City of Centralia City Council met Sept. 28.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
Per Senate Bill 2135, the City Council for Centralia, Illinois met via video conference. Mayor Williams called the meeting to order at 6:12 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Williams, Councilman Jones, Councilman Smith, Councilman Sauer, and Councilman Marshall (Mayor Williams was physically present at City Hall and the other members attended electronically via video conference)
Absent: None
Staff Members Participating Physically at City Hall: Lowell Crow, City Manager; Bill Agee, City Treasurer, and Kim Enke, City Clerk
Staff Members Participating Electronically: Luke Behme, City Attorney; Katie Plutz, Assistant City Manager and Economic Development Director; Gayla Harting, Community Development Director; Michelle Liggett, Finance Director; Jeff Schwartz, Public Works Director; Chief Lynch, Fire Department; and Chief Greg Dodson, Police Department
PRAYER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Williams led the Pledge of Allegiance.
AMENDMENTS AND/OR ADDITIONS TO AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Teresa Guinzy, the business owner of Lucky Dogs, addressed the City Council to discuss the proposed opening of the restaurant. She stated that the restaurant will specialize in serving hotdogs 100 ways. She explained that they are requesting a Class E liquor license to serve beer and wine noting that the gaming will be separate from the restaurant and there will be indoor seating available.
Councilman Sauer left the meeting due to connectivity issues at 6:16 p.m.
CONSENT AGENDA
A Motion was made by Councilman Jones and seconded by Councilman Smith to Approve Items 1-6 of the Consent Agenda.
1. Approval Of The Minutes Of The September 14, 2020 City Council Meeting
2. Approval Of The Minutes Of The September 14, 2020 Public Hearing
3. Approval Of Payrolls And Vouchers In The Amount Of $ 816,665.77
4. Receive And Place On File The Monthly Treasurer’s Report As Of August 31, 2020
5. Approval Of Request By Centralia Downtown Co-Op To Place Decorations Upon City Owned Property In The Downtown Area And Use Of City Owned Property During October 2020
6. Approval Of Request by American Cancer Society To Hold 2020 Relay For Life Drive Thru Event At Fairview Park
Ayes: Councilman Jones, Councilman Smith, Councilman Marshall, and Mayor Williams
Nays: None
A majority of the Council voting aye, the motion carried.
REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
None
BIDS
City Manager Crow stated that this proposed bid is for the Intermountain Electronics grant. He stated that there were two bids received and Bevis Construction was the low bidder. He stated that the grant is for $450,000.00 and the remainder of the project will be paid for by Intermountain Electronics. A motion was made by Councilman Jones and seconded by Councilman Smith to Approve A Bid From Bevis Construction For The Intermountain Electronics Expansion In The Amount Of $609,000.00.
Ayes: Councilman Jones, Councilman Smith, Councilman Marshall, and Mayor Williams
Nays: None
A majority of the Council voting aye, the motion carried.
Councilman Sauer rejoined the meeting at 6:19 p.m.
ORDINANCES
City Manager Crow explained that this increase is for Lucky Dogs which Ms. Guinzy spoke about during public participation. He stated that the application is complete and has been reviewed. He stated that if it is approved they will be picking it up as soon as possible. Councilman Smith asked if there was a need for supermajority vote. City Clerk Enke stated that it will only requires a majority vote to pass. A motion was made by Councilman Jones and seconded by Councilman Marshall to Approve An Ordinance Amending The Centralia Municipal Code Regarding An Increase In The Number of Class E Liquor Licenses.
Ayes: Councilman Jones, Councilman Sauer, Councilman Marshall, and Mayor Williams
Nays: Councilman Smith
A majority of the Council voting aye, the motion carried.
Councilman Sauer left the meeting due to connectivity issues at 6:21 p.m.
