South Central Reporter

City of Hillsboro City Council met Aug. 23.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Hillsboro City Council Meeting August 23, 2022

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm.

Roll call was taken and those present were Mayor Downs and Commissioners Wright, Butler and Gregory. Commissioner Duncan was absent.

The "Pledge of Allegiance" was recited.

Motion was made by Commissioner Wright and seconded by Commissioner Gregory to accept the resignation of Commissioner Katie Duncan. Motion carried 4-0.

Minutes of the previous meeting were approved.

Commissioners' reports:

Commissioner Butler read his reports for the street department and public property department and they will be included in the minutes. City Engineer Jeremy Connor said the City was awarded a bridge grant for approximately $884,000 and it will be used on the Seward St. bridge in 2027.

Commissioner Gregory read his reports and they will be included in the minutes.

Commissioner Wright read her report and it will be included in the minutes. Wright thanked the street department and everyone that worked on the water leak during the Old Settlers Celebration.

Mayor Downs thanked everyone that worked to fix the water leak also. Downs said the Old Settlers Celebration went well and thanked the police department and the auxiliary for their work along with the fire department for hosing down the street after the water leak was fixed.

Community Planner Sarah McConnell gave her report and it will be included in the minutes.

City Engineer Jeremy Connor said the Mechanic St. culvert replacement is still ongoing and there has been a change of focus for the next ITEP grant which will be for sidewalks around Seymour Ave. to the high school for connecting the schools.

Public comments:

Tim Sheldon

Motion was made by Commissioner Wright and seconded by Commissioner Butler to approve a 5K run/walk to be held on October 15, 2022. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion was made by Commissioner Wright and seconded by Commissioner Butler to approve closing parts of Main St. from Tilson St. to Wood St. for the shop Hillsboro bed races and harvest market. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion was made by Commissioner Butler and seconded by Commissioner Gregory to approve paying bills for the month of August in the amount of $437,130.02. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion was made by Commissioner Wright and seconded by Commissioner Butler to adopt Resolution No. 2022-09, a resolution approving the award of the bid for the Huber Dr. water main project. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion was made by Commissioner Butler and seconded by Commissioner Wright to adopt Resolution No. 2022-10, a resolution approving a proposal from Hurst & Rosche, Inc. for engineering services associated with the IDNR inspection of Shoal Creek No. 5 and Lake Hillsboro Dam. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion was made by Commissioner Butler and seconded by Commissioner Gregory to table the approve of pay estimate no. 3 to Kenny Contractors for sidewalk and curb replacements in the amount of $15,700.00. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion was made by Commissioner Wright and seconded by Commissioner Butler to approve paying Lyerla Electric for underground wire installed on the Northeast corner of the square for a cost of $2,991.85. Business District funds will be used for the payment. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion was made by Commissioner Wright and seconded by Commissioner Butler to approve a Façade Improvement Grant reimbursement to Blake Delany in the amount of $673.44 for work done at 441 S. Main St. in Hillsboro. Motion carried 4-0.

Agenda item No. 18 to appoint Charlie Goad to the Police Pension Board was pulled by Mayor Downs.

Motion was made by Commissioner Gregory and seconded by Commissioner Wright to approve purchasing bulletproof vests and vest carriers for the police department from Leon Uniform Company for a cost of $4,500.00. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion was made by Commissioner Butler and seconded by Commissioner Wright to approve hiring Blake Thomet as an employee in Public Property. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion was made by Commissioner Butler and seconded by Commissioner Wright to approve purchasing parts from TMS Equipment and paying labor to fix the lift in an amount NTE $6,000.00. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion was made by Commissioner Butler and seconded by Commissioner Wright to approve moving forward and try to raise the City's share of funds for the exercise court to be installed at Central Park. The approval depends on the City's ability to raise funds. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion was made by Commissioner Wright and seconded Commissioner Butler to approve paying All Service Contracting $48,405.00 for the media replacement and inspection of #1 filter at the water treatment plant. Motion to amend the approval to include pending the attorneys review was made by Commissioner Wright and seconded by Commissioner butler. Amendment and Motion carried 4-0.

Motion was made by Commissioner Wright and seconded by Commissioner Butler to approve adding a water credit for new businesses. After little discussion it was Motion was made by Commissioner Gregory and seconded by Commissioner Butler to table the approval until more discussions could be had and give everyone time to think about the water credit. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion was made by Commissioner Wright and seconded by Commissioner Butler to amend the policy of not shutting off water for commercial customers that have past due accounts. All customers residential or commercial will be shutoff for nonpayment. Motion carried 4-0.

Motion was made by Commissioner Wright and seconded by Commissioner Butler to approve making offers on three properties along Taylorville Rd. for the new waste water treatment plant. Motion was made by Commissioner Wright and seconded by Commissioner Gregory to table the approval until further discussions could be had at a later time. Motion carried 4-0.

Commissioner Wright addressed the Council on the upcoming contract negotiations with Woodard & Curran. Wright asked everyone to be thinking about the expiring contract next year. It needs to be discussed sooner than later because of the transition that would have to take place if Woodard & Curran didn't stay. Mayor Downs asked if the water & sewer ran together and he was told yes they run together. The City gets a budget proposal for both once a year and approve the proposal. An amendment would be done to the contract to extend the agreements with Woodard & Curran. Wright said the City is far down the path for the new waste water treatment plant and it would be difficult to switch now but it needs to be discussed and everyone thinking about it.

Commissioner Butler said when he came on the Council there was discussion of selling one of the historic properties and the Historical Society found a buyer for the Blackman- Evans Home. Butler said he found out the City couldn't just give the property back to the Historical Society. Butler said he wants to do everything correctly and doesn't want the City to sell the building and take the money to just pay bills and not fix the other house up. Butler said the money could be used by the Historical Society to fix up the Harkey House and Harkey rent house to make the homes better. Butler said he wants to know the correct way to do this and make sure the money goes to restoring and fixing up the houses. Butler said he has a meeting in the next week to discuss options at the houses regarding lead paint. Mayor Downs told Butler he would have to get with the City attorney to come up with a solution. Commissioner Wright asked if the City was restricted on giving the money from the sale to the Historical Society and Butler said he would get with the City Attorney to discuss.

Motion to Adjourn was made at 8:30 pm by Commissioner Gregory and seconded by Commissioner Wright. Motion carried 4-0.

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