City of Litchfield City Council met May 5.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
The meeting was offered remotely due to the COVID- 19 public health emergency.
Mayor Steven Dougherty called the Regular Meeting on to order at 6: 30 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Present on roll call were Alderpersons Dwayne Gerl, Marilyn Sisson, Dave Hollo, Mark Brown, Kassidy Paine, Tim Wright, Woodrow Street and Ray Kellenberger. The Mayor declared that a quorum was present.
Public Participation:
Bert Holloway addressed the Council regarding the use of UTVs, Side by Sides, and golf carts on Litchfield city streets and presented materials supporting his position. When he requested that a vote be taken, Mayor Dougherty said that the Open Meetings Act prevents acting on any item not listed on the agenda. The Mayor also said that the topic could be discussed.once the City had done its due diligence in researching the subject.
Other Business:
Alderman Wright made a motion, seconded by Alderman Hollo to accept the minutes from the April 15, 2021 meeting.
The Mayor directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Gerl, Sisson, Hollo, Brown, Paine, Wright, Street, Kellenberger.
Nay: None.
Motion carried.
Alderman Kellenberger made a motion, seconded by Alderman Gerl to direct the City Clerk to transfer funds from the city sales tax to the City' s general fund to issue checks and authorize to pay the bills and process payroll.
The Mayor directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Gerl, Sisson, Hollo, Brown, Paine, Wright, Street, Kellenberger.
Nay: None.
Motion carried.
Old Business:
None.
New Business:
Tourism:
Alderwoman Sisson made a motion, seconded by Alderman Brown to approve printing 5, 000 Lake Lou Yaeger brochures from Journal Printing for the amount not to exceed$ 2,864.
The Mayor directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Gerl, Sisson, Hollo, Brown, Paine, Wright, Street, Kellenberger.
Nay: None.
Motion carried.
Alderwoman Sisson made a motion, seconded by Alderwoman Paine to approve a contract for advertising efforts with Lamar for an amount not to exceed$ 6,695 for billboard advertising. The Mayor directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Gerl, Sisson, Hollo, Brown, Paine, Wright, Street, Kellenberger.
Nay: None.
Motion carried.
Fire:
Alderman Street made a motion, seconded by Alderwoman Sisson to approve the sale of Fire Department Apparatus, a 1994 Pierce Saber Engine/Pumper known as Engine 807, VIN 4P 1 CTO2U8RA00217, to Russ Campbell in the amount of$1, 580 and upon the City Clerk receiving payment to release the title.
The Mayor directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Gerl, Sisson, Hollo, Brown, Paine, Wright, Street, Kellenberger.
Nay: None.
Motion carried.
Administration:
Alderman Street made a motion, seconded by Alderman Wright to approve a 4-year contract with the accounting firm Kerber, Eck& Braeckel (KEB) for services to complete the City Government including water and sewer, Tax Increment Finance Districts ( 1, 2 & 3) audits, single audit, and the Foreign Fire Insurance Tax agreed-upon procedures and authorize the Mayor to sign the engagement letters.
The Mayor directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Gerl, Sisson, Hollo, Brown, Paine, Wright, Street, Kellenberger.
Nay: None.
Motion carried.
Alderman Street made a motion, seconded by Alderman Hollo to direct the Plan Commission to consider the draft Comprehensive Plan for the City of Litchfield, dated May 10, 2021 and report its recommendation on the Plan to the City Council by June 1, 2021.
The Mayor directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Gerl, Sisson, Hollo, Brown, Paine, Wright, Street, Kellenberger.
Nay: None.
Motion carried.
Lake:
Alderman Hollo made a motion, seconded by Alderman Wright to approve the leasing of lot 22 of the Eagle Ridge Subdivision for an initial lease fee of$160,000 and base rent of$1, 5000 and authorize the Mayor to sign the lease and closing statement.
The Mayor directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Hollo, Paine, Wright, Street, Kellenberger.
Nay: Gerl, Sisson, Brown.
Motion carried.
Alderman Hollo made a motion, seconded by Alderwoman Paine to approve a proposal from Ace Sign Co. for the Eagle Ridge Subdivision entrance sign for an amount not to exceed 8,003. 78 and authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement and the City Clerk to issue a check. The Mayor directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Hollo, Paine, Wright, Street, Kellenberger.
Nay: Gerl, Sisson, Brown.
Motion carried.
Alderman Hollo made a motion, seconded by Alderman Street to approve a proposal for$ 52,000 from Crawford, Murphy& Tilly for engineering services for construction bid documents for the Lake Lou Yaeger Sanitary Sewer, Pump Station and Force Main.
The Mayor directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Gerl, Sisson, Hollo, Brown, Paine, Wright, Street, Kellenberger.
Nay: None.
Motion carried.
Alderman Hollo made a motion, seconded by Alderman Wright to grant a time extension to Endrizzi Contracting for the construction completion contract from May 15, 2021 to July 31, 2021.
The Mayor directed a roll call vote.
Aye: Gerl, Sisson, Hollo, Brown, Paine, Wright, Street, Kellenberger.
Nay: None.
Motion carried.
Wastewater:
Alderman Gerl made a motion, seconded by Alderman Hollo to adopt an Ordinance establishing a 3- year plan to increase sewer rates 12% each year for fiscal years 2021- 22, 2022-23 and 2023- 24 to cover maintenance and operational costs.
