HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-24-2004 MechanicalMECHANICAL COMMITTEE MINUTES
City Council Chambers @ Historic Depot
August 24, 2004 6:30 p.m.
embers Present: Aldermen Bob Molleck, Les Cazl, Rick Reed, & Elny Harn.
ther Aldermen Present: Jim Hartford, Craig West. Absent -Aldermen Larry Sazff,
d Mary Fillingham.
there in attendance: Mayor Jerry M. Bohler, City Clerk Nancy Whites, City Treasure
atty Beaird Franzoni, City Attorney Ron Weber, Budget Administrator Julie Smick
olice Chief Donald Edwards, Acting Fire Chief Dan Oaks, Public Works Director Clif
'Brien, Wastewater Supt. Joe Carruthers, Water Treatment Plant Supt. Greg Pollitt
treet Supt. George Spahn, System Maintenance Supt. Bill Terry, Economi
evelopment Director David Byerly, Joy Stiglish of Vandewalle & Associates, Jo
finger Video Services, Rod Heinz, Daily Ledger representative John Froehling, WBYS
epresentative Erin Stremmel, and 6 residents from Old West Locust Street.
Mayor Bohler introduced each Aldermen who chair the committee's.
Public Safety & Traffic
Alderman Robert Molleck, Chairman
Police Report. Police Chief Don Edwazds reported there was nothing out of the
ordinary this month. Don did highlight the minimum shift overtime as 260 hours were
used in the month. During the Labor Day holiday the department will have a program on
the impaired driver, if you "Drink Drive/LJ Lose.
Fire Report. Acting Fire Chief Dan Oaks said he would answer any questions.
Alderman Hartford thanked ESDA for the find job they did for the 4tb of July by helping
to raise funds for the fireworks.
Bids - Gas/Diesel for September, October & November. Motion and second by
Aldermen CazUReed, to open the bids. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously.
Bidders: Don Quick Oil Co. Gasoline $1.5473, Plus B. $.04, Diesel $1,5790 and Plus
B. $.04; Riverland FS Inc. of Knoxville, Illinois Gasoline $1.51 and Plus B. did not bid,
Diesel $1.55 and Plus B. did not bid. Motion and second by Aldermen Harn/Cazl, to
send to staff with recommendations to council. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously.
The Public Safety & Traffic Committee adjourned at 6:37 p.m.
Streets & Garbage Committee
Alderman Les Carl, Chairman
Petition from Residents on Old West Locust Street. Alderman Carl instructed City
Clerk Nancy Whites to read the petition, the heading is as follows... We, the undersigned,
citizens of Canton, Illinois residents of old West Locust Street, want to bring to the
Mechanical Committee meeting 8-24-04
attention of the City Council a problem in our neighborhood. Out street is primarily
residential with the exception of a junk yard which deteriorates the whole area. In
addition to junk trucks, used parts being sold, and the numerous piles of dirt dumped and
not landscaped. We also would like to request the city look in to no parking on the
streets. The street is very narrow with no curbs or side walks. There are numerous small
children living in the area making it very dangerous for them. We would appreciate
greatly whatever you may give us to help in improving our neighborhood.
The petition has 27 signatures.
End of the Petition heading
Police Chief Don Edwards presented each member with a traffic study of Old West
Locust. This reads...Old West Locust Street is approximately 6 tenths of a mile in length
from the intersection of Locust Street (Rt 9) in the 700 block to the west intersection with
Locust Street in the 1000 block.
The pavement of the roadway is approximately 18' throughout its length and is in good
condition. This road also has graveled shoulders on the north side in the 700-900 blocks.
The south side generally has grass up to the pavement except for two short stretches of
gravel where the residents park their vehicles. The following shoulder measurements
were taken from the edge of the pavement to the nearest utility pole which I believe to be
near the outer edge of the right-of--way. In the 800 block the north shoulder
approximately 11 ', the south right-of--way measured approximately 1 S'. In the 900 block
the north shoulder was approximately 33'; the south right-of--way was approximately 18'
wide. In the 1000 block the north right-of--way was approximately 20' wide. There were
no poles or other markers to accurately determine the right-of--way width on the south
side.
