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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-14-2003 Clerical MINUTES CLERICAL COMMITTEE City Council Chambers @, Historic Depot October 14, 2003 - 6:30 p.m. Members Present: Les Carl, Mary Fillingham, Craig West, Larry Saril; Jim Hartford, Elny Harn; Absent: Bob Molleck and Rick Reed. Others Present: Mayor Jerry Bohler, Attorney Ron Weber, Patty Franzoni, Dave Byerly, Clif O'Brien, Chief Edwards, Chief Stanko, Greg Pollitt, Joe Carruthers, Clark Wilson, George Spahn, Bill Terry, John Froehling, Joe Ginger, Randy Weaver. Finance Committee Les Carl, Chairman The Committee Meeting was opened and introduced by Mayor Bohler. Mayor Bohler announced that the executive session for the purpose of the Police Contract scheduled for tonight has been re-scheduled for November 4, 2003. BILLS: Discussion: Alderman Hartford asked why a bill in the amount of $2,092.50 for Maurer & Stutz was listed twice. Joe Carruthers stated that the bill listed under the Sewer department should not be there. A Motion was made by Alderman West seconded by Alderman Fillingham to send the bills to Council for approval. All Ayes Motion carried. Treasurer's Report: Patty Franzoni, City Treasurer reported to the Committee that we are 5 months into the year and should be at 41 % of the budget and over all we are at 48.3% with the receipt of our property tax payment we received at the end of this month. She explained that the Department Heads were holding to their budgets. General Fund balance is $638,798 available cash to run the City. The other funds are designated funds three of these funds are in the red so our actual available cash to run the City is $386,815 and that is not even enough to run the City of one month. Things are pretty tight. A Motion was made by Alderman Sarff seconded by Alderman West to accept the treasurer's report. All Ayes Motion carried. .5 Sales Tax Increase: Mayor Bohler stated that we have been talking about putting a .5 sales tax on the ballot next year. We want everyone to understand that the County Board passed a .5 sales tax increase the City does not receive any of this money. If this increase is passed it will be used for infrastructure and property tax relief. If this does not pass then our only other option to keep the City running is property tax increases. Alderman Carl mentioned another option would belay-offs. Alderman Hartford said that people he spoke with would rather have the sales tax than property tax. Alderman Sarff asked Attorney Weber what sales would be susceptible to the tax. Attorney Weber replied that it would be simply what ever the current 6.25% tax is on. Patty Franzoni, City Treasurer stated that we average $140,000 a month on sales tax income currently. Mayor r Bohier mentioned that each year the cost of payroll at 3% increases on the contracts increases our expenditures $120,000 - $150,000 and without continually trying to get revenue to make up that difference you can not lay-off 5 employees a year to make up that difference, because of our obligation for services in the City. A Motion was made by Alderman Fillingham seconded by Alderman West to recommend Council to approve a referendum for .5 Saies Tax. All Ayes Motion carried. Water Plant Study: A power point presentation by Steve Arahood of Maurer & Stutz was given to the Committee. Clif O'Brien gave a brief history of why there is a need for the planning study of the Water Plant. In the past there have been upgrades done and tonight he was going to talk about more upgrades needed. Greg Pollitt explained to the Committee the challenges of the Water Plant, which include: raw water quality, limited capacity, the age of the infrastructure and unfunded mandates from the EPA. The Water Plant also needs a water distribution system maps. Joe Carruthers informed the Committee that the Wastewater Plant has had a planning study completed. As we go through the wastewater equipment needs we have a plan set up to fix those deficiencies. We have the system for the growth that we want to go to. The storm-building project is 85% - 95% complete at this time. These upgrades to the storm building are adequate and will handle any of our future expansions throughout the City as far as run off, catch basins and rain water. Joe stated the aeration tanks and sludge handling facilities are the two area of focus in the planning study that we have. The aeration tanks are a focus based on our need for ammonium nitrogen removal and the sludge handling facilities focus was based upon our idea of locating some treatment parts of the plant to the South so that we can hopefully control some odors that have been coming out of that area for sometime. Joe talked about the collection challenges: the Kilroy pumping station located by Canton Lake; the Eastside wastewater facility; Bradley Corner sewage pumping station. A wastewater flushing system map would be used to supply accurate data to an engineering firm or anybody who would do work for the City. Steve Arahood, Maurer & Stutz, discussed possible funding sources for the projects at the water and wastewater plants: USDA Rural development; DCEO grants; IEPA revolving loans; Bond issuance. John Davis, Chairman of the Revitalization Committee spoke on the importance of the study as to what