Carbondale Reporter

City of Marion City Council met Dec. 9.

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. Mayor Absher called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M. The City Clerk called 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

Matt Farrell was present to address the Council regarding cannabis sales in city limits.

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

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Hire Landon Owens as a Patrol Officer at the Agreed Upon Rate per the Collective Bargaining Agreement

Commissioner Barwick made a motion to approve the recommendation of the merit board, Commissioner Barwick, and Chief Fitts to hire Landon Owens as a patrol officer at the agreed upon pay rate per the collective bargaining agreement with a start date of December 16, 2024. Commissioner Stoecklin seconded the motion.

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

Police Chief David Fitts introduced Mr. Owens to the Council and told them he is a lifelong resident of Marion and currently works at Marion Chevrolet. Mr. Owens thanked the Council for the opportunity and told them he is ready to get to work and excited for the future.

City Clerk Wright administered the oath of office to Mr. Owens.

Introduce Jacob Burzynski to the Council

Police Chief David Fitts stated that at the last council meeting, the Council voted on two new officers, Bryan Walsh, and Jacob Burzynski. Mr. Burzynski is recently out of the United States Air Force, stationed at the air base in Dover, Delaware. He was still in Delaware when the Council last met. Chief Fitts introduced Mr. Burzynski to the Council. Mr. Burzynski told the Council he is excited to get started. He said he has spent the last seven years helping people around the world and now he has a great opportunity to help people in the great city of Marion. Chief Fitts told the Council Mr. Burzynski is originally from Christopher.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MUNICIPAL PLANNING

Ordinance 3991 Accepting a Petition for Annexation from Larry Sherertz

Mayor Absher explained the city received a petition for annexation from Larry Sherertz to annex property on Pentecost Road. He said he thinks Mr. Sherertz' intent is to sell the property. It will be annexed in as RA, rural agriculture zoning classification. Mayor Absher explained water and sewer service is already there or adjacent to the parcel. The parcel being annexed is twenty-four acres.

Mayor Absher made a motion to approve Ordinance 3991 accepting a petition for annexation from Larry Sherertz. Commissioner Patton seconded the motion.

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

BUILDING & CODE SERVICES

Purchase Used 2023 GMC Terrain

Mayor Absher told the Council that when Aaron Deaton was hired as a Code Enforcement Officer, the intent was for him to take over Greg Lynn's vehicle when Greg retires. The Street Department recently diagnosed a problem with an ABS module on Greg's vehicle. This is an expensive repair. The city shopped around for a replacement vehicle and found a 2023 GMC Terrain with 15,000 miles at Marion Toyota for $24,282 including fees after a $2,000 trade in allowance for the current vehicle.

Mayor Absher made a motion to approve the purchase of a used 2023 GMC terrain for $24,282. Commissioner Webb seconded the motion.

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

TREASURER'S DEPARTMENT

Police and Fire Pension Contributions per the Actuarial Recommendations for the 2025 Calendar Year

Commissioner Patton asked Treasurer Lance Roye to speak to the Council about the police and fire pension fund contributions. Treasurer Roye told the Council the actuarial recommended contribution of $1,429,320 for the police pension fund is an increase of approximately $90,000 from last year. He said the actuarial recommended contribution of $1,155,660 for the fire pension fund is an increase of approximately $56,520 from last year. Treasurer Roye explained the pension fund contribution recommendations are from MWM Consulting, the actuary hired by the city. Treasurer Roye told the Council the fire pension fund is approximately seventy percent funded, and the police pension fund is approximately sixty-seven percent funded.

Commissioner Barwick made a motion to approve police and fire pension contributions per the actuarial recommendations of $1,429,320 into the Police Pension Fund and $1,155,660 into the Fire Pension Fund for the 2025 calendar year. Commissioner Patton seconded the motion.

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

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Mayor Absher said the city used to levy property taxes to fund police and fire pension contributions. In 2019, this process was changed. This is the fifth-year property taxes have not been levied for pension fund contributions. It was announced in November the city must levy a minimum amount and only levies a total of $100 across all properties, not per property.

Mayor Absher made a motion to approve Ordinance 3990 Providing for the Levy of Taxes for FY2024-2025 in the amount of $100. Commissioner Stoecklin seconded the motion.

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

COMMISSIONER REPORTS

Commissioner Webb - Streets & Public Improvements

Commissioner Webb reported the Street Department has been getting trucks ready for winter. They have been working the Fall Clean Up which finishes up this week. They have been working on sidewalks on South Market Steet and are assisting in getting ready for the Very Merry Marion Market. He reported the Cemetery had seven burials in November.

Commissioner Stoecklin - Public Property, Civic Center, Pavilion

Commissioner Stoecklin read the Water Department report since the last council meeting. He congratulated everyone on a phenomenal Very Merry Marion parade. He reported there are two shows at the Civic Center this weekend along with the Christmas market, and carriage rides.

Commissioner Barwick – Public Health & Safety

Commissioner Barwick read the police and fire department reports for November. He reported 1,392 dispatched calls; 1,724 911 calls; 3,573 non-emergency calls; and 175 ambulance calls. He reported sixty-nine incidents for the fire department.

Commissioner Patton - Accounts & Finances

Commissioner Patton had no report. He thanked everyone who had anything to do with the parade.

Mayor Absher - Public Affairs

Mayor Absher reported the Very Merry Marion market will be Friday through Sunday this week with setup on Thursday. There will be fifty vendors around the

square.

MISCELLANEOUS

There were no miscellaneous items to come before the 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 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 AND MAYOR ABSHER ALL VOTED YEA.

Meeting Adjourned at 5:57 P.M.

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