chief John Stanko, Keith Plavec engineer from Maurer Stutz Inc., Wastewater Treatment Supt. Joe Carruthers, Water Treatment Supt. Greg Pollitt, Joe Ginger Video Services. In the audience – Journal Star reporter Jenny Freeman, Daily Ledger reporter John Froehling, WBYS reporter Mark Bixler, Democrat reporter Wendy Martin, Steve Guy, Western Illinois University professor Daniel G. Yoder, Dale Adkins, and Rachel the graduate student. Public Safety & Traffic Alderman Eric Schenck, Chairman Police Report. Police Chief Jeff Fritz mentioned that 300.5 hours of overtime worked during this month, 65 hours will be reimbursed through grant monies in the amount of $2,480.32 to be received from the following entities: IDOT “Click It or Ticket” Campaign $2,170.01 Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System $ 310.32 In addition, 120 hours of the 349.5 overtime hours worked during the month of April 2007 will be reimbursed through grant monies in the amount of $4,537.04 from the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System. The Police Department applied for a Bureau of Justice Project on Safe Neighborhoods which was two months ago. Received on June 19 of being awarded $19,410.00 to assist with drug enforcement activities, search warrants, as well as drug surveillance. Money becomes available from October 2007 through September 30, 2008. 1 Mechanical Committee 6-26-07 Fire Report. Fire Chief John Stanko reported all members of the fire department participated in live fire training at the Peoria Fire Department thth training tower on May 9 and 10. Half of the fire department participated in the training each day. This allows our members to conduct live fire training in a controlled environment to practice and improve our skills. This type of training cannot be simulated. Having a facility to do the live fire training is a great benefit. I appreciate the generosity of the Peoria Fire Department for allowing us to conduct the training at no charge to the City of Canton. John stated this is his last Public Safety & Traffic report as he will be retiring on July 16. Thanked the council and mayor for his tenure with the fire department, thanked his family for their love and support, and because of missed meals and interruption the job caused in their life. The support has been paramount. Redemption of Impounded Animal Ordinance. Alderman Sarff asked about the last paragraph on the first page for revision of fees from time to . City Attorney Chrissie time as the County of Fulton deems appropriate Peterson said the county will be responsible for doing that, and the City of Canton will have to change the ordinance. Chrissie said she and Police Chief Jeff Fritz worked on making the fees consisted with Fulton County. The Public Safety & Traffic Committee adjourned at 6:38 p.m. Streets & Garbage Alderman Kevin Meade, Chairman rd Bid Results of Ash Street Improvement Phase ll Main to 3 Avenue. Keith Plavec told the committee that the City received two bids for the Ash Street Improvement – Phase ll. He said the low bidder was Laverdiere Construction with a bid price of $302,502.60. He said the engineer’s estimate was $229,007.70. Keith said that they would not recommend awarding the project at this time. He felt that the bids were too high and a cause for this may be that the Illinois Department of Transportation recently awarded their projects in the state. 2 Mechanical Committee 6-26-07 th Keith said that 15 Avenue from Ash Street to Myrtle Street will be bid next Monday, July 2. He asked that it be possible for the bids to be presented at Council for consideration. Keith said that if the bids for this project also comes in high, the City can evaluate whether to complete one of the projects, both of the projects, or re-bid both of them this winter for construction next year. Motion and second by Aldermen Schecnk/West, to refer to council without recommendation. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. FYI Industrial Park Recommendation. Mark Rothert the SRP Economic Development Executive Director had presented a draft proposal for improvement options out at the Enterprise Industrial Park. In the proposal he says, as you may recall, in 2006 the City had to remit back to taxing bodies in the county funds from the Industrial Park TIF account because no activity in the use of TIF funds had occurred over a three year period. The last activity in the TIF account was recorded on 9/19/2001. From that date until 9/19/04, no funds had been used. Funds have since been used in 2006 for the removal of trailers. The attached proposal’s goal is to provide a framework and plan to utilize remaining Industrial Park TIF funds ($109,668) to address current site issues and concerns. The proposal however is still incomplete without cost estimates. I am submitting the draft as an FYI for an upcoming agenda item at the next community and industrial development committee and to request that the City Council direct Maurer Stutz, Inc. to assist in developing cost estimates for the proposed options. Once completed, recommendations will be put forth on short-term and long-term projects but the final decision for prioritizing improvement lies with the City Council. The following are options to use remaining tax increment finance dollars at the Canton Enterprise Industrial Park to address infrastructure, marketability, and lot access deficiencies and to meet other needs brought about by new development. The Enterprise Industrial Park is an 88 acre site that was purchased by the City of Canton from the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago in 3 Mechanical Committee 6-26-07 1984 in order to foster industrial development in light of International Harvester plant closure. The Park has stagnated over the past 20+ years as some lots at the site remain in City control. In the early 1980s the City created an Illinois Enterprise Zone at the site to establish incentives for development. Benefits of the enterprise zone include investment tax credits, state sales