City Council

CITY COUNCIL Regular Meeting July 17, 2017 7:30 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag was given by all 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: Hubler, Lester, B. John Clark, Hobler, Stunkel, Barker, Crawford and Rebbe. MINUTES: A motion was made by Hobler and seconded by Stunkel approving the minutes from the July 03, 2017 meeting as presented. Motion carried. REGULAR BILLS: A motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by Hobler approving the regular bills as presented. Motion carried. SPECIAL BILLS: A motion was made by Stunkel and seconded by Crawford approving the Special Bills as listed: Civic Systems, LLC in the amount of $5,465.00 for semi-annual support; Burnside, Johnston & Connors in the amount of $ 1,551.00 for legal fees; Direct Energy in the amount of $18,659.86 for electric; H & H Computer Services in the amount of $2,528.00 to set up barracuda spam filter & email security; Miller Stump Grinding in the amount of #2,200.00 excavation rental for brush clean-up; Triple S Tree Services in the amount of $2,200.00 for trees cut from storm; 1  McDowell’s Service in the amount of $2,158.25 for repairs to fire department equipment; South Central FS, Inc. in the amount of $3,265.94 for fuel; Vandalia Asphalt Service in the amount of $5,000.00 for asphalt in the salt shed; Illinois EPA in the amount of $22,787.56 for Water Revolving Fund Drinking Water Project; Brenntag Mid South, Inc.in the amount of $4,732.91 for chemicals; Kaskaskia Springs Water in the amount of $1,632.40 for water energy pass thru 4.081 million delivered and energy pass thru in the amount of $533.79; Motion carried. TRANSFERRING OF LAKE LOT A motion was made by Hobler and #137 FROM CAROL STIRNAMAN, seconded by Stunkel approving the TROY, IL TO JAMES GOETTER, transfer of Lake Lot #137 from Carol COLLINSVILLE, IL. Stirnaman, Troy, Il. to James Goetter, Collinville, Il. All necessary fees have been paid. Motion carried. TRANSFERRING OF LAKE LOT A motion was made by Hobler and #312 FROM THE CITY OF seconded by Barker approving the VANDALIA TO TRACY ULMER transfer of Lake Lot #312 from the VANDALIA, IL City of Vandalia to Tracy Ulmer, Vandalia. All necessary fees have been paid. Motion carried. SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION Doyce Sheraden, soil scientist and REGARDING TREES: conservationist addressed the city council about land by Vandalia Lake owned by the city which is set to be used for timber revenue. Sheraden suggested working with Tony Powell, Resource Conservationist and Gary Potts who has recently retired as a wildlife biologist with the Illinois Department of National Resources in hiring a forester to create a timber management plan for the acreage to help the city maximize the land and income provided by logging. 2 ROAD CLOSURE REQUEST-AUGUST A motion was made by Stunkel and 12, 2017-4TH STREET: seconded by Hobler approving the road closure request from Clint Simpson, State Farm Agent for Saturday, August 12th from 5:00pm-10:00pm between Gallatin Street and W. Main St. The reason for the request they are having a special showing of the classic movie Grease on the State House lawn, and would like to arrange a classic hot rod/car show for that evening. The council approved the request. Motion carried. COUNCIL WORK SESSION A motion was made by Stunkel and MINUTES-JULY 3, 2017: seconded by Hubler approving the Council Work Session Minutes from July 3, 2017 as presented. Motion carried. ORDINANCE # 2017-7-17-A: A motion was made by Hubler and TIF AGREEMENT WITH ROBERT M. seconded by Barker adopting Ordinance JOHNSON #2017-7-17-A, The City of Vandalia, Fayette County, Illinois Authorizing Tax Increment Financing Assistance In Connection With A Redevelopment Project with Robert M. Johnson. Johnson intends to make certain improvements to the building located at 119 N. Fifth St. by repairing and replacing the roof. The City of Vandalia shall reimburse the Developer the sum of $3,116.32. Roll Call: Crawford, yea; Hobler, yea; Lester, abstain; Clark, yea; Barker, yea; Stunkel, yea; Hubler, yea; Rebbe, yea. Motion carried. ORDINANCE #2017-7-17-B: A motion was made by Stunkel and TIF AGREEMENT WITH WEHRLE seconded by B. John Clark adopting PROPERTIES Ordinance #2017-7-17-B, The City of Vandalia, Fayette County, Illinois Authorizing Tax Increment Financing Assistance In Connection With A 3  Redevelopment Project with Wehrle Properties. Wehrle intends to make certain improvements to the property located at 1502 N. Eighth