Carbondale Reporter

City of Carbondale City Council met Jan. 23.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Councilmembers present 

Councilmember LaCaje Hill, Councilmember Clare Killman, Councilmember Adam Loos,  Councilmember Nancy Maxwell, Councilmember Ginger Rye Sanders, Councilmember Jeff Doherty,  Mayor Carolin Harvey 

Meeting called to order at 6:00 PM 

1. Preliminaries to the City Council Meeting 

1.1 Roll Call 

1.2 Citizens' Comments and Questions 

Citizens addressing the City Council during Citizens’ Comments included Marcella Woodson, Chastity  Mays, Sandy Litecky, James Cooper, Jr., Carson Cates, Connor Sullivan, Jonathan Kalicker, and Don  Monty. 

1.3 Council Comments, General Announcements, and Proclamations 

Proclamation for Human Trafficking Prevention Month 

Mayor Harvey proclaimed the month of January 2024 as Human Trafficking Prevention Month and  encouraged citizens to recognize the role we can play in increasing awareness and education on human  trafficking and observe this month with appropriate programs and activities. 

Councilmember Rye-Sanders expressed concerns regarding minorities and the disadvantaged who are not  being selected to work as tradesmen for the SIMMS project. She is in the process of creating a directory  of black tradesmen and would like for it to be made available upon completion.  

Councilmember Killman responded to earlier citizen comments regarding the war between the Israel and  Palestine. 

City Manager Gary Williams introduced Civil Engineers Erich Turk and Shauniece O'Neal who are  heavily involved with the transportation items listed on today’s agenda.  

2. Public Hearings and Special Reports 

2.1 Review and Acceptance of the FY 2023 Audited Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and  Other Supplemental Financial Reports 

Mark Dallas of Kerber, Eck, and Braeckel, who oversaw the City's FY2023 audit. Mr. Dallas gave a brief  presentation and highlighted items regarding the audit results.  

It should be noted that there was an oversight after the presentation, and the motion to accept the report  was done after item 4.2.

MOTION: Accept and place on file the audited Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal  year ended April 30, 2023. 

Motion by Jeff Doherty, second by Adam Loos. 

Final Resolution: Motion Carries 

Yea: LaCaje Hill, Clare Killman, Adam Loos, Nancy Maxwell, Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty,  Carolin Harvey 

2.2 Pavement Management Plan Presentation 

The City has a pavement management plan that evaluates the condition of all Carbondale streets to help  determine what streets should be prioritized for resurfacing. Jeff Reese of TWM, the City's transportation  engineer, gave a presentation of the findings from the pavement management plan.  

3. Consent Agenda of the City Council 

3.1 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes from January 9, 2024 

Resolution: Approve the minutes from the regular City Council meeting of January 9, 2024 

3.2 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 01/05/2024 for the FY 2024 Warrant 1476 in the  Total Amount of $1,252,065.85 

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 01/05/2024 totaling  $1,252,065.85 (Exhibit A 01-23-2024) 

3.3 Acceptance of Approved Meeting Minutes from Boards, Commissions, and Committees Resolution: Accept the approved meeting minutes from Boards, Commissions, and Committees and place  them on file. 

3.4 Approve Amendments to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Governing Rules  Chapter II Section 1-A. 

Resolution: Approve Amendments to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Governing Rules  Chapter II Section 1-A. 

3.5 Award a Contract for Engineering Design Services to TWM, Inc. in the Amount of $48,700 for  Cherry Street Resurfacing from Illinois Ave to Oakland Avenue and Approve a Resolution  Appropriating Motor Fuel Tax Funds for Said Work 

Resolution: Award a Contract for Engineering Design Services to TWM, Inc. in the Amount of $48,700  for Cherry Street Resurfacing from Illinois Ave to Oakland Avenue and Approve a Resolution  Appropriating Motor Fuel Tax Funds for Said Work. (Resolution 2024-R-04; Exhibit B 01-23-2024) 

3.6 Award a Contract for Engineering Design Services to TWM, Inc. in the Amount of $42,500 for  College Street Resurfacing From Illinois Ave to S. Forest St.; and Approve a Resolution  Appropriating Motor Fuel Tax Funds for Said Work 

Resolution: Award a Contract for Engineering Design Services to TWM, Inc. in the Amount of $42,500  for College Street Resurfacing From Illinois Ave to Freeman St.; and Approve a Resolution  Appropriating Motor Fuel Tax Funds for Said Work. (Resolution 2024-R-05; Exhibit C 01-23-2024)

Action (Consent): 3.7 Award a Contract for Engineering Design Services to TWM, Inc. in the  Amount of $53,200 for Full and Partial Depth Patching and Resurfacing of N Marion Street and  Old West Main St; and Approve a Resolution Appropriating Motor Fuel Tax Funds for Said Work Resolution: Award a Contract for Engineering Design Services to TWM, Inc. in the Amount of $53,200  for Full and Partial Depth Patching and Resurfacing of N Marion Street and Old West Main St; and  Approve a Resolution Appropriating Motor Fuel Tax Funds for Said Work. 

