A regular meeting of the Canton City Council was held on July 17, 2007 in council chambers at 50 North 4th Avenue, Canton, Illinois.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OPENED THE MEETING, FOLLOWED BY THE INVOCATION GIVEN BY NANCY WHITES, CITY CLERK.
Mayor Heinze asked for roll call at 6:30 p.m. Present – Aldermen Eric Schenck, Joe Berardi, Larry Sarff, Craig West, Jason Strandberg, Sonya Lewis. Absent – Alderman Kevin Meade. Alderman Carl resigned due to health reasons.
Others present – Mayor Rodney W. Heinze, City Clerk Nancy Whites, City Treasurer Kathy Luker, City Attorney Chrissie Peterson, Police Chief Jeff Fritz, Fire Chief Bonnie Cremer, Public Works Director Cliff O’Brien, Wastewater Treatment Supt. Joe Carruthers, Water Treatment Supt. Greg Pollitt, Street Supt., George Spahn, System Maintenance Bill Terry, Joe Ginger Video Services. Others in the audience was news media of Democrat Wendy Martin, Journal Star Jenny Freeman, WBYS Mark Bixler, Daily Ledger Linda Woods, James Elson Jr. attorney, Jim & Michelle Campbell, John & Pat Stanko, Terry Cremer, Kayma Duncan, and the firefighters.
BILLS. Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/West, all bills properly presented are approved for payment. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Lewis, Strandberg, West, Sarff, Berardi, Schenck. NAYS – None. 6 AYES, 0 NAYS, 2 ABSENT. Motion carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT. Kathy Luker reported that the revenues were over the expenses by $62,062.67.
Motion and second by Aldermen West/Sarff, to accept the Treasurer’s Report and placed on file; and, approve the Budget Transfer from the Health Account-Premiums-Self Insured to Water Administration Interest Expense of 2005 Alternate Bond in the amount of $610,000, due to missed interest payment being budgeted for 2007-2008. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Berardi, Sarff, West, Strandberg, Lewis. NAYS – None. 6 AYES, 0 NAYS, 2 ABSENT. Motion carried.
BUDGET REPORT. Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/Strandberg, to place on file. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous.
MINUTES OF JULY 3, 2007 COUNCIL. Motion and second by Aldermen West/Lewis, the Council meeting minutes of July 3, 2007 be accepted and placed on file. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous.
MINUTES OF JULY 10, 2007 RECESSED COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 3, 2007. Motion and second by Aldermen Lewis/West, the minutes of July 10, 2007 recessed Council meeting be accepted and placed on file. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous.
MINUTES OF JULY 10, 2007 CLERICAL COMMITTEE MEETING. Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/West, the minutes of July 10th, 2007 Clerical committee be accepted and placed on file. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Finance.
Council Action
GreenwoodCemetery Proposed Budget. Kathy Luker city treasurer ask for the approval of the GreenwoodCemeteryproposed budget. Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/Strandberg, the Greenwood Cemetery Proposed Budget be accepted. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Lewis, Strandberg, West, Sarff, Berardi, Schenck. NAYS – None. 6 AYES, 0 NAYS, 2 ABSENT. Motion carried.
Leander Construction for Payment #12 of Kilroy Pumping Station in the amount of $61,117.94. Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/West, to approve the pay estimate #12 from Leander Construction for the Kilroy Pumping Station in the amount of $61,117.94 and approved by city engineer Keith Plavec. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Berardi, Sarff, West, Strandberg, Lewis. NAYS – None. 6 AYES, 0 NAYS, 2 ABSENT. Motion carried.
Layne Christensen Company Phase III Ranney Collector Well Study for payment of $59,640.00. Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/Strandberg, to accept the payment of $59,640.00 from Layne Christensen Company for Phase III of the Ranney Collector Well Study. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Lewis, Strandberg, West, Sarff, Berardi, Schenck. NAYS – None. 6 AYES, 0 NAYS 2 ABSENT. Motion carried.
Automatic External Defibrillator Purchase for fire department in the amount of $2,930.45. Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/Strandberg, to approve one (1) Life Pak 1000 automatic external defibrillator from Medtronic at a cost of $2,930.45. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Berardi, Sarff, West, Strandberg, Lewis. NAYS – None. 6 AYES, 0 NAYS, 2 ABSENT. Motion carried.
Legal & Ordinance.
Council Action
Ray Rumler/Jeff Williamson property. Motion and second by Aldermen West/Sarff, accept the counter offer of $3,500 for the City’s lien and forgive $414.00 water & sewer bill. Discussion. Motion and second by Aldermen Schenck/Berardi, to amend the original motion and propose $1,000 and wave the $414 for water & sewer bill, with development agreement of building something within three years. Discussion. Alderman Strandberg commented that a year ago had to tear down the property because it was a health reason. The cost for the city was around $8,000. The taxes on the property have not been paid since 2001. That is another $8,000 to $10,000 to bring those taxes up to date. This was a very good step for the city to take, but was also costly to take down the nuisance. It’s very important for development and progress as we are doing everything we can. This is the best thing for the neighborhood. And the City gets this back to an area that’s developed and on the tax base. This is a great opportunity for the City. If someone else would come in with the title we could do the same for them. I like very much going with $1,000 for the City’s lien. City Attorney Chrissie Peterson asked for clarification and said, if we were to write this development agreement, if residential development were not to occur in three years, is the council expecting the contractual remedy against the Campbell’s for the full amount of the development agreement on the lien? Alderman Schenck answered, his proposal was contingent upon that development agreement for some type of residential development. James Elson the attorney for the Campbell’s mentioned they were comfortable with this amendment. And if someone comes forth with an idea, you can listen to them. Mayor Heinze said, Alderman Schenck’s amendment was for the Campbell’s. James Elson mentioned the fees out of pocket are the back taxes of $10,000, plus my expenses, and the court fees. Will come back when we have the development agreement and the three years would begin then.
