City of Geneseo Council met Aug. 14.
Here is the minutes provided by the Council:
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call
The City Council of the City of Geneseo met in a City Council meeting on Tuesday August 14, 2018 at the Council Chambers, 115 South Oakwood Avenue. Mayor Kathy Carroll-Duda called the meeting to order at 6:01pm. Aldermen Brett Barnhart, Bob Wachtel, Sean Johnson, Craig Arnold, Martin Rothschild and Jason Robinson were present. Paula Simosky and James Roodhouse were absent. Others in attendance included, Administrator Lisa Kotter, City Clerk Loree K. Phlypo, City Attorney Margaret Kostopulos, Director of Public Works Chad VanDeWoestyne, Director of Electrical Operations Lewis Opsal, Chief Casey Disterhoft, Director of IT Garrett Griswold, Inspector Rick Mills, HR Brandon Maeglin, Finance Director Jamie Matthews, Morgan Mays, Jon A Zahm, Don Stover and Taylor Zeinert.
There was a quorum.
City Administrator Kotter Welcomed College Student Taylor Zeinert who has been job shadowing her for the last few days.
Chamber of Commerce Report
Rhonda handed out a report and reported that its great that Geneseo now has a music shop, a children’s store and that the Cellar is full. She will be in contact with Lewis for the electrical needs for Trains Planes and automobiles. They have 45 vendors this year. For a complete list of Chamber events please go to www.geneseo.org
City Engineering Report
Morgan Mays reported that there are 2 bid openings coming up, one for Hanford Street drainage and the other for the Chicago Street lift station. The permits all are back for the lift station. The opening will be next Thursday with a completion date still this year.
Public Comment
Jon Zahm from 417 E. Orange Street asked that the City look in the future to working with the County to equal out the precinct lines. Every June the County can look at the precinct lines and adjust them. State Statute dictates that each precinct can’t have more than 800 voters. He reported that currently Precinct 1 has 1043 voters, Precinct 2 has 980 voters, Precinct 3 has 625 voters, Precinct 4 has 1336 voters and Precinct 5 has 899 voters.
Paula Simosky joined the meeting at 6:15 pm.
Consent Agenda:
a. City Council Minutes 7/10/2018
b. CommitteeoftheWholeMinutes7/24/2018
c. Consideration to approve the creation of the Fourth Sergeant Position
d. Consideration to ask the Plan Commission to review the regulations on recreational vehicle parking
e. Consideration to approve the assignments of Council Members to goals from Strategic Planning
f. Consideration of approval of Resolution R-18-16 A Resolution to declare a gray 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe, VIN
#1GNEK13T61J125275 as surplus.
Mayor asked if there are any items on the Consent Agenda that anyone would like removed, there were none.
Motion by Barnhart, second by Wachtel to use the Omnibus Method and accept for the Consent Agenda items A through F.
AYES: 7 Simosky,Robinson,Arnold,Johnson,Rothschild,Wachtel,Barnhart
NAYS: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 1 Roodhouse
Motion Carried
Motion by Wachtel second by Arnold to approve the Consent Agenda as accepted.
AYES: 7 Simosky,Robinson,Arnold,Johnson,Rothschild,Wachtel,Barnhart
NAYS: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 1 Roodhouse
Motion Carried
Mayor Carroll-Duda asked Council to move the Consideration of Resolution R-18-17 A Resolution Authorizing Application for rural economic development loan. Everyone was agreeable to hear this item first.
Consideration of Resolution R-18-17 A Resolution authorizing application for rural economic development loan.
Mark Coon CEO of Hammond Henry Hospital and Jody from the Finance Department at Hammond Henry Hospital were present at the meeting to answer any questions that anyone may have. This is a 0% interest loan offered by the USDA and is offered to keep rural areas healthy. The hospital isn’t eligible to apply on their own there needs to be a rural utility involved, so the City would send a letter asking to be eligible to apply. The City would work in collaboration and act as a conduit for this loan process. It has been confirmed that this does not affect the City’s statutory debt limit and in no way is the City responsible for the payments. The hospital is willing to help City Attorney fees incurred to process this application. The funds will be used to renovate the emergency room and would be completed by August 2019. There is one change to the copy in the packet, add to the 3rd WHEREAS to read, “over a term of 10 years with 1-year deferral; and”.
Motion by Wachtel, second by Arnold to approve Resolution R-18-17 A Resolution Approving an Agreement for an Application to be submitted to the USDA on behalf of the Hammond Henry Hospital for Economic Development funds.
AYES: 7 Robinson,Johnson,Rothschild,Wachtel,Barnhart,Simosky,Arnold
NAYS: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 1 Roodhouse
Motion Carried
Consideration to adopt Ordinance O-18-13 An Ordinance altering ward boundaries and amending section 92.01 of the City of Geneseo City Code.
The proposed changes will correct the error with the Roos Hill addresses. The Precinct’s aren’t controlled by the City but the Ward’s are. The County can address the Precinct numbers in June.
Motion by Rothschild, second by Robinson to approve approve Ordinance O-18-13 An Ordinance Amending Ward Boundaries and Amending Section 92.01 of the Geneseo City Code of Ordinances.
