South Central Reporter

City of Litchfield City Council met June 5.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Jake Fleming called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Present on roll call were Alderperson Marilyn Sisson, Sara Zumwalt, Robbin Huffman, Bob Garcia, Bert Holloway, and Ray Kellenberger. The mayor declared that a quorum was present.

Others Present: Breann Vazquez, City Administrator, Vickie Throne, City Clerk, Michael McGinley, City Attorney

Absent: Alderperson Dwayne Gerl and Josh Hughes

Mayor's Report:

Mayor Fleming noted that he is happy to report that there we were approved for some Kilton funds that will allow us to put in two new pickle ball courts at Madison Park. Mayor Fleming reported that this is 100% grant funded.

Mayor Fleming reported that this is the first meeting that we shared our council packet online to the public and he received positive feedback from the community. He plans to continue to share these packets for every meeting.

Mayor Fleming reported that the City brush pick up week was completed. Mayor Fleming spoke with Dave Crocks head of the street department and Dave reported all things ran smoothly and all wards were completed as scheduled. Mayor Fleming thanked Dave and the entire street department for their hard work.

Mayor Fleming reminded everyone that the 2nd Picker's Market of the season is Sunday June 8th, Last month's market was a great success and the weather was perfect.

Mayor Fleming reported that the County signed the Animal Control contract. City Administrator Vazquez reported that the County has hired, and Animal Control Officer and they plan to start providing services Mid-June. The City will provide a press release once everything is in place and ready to begin.

Public Participation

Mayor Fleming reported that a citizen wrote a letter to Alderman Hughes expressing concerns and asked that the letter be read aloud at the meeting. Alderman Hughes was not in attendance so Vickie Throne, City Clerk read the letter allowed on behalf of the citizen. The letter stated that the citizens have lived at their residence for 30 years and for the past 15 years they have been asking the city for help with getting their neighbors to clean up their yard. City Administrator Breann Vazquez stated that Shane Grammar who is our new Code Enforcement Officer is working to address this case with the property owners. Mr. Baker has also addressed this case in the past. Ms. Vazquez stated that we will continue to enforce all properties throughout the City as well as this specific case. We are extremely excited to have a full-time Code Enforcement officer so that we can make sure we have ample time to keep up with code cases and to make sure that everyone is complying. It is important to protect all property owners and to let them know that the City takes this seriously. Officer Grammar will be starting as the full-time Code Enforcement Officer at the beginning of July. Until then we will be enforcing this through the Building and Zoning office.

Appointments:

None

Other Business:

Alderperson Garcia made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Sisson, to approve minutes from the special and regular meetings held on May 15, 2025.

The Mayor directed a roll call vote.

Aye: Holloway, Zumwalt, Garcia, Huffman, Kellenberger, Sisson

Nay: None.

Absent: Hughes, Gerl

Motion carried.

Alderperson Zumwalt made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Garcia, to approve the regular meeting minutes for April 3, 2025, as amended to correct scriveners' errors on appointments to committees.

The Mayor directed a roll call vote.

Aye: Garcia, Sisson, Zumwalt, Huffman, Kellenberger, Holloway

Nay: None.

Absent: Hughes, Gerl

Motion carried.

Alderperson Zmwalt made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Garcia to accept the amended meeting dates for the City Council for 2025 to correct a scriveners' error and reflect a regular meeting on Tuesday July 1, 2025.

The Mayor directed a roll call vote.

Aye: Sisson, Zumwalt, Huffman, Garcia, Holloway, Kellenberger

Nay: None.

Absent: Hughes, Gerl

Motion carried.

Alderperson Garcia mad a motion, seconded by Alderperson Holloway to approve the expenditure report and payroll report for the current period.

The Mayor directed a roll call vote.

Aye: Zumwalt, Kellenberger, Sisson, Huffman, Garcia, Holloway

Nay: None.

Absent: Hughes, Gerl

Motion carried.

