City Council

CITY COUNCIL Regular Meeting May 16, 2016 7:30 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag was given by those present. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Gottman called the regularly scheduled meeting of the Vandalia City Council to order at 7:30 P.M. ROLL CALL: Aldermen present were: Lester, yea; B. John Clark, yea; Stunkel, yea; Crawford, yea; Hubler, yea; Rebbe, yea; Hobler, yea. Swarm was absent. MINUTES: A motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by Hobler approving the minutes from the May 2, 2016 meeting as presented. Motion carried. REGULAR BILLS: A motion of was made by B. John Clark and seconded by Stunkel approving the regular bills as presented. Motion carried. SPECIAL BILLS: A motion was made by B. John Clark and seconded by Stunkel approving the Special Bills as presented: Ameren Illinois in the amount of $3,851.30 for street lights; South Central FS, Inc. in the amount of $3,497.26 for garage fuel; Hurst Rosche Engineering in the amount of $6,101.52 for engineering fees for Thrill Hill Bridge; HD Supply Waterworks in the amount of $2,834.30 for washout pipes; Direct Energy in the amount of $14,603.72 for electric; Brenntag Mid South Inc. in the amount of 1  $14,174.57 for chemicals; Kaskaskia Springs Water Co. in the amount of $1,839.20 for 4.598 million gallons delivered and energy pass thru in the amount of $336.92; Aquafix, Inc. in the amount of $ 4,104.74 for chemicals; Motion carried. APPROVAL OF TREASURER’S REPORT: A motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by Crawford approving the Treasurer’s Report as submitted. A copy of the Treasurer’s Report will be filed for audit. Motion carried. ORDINANCE #2016-5-16-A: A motion was made by B. John Clark AMENDING CHAPTER 10 VEHICLES & and seconded by Crawford adopting TRAFFIC AT PARAGRAPH 10.08.020 Ordinance #2016-5-16-A, Amending TURNS: Chapter 10 Vehicles And Traffic At Paragraph 10.08.020 Turns. When traveling Northbound on Sixth Street, there will be NO LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS onto Main Street. Those turns are prohibited to prevent cars from sitting on the tracks waiting for vehicles ahead of them to turn. Roll Call: Stunkel, yea; Clark, yea; Hubler, yea; Hobler, yea; Crawford, yea; Lester, yea; Rebbe, yea; Swarm, absent. Motion carried. LAKE LOT #102 TRANSFER FROM A motion was made by Hobler and KENNETH & PEGGY seconded by Stunkel approving the GUETTERMAN,WATERLOO, IL. TO transfer of Lake Lot #102 from RODNEY HUNT, RAMSEY, IL. Kenneth & Peggy Guetterman Waterloo, Il. to Rodney Hunt, Ramsey, IL. Motion carried. All necessary fees have been paid. ORDINANCE #2016-5-16-B: A motion was made by B. John Clark AUTHORIZING SALE OF PERSONAL and seconded by Hobler, Adopting PROPERTY AT PUBLIC AUCTION Ordinance Authorizing The Sale of Personal Property At Public Auction. 2  Roll Call: Lester, yea; Hobler, yea; B. John Clark, yea; Hubler, yea; Crawford, yea; Rebbe, yea; Stunkel, yea; Swarm, absent. Motion carried. APPROVAL OF CEMETERY & LANDFILL A motion was made by Hobler and MEETING MINUTES FROM MAY 9, seconded by Stunkel approving the 2016: Cemetery & Landfill Meeting Minutes from May 9, 2016 as presented. Motion carried. RESOLUTION # 2016-5-16-C: A motion was made by Hobler and APPROVING A WASTE COLLECTION seconded Crawford adopting Ordinance AGREEMENT WITH DOTY SANITATION: #2016-5-16-C, Approving A Waste Collection Agreement with Doty Sanitation. Doty Sanitation will provide every home in town with a 96-gallon toter (trash can). These trash cans are made of a heavier material than MAYOR’S REPORT: average trash cans and can be picked up with a hydraulic arm. The toters are the equivalent of three 32 gallon cans. This should be sufficient for most households. These new cans would alleviate Doty from having to go down alleys as it will become strictly curbside pickup. With a six year contract, the cost would be $13.38 for year one and two, $13.88 for year three, $14.38 for year four, $14.88 for year five and $15.38 for year six with a 9.5% return to the city and an increase is based on the document given. The new contract begins August 1, 2016. Alderman Stunkel asked David Doty, owner of Doty Sanitation about a couple concerns with those being in areas where residents have steep 3  yards or embankments and areas such as Sixth Street where residents have a separation between the street and sidewalk. Doty said that homes in front of streets with gutters, the wheels of the container will set right in that gutter. There will be cases where the container will set in the street. Doty said that Doty Sanitation will not pick up trash placed on the ground in bags or other containers. Roll call vote: Rebbe, yea; Lester, yea; Stunkel, yea; Hobler, yea; B. John Clark, yea; Crawford, yea; Hubler, yea; Swarm, absent. Motion carried. MEMO FROM CITY ATTORNEY ON TIF At the recommendation of the city FUNDS: attorney, the council was advised not to sign any agreements with TIF Funds until Dennis Grubaugh agrees to a complete release of any liability on behalf of the City of Vandalia. To proceed without that may expose us to further liability for damage arguably caused by the demolition in addition to any TIF or insurance collected. The City should