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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-22-06 Mechanical Committee Meeting Minutes MECHANICAL COMMITTEE OF CANTON CITY COUNCIL Tuesday, August 22, 2006 th Historic Depot 50 N. 4 Avenue Those in attendance: Aldermen Joe Berardi, Jim Hartford, Craig West, Les Carl, Eric Schenck, Rick Reed. Others in attendance: Mayor Rodney Heinze, City Clerk Nancy Whites, City Treasurer Kathy Luker, City Attorney Chrissie Peterson, Public Works Director Clif O’Brien, Police Chief Jeffrey Fritz, Fire Chief John Stanko, Water Supt. Greg Pollitt, Zoning Officer Clark Wilson, Street Supt. George Spahn, System Maintenance Supt. Bill Terry, Joe Ginger Video Service. In the audience from the Daily Ledger John Froehling, Journal Star Andrea Frampton, and George Hall. Mayor Heinze called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Public Safety & Traffic Alderman Eric Schenck, Chairman Police Report. Police Chief Jeffrey Fritz mentioned that they received donated equipment from the Illinois State Police. The equipment is video and recording merchandise. Jeffrey mentioned that Interim Police Chief Bill Doster had reported that the new law going into affect January 2007 would be that municipality’s will receive a portion of the cost of writing a ticket and would received some $20,000. The new law going into affect in January 2007 is for new vehicles on new vehicle maintenance. Fire Report. Fire Chief John Stanko highlighted his report with the following: During July, we answered record number of alarms, which surpassed the previous record set in December 2005. th On July 11, a number of representatives from various organizations and governments met to begin the Community Planning Preparedness Process. The program will allow all stakeholders to participate in the formulation of our emergency operation plan (EOP). The Rural Institute for Community 1 Policing is providing their services at no charge to the city. The next th meeting is set for August 29 to review the draft and make any needed changes. At least two additional meetings will be needed to complete the process. When we are finished, we should have completed emergency operation plan as well as be NIMS (National Incident Management System) compliant, which is a requirement to receive grant funding from the federal government. Alderman Schenck asked John about the fire inspection position. He wanted to know if someone is working with those on new construction, and letting them know about the fire codes? John said we are always available if people have any questions. We will assist as much as we can. Alderman Berardi asked what it would take to have a certified plumber? Clark Wilson said he has not found a licensed plumber doing the work. If you have a local plumbing contractor the other plumbers would not want him inspecting their work. We need to research our city codes too adhere to the work being done. The Public Safety & Traffic Committee adjourned at 6:55 p.m. Streets & Garbage Alderman Rick Reed, Chairman Jennifer Smith, citizen. Was not discussed. Public Works Director Clif O’Brien mentioned that starting on East Ash thth Street from 5 Avenue to 11 Avenue today the road will be blocked down to one lane. At 8:30 a.m. when school is in session both lanes will be blocked. When school lets out will open up for one way traffic with a th flagman. Curbs will be replaced on portions of East Ash from 5 Avenue to th 11 Avenue. th Clif said that on Friday August 25 will be milling the road on West Hickory starting 11:15 a.m. The Streets & Garbage Committee adjourned at 6:57 p.m. Lake, Buildings & Grounds Alderman Joe Berardi, Chairman 2 Fire Station Renovation. Fire Chief John Stanko reported that to upgrade the kitchen area at the station for the electrical and plumbing work would be in the amount of $5,670.00. The total project is $32,000 and we have received $26,000 from insurance company that was deposited in the Foreign Fire Insurance Fund. The amount of $5,670.00 will have to come from the General Fund. Alderman Berardi would like for those funds be used for continuing to televise at 11 Avenue and East Myrtle to end the CSO’s. Alderman Berardi ask for John Stanko to wait until next year to complete the remodeling for the kitchen area. th City Treasurer Kathy Luker mentioned that the funding for the 11 and Myrtle Street would be paid from the Water & Sewer Fund. The $5,670.00 would come from the General Fund. Those funds cannot be deposited in the Water & Sewer Fund. Kathy reported that the Water & Sewer Funding comes from the fees the City charges. Alderman Schenck said we need to review our budgets to find funding, not do it by piece meal. We need to come with a package of what is needed done and the cost to do it. Alderman Carl ask City Treasurer Kathy Luker if we could transfer the funds from the General Fund to the Water & Sewer Fund? Alderman Berardi commented that he wants an opinion other than that, he wants to see Motion it in writing. and second by Aldermen Berardi/Schenck the issue will lay over to seek a legal opinion. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. Bids for 357 East Locust Street selling of property. City Clerk Nancy Whites opened the Bid that was from Habitat for Humanity. The bid was for 526 W. Spruce Street in the amount of $1,000. Zoning officer Clark Wilson said the street does not go that far to the 500 block. Alderman Berardi said we cannot act on the request. Information requested by chairman of standing committee. Alderman Berardi said this is working out. Refusal of supervisory staff to provide information to chairman of standing committee. Alderman Berardi mentioned this was a misunderstanding, I hope! 3 Billing costs for information from Freedom of Information Act by chairman of standing committee. Alderman Berardi wants to have the City of Canton pay for the cost if he has to request by FOIA. Alderman Schenck suggested having the charges listed on the bill list for approval. Alderman Hartford