South Central Reporter

City of Assumption City Council met Sept. 4.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Bromwell Lodge by Mayor Derek Page who led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll call was answered by Alderpersons Gary Nelsen, Kim Porter, Selena Reed, Kandy Smith and Donny Walden. Also, present were Attorney Stephen Hedinger, Treasurer Angel Palmer and City Clerk Janet Waller.

Present in the audience were Engineer Ron Legner from Chastain’s & Associates, Marilyn Ashinhurst, Donna Ohl, Janis Herbord, Bill Herbord, Carol Eller, Loren Christian, Dana Owens and Engineer Mark Bingham from Bingham Professional Services.

Absent was Alderperson Travis Sullivan.

Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Nelsen, made a motion to approve the minutes of August 7, 2024 City Council Meeting. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Porter, Reed, Smith, and Walden voting aye and 0 nays. Sullivan was absent.

Approval of Bills:

Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Walden, made a motion to approve the payment of bills as they appear on Warrant Sheets. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Smith, Reed, Porter and Nelsen voting aye and 0 nays. Sullivan was absent.

Public Comments

The public would like the City to address an issue at an abandoned house due to cockroaches. The City will see what they can do to investigate the issue.

Communications from the Mayor:

School is in session, please watch out for the children.

In memory of 911, thank you to all the first responders.

Communications from the City Attorney:

Attorney Hedinger presented some provisions to deal with an issue with a camper and abandoned vehicles. Attorney Hedinger would like to know how the council wishes to proceed. Attorney Hedinger will put together a letter to be sent certified.

Communications from the Treasurer:

The Fire Department is serving at 1905 Brewing Company on Saturday, September 9, 2024 for donations.

The Assumption Fest is working on scheduling for the next Memorial Day weekend. Communications from the Alderpersons:

A question regarding if the holes were fixed from the Assumption Fest a couple of years ago at the skatepark.

Under New Business:

Engineer Ron Legner from Chastain & Associates gave an update. Bids will be opened September 12 and a Special Council Meeting will be held on September 17, 2024 for a motion to award a bid for the Water Treatment Plant.

Motion to approve invoice for Sanitary Sewer Project

Petersburg Pay Request $94,233.21

Chastain Pay Request $8,887.11

Total $103,120.32

Council Member Walden, seconded by Smith, made a motion to approve the Petersburg Pay request for $94,233.21 and Chastain pay request for $8,887.11 for a total of $103,120.32. Motion carried with Alderpersons Reed, Nelsen, Smith and Walden voting aye and Porter voting nay. Sullivan was absent.

Motion to approve invoice for Sanitary Sewer Project

Petersburg Pay Request $85,346.10

Chastain Pay Request $8,887.11

Total $94,233.21

Council Member Walden, seconded by Reed, made a motion to reconsider the vote to approve the Petersburg Pay request for $85,346.10 and Chastain pay request for $8,887.11 for a total of $94,233.21 due to the change in amounts. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Nelsen, Smith, Reed and Porter voting aye and 0 nays. Sullivan was absent.

Council Member Walden, seconded by Porter, made a motion to move as amended. Motion carried with Alderpersons Reed, Walden, Smith, Nelsen and Porter voting aye and 0 nays. Sullivan was absent.

Motion to approve invoice for Watermain Replacement Project

Petersburg Pay Request $53,136.76

Loan Disbursement $10,703.34

Total $63,840.10

Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Walden, made a motion to approve payment of a total of $63,840.10 for Petersburg Plumbing pay request of $53,136.76 and a loan disbursement of $10,703.34. Motion carried with Alderpersons Reed, Smith, Porter, Nelsen and Walden voting aye and 0 nays. Sullivan was absent.

Motion to approve Lead Service Project

Petersburg Pay Request $2,369.07

Loan Disbursement $0

Total $2,369.07

Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Smith, made the motion to approve a payment to Petersburg Plumbing pay request of $2,369.07 for a total of $2,369.07. Motion carried with Alderpersons Smith, Walden, Reed, Nelsen and Porter voting aye and 0 nays. Sullivan was absent.

A preliminary ordinance for the Mayor’s elected officials pay was presented. The Mayor’s salary would be increased from $750.00 a month to $1,000.00 effective May 7, 2025. Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Walden, made a motion to approve Ordinance 821 to increase Mayor’s salary to $1,000.00 effective May 7, 2025. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Reed, Smith, Nelsen and Porter voting aye and 0 nays. Sullivan was absent.

A preliminary ordinance for the City Clerk’s elected officials pay was presented. The City Clerk’s salary would be increased from $1,030.00 to $1,350.00 effective May 7, 2025. Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Reed, made a motion to approve Ordinance 822 to increase City Clerk’s salary to $1,350.00 effective May 7, 2025. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Reed, Smith and Walden voting aye and Porter voting nay. Sullivan was absent.

