City of Centralia City Council met Oct. 10.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The City Council for Centralia, Illinois met on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, in the Council Chambers at Centralia City Hall. Mayor Kuder called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Kuder, Council Member Fontanez, Council Member Allen, and Council Member Jackson Absent: Council Member Castellari
Staff Members Present: Andrew Thomson, City Attorney; Derek Sherman, Economic Development Director; Lt. Steve Whritenour, Police Department; Chief Jeff Day, Fire Department; Gayla Harting, Community Development Director; Jeremy Henderson, Finance Director; Jeff Schwartz, Public Works Director; Bill Agee, Treasurer; and Kim Enke, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk
PRAYER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Kuder led the Pledge of Allegiance and Vernell Burris led the prayer.
AMENDMENTS AND/OR ADDITIONS TO AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Vernell Burris discussed the number of closing businesses in the City. He requested that there be a report given for the businesses that are closing or opening.
Jon Minor addressed the City Council. He stated that he has a Christian charity called Menasseh created to help homeless find shelter. He stated that he has not attained funding but has growing supporters of his efforts and desires to operate in the former Langenfeld building on Broadway.
Dexter Johnson addressed the City Council with his father, Garland Johnson. They stated that there was demolition completed and there are ruts throughout the property and the land was not smoothed over. They discussed the cost of dumpsters and the condition of the land after the demolition and trees torn down. Mr. Johnson questioned the intentions of the City to take his father’s property. Mayor Kuder questioned the contract that the owner had with the City and also discussed the tree and damage on the property with him.
The Centralia Business and Professional Women’s Club was presented with a proclamation recognizing Business and Professional Women’s Club Week.
CONSENT AGENDA
A Motion was made by Council Member Fontanez and seconded by Council Member Allen to Approve Items 1 – 3 of the Consent Agenda.
1. Approval Of The Minutes Of The September 25, 2023 City Council Meeting
2. Approval Of Payrolls And Vouchers In The Amount Of $1,047,764.01
3. A Resolution Approving the Temporary Closure Of Rasback St. For A Family Event On October 27th
Ayes: Council Member Fontanez, Council Member Allen, Council Member Jackson, Mayor Kuder Nays: None
A majority of the Council voting aye, the motion carried.
REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Luke Eastin with SCIRPDC discussed his work on the Comprehensive Plan to date. He explained that he has been collecting data and attending committee meetings. He stated that he still expects this plan to be completed by April with the committee members that will work with him on the plan. Council Member Allen questioned who the committee members are that will be involved and if he has met with any of them yet. He stated that the Economic Development Director is the employee that is the point person for the plan, and they have not met with a group at this time. Council Fontanez questioned what is expected to be determined by the comprehensive plan and what data stands out. Mr. Eastin stated that there is a general population decline and aging population. He also noted that housing needs will be included in the plan.
BIDS
None
ORDINANCES
City Manager Smith discussed the ILWARN program. He stated that with no membership cost, the City of Centralia is able to participate in the Illinois Water and Wastewater Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreement. The mission of ILWARN is to support and promote statewide emergency preparedness, disaster response, and mutual assistance matters for public and private water and wastewater utilities for natural and man-made events. He explained that ILWARN is designed to provide a utility-to-utility response during an emergency. The ILWARN web site (www.ilwarn.org) does this by providing its members with emergency planning, response, and recovery information before, during, and after an emergency. As the nationwide WARN system expands, it will become easier to provide mutual aid to other states as needed. As a member the City will be able to request emergency equipment and trained personnel that they might need in an emergency. If the City responds to another utility member seeking assistance, the requesting member shall reimburse the City for costs such as personnel and services, equipment, materials and supplies and this is the same if the City would be the requesting member. The City has been a member since 2019, this is an update to the agreement for Council approval and it will further allow the City to update the profile, resources, and contact information of the current staff. Council Member Fontanez questioned the policy and some recent events asking how far the City would go. The City Manager discussed the distance of some of the local communities that have used these services in the past and the benefit of participating. A Motion was made by Council Member Allen and seconded by Council Member Fontanez to Approve An Ordinance Approving Participation In An Intrastate Mutual Aid And Assistance Program For Water And Wastewater.
Ayes: Council Member Fontanez, Council Member Allen, Council Member Jackson, Mayor Kuder Nays: None
A majority of the Council voting aye, the motion carried.
