City of Assumption City Council met June 1.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. at the City Hall by Mayor Derek Page who led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll call was answered by Alderpersons Sue Burgess, Gary Nelsen, Selena Reed, Kandy Smith and Donny Walden. Also present were Mayor Derek Page, Attorney Gregory Moredock, Treasurer Angel Palmer, Water Employee Dana Owens and City Clerk Janet Waller. Water Supt Jack Duncan arrived at 7:13 pm.
Present in the audience was Mark Bingham from Chastain and Associates, Bob Ashinhurst, Marilyn Ashinhurst, Travis Sullivan, Sarah Myers, Joyce Throneburg, Kara Hubner, Renee Potter, Joe Mink, John Holthaus, Julie Holthaus, Mike Corzine, Dan Davis, John Kraft and Kirk Allen from Edgar County Watchdogs. Tom Dooley arrived at 7:11 pm.
Council Member Burgess, seconded by Council Member Smith, made a motion to approve the minutes of May 4, 2022 Council Meeting. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Smith, Reed, Nelsen and Burgess voting aye and 0 nays.
Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Burgess, made a motion to approve the Special Meeting minutes of May 25, 2022. Motion carried with Alderpersons Burgess, Nelsen, Reed, Walden and Smith voting aye and 0 nays.
Approval of Bills:
Council Member Burgess, seconded by Council Member Walden, made a motion to approve the payment of bills as they appear on the warrant sheets. Motion carried with Alderpersons Smith, Reed, Nelsen, Burgess and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.
Public Comments on Agenda Items:
A member of the audience questioned what was the process for soliciting the estimates for engineering, legal and TIF. The question was answered as they have not been done yet. It is on the agenda to have the ok to go out and get the estimates if approved.
Communications from the Mayor:
Mayor Page updated the council that there was an issue to get lights for the signs on the edges of town on Route 51 but the lights have been ordered.
Dumpster days will be June 3 and June 4, 2022.
Mayor Page reminded everyone to watch out for the children when driving around town. Mowing letters have been mailed out for yards that need attention.
Mapping meetings have been going well.
Communications from the City Attorney:
Attorney Moredock updated the council that the items in litigation are still pending but should have an update in July.
An updated order with the IEPA for the nitrate vessel installation in the old Water Plant was done but needs final approval.
Attorney Moredock is working with Attorney Atteberry on the property on Locust Street to get the property demolished.
A hearing scheduled for June 28, 2022 is scheduled for two properties. Attorney Moredock will update at the July council meeting.
Communications from the Treasurer:
Treasurer Palmer updated the council that the audit will be finished June 2, 2022. Communications from the Alderpersons:
Alderperson Burgess questioned if fines were being imposed on the Locust Street property and Attorney Moredock noted they have not as they are working with the Attorney on the issue.
Alderperson Nelsen remembered Rick Hauffe and acknowledged all the good things he did.
Under New Business:
Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Reed, made a motion to approve the solicitation of estimates for engineering, legal and TIF fees for the “Grow Assumption” proposal to acquire, annex, and sell certain real property located adjacent to the City of Assumption. Motion carried with Alderpersons Reed, Smith, Nelsen, Walden and Burgess voting aye and 0 nays.
Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Walden, made a motion to accept the resignation of Alderperson Joe Cochran. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Nelsen, Smith and Reed voting aye and Burgess abstained.
Mayor Page presented an ordinance to lower the age to 16 for individuals to drive golf carts upon City Streets. Council Member Burgess, seconded by Council Member Reed, made a motion for Ordinance 784 amending the city code pertaining to Golf Carts to allow individuals 16 years of age or older to operate a golf cart upon City Streets and to update state statute references. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Burgess, Reed, Smith and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.
The ordinance for the final budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 was presented. Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Nelsen, made a motion for Ordinance 785 Annual Appropriations Ordinance and Budget for fiscal year 2022-2023. Motion carried with Alderpersons Smith, Walden, Reed, Nelsen voting aye and Burgess voting nay.
Mayor Page explained the use of Van Syckle Park funds and would like to reimburse the Park Fund from the savings for $24,000.00 this fiscal year and $24,000.00 next fiscal year. Council Member Burgess, seconded by Council Member Smith, made a motion to approve the reimbursement to the Van Syckle Park Fund from the Saving Fund in the amount of $24,000.00. Motion carried with Alderpersons Reed, Walden, Nelsen, Smith and Burgess voting aye and 0 nays.
Mayor Page asked for a motion to purchase blade mix for no more than $11,000.00. Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Walden, made a motion to approve $11,000.00 for blade mixing on North Street. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Smith, Burgess, Walden and Reed voting aye and 0 nays.