Mayor Fleming reported that the City has received a response to the City's request for proposals for the sale & development of City owned & optioned property. City Attorney Michael McGinley reported that the City sent out a request for proposals and as of tonight we have only received one. Attorney McGinley opened the sealed envelope and reported that there are two copies of a proposal -- one original and one copy along with a jump drive from National Primers, LLC. The proposal states that National Primers, LLC submits a proposal with the intent to build a State-of-the-Art Ammunition primer manufacturing facility. The capital investment would be approximately $57,000,000.00 and would create 85 full time jobs with first wave of construction. The long-term plan calls for two buildings. The first building would be a manufacturing facility, and the second building would be for research and development. The company hopes to break ground sometime in October 2025 and have the first plant operational within 24 months. The company reported that there is a need because of a worldwide shortage of primers and lab space. The company noted that their facility would be the second largest of its kind in the country. With phase two of the project, the company would employee an additional 70 to 150 people. It is anticipated that the expansion will occur as early as their 5th year of production. National Primers is prepared to purchase 200 acres of land in the West Side industrial park near the State Police headquarters. They will purchase the land at a cost of $2,500.00 per acre. National Primers is requesting Enterprise Zone status allowing for 100% property tax abatement for 5 years followed by 5 years at 50% abatement as well as Enterprise Zone and sales tax exemption for purchase of building materials an equipment purchased.

Old Business:

None.

New Business:

Building & Grounds

Alderperson Kellenberger made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Zumwalt to approve emergency repair for the Carnegie Building roof from Young's Roofing for an amount not to exceed $38,060.00.

Discussion: Alderperson Holloway did ask how it is determined if a job must be put out for a bid. If it is deemed an emergency, does that determine that it does not have to be put out for a bid? City Administrator Vazquez reported that emergency situations that circumvent normal bidding procedures are addressed in state statutes and in our code. This fell within the emergency guidelines because the damage was due to a natural disaster and leaving it sit without repair would cause more damage and increase the cost of repairs. The next question Alderperson Hollway asked was how the company was selected. City Administrator Vazquez stated that Young's Roofing is the company that installed the original roof and since they are still in business Gary Baker reached out to them because they had all the information from the original roof replacement. Alderperson Garcia asked if there was any type of waiver needed in this situation and City Administrator Vazquez reported that there is not currently a waiver process and it all goes through the insurance company. City Attorney Michael McGinley reported that the process that we go through is we are getting that waiver through council tonight. The threshold is do we have to do the repair to prevent the damage from doing more harm by letting it sit while waiting on bids. By bringing this to the council tonight and asking for approval it makes this public and explains the need for the emergency repair. City Administrator Vazquez reported that we also had our insurance evaluator weigh in on if this should be deemed as an emergency repair and whether they felt it to be an emergency repair.

The Mayor directed a roll call vote.

Aye: Holloway, Zumwalt, Huffman, Sisson, Garcia, Kellenberger Nay: None.

Absent: Hughes, Gerl

Motion carried.

Building & Zoning

Alderperson Zumwalt made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Sisson to approve an Ordinance authorizing the execution of real estate contract to sell 901 S. McKinley Ave., PIN # 15-04- 0428-015 to Jared and Kristin Lilley.

The Mayor directed a roll call vote.

Aye: Sisson, Zumwalt, Huffman, Holloway, Garcia, Kellenberger

Nay: None.

Absent: Hughes, Gerl

Motion carried.

Alderperson Zumwalt made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Sisson to approve and

Ordinance authorizing the execution of a real estate contract to sell 401. N. Madison, PIN #15- 04-279-011 to Jared and Kristin Lilley.

The Mayor directed a roll call vote.

Aye: Garcia, Kellenberger, Zumwalt, Huffman, Holloway, Sisson

Nay: None.

Absent: Hughes, Gerl

Motion carried.

Alderperson Zumwalt made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Huffman to approve a resolution approving and authorizing a demolition agreement for the demolition of 417 S. Harrison.

The Mayor directed a roll call vote.

Aye: Holloway, Zumwalt, Hughes, Garcia, Huffman, Kellenberger, Sisson

Nay: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried

Fire Department

Alderperson Sisson made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Kellenberger to approve a resolution authorizing the enrollment of three students in the School of EMS Paramedic Program for an amount not to exceed $26,250.00 and authorizing reimbursement agreements for each of the three students.

The Mayor directed a roll call vote.

Aye: Sisson, Zumwalt, Huffman, Holloway, Garcia, Kellenberger

Nay: None.

Absent: Hughes, Gerl

Motion carried

Alderperson Sisson made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Kellenberger to approve a resolution waiving competitive bidding requirements and approving authorizing the repair of a ladder truck by Mac's Fire and Safety for an amount not to exceed $36,789.79.

Discussion: Alderperson asked how it was determined that the City would purchase the part from Mac's Fire and Safety. Fire Chief Pennock reported that Mac's Fire and Safety is the only one who provide the part. Mac's Fire and Safety could sell the part to a third party, and we could purchase it from that third party, but it would in turn cost the city more money.

The Mayor directed a roll call vote.

