Carbondale Reporter

City of Marion City Council met Sept. 11.

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 AND WEBB AND MAYOR ABSHER.

PRESENT VIA TELEPHONE: COMMISSIONER STOECKLIN.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mayor Absher led the Pledge of Allegiance.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Marion resident Jimmy Johnson addressed the council and read prepared remarks regarding his concerns about potential threats to the community, state, and country.

CONSENT AGENDA

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

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

NEW BUSINESS

TREASURER'S OFFICE

Recommendation to Hire Lance Roye as Treasurer to fill the Vacancy Created by Steve Hale's Upcoming Retirement at the End of FY2024

Commissioner Patton introduced Lance Roye, his recommendation for the new city Treasurer effective January 2, 2024. He told the Council they had budgeted for the new hire to work with Treasurer Steve Hale for four months. Mr. Roye will work with Treasurer Hale until his retirement at the end of April 2024. Commissioner Patton told the Council Mr. Roye comes to the city after fourteen years as a partner and CPA with Kemper CPA Group in Marion. Mr. Roye received his bachelor's and master's degrees from SIU Carbondale. He and his family live in Marion.

Commissioner Patton made a motion to approve the recommendation of Commissioner Patton to hire Lance Roye as Treasurer to fill the vacancy created by Steve Hale's upcoming retirement at the end of FY2024. Commissioner Webb seconded the motion.

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

Mr. Roye told the Council he is a lifelong Marion resident and wants the best for the city. He said he was happy to be chosen for the position and thanked the Council.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MUNICIPAL PLANNING

Ordinance 3913 Terminating TIF I

Mayor Absher explained TIF I started in 1987 and is coming to a statutory end this year. It will be active till the end of the year. He said the city has to contact Department of Revenue and let them know.

Mayor Absher made a motion to approve Ordinance 3913 terminating TIF I. Commissioner Barwick seconded the motion.

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

Resolution 2023-13 Authorizing a Financial Commitment for the Safe Routes to Schools Program

Mayor Absher explained Resolution 2023-13 is an IDOT resolution that is a component of a grant request for Safe Routes to Schools funding. The resolution commits up to $60,000 for the local share of the funding.

Commissioner Patton made a motion to adopt Resolution 2023-13 approving and authorizing the financial commitment for the 2023 Safe Routes to Schools Program. Commissioner Barwick seconded the motion.

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

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

Resolution 2023-14 Requesting IDOT Permit for a 10" Water Main Under IL 148

Mayor Absher explained Resolution 2023-14 is part of the $16 million Refuge water and sewer project.

Commissioner Webb made a motion to adopt Resolution 2023-14 requesting a permit from Illinois Department of Transportation to construct, occupy, and maintain a 10" water main under IL 148 at the intersections of EMA Road and Flatts School Road. Commissioner Stoecklin seconded the motion.

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

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Proposal from iWorq for Public Works & Street Department Software Suite

Mayor's Chief of Staff Cody Moake told the Council for the last two years he has been looking for a software solution that allows the Public Works Department and Street Department to interact with each other. He has been looking for a digital format which allows better records maintenance at an affordable cost. The proposal from iWorq would bring the Water, Sewer, and Street Departments together under one software system. Existing data from their current systems can be uploaded to this system. All data will be in one place and will be able to communicate with the current GIS system. The total annual cost of this software is $17,448 and will be split between the Water and Sewer Fund and the General Fund. The city will save $13,086 since the Building and Code Services Department is already an iWorq user.

Mayor Absher said the city will save money by streamlining and eliminating costs involved with the other programs currently being used. This software is user friendly and will allow the sharing of information between departments and administration.

Mayor Absher made a motion to approve the proposal from iWorq for Public Works and Street Department software suite. Commissioner Patton seconded the motion.

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

Engagement Letter with Stifel for Future Bond Underwriting

Mayor's Chief of Staff Cody Moake explained the city will have future bonding obligations. Stifel is a bond underwriter, and this engagement letter will allow them to serve as the bond underwriter for those future obligations. Their fees will be paid from the bond proceeds when this occurs.

Mayor Absher made a motion to approve the engagement letter with Stifel for future bond underwriting. Commissioner Barwick 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 doing storm water work on Otis Street and patching concrete at the intersection of Carbon Street and Princeton Avenue. They have been crack filling parking lots. He announced Samron has finished the street paving but will begin a new project paving West Main Street, Bainbridge Trail, and Pentecost Road. The Cemetery Department had fourteen burials in August.

Commissioner Stoecklin - Public Property, Civic Center, Pavilion

Commissioner Stoecklin gave a shout out to the Public Works employees who have been doing a great job working on the water main around the Square. He also encouraged everyone to check out the upcoming schedule of shows at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center. He said he is looking forward to a great fall and winter season.

Commissioner Barwick - Public Health & Safety

Commissioner Barwick read the Police Department and Narcotics Unit reports for August. He reported 2,308 dispatched calls; 1,981 911 calls; 4,600 non-emergency calls; and 270 ambulance calls in August.

Commissioner Patton - Accounts & Finances

Commissioner Patton thanked the Council, Mayor Absher, and Cody Moake for their efforts in the process of finding Treasurer Hale's replacement. He went on to say that Treasurer Hale has been with the city for a long time and has done a phenomonal job. He said Treasurer Hale and his staff have done a great job moving the city forward with new technology.

Mayor Absher - Public Affairs

Mayor Absher reported he attended a ceremony honoring Lory Price. Price was a State Police motorcycle officer in the 1920's who was a World War I POW and war hero. Price was part of the Bloody Williamson story in 1927 when he and his wife were taken from their home and brutally murdered by the Charlie Birger gang. His family honored him on Saturday with a monument in Oddfellows Cemetery.

MISCELLANEOUS

Mayor Absher announced he is hopeful the next City Council meeting will be held in the new location at 350 Tower Square Plaza on Monday, September 25, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. He also announced the public hearing tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m. at the Civic Center is a statutory requirement to approve the 1st Project Plan to the STAR Bond District.

Police Chief David Fitts commented he thought the Council should thank Ed Davis for his hard work organizing the Veterans on Parade. Mayor Absher said the parade was a huge success with 133 entries. He said it is a twenty plus year tradition and he wishes the organization well.

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, AND STOECKLIN AND MAYOR ABSHER ALL VOTED YEA. COMMISSIONER WEBB

ABSENT.

Meeting Adjourned at 6:05 P.M.

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