Carbondale Reporter

City of Marion City Council met March 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: COMMISSIONER PATTON ACTING AS MAYOR PRO- TEM, COMMISSIONERS BARWICK, WEBB AND STOECKLIN.

ABSENT: MAYOR ABSHER

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Commissioner Stoecklin led the Pledge of Allegiance.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Proclamation Recognizing Girl Scouts Week

Commissioner Patton read a proclamation recognizing the week of March 10th through March 16th as Girl Scouts Week.

There were no public comments this evening.

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

ALL VOTED YEA.

MAYOR ABSHER ABSENT.

NEW BUSINESS

BUILDING AND CODE SERVICES

Request for a Variance at 305 S. Monroe Street PIN 06-24-233-001 Commissioner Stoecklin made a motion to approve the request for a six-foot variance on the north side making the setback fourteen feet instead of the required twenty feet at 305 South Monroe Street PIN 06-24-233-001 (Franks). Commissioner Webb seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND STOECKLIN

ALL VOTED YEA.

MAYOR ABSHER ABSENT.

Request for a Variance at 302 S. Liberty Street PIN 06-24-233-002 Commissioner Stoecklin made a motion to approve the request for a six-foot variance on the north side making the setback fourteen feet instead of the required twenty feet at 302 South Liberty Street PIN 06-24-233-002. Commissioner Webb seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND

STOECKLIN

ALL VOTED YEA.

MAYOR ABSHER ABSENT.

Request for a Zoning Change at 1205 and 1207 N. Garfield Street

Commissioner Webb made a motion to approve a request for a zoning change from R-2 General Family Residential to C-1 General Commercial at 1205 North Garfield Street, PIN 07-18-178- 005, and 1207 North Garfield Street PIN 07-18-178-004 (Ordinance 3943) for a proposed business (Dollar General). Commissioner Stoecklin seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND STOECKLIN

ALL VOTED YEA.

MAYOR ABSHER ABSENT.

Appeal Request for a Denial of Sign Permit at 2201 W. Main Street

Mayor's Chief of Staff Cody Moake told the Council the sign permit is for the Mach I location on West Main Street. Mach I is appealing the denial of the sign permit for that location. The sign they want to install is the exact same sign that is across from Culver's on The Hill Avenue. The sign is three hundred twelve square feet. The city's sign ordinance limits the size of the sign to three hundred square feet. The sign on The Hill Avenue was installed prior to the change in the sign ordinance that limits the size of the sign. Representatives from Mach I and Tham Sign were present to speak to the Council. The representative from Mach I told the Council this is the standard sign they place at all locations. The Council had several questions regarding size, height, and placement of the sign in addition to questions regarding whether changes could be made to the sign. After lengthy discussion, Commissioner Patton called for the vote.

Commissioner Stoecklin made a motion to approve the appeal of the denial of a sign permit at 2201 West Main Street, PIN 06-14-454-003, for Mach I (Tham Sign). Commissioner Webb seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, WEBB AND STOECKLIN 

ALL VOTED YEA.

COMMISSIONER BARWICK VOTED NO.

MAYOR ABSHER ABSENT.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MUNICIPAL PLANNING

Ordinance 3941 a Residential TIF Redevelopment Agreement with Lorenzo Dow Odum Commissioner Patton asked Mayor's Chief of Staff Cody Moake to explain this agenda item. Cody told the Council the TIF Redevelopment Agreement with Lorenzo Dow Odum is for a residential home at 513 South Mechanic Street. He said it is a standard 60/40 Residential TIF Agreement.

Commissioner Webb made a motion to approve Ordinance 3941; a Residential TIF Redevelopment Agreement with Lorenzo Dow Odum for a new home at 513 South Mechanic. Commissioner Barwick seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND STOECKLIN

ALL VOTED YEA.

MAYOR ABSHER ABSENT.

Ordinance 3942 a Hub TIF Redevelopment Agreement with Curtis A. and Lisa F. Wharton Revocable Living Trust

Mayor's Chief of Staff Cody Moake told the Council this TIF Redevelopment Agreement is for a professional building on South Vicksburg Street that faces the Hub parking lot and is in the Hub TIF. He said Mr. Wharton is a financial planner and his wife is in the medical profession. They plan on using the building for their businesses.

Commissioner Webb made a motion to approve Ordinance 3942; a Hub TIF Redevelopment Agreement with the Curtis A. Wharton and Lisa F. Wharton Revocable Living Trust for their redevelopment of 106 South Vicksburg. Commissioner Stoecklin seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND STOECKLIN

ALL VOTED YEA.

MAYOR ABSHER ABSENT.

STREET DEPARTMENT

Order 2024 Street Sweeper

Commissioner Webb told the Council the Street Department needs a new Street Sweeper. He explained there will be a lead time of almost one year to receive the order. Because the city is growing, the Street Department will also keep the existing Street Sweeper.

Commissioner Webb made a motion approve the order of a 2024 Street Sweeper; included in the FY25 budget and expected in Spring 2025. Commissioner Stoecklin seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND STOECKLIN

ALL VOTED YEA.

MAYOR ABSHER ABSENT.

MARION CULTURAL & CIVIC CENTER

Purchase New Internal Radio Communication System from BMI Supply Using Donated Funds Commissioner Stoecklin told the Council that the Civic Center needs a new internal

communication system.

Commissioner Stoecklin made a motion to approve the purchase of a new internal radio communication system from BMI Supply using funds received from a donation by the Lala Duty Estate. Commissioner Webb seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND STOECKLIN

ALL VOTED YEA.