wanted to know if we could waive the cost? City Attorney Chrissie Peterson said the council could vote to waive the fees. Motion and second by Aldermen Berardi/Hartford, any chairman having to use FOIA for information the fees be waived. Discussion. Alderman Schenck said we have talked about this before. Another action we can take is simply ask, and have council take action to make sure the information is available. Mayor Heinze said the cost here would be too expensive. Alderman Carl wants council to approve each FOIA request. Alderman Schenck said if it is important to have the information, then it has to be reasonable information that is being asked for. Voice vote, 2 ayes, 2 nays. Procedure of reporting possible sewer/water problems by a citizen. Alderman Berardi ask for Clif O’Brien the Public Works Director to report what the city does when a call comes in for sewer/water problems by a citizen, and how do they apply for assistance? Cliff mentioned that the report is logged in and the location, a manhole number is given, and the residents name, and phone number are asked for. Rules and regulations of posting on bulletin boards in city building. Alderman Berardi ask who has the authority in the City? City Clerk Nancy Whites explained that she has a bulletin board in the outer hall way of her office that she post the Labor Posters, and other documents she has to post by law. Alderman Berardi said a citizen asking for information one day did not like the way he was addressed to not come back to their office. Then a letter was posted on a bulletin board about this in the police department. Mayor Heinze said because of the incident in the office by this person, they felt threatened. Police Chief Jeffrey Fritz explained that the watch commander puts up correspondence on the bulletin board. And someone can ask if we post for special watch’s. Alderman Berardi said that someone threatened the individual, and now this individual has become a target. Mayor Heinze remarked that we’re not looking for anyone, and why not do without an investigation? Alderman Berardi did not answer the question. Request financial report boat stickers, lake usage, campground rental, and to operate same. Alderman Berardi said the information was provided to him. 4 Explanation of rules/regulations regarding visit at Water Plant. Alderman Berardi asked how a person could come to the water plant and be allowed to enter? Clif O’Brien said you can call Greg Pollitt the Water Treatment Supt to set up an appointment. The general public can not come in to the plant because of homeland security, as they want us to put a fence around the building. Clif O’Brien said public access is changing. Clif would like for Greg Pollitt and City Attorney Chrissie Peterson to get together on this. K-9 Memorial. Alderman Schenck mentioned that a very large community effort set up the K-9 Corp for Canton. Wanting to put up a stone monument for Grando who passed away and for Roko who is still serving in the K-9 unit. The monument will be placed at the Public Safety Building grounds. Funds would cost $2,600 for the monument and would be asking for Motion donations from the community. and second by Aldermen Schenck/Hartford, to approve of the monument as presented and for the raising of funds, refer to council for their consideration. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. Overhead Doors at Firehouse. Public Works Director Clif O’Brien reported that they have to replace the south door on the front of the building Motion from Adams Door in the amount of $6,842.00. and second by Aldermen Hartford/Reed, to refer to council for their consideration. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. Public Works, Water & Sewer Alderman Jim Hartford, Chairman Upgrade to Meter Reading System. Water Treatment Plant Greg Pollittt mentioned that in the late 1995 we switched our old meter reading system over to the TRACE Radio Read System. At that time our supplier of the equipment was Badger Meter Co. Since then the company that manufactures the TRACE hardware American Meter Company and Badger Meter Co. have ended their partnership. The equipment we currently use will no longer be available from Badger Meter. The hardware itself is eleven (11) years old. The batteries on the radio units are starting to fail as well. When we purchased the system we were told we might get 8 to 10 years out of them and that is what we’re seeing. 5 Secured four (4) quotes from four (4) different meter companies. Badger Meter Inc. Hersey Meter Co., American Meter Co., and Datamatic Ltd. All four (4) systems presented have similar technology and are very much alike if not the same, the warranties, and the options are very much alike. The quotations for the new system: Company Badger Meter Inc. Orion $15,750 $3,347 $ 82.72 Datamatic Ltd. Firefly $19,400 $5,712 $ 75.50 Am Meter Co. Trace/VID $36,933 $3,395 $ 89.00 Hersey Meter Co. Field Col 200 $38,434 N/A $100.53 Greg mentioned that besides the cost savings, some of the other advantages of staying with Badger Meter is that we will not have to change our software. Our current software and its ease operation will stay the same. Also will receive a 12% discount on each old radio we replace. Our current hand held device will work with this system as well as we can run the new system and the old at the same time. This will eliminate the need to run the route twice to get all the readings. We are going to replace only the units that fail so will be getting the most out of the old system. We currently pay $120.00 a radio now and our annual maintenance cost is $4,200 so there would be some savings in this area also. Motion and second by Aldermen Hartford/Reed to accept the low bid from Badger Meter Inc. in the amount of $15,750 for a new Meter Reading System, and refer to council for their consideration. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. The Public Works, Water & Sewer Committee adjourned at 8:01 p.m. Recording Secretary, Nancy Whites, City Clerk 6