Carbondale Reporter

City of Marion City Council met Jan. 22.

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

There were no public comments this evening.

CONSENT AGENDA

Commissioner Stoecklin 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

BUILDING & CODE SERVICES

Zoning Board's Denial of a Variance at 305 East Boulevard

The owner of the home at 305 East Boulevard and her father were present at the council meeting. Mayor Absher told them the Zoning Board's recommendation was unanimous to deny the requested variance. He told the homeowner that he drove by today to look at the house and had some suggestions for placement of a fence. The homeowner's father told the Council that he applied for a fence permit and since the home is not in a flood plain didn't think there would be any problems. He wasn't aware the fence could not be built in front of the house. He explained he's trying to make the yard safe for his daughter to walk her dog after dark since there is no other yard area to walk the dog. Mayor Absher told him the Ordinance prohibiting the placement of the fence in the front yard has been in place since 2008. He explained the front yard placement is prohibited because it causes line of sight issues and public safety concerns. He also said he and the Zoning Board are sympathetic to their safety concerns. Mayor Absher made some recommendations for alternative placement of the fence. After lengthy discussion between the Council, homeowner, and her father, Mayor Absher called for the vote.

Mayor Absher made a motion to affirm the Zoning Board's denial of a variance at 305 East Boulevard Street, PIN 07-18-304-007 to keep and complete a fence partially installed which was placed in the front yard before obtaining a permit. Commissioner Barwick seconded the motion.

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

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Hire Jaclyn Barrette to the position of Records Clerk Commissioner Barwick made a motion to approve the recommendation of Chief Fitts to hire Jaclyn Barrette to the position of Records Clerk at the agreed upon rate per the collective bargaining agreement with a start date of January 23, 2024. Commissioner Stoecklin seconded the motion.

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

Jaclyn Barrette told the Council she just moved to Marion. She is originally from Carterville and moved to Nashville for a period of time where she worked in the insurance industry.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MUNICIPAL PLANNING

Mayor Absher explained Agenda items 7A, B, and C are all related to the roundabout that will be constructed at Wildcat Drive and Route 37 to try and improve the safety of that intersection. He asked Economic Development and Municipal Planning Director Glenn Clarida to explain item A.

Glenn explained the project involves making a roundabout at Wildcat Drive and Route 37. He said item A pertains to two sewage forcemains. One is an eight-inch forcemain that was installed in the 1970's from the lift station at the oxidation pond south of the high school and runs directly to the sewer plant. During the 1990's or early 2000's there was a sixteen-inch forcemain that went from the Halfway Road lift station around and under Route 37 to the sewer plant. The sixteen-inch forcemain will be under the roundabout with a ninety-degree turn. IDOT told the city that forcemain will have to be relocated so it runs in a straight line. Glenn indicated there would be no way to make any repairs with it being under the roundabout. He said the cost to relocate it will be expensive.

Mayor Absher explained the city had a grant agreement with Williamson County for a different sewer project that has been delayed at this time. The city asked the county to convert the grant for use on this project since IDOT will not pay for the relocation of the forcemain. Mayor Absher said Williamson County has not formally approved the conversion of the grant funds, but they are amenable to doing it.

Engineering Agreement with Horner & Shifrin, Inc. for the 16-inch Forcemain Relocation Project

Commissioner Stoecklin made a motion to approve an engineering agreement with Horner & Shifrin for the 16-inch Forcemain Relocation Project. Commissioner Webb seconded the motion.

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

Mayor Absher said Agenda items 7B and C are related to the project and to one another. He explained IDOT needs a parcel of property for the roundabout project that belongs to the Marion Park District. Per statute the Marion Park District cannot sell property, but they can trade property. So IDOT reached out to the city. Glenn did some research and found a piece of property adjacent to Jones Park that the Park District wanted that is similar in size to the parcel IDOT needs. The city negotiated and purchased the parcel adjacent to Jones Park from the church that owned it. Now the city must transfer that parcel of property to the Park District so they can exchange it for the parcel of property the city is then selling in Agenda item C to IDOT.

Ordinance 3936 Authorizing the Transfer and Exchange of Real Estate with Marion Park District Mayor Absher made a motion to approve Ordinance 3936 authorizing the transfer and exchange of real estate with the Marion Park District. Commissioner Stoecklin seconded the motion.

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

City Attorney Wendy Cunningham told the Council the Marion Park District will also act on this item at their meeting tomorrow night.

Resolution 2024-07 Authorizing the Sale of Surplus Property to IDOT for $4,400

Mayor Absher made a motion to adopt Resolution 2024-07 authorizing the sale of surplus property to IDOT for $4,400. Commissioner Patton 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 reported the new Treasurer Lance has started.

Commissioner Barwick - Public Health & Safety

Commissioner Barwick gave kudos to the Fire Department for doing an outstanding job on the Little Nashville building fire this morning.

Mayor Absher - Public Affairs

Mayor Absher said the Fire Department responded to the fire and made some tactical decisions early on because they didn't know where the smoke was coming from. He reported a good Samaritan just happened to go by and took the time to stop and see what was going on and call the Fire Department. Mayor Absher said he talked to the gentleman today because he likely saved the building by doing a good deed. He said the was ecstatic it turned out that way as was the building owner.

Commissioner Stoecklin - Public Property, Civic Center, Pavilion

Commissioner Stoecklin read the Water Department report since the last report. He reported that the Water Department received 4,250 JULIE locate calls in 2023. He also reported the Water Department received a nice thank you note from constituents. He had two trivia questions tonight and gave tips to avoid getting frozen water pipes during cold temperatures.

Commissioner Webb - Streets & Public Improvements

Commissioner Webb reported the Street and Cemetery Departments have been working on snow and ice removal on streets and parking lots.

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 Barwick seconded the motion.

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

Meeting Adjourned at 6:19 P.M.

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