St. by cleaning up the environmental issues at this location and also the demolition of an existing building. The City shall reimburse the Developer the sum of $50,000 upon completion. Roll call: Barker, yea; Clark, yea; Hobler, yea; Rebbe, yea; Stunkel, yea; Hubler, yea; Crawford, yea; Lester, abstain. Motion carried. ORDINANCE #2017-7-17-C: A motion was made by Stunkel and TIF AGREEMENT WITH DAVID seconded by B. John Clark adopting KING D/B/A CAGES Ordinance #2017-7-17-C, City of Vandalia, Fayette County, Illinois Authorizing Tax Increment Financing Assistance In Connection With A Redevelopment Project. King intends to make certain improvements to the property located at 215 & 223 S. Third St. by demolition of house located at 223 S. Third St., removal of 2 large and 6 small trees and installation of a concrete retaining wall and fencing. The City of Vandalia shall reimburse the Developer the sum of $28,000 upon completion. Roll Call: Hubler, yea; Stunkel, yea; Clark, yea; Barker, yea; Crawford, yea; Rebbe, yea; Hobler, yea; Lester, abstain. Motion carried. 4 TRANSFERRING OF LAKE LOT A motion was made by Hobler and #45, FROM CARL & SHAWN seconded by Barker approving the RUNKEL, VANDALIA TO BRENT & Transfer of Lake Lot #45 from Carl & ABBY BAYLES, VANDALIA: Shawn Runkel, Vandalia To Brent & Abby Bales, Vandalia. All necessary fees have been paid. Motion carried. ORDINANCE OF VACATION: Removed from the agenda. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Gottman said that planning has started for the 200th anniversary of Vandalia celebration which will take place in 2019. He said that planning a date needs to happen soon because it will require a lot of fundraising to throw a big event. CITY CLERK’S REPORT: City Clerk Bowen told the council that she has received some complaints from residents about the $11.25 per month recycling fee, and a few have said they will not pay it. Bowen says she was bringing it to the City Council to direct her on what she should do. B. John Clark said if they do not pay their bill in full, then that matter should be referred to the City Attorney. Hubler said that the matter would go to the city attorney. It’s an ordinance. Hobler said, I didn’t think it was optional. Crawford said that cutting off a water customer over a $1.25 is nonsense. City Attorney Ryan Connor said there is nothing wrong with a low dollar lawsuit, if the city does intend to enforce the recycling fee. Connor said he doesn’t like to use court 5  costs as a sword, but if the resident did not pay the $1.25 fee they would then face court costs plus time in court. Connor also pointed out the city has committed to providing these funds to FAYCO and the Soil & Water District. Lester said that we voted on it, it’s part of the water bill. If they don’t pay the surcharges, he said, the city attorney needs to get involved. Clerk Bowen said, your saying, give it to the city attorney and pay him $150.00 an hour for $1.25? After discussion, the council told Bowen to handle it as they would anyone that didn’t pay their full water bill. If they do not pay it they will be shut off. STANDING COMMITTEES: B. John Clark said that Public Works Director gave him a list of sidewalks for replacement for 2017-20188. Crawford reported that the boil order on N. Seventh Street has been lifted. Hubler said that he would like to see further study on the funding for recycling. He said in the fall he was going to look into ways to lower it or abolish it. He explained that he voted for the surcharges as a way of keeping them available while an alternative funding source can be found. Barker announced that a Tourism Committee Meeting will be held on July 19th to talk about how to reorganize and how they operate and what they plan to do in the future 6  Barker said they talked with the Beautification Committee about helping out with ideas to beautify the Tourism Building. CONCERNS FROM COUNCIL B. John Clark had a complaint in MEMBER: regard to “abuse on dogs”. He noted one on Gallatin Street. He asked if we have animal warden? Mayor Gottman said, let the Police Department know so they can send animal control to the residence. AMEREN ILLINOIS-TREE Mayor Gottman announced that Ameren TRIMMING: Illinois will be trimming trees in and around the Vandalia area in the near future. A list of addresses will be on file with the City Clerk for review. ADJOURNMENT: There being nothing further to discuss a motion was Stunkel and seconded by B. John Clark to adjourn. Motion carried. ________________ CITY CLERK 7 8 9 10 11