Rock Island Today

City of Kewanee City Council

City of Kewanee City Council met Monday, Jan. 9.

COUNCIL MEETING 17-01 JANUARY 9, 2017

The City Council met in Council Chambers at 6:17 PM with the Mayor calling the meeting to order and the following answering to roll call:

Andy Koehler Council Member 

Mike Yaklich Council Member 

Deann Schweitzer Council Member 

Steve Looney Mayor

Council Member Wallace-McKenna was absent with regrets.

Council Member Koehler moved to adjourn to executive session at 6:18 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 Yaklich seconded the motion. Roll call showed 4 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

The executive session was adjourned at 6:57 PM on a motion made by Council Member Yaklich and seconded by Council Member Koehler. Roll call showed 4 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Council Meeting #17-01 reconvened at 7:01 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 December 27, 2016 Council Meeting, payroll for the pay period ending December 24, 2016 of $205,127.99, and department head reports from Code Enforcement, ESDA, Public Works, Police Department, and Building & Zoning. The consent agenda items were approved on a motion made by Council Member Schweitzer and seconded by Council Member Yaklich. Roll call showed 4 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Bills submitted for approval totaling $342,574.64 were approved on a motion made by Council Member Yaklich and seconded by Council Member Koehler. Roll call showed 4 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

City Clerk Edwards opened and read aloud the three bids received for the vacant land at 850 East Division Street. The highest bid from Chad and Amber Anderson for $46,024 was accepted and approved on a motion made by Council Member Yaklich and seconded by Council Member Schweitzer. Roll call showed 4 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Mark Mikenas, from the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce gave a brief presentation regarding the role the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce plays in the City of Kewanee. He noted that the role has changed over the years, and highlighted some of the recent events planned by the Chamber Ambassadors that brought people to Kewanee. He also handed out a brief history of the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce to each Council Member.

Resolution #5030 awarding the demolition of 207 North Elm Street to Kirk Dana Construction was approved on a motion made by Council Member Koehler and seconded by Council Member Schweitzer. Council Member Yaklich noted that there were some new companies bidding on the demolitions. Roll call showed 4 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Resolution #5031 authorizing the purchase of a 2017 Ford Interceptor Utility from Gustafson Ford of Kewanee was approved on a motion made by Council Member Yaklich and seconded by Council Member Koehler. City Manager Bradley reported that the vehicle would be used for the K9 officer, with the Black Hawk Area Task Force paying for a portion of the vehicle and equipment. Chief Dison further explained that because the Henry County State's Attorney paid for the K9, the K9 is deployed anywhere in Henry County. He further reported that the contributions from the BATF were from cash seizures in and around the area. Roll call showed 4 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Resolution #5032 authorizing the City Manager to hire paramedic training professionals on a contract basis to provide paramedic training to City employees was approved on a motion made by Council Member Schweitzer and seconded by Council Member Koehler. Council Member Koehler noted that this would result in savings to the City. City Manager Bradley stated, at the request of Council Member Yaklich, that the class would be completed in approximately a year, followed by clinical. City Manager Bradley also noted that because the instructors were being paid per hour, and not per student, the top three candidates on the hire list would also be attending the training. If they are not hired, at the end of the class, the candidates will pay the City tuition for the class. Roll call showed 4 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

OTHER BUSINESS

Council Member Koehler noted the improvement in the area north of Central Boulevard after the demolition of a house.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Looney announced that City Hall offices would be closed in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 16, 2017. There would be no change to the trash collection schedule. Residents were reminded to move their vehicles from the street after a snowfall of three or more inches until the street had been cleared. Christmas Trees free of decorations would be picked up on January 13" with the request to contact City Hall to schedule a pickup.

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 7:26 PM.

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