Carbondale Reporter

City of Marion City Council met Feb. 24.

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 COMMENT

The owner of Sky Thunder Fireworks addressed the Council asking if the city will allow the sale of fireworks this year. Mayor Absher told him an ordinance has been prepared for council consideration banning the sale of fireworks in the city. It is scheduled to be presented to the council at the March 24th council meeting. Mayor Absher said the state law is reasonably clear on what can be sold. He said he has a problem with allowing vendors to sell items that cannot be shot off in the city.

Mayor Absher explained that most towns in southern Illinois do not allow the sale of fireworks. He feels this is because it is very difficult to regulate because someone with expertise in fireworks is needed for the inspection process. He also said that the city does not allow many items to be shot off, but they are being shot off anyway. Mayor Absher said the weeks leading up to July 4th and a few weeks after are filled with calls and complaints. He thinks it has gotten way out of hand.

Greg Wyatt, a local resident and owner of a credit card processing company, told the Council that ninety-five percent of illegal fireworks in Illinois are being purchased in Missouri.

Mayor Absher said that zero sales tax was reported under the sales tax number or name and address for Sky Thunder Fireworks. He said he was curious to know how much sales tax was remitted for fireworks sales in the city. He also said that when fireworks go off, ninety-eight percent of the time it is reported as gun shots to the police department. These reports must be responded to.

CONSENT AGENDA

Commissioner Patton made a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Commissioner Barwick seconded the motion.

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

NEW BUSINESS

STREET DEPARTMENT

Ordinance 4007 for Transfer of Right-of-Way on Parker City Road to Johnson County Commissioner Webb made a motion to approve Ordinance 4007 for the transfer of right-of-way on Parker City Road to Johnson County. Commissioner Stoecklin seconded the motion.

Commissioner Webb told the Council a small parcel was discovered that was not transferred to Johnson County when the last transfer was made. This parcel is needed for maintenance.

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

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MUNICIPAL PLANNING

FY25 TIF Grant Applications Received Through 2/21/2025

Mayor Absher stated there are four applications listed in the packet for Residential TIF grants.

Mayor Absher made a motion to approve FY25 TIF Grant Applications as listed in the packet received through 2/21/2025. Commissioner Patton seconded the motion.

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

Mayor Absher told the Council agenda items 6B and 6C are related. They are adjacent parcels in the Industrial Park that were sold around the same time. Agenda item 6C was one with a contentious Zoning Board issue with Darrell Ross. Mr. Ross wanted to put a facility on East Boyton Street and the city offered him this parcel as an alternative to that. He has decided not to proceed with that project. Agenda item 6B is a similar sized piece of property. Special Mine Services was going to expand, and they decided not to proceed with that. Both sale agreements included a provision that if the property was not developed within two years, the city would have the right to buy the parcels back at the original price. Mayor Absher said the two parcels together make a very nice piece of land. He said that he and Glenn Clarida worked with both parties to try and extend the agreements to see if there was any hope for the projects to continue. Both parties are convinced they do not want to proceed. He and Glenn think these are good parcels to buy back.

Ordinance 4008 Authorizing the City to Buy Back Property in the Robert L. Butler Industrial Park from Ten Nineteen Holdings, LLC

Mayor Absher made a motion to approve Ordinance 4008 authorizing the city to buy back property in the Robert L. Butler Industrial Park from Ten Nineteen Holding, LLC. Commissioner Webb seconded the motion.

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

Ordinance 4009 Authorizing the City to Buy Back Property in the Robert L. Butler Industrial Park from Special Mine Services, Inc.

Mayor Absher made a motion to approve Ordinance 4009 authorizing the city to buy back property in the Robert L. Butler Industrial Park from Special Mine Services, Inc. Commissioner Stoecklin seconded the motion.

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

Ordinance 4010 Authorizing the Purchase of PIN 07-19-102-009 from the Douglas R. Bradley Revocable Trust

Mayor Absher explained that the Council recently approved the purchase of an electric shuttle van. The city identified a garage with the correct ceiling height for the van located directly behind the Insurance House owned by Clay Bradley. The garage is owned by Doug Bradley's trust. He has agreed to sell the garage to the city for the amount needed to build a replacement storage building, not including the cost of the land. The purchase of the building qualifies for use of TIF funds. Mayor Absher said the other option is to park the van in the building on Boyton Street that was purchased from Sherman Minton, but this location is more convenient.

Mayor Absher made a motion to approve Ordinance 4010 authorizing the purchase of PIN 07- 19-102-009 from the Douglas R. Bradley Revocable Trust using Hub TIF funds. Commissioner Webb seconded the motion.

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

Ordinance 4011 the First Amendment to the TIF District XX Redevelopment Project Area, Plan & Projects

Mayor's Chief of Staff Cody Moake told the Council after TIF XX was approved; the county found three parcels in the TIF that were never brought into city limits. The parcels must be removed from the TIF since they were not in the TIF at inception. The parcels are surrounded by properties that are within city limits. Ordinance 4011 removes the parcels from the TIF.

Commissioner Stoecklin made a motion to approve Ordinance 4011 the First Amendment to the TIF District XX Redevelopment Project Area, Plan & Projects. Commissioner Webb seconded the motion.

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

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Flooring Bid from Floorsite for Club 60

Mayor's Chief of Staff Cody Moake told the Council this is hopefully the last piece for the renovation at the Senior Citizens Center. The bid includes flooring for the entire facility minus the kitchen area. This vendor has done a good job at the Hub on the last several flooring projects they have had. The city has had good experiences working with him and his bids have been consistently low. The bid includes flooring and vinyl base around the walls. The bid is $47,750 and is budgeted through the project fund. The work will be done in sections so the facility can remain open.

Commissioner Patton made a motion to approve a flooring bid from Floorsite for new flooring throughout Club 60, a budgeted item. Commissioner Barwick 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 had no report.

Commissioner Webb - Streets & Public Improvements

Commissioner Webb reported that the Street Department is finishing round two of snow

removal. He said there are still limbs to be picked up. They continue patching potholes from the freeze and thaw. He had nothing to report for the Cemetery Department.

Commissioner Barwick - Public Health & Safety

Commissioner Barwick had no report.

Commissioner Stoecklin - Public Property

Commissioner Stoecklin reported the Water Department has been fixing watermain breaks due to the freeze and thaw. He asked three water trivia questions this evening.

Mayor Absher - Public Affairs Mayor Absher had no report.

MISCELLANEOUS

Mayor's Chief of Staff Cody Moake said the sale of the STAR Bonds will conclude next week. He reported the Boyton Street Community Center expansion should be completed by next week but there is some additional work to be done including a new entry and the paving of the parking lot this spring.

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 6:15 P.M.

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