RESOLUTIONS
City Manager Smith discussed the proposed grant services with Fehr Graham. He stated that the City is interested in applying for a $1,500,000 Community Development Block Grant administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. He explained that the grant money would be utilized to construct a replacement for a raw water line that has demonstrated repeated past failures. City Manager Smith noted that the raw water line replacement project has already been designed and permitted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. This line provides the water from Carlyle Lake to the current and proposed Water Treatment Plant. Fehr Graham will work with the City to define the project’s Scope of Work, determine the Project Budget, create an Engineer’s Cost Estimate, and finalize the Project Schedule. They will craft all necessary narratives for the grant application, including the Project Summary, Project Readiness Summary, and narratives to connect the project to illustrate the need for the project. They will also complete all required mapping and exhibits, including project location maps, project exhibits, FEMA maps, and any other required mapping for the proposed project. He further explained that Fehr Graham will work with the City to gather the required, appropriate support documentation necessary to complete the grant application. This will include permit information, public notification documentation, Fair Housing Ordinance, GATA registration, SAM.gov registration, IRS Certification letter, and a copy of the most recent annual audit. City Manager Smith stated that the submission deadline recently announced for the CDBG Public Infrastructure Grant Application is January 18, 2024. The cost is a fixed fee of $7,500.00 with no additional costs to the City. The City Manager discussed diverting the city’s funds if this grant was obtained. Mayor Kuder discussed that these grants can take months and are highly competitive for these specialized grants. Council Member Fontanez stated that he looked into the company and their history with grant writing. He stated that it appears to be a great opportunity to work with them. A Motion was made by Council Member Jackson and seconded by Council Member Fontanez. to Approve A Resolution Approving An Agreement With Fehr Graham For CDBG Grant Services.
Ayes: Council Member Fontanez, Council Member Allen, Council Member Jackson, Mayor Kuder Nays: None
A majority of the Council voting aye, the motion carried.
City Manager Smith discussed the engineering agreement for the Motor Fuel Tax project. He explained that it is in the amount of $56,000.00 for construction engineering for sidewalk improvements to meet ADA ramp standards. This project was originally set to include roadway and sidewalk improvements, but the bid submitted by a sole bidder earlier this year was approximately $270,000 higher than that engineer’s estimate for the project. The scope is being revised to reduce the cost of the project and to also receive more competitive bids. He stated that this is intended to lower the cost in order to complete the project. A Motion was made by Council Member Allen and seconded by Council Member Jackson to Approve A Resolution Approving An Agreement with Gonzalez Companies, LLC. To Perform Design Engineering And Construction Engineering Services For Sidewalk Improvements For Portions of Sycamore Street, Pine Street, East 5th St., and East 7th St.
Ayes: Council Member Fontanez, Council Member Allen, Council Member Jackson, Mayor Kuder Nays: None
A majority of the Council voting aye, the motion carried.
OTHER BUSINESS
None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
REPORTS
Council Member Fontanez recognized Hispanic Heritage Month. He also thanked Gayla Harting for the wonderful free youth commission event held in Fairview Park for the community. Council Member Fontanez commended the Centralia High School Marching Band for their recent successes and especially their 1st place performance in Belleville. He discussed the upcoming football game on Friday at CHS. Council Member Fontanez asked Mr. Minor if this is the first project like this that he has been involved in and if there would be counseling that would come along with the housing. Mr. Minor stated that it would the first and it would be a Christian bible-based counseling facility but would help those individuals find the services that they need.
Council Member Allen also thanked Gayla Harting for her involvement with the Youth Commission and the successful event for the community. She also thanked everyone that participated and attended the Celebrate Centralia community event. She noted how well attended it was and the success of the event. She announced that the City will once again be hosting Out Boo Your Neighbor and offering trolley rides. She noted that tickets will be available with information on See Centralia.
Mayor Kuder recognized the Centralia High School Homecoming King, Kegan Willaims and Queen, Dallas Thompson. Mayor Kuder noted that the planning by Shirlena Barnes for the trunk or treat in Laura Leake Park. She stated that the planning is still underway and encouraged everyone to donate or attend.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Council Member Jackson to Adjourn The Meeting.
Ayes: Council Member Fontanez, Council Member Allen, Council Member Jackson, Mayor Kuder Nays: None
A majority of the Council voting aye, the motion carried, and the meeting was adjourned at 6:39 p.m.
https://cityofcentralia.org/vertical/sites/%7BFC680FE7-BE5C-4903-A103-67AF5EF51655%7D/uploads/10-_October_10_2023_.pdf
Alerts Sign-up