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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-06-05 City Council Meeting Minutes A regular meeting of Canton City Council was held on September 6, 2005 in the Council th Chambers at the Historic Depot 50 North 4 Avenue, Canton, Illinois. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OPENED THE MEETING FOLLOWED BY THE INVOCATION GIVEN BY CITY CLERK NANCY WHITES. Leading the Pledge of Allegiance was Marlene Smith and Samantha Weaver from Troop #10 and sponsored by the Church of the Brethren. Their leader is Donna Howell. Mayor Heinze asked for roll call at 6:30 p.m. Present – Aldermen Jim Hartford, Joe Berardi, Larry Sarff, Craig West, Les Carl, Kevin Meade, Rick Reed, Eric Schenck. MINUTES OF AUGUST 16, 2005 MEETING. Motion and second by Aldermen Hartford/Berardi, the minutes of August 16, 2005 be accepted and placed on file. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. Approving of Committee minutes. Motion and second by Aldermen Hartford/Berardi, to approve of the Mechanical Committee minutes of August 23, 2005 as amended. (The amendment according to City Clerk Nancy Whites was on page 1 at the bottom of the page under bids. The bids should say Access Control System.) Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Public Safety & Traffic. Council Action Motion and second by Aldermen Schenck/Sarff, to accept the low bid from COPS Inc. Security Solutions, Peoria for Access Control System in the amount of $22,836, and additional doors of $4,316, key cylinders at $627, with the total cost being awarded of $27,779.00. Discussion. Police Chief Donald Edwards mentioned that the key cylinders in the present locks be replaced to eliminate the potential unknown duplicated keys being out. The department received a grant in the amount of $28,920 to update the security of the Police Department and City Hall. Don reported that this bid was the lowest. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Reed, Meade, Carl, West, Sarff, Berardi, Hartford. NAYS – None. 8 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSENT. Motion carried. Streets & Garbage. Council Action None. Informational. Alderman Schenck asked for Fire Chief John Stanko to give a report on the firefighters going to Louisiana. John reported that 2 firemen left Canton on Sunday. This is through MABAS Division 53, which consists of 13 fire departments in Fulton County and the City of Havana and Rural Havana Fire Department. A total of 8 responded to the call. Mayor Heinze mentioned that 2 of the 8 were medics and the City of Canton took an ambulance when they left Sunday. Lake, Buildings & Grounds. Council Action None. Informational. Alderman Reed reported on the Whistle from IH to be mounted above City Building/Police Station. Donations can be made to the “Big Toot Fund”. The plan is to blow the whistle at noon on Monday through Saturday. They are going to use air pressure to try and blow the whistle, and hope to have in operation in a couple of months. Mayor Heinze said this is a tax-deductible gift. 1 Council meeting September 6, 2005 Public Works, Water & Sewer. Council Action None. COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR HEINZE. Udpated Budgets. City Treasurer Kathy Luker mentioned that the updated budgets are nearly prepared. Department heads have almost a balanced budget. Alderman Berardi felt the budgets should be scrutinize more so the city does not get in trouble. Alderman Carl said this is a really strip down budget. Motion and second by Aldermen Carl/West, to accept the Budgets as presented. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Hartford, Berardi, Sarff, West, Carl, Meade, Reed, Schenck. NAYS – None. 8 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSENT. Motion carried. Direct Deposits of payroll checks. City Treasurer Kathy Luker strongly urges the employees to have this done. Some employees already have direct deposit. She mentioned that it is very positive as it does cut down on cost and less paper work Mayor Appointments. Motion and second by Alderman Sarff/Hartford, the appointment of Judy Hutton as interim crossing guard be confirmed. Discussion. Mayor Heinze mentioned that a background check has been done. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/Meade, the appointment of Jan Taylor to the position of Fine Arts Review Committee member, be confirmed. Discussion. Mayor Heinze received a letter from the Capital Development Board from Springfield, Illinois, they will give the City $13,000 for the Art Project. They will be constructing a project in Canton, which will qualify for the state’s Art-in-Architecture program. One-half of one percent of the total appropriation for each state funded building accessible to and used by the general public shall be set aside for the purchase of artwork for that structure. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. Alderman Hartford mentioned the line up for Aldermen to ride in the Friendship Festival Parade will be on Saturday September 17 at the Elks Club. Acceptance of bids for MFT work. Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/Reed, to accept the low bid of $219,664.94 from United Paving for MFT work, as recommended by Maurer Stutz Inc. representative Colin Edwards. Accompanying the bid was a Certificate of Insurance and a pre-qualification document as recommended by IDOT, and a bid bond. The engineer’s estimate is $193,492.37. Colin said this is $26,000 over estimate, but is not out of line due to gasoline cost. Alderman Sarff asked when can the project start and when will it end? Colin Edwards said that as soon as IDOT gets the documents and should be around two weeks to finalize and the project will begin. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Reed, Meade, Carl, West, Sarff, Berardi, Hartford. NAYS – None. 8 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSENT. Motion carried. Update on Ordinance Violations. Alderman Meade mentioned about nuisance property and ask the City Attorney Jim Elson to give a report. Jim reported that City Day was Friday September 2. The Circuit Clerk reports that there were 194 different matters processed involving over $1500 in fines. Canton prosecuted a number of “junk” nuisance cases as well as derelict vehicle cases in addition to the usual number of weeds & grass and dog cases (running loose, not inoculated, barking, unlicensed, etc.) If citizens will only report the derelict vehicles to the police department, it is unnecessary for them to appear in court. The police will handle the necessary testimony. 2 Council meeting September 6, 2005 City Attorney Jim Elson said on the junkyard matter, the judge set a court date for them to show progress because of some 20 vehicles. When the court date comes, hope there will be only 2 vehicles. The complaint with the motorcycles at a city residence, the judge viewed the incident, and decided no relocation is needed on either side, and for them to learn to get along with your neighbor. Trailer case: The corporation on the trailer cases on West Locust no longer exists. We plan to begin full discovery since the defendant’s attorney does not return telephone calls or correspondence. Drow Building: An agreement has been signed which provides for complete repayment to the city of the funds expended to raze this unsafe structure. West Spruce Condemnation: The case has been reinstated seeking demolition of the structure, which has been deemed unsafe for many years. Water System Bonds: This week will be spent in compiling the information requested by bond counsel. Delay was experienced due to questions about the agreement for supply of water to the proposed Ethanol Plant. Water Line Easements: Fulton County Abstract Company has agreed to do ownership searches for the entire line of $1,000. Mayor Heinze has authorized us to proceed. Vandewalle & Associates: It appears we have reached an agreement with Vandewalle & Associates that satisfies the requirements that I had stipulated. The agreement is similar to the agreement that had existed between that firm and the city in the past but with significant changes. For example, there is a limit on the amount which the company may charge per month--$5,000 of non-grant funds. Billing is to be itemized and monthly. The agreement has a fixed termination date of thirty days from August 17, 2005, but may be extended by Work Orders. Many of the provisions that had been questioned under the former agreement have been deleted. It is to be governed by Illinois law among other provisions. There is also a short notice termination provision of 7 days. This is a result of a cooperative effort by Joy Stieglitz and Jenny Kurt of Vandewalle and myself. Council members asked questions concerning this agreement. Alderman Carl commented that the $5,000 figure is not listed in the Budgets. Economic Development Director Mark Rothert reported that there is $14,000 in the Illinois EPA Brownfield Fund that can be used for the additional work. Alderman Schneck asked if the Work Order request would come before Council? Alderman Carl mentioned that Mark Rothert could make a report on the Work Orders each month. Alderman Carl felt the funding would have to be taken from the TIF funds or the work cannot be approved. There is a total of $220,149.61 in the TIF fund, and the payment to N.E. Finch for $32,000 was not handled properly. Alderman Carl wants this issue to go before his committee. Alderman Schenck/Mark Rothert, Economic Development Director report on former City Hall. Mark Rothert wrote the following fact sheet – The City of Canton is requesting proposals for the usage and sale/lease of what is commonly referred to as the “Old City Hall’ building located at 210 East Chestnut Street, Canton, Illinois. Originally build in 1893, the Romanesque style building was first used as a public library, containing intricate woodwork, two fireplaces, and stained glass windows.” The library was a gift to the community from William Parlin, co-founder of P&O Plow Company, upon his death in 1890. In 1958, a new library was built and the original library soon became Canton’s City Hall. By 1994, the building was placed on the National Park Service’s National Register 3 Council meeting September 6, 2005 of Historic Places. In 2002, the City moved offices into their new location while keeping ownership of the “Old City Hall.” It has remained vacant since. At its August 16, 2005 meeting, the City council voted to accept proposals concerning the disposition of the