Council Member Burgess, seconded by Council Member Nelsen, made a motion to approve the disbursement to Burdick Plumbing for $149,670.50 for the Larochelle Project Disbursement. Motion carried with Alderpersons Burgess, Nelsen, Reed, Walden and Smith voting aye and 0 nays.
Council Member Burgess, seconded by Council Member Nelsen, made a motion to approve the disbursement to Petersburg Plumbing for $218,725.77 and Engineering $5,631.05 for a total of $224,356.82 for the Sanitary Sewer
Disbursement Phase 1. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Nelsen, Burgess, Smith and Reed voting aye and 0 nays.
Mark Bingham from Chastain and Associates explained they are closing out the Sanitary Sewer Project and these were for the unused items. Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Walden, made a motion to approve the Sanitary Sewer Phase 1 change order deduct for $126,628.62. Motion carried with Alderpersons Smith, Walden, Reed, Burgess and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays.
Water Supt Jack Duncan explained to the council about the watermain that will need fixed. He noted it may take more than the $6,000.00 listed on the agenda. Mayor Page explained we could approve the additional costs in a Special Meeting or at the next council meeting. Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Smith, made a motion to approve the repair of the water leak at College and Second Street for $6,000.00. Motion carried with Alderpersons Burgess, Smith, Reed, Walden and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays.
Mayor Page would like to expand the City Hall hours from Monday thru Friday from 8:30 to 4:30 pm. Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Reed, made a motion to approve the changing of City Hall hours to 8:30 pm to 4:30 pm effective June 2, 2022. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Reed, Walden, Smith and Burgess voting aye and 0 nays.
Mark Bingham gave an update on the Sanitary Sewer Phase 1 is waiting on a final walk thru with the EPA before closing out the project.
Sanitary Sewer Phase 2 is currently out for bid and June 15th at 2 pm will be the bid opening at City Hall.
Water System Improvements Phase 1 has installed the nitrate vessels in the old water plant and should be operational in the next 2 weeks.
Water System Improvements Phase 2 is waiting on direction from the Program Manager. Mark will keep checking for any updates.
The Larochelle project will be hooking up the residents in the near future as the watermains are finishing up and will be operational soon.
Mayor Page asked to go into executive session and would like Mark Bingham from Chastain and Associates, Mike Corzine and Water Supt Jack Duncan to stay for part of the executive session. Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Walden, made a motion to go into Executive Session for 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) – Personnel and 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5) – The Purchase of Land or Real Estate at 7:26 pm. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Smith, Reed, Nelsen and Burgess voting aye and 0 nays.
Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Burgess, made a motion to go back into regular session at 8:21 pm. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Smith, Reed, Nelsen and Burgess voting aye and 0 nays.
Roll call was answered by Alderpersons Reed, Walden, Nelsen, Smith and Burgess.
Present in the audience after Executive Session were Bob Ashinhurst, Marilyn Ashinhurst, Dana Owens, John Kraft and Kirk Allen from the Edgar County Watchdogs.
No action was taken during Executive Session.
Mayor Page explained the council is going to make a motion on each separate pay raise.
Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Walden, made a motion to increase the pay for Street Supt to the new rate of $26.22 an hour. Motion carried with Alderpersons Reed, Nelsen, Smith and Walden voting aye and Burgess voting nay.
Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Smith, made a motion to increase the pay for the Water Supt to the new rate of $28.07 an hour. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Smith, Reed and Nelsen voting aye and Burgess voting nay.
Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Reed, made a motion to increase the pay for the Water Collector to $772.70 a month. Motion carried with Alderpersons Smith, Nelsen, Reed, Walden and Burgess voting aye and 0 nays.
Council Member Reed, seconded by Council Member Walden, made a motion to increase the pay for the housekeeper to $13.25 an hour. Motion carried with Alderpersons Reed, Smith, Burgess, Walden and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays.
Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Reed, made a motion to increase the pay for the Water/Street Employee to the rate of $15.50 an hour. Motion carried with Alderpersons Burgess, Nelsen, Walden, Smith and Reed voting aye and 0 nays.
Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Reed, made a motion to approve Ordinance 786 amending the City code pertaining to the scope of work and compensation for the position of City Collector. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Walden, Reed, Smith and Burgess voting aye and 0 nays.
Mayor Page noted the purchase of an additional acre of land for the water plant is being tabled at this time.
Public Comments:
None
Council Member Burgess, seconded by Council Member Nelsen, made a motion to adjourn 8:29 pm. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Smith, Reed, Nelsen and Burgess voting aye and 0 nays.
https://cityofassumption.org/documents/397/6_-_June_2022.pdf
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