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 CITY OF MONMOUTH
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Date: December 19, 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, Jaime Godina and Alderwoman Vicki McNamara Also Present: Mayor Rod Davies, City Administrator Eric Hanson, City Clerk Susan S. Trevor, City Attorney Marcum Spears, MFD Chief John Cratty, MPD Lieutenants Joe Switzer and Jerry Kinney, Building Inspector Jim Conard, Community Development Director Paul Schuytema and members of the Press. Absent: EMC Public Works Director Andy Jackson
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – December 5, 2011
A. December 5, 2011 Council Minutes
It was moved by Alderman Wells and seconded by Alderman Godina to approve the minutes of the December 5, 2011 Council Meeting as presented. AYE: Aldermen Tim Heatherly, Rutledge, Bates, Daw, Wells, Dan Heatherly, Godina and Alderwoman McNamara NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.
IV. PRESENTATION TO THE COUNCIL
A. Amendment to Agenda
Prior to consideration of the rest of the published Agenda, Mayor Davies removed consideration of the proposed Investment Policy from the Agenda and tabled it until further review could be completed. Mayor Davies also moved any Citizen Inquiries from the end of the Agenda under Other Business in order to allow comments prior to the votes on the ordinances listed for 1st and 2nd reading.
Georgia Groves of 719 S. 6 ½ Street asked to address the Council regarding the letter she had received regarding inspection of her property at 826 East 1st Avenue. She explained that she wasn’t truly renting the property at 826 E. 1st Avenue, but was allowing her son and friend to stay there when they needed to, but she had allowed Ron Vanskike, a friend of her son, to put the water in his name and provide a lease agreement to the City just so he could do so. She further expressed her opinion that there were many slum landlords and dilapidated properties that should be inspected along with all apartments in the City. Community Development Director Paul Schuytema explained to Ms. Grove that a rental property in Monmouth is defined as “a non-owner occupied property”. He agreed that there were a number of properties that needed to be dealt with and that was the reason for adopting a rental inspection policy and a property maintenance code. Ms. Groves then asked what the City was going to do when inspections discover that a particular property doesn’t meet the code requirements as the judges and current States Attorney don’t do anything about properties now. Mayor Davies responded that this is one reason that the City is proposing to pass the International Property Maintenance Code as it has been nationally tested in the Courts and is codified. It will be a tool to address all the issues that Ms. Groves has expressed concerns over. Ms. Groves then asked what the City is going to do when the landlords cited don’t comply as the City all ready doesn’t enforce the current water ordinance. Mayor Davies responded that according to the proposed ordinance the landlord won’t be allowed to rent any properties and will be taken to Court. Ms. Groves also asked what the City was going to do with residential owner occupied properties. Mayor Davies explained that the International Property Maintenance Code is designed to help people who can’t afford to maintain their properties by making provisions to assist them to get funding through grants. Ms. Groves closed her remarks by stating that in her opinion the traffic on South 6th Street has increased dramatically and a solution needs to be found to make the street safer for the people who live along it and drive it regularly.
B. Old Business
There was none to consider.
C. New Business
1. Consent Agenda
a. Approval of Bills
b. Approval of 2012 Flex Plan
It was moved by Alderman Dan Heatherly and seconded by Alderman Tim Heatherly to approve the Consent Agenda 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. MFD November Report – Chief Cratty
Chief Cratty highlighted the MFD November Report as follows:
Ø 4 fires; 2 overheats w/out fire; 58 rescue/emergency; 17 hazardous conditions; 18 service calls; 7 good intent calls; 11 false alarms; November responses = 117
Ø 87 commercial inspections have been conducted to date with no appeals of findings.
Ø A significant apparatus repair during November was the replacement of one of two fuel pumps on Engine 23. This repair cost is equivalent to approximately 40% of our annual apparatus repair budget.
Ø MFD was notified this past week that two of the Federal grant applications that were applied for have been approved. The first grant was for a Breathing Compressor along with 18 self-controlled breathing apparatuses. The second grant was for a sprinkler system for Station #2. The two grants allow the MFD to spend up to $190,000 for the above-listed needs. The City’s commitment is 5% or $9,900 if the entire allowable grant is used. There has not been any notification regarding the third grant application for funds for a 75 foot ladder truck. It may be several months according to Chief Cratty before the City hears whether that grant application has been approved or denied. Administrator Hanson informed the Council that Monmouth received the second highest award in the State from the Federal Firefighter Assistance Grant Program. Chief Cratty added his thanks to Captain Rexroat and Firefighter Dan Chard for all their dedication and hard work on these grant applications.
