Carbondale Reporter

City of Marion City Council met Nov. 28.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Marion held in the Council Chambers at 5:30 P.M. The City Clerk was instructed to call the roll and the response was as follows:

PHYSICALLY PRESENT: COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND STOECKLIN AND MAYOR ABSHER.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Fire Chief Tim Barnett.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were no public comments this evening.

CONSENT AGENDA

Commissioner Webb made a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Commissioner Barwick seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND STOECKLIN AND MAYOR ABSHER ALL VOTED YEA.

OLD BUSINESS

Mayor Absher announced Ordinance 3842 was previously tabled to try and make it simpler. He asked City Attorney Wendy Cunningham to walk through the current ordinance. She explained there has been a moratorium on certain types of signs for a year. Wendy told the Council there is a fine line between making the sign ordinance constitutionally legal and achieving city goals. She went on to explain this ordinance regulates all signs, not just billboards and any current sign is considered to be grandfathered in subject to certain maintenance. She said no new billboards will be allowed in the city. She explained there is an application process for a sign permit and there is an appeal process when a sign permit is denied. The appeal would then come before Council for final decision. After lengthy discussion between Mayor Absher, the Commissioners and Wendy, some changes to the ordinance were proposed. Mayor Absher suggested a change to section V, item D that states any sign larger than three hundred (300) square feet on a property that is used for commercial or industrial purposes, along the major road, or larger than 200 square feet elsewhere. He also suggested the addition of item I to section V. This item states no portion of a permanent sign shall extend past the city street right-of-way line.

Commissioner Patton made a motion to approve Ordinance 3842 amending the Marion City Code regarding signage including section D as noted and the addition of section V I. Commissioner Barwick seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND STOECKLIN AND MAYOR ABSHER ALL VOTED YEA.

NEW BUSINESS

FIRE DEPARTMENT

Commissioner Barwick made a motion to approve the purchase of extrication equipment to outfit Engines three and four and a thermal imaging camera for the new ladder engine, a budgeted item. Commissioner Webb seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND STOECKLIN AND MAYOR ABSHER ALL VOTED YEA.

Fire Chief Barnett told the Council the new fire truck could possibly be finished by mid- December this year.

Commissioner Barwick explained the fire department does not currently have extrication equipment on all trucks. Recently, the fire truck with the extrication equipment on it was out on a call and the extrication equipment was needed for another call. That equipment had to be picked up and taken to the other call. Having extrication equipment on multiple trucks will save response time in the future.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MUNICIPAL PLANNING

Mayor Absher told the Council the city received a petition to annex a piece of property on Fietsam Road. This is part of PIN 07-09-300-001. Mayor's Chief of Staff Cody Moake told the Council the area north of Fietsam Road is not in city limits.

Mayor Absher made a motion to approve Ordinance 3852 approving a petition of annexation from David L. Lawrence for part of PIN 07-09-300-001. Commissioner Stoecklin seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND STOECKLIN AND MAYOR ABSHER ALL VOTED YEA.

BUILDING & CODE SERVICES

Mayor Absher explained agenda items 7A and 7B are interrelated. These items are for Dr. Craig Smith who owns the Pet Wellness Center.

Mayor's Chief of Staff Cody Moake told the Council agenda item 7A is a change in zoning from rural agriculture to C-1 general commercial. He said the zoning board voted unanimously to change the zoning on these lots and there were no comments from the public regarding the change at the zoning board meeting. He explained six lots were originally submitted to be rezoned. A revised plat was sent this morning which includes out lots A and B. Those will have to be rezoned at a later date, if necessary, since they were not included in the original rezoning request. He explained agenda item 7B is accepting the plat of subdivision for the six lots and two out lots. Commissioner Webb asked about the construction and dedication of Boulder Drive. Cody told the Council Boulder Drive has been constructed but has not yet been dedicated to the city. The dedication will be part of the vote to accept the subdivision tonight.

Mayor Absher made a motion to approve Ordinance 3850 authorizing a zoning change to PIN #06-17-200-033 from R-A Rural Agriculture to C-1 General Commercial (CCS Real Estate Holding, LLC). Commissioner Stoecklin seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND STOECKLIN AND MAYOR ABSHER ALL VOTED YEA.

Mayor Absher made a motion to approve Ordinance 3851 accepting a subdivision platted as The Woodlands Phase 2 Subdivision. Commissioner Stoecklin seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND STOECKLIN AND MAYOR ABSHER ALL VOTED YEA.

COMMISSIONER REPORTS

Commissioner Webb reported the Street Department has been running the leaf vac to clean ditches in anticipation of the coming rain this week. They have been working on alleys and getting the snowplows and salt spreaders ready for winter weather. He had nothing to report for the Cemetery Department.

Commissioner Stoecklin read the Water Department report since last meeting. He gave kudos to all involved with the lights parade. For the monthly trivia question, he asked where the tallest water tower in the world is located and what is the height of the tower. It is in Edmond, Oklahoma and it is 218 feet tall. He compared this to the city's newest water tower which is 168 feet tall. Both towers hold 500,000gallons. He told the Council the contractors had to stop painting the new water tower due to a drop in temperature. They will finish painting it this spring and then it can be filled with water. Glenn Clarida explained the temperature must be 40 degrees for the paint to cure.

Commissioner Barwick had nothing to report.

Commissioner Patton had nothing to report.

MISCELLANEOUS

There were no miscellaneous items to come before council this evening.

CLOSED/EXECUTIVE SESSION

6:30 PM

Mayor Absher made a motion to go into executive session to discuss a property matter (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6)) and a personnel matter (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)). Commissioner Webb seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND STOECKLIN AND MAYOR ABSHER ALL VOTED YEA.

7:41 P.M.

Commissioner Webb made a motion to adjourn the Executive Session and resume the Regular Meeting. Commissioner Patton seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND STOECKLIN AND MAYOR ABSHER ALL VOTED YEA.

Commissioner Webb made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Barwick seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND

STOECKLIN AND MAYOR ABSHER ALL VOTED YEA.

Meeting Adjourned at 7:42 P.M.

https://cityofmarionil.gov/agendas-minutes/