AYES: 7 Robinson,Barnhart,Simosky,Rothschild,Johnson,Wachtel,Arnold
NAYS: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 1 Roodhouse
Motion Carried
Consideration to approve an allocation of up to $5,000 to hire Hitchcock Design Group to assist the City Staff with the submittal of the OSLAD Grant for Richmond Hill Park for the grant deadline of October 1.
The opportunity for the OSLAD grant opened up one week prior to the last Committee of the Whole meeting. The Grant offers up to $400,000 with matching funds from the City to apply for Open Space Land Acquisition and Development Grant for Richmond Hill Park. This request is to allocate $5,000 so that Hitchcock can assist the City with the application process, it is based on points for different aspects of the plan and this is Hitchcock’s expertise. The process is very competitive and hasn’t been offered in 2 years. The park design that was put together in 2017 included tennis courts which will now be removed due to the High School putting in courts. Points can be gained by including playground areas, shelters, bathrooms just to name a few. Some of the concerns included costs, master plan, financial plan and other projects not getting the attention that they should that are more important than park updates. Administrator Kotter reported that this will in no way stop other projects or keep employees from having the necessary equipment that is required. The goal is to present to the Council different options at different fund levels and then the Council decides what they would like to do. Hitchcock will be at the August Committee of the Whole.
Motion by Wachtel, second by Simosky to allocate up to $5,000 to hire Hitchcock Design Group to assist the City Staff in submittal of an OSLAD grant for Richmond Hill Park for the anticipated grant application deadline of October 1.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: 5 Barnhart,Robinson,Rothschild,Wachtel,Simosky
NAYS: 2 Johnson,Arnold
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 1 Roodhouse
Motion Carried
Paula Simosky left the meeting at 7:21 PM.
Consideration of Resolution R-18-19 A Resolution addressing non-union employee benefits
By giving the non-union employees that same benefits as the union employees everyone is being treated the same. Page 41 comp time section isn’t relevant to the 5 remaining hourly and salaried employees so it can be removed.
Motion by Rothschild, second by Barnhart to approve Resolution R-18-19 which approved changes to Non-Union benefits as listed and direct staff to add these to the Personnel Policy Handbook.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: 5 Robinson,Barnhart,Rothschild,Johnson,Wachtel
NAYS: 1 Arnold
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 2 Simosky,Roodhouse
Motion Carried
Consideration to adopt Ordinance O-18-10 An amendment to the zoning code – Regulations of and application for small wireless facilities.
Corrections to this ordinance include; page 44 a zero should be an O in a title, clarification on page 56 Section 6 I and II are on private land and III is within the City ROW work. There should be a space between Property Damage and Wireless Provider.
Motion by Barnhart, second by Arnold to approve Ordinance O-18-10 which amends the Zoning Code and approves a Small Cell Tower Ordinance that is in compliance with the requirements of State Law and repeals the previous Ordinance.
AYES: 6 Robinson,Barnhart,Rothschild,Johnson,Wachtel,Arnold
NAYS: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 2 Simosky,Roodhouse
Motion Carried
Consideration to appoint a committee to oversee the IBEW grievance.
Streets and Cemetery filed a grievance and it is at Step 3, a committee needs to be appointed and it is recommended that it be 2 City Council members and a Staff person. It is recommended that Aldermen Wachtel and Rothschild along with HR Maeglin are the committee.
Motion by Rothschild, second by Arnold to approve the appointment of the Step 3 Grievance Committee for the IBEW Russell Overtime Pay Grievance with the committee members being Robert Wachtel, Martin Rothschild and Brandon Maeglin.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: 6 Robinson,Barnhart,Rothschild,Johnson,Wachtel,Arnold
NAYS: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 2 Simosky,Roodhouse
Motion Carried
Consideration to approve Resolution R-18-18 A Resolution approving an agreement for deed in lieu of foreclosure to acquire 108 S. Oakwood Geneseo, IL.
15 years ago there was a fire in this structure and it has sat vacant for 12 years. The City paid for the cost of the demolition which then was placed as a lien on the property. We were close to foreclosure when the owner passed away. The executor of her estate is willing to transfer ownership to the City with future discussion on plans for the lot after it is deeded to the City. Motion by Rothschild, second by Arnold to approve Resolution R-18-18 A Resolution approving an agreement for Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure to acquire 108 South Oakwood Avenue.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: 6 Robinson,Barnhart,Rothschild,Johnson,Wachtel,Arnold
NAYS: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 2 Simosky,Roodhouse
Motion Carried
Payment of City and Utility Bills
There were additional bills handed out.
Motion by Robinson, second by Johnson to approve the bills as presented.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: 6 Robinson,Johnson,Rothschild,Wachtel,Barnhart,Arnold
NAYS: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 2 Simosky,Roodhouse
Motion Carried
Public Comment
Kathy Allen – Thank you for approving the $5,000 Hitchcock Design Group to continue to keep the City moving forward.
Alderman Wachtel complemented Henry County on the good job they did with the streets and how nice the flowers are downtown and the Park department for keeping everything looking nice, a lot to be proud of.
Adjournment
Motion by Wachtel, second by Robinson to adjourn the meeting at 7:47 PM.
Voice Vote. 6 Ayes. 0 Nays. 2 Absent.
Motion Carried.
http://www.cityofgeneseo.com/uploads/council_agenda/1536856785_CCMin20180814.pdf
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