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Home My WebLink About07-01-2025 Canton City Council Regular Meeting Minutes CANTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, JULY 01, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. Historic Depot-Donald E. Edwards Way th 50 North 4 Avenue, Canton, Il 61520 A regular meeting of the Canton City Council was held on July 1, 2025 (6:30pm) at the Historic th Depot located at 50 North 4 Avenue Canton Illinois. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Mayor Kent McDowell, City Clerk Andi Smith-Walters, City Treasurer Crystal Wilkinson, Police Chief Mike Eveland, Fire Chief Scott Roos, Public Utilities Director Joe Carruthers. OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: City Attorney Chris Jump, Comptroller Beka Shultz MEDIA IN ATTENDANCE: Fulton Democrat MEETING CALLED TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OPENED THE MEETING INVOCATION – Mayor Kent McDowell Mayor McDowell requested a moment of silence for Deputy Troy Chisum who six years ago on th the 25 of June, 2019 was viciously murdered in Fulton County ROLL CALL Yes No Absent Alderperson Gossett x Alderperson Pickel x Alderperson Ketcham x Alderperson Hale x Alderperson Grimm x Alderperson Lovell x Alderperson Nelson x Alderperson x Chamberlin ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA: Item (B) under public safety and legal was tabled. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: MAYORAL COMMUNICATIONS/REQUESTED ACTION: The bicentennial celebration was a great success. Mayor McDowell thanked Mike Walters, Rick Klinedinst, Kevin Stephen, Carol Davis, Carla Bobell, Stacy Wise for being on the committee and all the hard work they did. The Mayor also thanked Carol Kohler who takes care of Jone’s Park, Nancy Mackey and Joe Carruthers for all their help. th Mayor reminded everyone of the fireworks at the stadium at dusk on Friday the 4. There will th be a double pick up of garbage on Monday as the 4 is a holiday and City Hall is closed. CITY CLERK COMMUNICATIONS /REQUESTED ACTION: City Clerk Andi Walters administered the Oath of Office to the City’s new firefighter Soloman Dunlap who had just returned from the Academy. DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMUNICATIONS/REPORTS: Deputy Police Chief Miller stated that this was the first day for E-Bike registration. Miller went on to say the Canton police department was awarded a grant $22,493.00 for in-car cameras. CONSENT AGENDA - APPROVAL OF THE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES HELD JUNE 17, 2025. BILL LIST Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Nelson/Ketcham to approve the consent agenda. ROLL CALL Yes No Absent Alderperson Gossett x Alderperson x Lingenfelter Alderperson Ketcham x Alderperson Hale x Alderperson Grimm x Alderperson Lovell x Alderperson Nelson x Alderperson x Chamberlin The motion carried. COMMITTEE REPORTS: PUBLIC SAFETY AND LEGAL ALDERPERSON JUSTIN NELSON, CHAIR ORDINANCE REVISING TITLE 6, CHAPTER 23 OF THE CANTON MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING ST SEIZURE AN IMPOUNDMENT OF VEHICLES (1 READING) Tabled REGULATORY AND POLICY ALDERPERSON ANGELA HALE, CHAIR COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALDERPERSON JOHN LOVELL, CHAIR ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO CANTON BUSINESS DEVELOPEMNT DISTRICT NO. 1 BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF CANTON, FULTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS AND JOCOB & KLEIN, LTD AND THE ECOMONIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP, LTD Alderperson Lovell stated that this is just redefining the borders for the east side of town and a little north. Mayor McDowell explained there were a couple of businesses that wanted to be included but st were not due to an oversight. He added that this was the 1 reading. Attorney Jump asked if there needed to be a public hearing. The Mayor replied yes and would try to get a public hearing set for the 15th ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A SECOND AMENDMENT TO TH THE CANTON 1 – DOWNTOWN/5 AVENUE TIF DISTRICT REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF CANTON AND WORLD HUNTING GROUP ENTERPRISES, INC. AND TIMOTHY M. WELLS AND KERRIE WELLS (60 AND 64 E. ELM ST. PROJECT) Alderperson Lovell explained that this is just giving them a 30-day extension on their current agreement until July 31. Mayor McDowell stated this was not something that was their fault. The windows they needed just came in five or six days ago. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Nelson/Ketcham to approve the consent agenda. ROLL CALL Yes No Absent Alderperson Gossett x Alderperson x Lingenfelter Alderperson Ketcham x Alderperson Hale x Alderperson Grimm x Alderperson Lovell x Alderperson Nelson x Alderperson x Chamberlin Mayor McDowell x The motion carried. ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON THE FOLLOWING TIF/BDD APPLICATIONS AND/OR AGREEMENTS 1. John Davis D.B.A Davis Ford: Alderperson Lovel stated that they need a new roof with the total cost of the project being $38,670.00 2. Fulton County Rehabilitation Center (FCRC): They are making improvements around the building with fencing, lighting and security cameras with the total cost of the project at $110,292.00 3. Erin Gravitt (580 E. Linn Street): Alderperson Lovell explained that this one is a little different and was not sure how they would want to proceed with it. At this point the owner doesn’t know what is going to go in the building, but he needs to put new windows in it. This might be one that will get pushed off until the extent of the project is known. Lovell said he would get more information from him over the next couple of weeks. 4. Starbucks: They were supposed to be breaking ground this week. The developer received a phone call from them last Thursday. Starbucks has a new CEO who has been there for about five or six months and has changed a lot of their metrics. It affected the cost of this project to the point that it increased by $500,000.00. The developer stated that if Starbucks is agreeable he thinks he can make some modifications to the plan and decrease that amount by $300,000.00. He added that he spoke with them yesterday and they approved 80% of his changes. They have a meeting on Thursday to discuss the rest. Lovell stated there is a $200,000.00 remaining gap that needs to be bridged. They asked if we could modify the agreement that we have to increase the upfront reimbursement $125,000.00 and then another $75,000.00 on the TIF reimbursement. Lovell went on to say that with a typical agreement with a 25% reimbursement they were coming in at just over 20% so they weren’t getting the full reimbursement. If we were to agree to make this increase the total incentive would be 26%. PUBLIC WORKS ALDERPERSON GREG GOSSETT, CHAIR FINANCE ALDERPERSON ANDRA CHAMBERLIN, CHAIR ORDINANCE IMPLEMENTING A MUNICIPAL GROCERY RETAILERS’ OCCUPATION TAX AND A MUNICIPAL GROCERY SERVICE OCCUPATION TAX FOR THE CITY OF CANTON Attorney Jump explained that several municipalities are deciding whether to adopt this. There are a lot of deadlines that come into play so why this was a little more time sensitive is to get it adopted and passed so it can become effective by January 1, 2026. In order to make that happen it needs to be adopted and submitted to the department of revenue by October 1, 2025. This is a 1% tax on the gross receipt of groceries. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Chamberlin/Grimm to approve the ordinance implementing a municipal grocery retailers’ occupation tax and a municipal grocery service occupation tax for the City of Canton. ROLL CALL Yes No Absent Alderperson Gossett x Alderperson x Lingenfelter Alderperson Ketcham x Alderperson Hale x Alderperson Grimm x Alderperson Lovell x Alderperson Nelson x Alderperson x Chamberlin Mayor McDowell x The motion carried. RESOLUTION APPROVING A DEMOLITION REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT RELATED TO PROPERTY LOCATED AT 354 EAST LOCUST ST., CANTON, IL 61520 Mayor McDowell stated $6,200.00 was the bid and asking 50% not to exceed $3,125.00. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Chamberlin/Nelson to approve the Resolution for a demolition reimbursement agreement related to property located at 354 East Locust St., Canton, IL 61520 pending the name Eric Barnard or Liberty Lane Investments. ROLL CALL Yes No Absent Alderperson Gossett x Alderperson x Lingenfelter Alderperson Ketcham x Alderperson Hale x Alderperson Grimm x Alderperson Lovell x Alderperson Nelson x Alderperson x Chamberlin Mayor McDowell x The motion carried. RESOLUTION APPROVING A SOLAR COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTED GENERATION SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT WITH SOLAR ON EARTH Attorney Jump explained the resolution authorizes us to move forward. Once he receives the final version he will review it with the Mayor remaining