Carbondale Reporter

City of Marion City Council met Jan. 8.

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

Doug Deaton, owner of 618 Tap House, addressed the Council regarding the concessionaire contract at The Pavilion that was awarded to another business. Mr. Deaton told the Council he has bid on the contract multiple times but has never been awarded the contract. He gave a brief history of his experience trying to get the contract. He told the council when he was notified, he would not be awarded the contract, he submitted a Freedom of Information Act request and obtained a copy of the proposal submitted by the business who won the contract. He explained there was a minimum of eleven required items listed in the request for proposal that was issued by the city. He compared his proposal to the one submitted by the other business and said he met all requirements while the other proposal only met four requirements. He expressed his frustration to the Council regarding the other proposal and said he feels like it did not meet all requirements listed in the request for proposal and therefore was not valid. He thanked the Council for their time.

Mayor Absher told Mr. Deaton, while he was not a member of the committee considering the proposals, he thinks the deciding factor was the charge for bartenders for events. He said the city has to consider costs to people who are renting the Pavilion.

City Attorney Wendy Cunningham said it was the city's discretion to accept or reject the proposals and while some items were missing from the other vendor's proposal, the city chose to accept it. Attorney Cunningham said The Director of the Pavilion said the missing items were already on file or he was aware of them. She stated this is a three-year contract.

Mr. Deaton asked Attorney Cunningham and Commissioner Stoecklin if they had the missing proposal items on file. Both stated The Pavilion would have those items.

Mr. Deaton asked for a meeting with Mayor Absher and Commissioner Stoecklin and was told they will contact him to get that set up.

Commissioner Patton requested copies of both proposals for review.

CONSENT AGENDA

Mayor Absher explained that the tax abatement resolutions on the consent agenda are adopted annually. He said when the city issues debt, it is allowed by statute to levy a property tax to pay the debt. The city can pay the debt payments from other funds without levying a property tax and is statutorily required to abate the tax levy for those debt payments.

Commissioner Patton 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.

NEW BUSINESS

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Sell a 2013 Ford Explorer to the City of Carrier Mills for $4,000

Commissioner Barwick made a motion to approve the recommendation Commissioner Barwick and Chief Fitts to sell a 2013 Ford Explorer to the City of Carrier Mills for $4,000. Commissioner Webb seconded the motion.

Commissioner Barwick explained the 2013 Ford Explorer the police department is selling is an investigations car. A new vehicle was purchased for investigations and this vehicle is considered to be surplus.

Commissioner Barwick explained that he will be abstaining from the vote because the Carrier Mills Police Chief is his nephew. Mayor Absher added he researched the value of this vehicle. Considering the mileage and condition of the vehicle he thinks $4,000 is a fair price.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE Commissioners Patton, Barwick, Webb And Stoecklin And Mayor Absher All Voted Yea.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MUNICIPAL PLANNING

Hub TIF Façade Grant Application from Gray Plaza Motel

Mayor's Chief of Staff Cody Moake told the Council the owners of Gray Plaza Motel are planning on removing the glass panel on the front and side of the motel and replacing that with siding. They are also planning to update the canopy in the front of the motel. They will be spending $25,000.

Commissioner Patton made a motion to approve the Hub TIF Façade Grant Application from Gray Plaza Motel for $10,000. Commissioner Webb seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE Commissioners Patton, Barwick, Webb And Stoecklin And Mayor Absher All Voted Yea.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ordinance 3935 Approving the First Amendment to the STAR Bond District Project Area #1 Mayor Absher explained at the December 27, 2023 council meeting, changes to the STAR Bond District boundaries were approved and some parcels were added to the district. This amendment will add that property to the project plan in addition to adding Mt. Dew Park and a piece adjacent to Williamson County Parkway and Route 13. This will add $45 million in revenue and 400 jobs.

Mayor Absher made a motion to approve the first amendment to the Marion STAR Bond District Project Area #1. Commissioner Stoecklin seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE Commissioners Patton, Barwick, Webb And Stoecklin And Mayor Absher All Voted Yea.

COMMISSIONER REPORTS

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

Commissioner Barwick - Public Health & Safety

Commissioner Barwick read the Police Department report for 2023 and the Narcotics Unit report for December 2023. He reported 24,302 dispatched calls; 25,581 911 calls; 51,681 non-

emergency calls; and 2,966 ambulance calls in 2023. He said he is really proud of the Narcotics Unit, Police Department and Fire Department.

Commissioner Webb - Streets & Public Improvements

Commissioner Webb reported the Street Department has been working on sidewalks on Bainbridge Road and repairing storm sewers on Jackson and Holland Streets. They have been doing ditch work north of Washington School and continue to get equipment ready for snow. He reported the Cemetery Department had ten burials in December.

Commissioner Stoecklin - Public Property, Civic Center, Pavilion Commissioner Stoecklin had no report this evening.

Mayor Absher - Public Affairs

Mayor Absher had no report this evening.

MISCELLANEOUS

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

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 Patton seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE Commissioners Patton, Barwick, Webb And Stoecklin And Mayor Absher All Voted Yea.

Meeting Adjourned at 6:00 P.M.

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