Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-21-05 City Council Meeting Minutes A regular meeting of the Canton City Council was held on June 21, 2005 in Council th Chambers at the Historic Depot at 50 North 4 Avenue. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OPENED THE MEETING, FOLLOWED WITH THE INVOCATION GIVEN BY CITY CLERK NANCY WHITES. Mayor Heinze asked for roll call at 6:30 p.m. Present – Aldermen Jim Hartford, Joe Berardi, Larry Sarff, Craig West, Les Carl, Rick Reed, Eric Schenck. Absent – Alderman Kevin Meade. MINUTES OF JUNE 7, 2005 MEETING. Motion and second by Aldermen Hartford/Carl, the mintues of June 7, 2005 meeting be accepted and placed on file. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. BILLS FOR MAY. Motion and second by Aldermen West/Reed, all bills properly approved be paid. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Reed, Carl, West, Sarff, Berardi, Hartford. NAYS – None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. TREASURER’S REPORT. Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/Carl, to accept the treasurer’s report. Discussion. Alderman Berardi was concerned about the matching grants being managed by Maurer Stutz Inc. Alderman Carl said we need to check on what the needs are, and ask this be put on the committee for next week’s agenda. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. COMMITTEE REPORTS. Finance. Council Action Motion and second by Aldermen Carl/Sarff, to approve of the purchase of a warning light bar for the pick up truck to pull the hazardous materials and technical rescue trailers from Midwest System Truck Equipment of $1,649 for the fire department. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Hartford, Berardi, Sarff, West, Carl, Reed, Schenck. NAYS – None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Motion and second by Aldermen Carl/Sarff, to allow one person attending Fire Rescue International August 11-23 in Denver, Colorado in the amount of $1,200. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Reed, Carl, West, Sarff, Berardi, Hartford. NAYS – None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Motion and second by Aldermen Carl/West, to allow the expenditure of $17,148.00 for the Police Department to purchase a replacement vehicle for the Task Force Officer. Discussion. Police Chief Donald Edwards reported that he had checked with all the car dealers in Canton that offered used vehicles. Don found one of a 2002 Buick Rendezvous with 59,000 miles and a 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty for $15,500.00. Police Chief Don Edwards then talked with the state bid dealer Miles Chevrolet, and can purchase a 2005 Chevy Impala from the unmarked division for $17,148.00. Police Chief Don Edwards said the used car would only be useable for about three years, but would get 6 years out of the 2005 car, which is a better deal. Budgeted $13,000 and will receive $3,855 for settlement with the insurance company. Less difference is $300.00. Alderman Sarff wanted to know what kind of specs were used? Police Chief Don Edwards, ensued nothing specific we were looking for, wanted low mileage and two we considered. We had the city mechanic look them over. Alderman Berardi ask if bids were solicited for the new car? Police Chief Don Edwards said they were not! And he said he did not go to the new car dealers in town as they cannot meet the state bid. Motion by Alderman Carl/West, for amendment to allow Police Chief Don Edwards to check with new local dealers to meet the price of $17,148.00. Discussion. Police Chief Don Edwards asked from the city attorney since going over $10,000 if he would have to go for bids? City Attorney Jim Elson answered yes, and you have a formal bid from the state. Police Chief Don Edwards said he had asked to waive the bidding process. Alderman Berardi said all dealers in town should have the right to bid. 1 Council meeting June 21, 2005 Motion by Aldermen Carl/West to further amend to waive the bidding process. Roll call (on each amendment and main motion identical vote). AYES – Aldermen Hartford, Berardi, Sarff, West, Carl, Reed, Schenck. NAYS – None. 7 AYES 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Amendments carried. Alderman Carl said after the committee approved giving $150,000 to Greenways and Trails he wants to be more specific by the following motion. Motion and second by Aldermen Carl/Reed, (1) to adopt the Canton Coalition Plan. (2) Accept Canton Park District as lead agency for grant application. (3) Approve $150,000 with the mix of dollars being decided at later date. (4) Direct the Public Works Director for the City to cooperate with the Canton Park District projects details. Discussion. Alderman Schenck said for $150,000 he would be more