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Home My WebLink About05-02-00 Canton City CouncilV A regular meeting of the Canton City Council was held on May 2, 2000 in council chambers. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OPENED THE MEETING FOLLOWED BY THE INVOCATION GIVEN BY NANCY WHITES CITY CLERK. Mayor Edwards asked for roll call at 6:30 p.m. Present -Aldermen Hartford, Sarff, Nidiffer, Shores, May. Absent -Aldermen Molleck, Phillips. MINUTES OF APRIL 18, 2000 MEETING. Motion by Alderman Sarff, second by Alderman Nidiffer, the minutes of April 18, 2000 be accepted and placed on file. Voice vote, motion carried. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Public Safety & Traffic. Council Action None. Streets & Garbage. Council Action Motion by Alderman Shores, second by Alderman May, approval to buy one new mower at a cost of $725, and to rent 2 mowing tractors for 5 months at a monthly cost of $1,000 for the Street Department. Roll call. AYES -Aldermen Hartford, Sarff, Nidiffer, Meade, Shores, May. NAYS -None. 6 AYES, 0 NAYS, 2 ABSENT. Motion carried. Motion by Alderman Shores, second by Alderman May, the City to sponsor GABBY Days June 3rd & 4th and no pick up of tires, appliances including TV's, batteries, yard waste, trees, branches, car parts, or car glass. (The committee minutes state...any items left over will be picked up by the Public Works Department beginning June 5 & continuing only until June 10 on resident's regular garbage pickup day.) Roll call. AYES -Aldermen May, Shores, Meade, Nidiffer, Sarff, Hartford. NAYS -None. 6 AYES, 0 NAYS, 2 ABSENT. Motion carried. Lake, Buildings & Grounds. Motion by Alderman Hartford, second by Alderman Shores, to allow Carolyn Markle and Beulah Tindall, to either build a home or move in another home to replace a trailer on leased lake lot #9, and, with approval from the Fulton County Board. Voice, vote, motion carried unanimously. Motion by Alderman Hartford, second by Alderman Nidiffer, to waive the Beer Garden fee of $10.00 for Player's Lounge to hold a fund raiser on May 27 for the 4th of July fireworks. Discussion. Mayor Edwards said they would bring the music inside at 10:00 p.m. Roll call. AYES -Aldermen Hartford, Sarff, Nidiffer, Meade, Shores, May. NAYS - None. 6 AYES, 0 NAYS, 2 ABSENT. Motion carried. 39 CONTINUED 5-02, 2000 this month to give $2,000. Mayor Edwards also asked the fire department to work with those setting offthe fireworks to offer safety and education. Mayor Edwards mentioned that 2 weeks ago the council voted down buying the desk for the depot. Stuart Pollitt heard of this and decided to donate a telegraph key receiver and instructions for morse code. Mayor Edwards said this came out of a railroad station in the i west. Also Stuart gave the mayor pictures of the Orendorff families. Mayor Edwards said the telegraph and morse code will be placed in the depot. Mayor Edwards highlighted his year end report, it is as follows: This year has been a year of progress and of change. The change that I feel has made the biggest impact on the City of Canton was the sale of Fulton Square to R.E.R. Enterprises, which is a private developer. The sale reduced the City's financial responsibility on a 20- year old development. Now that Fulton Square is being managed by a private group with expertise in this area, Fulton Square will be profitable for many years to come. R.E.R. Enterprises has taken steps to improve the property and have many more improvements planned. I would like to publicly thank the many people who helped to make this transaction possible and especially Bruce Edwards, President of Fulton Square Corporation and Vice-President of Norwest Bank. This past fiscal year has seen another major advancement in the future prosperity of Canton. Because the former International Harvester site was selected as a Brownfields Pilot Program, there are many things underway at this time. Cleanup is being conducted by the U.S.E.P.A., under the direction of Stavros Emmanouil. The clean up is expected to be completed by the end of 2000-2001. Through the City's Brownfields Grant, Vandewalle & Associates, professional planners from Madison Wisconsin, have been hired to develop a Comprehensive Plan for the site. Joy Stieglitz is directing this project. Vandewalle & Associates have done a considerable amount of research to determine the best use of the I.H. site, and it looks to be a great opportunity for commercial development in Canton. Their plan ties in with tourism and promoting our IH Heritage along with capitalizing on Fulton County as a major hunting and fishing area. We have already had inquires from businesses wanting to locate on the site. I'd like to highlight some other positive developments taking place in our community. This Thursday, Gary and Heidi Leese will be opening the "Palm Cafe" on East Elm Street in the front portion of the Bruketta Building. It will be a very nice addition to the community. Dave Bruketta is