Carbondale Reporter

City of Murphysboro City Council met July 11.

Here is the minutes as provided by the council:

The Murphysboro, Illinois, City Council met in regular session, pursuant to its

ordinances, on the 11th day of July 2017. Mayor Stephens called the meeting to

order at 6:00 p.m. and led the council in prayer. Following the invocation, Mayor

Stephens led the council in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Mayor Stephens

then directed City Clerk Cottonaro to call the roll. The roll was called with the

following

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 June 27, 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 #688 and #689 through

July 11, 2017, accounts receivable through July 11, 2017 and payroll through

July 11, 2017. All aldermen received a copy of the accounts payable, accounts

receivable and payroll for their review, prior to the meeting.

Motion by Alderman Erbes                                Second by Alderman Bratton

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

Motion Carried

Committee/Commission Reports

Alderman Pittman opened the Budget & Finance Meeting.

Mayor Stephens stated a meeting regarding Senior Citizens was set up for 4 p.m.

this Thursday with Joe Balsano, Alderman Pittman and himself to present an offer

from Jackson County Mass Transit. Mayor Stephens will reach out to a

representative from Jackson County Mass Transit to attend the meeting as well.

Part time grant writer was discussed. Mayor Stephens will have more at out next

meeting. Brian Hollo is sending him a fee structure based upon reward, which he

wants to present to us. Alderman Pittman also wants a fee structure included to pay

a grant writer.

There is no additional information on infrastructure solutions/revenue.

No public comment.

Alderman McComb opened the Building and Grounds Meeting.

There was no old or new business and no public comment.

Alderman Erbes opened the Community Relations Committee Meeting.

There was much discussion regarding the consideration of an ordinance to add

territory to the Enterprise Zone. Alderman Bratton thought we should go over the

proposal and vote at the next meeting.

Motion: To approve to hold this issue and go over the proposal and vote at

the next meeting.

Motion by Alderman Bratton                          Second by Alderman McComb

Ayes: Alderman McComb, Alderman Erbes, Alderman Bratton, Alderman Bastien

Nays: Alderman Hughes, Alderman Curry-Witzman, Alderman Brown, Alderman

Voss, Alderman Campos, Alderman Pittman

Motion Failed

Motion: To approve the ordinance to add territory to the Enterprise Zone.

Motion by Alderman Hughes                         Second by Alderman Bastien

Ayes: Alderman Hughes, Alderman Curry-Witzman, Alderman Brown, Alderman

Voss, Alderman McComb, Alderman Erbes, Alderman Bastien, Alderman

Campos, Alderman Pittman

Nays: Alderman Bratton

Motion Carried

Mayor Stephens wants to speak to One Hot Cookie about annexing inside the city

limits.

No public comment.

Alderman Bastien opened the Public Improvement Committee Meeting.

The yard sale ordinance was discussed. Alderman Pittman wants the yard sale

ordinance amended to allow for charitable, nonprofit, fraternal, and churches. Mayor

Stephens requested Attorney Heller draft an amendment.

Mr. Wisely addressed the council and requested to read a statement about his

objections to the yard sale ordinance. He stated that this fight isn’t even over.

Consideration of the proposal from BLIP Networks, LLC was discussed. Attorney

Heller has a set of amendments drafted for council members to look over. Their

proposal is a basic form that doesn’t allow for doing business with the city and the

rules we have to follow. Mayor Stephens stated that Brian is in agreement with

Attorney Heller’s addendum. Much discussion followed.

Motion: To approve to recess at 7:02 for 10 minutes to review and then vote

on the BLIP proposal.

Motion by Alderman Campos                            Second by Alderman Bastien

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

Motion Carried

Meeting resumed at 7:15. Alderman Bratton requested to review Addendum C for

discussion; he would like to propose a 3% annual increase in the fee paid.

Alderman Voss is not in favor because it seems as if the only value we are getting is

money and this service has other values. BLIP stated they cannot sign this contract

with these addendums.

A motion by Alderman Campos to vote on the original contract failed to get a

second.

BLIP will review this addendum and be back in two weeks. Alderman Pittman stated

that Attorney Heller should get a copy prior to the next meeting so he can give the

council a recommendation at the meeting.

A public comment was made that we should approve BLIP as Frontier is horrible.

Alderman Bratton opened the Public Works Committee Meeting.

Harold Sheffer discussed the Osburn Street extension. He met with IDOT and they

are not very receptive to opening up access for private business. He will get back to

them.

Discussion regarding bids for lining for sewer lines was held. Tim Lee stated that

3100 feet can be lined; he said he was not ready yet for bids.

Discussion was held regarding the approval of an offer by the owner of 301 Rogers

Street to demolish the residence and pay costs and to waive attorney fees and

associated costs. Question was raised if there was a lawsuit pending. The answer

was yes so we should not drop it until the demolition is complete.

Motion: To approve the offer by the owner of 301 Rogers Street to demolish

the residence and pay costs and waive attorney fees and associated costs and

hold further action on the pending court case until the demolition is complete.

Motion by Alderman McComb                              Second by Alderman Voss

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

Motion Carried

Mayor Stephens opened the bids for the replacement of approximately 60’ of 36”

drain pipe located off of North 22nd Street. Bids as follows: Samron $38,507 and

A&W Plumbing $34,868.