Aye: Holloway, Zumwalt, Huffman, Sission, Garcia, Kellenberger

Nay: None.

Absent: Hughes, Gerl

Motion carried

Street Department

Alderperson Zumwalt made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Garcia to approve a resolution approving an agreement with the State of Illinois Department of Transportation for Rail- Highway Grade Crossing Surface improvements.

The Mayor directed a roll call vote.

Aye: Zumwalt, Sisson, Huffman, Garcia, Kellenberger, Holloway

Nay: None.

Absent: Hughes, Gerl

Motion carried

Alderperson Zumwalt made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Sisson to approve an emergency repair on a 2020 Freightliner Vac-Con Sewer Jetter-Vac Truck from EJ Equipment, Inc.

The Mayor directed a roll call vote.

Aye: Holloway, Zumwalt, Garcia, Huffman, Kellenberger, Sisson

Nay: None.

Absent: Hughes, Gerl

Motion carried

Administration

Alderperson Holloway made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Garcia to approve Memorandums of Understanding with the Laborers' International Union of North America, Laborers' Local 773, the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council, and the Litchfield Fire Fighters Local #3252 to amend the residency requirements for bargaining unit members.

Discussion: Ms. Vazquez read a letter she received from Alderperson Hughes who was unable to attend the meeting tonight due to a prescheduled trip. Before she reads the statement, she wanted to acknowledge Alderpersons Hughes work on this issue and thanked him for all his hard work. Alderperson Hughes stated in his letter that this has his full support. He believes that his will not only increase our city workforce, but it will allow us to tackle more projects and in time it will help to increase the city population. Alderperson Hughes encourages everyone to vote for this and believes all around it will be good for our city. Alderperson Gerl was also unable to attend the meeting tonight but asked Ms. Vazquez to note that he is in full support of this as well. Mayor Fleming reported that he as well is in support of this. He reported that many other cities have already moved this direction, and we are just now catching up. He stated that one of our biggest assets to our city is the staff. There has been a lot of staffing issues, and he hopes this will help resolve them.

The Mayor directed a roll call vote.

Aye: Garcia, Sisson, Zumwalt, Huffman, Kellenberger, Holloway

Nay: None.

Absent: Hughes, Gerl

Motion carried

Alderperson Holloway made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Garcia to approve an ordinance amending Section 32.02 Residency Requirements of the Municipal Code to amend residency requirements for non-bargaining employees.

The Mayor directed a roll call vote.

Aye: Zumwalt, Sisson, Huffman, Garcia, Kellenberger, Holloway

Nay: None.

Absent: Hughes, Gerl

Motion carried

Building & Zoning

Alderperson Zumwalt made a motion, seconded by Huffman to approve award of a bid to Durbin Excavating for the demolition, debris removal, and necessary backfill of three vacant residential structures for an amount not to exceed $16,620.00.

The Mayor directed a roll call vote.

Aye: Zumwalt, Sisson, Huffman, Garcia, Kellenberger, Holloway

Nay: None.

Absent: Hughes, Gerl

Motion carried

Executive Session

Alderperson Zumwalt made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Garcia enter into Executive Session, as allowed under the Illinois Open Meeting Act, as found in Chapter 5 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes, section 120, to address these certain and restricted items:

1. "The setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body. (5ILCS 120/2(2)(6)

2. "The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees..." (5ILCS 120/2(2)(C)(1)

3. "The purchase or lease of real property for the se of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired." (5ILCS 120/2(2)(5)

4, "Discussion of minutes of meeting lawfully closed under this Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by the Section 2.06.” (5ILCS 120/2(2)(C)(21)

The Mayor directed a roll call vote to enter executive session at 6:56 p.m.

Aye: Huffman, Zumwalt, Kellenberger, Sisson, Garcia, Holloway

Nay: None.

Absent: Hughes, Gerl

Motion carried.

New Business:

Alderperson Zumwalt made a motion, seconded by Huffman to approve the Executive Session minutes from May 15, 2025.

The Mayor directed a roll call vote.

Aye: Sisson, Zumwalt, Huffman, Garcia, Kellenberger

Nay: None.

Absent: Hughes, Gerl

Motion carried

Having no further business Alderperson Kellenberger made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Sisson to adjourn the meeting at 7:53 p.m.

The Mayor directed a voice vote.

Aye: Hughes, Zumwalt, Holloway, Kellenberger, Garcia, Huffman, Gerl, Sisson

Nay: None.

Absent: Hughes, Gerl

Motion carried.

https://www.cityoflitchfieldil.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_06052025-405