Carbondale Reporter

City of Genoa City Council met May 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Brust called the meeting of the City Council to order at 7:02pm followed by roll call. Alderman Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Braheny, Hughes and Roca were present. Alderman Wesner was absent. Quorum present.

Mayor Brust led the pledge of allegiance.

GUEST SPEAKERS:

RECOGNITION OF BOB WHITTEN, RUBBISH RUNNERS

Mayor Brust recognized Genoa resident Bob Whitten of Rubbish Runners, who cleans up trash while running around the city. He has picked up over 9,000 bags of trash over the last couple of years.

TIM HOLDEMAN, EEI – PRESENTATION OF THE LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT PLAN

Tim Holdeman from EEI came before the council to give a presentation on the initial Lead Service Line Replacement Plan for 2024.

PUBLIC COMMENT – Rich Arsenault of 301 Market St in Genoa asked the council for a permit to be approved so that he may install a 6-foot privacy fence on his property. He explained they would need to be exempt from the current ordinance which states that they can only have a 4-foot fence on the street side of their corner lot.

OLD BUSINESS – None

CONSENT AGENDA

Alderman Pulley made a motion to approve of items 1-11 within the consent agenda, seconded by Alderman Roca. No further discussion. Alderman Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Braheny, Hughes and Roca voted yes. Motion carried.

1. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MAY 8, 2024, SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING

2. APPROVAL OF THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLES DATED APRIL 15, 2024

3. APPROVAL OF THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLES DATED MAY 15, 2024

4. APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF RESIDENTIAL WATER METERS AND RADIOS FROM WINWATER, NOT TO EXCEED $61,750

5. APPROVE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 6, CHAPTER 2, STOPPING, STANDING, AND PARKING, SECTION 8 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF GENOA

6. APPROVE AN ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATON OBLIGATION RETIREMENT RESOLUTION FOR 2024

7. APPOINT RUSSELL WINTER AND GORDON JONES TO THE COMPREHENSIVE AND STRATEGIC PLAN COMMITTEE

8. APPROVE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 9 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF GENOA

9. APPROVE A WORK AUTHORIZATION FROM C.E.S. FOR CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING FOR THE 2024 STREET PROJECTS, NOT TO EXCEED $46,300

10. APPROVE AN AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES – STREET MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM – EVALUATION AND STUDY, WITH ENGINEERING ENTERPRISES, INC., NOT TO EXCEED $9,700

11. APPROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH MICHELIN MOBILITY INTELLIGENCE SOFTWARE, SUBJECT TO EDITS FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, NOT TO EXCEED $2,600

NEW BUSINESS:

APPROVE A STATEMENT OF WORK WITH CIVIC PLUS FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND SUBSCRIPTION OF A NEW CITY WEBSITE WITH CIVICPLUS, NOT TO EXCEED $5,059

City Administrator Alyssa Seguss and Mayor Brust explained that this would allow for a better website for the city in terms of communication with residents, user friendliness, website updates, marketing, etc. They also specialize in websites for municipalities and are used by many of the surrounding areas. No further discussion. Alderman Roca made a motion to approve of the statement of work with Civic Plus, seconded by Alderman Stage. Alderman Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Braheny, Hughes and Roca voted yes. Motion carried.

APPROVE A CONSULTING AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WITH EGRET AND OX PLANNING, NOT TO EXCEED $16,240

City Administrator Alyssa Seguss explained that this would be used to update the city’s Unified Development Ordinance. The UDO was originally created in 2004, is hard to understand and doesn’t include all the information that it may need to have now. The comprehensive and strategic plans will also play a part in the updating of the UDO because once the UDO is updated, it will enforce what is laid out in those plans. No further discussion. Alderman Pulley made a motion to approve the consulting agreement for professional services with Egret and Ox Planning, seconded by Alderman Braheny. Alderman Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Braheny, Hughes and Roca voted yes. Motion carried.

APPROVE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 4 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF GENOA

Mayor Brust explained that this is simply updating language that is no longer applicable and making it more applicable to the needs of the city. City Administrator Alyssa Seguss explained that the noise ordinance isn’t addressed in this item because it will be created into a separate ordinance, so the city has more control over it. No further discussion. Alderman Braheny made a motion to approve the ordinance, seconded by Alderman Winter. Alderman Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Braheny, Hughes and Roca voted yes. Motion carried.

CLOSED SESSION

Alderman Roca made a motion to enter closed session for the purpose of reviewing minutes from the previous closed session and for the purpose of discussing the appointment, employment, dismissal, compensation, discipline and/or performance of specific employees as provided for in 5 ILCS 120/2(c). Alderman Pulley seconded. Alderman Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Braheny, Hughes and Roca voted yes. Motion carried.

RECONVENE REGULAR SESSION

Alderman Winter made a motion to reconvene regular session, seconded by Alderman Stage. No further discussion. Alderman Pulley, Freund, Stage, Winter, Braheny, Hughes and Roca voted yes. Motion carried.

FUTURE ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION – Alderman Freund mentioned a concern that was brought to her regarding younger people riding around on small motor bikes through the streets of neighborhoods.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

FINANCE:

Finance Director Jan Tures announced that they just finished fiscal year 24 but it will not be finalized for a couple of months. They have also started preliminary audit work and the auditors will be doing fieldwork in July. She has also been working with IDOT to complete the bond fund compliance reviews and the motor fuel tax compliance reviews. Jan also announced that they received the certificate of achievement for financial reporting for the 18th year in a row.

PUBLIC WORKS:

Public Works director Lucas Smith updated the council on the Emmet Street project, explaining that it is currently being postponed due to the costs. They are working on applying for grants that may be able to be used for the space. Smith told the council that the 2023 water quality reports have been completed. He also announced that they will know if the city received a grant for the Lead Service Line Replacement project on June 1st.

ADMINISTRATION:

City Administrator Alyssa Seguss announced that the next city council meeting will be on June 12th instead of June 5th because of Genoa Days. She also told the council she hasn’t heard anything regarding the Safe Routes to School grant.

POLICE:

Chief Smith announced that they are preparing for Genoa Days as there will be more officers out.

ANNOUNCEMENTS – None

Motion to adjourn the meeting of the City Council was made by Alderman Pulley, seconded by Alderman Roca. Voice vote was taken, all voted yes. Motion was carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:23pm.

https://www.genoa-il.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Meeting-Minutes-05222024.pdf