HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-25-06 Mechanical Committee Meeting Minutes
MECHANICAL COMMITTEE
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50 North 4 Avenue, City of Canton
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Aldermen in attendance – Joe Berardi, Jim Hartford, Kevin Meade, Les Carl,
Eric Schenck. Aldermen absent – Craig West, Larry Sarff, Rick Reed.
Ohers in attendance – City Clerk Nancy Whites, City Treasurer Kathy
Luker, City Attorney Chrissie Peterson, Interim Police Chief Bill Doster,
Fire Chief John Stanko, Public Works Director Clif O’Brien, Wastewater
Treatment Supt. Joe Carruthers, Water Treatment Supt. Greg Pollitt, Zoning
Officer Clark Wilson, Street Supt George Spahn, System Maintenance Supt.
Bill Terry, Video Services Joe Ginger. Others in the audience – George
Hall, Joyce Blumenshine, Bud Hughes, Billy Jump, Randy Oaks, Marilyn
Anderson, Ashley Carruthers, 2 unidentified persons, news media of Andrea
Frampton from Journal Star.
Public Safety & Traffic
Alderman Eric Schenck, Chairman
Police Report.
Interim Police Chief Bill Doster reported that the Daily
Ledger has agreed to do periodic articles regarding the Police Department
and solicit questions from the public. The first employee of the City of
Canton that was interviewed was Animal Control Officer Dustin Pollitt.
Bill commented that there was 18 burglaries for June, 2006. Which is high
for this community.
The governor signed a bill that allows a $20.00 surcharge on traffic tickets
and the funds comes back to the community issuing the ticket. This law
comes into affect January 1, 2007, and should bring in $20,000 a year.
Bill said on a positive note he has enjoyed himself while in Canton. This is
a good community. Bill thanked the council for their support.
Alderman Eric Schenck thanked Bill Doster and told him he was an
excellent interim Police Chief. The council gave him round of applause.
(Was our pleasure to have known you Bill.)
Fire Report.
Fire Chief John Stanko mentioned that he attended the
statewide technical rescue team validation exercise in Champaign, along
with Ryan Hotz of the Macomb Fire Department. There are currently thirty
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(30) technical rescue teams located throughout the State of Illinois. Each
team has to undergo a validation exercise once every three years in order to
retain their operational status. Our team is scheduled for validation in June
2008.
Enforcement of Liquor License Violation.
Billy Jump of Official Time
Out was the spokesman for the liquor license holders. We should be fined
for serving under age customers. When those establishments were shut
down the city lost sales tax and state tax. I employ 20 people, one person
served the beer to the underage patron. But 19 employees were punished.
When do we become the police to hold the violators. Mayor Heinze took the
position to give 3 days off. I respect him for that. He could have given 30
days. The mayor has a right to hire who he wants to serve on the Liquor
Commission.
Billy said he wants the commissioners to walk into his bar at noon to see
how many eat in there.
Billy suggested the following should have happened, the right to appeal by a
written reprimand, fine, then suspension. Lets make the liquor
commissioners get along with the city. Lets curb underage drinking.
Motion
and second by Aldermen Schenck/Berardi, for the city attorney
Chrissie Peterson to review sections of the Macomb Il Liquor License
having to do with a hearing for penalty under section 436, 437 and 438; and
draft an amendment to the City of Canton’s Liquor Ordinance and refer this
draft ordinance to the Legal & Ordinance Committee. Discussion. City
Attorney Chrissie Peterson remarked that reviewing the City’s Liquor
Ordinance and then looking at the State Statute, the city’s liquor ordinance is
near the state statute.
Billy Jump mentioned that Mayor Heinze told me after the fines were given
out, if you can get a copy of Macomb Illinois liquor ordinance bring me a
copy and I’ll look at it.
Alderman Meade said it is unfortunate the mayor is not here, but I don’t see
anything different in Macomb’s than what the City of Canton has. Billy
Jump said he wants to take out the word under 3-8-5 (k) of the Canton
Municipal Code the second sentence, the word and changed to
Permissable
Aggressive.