Alderman Gerl then moved to amend the motion to a 1- year plan, seconded by Alderwoman Sisson. City Administrator Flannery called on Budget Officer Jereme Zook to speak to the need for a multi-year rate increase. Zook explained that over the next two fiscal years there will be
2. 8 million in necessary improvements to the sewer plant. These expenses will delete the fund assets. He said that the Council could consider 1 year but stressed the critical condition ofthe fund. Zook also remarked that the sewer fund should be self-sustaining. Mayor Dougherty added that state and/ or federal grants might not be available ifthe sewer account is not self sustaining which could ultimately make things worse on the tax payers.
The Mayor directed a roll call vote on amending the motion.
Aye: Gerl, Sisson, Hollo, Brown, Paine, Wright, Street, Kellenberger.
Nay: None.
Motion carried.
The Mayor then directed a roll call vote on the amended motion as follows: A motion to adopt an Ordinance establishing a 1- year 12% increase in sewer rates for fiscal year 2021- 22 to cover maintenance and operational costs
The Mayor directed a roll call vote on amending the motion.
Aye: Gerl, Sisson, Hollo, Brown, Paine, Wright, Street, Kellenberger.
Nay: None.
Motion carried.
Alderman Gerl made a motion, seconded by Alderman Street to approve an agreement for Operations, Maintenance, and Management Services with Veolia Water North America— Central, LLC (VWNA) for the contracted operations of the City of Litchfield Wastewater Treatment Facility and authorize the Mayor to sign the contract retroactive to May 1, 2021 pending legal counsel final approval.
The Mayor directed a roll call vote on amending the motion.
Aye: Gerl, Sisson, Hollo, Brown, Paine, Wright, Street, Kellenberger.
Nay: None.
Motion carried.
Alderwoman Paine made a motion, seconded by Alderman Street to approve Pay Request# 4 from Gelly Excavating and Construction Inc., in the amount of$73, 162.40 for work completed on the South Side Ditch Project and authorize the City Clerk to issue a check. The Mayor directed a roll call vote on amending the motion.
Aye: Gerl, Sisson, Hollo, Brown, Paine, Wright, Street, Kellenberger.
Nay: None.
Motion carried.
Alderwoman Paine made a motion, seconded by Alderman Brown to approve a resolution for maintenance of streets and highways by municipality, a municipal estimate ofmaintenance costs and maintenance engineering agreement.
The Mayor directed a roll call vote on amending the motion.
Aye: Gerl, Sisson, Hollo, Brown, Paine, Wright, Street, Kellenberger.
Nay: None.
Motion carried.
Alderwoman Paine made a motion, seconded by Alderman Wright to accept a proposal for construction engineering and administrative services for an amount not to exceed $36,300 from Martin Engineering for the Old Route 66 North Improvement Project and authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement contingent on IDOT approval of the MFT resolution.
The Mayor directed a roll call vote on amending the motion.
Aye: Gerl, Sisson, Hollo, Brown, Paine, Wright, Street, Kellenberger.
Nay: None.
Motion carried.
Alderman Kellenberger made a motion, seconded by Alderman Brown to Adjourn Sine die. The Mayor directed a roll call vote on amending the motion.
Aye: Gerl, Sisson, Hollo, Brown, Paine, Wright, Street, Kellenberger.
Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 6: 57 p.m.
Swearing in Ceremonies:
City Administrator Flannery swore in City Clerk Carol Burke.
City Clerk Burke swore in Mayor Steve Dougherty.
City Clerk Burke swore in the newly elected alderpersons:
Ward 1 — Marilyn Sisson
Ward 2— Mark Brown
Ward 3 — Kassidy Paine
Ward 4— Ray Kellenberger
The Mayor then called the new Council back into session at 7: 03 p.m.
Mayor Dougherty then entertained a motion to approve the following appointments: Appointment ofCity Attorney—Kit Hantla
Appointment ofCollector of Sewer Revenue—Carol Burke
Mayor' s Standing Committee Assignments:
Administration Woodrow Street
Economic Development Ray Kellenberger
Finance/City Clerk Dwayne Gerl
Fire/Ambulance Woodrow Street
Building/Planning/Zoning Ray Kellenberger
Police/Code Enforcement( in coord. wBldg. Dept.) Tim Wright
Tourism Marilyn Sisson
Building and Grounds Mark Brown
Lake Dave Hollo
Streets/Drainage Kassidy Paine
Water Dave Hollo
Wastewater Treatment Dwayne Gerl
Liaison Chairperson
Economic Development Kellenberger Paine Hollo
Equipment Replacement Wright Paine Gerl
Planning/Zoning Kellenberger
Police Pension — 2- year term
Carol Burke May, 2023
Plan Commission—3-year term
Pam Voyles May, 2024
Kevin Brumm May, 2024
Judy Dalhaus May, 2024
Economic Development Commission—4- year term
Kent Redfern May, 2025
Lonnie Bathurst May, 2025
Mike Fleming May, 2025
Emeritus Position: Frank Fleming
Airport Authority—5- year term
James Wright May, 2026
Tourism Advisory Committee—3- year term
Dave Hershberger May, 2024
Ann Pattillo May, 2024
Tree Board—3- year term
Richard Ward May, 2024
Bill Borklund May, 2024
Alderman Street made a motion, seconded by Alderman Kellenberger to approve the appointments.
The Mayor directed a roll call vote on amending the motion.
Aye: Gerl, Sisson, Hollo, Brown, Paine, Wright, Street, Kellenberger.
Having no further business, Alderman Street made a motion, seconded by Alderman Brown to adjourn the regular meeting of the Litchfield City Council.
https://www.cityoflitchfieldil.com/news/images/May6,2021.pdf
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