Rock Island Today

City of Kewanee City Council met May 14.

Here is the minutes provided by the Council:

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

Steve Faber Council Member

Michael Yaklich Council Member

Chris Colomer Council Member

Steve Looney Mayor

Council Member Colomer made a motion to adjourn to executive session at 6:01 pm pursuant to Section 2 (C)(1) of the Open Meetings Act to discuss personnel, Section 2(C)(2) to discuss collective bargaining and Section 2(c)(11) to discuss probable litigation. Council Member Faber seconded the motion. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

The executive session was adjourned at 6:47 pm on a motion made by Council Member Faber and seconded by Council Member Colomer. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Council Meeting 18-08 continued at 7:00 pm with Mayor Looney stating that Council was reconvening following a closed meeting pursuant to Section 2(c)(1) or the Open Meetings Act to discuss personnel, Section 2(C)(2) to discuss collective bargaining and Section 2(c)(11) to discuss probable litigation.

News media present was as follows:

Mike Helenthal Star Courier

The Pledge of Allegiance was said.

Mayor Looney thanked those in attendance for the 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 April 23, 2018 Council Meeting, payroll for the pay period ending April 28 and May 12, 2018 in the amount of $406,425.75, reports from Building & Zoning, Community Development, ESDA, and Police Department, and a request from the Hog Festival Committee for the use of City streets, green spaces, and parking lots. The consent agenda was approved on a motion made by Council Member Faber and seconded by Council Member Yaklich. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Bills submitted for approval totaling $822,012.63 were approved on a motion made by Council Member Colomer and seconded by Council Member Koehler. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Citizen Participation:

Mayor Looney then asked if anyone wished to speak regarding a non-agenda item. Anthony Holdgrafer presented a concern regarding a neighbor’s fence and property line disputes. Mayor Looney and City Manager Bradley offered to meet with Mr. Holdgrafer. There being no other requests Mayor Looney moved on to new business.

New Business:

Kathy Albert, Executive Director of the Kewanee Economic Development Corporation presented an update to the Council of the activities. Those activities included Kewanee Physical Therapy and Rehab Center relocating and renovating their new office building, with plans to erect a new building on the lot, relocation of Rhino Tools and their work with Honda, Betty’s Memorial Garden plans to open in the Fall of 2018, Boss Manufacturing expansion, Regional Media locating headquarters here, and the Department of Corrections Expansion.

Ordinance# 3926 authorizing the City Manager to execute a Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Agreement with Gustafson Ford fir their roof replacement project was approved on a motion made by Council Member Colomer and seconded by Council Member Koehler. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Resolution #5106 awarding the 2018 annual street program to Advanced Asphalt was approved on a motion made by Council Member Yaklich and seconded by Council Member Colomer. City Engineer reported, at the request of Council Member Yaklich, that the plan was to get started in the early part of June. The work for the handicap ramps would be done separately with Non-Home Rule Sales tax dollars. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Resolution #5107 authorizing the City Manager to execute an access agreement with Ameren Illinois was approved on a motion made by Council Member Yaklich and seconded by Council Member Colomer. City Manager Bradley explained that this agreement would be an extension of an existing agreement that was expiring in December 2018. Ameren staff needed at 6 – 8 more months to complete the work. The property would be restored to the original condition when the monitoring wells were no longer needed. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Resolution #5108 appointing members to various boards and commissions was approved on a motion made by Council Member Colomer and seconded by Council Member Yaklich. Mayor Looney read the names and boards and commissions. He thanked all of the volunteers for serving their community. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

A brief discussion of building and zoning regulations regarding solar panels was held. City Manager Bradley expressed his desire to give the Council the opportunity to express their desires and get the ordinance right. Council Member Yaklich noted that the situation was such that he felt we should act and get an ordinance enacted and then go back and tweak it if necessary. Community Development Director Edwards explained the building codes already in place and asked for guidance from the Council. Council Member Faber noted that he did not want to see them in the front yard. Staff was asked to bring a draft ordinance to the Council at the next meeting.

City Clerk Edwards read a proclamation declaring May 2018 as Community Action Month.

Other Business:

Council Member Koehler noted the change of location for the Hog Days Flea Market. He thanked Good’s Furniture for their generosity of donating the space for use. He also asked when the bike patrol would be functioning for the year. Chief Ainley reported that the bikes would be out soon, with staffing levels determining when and how often.

Council Member Yaklich noted that Geneseo’s ordinance had verbiage that would not apply to us. He also noted that he was still receiving a lot of spam emails. Mayor Looney noted that he did not receive as much spam. Council Member Yaklich also requested that the City website be reviewed for updates.

Council Member Faber noted the lack of attention to emergency vehicles in town. He requested a reminder of the need to pull over to the right be placed in the upcoming newsletter.

Council Member Colomer thanked everyone who participated in the City Wide Cleanup. He also cautioned motorists to be aware of pedestrians and cyclists.

Mayor Looney also thanked all of the volunteers and city staff for their involvement in the City Wide Cleanup.

Announcements:

City Clerk Edwards announced that the final Saturday the transfer station would be open was May 19 from 8 am to 12 noon. City Hall offices would be closed on Monday, May 28th in observance of Memorial Day. There would be no change to the trash collection schedule, but there would be no landscape collection that week. A Memorial Day Service would be held at the Kewanee American Legion Post 31 at 10:00 am on Monday, May 28, 2018.

There being no further business, Council Member Koehler moved to adjourn the meeting and Council Member Colomer seconded the motion. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The meeting adjourned at 8:05 pm.

http://www.cityofkewanee.com/COUNCIL%20MEETING%2018-09.pdf