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 CITY OF MONMOUTH
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Date: July 18, 2011 Time: 7:00 p.m. Location: 100 East Broadway
Monmouth, Illinois
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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 at 7:00 p.m. and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
II. ROLL CALL
City Clerk Susan S. Trevor called the roll and those answering Present were: Aldermen Tim Heatherly, Dave Rutledge, Dave Bates, Brian Daw, Bob Wells, Dan Heatherly, and Jaime Godina and Alderwoman Vicki McNamara Also Present: Mayor Rod Davies, City Administrator Eric Hanson, City Clerk Susan S. Trevor, City Attorney Marcum Spears, Fire Chief John Cratty, Police Chief Brad Zeigler, Building Inspector Jim Conard, Community Development Director Paul Schuytema, EMC Public Works Director Andy Jackson and members of the Press.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – July 5, 2011
A. July 5, 2011 Council Minutes
It was moved by Alderman Bates and seconded by Alderman Wells to approve the minutes of the July 5, 2011 Council Meeting as presented. AYE: Aldermen Tim Heatherly, Rutledge, Bates, Daw, Wells, Dan Heatherly, and Godina PASS: Alderwoman McNamara NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.
IV. PRESENTATION TO THE COUNCIL
A. Old Business
There was none to consider.
B. New Business
2. Consent Agenda
a. Approval of Bills
It was moved by Alderman Dan Heatherly and seconded by Alderman Rutledge to approve the bills as presented. AYE: Aldermen Rutledge, Bates, Daw, Wells, Dan Heatherly, Godina, Tim Heatherly and Alderwoman McNamara NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.
C. Committee of the Whole Discussion Items
1. MPD June Report – Chief Zeigler
Chief Zeigler reported that a juvenile had been arrested at 5:30 a.m. this morning breaking into cars. He felt that perhaps this arrest may be linked to several other burglaries. According to Chief Zeigler, the Citizens Police Academy has gone extremely well. This last class, Detective Bob Meyers spoke about the Drug Task Force and its procedures. Arrest procedures and the use of force topics were also covered in this class. Mayor Davies commented on how impressed he has been with the handling of the classes and all the positive feedback that has been received concerning the Academy. Chief Zeigler also reviewed the monthly statistics for June as follows:
Ø Arrests – 88
Ø Calls for Service – 1288
Ø 911 Calls – 164
Ø Dispatch Calls – 2154
Ø Accidents responded to – 21
Ø Grant Hours Worked – 24
Ø Miles Patrolled – 9,180
2. MFD June Report – Chief Cratty
Chief Cratty reported for June the following:
Ø Structure fire at 217 East 1st Avenue is believed to be suspicious
Ø Hydrant testing is being completed with all hydrants in Wards 1 and 2 having been flow tested. Next year the hydrants in Wards 3 and 4 will be tested. This flow testing information is important for sprinkler contractors as well as the fire department and measures the actual amount of water that flows out of each hydrant.
Ø All of the previously ordered smoke detectors that were ordered through a grant the department received have been distributed and 450 more detectors as well as smoke detectors specifically designed for hearing impaired residents have been ordered.
Ø In June, the procedures and policies that were addressed were: chain of command; certification; overtime call backs; a new language line that interprets 50 to 100 different languages through one call line and finally, burn permits.
Ø Chief Cratty spoke to the Landlord’s Association on the building inspection program as well as the proposed rental inspection program
Ø 2 deficiencies on the aerial ladder truck were repaired by the Alexis Fire Equipment Company and ambulance #46 passed its six month test.
Ø Chief Cratty attended the 2011 Assistance to Firefighter Grant training seminar on Saturday, June 25th in Dixon, Illinois.