Motion: To approve the bid of A&W Plumbing in the amount of $34,868 for the

replacement of approximately 60’ of 36” drain pipe located off of North 22nd

Street.

Motion by Alderman Campos                               Second by Alderman Brown

Ayes: Alderman Hughes, Alderman Curry-Witzman, Alderman Brown, Alderman

Voss, Alderman Erbes, Alderman Bratton, Alderman Bastien, Alderman

Campos, Alderman Pittman

Nays: Alderman McComb

Motion Carried

Billboard placements were discussed. Alderman Pittman stated that the ordinance

says no business can advertise for other businesses but we are doing that now. He

thinks we should look at it again. He wants to allow Chris Grither to do it. Alderman

Erbes inquired if we open it up now how do we close it. Attorney Heller stated that

those billboards were grandfathered in prior to this ordinance. It was decided to

leave the ordinance as is.

Mayor Stephens discussed the consideration of a new sidewalk program. Is there a

better way to get to folks on this list? Darrin stated he has eight people on the list

now and if he can get to them he could do those over two months. Mayor Stephens

indicated we could just ditch the program and use the $25,000 to fix sidewalks until

the money is gone.

Alderman Bratton stated that Alderman McComb had gotten truck bids; $21,000 for

a ½ ton Ford truck out of Springfield. Bucket truck/van that needs to be red tagged.

We need two trucks. Mayor Stephen stated that Bert Ozburn said Smysor Trust

would soon be getting dollars to us for a truck. Mayor instructed Darrin to take the

95 truck to Humm’s and see if it can be repaired and how much it costs to repair.

Mayor Stephens instructed Darrin to take the van out of operation and he will contact

the Jackson County Highway Department to see if we could use a truck to put-up

banners.

Ms. Norton asked if we are talking about residential sidewalks or walks on Walnut

Street. She stated she knew about the residential ordinance information.

Alderman Brown opened the Public Safety Committee Meeting.

Discussion regarding the Drone Ordinance was held. Alderman Hughes stated they

have to call the airport now which is what the ordinance was saying. Airport said in

the five mile radius from the airport no one is regulating this. Alderman Pittman

stated that the airport ordinance is same as FAA. The purpose is so we have one

uniform, identical ordinance.

Alderman Voss stated the airport is telling us that by adopting this ordinance we are

taking safety measures.

Motion: To approve the Drone Ordinance as written.

Motion by Alderman Pittman                                          Second by Alderman Voss

Ayes: Alderman Curry-Witzman, Alderman Brown, Alderman Voss, Alderman

Bratton, Alderman Bastien, Alderman Pittman

Nays: Alderman Hughes, Alderman McComb, Alderman Erbes, Alderman Campos

Motion Carried

Alderman Campos stated that we are not being prepared for the traffic for the

eclipse event. We should schedule police heavier for those days at Air B&B,

Nazarene Church, campsites. Police Chief Roberts stated he is meeting with the

group planning events for the eclipse.

Public Comment: Do we have an ordinance about the city coming out to inspect a

dwelling before the landlord can rent it?

Alderman Hughes opened the Personnel Committee Meeting.

Alderman Hughes stated this is informational. We have hired a 1,000 hour person

for Darrin and he started Monday. Thanks to Darrin for handling Washington

School.

Alderman Bastien asked about insurance and prescriptions. He was informed that

this was going to happen anyway but because we switched it happened in October.

In 2017 every plan changed and the co pay changed.

No public comment.

Mayor’s Report

Mayor stated that Brian Brewer’s was completing his final day.

Mayor thanked Darrin and the street department crew and Tim in the water

department- things have gotten done.

 Aldermen Announcements/Requests

Barb Hughes Nothing

Jance Curry-WitzmanNothing

Russell Brown Complain about neighbor’s property; how to get it cleaned up.

Attorney Heller stated we can cite the guy who owns the

property and then send in our crews to mow and collect

dollars from citation fees. Mayor requested Attorney Heller to

write a letter to the mortgage holder.

Herb Voss Nothing

Gary McComb Nothing.

John Erbes He noticed the North 22nd Street flags and asked if anyone

knew who was responsible. Alderman Bastien stated it was

Murphy Wall Bank that did that.

Dan Bratton Stewart ordered two new pumps for the lift station and 2-3

weeks they will be in so we can install them. He has a

problem with us having to pay for that when they were not big

enough. Harold stated we should be addressing how to pump

water away from the station..

Mike Bastien Nothing.

Gloria Campos 14th Street sidewalk and $25,000. She is just saying.

W. J. Pittman Benefit for Sophie Webb. First Bank and Trust hosting fund

raiser. It will be a fish fry and Trivia Night at the American

Legion on Saturday.

Department Head Announcements/Requests

Ed Heller Nothing.

Sandra Ripley Nothing

Harold Sheffer Nothing

Steve Swafford Nothing

Chad Roberts There will be a retirement luncheon for Brewer, Reiman and

Legere tomorrow at noon.

Eric Kennedy Nothing

Tim Lee Fountain parts are on back order.

Darrin Mills Nothing

Jim Stewart Nothing.

Don Gladden Library is an interesting appointment.

Motion: To adjourn

Motion by Alderman Bastien Second by Alderman Bratton

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

Motion Carried

Meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

http://www.murphysboro-il.gov/files/Council_Minutes_-_2017-07-11.pdf