subject to the Mayor’s approval. The general terms provide that there will be no longer than a ten-year term, we would have the ability to obtain bill credits to reduce the overall electricity expenses of the city, a voluntary cancellation term by the city of no more than 180 days and no upfront costs due and owing to Solar on Earth, Inc., SunCentral LLC, and/or their affiliated entities. Attorney Jump left open the ability for the Mayor to refuse to sign it if he is not comfortable with it or doesn’t feel that it meets those needs. Alderman Grimm asked if the City solicited this proposal. Mayor McDowell and Attorney Jump responded, no. Grimm then asked if there are competitors out there we should be looking at if we are going to pursue this type of project and are there better deals to be had. Alderperson Ketcham responded by saying he has done research on this and has found nothing. Mayor McDowell asked Nathan McCarthy if they have competitors McCarthy responded by saying they are a unique company. He stated they build their own projects, and they also represent a bunch of different partners. He went on to say they pretty much represent anyone who is building a solar farm in Illinois. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Chamberlin/Pickel to accept the resolution approving a solar community distributed generation subscription agreement with solar on earth. ROLL CALL Yes No Absent Alderperson Gossett x Alderperson x Lingenfelter Alderperson Ketcham x Alderperson Hale x Alderperson Grimm x Alderperson Lovell x Alderperson Nelson x Alderperson x Chamberlin The motion carried. IT AND CYBERSECURITY ALDERPERSON DAVE PICKEL, CHAIR APPROVAL TO PURCHASE IT EQUIPMENT FROM SYNERGETIC TECHNOLOGIES FOR CITY HALL NETWORK UPGRADE Joe Carruthers explained that a couple of months ago City Hall started experiencing problems with their internet services along with the phone services. Comcast was contacted along with synergetic. We were down five days out of a fifteen-day span. The firewall equipment downstairs at City Hall needs replaced. A list of components was given to council in the packet. The total cost is $14,971.74. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Pickel/Nelson to approve the purchase of IT equipment from Synergetic Technologies for City Hall network upgrade. ROLL CALL Yes No Absent Alderperson Gossett x Alderperson x Lingenfelter Alderperson Ketcham x Alderperson Hale x Alderperson Grimm x Alderperson Lovell x Alderperson Nelson x Alderperson x Chamberlin Mayor McDowell x The motion carried. LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT ALDERPERSON RALPH GRIMM, CHAIR ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE POSITION OF AND JOB DESCRIPTION OF BUDGET OFFICER ND AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR (2 READING) Alderperson Grimm stated that the only change made since the first reading was the salary range. After meeting with the Mayor and Attorney Jump we indicated that the salary range for this position will be between $95,000.00 and $110,000.00. Grimm wanted to make council aware that the Mayor and himself have asked Attorney Jump to begin working on a revision of our personnel policy for the City. It’s been several years since it has been reviewed and revised. Attorney Jump stated this would be a work in progress because he will want to meet with department heads and others to see what is working and what is not. Along with what is outdated and what needs to be added. Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Grimm/Lovell to approve the ordinance establishing the position of and job description of budget officer and economic development administrator. ROLL CALL Yes No Absent Alderperson Gossett x Alderperson x Lingenfelter Alderperson Ketcham x Alderperson Hale x Alderperson Grimm x Alderperson Lovell x Alderperson Nelson x Alderperson x Chamberlin Mayor McDowell x The motion carried. PROPERTY ALDERPERSON PATRICK KETCHAM, CHAIR EXECUTIVE SESSION/CLOSED MEETING ADJOURNMENT Motion and second were made by Alderpersons Nelson/Gossett to adjourn without the need for executive session. ROLL CALL Yes No Absent Alderperson Gossett x Alderperson x Lingenfelter Alderperson Ketcham x Alderperson Hale x Alderperson Grimm x Alderperson Lovell x Alderperson Nelson x Alderperson x Chamberlin The motion carried. _________________________________________________________________ Andi Walters, City Clerk _________________________________________________________________ Kent McDowell, Mayor