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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-09-2000 Clerical MINUTES CLERICAL COMMITTEE City Council Chambers May 9, 2000 - 6:30 p.m. Members Present: Dave Nidiffer, Larry Sarff, Kevin Meade. Others Present: Mayor Edwards, Jim Elson, Jim Hartford, Jim May, Clif O'Brien, Steve White, Chief Elam, Chief Stanko, Jim Snider, Linda Caudle, George Spahr, Clark Wilson, Pat Wright, John Froehlin ,Matthew Leaf, Harlan Banister Finance Committee Larry Sarff, Chairman City Treasurer Pat Wright discussed the City's Insurance Premiums. Treasurer Wright recommends raising the city's contributions each month to the Health Care Plan. A memo was distributed by her last week detailing the suggested increases. The increase on regular employees would begin June 1, 2000 and for Cobra and retirees July 1, 2000. Alderman Sarff suggested advertising for bids for Health Care as another option. The health care fund has been drained due to numerous major claims. He also suggested looking for a better rate on life insurance. Motion was made by Alderman Meade, seconded by Alderman Nidiffer to approve Pat Wright's recommendations and to send them to council. Voice vote, motion carried. Jim Snider and each Department Head reported on their 2000-2001 budget summaries, which all alderman received in writing last month. After the reports, Alderman Sarff added that most of the increases in the operating budget are not controllable by the department heads, and everything else is in line. Motion by Alderman Meade, seconded by Alderman Nidiffer to send the budgets to City Council for approval. Voice vote, motion carried. Bills were reviewed and questions answered. Motion was made by Alderman Nidiffer, seconded by Alderman Meade to send the bills to council for action. Voice vote, motion carried. Mr. Hall, property owner at 316 North 14"', requested financial relief from the committee for paying eleven years for sewer services that he did not receive. When he purchased the property he assumed it was connected to the city sewer. However, a recent problem showed that he was on a septic tank. He has since connected to the city sewer as required by ordinance. Motion was made by Alderman Sarff, seconded by Alderman Meade to reimburse Mr. Hall what he has paid in sewer charges since he purchased the property at 316 North 14~' up until the time he connected to the city sewer. Voice vote, motion carried. 1 Jim Snider received a letter in regards to a water bill that was adjusted in January 1999. The amount of adjustment according to policy was made. The person was asking for the same consideration as was given to Spoon River College on their recent adjustment. Motion was made by Alderman Nidiffer, seconded by Alderman Meade to adjust off $767 and to issue a refund check out of the water and sewer fund. Voice vote, motion carried. In a similar situation, another request was received from a person who pays double water rates and experienced a major break in his water line. He requested the same adjustment as received by Spoon River College. Motion was made by Alderman Nidiffer, seconded by Alderman Meade to adjust off the account an additional $765.75 and issue a check out of the water and sewer fund. Under discussion, the committee felt that everyone should he treated equally and therefore felt the same consideration should be given to this request as given to Spoon River College. Voice vote, motion carried. Chief Elam requested permission to send a lieutenant, 2 sergeants and himself to the Northwestern University Executive Management Alumni Retraining Seminar June 11 thru 13~` in Springfield. Total estimated cost is $550. Motion was made by Alderman Meade, seconded by Alderman Nidiffer to approve this request. Voice vote, motion carved. Chief Elam also requested permission to purchase 500 shoulder emblem patches at a cost of $655. The patches are required for all uniforms. Motion was made by Alderman Nidiffer, seconded by Alderman Meade to approve this purchase. Voice vote, motion carried. Chief Elam reported that K-9 Officer Grando is doing well and is on medication that has been donated by Blessman Pharmacy. Jim Snider reported that there will be a bid opening May 23rd for proposals on the Comfort Station. Mayor Edwards added that, if this building is sold, the City will need to provide a Maintenance building for George Spahn and Neil Coulter. Clif O'Brien and George have looked into this and feel that a 40 by 60 foot building would be needed. Clif suggests the location between Pine and Walnut on 2"d Avenue. According to Clark Wilson this would not interfere with the development plans for the IH site. No action is required at this time. Having no other business to discuss, the Finance Committee adjourned. Negotiations, Grievance & Personnel Committee Kevin Meade, Chairman Alderman Meade will discuss non union employee salaries in executive session. There was no business for open discussion and the committee adjourned. 