A preliminary ordinance for the Treasurer’s elected officials pay was presented. The Treasurer’s salary would be increased from $1,100.00 to $1,500.00 effective May 7, 2025. Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Smith, made the motion to approve Ordinance 823 to increase the Treasurer’s salary to $1,500.00 effective

May 7, 2025. Motion carried with Alderpersons Reed, Smith, Porter, Nelsen and Walden voting aye and 0 nays. Sullivan was absent.

A preliminary ordinance for the Alderperson’s elected official’s salary was presented. The Alderperson’s salary would be increased from $125.00 to $150.00. Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Porter, made a motion to approve Ordinance 824 to increase Alderperson’s salary to $150.00 effective May 7, 2025. Motion carried with Alderpersons Porter, Reed, Nelsen, Smith and Walden voting aye and 0 nays. Sullivan was absent.

A quote for $7,650 from Caleb Corzine for clean out and riprap of Little George. Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Reed, made a motion to approve $7,650.00 for clean out and riprap of Little George. If possible the City can try to do a section of Little George at a time in the future. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Reed, Smith, Nelsen, and Porter voting aye and 0 nays. Sullivan was absent.

The quote from At Your Service Repairs for a roof at City Hall will be $9,287.30. Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Reed, made a motion to approve a roof for $9,287.30 from At Your Service Repairs. Motion carried with Alderpersons Smith, Walden, Reed, Nelsen and Porter voting aye and 0 nays.

Engineer Mark Bingham gave an update on the Baxmeyer Subdivision. The storm sewer and watermains have been installed. The earthwork on the roadway has been started. SKS Engineers was asked to do an inspection of the planned pavement. They recommended a geotextile fabric be placed between the stone and the subgrade layer to improve the design performance of the pavement and minimize any impact from poor drainage in the underlying soil layers. Mark would like to decide if the council would like to move forward with the recommendation from SKS Engineers for an approximate cost of $85,410. The other option is to continue as planned with the compaction. The issue would be overtime moisture can make its way back into the subgrade potentially causing failures. Council Member Reed, seconded by Council Member Smith, made a motion to approve the $85,410 option for the Baxmeyer Subdivision Roadway which includes the geotextile fabric. Motion failed with Alderpersons Reed and Smith voting aye and Porter, Nelsen and Walden nay. Sullivan was absent.

Engineer Mark Bingham noted the City could go with option 1 with a disc to aerate and compact the subgrade soil to allow aggregate to be placed. Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Walden, made a motion to approve the Option 1 for the compaction of the soil as initially planned for the Baxmeyer Subdivision Roadway. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Smith, Walden, Porter and Reed voting aye and 0 nays. Sullivan was absent.

Engineer Mark Bingham informed the council there is an addition cost of $11,000 for the rock due to the Nokomis Quarry not being able to provide the rock at this time. Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Reed made a motion to approve the additional cost of $11,000 for rock for the Baxmeyer Subdivision Roadway. Motion carried with Alderpersons Reed, Smith, Porter, Nelsen and Walden voting aye and 0 nays. Sullivan was absent.

The budget for the subdivision was discussed and Engineer Mark Bingham will put together an overview of the subdivision. The TIF fund was discussed and also the need for housing.

A payment request for Holthaus Beyers Drainage, LLC is $118,153.80 for the Baxmeyer Subdivision. Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Reed, made a motion to approve the pay request for Holthaus Beyers Drainage, LLC for $118,153.80 for the Baxmeyer Subdivision. Motion carried with Alderpersons Walden, Reed, Smith, Nelsen and Porter voting aye and 0 nays. Sullivan was absent.

Mayor Page asked to go into Executive Session for Personnel 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1). Council Member Walden, seconded by Council Member Nelsen, made a motion to go into Executive Session for Personnel at 8:16 pm. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Reed, Porter, Smith, and Walden voting aye and 0 nays. Sullivan was absent.

Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Walden, made a motion to go back into regular session at 9:07 pm. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Porter, Reed, Smith and Walden voting aye and 0 nays. Sullivan was absent.

No action taken.

The council would like information prior to the council meeting before having to vote on a motion.

The council discussed the look of the town is not clean and certain situations could make our town look poor or dirty. We also need to consider on where we are spending money and still take care of our residents.

The council also discussed the junk vehicles and abandoned properties need to be addressed along with following ordinances. Attorney Hedinger will compile information to help address the issue.

Public Comments:

The public commented on the subdivision should be financed by a developer and not the City.

Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Council Member Walden, made a motion to adjourn at 9:19 pm. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Porter, Reed, Smith, Sullivan and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.

Council Member Nelsen, seconded by Walden, made a motion to approve the September 7, 2024 City Council Meeting minutes. Motion carried with Alderpersons Nelsen, Porter, Reed, Smith, Sullivan and Walden voting aye and 0 nays.

https://cityofassumption.org/documents/397/9-_September_2024.doc.pdf