All of the mailboxes along the street are on the north side approximately 8' - 10' from
the pavement.
Officers conducted a traffic count and speed study in this area. The speed limit is 30
MPH and is posted. Officers observed traffic in half hour increments during various
times over a thre -day period. The average number of cars traveling the roadway was 8
per half hour. The average speed was 25 MPH. Only four vehicles exceeded the speed
limit, the highest being 34 MPH.
There have been no accidents reported to the Police Department on this street in the past
three years.
A current city ordinance prohibits parking on the north side of Old West Locust from the
700 block through the 900 block between the hours of 9:00 a. m. and 1: OD pm. (Ordinance
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#1335, 2-4-1992). As I recall, this was done because cars were blocking mailboxes and
the Post Office couldn't deliver the mail. The present signs are in poor condition.
From several times of personal observation, I did not see anywhere along the roadway
where parking on the shoulder interfered with or impeded the free flow of traffic. The
vehicles parked on the shoulder were generally far enough away from the pavement.
One residence did not have a driveway and a few had relatively short driveways.
Typically, there were only 4 to 8 vehicles parked on the side of the roadway.
From a traffic control standpoint, I do not see any issues which would create the need to
further restrict the parking on this street.
The City Council may want to consider changing the parking restriction on the north side
from 9:00 a. m. to 1:00 p. m. or 6:00 a. m. to 6:00 p. m. This would conform to the typical
parking restrictions throughout other parts of the Ciry and allow easy access to the
mailboxes for the postal service and the residents. This is the only area in the City that
has this particular parking restriction.
End of Police Chief Don Edwards report.
Don mentioned that there are 42 addresses on Old West Locust Street, and we don't have
the other 50% on the petition.
Alderman Elny Harn thanked Alderman Les Carl for looking into this and for bringing
the conditions to the aldermen's attention. She also thanked Don Edwards for all that he
did. She further added that we really need to have beautification in our City.
Resident of Old West Locust Gracie Long spoke, she wanted to know why a fence could
not be put up. She thought that by the law they are suppose to have a fence.
Dessie Woods another resident mentioned that if they go by the rules they should not
have a junk yard.
Gracie Long agreed that the area is a junk yard.
Ron Weber city attorney responded that the owner of the property in question has an auto
sales and he does not have a special use for a salvage yard.
Motion and second by Aldermen Harn/Molleck, to have Clark Wilson and Ron Weber to
bring information to the next committee meeting of Streets & Garbage. Voice vote,
motion carried unanimously.
Mechanical Committee meeting 8-24-04
Motion and second by Aldermen Reed/Molleck, to place the petition on file. Voice vote,
motion carried unanimously.
The Streets & Garbage Committee adjourned at 6:51 p.m.
Lake, Buildings & Grounds Committee
Alderman Rick Reed, Chairman
Vandewalle & Associates -Master Plan IH -David Byerly. Dave Byerly told the
committee that Joy Stiglish of Vandewalle & Associates will give a draft presentation
and will allow discussion of what has happened on the IH site for redevelopment. Dave
said he had talked with the Redevelopment Advisory Committee and the Economic
Development Commission about the plans.
Joy Stiglish mentioned that the master plan was put before the council some 5 years
earlier, but was not adopted. In the survey that is complete we will mention what kind of
things people aze wanting. A revised Redevelopment Master Plan fox the IH Site has
been drafted and ready for review by the community. The Master Plan proposes a mix of
uses for the property and recommends the opening of Third Avenue as a public street into
the site, and Walnut and Maple Streets as public streets the massing, scale and general
location of building footprints. The proposed mix of uses includes the following:
Outdoor Recreation Retail -Local retail support for regional recreational opportunities
(hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, boating, native tourism & binding, camping, etc.)
Entertainment -Proposed Cineplex serving local and regional market with supporting
restaurants and family entertainment venues
Recreational Tourism -Nature center and trailhead linked with the Illinois River Valley
and the Great River Great Lakes initiative (pertnering with the Nature Conservancy,
regional Rails to Trails initiative (partnering with IDNR, Farmington, Livingston &
Havana)
Neighborhood Commercial -Retail and service businesses serving the downtown and
IH neighborhoods (day care, coffee shop, convenience store, etc.)
