City of Kewanee City Council met March 11.
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:
Steve Faber Council Member
Chris Colomer Council Member
Michael Yaklich Council Member
Andrew Koehler Council Member
Steve Looney Mayor
The Council adjourned to closed session pursuant to Section 2 (c)(1) of the Open Meetings Act to discuss personnel on a motion made by Council Member Yaklich and seconded by Council Member Colomer. The closed session was adjourned at 6:55 pm on a motion made by Council Member Colomer and seconded by Council Member Faber. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.
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 February 25, 2019 Council Meeting, payroll for the pay period ending March 2, 2019 in the amount of $197,512.95, reports from Community Development, Bock Inc., Police Department, and Public Works and a request from Prairie Chicken Festival for the use of certain city streets and green spaces. The consent agenda items were approved on a motion made by Council Member Colomer and seconded by Council Member Yaklich. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.
Bills submitted for approval totaling $565,651.54 were approved on a motion made by Council Member Faber and seconded by Council Member Colomer. Council Member Koehler complimented Carol Zimmerman on her instruction of the class for the fire department. Council Member Yaklich asked about the heating in the pound. Grounds Maintenance Manager Newton explained all of the options he is pursuing to make the pound more efficient to heat. Council Member Yaklich also asked about the payment to the County Clerk. City Clerk Edwards noted that the payment was for the liens filed in November and Decemnber. 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. There being no such requests Mayor Looney moved on to new business.
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution #5141 adopting an Internal Controls policy for the City of Kewanee was approved on a motion made by Council Member Yaklich and seconded by Council Member Faber. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. Council Member Yaklich expressed his compliments to the staff that participated in drafting the document. The motion passed.
A discussion regarding the Health Insurance Fund was postponed until the Health Insurance Committee met on March 19.
Grounds Maintenance Manager Newton gave an update regarding his meeting with Brian Johnson of the Kewanee Park District. The option was to continue discussions with Mr. Johnson for a joint project at Northeast Park. The insurance company had responded that we would have the coverage.
ProChamps presentation started with review of the agreement. Council Member Yaklich and Mayor Looney stated their apprehension of the program. Council Member Yaklich suggested that Community Development Director Edwards make a list of the obstacles and see if there are other options. Council concurred that Mr. Edwards should look for alternate opportunities.
Operations Manager Rod Johnson gave an update on the solid waste disposal. Trucks have been picked up. Staff received training on the use of the truck. Fleet Maintenance will service the vehicles. It will be in mid-April to get canisters ordered and start public education. Containers will be wheeled out on the old Friday route.
Progress on the viaduct will be slower than the rollout of the solid waste change. City Manager Bradley met with Greg Reiker of IMEG to put together some interim improvements. The Mayor and City Manager sent letters to the elected representatives at the state and federal level, and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads. The letters requested assistance with repair and funding. Pictures were included with the letters for impact. Council Member Koehler requested signs be erected to make motorists aware of the railroad tracks at Kent Street.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council Member Koehler noted that political signs should not be placed in the right of way, as that is the City of Kewanee property.
Council Member Yaklich complimented Gary on the Comprehensive Plan in the packet.
Council Member Faber commended the police department for the drug bust. Lieutenant Rivord reported that if funds are awarded the city would get 65%. Council Member Faber reminded motorists to see bikes.
Council Member Colomer noted that he was asked about the viaduct.
Mayor Looney reminded residents to change the batteries in their smoke detectors
Council Member Yaklich asked about bulk landscape waste. Operations Manager Johnson reviewed the program for collection.
Council Member Koehler asked when the first burn day would take place. He was advised burning would begin in April.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Clerk Edwards announced that landscape waste collection begins on March 18, please remember the $1 sticker on the paper bag and to only deposit landscape waste in the bag, as the bags are taken for composting. Residents would be allowed 6 additional bags of trash the week of March 18 on your regularly scheduled trash collection day.
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 7:47 PM.
http://www.cityofkewanee.com/COUNCIL%20MEETING%2019-05.pdf
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