Carbondale Reporter

City of Murphysboro City Council met Jan. 9.

Here is the minutes provided by the Council:

The Murphysboro, Illinois, City Council met in regular session, pursuant to its ordinances, on the 9th day of January, 2018. Mayor Stephens called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and invited Pastor Dean Akins 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, Herb Voss, John Erbes, Danny Bratton, Mike Bastien

Absent: Russell Brown, Gary McComb, Gloria Campos, W. J. Pittman

Motion: To approve the minutes of the December 19, 2017 council meeting. All aldermen received a copy of the minutes, for their review, prior to the meeting. Motion by Alderman Hughes Second by Alderman Voss Mayor Stephens called for a voice vote. All were in favor. Motion Carried

Motion: To approve the accounts payable, register #649, #650 and #651 through January 9, 2018, accounts receivable through January 9, 2018 and payroll through January 9, 2018. All aldermen received a copy of the accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll for their review, prior to the meeting. Motion by Alderman Bastien Second by Alderman Bratton Mayor Stephens called for a voice vote. All were in favor. Motion Carried

COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS

Mayor Stephens opened the Budget & Finance Meeting.

Mayor Stephens informed the council regarding the Village of Vergennes and a water charge issue. We do a certain amount of water maintenance and they pay us for water. This agreement is a 40 plus year agreement. Our agreement with them set forth a rate we are supposed to be billing them; however, we have been charging them 30 cents more than the agreement. They have been overcharged approximately $23,500. Sandra stated we are supposed to be charging them 10 cents above what Kinkaid charges us. We entered into the present agreement in 1995 for 40 years. Alderman Bratton inquired if this is a written agreement; is it open ended? He would like that information in the next packet. Mayor Stephens stated that ten years ago we had under charged them and they owed us $10,000 and we accepted $5,000.

No public comment.

Mayor Stephens opened the Building and Grounds Meeting.

Attorney Heller gave an update on the North 23rd and Union Pacific issue. There are still nine days to go on the 30 days but he has heard nothing yet. Mayor Stephens stated we are in a holding pattern.

Chief Roberts discussed the electrical work needed in the police patrol room/basement; ungrounded outlets, missing circuits, etc. Darren’s guys can’t do the work. He would like to make the area functional. Murphysboro Electric will do work for $1055.

Motion: To approve the electrical work in police patrol room/basement by Murphysboro Electric for approximately $1055. Motion by Alderman Erbes Second by Alderman Voss Mayor called for a voice vote. All were in favor. Motion Carried

Chief Roberts discussed the replacement of carpet at city hall. The carpet is coming up. The safety committee indicated it needed to be replaced. Another issue is mold, which is also a safety issue. This is the investigative office. Alderman Bratton request Chief Roberts verify this is prevailing wage.

Motion: To approve the replacement of carpet at city hall by Distinctive Flooring for approximately $1350 upon verification of prevailing wage Motion by Alderman Hughes Second by Alderman Erbes Mayor called for a voice vote. All were in favor. Motion Carried

No public comment.

Alderman Erbes opened the Community Relations Committee Meeting.

Council considered the request for street closures for Brews Brother’s Taproom for April 6, May 4, June 1, July 6, August 3 and September 7, 2018.

Motion: To approve the street closures request for Brews Brothers Taproom. Motion by Alderman Voss Second by Alderman Hughes Alderman Erbes called for a voice vote. All were in favor. Motion Carried

There was no public comment.

Alderman Bastien opened the Public Improvement Committee Meeting.

Eric Kennedy stated he did not issue the ticket to Ms. Jacobs as directed by council at the December 19, 2017 meeting. He was unsure how to write the ticket and did not get it done. Mayor Stephens stated that after talking to the city attorney and Alderman Bastien the city should recognize the survey provided by Regina Jones unless Ms. Jacobs provides another survey. Alderman Bastien stated that Eric was to write the ticket. After discussion Mayor Stephens directed Eric Kennedy to issue the ticket for violating the fence code and the other questions were deferred till later.