Public Open Space - Hazdscape urban plaza serving as a public gathering place easily
accessed by the proposed senior housing and residential areas
Pedestrian Scale, Market Drive, Mixed Use Area -Depending upon the extent of
contamination, which is still undetermined, this azea offers opportunities for a variety of
uses including:
Office/Neighborhood Commercial Mixed Use - Additional retail and service
businesses
Residential -Moderate density market-driven residential mix with potential off-campus
student housing
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Mechanical Committee meeting 8-24-04
Light Industrial -Neighborhood friendly light industrial uses that support regional
value-added agricultural practices (partnering with Central Illinois Energy Ethanol Plant,
Prairie Premium Agricultural Coalition)
N.E. Finch Company of Peoria was hired to conduct the $1.6 million abatement and
demolition project. Asbestos abatement started April 13`'' and is nearly complete.
Demolition is slated for completion by November 8d' of this year.
We need to know what kind of design standards that needs to be enforced so they can be
incorporated into the ordinances.
Alderman Carl asked about 3rd Avenue ending in a dead end area. Joy Stiglish said the
plan is to funnel through the site, and not have too much traffic, more slated towards
pedestrians.
Alderman Hartford said he liked seeing the street opened up as people like using it that
go to the hospital.
Joy Stiglish commented that the southern area is available for development and may need
additional space.
Alderman Reed asked about the time frame for the streets to be in place? David Byerly
stated this could be a 9 month process as they don't know how extensive the clean up will
be. When the Theatre comes into focus 3rd Street may be opened then.
Joy Stiglish mentioned that they do not have environmental dollar value of the site.
Motion and second by Aldermen Reed/Molleck, to adopt the Master Plan of IH Site as
presented by Vandewalle & Associates, and referred to council for their consideration.
Voice vote, motion carried unanimously.
4B TIF Expenditures at IH -David Byerly. David Byerly mentioned that the TIF that
existed prior to this one has no particular use. As part of the process of dissolving the
first TIF he wants to spend the remaining funds. He wants to use them on the removal of
the trailers on the site. Research still needs to be completed and some of the trailers have
some contamination. The 4B TIF account has $32,040 and has to be used by the end of
the year or goes back to the taxing bodies. Our guess in removing the trailers is $20,000
and we need to think what the asbestos issue is while the workers are still on the site.
Alderman Reed said it would be wonderful to get rid of those trailers.
Alderman Carl said it would not be wonderful to use tax payers money.
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Mechanical Committee meeting 8-24-04
Dave said it is important to me not to use tax payers funds, but more important right now
is to get rid of those trailers. The city has not given up their legal rights.
Alderman Molleck mentioned it will be two weeks before the Council meets again to
look into what the legal recourse will be.
Alderman West asked about the owner's responsibility? David Byerly said the owner has
signed a release stating the trailers aze not his, and both decided in friendly advise, they
aze eye sore.
Motion and second by Aldermen Reed/Nlolleck, the city staffto check on the removal of
the trailers, and the City Attorney to check on the legal right for the removal of the
trailers. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously.
Alderman Cazl wanted to know about the $10,000 the city has in the Hotel/Motel Tax if
the funds can be used at the Lake area? Mayor Bohler stated we need to look into the
use of those funds, and said it is a good idea.
The Lake, Buildings & Grounds Committee adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
Public Works, Water & Sewer Committee
Alderman Elny Harn, Chairman
No items listed on the agenda.
Alderman West asked Cliff O'Brien about the status of VanDyke Drive.
Cliff O'Brien mentioned the area is going very nice and have done 1200 feet which is
double what they thought would be. In two weeks will bring the finish project of what
was done. Cliff said they hoped to be done Friday of this week and everyone is very
helpful on this project.
Alderman Reed asked about the Water Feasibility study? Mayor Bohler answered,
almost complete and he said he met with Maurer Stutz Inc. and they aze getting the
documents ready to present to council.
The Public Works, Water & Sewer Committee adjourned at 7:31 p.m.
The Mechanical Committee meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m.
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Mechanical Committee meeting 8-24-04
Recording Secretary,
~ J
Nancy Whites, City Clerk