Rock Island Today

City of Kewanee City Council

City of Kewanee City Council met Monday, March 13.

COUNCIL MEETING 17-05 MARCH 13, 2017

The City Council met in Council Chambers at 6:30 PM with the Mayor calling the meeting to order and the following answering to roll call:

Andy Koehler Council Member 

Deann Schweitzer Council Member 

Kellie Wallace-McKenna Council Member 

Steve Looney Mayor

Council Member Yaklich was absent with regrets.

Council Member Koehler moved to adjourn to executive session at 6:31 PM pursuant to Section 2 (C) (1) of the Open Meetings Act for the purpose of discussing personnel and Section 2(c)(2) to discuss collective bargaining. Council Member Schweitzer seconded the motion. Roll call showed 4 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

The executive session was adjourned at 6:54 PM on a motion made by Council Member Schweitzer and seconded by Council Member Koehler. Roll call showed 4 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Council Meeting #17-05 reconvened at 7:00 PM with Mayor Looney stating the Council is reconvening following an executive session discussion concerning personnel and collective bargaining.

News media present were as follows:

Mike Berry Star Courier

The Pledge of Allegiance was said.

Mayor Looney asked for a moment of silence for our troops still fighting overseas.

Mayor Looney explained that the next items were placed on the consent agenda and were considered to be routine in nature to be passed as a whole with one vote of the Council. Mayor Looney requested that any member of the Council or the audience wishing to have an item removed from the consent agenda for individual consideration to make the request and the item would be removed and considered following the approval of the remaining consent items. The consent agenda included minutes from the February 27, 2017 Council Meeting, payroll for the pay period ending March 4, 2017 in the amount of $198,979.27 and staff reports from Building & Zoning, Code Enforcement, and ESDA. The consent agenda items were approved on a motion made by Council Member Wallace-McKenna and seconded by Council Member Koehler. Roll call showed 4 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Mayor Looney reminded the audience to come up to the front to answer or pose any questions, so that viewers at home could hear the entire business taking place.

Bills submitted for approval totaling $427,793.01 were approved on a motion made by Council Member Koehler questioned the new pole in the downtown area. City Manager Bradley advised that it was the pole authorized by the agreement with Mobilitie, LLC. Roll showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

Mayor Looney asked if anyone wished to speak. There being no such requests Mayor Looney moved on to new business.

NEW BUSINESS

A Request from the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce for use of City streets for the Hog Capital BBQ event scheduled for June 16 & 17, 2017 was approved on a motion made by Council Member Schweitzer and seconded by Council Member Wallace-McKenna. Council Members were pleased that the event needed additional space from the previous year, and happy to have the event in the downtown area. Roll call showed 4 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Resolution #5040 authorizing the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with Local IAFF 513 was approved on a motion made by Council Member Wallace-McKenna and seconded by Council Member Schweitzer. City Manager Bradley briefly explained that the agreement would restore the staffing level at the fire department before this fiscal year in exchange for changes to the implementation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Council Member Koehler commented that it would be a flexible situation going forward. Mayor Looney noted that the memorandum addressed some concerns and helped with staff going through paramedic training. Roll call showed 4 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

OTHER BUSINESS

Council Member Schweitzer congratulated Jim Thurman on his selection to be a Cubs ring bearer. She also congratulated Marshall Jones on being selected as Person of the Year. She thanked ESDA Director Edwards for his communication regarding the sounding of the sirens the previous week. She also reported that she assisted with disaster cleanup assistance in Naplate, IL.

Council Member Koehler echoed Council Member Schweitzer’s comments. He thanked ESDA Director Edwards, asking how many volunteer spotters were available to the City. ESDA Director Edwards reported that there were currently 12 trained spotters in Kewanee. He also noted that the spotters do not go out after dark, as it is difficult to see and dangerous for the spotters. He explained that the dispatchers had also been watching the weather situation and had actually made the call to sound the sirens. ESDA Director Edwards also noted an upcoming training seminar designed specifically for first responders.

Mayor Looney also congratulated Jim Thurman and Marshall Jones. He also thanked ESDA Director Edwards for his communication on social media regarding the sounding of the sirens.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

City Clerk Edwards announced that cemetery cleanup by Cemetery staff would begin on March 20" and end by March 31. Residents were reminded to remove any decorations they wished to keep prior to March 20", and requested to not place any new decorations out until the cleanup was complete. The cleanup would apply to Pleasantview, South Pleasantview, Mount Olivet, St. Mary's, Kewanee, Russian, and Wethersfield Cemeteries.

There being no further business, Council Member Koehler moved to adjourn the meeting and Council Member Schweitzer seconded the motion. Roll call showed 4 ayes, no nays. The meeting adjourned at 7:16 PM.

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