City of Kewanee City Council met Oct. 9.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
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
Steve Faber Council Member
Chris Colomer Council Member
Michael Yaklich Council Member
Steve Looney Mayor
News media present was as follows:
Mike Helenthal Star Courier
Shawn Kernan WKEI
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 September 24, 2018 Council Meeting, payroll for the pay period ending September 29, 2018 in the amount of $201,085.76, reports from Community Development, Police Department, and Public Works, a request from Kewanee Historical Society to close a portion of Tremont Street between First St and Central Blvd between 1 and 2:30 pm on October 27, 2018 for a ceremony commemorating Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Kewanee and a request from Tavern on Beach for use of the alley to the North of the property from Beach Street to Franklin Street from 11 am to 11 pm on October 27, 2018 for a Halloween entertainment event. The consent agenda items were approved on a motion made by Council Member Yaklich and seconded by Council Member Colomer. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.
Bills submitted for approval totaling $846,851.12 were approved on a motion made by Council Member Faber and seconded by Council Member Yaklich. Council Member Koehler questioned the payment for PALS cards. Fire Chief Shook explained that the payment was for training on pediatric advanced life support and the corresponding certification cards. Council Member Yaklich asked about relining the sewer on Tenney Street. City Manager Bradley noted that the relining would be complete soon with minimal disruption to traffic. 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. Terry Murphy commented on pictures given to the Council off trash and litter in Berrien Park. He noted that he picked up the trash, but would like to see better patrol of the area to avoid the litter in the future. George Shaw requested police patrol or a STOP sign on South West Street due to fast moving traffic and young children in the area. There being no other requests Mayor Looney moved on to new business.
NEW BUSINESS
The Plan Commission minutes from its meeting held on Thursday, September 27 were accepted on a motion made by Council Member Faber and seconded by Council Member Colomer. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.
Ordinance #3942 authorizing the special use to John Beaman Sr for a multiple family dwelling at 309 East Third Street was approved on a motion made by Council Member Colomer and seconded by Council Member Faber. Council Members commented on the many improvements to the property. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.
The Zoning Board of Appeals minutes from its meeting held on Wednesday, October 3 were accepted on a motion made by Council Member Colomer and seconded by Council Member Faber. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.
Resolution #5126 approving a variance and authorizing an encroachment licensing agreement with St. John Paul II Parish was approved on a motion made by Council Member Colomer and seconded by Council Member Faber. Council Member Yaklich requested that Chief Ainley provide his opinion on the safety of the area in question at the corner of Lexington and First Street. Chief Ainley reported his findings, noting that the intersection has a four-way STOP sign and felt the structure would not cause a safety hazard. Council Member Colomer noted that the children are let out at the West entrance to the school. City Manager Bradley explained, at the request of Council Member Yaklich, that the encroachment license was utilized in 2007 for Edward Jones. City Attorney Raver had reviewed the document and approved it. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.
Ordinance #3943 amending Schedule III of Chapter 78 of the Kewanee City Code regarding Handicapped Parking Spaces establishing handicap accessible on-street parking spaces in the vicinity of the St. Peter’s Evangelical Church on S. Grove Street was approved on a motion made by Council Member Koehler and seconded by Council Member Yaklich. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.
Ordinance #3944 authorizing a cable television franchise agreement by and between the City of Kewanee and Comcast of Illinois/Indiana/Ohio LLC was approved on a motion made by Council Member Faber and seconded by Council Member Colomer. City Manager Bradley noted the 10- year term. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.
Resolution #5127 authorizing the execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement with Kewanee Community Unit School District 229 for waiver of sewer charges for water used solely for the irrigation of an athletic field was approved on a motion made by Council Member Faber and seconded by Council Member Colomer. Mayor Looney noted that this agreement was discussed at the previous meeting. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.
City Clerk Edwards then read a proclamation declaring October 7 – 13 as Fire Safety Week. Mayor Looney reminded residents not to forget to change the batteries in the smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council Member Faber questioned the status of the heat installation in the pound. Grounds Maintenance Manager Newton reported that the heat would be installed in less than 2 weeks. Council Member Faber also noted several barrels that had been in place in excess of 10 months and a brush pile by the Humane Society that was partly in the road. He also received confirmation from City Manager Bradley that East Prospect Street would be closed on Halloween for trick-or-treating.
Council Member Colomer asked about a neighbor moving a garage and the end structure leaning. Community Development Director Edwards noted that the owner of the garage in question was in the process of applying for a demolition grant.
Council Member Colomer reported to Chief Ainley that he had been approached by a resident about speed on East Prospect Street. Chief Ainley made note of the complaint. Council Member Colomer then noted that he had also been approached by others regarding an optional platform to broadcast the Council Meetings, like Facebook live. He requested staff to review the options, as it may encourage more people to be a part of the community.
Council Member Koehler received information from City Manager Bradley regarding the proposed solar panels East of Great Dane going through the County’s approval process. He then noted Advel Court and Stanton Court not getting service of plowed streets, crediting City Manager Bradley for his work to get the ball rolling.
Mayor Looney wished Florence Reed a Happy 101st birthday. He also read the certification notice of the award of the City of Kewanee/Henry County Enterprise Zone.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Clerk Edwards announced that the transfer station would be open on Saturday, October 13 from 8 am to noon. City wide cleanup would be held on Saturday, October 27 from 7 am until noon. The tire cleanup event would also take place during the same time frame at Moore Tires. The first 300 tires collected would be free of charge, with a limit of 8 per household. After the 8 tires, or the first 300 the charge would be $2.50 per tire. Mayor Looney noted that we were always looking for volunteers for that event.
There being no further business, Council Member Faber moved to adjourn the meeting and Council Member Colomer seconded the motion. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The meeting adjourned at 7:40 PM.
http://www.cityofkewanee.com/COUNCIL%20MEETING%2018-19.pdf
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