Alderman Schneck said he looked at the three (3) provisions and # (1) is
establishing a hearing procedure, # (2) decisions and penalties, and # (3) no
license revoked, no finds given without a hearing.
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Billy Jump stated that maybe the city’s liquor ordinance needs to be put in
order to not allow our mayor just to go where he wants.
Randy Oaks commented that the people attending here tonight are here in
good faith. According to the Macomb ordinance language the mayor in
Canton did wrong. Feel it was unfair. Alderman Meade remarked that the
council has no control as some certain provisions are by state law that will
not let us change them. There is only so much we can do by state law.
Alderman Schenck said he wanted a fair equitable process. Voice vote,
motion carried unanimously.
Motion
and second by Aldermen Berardi/Schenck, to add to the agenda
Vicious Dog Ordinance. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously.
Vicious Dog Ordinance.
Alderman Schenck congratulated city attorney
Chrissie Peterson for revising the ordinance to designate a vicious dog, and
she did an excellent job. Chrissie thanked Alderman Schenck and
mentioned the amended ordinance will be at the next scheduled council
meeting on August 1 under new business.
The Public Safety & Traffic Committee adjourned at 7:29 p.m.
Streets & Garbage
Alderman Rick Reed, Chairman
Parking on South Avenue C.
Alderman Meade ask for Interim Police
Chief Bill Doster to review No Parking allowed for one side of the street
between East Elm and West Pine Street on South Avenue C.
The Streets & Garbage committee adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Lake, Buildings & Grounds
Alderman Joe Berardi, Chairman
Waving fees for 2 building permits.
Alderman Berardi asked for two
building permits be waived for Petersen project on South Second and Dick
Versace building on the east side of the square, (former Knepp’s building)
for a fire sprinkler system. Last week we set a precedent as we waived the
building permit for Hoke Ridge Estates.
Alderman Schenck mentioned that the City of Canton has a development
agreement with Petersen & Company. We struck up a deal with Mr. Petersen
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and we could with other development projects. I am against waiving the
building permits for the other project.
Alderman Carl mentioned that the Hoke Ridge Estates vote to waive the
building permit fee did not have majority vote, so we will have to redo this
next week at the council meeting.
Alderman Schenck said this should be on case to case bases.
Alderman Hartford agreed with Alderman Schenck and to not allow this
offer to Mr. Versace.
Alderman Schenck said he is looking for some type of help with his
development. Hoped the SRPED would help with a developer, to help them
and the city. I thought that was why we set up SRPED. Alderman Schenck
said he wants to have the two businesses work with SRPED.
Fire Safety Code regulations for commercial property.
Fire Chief John
Stanko said he met with Dick Versace in his business. The City adopted the
2003 International Codes and they went in to affect May 2, 2006. We met
two weeks after that for a basis plan. Dick Versace was told to get an
architect to make sure all codes are met.
Alderman Schenck said he wants to see in the Comprehensive Plan to help
new businesses and encourage and support in meeting the building codes
and fire codes. Does not want to see parts of the buildings vacated. It could
be a financial mechanism, of changing the ordinance, and to provide the
projects help from SRPED or Tri County Regional Council. This will help
to stimulate our downtown.
Fire Chief John Stanko mentioned that our town is unique by code standards.
Most are old and have not been used in years. You get into real challenges
adhering to codes with residency up stairs or down stairs where the business
is located.
Zoning Officer Clark Wilson said you are talking about the Federal/State
EPA Environmental Area Act as you have to put in an elevator for
residency. I’m required by law to have an architect look at the building
before I can issue a building permit.
Alderman Schenck asked if something proactively we can do to help these
folks? What can we do to help educate and to encourage these property
owners to make changes that are economic safer?
Fire Chief John Stanko said the best thing is an inspection program,
developing it, and having someone they can come to. First thing is have a
meeting with an architecture.
Alderman Berardi said this will be turned over to SRPED.
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Water Shed.