property. The City Council stipulated the following: Sealed bids will be accepted in the City Clerk’s Office until four o’clock September 20, 2005. Council will accept the best proposal (Not necessarily the best monetary offer) and which entails a combination of the best offer prices the best intended use of the property. The minimum offer price to purchase the property is $40,000. The sealed bids will be opened, reviewed, and discussed in a closed executive session of the City Council immediately before the September 20, 2005 council meeting. Disposition of the property could occur as early as that September 20, 2005 council meeting. Finally, the City Council reserves the right to determine what it feels is the best proposal for the property. The total site area is 13,068 square feet or .30 acre, subject to survey. Site Dimensions: 99x132. Alderman Schenck turned the reporting of the former City Building to Mark Rothert. Mark reported that bids will be accepted on September 20, 2005 until 4:00 p.m. The city will seek the best offer and the best intended use of the building. Anyone having any questions can call Mark at 647-2640. Mayor Heinze mentioned having a transitional committee with private industry/Chamber of Commerce. A lot of activity is going on right now, and going pretty good. OLD BUSINESS: ORDINANCE – REDUCING SPEED LIMITS IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF GRAHAM HOSPITAL, TO WIT: ON PORTIONS OF SOUTH AVENUE B, WEST WALNUT, AND WEST MAPLE STREETS. Second reading, read by title. Motion and second by Aldermen Carl/Reed, the ordinance be placed up on its adoption. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Hartford, Berardi, Sarff, West, Carl, Meade, Reed, Schenck. NAYS – None. 8 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSENT. Motion carried. Ordinance being #1844. NEW BUSINESS: RESOLUTION – APPROVING A PRE-ANNEXATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CANTON AND JAMES ENGLE JR. First reading, read Motion by title. and second by Aldermen Meade/Hartford, the resolution be adopted. Discussion. Alderman Berardi questioned the pre-annexation as they are all scattered out too much. We need to see the direction of where the city wants to go. Mayor Heinze said we have been talking about going out Chestnut Street and looking at these. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Reed, Meade, Carl, West, Sarff, Berardi, Hartford. NAYS – None. 8 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSENT. Motion carried. Resolution being # 3737. AGREEMENT – VANDEWALLE & ASSOCIATES AND THE CITY OF CANTON. Motion First reading, read by title. and second by Aldermen Meade/West, refer to Legal & Ordinance Committee, and extend the current contract of Vandewalle & Associates for 30 days. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Hartford, Berardi, Sarff, West, Carl, Meade, Reed, Schenck. NAYS – None. 8 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSENT. Motion carried. 4 Council meeting September 6, 2005 AGREEMENT – ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATIONS INC. First reading, read by Motion title. and second by Aldermen Meade/Hartford, the agreement be adopted. Discussion. City Attorney Jim Elson had reviewed the agreement. Alderman Berardi questioned that remediation had stopped in the IH site because of discussion with IH. (The summary attached to the agreement mentions the following: Localized contamination from the old International Harvester site has seeped into the adjacent nd property located along 2 Avenue. Confirming this information are Phase 1 and Phase 11 Environmental Assessments conducted by Randolph and Associates as well as a Phase 11 Assessment conducted by the ILEPA. After reviewing Randolph an Associates’ Phase 1 and ILEPA’s Phase 11 data, Environmental Operations Inc. is “of the opinion that and NFR (No Further Remediation Letter) is obtainable for the majority of the project property.” A NFR letter is the official documentation needed to signify that a property is environmentally clean to build on, however some building restrictions may apply. EOI’s strategy will be to get an NFR for the land that is not in this affected area. Once an NFR is achieved, development can begin at the site. The total potential cost: $20,000. Zoning Officer Clark Wilson mentioned that the city is already enrolled in SRP for Second Avenue on the West side. Economic Development Director Mark Rothert mentioned that he has talked with Joy Stieglitz and she feels good to go with. Mark said he does not feel this agreement will have adverse affect. Alderman Berardi felt the city needs updates from Bell, Boyd & Lloyd. Mayor Heinze said they will be here in 6 weeks making their presentation. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Reed, Meade, Carl, West, Sarff, Berardi, Hartford. NAYS – None. 8 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSENT. Motion carried. Agreement being #3738. Adjournment. Motion and second by Aldermen Hartford/Berardi, to adjourn. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. The regular scheduled Council meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m. ______________________________ Nancy Whites, City Clerk APPROVED: ________________________________ Rodney W. Heinze, Mayor 5