(Resolution 2024-R-06; Exhibit D 01-23-2024) 

3.8 Award a Contract for Engineering Design Services to TWM, Inc. in the Amount of $58,100 for  Poplar St. Resurfacing; and Approve a Resolution Appropriating Motor Fuel Tax Funds for Said  Work 

Resolution: Award a Contract for Engineering Design Services to TWM, Inc. in the Amount of $58,100  for Poplar St. Resurfacing; and Approve a Resolution Appropriating Motor Fuel Tax Funds for Said  Work. (Resolution 2024-R-07; Exhibit E 01-23-2024) 

Item 3.2 

It suggested that the City of Carbondale become a member of the Black Chamber of Commerce since it is  also a member of the Chamber of Commerce. 

Item 3.4 

It was asked that educational requirements for police officers be brought back to the Council for  discussion and/or consideration as it was discussed during the Council retreat. 

Items 3.5 - 3.8 

Questions and concerns from citizens and Council regarding these items include the hiring of minorities,  bidding contracts to local businesses, awarding contracts to local businesses, and consideration of brick  roads versus pavement. 

3.9 Approval of Consent Agenda Items 

MOTION: Approve all Consent Agenda items not pulled for separate consideration Approve all Consent Agenda items not pulled for separate consideration 

Motion by Jeff Doherty, second by Adam Loos. 

Final Resolution: Motion Carries 

Yea: LaCaje Hill, Clare Killman, Adam Loos, Nancy Maxwell, Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty,  Carolin Harvey 

4. General Business of the City Council 

4.1 City Council Discussion Regarding Possible Amendments to Title 1-2-4 as it Relates to City  Council Compensation 

Time commitments, appearances, expectations from organizations and the general public, and other  requirements of the Mayor’s position were the main factors in determining if an increase in compensation  should be seriously considered. An increase for Councilmembers is also being considered, however after  comparing the duties of both positions, the Mayor’s compensation should be considerably higher than it is  currently. 

It was suggested that the Council takes it upon themselves to vote for an increase for the Mayor and leave  the decision of increasing compensation for the Councilmembers up to the public by referendum. The  idea of a referendum was not agreed upon, instead it was the consensus among Council to bring the topic  back to a subsequent meeting for further discussion and a vote. 

4.2 Presentation and Discussion of City-Owned Property at 608 E. College St. (Carbondale  Warming Center) 

Council discussed the property housing the Carbondale Warming Center and whether it is feasible to  continue funding its repairs despite the building’s current condition. The entire complex has been in its  current location for many, many years and is said to have run its course beyond expectation.  Comments and ideas suggested by Council included looking into alternative properties that will better  serve the Center’s needs, purchase an existing building that is in better shape and will not require as much  of an investment, purchase property or demolish the current property to build a new facility, move to another location, not investing any more money into it due to its current condition, and lastly keeping the  property the way it is and continue to fund it. 

It was asked if the City will have more oversight with the day-to-day operations if the Warming Center  were to be moved to another location or moved into a new building. It was noted that members of the  public have shared that the operations and conditions of the Center were less than satisfying and that the  City should step in. Members of the audience also agreed.  

Other concerns regarding this topic included other nearby municipalities dropping off homeless persons  in Carbondale, suggesting monetary contributions from those municipalities to aid in housing the  homeless, and noting the differences between the Carbondale Warming Center and the Good Samaritan  House and the services that they provide. 

5. Executive Session 

5.1 Enter into Executive Session to Discuss Collective Negotiating Matters Between the Public Body  and Its Employees or Their Representatives, or Deliberations Concerning Salary Schedules for One  or More Classes of Employees 

MOTION: Enter Into Executive Session to Discuss Collective Negotiating Matters Between the Public  Body and Its Employees or Their Representatives, or Deliberations Concerning Salary Schedules for One  or More Classes of Employees as Permitted by 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2) 

Motion by Ginger Rye Sanders, second by Clare Killman. 

Final Resolution: Motion Carries 

Yea: LaCaje Hill, Clare Killman, Adam Loos, Nancy Maxwell, Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty,  Carolin Harvey 

Open session recessed at 7:44 p.m.

5.2 Return to Open Session 

MOTION: Return to Open Session 

Motion by Adam Loos, second by Clare Killman. 

Final Resolution: Motion Carries 

Yea: LaCaje Hill, Clare Killman, Adam Loos, Nancy Maxwell, Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty,  Carolin Harvey 

6. Adjournment of the City Council Meeting 

6.1 Adjourn meeting 

There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was declared adjourned at  8:39 p.m. 

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/coc/Board.nsf/files/D28SWL709A97/$file/Regular%20City%20Council%20Meeting%20Minutes%202024-01-23.pdf