comfortable with the dollar amount if we listed as priority on the trail system. Motion and second by Aldermen Schenck/Berardi, to amend the motion to offer $100,000 to help convey a sense of priority of tying the high school with Big Creek Park, and tying the downtown running segment with the Eastview School, and contingent upon receiving matching grant funds. Discussion. Alderman Carl remarked that Canton is the beneficiary of it all. Mayor Heinze mentioned that Fulton County Board gave $150,000, Park District $150,000, and Canton Township $5,000. Alderman Berardi noted that all contributions would come from one source – the taxpayers. He also said people will be walking in people’s back yards. We have to be considerate of how the plan is laid out. We have a major safety hazard at some of our schools. There are 1400 kids that are more important than a trail. Alderman Carl said a public hearing was held and there was not one person there that was opposed to it, and no opposition was heard. Alderman Sarff th mentioned the northern loop of Lakeland Park, coming down to hook up with 4 Avenue should be included. Roll call (Amendment of $100,000). AYES – Aldermen Schneck, Reed, Berardi. NAYS – Aldermen Carl, West, Sarff, Hartford. 3 AYES, 4 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Amendment defeated. Alderman Schenck said that Alderman Carl’s motion did not specify funds. At the last committee meeting we talked about using MFT funds noting they are extremely tight in funds. Alderman Carl said we could supplement the Motel/Hotel funds and have two years to pay out the funds. The Finance Committee wants to look closer at the funds. Roll call (Main motion). AYES – Aldermen Hartford, Berardi, Sarff, West, Carl, Reed, Schenck. NAYS – None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Motion and second by Aldermen Carl/Sarff, to approve of the low bid from J & M of Farmington for diesel fuel in the amount of $2.14 and; low bid from Riverland F.S. for gasoline in the amount of $1.93 for the months of July, August, September. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Reed, Carl, West, Sarff, Berardi, Hartford. NAYS – None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Motion and second by Aldermen Carl/Sarff, to accept the recommendation from the Insurance Committee for helping to fund the deficit in the health care fund by City of Canton paying 88% for a cost of $240,281.78, Park District 7% for a cost of $19,113.32, Library 5% for a cost of $13,653.27, with the amount totaling $273,047.37 for the Health Insurance Account. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Hartford, Berardi, Sarff, West, Carl, Reed, Schenck. NAYS – None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Legal & Ordinance. Council Action None. Negotiations, Grievance & Personnel. 2 Council meeting June 21, 2005 Council Action None. Community & Industrial Development. Council Action Motion and second by Aldermen West/Reed, to allow $5,000 from the Hotel/Motel funds to support the Spoon River Festival to be held on August 13 at the Ingersoll Manor, Motion featuring Grammy winner Christopher Cross. Discussion. by Aldermen West/Hartford, to amend the motion to include additional $5,000 to be given. Alderman West said we have $39,625 in the Motel/Hotel funds and we receive around $2500 per Motion month income. Discussion. and second by Aldermen Berardi/Schenck, to further amend the fee to $15,000. Discussion. Alderman Berardi said the funds are not being used for anything else and we plan on using several dollars. Alderman Carl mentioned that quite a bit of the funds have already been earmarked. Alderman Schenck wanted to know what the trade offs are going to be? He felt would be better if we had a budget or plan. Alderman Sarff said he did not disagree with Alderman Schenck but it’s hard to plan for things, this is one of those opportunities hard to budget for. Roll call (further amendment $15,000). AYES – Aldermen Berardi, Hartford. NAYS – Schenck, Reed Carl, West, Sarff. 2 AYES, 5 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Amendment defeated. Roll call (on amendment to main motion $10,000). AYES – Aldermen Hartford, Berardi, Sarff, West, Carl, Reed, Schenck. NAYS – None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Amendment carried. Danny Phillips a city employee since January 25, 1972 received a plaque and watch from Cliff O’Brien and Mayor Heinze as Danny will retire on June 30, 2005. Cliff said Danny has smiled at him for the 30 years that he has worked with him. (Very best retirement to you Danny.) COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR HEINZE. Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/West, the appointments to the Board of Appeals Fire Code – Bob AckermanJr. for 3 years, William Phillips (1yr/3yr) re-appointment, Howard Dye (2yr/3yr) re- appointment, Bob Anderson (3yr) re-appointment be confirmed. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. Motion and second by Aldermen West/Carl, the appointment of Zoning Board of Appeals - Maria Orwig (5yr) re-appointment, and Cindy White (5yr) re-appointment be confirmed. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. Motion and second by Aldermen Reed/West, the appointment of Greenwood Cemetery Board - Gary Watson (3yr) re-appointment be confirmed. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/Reed, the appointment of Police Pension Board - Carl Jackson (2yr) New appointment be confirmed. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/Hartford, the appointment of Liquor Control Commission – Bonita Stine (1yr) New appointment, Joseph “Rocky” Kampling (1yr) New appointment be confirmed. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. Motion and second by Aldermen Berardi/Sarff, the appointment of Planning & Zoning Commission - Damon Roberson (5yr) re-appointment be confirmed. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. 3 Council meeting June 21, 2005 Motion and second by Aldermen Carl/Reed, the appointment of Planning Advisory Committee - Ad Hoc Disabilities Committee - Rex Lewis (1yr) New appointment, Marty White (1yr) re-appointment be confirmed. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. Canton Pride Committee - Vacant: (4) Mayor appoints, (4) Aldermen appoint Not more than 8 members, can be less than 8 (4) serve 2 yrs, (4) serve 1 year Hocker/Fitzjarrald engagement letter. Mayor Heinze mentioned that the firm is asking to do the audit for 2004 at a cost of $19,200 which allows for a 3.8% increase. Alderman Berardi mentioned that they do not tell us what kind of job we’re doing. Mayor Heinze said we receive that in a management letter. Under GASB 34, the City now has to report as a business. Alderman Carl said he would like to go out for bids. Alderman Sarff said he was opposed as the amount of fee has been revealed. City Attorney Jim Elson mentioned the audit does not have to be bid. Mayor Heinze mentioned to look at next year for going out to bid. Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/Hartford, to accept engagement letter from Hocker/Fitzjarrald at a cost of $19,200 for 2004 audit. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Reed, Carl, West, Sarff, Berardi, Hartford. NAYS – None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Vandewalle & Associates. Joy Stieglitz and Erin Ganzer met with the City Council to give a brief update of what has transpired at the IH plant for the benefit of the new members of the council. Joy presented a Redevelopment Poster Plan for Central Canton of a draft at 11’ x 7”. This plan was commissioned to accompany the TIF Redevelopment Project Plan that was adopted earlier this year. It is a pictorial plan that th delineated the proposed mix of uses in the Downtown, the IH site and the 5 Avenue Commercial corridor. It also provides perspective graphics showing how these areas should look following redevelopment and photographs of images from other places that illustrate the type and quality of development proposed for those areas. The plan builds off the previously adopted IH redevelopment site plan and marketing materials for the site, as well as the design guidelines provided in the PUD zoning ordinance. Upon approval by the City, the plan will be printed as a poster and mounted at a size of 40” x 32”. Joy further explained that she has enclosed a list of the law firms to whom Requests for Proposals were distributed and their proposals as you requested. Joy reviewed the proposals at the previous administration request to recommend the firm whom she deemed to be most qualified to assist the community with negotiations for cost recovery from International Truck & Engine Corporation at the International Harvester Site. Based upon the review of the proposals and the subsequent interviews with two candidate firms, she had planned to recommend Bell Boyd & Lloyd to the previous city administration. Bell Boyd’s reputation and demonstrated success as a leader in this field is highly regarded by the communities they serve, the regulatory agencies they work with, and the corporate clients they serve and challenge in Brownfield cost recovery cases. Joy said she believes that the City’s ability to continue making progress at the IH Site, with regard to both environmental clean-up and future redevelopment, is in many ways at a standstill until those negotiations are advanced. With regard to clean-up, the City’s environmental consultant has prepared a draft Site Investigation Report that is awaiting submittal to the Illinois EPA for approval. In my opinion, it is unwise to finalize and submit that report – thus having it become public record available to International Truck & Engine – until the City has formulated a clear plan for their approach and “ask” from that company. Therefore, in my opinion, it would be wise to utilize the services of an experienced environmental attorney to guide both the strategic decisions, as well as the formal negotiations. 