A regular meeting of the Canton City Council was held on January 15, 2008 in Council Chambers,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, David Nidiffer, Kevin Meade, Jason Strandberg, Sonya Lewis.
Others in attendance: 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, Water Treatment Supt - Greg Pollitt, Street Supt. George Spahn, Keith Plavec of Maurer-Stutz Inc. and Zoning Officer. In the audience SRPED Mark Rothert, Pete Livers, Video Services by Joe Ginger, Kayma Duncan Vice President of AfSCME, COUNCIL 31, news media of Daily Ledger – John Froehling, WBYS – Mark Bixler, Journal Star Matt, The Democrat Denise Bankes, representative from Leander Construction, city employee David Howell and wife Tina Howell.
MINUTES OF JANUARY 2, 2008 COUNCIL MEETING. Motion and second by Aldermen West/Sarff, the minutes of January 2, 2008 be accepted and placed on file. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous.
MINUTES OF JANUARY 8TH, 2008 CLERICAL COMMITTEEMEETING. Alderman Sarff and Alderman West said they did not receive a copy of the minutes. The minutes were held over until next council meeting.
BILLS. Motion and second by Aldermen Meade/West, the bills properly approved be paid. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Lewis, Strandberg, Meade, Nidiffer, West, Sarff, Berardi, Schenck. NAYS – None. 8 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSENT. Motion carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT. City Treasurer Kathy Luker mentioned the City is in excellent shape financially. Will be closing out the former HCH Health Care this month.
Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/Meade, to accept the Treasurer’s Report. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous.
Council meeting January 15, 2008
BUDGET REPORT. City Treasurer Kathy Luker mentioned the year to date revenues are higher than year to date expenditures by $187.982.82 in the General Fund. The General Fund revenues are 68.3% over the YTD average for 8 months of 67.0%. The General Fund expenditures are 63.5%, down 3.5% below the YTD average for 8 months of 67.0%.
Thanks to all the Department Heads and their employees in both the General Fund and Water/Sewer fund for keeping these percentages on target with their budgets. Also, thank you to the City Council for their input an guidance.
Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/West, to accept the Treasurer’s Report. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Finance.
Council Action
Annual Ladder Testing. Motion and second by Aldermen Meade/Schenck, approve AmericanTestCenter to perform the annual testing for the ground and aerial ladders in the amount of $1,455, which includes $500 per Aerial Apparatus and thirteen ground ladders at $35 each. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Berardi, Sarff, West, Nidiffer, Meade, Strandberg, Lewis. NAYS – None. 8 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSENT. Motion carried.
GreenwoodCemetery 3rd payment of $10,000. Motion and second by Aldermen Meade/Nidiffer, to approve of the request from Greenwood Cemetery for the fiscal year 2007-2008 of $10,000. City Treasurer Kathy Luker said the total amount we will pay to Greenwood for this fiscal year is $60,000. Discussion. Mayor Heinze mentioned the Board does a terrific job, especially with the amount of money they have to work with. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Lewis, Strandberg, Meade, Nidiffer, West, Sarff, Berardi, Schenck. NAYS – None. 8 AYES, 0 NAYS. 0 ABSENT. Motion carried.
Council meeting January 15, 2008
Chapman/Cutler Regarding Arbitrage Rebate. Motion and second by Aldermen Meade/West, approval of Chapman & Culter calculating the City’s Arbitrage Rebate for the years 10-05 through 11-07 for an initial cost of $4,500, and subsequent years (2008, 2009, 2010) of $2,500. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Berardi, Sarff, West, Nidiffer, Meade, Strandberg, Lewis. NAYS – None. 8 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSENT. Motion carried.
15th Avenue Improvement R.A. Cullinan. Motion and second by Aldermen Meade/Strandberg, to approve the retainage of R.A. Culinan in the amount of $26,659.83 for 15thAvenue between Myrtle and Ash Street. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Lewis, Strandberg, Meade, Nidiffer, West, Sarff, Berardi, Schenck. NAYS – None. 8 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSENT. Motion carried.
Kilroy Lift Station Liquidated Damages & Final Completion. Keith Plavec said a meeting was held yesterday with Leander Construction. Out of this meeting we discussed having the part flown in. Leander is trying another piece of equipment. We’re all in agreement we want to see the project done. At this point the internal problem is the only issue, Leander Construction has done a successful project. We are concerned about warranty for the component, and would be Leander Construction’s warranty.
Alderman Berardi, said this has gone on to long, we need to set a date, an that’s it!
Motion and second by Aldermen Schenck, to send to Public Works, Water & Sewer Committee next week. The motion carried by voice vote, and was unanimous.
Kilroy SewerShed Combined Sewer TV/Cleaning. Motion and second by Aldermen Meade/Sarff, approve the second payment amount of $12,959.85 to Hoerr Construction for the cleaning and televising combined sewer in the Kilroy SewerShed. Roll call. Aldermen Schenck, Berardi, Sarff, West, Nidiffer, Meade, Strandberg, Lewis. NAYS – None. 8 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSENT. Motion carried.
Legal & Ordinance.
Council meeting January 15, 2008
Council Action
Court Yard Estate will have “Open House” January 17, 2008 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and, the Chamber of Commerce Ambassador’s will host “business after hours” from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Community & Industrial Development.
Council Action
Information.
Feaster’s remaining wall Update from Keith Plavec.
