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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-27-2009 Mechanical CommitteeA regular meeting of the City Council Mechanical Committee met on October 27, 2009 in Council Chambers. Aldermen in attendance -Rick Reed, Eric Schenck, Gerald Ellis, Jim Hartford. Absent -Aldermen Larry Sarff, Craig West, Jorge Rivero, and Alderman Jason Strandberg who resigned on 9-22-09. Others in attendance -Mayor Kevin R. Meade, City Clerk Nancy Whites, City Treasurer Aaron Anderson, City Attorney Chrissie Peterson, Police Chief Dan Taylor sent Deputy Chief Rick Nichols, Fire Chief Bonnie Cremer, Public Works Director Cliff O'Brien, Keith Plavec City Engineer and Zoning Officer, Water Treatment Supt. Greg Pollitt, City Administrator Jim Snider, Video Services by Joe Ginger and John Lund. Others in the audience -news media of John Froehling from the Daily Ledger, Mark Bixler from WBYS Radio, Stacey Creasy from The Democrat, Kevin Sampler from the Journal Star; ESDA Director Phil Fleming. Mayor Kevin R. Meade stated that the Aldermen and WBYS will be competing on Ringing of the Bells for the Salvation Army Red Kettle on November 13. The City of Canton will begin at Hy Vee on that day and WBYS will ring at Kroger's. This will be for one hour in each place. Then they switch their positions. Mayor Kevin R. Meade welcomed back Joe Ginger who had recent heart surgery. Public Safety & Traffic. Police Report. In September police officer Joey Boggs and Canton Park District officer Chris Carrier, started a program called "Officer Friendly." This is a program that is designed to take the dangerous situations that first grade kids may encounter. They offered to the kids - 1. Bicycle safety issues. 2. Stranger danger. 3. Strange animals. The idea behind the program, they created a coloring book and presented to the kids. They went through each page with the kids and explained what they can do to stay safe. And the kids can take the book home and color in it. They presented a coloring book to every first grader at Lincoln, Westview, and Eastview Schools. 1 Also this month the Calvary Baptist Church honored the officers, telecommunicator's and also the officer's families. This is the 7th year they have done this, and it is done during their Sunday Services. It's a nice thing the church does for us, and we greatly appreciate it. Rick Nicholas said they presented to media the following information about the IDOT Imaging Grant that started in October of 2008. At the beginning of that grant we're required to do a study. This study is to pick 6 different locations through the community and spend an hour in that location and counting how many people are in compliance wearing seat belts. When we first did this in October of last year we were unfortunately at 61% compliance rate, which was well below the state average of 90.5%. After we did that study we conducted 5 different times thorough the year and based on what IDOT decides for the times to do the campaigns. The idea is to put more officers on the road. During this time period in these 5 different campaigns 446 traffic citations were issued, 10 driving under the influence of alcohol arrest were made, and there was 18 warrant arrest. The second compliance we were pleased with as the results were 93%. Fire Resort. Fire Chief Bonnie Cremer highlighted her report with the following - Fire alarms increased by 22.7% while EMS alarms decreased by 9.8% compared to our responses in September 2008. I attended the Illinois Emergency Agency Conference in Springfield September Stn through the 11tH Ron Morris an employee of the Insurance Services Office and a senior field representative of the west central region visited the fire station to update information on the community's public fire protection. We received reimbursement for the Hazmat response to Macomb which occurred June 17th. Annual testing of all fire hose took place the week of September 4th Firefighters were delayed in a response to a car fire because there was a train on the East West tracks. One of the responding fire trucks altered the response z route to get around the train. The train was switching cars at the train storage area between 2"d and 4t" Avenues. Feaster's Lot. Alderman Ellis mentioned that some repair work has begun and asked Public Works Director to give his information on this. Cliff O'Brien stated that Newman Plastering is there today and is putting wire mesh on the wall and then will back plaster. Once the back plaster is done he will put in drain tile. Old Tornado Sirens. Fire Chief Bonnie Cremer reported that the Fulton County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency is interested in the old sirens which were taken out of service. They were originally installed shortly after the tornado that struck Canton in 1975. Two of the sirens were replaced September of 2007 and a third was replaced this September. The two sirens have been stored outside and there has not been any interest in the units. I do not anticipate any future use for these sirens. I respectfully request authorization that these sirens be declared surplus property, and to transfer ownership of the three old sirens to Fulton County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency with no guarantee, warrantee or liability assumed by the City of Canton. Mayor Kevin R. Meade asked, does the outlaying community have sirens we might have that would interest them? And do you think they are serviceable? ESDA Director Phil Fleming said this equipment was taken out of service and was working at that time, and has not been touched since then. We have no way of inspection or guaranteeing any of them will work. We may get two working sirens. My suggestion is to provide the community that does not have any. Alderman Reed made the motion to forward the request on to council, and was duly seconded by Alderman Ellis. The motion was by unanimous voice vote. The Public Safety & Traffic committee adjourned at 6:38 p.m. Streets & Garbage. 