tax exemption for construction materials, state income tax credit for each job created, and under certain circumstances a state utility tax exemption. An Illinois enterprise zone has a life of 20 years but can be extended for 10 additional years. The enterprise zone at the industrial park has been extended and will expire in 2013. The Industrial Park TIF will expire in 2010 unless extended until 2022. The following lots are owned by the City and available for development: Lot 6 2.4 acres Lot 7 2.4 acres Lot 13 2.4 acres Lot 14 1.2 acres Lot 16 2.2 acres Lot 17 3.3 acres Lot 18 4.9 acres Lot 19 3.3 acres The City has used a $5,000/acre sale price since 1983. The following are current utility providers and capacities: Electric AmerenCIPS 12.4KV 3 Phase Gas AmerenCIPS 2 inch plastic, 30 PSI Water City of Canton 6 inch line Sewer City of Canton 8 inch line Telecommunications ATT/SBC Telephone/High-Speed DSL The following are challenges/opportunities for making lots at the Industrial Park for more marketable 1. Development needs-a current occupant at the industrial park and an interested business owner are requesting that certain improvements to 4 2. the Enterprise Park be made to accommodate their respective expansion and business relocation in the industrial park. 3. Access to lots – Lots 13, 14 and 16 have no direct access from Enterprise Drive. Creating access to these properties would enhance their marketability to potential developers. 4. Topography issues – Lots 6, 7, 13, 14, and 16 have excessive tree coverage and/or uneven topography that needs cleared, leveled and graded to enhance their marketability to potential developers. 5. Marketing of site – the industrial park needs to be marketed (via new signage, advertisement in industrial/manufacturing periodicals, letters to companies, etc.) locally and in central Illinois to inform manufacturers and other industrial companies of the opportunities there. In general allowable TIF expenses include: Construction of public works or improvements Professional services such as architectural, engineering, legal, property, marketing, and financial planning ? Demolition and site preparation ? Property acquisition ? Relocation ? Studies, survey and plans ? Rehabilitation or renovation of existing public or private buildings ? Job retraining programs ? Financing costs, including interest assistance ? Day care services 1. Improvements to Enterprise Drive: Extend Enterprise drive by 100 yards from its current southern location that accommodates semi trucks. Create a turn-around at the end of Enterprise Drive to accommodate semi truck traffic. 2. Create access to orphaned lots: Construct Mercantile Court to create access to Lot 13 and Lot 14. Construct an access road to Lot 16. 5 Mechanical Committee 6-26-07 3. Lot grading/tree clearing: Perform the necessary earthwork, tree removal, and grading to remove the rough topography of Lots 6, 7, 13, 14, and 16 to make them marketable, attractive and sellable. 4. Signage & Marketing Replace the existing entry sign with a larger, more visible sign to market the industrial park listing occupants. Market the Industrial Park through advertisements in industrial related trade magazines and business expansion journals. Market the Industrial Park via letters to area manufacturers and industrial companies for expansion or relocation. Summary of Project Cost 1. Enterprise Drive Extension $ 2. Enterprise Drive Semi-truck Turn-a-Round $ 3. Enterprise Drive Extension to County Highway 22 $ 4. Creation of Mercantile Court cul-de-sac $ 5. Creation of access road to Lot 16 $ 6. Grading/Earthwork of Lots 6 & 7 $ 7. New Entry Sign $ 8. Marketing in industrial expansion trade journals $ TOTAL $109,667.72 Motion and second by Aldermen Meade/Schenck, to have cost estimate of the 8 projects for the Enterprise Park, from Mark Rothert of SRPED and for Keith Plavec to work with SRPED within their retainage fee. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. The Streets & Garbage Committee adjourned at 6:50 p.m. Lake, Buildings & Grounds Alderman Sonya Lewis, Chairman 6 Mechanical Committee 6-26-07 Canton Lake Master Plan – WIU Proposal. Daniel G. Yoder, Ph.D and graduate Coordinator – Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration of Western Illinois University; and Dale Adkins, Re.D. Professor and Chair Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration of Western Illinois University; and Rachel a graduate student. The three of them toured the Canton Lake and watershed with some of the city employees. Daniel Yoder spoke for them and mentioned they don’t have specific proposal at this time but Western Illinois University would like to be part of it. Have a marvelous graduate student with opportunity, skill and knowledge. We discussed the possibility of a graduate assistantship devoted exclusively to the project. Graduate assistantships come in two forms - a full assistantship and a 2/3rds assistantship. The full assistantship includes 20 hours of work per week and a monthly stipend of $850 for four months each semester; a 2/3rds assistantship includes 15 hours of work per week and a monthly stipend of $575.00 for four months. Our department will contribute a tuition waiver for the graduate student for both the full and the 2/3rds assistantship. So a full assistantship would cost the sponsoring agency $3,400 per semester and a 2/3rds assistantship would be $2,300. Of course, the graduate student would come with the support of the faculty at Western Illinois University. Several members of our department have experience and expertise in resource master planning. While these faculty members actual involvement would be somewhat limited, they are certainly available for consultation with the agencies and for supervision of the graduate student. Alderman Schenck ask for Daniel to comment on grant funding? Dan answered one of the things we know is, if you want any money from outside from the federal government, state government and even foundations they want to see a “plan.” They’re unwilling to give resources without a ‘Plan.” Without a Master Plan you will not even open the door. In that Master Plan, one of the things you have to address is handicapped accessibility. This is a issue that will not go away. 7 Mechanical Committee 6-26-07 Dale Adkins said the Master Plan is a big piece of the Comprehensive Plan, and the Master Plan supports strategic planning. Alderman Lewis thanked all three of them for coming to the meeting and appreciated their vision. Motion and second by Aldermen Schenck/Lewis, have the committee invite Western Illinois University to submit a more detail proposal that would be based on what they have seen today, and individual input from council members and the mayor’s input, and send to Lake Building & Grounds th Committee for July 24meeting. Discussion. Daniel said they would be thrilled to do so. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. Limit number of fish caught at Canton Lake. Alderman Lewis told the committee members that Alderman Carl had a lot of people come from out of town an caught a lot of fish and they come back the next day and again catch a lot of fish. Alderman Carl had a lot of complaints about that. Alderman Lewis further added that she had talked to residents in the area and they did not seemed to have a problem with that. Motion and second by Aldermen Lewis/Schenck, to approve limit the number of fish caught at Canton Lake with using Lakeland Park guidelines. Discussion. Alderman Strandberg said he recalls the department of Natural Resources will come in and review what is in the lake and give the city guidelines. We should have a better idea of what is in the lake before limiting the amount. Alderman Schenck said that he is pretty sure we are under a cooperative agreement with the Department of Natural Resources. They have municipal, like a lake management program and the regulations are published in the fishing regulations. The Canton Lake fishing is set by the Department of Natural Resources. Alderman Schenck said he wanted the review regulations and review the lake and set adjustments. And the other, is to post regulations at the lake, as the regulations are not posted. He thought the Boat Dock would be the best place for posting of the regulations. Motion and second withdrawn. 8 Mechanical Committee 6-26-07 Alderman Schenck said there is an administrative rule process that regulates fishing. Lakeland has one lake under DAR and the other lakes the park regulates, and they come under different regulations. Motion and second by Alderman Schenck/Lewis, ask Public Works to post the regulations at both boat sites. Discussion. Alderman Strandberg ask about posting also at the entrance and exits. Alderman Sarff ask Water Supt. Greg Polllitt, when DAR shocks the lake? Greg answered, they do twice a year and he receives a report annually. Alderman Sarff, have they ever given an opinion should have a limit? Greg answered, no report on limiting, just follow state regulations. Alderman Schenck said if we wanted to ask DAR to consider changing regulations through their administrative rule process, we should set some sort of dialog of what their recommendation might be, and why change the regulations? The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. The Lake, Building & Grounds Committee adjourned at 7:18 p.m. Public Works, Water & Sewer Alderman Kevin Meade, Chairman Ethanol Plant Water Rates. Alderman Meade mentioned that the plant is progressing and will soon be tapping into the city’s water supply. There are also provision in the contract that allows the city to visit those rates. We at this time need to visit those rates. City Attorney Chrissie Peterson mentioned that in the contract, currently being charged is $1.57 for 100 cubic feet of water. Then they receive credit on $.72 cents for 100 cubic feet which is not to succeed $16,190.00 a month. The rate we charged them for 100 cubic feet can never exceed $1.88 per life of the contract. When the contract expires you can renegotiate those terms. For now, as long as we can show an demonstrable increase in cost you can negotiate with them to increase their rate up to $1.88 per 100 cubic feet. Greg Pollitt and I need direction on who is needed to approach CIE and who is going to be responsible for renegotiating the rate with them? Alderman Meade, what are we charging for water for the average citizen for 100 cubic feet for water? Greg Pollitt answered, $4.61 per 100 cubic feet of water used. 9 Mechanical Committee 6-26-07 City Attorney Chrissie Peterson said Central Illinois Energy can look else where for water in two cases. 1. if we try to charge more than $1.88. 2. If we do that, we have to show them an increase in quality, that would justify that cost. Alderman Meade, the current contract makes them paying tremendously short. Mayor Heinze said we want to remember they are paying $2 million dollars to install the water line. Alderman Meade ask, do we want to renegotiate? And who do we want to be responsible in those negotiations? Alderman Berardi said just open negotiations, and have public works and Chrissie Peterson, they ought to be the ones negotiating. Motion by Aldermen Strandberg/Schenck, for city attorney Chrissie Peterson and Public Works Director Clif O’Brien, and Keith Plavec from Maurer Stutz Inc. to begin negotiations with Central Illinois Energy. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. The Public Works, Water & Sewer Committee adjourned at 7:25 p.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION – PENDING LITIGATION. Motion and second by Aldermen Meade/Strandberg, to go into executive session to discuss pending litigation. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. The regular scheduled Mechanical Committee adjourned from executive session at 7:59 p.m. Motion and second by Aldermen Meade/Strandberg, to adjourn. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. The Mechanical Committee meeting adjourned at 8:00 a.m. Recording Secretary, Nancy Whites, City Clerk 10 11