Alderman Berardi ask for Joyce Blumeshine to speak on this
topic. Joyce said she was the chair, Heart of Illinois Sierra Club out of
Peoria, Illinois. On behalf of the Heart of Illinois Sierra Club members in
Canton and the surrounding area, I would like to ask you to take a few
minutes to consider the importance of healthy, reliable water supply for the
City of Canton, and for the communities that depend on the same water
supply. The people of Fairview, Norris, Dunfermline, St. David Water
Commission, Cuba with the extension to Wee-Ma-Tuk and Fiatt, all depend
on the Canton community water supply. The 2005 City of Canton Annual
Water Quality Report states that an average of 2.26 million gallons of water
per day are needed to provide water service to approximately 20,000 people.
It is easy to turn on the tap, and feel confident that water will be there that is
safe for your family to use. It is not easy to consider what would happen to
Canton and surrounding communities if a steady, safe, and reliable water
supply is not available. I am asking each of you to consider the importance
of the Canton area watershed, which provides the water supply for Canton
Lake.
While there is a group such as the Copperas Creek Watershed Planning
Committee to study ways to protect and improve water quality on Copperas
Creek, it is your job as the elected leaders of Canton to protect and insure
that a healthy, sustainable water supply is here now and in the future for the
families of these communities, their children, and their grandchildren for
generations to come.
Please do not take your water supply for granted. What kind of future will
Canton have if its watershed is impaired? What kind of future will Canton
have if it does not have adequate water?
Strip mining of flat agricultural land and putting land back into agricultural
production is different from strip mining an area depended upon as a
watershed. Once these lands are disturbed, they will not function the same
way as they did before mining. Your watershed will not be the same. What
kind of future will you be leaving the people of Canton if the watershed is
destroyed for coal? How could you as City Fathers trade off the long-term
health and well-being of your community for the short-term gain of
promised jobs and economic benefit? When the coal runs out, and the jobs
are gone, and the mining company is long gone, and you are faced with a
crippled watershed, inadequate water, and quite possibly water polluted with
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heavy metals or other mine waste, what is your plan? Who do you think will
pay for supplying adequate water to Canton?
I would like to remind you of the old saying, “all that glitters is not gold.” In
this case, the glitter is coal. And it has a dark side. You need more
information for your city and for the communities that depend on Canton
water before you to risk the Canton water supply for all future generations.
I ask Mayor Heinze and members of this Council, to request that the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources, Office of Mines and Minerals hold a
public hearing on the Capitol Resource Development Company permit
application for the proposed North Canton Mine. As the city leaders, you
need more information, and more sides to the story, before you make up
your minds about this mine. As leaders of this community, you should get a
professional, impartial outside assessment from a qualified geohydrologist to
find out what impact strip mining will have on the Canton watershed, before
you determine what your position will be on the strip mine.
The citizens of Canton and the surrounding communities, and most
importantly, every registered voter should demand that you consider more
than one opinion and one side of the story regarding the proposed North
Canton Strip Mine. At this point, I think it is fair to ask if you have enough
information to lead the City of Canton regarding this strip mine proposal,
and if the future concerns for a safe water supply are truly being considered.
Alderman Schenck remarked to be prudent and request a public hearing
from the Department of Natural Resources.
Alderman Berardi mentioned to Joyce that the City will be going to the
Illinois River for their source of water. She remarked that she did not know
that.
A young man in the audience began asking Alderman Berardi that what if
you don’t get the water? Alderman Berardi remarked that the City will get
the water and the watershed is outside the city limits.
The young man again said, what if you don’t get the water in three years,
and something happens to your current water source? Alderman Berardi
mentioned that the city will not be using the Canton Lake as the water
source will come from the Illinois river.
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The Lake, Buildings & Grounds Committee adjourned at 8:14 p.m.
Public Works, Water & Sewer
Alderman Jim Hartford, Chairman
There was no line items on the agenda.
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Alderman Berardi stated that 11 and Myrtle Street had two CSO last week.
The Public Works, Water & Sewer Committee adjourned at 8:21 p.m.
Recording Secretary,
Nancy Whites, City Clerk
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