3 Recycline on contract basis. Alderman Ellis commented that during the recycling issue that came to the city before, a majority of the residents did not want to be forced into recycling. Forty percent wanted it, and some said at a later date. We can advertise for a waste collection to bid on collecting only and they do the billing. Alderman Schenck asked if Alderman Ellis was familiar with any other community doing this? Alderman Ellis said Peoria. This would be done on a subscription basis. Mayor Kevin R. Meade said that a company had made contact with the city during this last recycling process and offered that process. Alderman Ellis made the motion for a private business to be allowed to offer recycling to the citizens of Canton, and forward to council, and was duly seconded by Alderman Reed. The motion was by unanimous voice vote. Mayor Kevin R. Meade read the schedule for the Leaf Pick-up Program starting Monday, November 2, 2009. If your garbage pick-up day is: Monday -November 2-6 Tuesday -November 9-13 Wednesday -November 16-20 Thursday- November 23-27 No pick up on Thanksgiving Day Friday -November 30-December 4 Please leave the leaves on the terraces where possible. Mayor Kevin R. Meade said the City does not set any designated time for Halloween. The Merchants night is set by the Chamber of Commerce for this Friday night. The Streets & Garbage committee adjourned at 6:50 p.m. Lake, Buildings & Grounds. Lake Title Search. 4 City Attorney Chrissie Peterson said she met on Friday with Miller, Hall & Trigg and they delivered substantial documents for the title record searches we asked them to perform. They searched all the tracts of land in Canton and Orion Township that surrounds the Canton Lake, as well as the land immediately adjacent to the property that would be at Canton Lake. Each report is very detailed and this provided substantial amount of information. They did confirm what City Engineer Keith Place and I though what we had determined, that in only one subdivision it is truly platted and there is no formal plat showing the size of the other lots. They identified both the lease and the most current deed of record, and some of those don't match. We will have to deal with that issue when we plow through all these documents. They were also kind enough to provide us with aerial sidwell map that they color coded. They did fine one small gap in property owned by the City. I have not looked through all the documents, and one deed they cannot confirm. They might need some engineer help on this one. We will give you more details later on. Alderman Reed thanked Miller, Hall & Trigg for the work done so far, and also thanked Chrissie Peterson for her work as well. Municipal Golf Course Concept. Alderman Schenck said he thinks the whole entirety of this idea of a municipal golf course for our community is something to think through and go through that process with eyes wide open. First thing I did was call the Peoria Park District of their golf course. They have 5 golf courses and a $3.5 million dollar budget. First question I asked was if they are able to collect enough green fees to save the cost of the operation? There answer was, that was the goal, but it never happened. Another question I asked them is there somebody we could talk too that is a golf course consultant. He recommended Turf Solutions which is a company that has projects across the nation and offices across the nation and they are head quartered in Peoria. I asked them if they are working on one project now that is the size of Canton. They said Mt. Sterling municipal golf course is doing 3 million dollar rehabilitation on 9 holes and they are constructing 9 more golf holes. The project is being paid for by a private donation. What he really talked about was the design of a golf course and how important it is. Golf courses are very expensive to run and maintain. This is something that should have thoughtful consideration before we go too far in any single direction. When we contacted PROS Consultant did we talk to other groups? Mayor Kevin R. Meade said we talked to Turf Solutions. 5 Alderman Schenck said I find this really ironic on the same night we also approve $18,000 contract we also approve a Purchasing Policy that said we want to promote competitive bids before buying things for the city. I feel a rush in this particular issue. I think what this study will provide us with is some information about golf courses and so on. I think some things we know the country club golf course has been in business I don't know how long and they didn't make a go of it. The current owners say it isn't profitable. Who is going to run this golf course? The City does not have the type of resources available to get itself involved. Again, some things need a lot of discussion, and I don't feel the citizens of Canton are very excited about it either. And people of the community should weigh in on it also. Alderman Reed said we are a little premature until the study is back. Mayor Kevin R. Meade said Alderman Schenck you bring good points to the table. The last thing the