Keith Plavec said, the Odd Fellow Wall has stability and safety located on North Main Street. Maurer Stutz Inc was asked to do this investigation during the Feaster’s fire, I did not do a separate investigation. Their opinion was the existing wall was designed to be an exterior wall. We have not as a firm have I done a structural investigation on it since the first one was done by a structural engineer from our office after the fire.
Infrastructure cost for IH Site.
Motion and second by Aldermen Nidiffer/Berardi, to accept Option 2, with approximate cost of $195,000. Discussion. Alderman Sarff asked in what way do we commit the funds? Is it by a signed agreement?
Keith said the motion is just accepting the concept.
Alderman Berardi asked about the ground cover. Keith Plavec answered for Big Racks it will be the parking lot paid for by IH Truck & Engine.
Keith Plavec said he could come back next week with some information.
Alderman Schenck suggested forming a lake in the IH lot as an idea like the PekinLake which is very attractive.
Alderman Schenck said the Partnership should seek a proposal from developer Kevin Williams and bring to council with a full agreement at the end of March.
City Attorney said she hoped that the City can apply of getting everything done by the deadline. And the City can not remove anything including a man hole cover until the insurance is in place.
Council meeting January 15, 2008
Mayor Heinz mentioned that what a better team to put together then the City Attorney Chrissie Peterson, Maurer-Stutz Inc. Keith Plavec, and SRPED Mark Rothert. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Lewis, Strandberg, Meade, Nidiffer, West, Sarff, Berardi, Schenck. NAYS – None. 8 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSENT. Motion carried.
DISCUSSION:
Alderman Schenck wanted to know what the next step would be?
Alderman Meade answered, it would have to come from the developer.
Alderman Schenck commented that we give a lot of money to the Partnership. Why would we not ask the Partnership to sit down with the developer and take responsibility to put the parties together?
Alderman Meade stated the Partnership has brought the developer to the table, and the Partnership does not have the expertise. It has to come from staff, and the 8 Aldermen has to make the decision.
Keith Plavec said the developer knows what to do, as the committee had told him, what they will do.
Negotiations, Grievance & Personnel.
Council Action
Maurer-Stutz Inc. Planning & Zoning Agreement.
Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/Berardi, for performing Planning & Zoning services for the City of Canton, for the remainder of the City’s Fiscal Year January 1, 2008 to April 30, 2008 in the amount of $3,000 a month. Discussion. Mayor Heinze mentioned that if they go pass that billing then the amount will be billed at hourly rate. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Berardi, Sarff, West, Nidiffer, Meade, Strandberg, Lewis. NAYS – None. 8 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSENT. Motion carried.
Alderman Sarff commented that on January 22, 2008 at the Mechanical Committee meeting there will be an executive session for negotiations with Public Works and Fire Contract.
Council meeting January 15, 2008
Alderman Sarff commented that on January 23, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. executive session will be held in Bruce Beal’s office at 121 West Elm Street for Public Works Contract.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR HEINZE –
Wellness Program. Mayor Heinze mentioned that Deputy Clerk Diana Tucker is still bringing some things together. Health care goes down if everybody is in good health. This Wellness Program is the best gift you can give.
Canton Wastewater Treatment Plant,Clearwater Project. Motion and second by Aldermen Meade/Berardi, to approve Leander Construction request in the amount of $21, 84.30, which is 10% of the retainage the city held on the project. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Lewis, Strandberg, Meade, Nidiffer, West, Sarff, Berardi, Schenck. NAYS – None. 8 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSENT. Motion carried.
Good News.
Mayor Heinze gave a Proclamation to Joe Ginger who tapes the Council meetings proclaiming as Joe GingerDay on January 15, 2008. Attending the meeting with Joe was his son Joe Ginger Jr, daughter Sandra, and his granddaughter Crystal, and wife Sharon. Mayor Heinze talked about how Joe, that when he has been involved with anything, he does it well. He has taught classes on Rubik’s Cube, and has even held contests in 1982 and 2007. For the pass 12 years, Joe has videotaped Canton City Council and Committee meetings and, has never missed a single meeting. And has broadcast over 600 public service video programs since 1995.
Joe thanked the mayor for his support at the start when I began taping the meetings. Joe said that Kevin Stephenson was the one he wanted to thank the most as he helped me when I first started taping. My wife Sharon is a very given person, and will be married 46 years on January 26th.
OLD BUSINESS:
Council meeting January 15, 2008
RESOLUTION – APPROVING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. Motion and second by Aldermen Nidiffer/Berardi, the resolution be adopted. Discussion. Mayor Heinze gave Alderman Schenck the credit for getting the Comprehensive Plan as he was always persisted. Roll call. AYES – Aldermen Schenck, Berardi, Sarff, West, Nidiffer, Meade, Strandberg, Lewis. NAYS – None. 8 AYES, 0 NAYS, 0 ABSENT.
NEW BUSINESS:
None.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: NEGOTIATIONS, GRIEVANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS – PERSONNEL ISSUES (2).
Motion and second to go into executive session. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously.
The regular scheduled Council meeting convened at 7:43 p.m. for the executive session.
Discussion was not held when the regular scheduled council meeting reconvened into open session.
Motionand second by Aldermen Sarff/Strandberg, to adjourn. Voice vote, motion carried.
The regular scheduled Council meeting adjourned at 8:44 p.m.
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Nancy Whites, City Clerk
APPROVED:
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Rodney W. Heinze, Mayor
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