Carbondale Reporter

City of Murphysboro City Council met May 23.

Here is the minutes provided by the Council:

The Murphysboro, Illinois, City Council met in regular session, pursuant to its ordinances, on the 23rd day of May, 2017. Mayor Stephens called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and Pastor Rick Sutton led the council in prayer. Following the invocation, Mayor Stephens led the council in the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

Present: Barb Hughes, Jance Curry-Witzman, Russell Brown, Herb Voss, Gary McComb, John Erbes, Danny Bratton, Mike Bastien, Gloria Campos, W. J. Pittman

Absent:

Motion: To approve the minutes of the May 9 2017 council meeting. All aldermen received a copy of the minutes, for their review, prior to the meeting.

Motion by Alderman McComb Second by Alderman Bratton

Mayor called for a voice vote. All were in favor. Motion Carried

Motion: To approve the accounts payable, register #684 through May 23, 2017, accounts receivable through May 23, 2017 and payroll through May 23, 2017. All aldermen received a copy of the accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll for their review, prior to the meeting.

Motion by Alderman McComb Second by Alderman Hughes

Mayor called for a voice vote. All were in favor.

Motion Carried

Committee/Commission Reports:

Alderman Bratton opened Budget & Finance Meeting.

Discussion was held regarding the Senior Citizens van. Tim Lee said $7500 is average worth of van. Alderman Pittman suggested we meet with mass transit and see if they could devote a few days to Senior Citizens and then do not buy a van. Could we see if the driver will help with packages? Perhaps Joe, Ted, Alderman Pittman and Mayor Stephens could meet and discuss the request.

Sewer lines on Steven Lane were discussed. David McComb informed the council that he now has sink holes.

Scott Evans presented and discussed the following reports: Comparison of Budgeted vs. Actual Payroll, Citywide Balance Sheet, List of Cash & Cash Equivalent, Schedule of Operating Expenses by Department vs. Budget, Schedule of Healthcare Costs, Schedule of Sales/HR Tax Receipts, Schedule of State Income Tax Receipts, Water/Sewer Fund.

No public comment.

Alderman Brown opened the Building and Grounds Meeting.

Murphysboro Lawn & Garden bid was submitted to Smysor Board. Smysor Board meeting was last Thursday. Alderman Brown will be meeting with one board member tomorrow and should know something then about their decision.

Alderman McComb stated he is requesting to mulch around the administration building. He was told to proceed.

Motion: To approve purchasing mulch for the administration building.

Motion by Alderman Bastien Second by Alderman Bratton

Alderman Brown called for a voice vote. All were in favor.

Motion Carried

Attorney Heller discussed additional insurance coverage for parks. There is a program the state has that if there is going to be an event that is not city sponsored the people holding the event can plug into this web site and get insurance cheaply. Event people would purchase event insurance. The question is should we pass an ordinance requiring that using city property for non-city events requires plugging into this site and acquiring insurance. Council determined not to pursue.

Alderman Curry-Witzman inquired if we had started mosquito spraying yet. Darrin stated we had but we do not spray on Tina Drive or Shomaker Drive because of the lake, it would be toxic for the fish.

There was no public comment.

Alderman Bratton opened the Community Relations Committee Meeting.

Request by the Murphysboro Black Alumni Society for use of Smysor Plaza on Saturday, May 27th from 8-10 a.m.

Motion: To approve request by the Murphysboro Black Alumni Society for use of Smysor Plaza on Saturday, May 27th from 8-10 a.m.

Motion by Alderman McComb Second by Alderman Bastien

Alderman Bratton called for a voice vote. All were in favor.

Motion Carried

No public comment.

Alderman McComb opened the Public Improvement Committee Meeting.

Curbside trash pick-up was discussed. It was suggested we invite the trash haulers and inform them we are going to small trucks, one hauler and give them a three to five year contract. We would be able to go to eight years instead of four years rotation on resurfacing if we did that and it would save us $35,000.

Motion: To approve to do away with curbside trash pickup. Motion by Alderman Bratton Second by Alderman Erbes

Yeas: Barb Hughes, Jance Curry-Witzman, Russell Brown, Herb Voss, Gary McComb, John Erbes, Danny Bratton, Mike Bastien, Gloria Campos, W. J. Pittman

Nays: Alderman Campos

Motion Carried

Attorney Heller discussed Brown Shoe Factory. Law suit was filed this week. Summons went out to eight or nine people and they have 30 days to respond then we get a court date. Petition is to make property safe. Alderman McComb has a list of eight contractors that do that type of work. We could get three of them down and give us ball park cost figures. The west side is the one reaching 19th Street; south side reaching Gary Breeze.

Mayor Stephens stated we have a good chance of getting the Brownfield grant; the grant award is expected in July.

Eric Kennedy discussed improvements on the city’s right-of-way. How should he write up replacing steps on the city’s right-of-way? He is talking about improvements in the boulevard. He has Carbondale’s ordinance. Attorney Heller will look at it and ADA specs and advise.

Eric also discussed a request for commercial billboards. Someone is requesting one inside city limits. We will hold for discussion.

Public comment: Cathy Norton discussed the code regarding fire hydrants which she found out is 20’.

Mayor Stephens opened the Public Works Committee Meeting.

Mayor Stephens invited the new councilmen to inform him of the committees that held an interest for them.

