South Central Reporter

City of Centralia City Council met Nov. 12.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The City Council for Centralia, Illinois met on Tuesday November 12, 2024, 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 Castellari; Council Member Fontanez, Council Member Allen, and Council Member Jackson

Absent: None

Staff Members Present: William Smith, City Manager; Andrew Thomson, City Attorney; Chief Christopher Locke, Police Department; Jeremy Henderson, Finance Director; Gayla Harting, Community Development Director; Jeff Schwartz, Public Works Director; Chief Jeff Day, Fire Department; Derek Sherman, Economic Development Director; Bill Agee, Treasurer; and Kim Enke, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk

PRAYER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mayor Kuder led the Pledge of Allegiance and Council Member Fontanez led the prayer.

AMENDMENTS AND/OR ADDITIONS TO AGENDA

None

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Louis Kalert addressed the City Council to request that some roadways be repaired including Poplar from Green Street to Calumet and 4th St. and 7th St. near Murray Center which is in poor condition. He noted the poor drainage in addition to the road having additional traffic when the 161 bridge was closed that rerouted some traffic to the area.

CONSENT AGENDA

A Motion was made by Council Member Fontanez and seconded by Council Member Allen to Approve Items 1-4 of the Consent Agenda.

1. Approval Of The Minutes Of The October 28, 2024 City Council Meeting

2. Approval Of Payrolls And Vouchers In The Amount Of $2,501,878.84

3. A Resolution Approving A Request By The Downtown Christmas Stroll Committee For Use Of City Owned Property During An Event of December 6, 2024

4. An Ordinance Waiving The Application Of Section 20-125(B)(2) Of The Centralia Municipal Code And Approving A Request By The Salem High School Bass Fishing Team To Use Raccoon Lake on April 19th and 27th, 2025

Ayes: Council Member Castellari, Council Member Fontanez, Council Member Allen, Council Member Jackson, and Mayor Kuder

Nays: None

A majority of the Council voting aye, the motion carried.

REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS

None

BIDS

None

ORDINANCES

None

RESOLUTIONS

City Manager Smith discussed the recent insurance request for proposal explaining that there were multiple proposals received with the lowest bid received for all coverage being from the current local insurance provider, Dimond Bros., LLC using ICRMT for liability and IPRF for Workers Compensation. He stated that Dimond Bros., LLC has continued to provide excellent service as well as ICRMT for all coverage. Prior contracts included ICRMT as the workers compensation provider, but the most beneficial proposal came from IPRF who is one of the largest self insured risk pool that serves numerous governmental agencies. He added that two options were provided from IPRF for workers compensation proposals, one proposal included no deductible while the other included a $50,000 deductible per occurrence. While the deductible is less expensive upfront, due to the number of claims each year historically, the $50,000 deductible option would be less cost effective. In addition to the coverage, the no deductible program also offers a $10,652 safety grant with the proposal that can be used to possibly purchase tasers for the Police Department. Coverage will be from December 1, 2024 thru December 1, 2025. A Motion was made by Council Member Fontanez and seconded by Council Member Castellari to Approve A Resolution Approving A Proposal From Illinois Counties Risk Management (ICRMT) For Liability Insurance and Illinois Public Risk Fund (IPRF) For Workers’ Compensation.

Ayes: Council Member Castellari, Council Member Fontanez, Council Member Allen, Council Member Jackson, and Mayor Kuder

Nays: None

A majority of the Council voting aye, the motion carried.

City Manager Smith explained that an amended development agreement with Meadow Woods Holdings, LLC was approved on August 22, 2022. The agreement stipulated a maximum property tax rebate up to $5,750,000.00. Tax increment taxes paid for tax year 2023, with a tax rate of 8.59671 percent totals $341,094.26 for TIF #6. Less the base year increment, the 80 percent distribution totals $266,286.70 for property taxes paid from tax year 2023. He noted that this distribution is based upon the tax information for parcel 14-09-000-069 and 14-09-000-068 received from the supervisor of assessments. The sales tax rebate is .8 percent of the 1 percent sales tax collected and received by the City of the retail price of goods sold by Meadow Woods Holdings LLC that are taxable. The timeframe for the rebate is for the life of the TIF or any further extensions with a current expected expiration of 2031. The distribution totals $6,917.76 for sales tax. He added that the agreement also includes the developer receiving a rebate of 50 percent of the 2.5 percent of lodging taxes paid to the City. With the lodging portion of the development not complete and no payments being made to the City, there is not a rebate included in this disbursement at this time. He reported that this is the 2nd distribution under the development agreement for a total distribution of $552,694.64 to date. A Motion was made by Council Member Jackson and seconded by Council Member Allen to Approve A Resolution Approving the Disbursement of Funding per Development Agreement from the Tax Increment Finance District #6 (Raccoon Lake TIF) to Meadow Woods Holdings LLC in the Amount of $273,204.46.