be protected by a release of further claims as to the building in question. ORDINANCE APPROVING A CERTAIN DIED FOR A LACK OF MOTION. TIF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF VANDALIA AND DENNIIS & DEBBUE GRUBAUGH (507 W. GALLATIN ST.) MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Gottman reported that the week of May 15th-21st is National Police Week dedicated to law enforcement in our community along with National 4 Public Works Week as well. Hats off to all of these employees. Mayor Gottman reported that the Jerden Real Estate Acquisition has been recorded in the County Clerk’s Office and that this property is now owned by the City of Vandalia. The recorded instrument will become a permanent part of the records of the City of Vandalia. Mayor Gottman reported that he spoke with the State Board of Elections on the redistricting. Mayor Gottman said that he will be working with the Census Bureau in an attempt to draw up four wards that are more balanced population wise, with hopes to have new wards drawn up before the next municipal election in the spring of the year. The department that handled it before is now closed. Mayor Gottman said that he received a letter from a gentleman in the community asking why we cannot put a culvert in out at the Thrill Hill Bridge. Mayor Gottman said that IDOT will not allow that. It must be a bridge. Mayor Gottman reported as of today, the State of Illinois for water and sewer at the Vandalia Correctional Center owes the City of Vandalia $528,311.00. City Clerk Peggy Bowen emailed Rep. John Cavaletto the figures today asking for payment. Mayor Gottman said that he spoke with Cavaletto and McCarter when he was in 5  Springfield on May 5th but until there is an appropriations bill we most likely will not see any payment. Mayor Gottman spoke with the Mayor of Taylorville who has the same problem. Every city who has a prison has this problem. Mayor Gottman attended the Illinois Municipal League Meeting on May 5th. A lot of things going on with the Municipal League but not a lot going on at the capitol. Mayor Gottman also sets on the board of the Illinois Municipal Risk Management Association. They are looking at reorganizing that organization. Mayor Gottman who is president of the Hazel Simma Kelly Board reported they met last week. The Beautification Committee received a check in the amount of $5,000.00. The Fire Department will be receiving a check in the amount of $35,000.00 and the Cemetery will receive a check in the amount of $55,000.00. A part of the $55,000 will be used to erect a building at the cemetery; with the remainder to be used for operations and maintenance in the Catholic portion of the cemetery. STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: Hobler reported that camping is going well out at the lake. Mayor Gottman said that he will be hosting a reception for Medline the later part of May or the first part of June. Mayor Gottman reported that the city lost a business in town The Copper Penny officially closed on May 14th. 6 ALDERMEN’S CONCERNS: B. John Clark reported that he received a complaint from a business owner on South Sixth Street about individuals owning and working in businesses on Gallatin Street who park on Sixth St, taking up spaces that would be used by customers of the Sixth Street Pub. Lester suggested that revisit the idea of angle parking on downtown streets. Mayor Gottman asked Public Works Director Marlin Filer to take a look at whether angle parking could be feasible on Sixth Street. Lester asked if we were in the process of getting some new sidewalks in town. Filer said, yes they are working on the list and hope to get that started very shortly. Stunkel publicly thanked the Public Works Department for a great job of cleaning things up around town after the last storm that went through. GRUBAUGH ASKED FOR LETTER FROM Dennis Grubaugh asked the Mayor for a LEGAL COUNCIL: copy of the letter from the legal council referring to not moving forward on TIF Funds to Dennis Grubaugh. Clerk Bowen was directed by the mayor to give him a copy of the letter. MAYOR GOTTMAN TO FORM COMMITTEE Mayor Gottman said that he will be TO REVIEW THE TIF RULES: forming a committee that will look at the existing TIF rules and regulations and consider making changes to the existing rules. 7  Mayor Gottman said that some municipalities allow an individual to not have more than one TIF project open at a time. Also, making sure the applicant is fully insured on the property that they are asking for TIF assistance. Grubaugh said, that sounds all well and good, but looking it at from the property owner’s standpoint, there are some cases where you just can’t afford the insurance. Grubaugh said, in the case of the Liberty Theatre, there is no way he could afford insurance. The premiums are too high. He said he would be better off to just knock it down. Grubaugh said that his goal since he started on the downtown projects has always been to save as many of the historic buildings as best he could. Mayor Gottman praised Grubaugh for the work that he has done downtown. ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by B. John Clark and seconded by Stunkel to adjourn. Motion carried. _________________ CITY CLERK 8 9