Carbondale Reporter

City of Marion City Council met Aug. 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.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mayor Absher led the Pledge of Allegiance.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Greg Portee with Southern Illinois Advance told the Council he was here to make public recognition of the City Council for what they do in our community and for the children of the community. He explained Southern Illinois Advance is dedicated to helping children today for a much better tomorrow. He said they try to help children be more constructive instead of destructive. He thanked the city for helping them with this journey. He presented a plaque to Mayor Absher. He said this is their humanitarian award they present to groups who take time to help people in the community.

CONSENT AGENDA

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

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

NEW BUSINESS

BUILDING AND CODE SERVICES DEPARTMENT

Affirm/Overrule the Zoning Board's Approval of a Zoning Change at 1304 North Garfield Street Mayor Absher made a motion to affirm the Zoning Board's approval of a zoning change (Ordinance 3912) at 1304 North Garfield Street PIN #07-18-134-009 from R-2 General Family Residential to C-1 General Commercial for a coffee franchise. Commissioner Webb seconded the motion.

Mayor Absher asked if there were speakers in attendance who were for and against the zoning change at 1304 North Garfield Street. The resident who lives at 1306 North Garfield Street was present and wanted to address the Council against the zoning change at 1304 North Garfield. He said he is opposed to the change. He is opposed to the developer of the proposed coffee franchise placing a fence around the property adjacent to his property. He feels that a fence is unsightly and will make his property hard to sell. He said he doesn't want to be surrounded by businesses. He told the Council the traffic on North Garfield Street is already pretty heavy. He said it backs up for twenty to thirty minutes each day after school because the school busses coming from Lincoln School travel down North Garfield to turn out on to DeYoung Street. He believes that the entering and exiting customers from the coffee franchise will make traffic worse. He said if the developer would buy his property, the building could be turned north and south and the customers could enter and exit via DeYoung Street.

Mayor Absher reminded the resident and audience the item before Council is to change the zoning of the property, not to approve a site plan for the proposed business. He told the resident his property is the exception to the zoning in that area. All other properties two lots deep are currently zoned for commercial development. He also indicated that he thinks the building permit process needs careful attention for this project due to the traffic flow issues.

Commissioner Barwick stated he has concerns and is not in favor of allowing traffic to exit the property onto DeYoung Street. He also thinks it is a mistake for the resident living adjacent to the property to not want a fence.

A representative of the developer was also present at the meeting. She said the closing on the three properties adjacent to DeYoung Street has been delayed. She said they have a preliminary site plan drawn by engineer Ryan Farley. They do not want to enter and exit the property from DeYoung Street due to traffic congestion and that IDOT doesn't care either way.

Mayor Absher said he wants the site plan for this project to be approved by Council due to traffic concerns. After discussing the issue, Mayor Absher called for a vote.

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

ANIMAL CONTROL

Ordinance 3911 Amending Ordinance 3902 Known as the Animal Control Ordinance Mayor Absher told the Council Ordinance 3911 is dealing with a technical issue.

City Attorney Wendy Cunningham told the Council the amendment to the Animal Control Ordinance is to change the expiration date of the chicken coop licenses. She said in Ordinance 3902, licenses were to renew each January, but it is not feasible to inspect the coops that time of year. Animal Control Officer Shanna Vinyard thought making the licenses run from September 1st through August 31st would be a better time frame.

Commissioner Barwick made a motion to approve Ordinance 3911 amending Ordinance 3902 known as the Animal Control Ordinance. Commissioner Patton seconded the motion.

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

HUB RECREATION CENTER

Recommendation to Purchase Equipment and Flooring Materials from OrthoTech Sports Medical Equipment, Inc., and Enter into a Flooring Contract with Mike Sherrill's Flooring Mayor Absher told the Council the Hub Recreation Center items are for a planned relocation of equipment.