Ayes: Council Member Castellari, Council Member Fontanez, Council Member Allen, Council Member Jackson, and Mayor Kuder

Nays: None

A majority of the Council voting aye, the motion carried.

City Manager Smith discussed the approved development agreement with the Villas at Centralia Heritage Woods, L.P. from March 19, 2007, which stipulated disbursement of 75 percent of the incremental taxes on their assisted living development in TIF #6. Marion County officials have documented an increment of $243,280 and a base of $753 for their 2023 payable 2024 tax bill, with a tax rate of 8.59671 percent to total $20,849.34 for TIF #6. The 75 percent distribution totals $15,637.01. This distribution is based upon the tax information for parcel 14-16-400-031 received from the supervisor of assessments. He stated that this is the 13th distribution under the development agreement for a total amount of $285,319.02 reimbursed to The Villas at Centralia Heritage Woods. The maximum amount to be reimbursed per the development agreement is $350,000. A Motion was made by Council Member Allen and seconded by Council Member Castellari to Approve A Resolution Approving the Disbursement of Funding per Development Agreement from the Tax Increment Finance District #6 (Raccoon Lake TIF) to The Villas at Centralia Heritage Woods, L.P. in the Amount of $15,637.01.

Ayes: Council Member Castellari, Council Member Fontanez, Council Member Allen, Council Member Jackson, and Mayor Kuder

Nays: None

A majority of the Council voting aye, the motion carried.

City Manager Smith reviewed the Highway Authority Agreement that the City approved as a Highway Authority Agreement (HAA) for Ameren's 500 South Hickory Street property in April 2023. He explained that Ameren submitted the HAA to Illinois EPA and the Illinois EPA requested minor, non-substantive edits to the HAA. The HAA has been revised per Illinois EPA comments and resubmitted to the City for signature. The revised HAA will replace the HAA signed in April 2023. He explained that Ameren Illinois is the owner of 500 S. Hickory which historically was the site of a coal gasification plant and their transmission equipment. Ameren dating back to 2010 cleaned up this site with removal of soil over the entire site to remove contaminants. A Motion was made by Council Member Fontanez and seconded by Council Member Jackson to Approve A Resolution Approving A Highway Authority Agreement (HAA) With The Ameren Illinois For Corrective Action Within City Right Of Way Located At 500 S. Hickory.

Ayes: Council Member Castellari, Council Member Fontanez, Council Member Allen, Council Member Jackson, and Mayor Kuder

Nays: None

A majority of the Council voting aye, the motion carried.

OTHER BUSINESS

None

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None

REPORTS

City Clerk Enke announced that a budget work session will be held on November 25th prior to the next regular meeting at 5:30p.m. and a public hearing will be also held at 5:30 p.m. prior to the December 2nd meeting.

Gayla Harting announced the food drive challenge with the Centralia Youth Commission and Gaetti Sports Academy to collect food for the community.

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made to Adjourn The Meeting To Closed Session Under 5ILCS 120/2(C)(1) The Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Discipline, Performance, Or Dismissal Of Specific Employees, Specific Individuals Who Serve As Independent Contractors In A Park, Recreational, Or Educational Setting, Or Specific Volunteers Of The Public Body Or Legal Counsel For The Public Body, Including Hearing Testimony On A Complaint Lodged Against An Employee, A Specific Individual Who Serves As An Independent Contractor In A Park, Recreational, Or Educational Setting, Or A Volunteer Of The Public Body Or Against Legal Counsel For The Public Body To Determine Its Validity and Under 5ILCS 120/2(C)(21), For The Semi Annual Review Of The Minutes Of The Meetings Lawfully Closed.

Ayes: Council Member Castellari, Council Member Fontanez, Council Member Allen, Council Member Jackson, and Mayor Kuder

Nays: None

A majority of the Council voting aye, the motion carried, and the meeting was adjourned at 6:18 p.m. .

https://www.cityofcentralia.org/media/6786