MAYOR ABSHER ABSENT.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Replace HVAC Unit at Marion Police Department Using Capital Replacement Funds Commissioner Barwick made a motion to approve the replacement of an HVAC Unit at the Marion Police Department for $69,500 using capital replacement funds. Commissioner Stoecklin seconded the motion.

Police Chief David Fitts told the Council two of the three HVAC units at the Police Department were replaced last year. At that time, they were told the third unit was fine. The unit now needs to be replaced. It has been discontinued, but the factory still has a few units left. If the unit is not replaced with the exact same unit, additional duct work and other updates will be needed inside the building at a cost of $250,000.

Commissioner Barwick explained HSG was working on the unit three weeks ago and got it to run but said it was making the same noise as the one that completely quit and was replaced last year. He said this one has been running approximately 130,000 hours which is thirteen to fourteen years non-stop.

Commissioner Patton called for the vote.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND STOECKLIN

ALL VOTED YEA.

MAYOR ABSHER ABSENT.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Resolution 2024-09 Entering into an Intergovernmental Agreement forming SIAP Solar, Inc. and Appointing Chief of Staff Cody Moake to the Board of Directors

Mayor's Chief of Staff Cody Moake explained for the last fifteen to sixteen years, the city has been involved with AGE for energy aggregation. AGE is planning to start a non-profit to build solar arrays around Southern Illinois to help consumers save money. They hope to be able to offer credits to residents to offset their monthly bills. One half of those credits will be offered to low-income users. One hundred communities are set to participate. The more communities that participate, the more solar arrays can be built. The arrays must be built within Ameren service areas and the program will not apply to residents who get their electricity from SouthEastern Illinois Electric Co-Op. No financial commitments are required from the city for this program.

Commissioner Webb made a motion to adopt Resolution 2024-09 entering into an Intergovernmental Agreement forming SIAP Solar, Inc. and appointing Chief of Staff Cody Moake to the Board of Directors. Commissioner Barwick seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND STOECKLIN

ALL VOTED YEA.

MAYOR ABSHER ABSENT.

Letter of Intent to Straight Up Solar for the Development of Solar Arrays at City Buildings Mayor's Chief of Staff Cody Moake told the Council the city is looking for alternative strategies to reduce energy costs at city owned buildings. Cody said the Illinois Solar for All Program allows non-profit and government entities to work with an investor to install solar arrays. Since the city is not eligible for tax credits, the investor builds the array and receives the tax benefits. He explained that years one through six, the investor owns the array. In year seven, the investor turns the array over to the city, but continues to maintain the array through year fifteen. He told the Council the city gets fifteen years of free use of the solar panels. He said in years one through six, there is a small electric supply charge that will be minimal. The Fire Department, Police Department, and Club 60 will see approximately fifty to sixty percent savings. The Hub Recreation Center will see a thirty percent savings due to the size of the facility. He noted the solar panels have a twenty-five-year life span. He told the Council one caveat is that Club 60 needs a new roof and that will have to be installed before the solar panels can be installed. He explained the Council is only voting on the letter of intent tonight. They are not voting on a

contract.

Commissioner Stoecklin made a motion to approve the submission of a letter of intent to Straight Up Solar for the development of four solar arrays at the Marion Fire Department, the Hub Recreation Center, the Marion Police Department, and Club 60. Commissioner Barwick seconded the motion.

ON ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONERS PATTON, BARWICK, WEBB AND STOECKLIN

ALL VOTED YEA.

MAYOR ABSHER ABSENT.

MISCELLANEOUS

Mayor's Chief of Staff Cody Moake addressed the changes to the Spring Clean Up this year. He said the city has received many phone calls and social media comments regarding the format change. He explained the city has tried to tighten the rules this year because last spring the cleanup took the Street Department six weeks to complete. He said time is the main issue and sidelining the Street Department employees for six weeks is not a viable option. Last year people cleaned out entire houses and left the trash on the curb for pickup. There were also situations where people came from other towns and dumped trash on vacant lots. These items also had to be picked up since they could not be left on the curb. He explained this was the icing on the cake that caused the format change. Last Spring the Street Department picked up three hundred fifty tons which was one hundred tons over the amount allowed by Republic Services. He also noted Saturday dates were added to this year's schedule for people who work during the week and would not be able to drop off their items.

Street Department Superintendent Doug Phillips said there will be Street Department employees available to help people unload their vehicles and trailers. He said the gates will be locked at 3:30 each day. Commissioner Webb added that Williamson County does a similar format for their clean up and it works very well.

COMMISSIONER REPORTS

Commissioner Barwick - Public Health & Safety

Commissioner Barwick read the February Fire Department report and reported sixty-eight total calls. He read the February Narcotics Unit and the Police Department Reports. He reported 1,817 dispatched calls; 1,568 911 calls; 3,626 non-emergency calls; 142 ambulance calls.

Commissioner Webb - Streets & Public Improvements

Commissioner Webb reported the Street Department has been doing drainage and tile work in the Spring Garden neighborhood. They are repairing sidewalks on the corner of College Street and Market Streets. The are running the leaf vacuum and cleaning brush out of creeks in anticipation of Spring rains. The continue patching rough roads and railroad crossings. He also reported the Cemetery Department is getting ready for mowing season.

Commissioner Stoecklin - Public Property, Civic Center, Pavilion

Commissioner Stoecklin read the Water Department report since the last meeting. He read a letter from Johnston City Mayor Dobbins thanking the city for the two donated mosquito foggers.

Commissioner Patton - Accounts & Finances

Commissioner Patton had no report.

CLOSED/EXECUTIVE SESSION

Commissioner Patton 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 he 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

ALL VOTED YEA.

MAYOR ABSHER ABSENT.

Meeting Adjourned at 6:30 P.M.

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