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CITY OF MONMOUTH
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
OCTOBER 15, 2007
I. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Rod Davies called the meeting to order in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 East Broadway, Monmouth, Illinois at 7:00 p.m. and led the audience in the Pledge to the Flag.
II. ROLL CALL
Present: Aldermen Dan Burgland, Dave Rutledge, Dave Giles, Bob Wells, Dan Heatherly, Rod Themanson, and Alderwoman Vicki McNamara Also Present: Mayor Rod Davies, City Clerk Susan S. Trevor, City Administrator Eric Hanson, City Attorney Marcum Spears, Fire Chief Jim Conard, EMC Public Works Director Andy Jackson, Cemetery/Zoning Administrator Chuck Talley, and members of the Press. Absent: Alderman Dave Smith and Police Chief Brad Zeigler
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was moved by Alderman Themanson and seconded by Alderman Rutledge to approve the minutes of the October 1 st Council meeting as presented. AYE: Aldermen Burgland, Rutledge, Giles, Wells, Heatherly, Themanson, and Alderwoman McNamara NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Smith MOTION CARRIED.
IV. PRESENTATION TO THE COUNCIL
A. Old Business
1. Consideration of Engineering Consultant for Airport
The Mayor asked the Council to determine how they wanted to proceed with exploring grant monies available for updating the City's municipal airport. He reminded the Council that it would be desirable to select an engineering firm that specializes in airport development to assist the City with the process and that Hanson Professional Services, Inc. from Springfield had indicated an interest in being considered as one of the professional engineering firms to guide the City through the updating process at the Municipal airport. After further discussion, the Mayor was directed to gather additional information to distribute to the Council in order for them to make a determination as to how or whether the City should proceed in obtaining grant monies from the Illinois Aeronautics Division of Transportation as well selecting an engineering firm to assist with that process.
B. New Business
1. Introduction of Eric Hanson as City Administrator of Monmouth
Mayor Davies formally introduced and the Council welcomed Eric Hanson as the new City Administrator for the City of Monmouth.
2. Appointment of City Administrator Hanson as the City Budget Officer
It was moved by Alderman Heatherly and seconded by Alderwoman McNamara to appoint City Administrator Hanson as the Budget Officer for the City of Monmouth. AYE: Aldermen Rutledge, Giles, Wells, Heatherly, Themanson, Burgland, and Alderwoman McNamara NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Smith MOTION CARRIED.
V. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Public Works – Acting Chairman Rod Themanson
No report.
B. Public Safety – Chairman Dan Burgland
1. Approval of October 1, 2007 Minutes
It was moved by Alderman Themanson and seconded by Alderman Wells to approve the minutes of the October 1 st meeting as presented. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote.
2. Halloween Trick or Treat Hours
It was moved by Alderman Wells and seconded by Alderman Themanson to set the Halloween "Trick or Treat Hours" on Wednesday, October 31 st from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. AYE: Aldermen Wells, Heatherly, Themanson, Burgland, Rutledge, Giles, and Alderwoman McNamara NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Smith MOTION CARRIED.
C. Community Development – Chairman Dave Giles
1. Approval of September 17, 2007 Minutes
It was moved by Alderwoman McNamara and seconded by Alderman Rutledge to approve the minutes of the September 2 nd meeting as presented. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote.
D. Finance/Audit – Chairman Dan Heatherly
1. Approval of Bills
It was moved by Alderman Themanson and seconded by Alderwoman McNamara to accept the recommendation of the committee to approve the bills as presented. AYE: Alderwoman McNamara, Aldermen Heatherly, Themanson, Burgland, Rutledge, Giles, and Wells. NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Smith MOTION CARRIED.
VI. ORDINANCES
A. 1 st Reading
1. 07-030 – Amending Section 101.13, "False Alarms; Fees"
This ordinance amends Ordinance #04-444 as to the language regarding the fee schedule for false alarms. According to Chief Conard, 07-030 uses the 911 address for billing rather than the entity or the property address. It was moved by Alderman Themanson and seconded by Alderman Rutledge to approve 07-030 as stated. AYE: Alderman Heatherly, Themanson, Burgland, Rutledge, Giles, Wells, and Alderwoman McNamara NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Smith MOTION CARRIED.
2. 07-031 – Amending Schedule 1, Chapter 77, Prohibited Parking, North Side of East Euclid
Mayor Davies explained that City Attorney Spears drew up an ordinance prohibiting parking on the North side of East Euclid from North Sixth Street to North Ninth Street as well as banning parking on both sides of North 8 th Street from East Euclid North to Harlem. Parking shall be allowed on the South side of East Euclid from North Sixth Street to North Ninth Street, as is presently the case. It was moved by Alderman Wells and seconded by Alderman Rutledge to approve Ordinance 07-031 as stated above. Since Alderman Smith proposed the North 8th Street parking ban, Alderwoman McNamara asked to have the vote postponed. She thought that he should be present to answer any questions that might be raised concerning the proposed ban on North 8 th Street. It was moved by Alderman Heatherly and seconded by Alderman Themanson to table the above-stated motion to approve Ordinance 07-031, until the next Council meeting. AYE: Aldermen Burgland, Rutledge, Giles, Wells, Heatherly, Themanson, and Alderwoman McNamara NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Smith MOTION CARRIED.
3. 07-032 – Granting a Variance – 809 W. Boston Avenue
Zoning Administrator Chuck Talley explained that the variance is for a garage addition located at 809 W. Boston Avenue and the approval vote of the Zoning Board of Appeals was unanimous. It was moved by Alderman Heatherly and seconded by Alderman Themanson to accept the recommendation by the ZBA for approval of granting a variance at 809 W. Boston Avenue for construction of a garage addition. AYE: Aldermen Rutledge, Giles, Wells, Heatherly, Themanson, Burgland, and Alderwoman McNamara NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Smith MOTION CARRIED. \
VII. OTHER BUSINESS
1. Energy Agreement – Mid-American Energy
City Administrator Eric Hanson explained that the City's energy agreement with Mid-American Energy is set to expire on November 18, 2007. If the City doesn't take action, the utilities will then revert to and be locked in to Ameren-Illinois Power's charges for a year. According to information from various sources, the energy charges from Ameren-Illinois Power are set to increase significantly next year. EMC Public Works Director, Andy Jackson, has been working with Mid-American Energy prior to Administrator Hanson's hiring, said that it is possible to sign a short-term agreement in order to give the City to investigate other options. Administrator Hanson asked for and received authorization for the Mayor, Mr. Jackson, and himself to look into other energy options.
2. Business Expo
City Administrator Hanson invited the Council to stop by the City's booth while attending the Business Expo being hosted by the Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce at the VFW on October 17 th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
3. Other Remarks
Alderman Wells asked if discussion could be resumed on the possibility of exploring the implementation of a ¼ cent sales tax and eliminating of the wheel tax sticker. The Mayor said that the City has been waiting on the Police and Fire Pension audit reports in order to begin to determine as to what amount the City is going to have to allocate with regards to their unfounded obligation to the Pension funds before exploring other possibilities of possible funding sources to add to the City's income sources. All of this will be part of financial discussions for the upcoming 2008 Budget.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Alderwoman McNamara and seconded by Alderman Heatherly to adjourn the meeting at 7:25 p.m. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote with the exception of Alderman Smith, who was absent.
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