No public comment.

Alderman Bratton opened the Public Works Committee Meeting.

Discussion was held regarding the request by Kinkaid-Reed’s Creek Conservancy District. J T Jenkins stated the valve on the million gallon tank on Cemetery Hill is not working correctly. It is the hook valve and they have to open and close it manually. Total repairs are approximately $5,000-$7,000 and they would split the cost with us, $3500 maximum. They would do the installation work. They would do all the labor but the computer programming and would split the parts cost.

Motion: To approve the request by Kinkaid-Reed’s Creek Conservancy District for a maximum cost of $3500 Motion by Alderman Hughes Second by Alderman Bastien Alderman Bratton called for a voice vote. All were in favor. Motion Carried

Discussion was held regarding the reduction of the $8,000 invoice from Illini Asphalt for the 20th Street slag seal. Mayor met with them at J.T. Blankenship Office. Illini told him about all the things that went wrong that day, it was a really bad day. Mayor wants a concession; however he was informed they had billed us at their costs. They would make a $500 concession reducing the bill to $7500. Alderman Bratton stated we could accept the $500 concession or ask for more. We didn’t get what we paid for. Pay only half because we only got half the job and there was a lot more street sweeping costs. He stated we pay up to $4,000 because we didn’t get the job we expected

Motion: To approve to pay up to $4000 to Illini Asphalt for 20th Street Slag Seal. Motion by Alderman Voss Second by Alderman Bastien Alderman Bratton called for a voice vote. All were in favor. Motion Carried

Mayor Stephens will send a letter to Illini Asphalt explaining our position and send a copy to Mr. Sheffer.

No public comment.

Mayor Stephens opened the Public Safety Committee Meeting.

Mayor asked for consideration of the ordinance amending the offense of fighting by agreement. Chief Roberts is satisfied; codified state statue and included into our ordinance.

Motion: To approve ordinance amending the offense of fighting by agreement. Motion by Alderman Bratton Second by Alderman Hughes Mayor Stephens called for a voice vote. All were in favor. Motion Carried

Two new police officers were introduced: Joseph Maser who had ten years working at Nashville, Tennessee and Chase Rednoir who is going to training. Welcome aboard.

No public comment.

Alderman Hughes opened the Personnel Committee Meeting.

Mayor Stephens gave an update on the FOP contract. Mark Brittingham stated that FOP had indicated they had not finished typing the contract. So no comment tonight. Chief Roberts indicated they had everything hashed out and resolved.

Alderman Hughes stated we are interviewing for the new employee in public works.

No public comment.

MAYOR’S REPORT

Mayor stated he wants to schedule meetings with the alderman one on one and the department heads for one hour over the next month. He is requesting a sharing of goals-yours and mine.

ALDERMEN ANNOUNCEMENTS/REQUESTS

Barb Hughes Nothing

Jance Curry-Witzman Nothing

Herb Voss Nothing

John Erbes Nothing

Dan Bratton Tim thanks for water breaks work-cold, hard water breaks.

Tim is out of the hospital but having some problems.

Mike Bastien Nothing

DEPARTMENT HEAD ANNOUNCEMENTS/REQUESTS

Edward Heller Nothing

Sandra Ripley Nothing

Harold Sheffer Nothing

Steve Swafford Nothing

Chad Roberts Remind everyone of the Employee/Recognition Banquet

January 16th at Family Life Center at 805 S. 16th Street.

Eric Kennedy Nothing

Darrin Mills Nothing

Jim Stewart Nothing

Motion: To adjourn Motion by Alderman Bratton Second by Alderman Erbes Mayor Stephens called for a voice vote. All were in favor. Motion Carried

Meeting adjourned at 7:12 p.m.

http://www.murphysboro-il.gov/files/Council_Minutes_-_2018-01-09.pdf