Hub Recreation Center General Manager Chris Georgantas told the Council agenda items 7 A, B and C collectively are one project that remedies an original building design challenge. The second-floor weight room currently used for high impact lifts is located directly above the pool pump room. The goal is to try and eliminate any type of impact above the pool pump room. The high impact lifts are hard to stop and/or monitor here. With years of this type of impact, the likelihood of causing difficulties with plumbing and electronics in the pool pump room is high. This project moves this room to the current Group Exercise Room 1 which is an area that is located over an open area downstairs. The new room will have sound deadening materials that will help reduce the impact of these lifts. This is a budgeted move. Chris explained the three agenda items are for equipment, flooring, and flooring installation.

Mayor Absher made a motion to approve the recommendation of the General Manager to purchase equipment from OrthoTech Sports Medical Equipment, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $32,038.48; to purchase flooring materials from OrthoTech Sports Medical Equipment, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $4,576.26; and sign a contract with Mike Sherrill's Flooring for $675.00. Commissioner Stoecklin seconded the motion.

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

BOYTON STREET COMMUNITY CENTER

Approve Low Bid by H.E. Mitchell for Addition to the Center

Mayor Absher told the Council that bids were opened for the proposed renovation and addition for the Boyton Street Community Center. He told them the recommendation is to choose Alternate Bid #2 and #3. He explained Alternate Bid #2 is for a roof top air conditioning unit and Alternate Bid #3 is for standing seem roofing which has a twenty-year warranty. There were four bidders and H.E. Mitchell out of Harrisburg was the low bidder. The city originally budgeted $1.25 million for the project. The low bid from H.E. Mitchell was $1,170,335. Mayor Absher told the Council this does not leave much left for the existing building renovations. He said the Marion High School building trades program is planning to help do the renovation work over time.

Mayor Absher made a motion to approve the low bid of $1,170,335 from H.E. Mitchell for the Boyton Street Community Center including alternate bids #2 and #3. Commissioner Stoecklin seconded the motion.

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

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Lease Agreement with First United Methodist Church for Parking Lot at Liberty and Union Streets

Mayor Absher told the Council the city does not know the exact date of the move to the new building yet. He said there is a grass lot a block and a half down Union Street adjacent to a lot owned by First United Methodist Church that the city maintains and uses for city parking. The city approached the church about leasing the lot with the city agreeing to improve and maintain it. The church agreed to this for free. The city will have to install the lot for approximately $52,000. This will add 39 parking spaces.

Mayor Absher made a motion to approve a lease with the First United Methodist Church for a lot at the corner of Liberty and Union Streets to build and maintain a parking lot for exclusive city use during business hours as well as expend up to $65,000 out of the project fund for excavation and paving. Commissioner Patton seconded the motion.

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

COMMISSIONER REPORTS

Commissioner Webb

Commissioner Webb reported the Street Department has been hauling brush from recent storms. They have repaired sidewalks on McLaren, Otis, and Browing Streets and Circle Drive. They have been working on drainage issues on Old Creal Road and have been assisting with the paving. He stated the paving should continue for another month to five weeks and he appreciates everyone being patient with traffic delays.

Commissioner Stoecklin - Public Property, Civic Center, Pavilion

Commissioner Stoecklin read the Water Department report since the last meeting. He reported 343 JULIE locates in July. For the first trivia question he asked what was the first water-based theme park in the world? Wet and Wild opened in Orlando in 1977. For the second trivia question he asked what is the most dangerous water sport? Scuba diving is the most dangerous water sport.

Commissioner Barwick - Public Health & Safety

Commissioner Barwick reported the Fire Department received nine AED life saving devices valued at $20,000 from Heartland Regional and Deaconess. He said there are now units on four engines, one ladder truck, three squads, and one unit is at the fire station. The fire department was able to donate two older units to two cities.

Commissioner Patton - Accounts & Finances Commissioner Patton had no report.

Mayor Absher - Public Affairs Mayor Absher had no report.

MISCELLANEOUS

There were no miscellaneous items to come before the Council.

CLOSED/EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mayor Absher stated he did not have a need for executive session this evening and asked if

any of the Commissioners had a need for executive session. Hearing no need for executive session Mayor Absher entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting.

Commissioner Webb made a motion to adjourn the Regular 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 6:13 P.M.

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