City of Kewanee City Council
City of Kewanee City Council met Monday, Feb. 13.
The City Council met in Council Chambers at 6:00 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
Council Member Yaklich moved to adjourn to executive session at 6:01 PM pursuant to Section 2 (C) (1) of the Open Meetings Act for the purpose of discussing personnel, Section 2(c)(2) to discuss collective bargaining, and Section 2(C)(11) to discuss probable litigation. Council Member Schweitzer seconded the motion. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.
The executive session was adjourned at 6:52 PM on a motion made by Council Member Wallace-McKenna and seconded by Council Member Schweitzer. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.
Council Meeting #17-03 reconvened at 7:00 PM with Mayor Looney stating the Council is reconvening following an executive session discussion concerning personnel, collective bargaining, and pending or imminent litigation.
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 23, 2017 Council Meeting, payroll for the pay period ending February 4, 2017 in the amount of $186,881.77 and staff reports from Code Enforcement, Police Department, ESDA, Finance & Administrative Services, and Building & Zoning. The consent agenda items were approved on a motion made by Council Member Wallace-McKenna and seconded by Council Member Yaklich. 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 the entire business taking place.
Bills submitted for approval totaling $881,539.28 were approved on a motion made by Council Member Wallace-McKenna and seconded by Council Member Koehler. Council Member Schweitzer questioned if a stool repair was related to the stools at the depot. Grounds Maintenance Manager Newton explained that the stool repairs were actually a result of replacing the backflow prevention device at City Hall. 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
The Plan Commission minutes from their meeting held on January 26, 2017 were accepted on a motion made by Council Member Yaklich and seconded by Council Member Schweitzer. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.
An Ordinance granting a Special Use to sell alcohol by the individual serving in the proposed wine bistro to Hardeep Bhalla, Elite Restaurant Group III, Inc was withdrawn from the agenda, as the owners had withdrawn their request for the special use permit.
Resolution #5034 awarding the demolition contract for 1119 Rose Street, 638 N. Walnut Street, 614 South West Street, and 607 North Tremont Street to Martin Bros. Co Inc. was approved on a motion made by Council Member Yaklich and seconded by Council Member Wallace-McKenna. Council Member Wallace-McKenna requested that Community Development Director Edwards to explain the process for demolitions. Edwards explained the two different processes that are used in getting to the point that a house can be demolished. He reported that there were currently 70 structures on his list for repair or demolition. Council Member Koehler thanked those involved in getting the process going. Council Member Yaklich thanked the residents that completed the surveys for giving their voice to guide the Council in setting priorities. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.
Resolution #5035 authorizing the City Manager to renew a lease agreement with Henry County Tourism Bureau to occupy space in the City Depot Building at 224 West Third Street was approved on a motion made by Council Member Schweitzer and seconded by Council Member Wallace-McKenna. Mayor Looney noted that the agreement was similar to the agreements with KEDC and the Chamber of Commerce. City Manager Bradley further explained that the current agreement includes a scope of work that the Tourism Bureau would provide the city, which would also include a semi-annual report to the Council. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.
Resolution #5036 authorizing the purchase of a computer server and related software from Office Specialists Inc was approved on a motion made by Council Member Yaklich and seconded by Council Member Wallace-McKenna. City Manager Bradley explained that the server used to crash frequently. Office Specialists worked on the server and lent us a computer to alleviate the problem. He further stated that Office Specialists had recommended the purchase of a new server. The purchase was not a
budgeted expense, but other items had been purchased under the budgeted amount and some funds were available. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.
Mayor Looney opened the floor to City Manager Bradley for a discussion of proposed amendments to the fencing and swimming pool regulations. City Manager Bradley noted that Community Development Director Edwards would be better able to answer any questions. Council Member Schweitzer noted the detail in the proposed changes, and asked how the changes would affect existing pools and fences. Community Development Director Edwards explained that existing pools and fences would not be required to conform. City Attorney Raver noted that each would be considered on a case by case basis in the event of any changes to the existing pools or fences. Raver and Edwards would draft language to include a clause allowing legal non-conforming status for the existing pools and fences that did not currently comply with the proposed changes. These items will be considered for adoption at the next Council Meeting.
Mayor Looney then opened the floor to City Manager Bradley for a brief discussion of additional Economic and Community Development Incentives. Council Members requested that the merits of each incentive be discussed individually. Council Member Yaklich noted his appreciation for the Infill Development Incentive, to fill in areas where houses have been removed. Council Member Schweitzer noted her appreciation of the targeted minor home repair program. She questioned the targeted areas, with City Manager Bradley explaining the thought process behind the targeted approach. Council Members requested that the final two incentives be placed on the backburner for now, but to bring the first two back for consideration of approval at the next meeting.
Mayor Looney opened the floor for discussion and approval of anticipated Well #4 rehab work. City Engineer Nobel explained the situation with the well, with the range of anticipated costs. He also explained that while the pump and piping were pulled from the well, the City could do chloride testing at specific depths. If the data found in that testing was similar to the previous testing done at Well #1, he would recommend capping off the lower portion of the well to assist the City in resolving the chloride issue. Council Members all concurred with the proposed work.
Mayor Looney then asked for Council discussion regarding allowing low speed vehicles (golf carts) on City streets. Council Members noted the possible safety issues with allowing these types of vehicles, including turn signals, lights, age limitations, and the use of 4 wheelers. Council Members agreed by consensus that they were not interested in allowing these types of vehicles.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council Member Wallace-McKenna suggested to residents that if they set out trash in an item they wish to save that they should put a note on the item so the garbage men would know to leave it. She also offered her thoughts and prayers to all the families involved in the recent tragedy.
Council Member Koehler again noted the example of great cooperation with the new parking lots at Central Junior High and Irving Elementary.
Mayor Looney congratulated Derick Carlock on his gold medal in the Super G Downhill Skiing at the recent Special Olympics. He thanked Etta LaFlora, Marshall Jones, Anita Blanks and Thelma McCloud
for the great “Black History Extravaganza” event held on Sunday, February 12. He thanked Chief Dison for his detailed annual report. He also thanked City staff and Council for their work in creating and discussing the items in the packet.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
There being no further business, Council Member Schweitzer moved to adjourn the meeting and Council Member Wallace-McKenna seconded the motion. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The meeting adjourned at 8:18 PM.
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