doing a lot to restore his building which is a historic landmark in Canton. Papa John's is preparing to open soon on North Main Street. Taco Bell plans to start construction late this month in Fulton Square. Curt Huber is making great progress on renovating the old Capitol Theater in uptown Canton, with occupancy expected at the end of August. Anew video store will begin construction soon and a small company that supplies products for Caterpillar is bringing five new jobs to Canton. A Mexican restaurant chain is also looking at our community and has requested information. Basement De-Watering has renovated a building on East Elm Street and recently moved to that location. Sunset Manor is planning a major addition this year. We 4~ CONTINUED 5-02-2000 This past year has seen planning fora 3/4 million dollar overlay program that is approximately three times the normal amount. In this program the City has moved away from the oil and chip coat to a blacktop overlay which creates a greatly improved surface. A great amount of time and money is being spent on improvements to Lake Canton and the Water Treatment Plant. This program will be ongoing for the next few years. The City has an agreement to purchase Norwest Bank Building located on the square and is making plans to relocate the police department and city hall offices. This move should happen around the end of 2000. The Burlington-Northern Railroad Depot is now ready for public use after being completely renovated. City Council plans to hold its first meeting in July, 2000 at this location but will most likely move the council meeting to the Norwest Bank Building, soon to be City Building/Police Station once this move is accomplished. I am in the process of appointing a new committee, compiled of citizens and elected officials that will be called "Hertiage Committee". I have asked Linda Caudle, Community Development Representative to be a part of this committee. I would think the first thing this committee would do is establish a mission statement to be approved by City Council. This committee could consider programs for use of the Railroad Depot and the soon to be former city building. The City of Canton is in good financial condition with a few exceptions. Health Insurance is skyrocketing with the cost of prescription drugs and health care. Changes will need to be made on the amount of coverage employees receive. Also unfounded mandates from the Federal and State governments are requiring the city to spend large amounts of resources on upgrading of our water and sewer plants. Pat Wright, Treasurer and Jim Snider, Administrative Assistant is working togather with the finance committee on these problems. This year ends the 19th year of my administration and the start of the last year of this term. I would like to thank all the aldermen, city employees, Nancy Whites, Pat Wright, Jim Snider, Cliff O'Brien, Gary Orwig, Steve White, Jim Snider, Mike Elam and retired financial advisor, Harlan Banister for all their help and for the ability to work together. A special thank you to Susan Henseler and Linda Caudle for all their help. This ends the year end report of Mayor Donald E. Edwards. Motion by Alderman Sarff, second by Hartford to add to this agenda the Resolution on the second meetings agenda Honoring Dr. Keith Miller, Spoon River College President. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. Mayor Edwards gave Keith a resolution in a frame for his service to this community as he will become Blackhawk College President in July. RESOLUTION - DR. KEITH MILLER LEAVING THE SPOON RIVER COLLEGE PRESIDENCY, AND THANKS FOR HIS TENURE IN CANTON. 41 CONTINUED 5-02-2000 ORDINANCE -PROVIDING FOR THE MANNER OF SALE OF CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITY, FULTON, COUNTY ILLINOIS. (Comfort Station at 116 North Main, bids to be received May 23.) Second reading, read by title. Motion by Alderman Sarff, second by Alderman Hartford, the ordinance be placed on its passage. Discussion. Mayor Edwards mentioned will have to relocate the maintenance department that is in the back of the Comfort Station. Roll call. AYES - Aldermen May, Shores, Meade, Nidiffer, Sarff, Hartford. NAYS -None. 6 AYES, 0 NAYS, 2 ABSENT. Motion carried. Ordinance being #1654. ORDINANCE -AMENDING TITLE 7, CHAPTER 1, SECTION 6-1 OF THE CANTON MUNICIPAL CODE FOR DEFINITION OF WEEDS. Motion by Alderman Meade, second by Alderman May, the ordinance be placed on its passage as amended. (Amended was the word grass to grasses.) Roll call. AYES -Aldermen Hartford, Sarff, Nidiffer, Meade, Shores, May. NAYS -None. 6 AYES, 0 NAYS, 2 ABSENT. Motion carried. Ordinance being #1655. ADJOURNMENT -SINE & DIE. Motion by Alderman Meade, second by Alderman Shores, to adjourn sine-die. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. The regular scheduled council meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m. ~~ti~, r Nancy Wh' s, City Clerk }, APPROVED: ~~ ~- i.r Donald E. Edwards, Mayor i