Roll call (on the amended motion of $1,000, waive the $414.00 water & sewer bill, and a development agreement of something built within three years.) AYES – Aldermen Lewis, Strandberg, West, Sarff, Berardi, Schenck. NAYS – None. 6 AYES, 0 NAYS, 2 ABSENT. Motion carried.
Roll call (on the main motion as amended.) AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Berardi, Sarff, West, Strandberg, Lewis. NAYS – None. 6 AYES, 0 NAYS, 2 ABSENT. Motion carried.
Community & Industrial Development.
Council Action
None.
Negotiations, Grievance & Personnel.
Council Action
None.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR HEINZE.
Appointment of Brownfield Redevelopment Advisory Committee. Mayor Heinze mentioned this committee has been inactive in the past. Motion and second by Aldermen West/Strandberg the appointments be confirmed of
Rod Heinze, Mayor of Canton
Chrissie Peterson, City Attorney
Mark Rothert, SpoonRiver Partnership for Economic Development
Jeff Fritz, Police Chief
Rick Klinedinst, MidAmerica National Bank
Don Heller, YMCA
Jeff Strode, Wells Fargo Bank
Kevin Meade, Alderman
Jason Strandberg, Alderman
Bonnie Cremer, Fire Chief
Rex Still, Fulton County Health Department
Anthony Rolando, Il Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
Craig Zilly, Chamber of Commerce
Rev. MichaelBrooks, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
Voice vote, the motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Heinze asked for former fire chief John Stanko to come forward. Mayor Heinze said to John, you have been on the Canton Fire Department for 32 years. I remember the day you came to work. Appreciate everything you have done as a fire fighter, as you have done a great job! As a Lieutenant, superior job, no question about it! As a Fire Chief, excellent job! This award (plaque) is a small token of our appreciation. Thank you John! Mayor Heinze presented John with a plaque and everyone in the room gave him a standing ovation. John said I thank my wife and family because there were a lot of interrupted meals and interrupted sleep over the 32 years, not just while I was fire chief. It’s fitting that I started under the mayor as my supervisory Lieutenant and ended under him as my boss.
Oath of Office Fire Chief. Mayor Heinze asked for Bonnie Cremer to come forward with her husband Terry Cremer. City Clerk Nancy Whites gave the oath of office to Bonnie Cremer as Fire Chief.
Mayor Heinze asked for John Stanko to pin on her collar the buglar. When you receive the first promotion of full service you receive a bugler on the collar. Assistant Chief receives 3 buglers (we call them by both names of trumpet an bugler.) and the Fire Chief receives 5 buglers on the collar. Then Terry Cremer pinned the fire chief’s badge on his wife Bonnie’s jacket.
Bonnie addressed the council – I thank Mayor Rod Heinze and Canton City Council for this opportunity and your support. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to serve the citizens of Canton as Fire Chief. For those of you who don’t know him I would like to introduce my husband of 32 years, retired Police Lieutenant Terry Cremer. Terry, I would like to publicly thank you for your love and support, and especially your patience throughout the years. Chief Stanko, congratulations on your retirement. I hope you allow yourself time to enjoy your retirement. I sincerely cherish the years working with you. I am very proud being associated with the Canton Fire Department and serving the citizens of Canton. I’m especially proud of being promoted from within the ranks of the Canton Fire Department. With my promotion an opportunity for others in the ranks of the Canton Fire Department members is provided. Lieutenant Tom Shubert is moving up to the position of Assistant Fire Chief, being in the department 13 ½ years. Tom is the training officer for the department. He has been very active in the Technical Rescue Team. Shubert’s promotion provides fire fighter Tony Plumer the opportunity of being promoted to the position of Lieutenant. Tony has been with the Canton Fire Department 10 ½ years. He is the leader of the Hazardous Material Team. He is also on the Technical Rescue Team and has served on the apparatus team. Shubert and Plumer’s promotions were affective on July 16, 2007. The Canton Fire Department has very dedicated people that I am proud to work with. I look forward working with you through the challenges that face us. Thank You!
Mayor Heinze thanked the fire fighters for coming and supporting Bonnie.
OLD BUSINESS:
None.
NEW BUSINESS:
None.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – NEGOTIATIONS, GRIEVANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS – LABOR NEGOTIATIONS WITH PUBLIC WORKS.
Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/Schenck, to go into executive session to discuss negotiations with public works. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous.
The regular scheduled council meeting convened for executive session at 6:55 p.m.
The regular scheduled council meeting reconvened into open session at 8:12 p.m.
There was no discussion held in open session.
Adjournment. Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/Schenck, to adjourn. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous. The regular scheduled council meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.
______,
Nancy Whites, City Clerk
APPROVED:
______,
Rodney W. Heinze, Mayor
1