Rock Island Today

City of Kewanee City Council

City of Kewanee City Council met Monday, Jan. 23.

COUNCIL MEETING 17-02 JANUARY 23, 2017

The City Council met in Council Chambers at 7:00 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 

Kellie Wallace-McKenna Council Member 

Steve Looney Mayor

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 January 9, 2017 Council Meeting, payroll for the pay periods ending January 7 and 21, 2017 in the amount of 399,121.65 and staff reports from Bock Inc. The consent agenda items were approved on a motion made by Council Member Wallace-McKenna and seconded by Council Member Koehler. Roll call showed 5 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 all of the business taking place.

Bills submitted for approval totaling $244,339.50 were approved on a motion made by Council Member Wallace-McKenna and seconded by Council Member Yaklich. Council Member Schweitzer requested further information on several bills. City Manager Bradley and City Clerk Edwards provided her with the requested information. Roll call 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

Resolution #5033 appointing Catherine Hughes to the Plan Commission was approved on a motion made by Council Member Wallace-McKenna and seconded by Council Member Yaklich. Council Member Schweitzer noted that Ms. Hughes was very dedicated to the community. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Mayor Looney explained that the next three items were requested by Dr. Sullens and the Kewanee School District Board.

Ordinance #3868 amending Schedule III of Chapter 78 of the City of Kewanee “Handicapped Parking Spaces” on Central Boulevard in front of Central and Irving Elementary Schools was approved on a motion made by Council Member Yaklich and seconded by Council Member Wallace-McKenna. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Ordinance #3869 establishing one-hour parking restrictions on Central Boulevard in front of Central and Irving Elementary Schools was approved on a motion made by Council Member Koehler and seconded by Council Member Wallace-McKenna. City Manager Bradley explained that the parking spaces would be the diagonal parking on the south side of Central Blvd. in front of each of the schools during school hours. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Ordinance #3870 establishing No-Parking on the east side of the 200 block of South Elm Street was approved on a motion made by Council Member Koehler and seconded by Council Member Yaklich. City Manager Bradley explained that the no parking area would just be the approximate 20 feet located between the two entrances of the recently completed parking lot. The restriction would not harm the residents in the area. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Ordinance #3871 establishing No Parking on the west side of the 100 block of Payson Street was approved on a motion made by Council Member Wallace-McKenna and seconded by Council Member Yaklich. Council Member Schweitzer noted the limitations on the business for parking; with Mayor Looney acknowledging that the owners of the business understood the limitations going into the process of extending the non-conforming use. City Engineer Nobel explained his reasoning behind the recommendation. Roll call showed 4 ayes, 1 nay, with Council Member Schweitzer casting the dissenting vote. The motion passed.

Mayor Looney opened the floor to City Manager Bradley for a brief discussion of additional Economic and Community Development Incentives. Council Member Schweitzer objected to the discussion, as she had not seen the information. City Manager Bradley explained that the discussion was an introduction of the information which could be reviewed over the next three weeks before the next meeting. Mr. Bradley continued explaining each of the four suggested programs and answering questions. The information would be provided on paper to each of the Council Members the next day for their review.

A Proclamation declaring January 24, 2017 as Kewanee Rotary Day was read by City Clerk Edwards and Mayor Looney.

OTHER BUSINESS

Council Member Koehler received confirmation from Fire Chief Shook that the ambulance situation would remain status quo, with Kewanee responding as needed, if available.

Council Member Yaklich noted the recent inauguration of President Trump, and wished him well.

Council Member Wallace-McKenna noted an early morning frost in the previous week that had left some roads slippery. She requested that we consider the bus route timing when deciding if the salt trucks should be out.

Council Member Schweitzer congratulated and thanked the Rotary Club for their service. She also passed on an invitation from Miller, Hall and Trigg to an educational session that would be held in May.

Mayor Looney reported that he had received a request for a golf cart ordinance, which would make it legal for golf carts to operate on City streets. He asked the Council Members to think about this request and offer their thoughts.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

There being no further business, Council Member Koehler moved to adjourn the meeting and Council Member Schweitzer seconded the motion. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The meeting adjourned at 7:51 P.M.

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