they are trying to accomplish in terms of economic development and growth for our community both from a retail base to a growth in population. To attract new business is going to take the appropriate infrastructure. Ralph Grimm spoke on behalf of the Canton Area Development Corporation he complemented the Mayor, Council and City staff on what has been done on this project up to this point. These projects need to be done. As you debate whether or not you can pay for this or how you are going to pay for it I would simply ask you to consider the reverse of that; can you afford not to do it? The long-term benefit to ibis community, its survival and economic prosperity can we afford not to move forward with this project. Hopefully you will fmd a way to do this project and the CADC will be there to support you in any way we can. Mayor Bohler: Committee approval to move forward .with water plant study and direct the City Attorney to research bond issues. Alderman Carl stated that the study would be paid for from the Water & Sewer fund. A Motion was made by Alderman Sarff seconded by Alderman Fillingham to authorize Maurer & Stutz to come back to the Council with what the study will be and an estimated cost of the study. All Ayes Motion carried. Replacement Personal Protective Equipment: Chief Stanko asked the committee for authorization to purchase personal protective equipment from Global/MES at a total cost of $6,295.50 this is a budgeted item A Motion was made by Alderman Sarff seconded by Alderman West to allow the purchase. All Ayes Motion carried. Adjourned at 7:40 p.m. Legal & Ordinance Committee Mary Fillingham, Chairman Ordinance Toy Vehicles & Skateboards/Roller-skates: City Attorney Weber had an issue on a new form of transportation the electric scooter. The State considers these to be motorized vehicles. Chief Edwards checked with the Illinois State Police they have classified them as motor vehicles therefore to operate on city streets they have to licensed and no one under the age of 16 can operate them unless on private property. Tom Potter addressed the committee concerning this matter: he would like to see this investigated further. Discussion Alderman Fillingham addressed the issue of ATV's and skateboards this should be looked into. A Motion was made by Alderman Sarff seconded by Alderman Carl to have the Attorney along with the city staff research. All Ayes Motion carried. Resolution -Pre-annexation Agreement: A Motion was made by Alderman Sarff seconded by Alderman West to send the pre-annexation agreement for Howard and Amber Schenck to the Council for consideration. All Ayes Motion carried. Lester Workman Property: Walt Barra addressed the committee who represents the Workman family about a lease that exist between the Workman family and the City. He asked the Committee to approve the City to vacate Avenue E from Pine Street north to Elm Street. A Motion was made by Alderman Carl seconded by Alderman Sarff to recommend to Council that the 9'x 155' section be vacated to the Workman residence.: All Ayes Motion carried. Adjourned 8:03 p.m. Community & Industrial Development Committee Craig West, Chairman Update of Activities: Alderman West mentioned the Economics of Nature Tourism for Illinois River Valley will be presented by Ted Eubanks October 15, 2003 at 7:00 a.m. at the Donaldson Center The Canton Heritage Committee along with Spoon River College is sponsoring a free concert at the SRC's Drama. Theater at noon on October 16, 2003. The Chamber of Commerce will have merchants trick or treat night October 30, 2003 from 5-7 p.m. The Chamber of Commerce annual Christmas Walk will be held December 4, 2003 from 5-7 p.m. A Press Conference was held on October 13, 2003 at the IH Site for the demolition of the Northeast corner. Mayor Bohler invited the Council to come to the City building on the 30~' to hand out candy. He also recognized the Canton Little Giants football team on their 7-0 season. Dave Byerly gave the Committee his quarterly report. He mentioned that we have 9 months completed. We will finish the year with almost every goal set out accomplished and those that are not accomplished will be well in motion and be accomplished by the first quarter of 2004. The economic development programs philosophy has been simply set goals and address the fundamental things that prevent business from growing in the community. Once these fundamental things are fined then the community will have the pieces it needs to successfully attract business. Dave gave highlights on the following: Water study or larger the comprehensive plan; Local Business Retention and Expansion; Marketing; Site locations; International Harvester (clean-up, remediation and funding); Nature-based Tourism; Business Incentives; New Business Recruitment. TIF district was scheduled for December 2, 2003 this scheduled has been pushed back, because of the large number of holes that existed in the district necessitated us going back and doing a housing impact study. Clif O'Brien gave the details on the leaf program that will begin on October 20, 2003. Clif also mentioned the yard waste facility is open. Adjourned 8:28 p.m. Negotiations, Grievance & Personnel Committee Larry Sarff, Chairman No items on the agenda for this committee. 8:30 p.m. Minutes recorded by Pam Smith