City of Murphysboro City Council met November 14.
Here is the minutes provided by the Council:
The Murphysboro, Illinois, City Council met in regular session, pursuant to its ordinances, on the 14th day of November, 2017. Mayor Stephens called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and invited Pastor Sam Foskey to lead 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, W. J. Pittman, Gloria Campos
Absent:
Mayor Stephens presented the Russell Breading Memorial Community Service Award for 2017 to Danny Gould for being the driving force for the establishment of and commitment to the Murphysboro Junior Football Program.
Motion: To approve the minutes of the October 24, 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 Stephens called for a voice vote. All were in favor.
Motion Carried
Motion: To approve the accounts payable, register #642 and #643 through November 14, 2017, accounts receivable through November 14, 2017 and payroll through November 14, 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 Stephens called for a voice vote. All were in favor.
Motion Carried
Committee/Commission Reports:
Alderman Brown opened the Public Safety Committee Meeting.
It was determined to table the consideration of the ordinance amending the offense of fighting by agreement.
The request to donate found bikes to the Murphysboro Middle School Bike Club was discussed. The bike club is involved in community service rides once a month, learning bike laws and bike safety, repair and maintenance, and riding. They have 59 members who must be grade eligible. Officer Harper is involved with the organization. He addressed the council and informed them that the bikes are found property and no owner has been determined. These bicycles are past the 6 months old time required by Illinois and he wants to donate them to the club. There are four bikes belonging to the Murphysboro Police Department which were purchased over 15 years ago and are no longer used by the department and should be considered surplus property.
Motion: To approve declaring bicycles as surplus and donating them to the Murphysboro Middle School Bike Club.
Motion by Alderman McComb Second by Alderman Bratton Alderman Brown called for a voice vote. All were in favor.
Motion Carried
No public comment.
Alderman Hughes opened the Personnel Committee Meeting.
Shawn Griffith will retire from the street department 1/16/18. We need to hire someone. The position will need to be put up for bid within the department and if no one is interested then we advertise and the do interviews. The time frame is five days for the internal posting and then we put in the paper. We are already one person short in the department.
The part time person is not interested in the position. Part time works 1,000 hours and then off for six months. Mayor Stephens stated Shawn has been with the city 34 years and we need to figure out how to recognize him.
Motion: To approve the internal posting of the street department position immediately..
Motion by Alderman Bratton Second by Alderman Brown
Alderman Brown called for a voice vote. All were in favor.
Motion Carried
Motion: To go into executive session at 6:34 pm to discuss matters related to 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 Bratton Second by Alderman Bastien
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
Motion: To come out of executive session at 6:47 pm.
Motion by Alderman McComb Seconded by Alderman Bastien
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.
No public comment.
Alderman Pittman opened the Budget & Finance Meeting.
Scott Evans presented the following budget reports: Citywide Balance Sheet, Citywide Income Statement, and Schedule of Certificates of Deposit,
We will hold a budget and finance meeting November 21, 2017 at 6 pm. Scott will have budget requests from all the departments at this meeting.
No public comment.
Alderman McComb opened the Building and Grounds Meeting.
Voluntary annex agreement was discussed. Mayor Stephens sent a draft to Attorney Heller with information of what should be drafted into annex agreement. These agreements are typically structured alike with a freeze or rebate on voluntary annexation. Mayor hopes to have a draft by the next meeting.
Mayor Stephens discussed the conference call with Union Pacific with regard to the status update of the issue on North 23rd. They are unwilling to give lease, easement or dedication on terms so the property owners can get a mortgage on the property. Mayor does not see a resolution by further debate and Attorney Heller agrees. Attorney Heller informed the council that he could not see any access to these properties through another road. Attorney Heller advised there is an Illinois statue which provides that if the city maintains this as a street for 15 years it becomes a street. Darrin and Harold stated that we have physical records of our maintenance on that road since 1993. Attorney Heller wants to see the railroad records showing they have maintained the road. The next step is to write a letter to the railroad asking for their maintenance records. Attorney Heller was advised to move forward with that communication.
No public comment.
Alderman Erbes opened the Community Relations Committee Meeting.
There was no old or new business.
Brian Mainwaring stated that he was issuing a thank you on behalf of the football team. He gave the council a thank you card from Coach Carter for “Feeding the Team” event.
Alderman Bastien opened the Public Improvement Committee Meeting.
Alderman Bastien then turned the issue of the SR-2 to B-1 zoning over to the mayor. Major Stephens stated that at the last meeting we discussed this, that we should respect one another and speak one at a time. Alderman Erbes reviewed some materials on this and the mayor had talked to the other alderman about the issues. Although there was some discussion last time about a variance for Casey’s on this existing non-conforming use, Attorney Heller stated the ordinance says we cannot expand use or building and we cannot do variance to waive the ordinance. Board of Appeals can expand residential; residents have recourse by appealing to the Board of Appeals. Alderman Erbes stated he is for this issue since citizens have recourse. Alderman Voss stated Casey’s is important to citizens there and he had canvassed and talked to them.