City Manager Crow explained that the topic to dissolve the Industrial Development Commission has been reviewed by the Commission over the last two meetings that they held. He stated that they reviewed the ordinances that established the commission. He stated that they had discussion concerning dissolving it and the commissioners voted unanimously at the second meeting to recommend to the Council that it be dissolved due to them feeling that they no longer had a role. He explained that the commission was established by ordinance to oversee the revolving loans. He stated that they reported to him that they had not brought anything to the Council in over 2- 2 1/2 years and the staff agrees with their recommendation. Councilman Jones stated that he had reservations about this, due to him recalling when this commission was started, it involved more than revolving loans. City Manager Crow noted that it was originally started in 1960’s to oversee the establishment of the industrial park and the ordinance was modified 8-9 years ago to take over the revolving loans which the state has eliminated. Councilman Jones stated that he feels they are getting in a hurry with some of these and there has been conversations about making some of the meetings idle due to COVID, but he believes that there are other reasons some of these boards are developed. Councilman Marshall asked what else they do, what the functions are, and if they all agreed. City Manager Crow stated that they voted unanimously. He stated that it was originally established in 1962 to recruit business development, work with the industrial park, and provide funding. He stated that it was modified later to review applications for revolving loans. He stated that their role now is if there was a series of money from the City, they would advise the Council concerning redevelopment agreements separate from the TIF. He explained that the TIF goes through a different review process through the joint review board which is made up of various taxing bodies as required by the state. He stated that the commission feels that they haven’t done much in the past couple years which is why they recommended the disestablishment. Councilman Marshall stated that when he became a member of the Council, the commission had some good people serving on it that knew how the city works and they invest in the community. City Manager Crow stated that they meet once a month for lunch, with himself and the Mayor both sitting on the commission. He stated that they have discussions about the business within the city and they have met with a lot of businesses. Due to lack of motion, the Ordinance To Dissolve The Centralia Industrial Development Commission died due to a lack of motion.
RESOLUTIONS
City Manager Crow stated that this proposed resolution is for the annual Motor Fuel Tax. He stated that this was handled previously by Rhutasel & Associates and their office has now been bought and run by Gonzalez Companies and the staff from Rhutasel is now working for Gonzalez. A motion was made by Councilman Jones and seconded by Councilman Marshall to Approve A Resolution Approving An Agreement With Gonzalez Companies, LLC To Perform Preliminary Engineering And Engineering Inspection Services For The 2021 Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) Street Maintenance Program.
Ayes: Councilman Jones, Councilman Smith, Councilman Marshall, and Mayor Williams
Nays: None
A majority of the Council voting aye, the motion carried.
OTHER BUSINESS
None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
City Manager Crow stated that he has requested that this be tabled since he will be going back to the bargaining table. He stated that it will be further discussed in executive session and he would not like to discuss it in open session since they are continuing to negotiate. A motion was made Councilman Jones and seconded by Councilman Marshall to Table A Resolution To Accept The Collective Bargaining Agreement With The Illinois FOP Labor Council For Patrol Officers F.O.P Union #229.
Ayes: Councilman Jones, Councilman Smith, Councilman Marshall, and Mayor Williams
Nays: None
A majority of the Council voting aye, the motion carried
REPORTS
City Clerk Enke noted that the next meeting will be held on Tuesday October 13th due to Monday the 12th being a holiday. She also noted that the city wide clean up is being scheduled for the week of October 19th.
City Treasurer Agee reminded residents that the Marion County tax payments are due on the upcoming Wednesday.
City Manager Crow reported that the IML is suing the State of Illinois in order to clarify the required closures of offices on election day. He stated that the IML repeatedly asked if all municipal buildings should be shut down, they didn’t get an answer, and have now filed suit. He also reported that the airport TIPs meeting will be next Monday via Zoom. He also noted that the budget and capital plan is being worked on. He also reported that Katie attended the TIF conference and Chief Lynch attended the Chief’s conference. He stated that Michelle attended IGFOA and he attended the ICMA conference via ZOOM as well.
Councilman Smith urged residents to complete the 2020 Census prior to the September 30th deadline.
Councilman Marshall stated that he was glad to see that the liquor ordinance passed for Lucky Dog’s. He noted that he will not be supporting any other licenses while he is on the Council. He noted the investments made to the community by the developer, but he will not be supporting any more licenses.
Mayor Williams stated that there are some kinks that still need to be worked out with the Zoom meetings due to connections but expects that to be better for participation at the future meetings.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Councilman Jones and seconded by Councilman Marshall To Adjourn The Meeting To Closed Session Under 5 ILCS 120/2(C)(21), For The Semi-Annual Review Of The Minutes Of The Meetings Lawfully Closed, Under 5ILCS 120/2(C)(1) The Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Discipline, Performance, Or Dismissal Of Specific Employees, Specific Individuals Who Serve As Independent Contractors In A Park, Recreational, Or Educational Setting, Or Specific Volunteers Of The Public Body Or Legal Counsel For The Public Body, Including Hearing Testimony On A Complaint Lodged Against An Employee, A Specific Individual Who Serves As An Independent Contractor In A Park, Recreational, Or Educational Setting, Or A Volunteer Of The Public Body Or Against Legal Counsel For The Public Body To Determine Its Validity, And Under 5 ILCS 120/2(C)(2) Collective Negotiating Matters Between The Public Body And Its Employees Or Their Representatives, Or Deliberations Concerning Salary Schedules For One Or More Classes Of Employees.
Ayes: Councilman Jones, Councilman Smith, Councilman Marshall, and Mayor Williams
Nays: None
A majority of the Council voting aye, the motion carried, and the meeting was adjourned at 6:39 p.m.
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