City wants to do is run a golf course. We need to find out what these fellows can tell us. We discussed with the owners as late as today of what is possible. Your right we would never take this on without a great amount of discussion. When the study is back will have a better idea. We will not enter into this lightly. I will say that I was disappointed that the minutes that we had, had the executive session in them. The first time that they were noticed I brought that to your attention that you found in your packets this week. Inadvertently and by mistake, I don't know Nancy if you have any explanation of how they got in there. City Clerk Nancy Whites commented that it was just the fact I was doing my council minutes and when I came to the ordinance for the Pro Shop, I turned on my recorder. And of course the recorder had executive session tape. And I did not realize it was executive session. Mayor Kevin R. Meade stated we have certainly made every attempt to recall those minutes. Part of the reason we have executive session is to be able to have discussion that sometimes involves things that are not ready for public consumption, yet ideas are thrown out that are not always accepted. The law allows us certain protection under certain topics. There was a lot of different variety of things we talked about that never come to fruition. It was very unfortunate they were in there. We recalled those to try and put the genie back in the bottle. You do have corrected minutes before you tonight. There are errors contained in those that were released. They have not been approved or 6 anything else. Those are not official minutes and not transcribed by tape either. They are a summary of what was alleged and not quoted in there. Again, unfortunately that happened. We do have a solution for that. And will offer next week solution to prevent this thing happening in the future. Hopefully the golf course will be maintained by a private owned course. Alderman Reed thanked Alderman Schenck for his call to Turf Solution and thanked the mayor for his input. Mayor Kevin R. Meade said we discussed sometime around July the idea of a draft agenda needs to be prepared by the Clerk on Thursday evening by 5:00 p.m. and, to be checked for additions and corrections. I ask that next week we vote that the clerk gives the material to the City Administrator and he will review the agenda and send out the agenda. The Lake, Buildings & Grounds adjourned at 7:09 p.m. Public Works, Water & Sewer. WWTP Secondary Clarifier Number 1. For Rehab Chanee Order #5, from Leander Construction. Alderman Ellis made the motion to forward the request on to council, and was duly seconded by Alderman Hartford. Discussion. Keith Plavec said this is for modified contract time. The change order is due to delays with existing conditions that was beyond their control and are requesting the Substantial Completion Date be moved to September 20, 2009 with a Final Completion Date of October 7, 2009. The motion was by unanimous voice vote. WWTP Secondary Clarifier Number 1. For Rehab Application #13 from Leander Construction in the amount of $32.598.00. Alderman Ellis made the motion to forward the request of payment on to council, and was duly seconded by Alderman Reed. Discussion. Keith Plavec said this is the final payment. The motion was by unanimous voice vote. WWTP Flow Meterine Equipment Application Number 2, from Leander Construction in the amount of $61.655.38. Alderman Ellis made the motion to forward the request of payment on to council, and was duly seconded by Alderman Hartford. Discussion. Keith Plavec said this is the city's long term control plan close out contract. The motion was by unanimous voice vote. Radial Collector Well Application number 10, from Reynolds, Inc in the amount of $72.025.00. Alderman Ellis made the motion to forward the request of payment on to council, and was duly seconded by Alderman Reed. Discussion. Keith Plavec stated this payment is to be paid from the Bonding fund. The motion carried by voice vote. 61 East Side Square ChanEe Order from Leander Construction in the amount of 18 899.33. Alderman Ellis made the motion to forward the request for payment on to council, and was duly seconded by Alderman Hartford. Discussion. Keith Plavec said this is for change order #2. The motion was by unanimous voice vote. Keith Plavec said he sent information to Nancy Whites the City Clerk for Application #1 of $34,261.13 and was not on the agenda. This was sent on to council without any recommendation. Alderman Schenck thanked City Treasurer Aaron Anderson and City Administrator Jim Snider for working together on reinvesting Water & Sewer bond proceeds and seeking quotes for investing of $6.3 million. City Administrator Jim Snider reported he had met with Carol Davis on the Cook medical interview testing that is on-going. It is encouraging of those interesting in a job have been following through on the testing. The jobs will be the making of heart catheter and the inspection of the heart catheter. The Public Works, Water & Sewer committee adjourned at 7:28 p.m. Mayor Kevin R. Meade said we will go into a brief executive session to discuss the Fire Contract. The regular session of the Mechanical Committee convened for executive session at 7:28 p.m. s EXECUTIVE SESSION - TO DISCUSS -FIRE CONTRACT. The regular scheduled Mechanical Committee adjourned out of executive session at 7:40 p.m. ADJOURN Being no further business the Mechanical Committee adjourned at 7:41 p.m. Recording Secretary, ~ ~~~~~ Ui~~ Nancy Whites, City Clerk 9