Several citizens addressed the council regarding the amending of zoning from a SR- 2 to A B-1 zoning district along Walnut Street. They stated that delivery trucks block the alley when they are unloading, businesses place dumpsters into the alley and block the alley so residents cannot drive through the alley and the business customers take parking spaces. One citizen inquired what Casey’s intended to do and she was informed they want to add a walk-in cooler at one end of the building and add storage to the other end. They want to expand 8-10 feet on each side because of more food service.
Mayor stated we can regulate delivery by Casey’s and have delivery trucks use the parking lot but they are talking about Modern Copier, not Casey’s. Mayor Stephens we could ask the same for any of the businesses; request they be good neighbors and watch their trash, etc. They inquired why we are doing both sides and the mayor stated it is for consistency sake.
Alderman Bratton stated it is important to support our business.
No public comment.
Motion: To approve the ordinance amending the zoning from a SR-2 to a B-1 Zoning District along Walnut Street from 2104 to 2136 Walnut Street on the North Side and from 2101 to 2203 Walnut Street on the South Side.
Motion by Alderman Bratton Second by Alderman Bastien
Alderman Bastien called for a voice vote. All were in favor.
Motion Carried
Alderman Bratton opened the Public Works Committee Meeting.
Alderman Bratton reported that the 22nd Street drainage bid was $35,000 and the street and water departments did it and seeded and completed and saved us approximately $26,000. He gave a thank you to the departments.
Purchase of grappling bucket attachment for the backhoe was discussed. No modification is needed to the backhoe, the dollars are in the budget already, and it is a safety issue not having one.
Motion: To approve the purchase of a grappling bucket attachment for the backhoe for approximately $4500.
Motion by Alderman McComb Second by Alderman Campos
Alderman Bratton called for a voice vote. All were in favor.
Motion Carried
Final change order for the Wastewater Treatment Plant was discussed. Jim Stewart agrees with everything on it and Harold inquired if there were any questions and Alderman Bratton had none. Alderman McComb asked if they are fixing our wheel chair ramp. Harold checked with them but had received no response back yet. Harold has written a letter for the mayor to send to River City Construction listing details that need to be done: caulk around UV unit-Harold says they said they will be here to fix that sometime this week; air seal leak; terminal pump station-it is still kicking out; influent and effluent flow meter readings-need to check calibration. Jim gave his blessing for the letter, he agrees on the letter.
Motion: To approve the final change order for the Wastewater Treatment Plant and issue a check when the invoice is presented.
Motion by Alderman Hughes Second by Alderman Brown
Alderman Bratton called for a voice vote. All were in favor.
Motion Carried
Jim Stewart said next week pumps for 7th Street being put in. Lake of Egypt is interested in the old ones. Alderman Erbes inquired about sewer water line and Tim Lee said sewer water line is being taken care of next week.
No public comment.
Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Stephens stated he had nothing to report except that Sandra’s been at a two day conference in Bloomington and she’s here directly from attending that conference.
We are requesting to change the December 26, 2017 meeting to December 19, 2017.
Motion: To approve changing the December 26, 2017 meeting to December 19, 2017.
Motion by Alderman Campos Second by Alderman McComb
Mayor Stephens called for a voice vote. All were in favor.
Motion Carried
Aldermen Announcements/Requests:
Barb Hughes Nothing
Jance Curry-Witzman On 22nd Street and Wall Street grass bushes growing over sidewalk and cannot see. Does the city have any say so about trimming these? Eric will take care of it tomorrow.
Russell Brown Nothing
Herb Voss Nothing
Gary McComb Clean up scheduled on Walnut Street from Casey’s to Colonel Sanders. Clean from curb in.
John Erbes Nothing
Dan Bratton Completed ditch project on Roberta Drive issue except one phase. Working on this and beavers, pipe and fittings. Street department doing the lower ditch, will need to lower a foot and a half. Wants blessing to proceed. $3000 is approximate cost. Will wait to work on it until it freezes or in spring. Using 12” pipe. Bratton had reached out to Mr. Grode regarding sharing costs but he’s doing chemo and is not in the office so no response received to date.
Mike Bastien Thank Jim Stewart and Darrin, they worked all day on and off and made up resource packets for ministers.
W. J. Pittman Nothing.
Gloria Campos Nothing
Department Head Announcements/Requests:
Ed Heller Nothing.
Sandra Ripley Nothing
Harold Sheffer EPA has 20-30 years loans at 1.76%. The three applications are due in January. Think about that-if any projects.
Steve Swafford Nothing
Chad Roberts Bureau of Justice Division federal grant-Received $4100 for new vests.
Scott Evans Nothing
Eric Kennedy Nothing
Tim Lee Nothing
Brian Manwaring Nothing
Darrin Mills Nothing
Jim Stewart Nothing
Motion: To adjourn
Motion by Alderman McComb Second by Alderman Brown Mayor Stephens called for a voice vote. All were in favor.
Motion Carried
Meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
http://www.murphysboro-il.gov/files/Council_Minutes_-_2017-11-14.pdf
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