4 Council meeting June 21, 2005 Also please note that as of April 30, 2005, the IEPA grant is nearly depleted and suspect will be at the end of this month. The previous administration was intending to fund future Vandewalle & Associates services, as well as the services of the to-be-hired environmental attorney from funds being transferred from TIF-4A to the IH-TIF, until some recently applied for funds through Congressman Evans’ office would hopefully be awarded in the fall. Alderman Berardi ask Erin Ganzer when the city would have a new Comprehensive Plan? Erin mentioned that the company was not contacted to do this, but the plan is very much needed. She mentioned that their focus is on funding. Joy said the comprehensive plan has been talked about in the last 8 years. Joy mentioned that the funding has ran out, not their existing contract. Mayor Heinze mentioned that this would be referred to the Finance Committee for renewal. Alderman Carl ask if Vandewalle & Associates fees could come from the TIF District? Joy said the could be and recommend your city attorney check on this. Alderman Berardi ask if funds could also be used for attorney fees? Joy said they could and the environmental attorney fees would be in the range of $15,000 to $30,000. OLD BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS: ORDINANCE – AUTHORIZING AND PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS (ALTERNATE REVENUE SOURCE), SERIES 2005, FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVING THE CITY’S WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE SYSTEM, PRESCRIBING THE DETAILS OF SAID BONDS, AND PROVIDING FOR THE IMPOSITION OF TAXES TO PAY THE SAME, AND FOR THE COLLECTION, SEGRAGATION AD APPLICATION OF THE WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE SYSTEM REVENUES TO PAY SAID BONDS. Mayor Heinze said the ordinance is not ready for first reading. Planning on August 2 being on the agenda and has to be passed in one reading. ORDINANCE – VACATING AN ALLEY. Motion First reading, read by title.and second by Aldermen Sarff/Reed, to suspend the rules for passage. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Hartford, Berardi, Sarff, West, Carl, Reed, Schenck. NAYS – None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Motion and second by Aldermen West/Hartford, the ordinance be placed on its passage. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Reed, Carl, West, Sarff, Berardi, Hartford. NAYS – None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Ordinance being # 1838. RESOLUTION – ASCERTAINING THE PREVAILING RATE OF WAGES FOR LABORERS, MECHANICS, AND OTHER WORKMEN, EMPLOYED IN ANY PUBLIC WORKS BY THE CITY OF CANTON, ILLINOIS. First reading, read by Motion title.and second by Aldermen Berardi/Reed, the resolution be adopted. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. Resolution being #3730. TH RESOLUTION – CANTON PRIDE COMMITTEE TO HOLD A PARADE ON 4 OF JULY FROM 7:00 P.M. TO 8:00 P.M.Motion First reading, read by title. and second by Aldermen Hartford/Carl, the resolution be adopted. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. Resolution being #3731. 5 Council meeting June 21, 2005 EXECUTIVE SESSION – NEGOTIATIONS, GRIEVANCE & PERSONNEL – POTENTIAL LAW SUIT - AGE/DISCRIMINATION. Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/Reed, to go into executive session to discuss potential lawsuit of age/discrimination. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Hartford, Berardi, Sarff, West, Carl, Reed, Schenck. NAYS – None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Mayor Heinze announced the people who would be staying for the executive session, all elected officials, Public Works Director Cliff O’Brien, and Water Supt. Greg Pollitt. The regular scheduled council meeting convened at 8:43 p.m. for an executive session. The minutes of the executive session for discussion of potential age/discrimination are on file in the office of the city clerk for review. The regular scheduled council meeting reconvened into open session at 8:43 p.m. Adjournment. Motion and second by Aldermem Hartford/Schenck, to adjourn. Voice vote, motion carried. The regular scheduled council meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m. ______________________________ Nancy Whites, City Clerk APPROVED:_____________________________ Rodney W. Heinze, Mayor 6