2. MPD November Report – Lieutenant Switzer
Lieutenant Switzer reviewed the MPD November report as follows:
v 101 arrests
v 1,462 calls for service
v 153 calls for 911
v 2,222 dispatch calls
v 22 accidents responded to
v 21 grant hours worked
v 9,668 miles patrolled
In addition, Lieutenant Switzer reported to the Council that the Department is actively pursuing several burglary suspects with undercover officers and alternative patrols. The MPD is asking for cooperation from people to report any suspicious activities they might observe. The F.O.P. also hosted the “Power for Seniors” and handed out twenty-five $100 checks and donated $500 to Jamieson Center for food for Seniors who need assistance with their meals. Thirty-two children were taken shopping for Christmas presents and were allowed $100 to buy presents for themselves and their families. In conclusion, Lieutenant Switzer said that the MPD had made six buys of drugs with two arrests and also assisted with taking down a meth lab right outside of Monmouth.
3. Community Development November Report – Director Paul Schuytema
Mr. Schuytema updated the Council to the following:
 The Business/Community Profile has been updated and established as a result of the work of City’s Intern Allison Brown.
Most of November was spent on the Property Enhancement Code with letters being sent to listed landlords that has resulted in the registration of 90 landlords to date, which is about 25% of all the landlords. Open free registration will end on January 13, 2012.
Mr. Schuytema asked that people review the Downtown Strategic Plan and make comments or suggestions with regards to the plan.
The results of the completed Business Survey will be included in the next report.
V. ORDINANCES
A. 1st Reading
1. 11-029, Amending Chapter 131 – “Offenses Again Morals” with addition of
new Section 131.40, “Regulation of Synthetic Alternative Drugs
Mayor Davies explained that this ordinance is covering the altered “legal drugs” being sold at convenience or liquor stores and was created because of a heads-up from the City of Kewanee as a result of the problems they encountered from these “legal drugs” being sold at a package liquor store. Administrator Hanson re-emphasized Mayor Davies comments and added that this ordinance would serve as a deterrent to those wanting to set up a package liquor store along with selling these “legal drugs” in their store. It was moved by Alderman Bates and seconded by Alderwoman McNamara to approve the above stated Ordinance 11-029. AYE: Aldermen Bates, Daw, Wells, Dan Heatherly, Godina, Tim Heatherly, Rutledge and Alderwoman McNamara NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.
2. 11-030, Levying Taxes for Corporate Purposes for Fiscal Year Commencing May 5, 2012 and ending April 30, 2913
It was moved by Alderman Wells and seconded by Alderwoman McNamara to approve the above-stated Ordinance 11-030, Tax Levy for 2012-2013. AYE: Aldermen Daw, Wells, Dan Heatherly, Godina, Tim Heatherly, Rutledge, Bates and Alderwoman McNamara NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.
3. 11-031, Abating $665,000 TIF Bonds, Series 1999A
11-032, Abating $8,360, 000 Bonds, Series 2001
11-033, Abating $10,000,000 Bonds, Series 2003
11-034, Abating $5,000,000 Bonds, Series 2007
11-035, Abating $1,550,000 Bonds, Series 2010 A & B
11-036, Abating $5,000,000 Bonds, Series 2011
It was moved by Alderman Dan Heatherly and seconded by Alderman Brian Daw to approve Ordinances 11-031 through 11-036 abating taxes for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. AYE: Aldermen Wells, Dan Heatherly, Godina, Tim Heatherly, Rutledge, Bates, Daw and Alderwoman McNamara NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.
B. 2nd Reading
11-024 – Adding Chapter 157, entitled “Property Maintenance Code”
It was moved by Alderman Dan Heatherly and seconded by Alderman Wells to approve adopting the 2012 International Property Maintenance Code. AYE: Alderwoman McNamara and Aldermen Dan Heatherly, Godina, Tim Heatherly, Rutledge, Bates, Daw and Wells. NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.
VI. OTHER BUSINESS
A. City Administrator’s Report
Administrator Hanson said that he has brought back a seasonal cemetery worker to help clear snow from the downtown sidewalks in order to make it safer for people walking on the downtown sidewalks after a snowfall. Some new equipment was purchased to be utilized on our tractors to clean the walks. Administrator Hanson also reported that there has been a lot of interested activity for businesses to locate at our airport, which is showing that some of our investments at the airport are paying off. Alderman Rutledge was also told by Administrator Hanson that the street lights that he had asked about have been ordered.
B. Citizen Inquiries
There were no further inquiries at this time.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Alderwoman McNamara and seconded by Alderman Tim Heatherly to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 p.m. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote.
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Mayor Rod Davies City Clerk Susan S. Trevor
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