City Council

TOWN OF CICERO TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 at 7:00 PM Call to Order: Vice President Cox called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Ms. Gary gave the prayer. VP Cox called for roll call. Members of the Cicero Town Council were present or absent as follows: Present: Joseph Cox Absent: Christopher Lutz Eric Hayden Dennis Johnson Emily Pearson Declare a Quorum Present: Vice President Cox declared a quorum with four members present. Others Present: Rhonda Gary, Clerk Treasurer Jeff Rednour, Police Chief Lance Overholser, Fire Chief Frank Zawadzki, Cicero/Jackson Township Plan Commission Director Terry Cooper, Street & Utilities Director Jim Hunter, Parks Superintendent Aaron Culp, Town Attorney Keith Bryant, Town Engineer Bruce Freeman, Storm Water Management Board President Dan Strong, Project Coordinator Approval of Agenda: Ms. Pearson made a motion to approve the agenda as amended. Mr. Hayden seconded, motion carried 4-0. Approval of Prior Minutes: Town Council Meeting Minutes, September 3, 2024, 7:00 PM Town Council Executive Session Memorandum, September 3, 2024, 7:45 PM Mr. Hayden made a motion to approve the minutes listed above. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 4-0. Approval of 9/17/2024 Claims: Mr. Johnson made a motion approve the claims dated 9/17/24. Ms. Pearson seconded. motion carried 4-0. Budget Public Hearing – Ms. Gary stated that the budget assumes a 5% pay increase for the employees and it has been entered into Gateway. Mr. Hayden then made a motion to open the public hearing. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 4-0. VP Cox asked if there were any questions from the public. Ms. Mayer inquired about the 5% pay increase. VP Cox replied that the council does not accept the pay increase that it is for the employees. There were no additional comments or further discussions. Mr. Hayden made a motion to close the public hearing. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried 4-0. 1 Rate Increase Public Hearing – Mr. Hayden made a motion to open the public hearing. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried 4-0. VP Cox gave a brief summary of why the town must implement a rate increase and Bond Anticipation Note (BAN) which is temporary financing for the project. VP Cox added that this source of financing saves the town and ultimately the town residents approximately $500,000.00. He then asked if there were any questions or comments from the public. Ms. Mayer inquired about the length of the project and the long-term financing. Mr. Culp stated that the project will take two years to complete, and the long-term financing will be for 20 years. Mr. Hayden then explained the need and why. He also stated that the council takes these increases very seriously, but this route will save the town and ultimately the residents $500,000.00. There were no additional questions or comments. Mr. Hayden made a motion to close the public hearing. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 4-0. Council Committee Reports: 1. OTC Report – Ms. Pearson had no report at this time. 2. EDC Report – Mr. Cox had no report at this time 3. SWU Management Board Report – SWU President Freeman stated that the SWU Management Board is moving forward with the Morse Landing Drive (MLD) Project. They are also looking into a rate increase. Mr. Hayden made a motion to approve Task Order 2024-03A and allow VP Cox to sign. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried 4-0. Legal Counsel Report – Mr. Culp had nothing at this time. Cicero/Jackson Township Plan Commission – Mr. Zawadzki had nothing at this time. Town Engineer Report – 1. Tamarack – Mr. Bryant reported that he has heard back from Mr. Howard at MI Homes, and he is working on the punch list. He hopes to be finished by the end of the year. When asked about the pathway, Mr. Bryant said that he will have to check it out. 2. Water – Mr. Bryant stated that the agreement with the property owner has been signed. He believes that Peerless Midwest will start drilling sometime next week. 3. Wastewater – Mr. Bryant said that Reynolds Pay Application #1 has been approved for payment. Construction continues at a good pace. He believes that they will get started pouring the concrete slab (new oxidation ditch) soon. They have begun excavation for the new lift station as well. Pay Application #2 has been submitted. 4. Tollgate Road – Mr. Bryant stated that Midwest Paving has filled the edges of the pavement, but grass is needed. Mr. Bryant hopes that the weather cooperates to support grass growth soon. He thinks that they will be ready to inspect and get a substantial completion punch list to Midwest in the near future. 5. Jackson Street (Community Crossings Matching Grant) CCMG – Mr. Bryant reported that Change Order #1, a Notice to Proceed has been submitted and the CCMG Funds are in place to begin the project. Mr. Hayden made a motion to approve and allow VP Cox to sign Change Order #1 and the Notice to Proceed. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried 4-0. Mr. Bryant pointed out that the three light in front of Sullivan’s would also need to be replaced with new fixtures. 2 Old Business: Sewer Rate Ordinance No. 09-03-2024-02 – Mr. Hayden made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 09-03-2024-02. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried 4-0. New Business: a. Transfer Resolution No. 09-17-2024-01 – Mr. Johnson made a motion to approve Resolution No. 09-17-2024-01. Ms. Pearson seconded, motion carried 4-0. b. Transfer Resolution No. 09-17-2024-02 – Ms. Pearson made a motion to approve Resolution No. 09-17-2024-02. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried 4-0. Miscellaneous: There was nothing. Comments by Citizens: a. Cicero resident, Mr. Rockwell, was present to inquire about the town’s current noise ordinance. He would like to amend the ordinance as he has tried to handle this problem with his “neighbor who likes to drum a lot” on his own with no luck. After discussion, Chief Rednour will get new data together for the council, Mr. Hayden will look into the noise level and Mr. Culp will do some research on the current ordinance as well as ordinance in the neighboring communities. More information to follow. b. Cicero resident, Mr. Green first complemented Mr. Zawadzki for some work he did with Mr. Green. Mr. Green also discussed the rate increases and the impact on his checkbook. Motion to Adjourn: Ms. Pearson made the motion. Mr. Johnson seconded, motion carried 4-0. Signatures on Official Documents! Signatures of Cicero Town Council AYE NAY Christopher J Lutz Joseph R Cox Eric C Hayden Dennis D Johnson Emily K Pearson Attested: Rhonda Gary, Clerk Treasurer The Next Cicero Town Council Meeting will be on October 1, 2024 at 7:00 PM at Cicero Town Hall. 3