South Central Reporter

City of Trenton City Council met April 22. 

Here is the minutes as provided by the council:

CALL MEETING TO ORDER

The Regular Meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Kyle Jones at 7:01 p.m. on Monday, April 22, 2019.

ROLL CALL

Hooker, Mohme (absent), Sims, Wagoner, Weh, Woods

Also present were City Clerk Karen Buzzard, City Administrator Doug Brimm, Chief Chris Joellenbeck, Officer Berry, Attorney Joe Heiligenstein, Barb Lockowitz, Jim Kniepman, Doug Ratermann of HMG Engineering and Mike Conley of the Trenton Sun.

PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS/PRESENTATIONS

Mayor Jones read a proclamation from A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois and proclaimed May as Motorcycle Awareness month in Trenton.

PUBLIC INPUT

COMMENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS – MAYOR

COMMENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS- ALDERMEN

COMMENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS – CITY STAFF

Chief Joellenbeck announced this Saturday, April 27, 2019 from 10-2 is a DEA drug takeback day. There is a deposit box in the lobby of the police station at all times. One does not need to wait until a drug takeback day to dispose of drugs properly.

Attorney Heiligenstein reported to the Council that Tri Township Water District has filed a lawsuit against the City in federal court to stop us from providing water to the north side of New Route 50. We anticipated this suit. The City believes that it has a right to serve this area. It is within the one mile radius of the City limits and always has been, even prior to the formation of Tri Township Water District. Attorney Heiligenstein is not licensed to practice in federal court so we will be represented by Attorney Al Paulson. Tri Township has asked for judicial review so a federal judge will hear this case and make the ruling.

CONSENT AGENDA

Alderman Hooker made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Second Alderman Weh, all yes, Mohme absent. Motion carried. The Consent Agenda included the Minutes of the April 8, 2019 Regular Council Meeting, Ordinance #1741 Vacating a Utility and Drainage Easement Located on Lots 85 and 86 of Northland Acres No 4, Acceptance of a Utility and Drainage Easement from Sugar Creek Township Fire Protection District, and Acceptance of a Utility and Drainage Easement from Richard F. and Tina M. Noffke.

Alderman Mohme entered the meeting at 7:08 p.m.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Alderman Woods made a motion to Approve the transfer of $100,000.00 from the General Fund to the Capital Improvement Fund. Second Alderman Hooker, all yes. Motion carried.

Alderman Weh made a motion to Approve the First Amendment to Contract for Solid Waste Collection and Disposal and Recycling Collection Services. Second Alderman Mohme, all yes.

Motion carried. The last two scheduled bulk item pick-ups for 2019 will be cancelled and replaced with “on-demand” pick-ups. Then beginning in 2020 each resident will have four ondemand bulk item pick-ups available to them annually.

Alderman Mohme made a motion to Approve Ordinance #1742 Approving a Contract for the Purchase of a Tract of Land from B. Carson Hempen and Richard Sappington d/b/a REMCO. Second Alderman Weh, all yes. Motion carried.

Alderman Woods made a motion to Approve Ordinance #1743 Approving an Agreement Between the City of Trenton and Mark M. Lockowitz and Barbara Lockowitz for Tax Increment Finance Proceeds. Second Alderman Hooker, all yes. Motion carried.

Items 5 – 12 on the agenda introduce the ordinances required to approve and establish the North Trenton Business District, the South Trenton Business District, the North Trenton Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Project Area and the South Trenton Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Project Area. A series of public hearings was conducted on April 8, 2019 in relation to these new districts. These ordinances will be on the May 13, 2019 regular council meeting agenda for approval. Mayor Jones reminded everyone that he has called a special meeting on May 6, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. for some annexation items.

NEW BUSINESS

Superintendent of Public Works Wehrle is unable to attend the meeting tonight. The City obtained two bids for final grading and seeding of the W Broadway/W 2nd Street sewer extension project. An issue has developed with the residents in that area and they are wanting daily notification if the City will be working in the easement, and have decided they want a 3rd party “professional contractor” to come in and finish the job. Mayor Jones stated that area had drainage problems when he was a child. He understands the resident’s frustration with the length of time on this project, but no one can control the weather. There was further discussion about whether to hire out the balance of this work or let the public works department finish the job. Several of the aldermen stood behind our public works department. They are qualified; we just need a break in the weather. No matter who does the work, the weather will dictate when it gets done. There is an item on the agenda tonight if the Council wishes to take action to hire this work out. The item failed due to a lack of motion.

Doug Ratermann with HMG Engineering discussed with the Council the 2019 Motor Fuel Tax program. In 2018 the City used an hourly rate per piece of equipment and reimbursed the City based on actual time used. This year we propose a hybrid of the way we operated last year and estimated costs for oil, chips, cold patch, etc. The resolution for approval at the May 13th meeting will be for an amount of $115,000.00.

Clerk Buzzard had prepared for review a resolution from the semi-annual review of closed session minutes. Attorney Heiligenstein will review the minutes and make any modifications to the resolution if necessary. This will be on the May 13, 2019 meeting agenda for approval.

CLOSED SESSION

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Jones reminded everyone that he has called a special meeting for Monday, May 6, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. We will have a public hearing and then the meeting will take place immediately following to take action on annexation of property.

Alderman Woods said that Norm Wiggins contacted him about the baby pool. This is the biggest drawback of our pool and Norm wanted to explore the options of a splash pad. Doug Ratermann stated that Sarah Tebbe from his office has worked on a couple of these in recent years. He will ask her to get information together. In addition, Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grants are open again with a fall deadline.

ADJOURNMENT

Alderman Hooker made a motion to adjourn. Second Alderman Mohme. All yes, motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m.

http://trentonil.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/20190422minutes.pdf