3. Community Development Report – Paul Schuytema
Mr. Schuytema reported that the new City website is launched and has all ready had 7,303 hits with 1,200 unique visitors. Western Illinois University’s Class on Urban Development is doing research on retail niches according to Mr. Schuytema. He also said that the Zoning Maps have gone to W.I.U.’s GIS department. Kate Ferrer, who is working on her Master’s thesis at W.I.U., has identified 4 other communities similar in population and demographics to Monmouth. She will be studying successful strategies used by these communities in re-vitalizing their towns. Paul also said that he has met with the Knox County Development Corporation and GREDA to explore the methods by which to rehabilitate older run-down buildings by removing them from the tax role and offering them to developers to fix up. This process would involve private investment and not government dollars. Mr. Schuytema also announced that Buchanan Center for the Arts along with the City has been awarded by the Arts Council a National Endowment Grant, which will help provide artists with living and work space in targeted older downtown buildings. There is money from flex grants for façade rehabilitation. The City is also working with the Department of Rural Affairs on the possibility of a retail food coop downtown.
4. Memo of Understanding – Warren County/City of Monmouth
Administrator Hanson explained that the County had requested assistance in financing roof repairs for the Courthouse. The City would loan Warren County up to $90,000.00 from its TIF Fund for the sole purpose of repairing the roof located a top the Warren County Courthouse. According to the terms of the Memo of Understanding, Warren County agrees to turn over to the City of Monmouth a grant in the amount of $50,000.00. The City in turn will deposit this money into the TIF fund. Mr. Hanson said that we are all part of Warren County and that this is a good cooperative effort between the City and the County. There is ample money in the TIF account to be able to assist the County with the repair of the roof of the County Courthouse according to Administrator Hanson. It was moved by Alderman Dan Heatherly and seconded by Alderman Rutledge to approve the Memo of Understanding detailing the terms agreed upon between Warren County and the City of Monmouth to assist the County with repairing the roof of the County Courthouse. AYE: Aldermen Bates, Daw, Wells, Dan Heatherly, Godina, Tim Heatherly, Rutledge and Alderwoman McNamara NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.
V. ORDINANCES
A. 1st Reading
1. 11-017 – Issuance by the City of Monmouth $10,000,000 Revenue Bonds (Monmouth College Project Series 2011
Mayor Davies explained that by allowing the College to use the City’s bonding power it presents the City with a good opportunity to assist the College to move forward with their new Integrated Learning Center with no risk to the City. Administrator Hanson reiterated the fact that this use of the City’s bonding power does not create a risk for the City. He also stated that the College is replacing water trunk lines impacted by their construction at no cost to the City. It was moved by Alderman Bates and seconded by Alderman Tim Heatherly to approve the above-stated ordinance. AYE: Aldermen Daw, Wells, Dan Heatherly, Godina, Tim Heatherly, Rutledge, Bates and Alderwoman McNamara NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.
VI. OTHER BUSINESS
A. City Administrator’s Report
Administrator Hanson explained to the Council that the City is in the process of refunding the 2003 Bond Series used to finance the Ion Exchange Project to remove the radium from our water supply. By re-funding the 2003 Bonds the interest rate will be below 2.5 % and will save the City $120,000 over the life of the bonds. It will also save $680,000 in expense over the life of our debt (12-01-2011 to 12-01-2018).
B. Citizen Inquiries
There were no inquiries.
VII. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. It was moved by Alderman Wells and seconded by Alderman Rutledge at 7:50 p.m. to go into Executive Session per Illinois Statute 5 ILCS 120/2a regarding setting of salary schedule in Contract Review. AYE: Aldermen Daw, Wells, Dan Heatherly, Godina, Tim Heatherly, Rutledge, Bates and Alderwoman McNamara NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.
b. It was moved by Alderwoman McNamara and seconded by Alderman Dan Heatherly to return to Regular Session at 8:40 p.m. AYE: Aldermen Wells, Dan Heatherly, Godina, Tim Heatherly, Rutledge, Bates, Daw and Alderwoman McNamara NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.
Upon return to Regular Session, it was moved by Alderman Dan Heatherly and seconded by Alderman Tim Heatherly to approve the salary schedule and terms for the contract of City Administrator Eric Hanson pending review by City Attorney Marcum Spears. AYE: Aldermen Dan Heatherly, Godina, Tim Heatherly, Rutledge, Bates, Daw, Wells and Alderwoman McNamara NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Alderman Dan Heatherly and seconded by Alderman Tim Heatherly to adjourn the meeting at 8:42 p.m. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote.
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Mayor Rod Davies City Clerk Susan S. Trevor
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