Osburn Street extension was discussed. Harold Sheffer stated that Bishop and Elwell are revising their plans but as yet he has not heard from them.

Harold Sheffer discussed street repairs on Hanson Street from 6th to 12th Street. He is meeting with Darrin and checking it out. ADA compliance etc. to be considered. 8th & 9th Streets are where the real problems are.

Discussion was held regarding the boot camp. It is now called the Life Skills Transitory Center. Mayor Stephens toured the facility and they are doing bunks, internet, landscaping now. The schedule is July for employees and August for inmates. It will create 100 jobs and hold 240 inmates. We will need to refresh our security plans for General John A Logan School. Jim Stewart stated that the pumps are okay at the boot camp.

7th Street Lift station is a problem. He’ll bring back with his recommendation, but it has to be done. He does not know the problem and won’t know until we camera it. His experience and opinion is that more horsepower and bigger pumps are needed. He will get us prices. It needs to have the camera used but needs to be fixed now. He will have costs by the next meeting.

There was a lighting strike on the new sewer plant; we are getting those things done and then we will turn it in to the insurance company. Mayor told him to proceed.

Discussion regarding the 7th Street Project. Considerable turn out for support and opposition. Harold stated a timetable has been established.

Public comment: Kim Schwartz spoke regarding speed of people going down the road. She stated they are going 40-60 miles per hour and that there is not enough room for two cars to pass each other. She wants the expansion to go farther down. She would like the city to set up a speed control there. Inquired where we were starting extension or expansion. She was told Industrial Park Road to south of railroad tracks. Second phase to go all the way down to Illinois Avenue.

James Kimmel stated that the city drain is a problem. If we would clean the drain they could live with it. He had 43” of water in his yard and 12-13” water in his garage. It did some damage and he wants help to rectify the situation. It was suggested we raise it up to grade and make it bigger and see if it catches more water. Starting work tomorrow. He was told to get information to us and we would turn it into the city’s insurance company. If they won‘t pay then council will see what we can do. Sandra’s already filed an insurance claim. Alderman Bratton suggested that Eric’s assistant go down and see what we can require the neighbor to do to clean up alley.

Alderman Campos inquired about curbs being run over. Darrin stated we can add more gravel plus cones and they still run them over. Alderman Erbes stated school buses at Middle School are a problem.

No public comment.

Alderman Brown opened the Public Safety Committee Meeting.

Ordinance to add licensed concealed carry as an exception to the offense of carrying a concealed weapon was discussed. Concealed carry-CCW means we have to amend our ordinance.

Motion: To approve to amend our ordinance to add licensed concealed carry as an exception to the offences of carrying a concealed weapon.

Motion by Alderman McComb Second by Alderman Hughes

Alderman Brown called for a voice vote. All were in favor.

Motion Carried

Public comment: Mr. Kimmel stated that Logan School should be blocked off. It is an attractive nuisance. We will review to see what we can compel the owner to do better; send him a letter.

Alderman Hughes opened the Personnel Committee Meeting.

There was no old or new business. Alderman Bastien inquired about the person we had hired from SIU to write grants. He was told she took dollars and ran. She brought some grants to us but they were either expired or their deadlines were soon.

No public comment.

Mayor’s Report:

Special thanks to Sue Lynn Johnson and Jamie Green for painting the planters downtown.

Thank Alderman McComb and all the folks involved with soccer this weekend. Great event for city and great turn out.

Council members get with him for chairs on committees they want.

Aldermen Announcements/Requests:

Barb Hughes Nothing

Jance Curry-Witzman Nothing

Russell Brown Isn’t the mortgage holder supposed to keep the property clean? He was told the bank is requesting the delay on Costa’s property.

Herb Voss Nothing

Gary McComb Citywide Cleanup Week is this Friday and Saturday. Take everything but landscape waste-that can be taken the 1st & 3rd weekend of the month.

John Erbes Nothing

Dan Bratton Electric turned on at the Old Depot. Should start on windows.

Mike Bastien Nothing.

Gloria Campos Welcome new members

W. J. Pittman On June 10th at old Masonic Home there will be a carnival with games, music, doctors providing blood pressure etc., from 12- 8 pm. from 20th to 21st Dewey Street to Clay Street.

Department Head Announcements/Requests:

Ed Heller Nothing.

Sandra Ripley Nothing

Harold Sheffer Nothing

Steve Swafford Nothing

Chad Roberts Nothing.

Scott Evans Nothing

Eric Kennedy Nothing

Brian Manwaring Nothing.

Darrin Milles Nothing

Jim Stewart Nothing.

Motion: To go into executive session at 8:15 pm to discuss matters related to 5ILCS 120/2(c)(1) regarding the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or general counsel and to discuss matters related to 5ILCS 120/2(c)(2) regarding collective negotiating matters and the contract proposal between the city and its employees or their representatives.

Motion by Alderman Hughes Second by Alderman Erbes

Yeas: Alderman Hughes, Alderman Curry-Witzman, Alderman Brown, Alderman Voss, Alderman McComb, Alderman Erbes, Alderman Bratton, Alderman Bastien, Alderman Campos, Alderman Pittman

Nays: None

Motion Carried

No action taken.

Motion: To adjourn

Motion by Alderman Erbes Second by Alderman Bastien

Mayor Stephens called for a voice vote. All were in favor.

Motion Carried

Meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.

http://www.murphysboro-il.gov/files/Council_Minutes_-_2017-05-23.pdf