2 `~flr-" Community & Industrial Development Committee Robert Molleck, Chairman In the absence of Alderman Molleck, Alderman Meade presided. Mayor Edwards reported that the West Side Neighborhood Association will be having the West Side Fair with vendors and activities on July 1, 2000. They have asked for the city to provide barricades and for permission to block through traffic on a few streets in the neighborhood during the event. Motion by Alderman Sarff, seconded by Alderman Nidiffer to allow the city's participation as in the past and to allow the streets in that area to be blocked off for this one day event. Voice vote, motion carved. Mayor Edwards received a request from Norwest Bank President, Mark Johann, to use Jones Park June 30th for a celebration to unveil the new Wells Fargo Bank Logo. They will have live entertainment and food and have also asked if the fireworks committee would like to participate in this as a fundraiser. Mayor Edwards pointed out that there still is not a fireworks committee. However Aldermen Nidiffer and Hartford have been working on this and they will contact Mark Johann. Motion was made by Alderman Nidiffer, seconded by Alderman Sarff to allow Norwest Bank to use Jones Park on June 30th for a bank promotion. Voice vote, motion carried. Linda Caudle gave a report on a situation that she felt the committee needed to be aware of in regards to future economic development. She has been working with a lead from DCCA on a food processing company wanting to expand into another location. The company would provide up to 300 jobs if the demand for their product continued. Out of 13 sites in Illinois, the company planned to make site visits in Illinois in Canton and in two other communities. Their number one request is that the community could handle their water needs and their effluent. Lyle Ray with the EPA and Emil Cook of CMT both reviewed the paper work from the company on their pre treated effluent and both agreed that the wastewater treatment plant could not handle this type of effluent since the plant has been operating on the edge to keep in compliance. According to Emil Cook, improvements to the wastewater plant to handle this company's needs would cost at a minimum of two million dollars and would take a minimum of three years to plan and complete construction. Linda added that Mark Baker with DCCA was very helpful in the recruitment of this company. Up to '/Z million dollars in CDAP grants would be available for this type of project and there would possibly be a small amount of Illinois First money available. She pointed out that the wastewater plant would not keep us from bringing in 300 jobs from another type of industry. However, we will be limited to the type of industry that we can accommodate. We need to take this into consideration for the future. She also reported that CMT has one of the other Illinois sites as a client and they were unable to handle the company's effluent as well. Motion was made by Alderman Sarff and seconded by Alderman Meade to allow Linda to write letters to our legislators to inform them that Canton and possibly Illinois has lost out on 300 jobs because of strict regulations. Voice vote, motion carried. No further business was discussed and the committee adjourned. 3 Legal & Ordinance Committee David Nidiffer, Chairman Gary Leese, owner and manager of the recently opened Palm Cafe in the Bruketta Building at the corner of East Elm and 1 ~` Avenue addressed the committee regarding valet parking for the restaurant. Because of limited parking close to the entrance he felt this would provide a much needed service. He is getting information from his insurance agent on liability. He asked that the city give him direction on how to best accomplish this. He would like to utilize one parking space in front of the restaurant on Elm Street for pick up and delivery of vehicles. He plans to park them in the public lot behind the building or even a few blocks away. Alderman Sarff suggested the city designate this as a 15 minute parking space and let Mr. Leese place his own sign there for valet parking. Attorney Elson suggested that this may be accomplished by designating the space as a loading zone. Attorney Elson will check into the best option and report to Mr. Leese and to the City Council. No action taken by the committee at this time. Mayor Edwards informed the committee that Mark Johann has offered to lease their ATM Building at the corner of Locust and Main Street to the city for one dollar a year. He felt this could be used as an information center to go along with the proposal from Vandewalle and Associates. The building has heat and air conditioning but no rest room facility. Clark Wilson was asked to contact Joy Stiglitz to see if this would fit into their long range development plan for the city. Mayor Edwards will inform Mark Johann that the city will take this into consideration. No action required at this time. Mayor Edwards received a request for a beer garden at Linn Lanes for an Aids Awareness Rally on May 20~'. He will approve the request with a change... asking that the music be discontinued outside at 10:00 p.m. as has been past practice. Mayor Edwards received a letter from Craig Zilly, chairman of the 1~` annual Relay for Life Cancer Research fundraiser. It will be held for 24 hours from noon on June 23rd to noon on June 24d'. The city will pick up the bagged garbage from the event on the following Monday. Mayor Edwards will talk more about the Relay at the next council meeting. Motion was made by Alderman Meade, seconded by Alderman Sarff to enter into executive session for the purpose of personnel salaries. Roll call vote as follows: Ayes - Aldermen Hartford, Sarff, Nidiffer, Meade, and May. Motion unanimous. The committee reconvened in open session for the purpose of adjournment. No further business was discussed and the committee adjourned. Executive session minutes are on file. Recorded by Linda Caudle 4