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Thursday, April 25, 2024

City of Kewanee City Council met April 8

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City of Kewanee City Council met April 8.

Here is the agenda 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:

Steve Faber Council Member

Chris Colomer Council Member

Michael Yaklich Council Member

Andrew Koehler Council Member

Steve Looney Mayor

News media present was as follows:

Mike Helenthal Star Courier

Sean 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 March 25, 2019 Council Meeting, payroll for the pay period ending March 30, 2019 in the amount of $190,655.93, reports from Community Development and the Police Department. The consent agenda items were approved on a motion made by Council Member Yaklich and seconded by Council Member Faber. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Bills submitted for approval totaling $252,640.12 were approved on a motion made by Council Member Faber and seconded by Council Member Colomer. Council Member Faber asked about the crane rental from Ratliff. Public Works Operations Manager Johnson noted that the tree was a pretty big tree at Oak. Council Member Yaklich asked about the Alldata. Grounds Maintenance Manager reported that it was for all of the domestic repairs diagnostics. Council Member Yaklich also asked about the repairs on the transfer station. Grounds Maintenance Manager Newton noted that all of the planned repairs for this fiscal year were complete. However, there were some additional repairs planned in the following fiscal year budget. 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

The minutes of the Plan Commission 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.

Ordinance #3956 to grant a special use permit to sell alcohol by the individual serving in the proposed gaming parlor to James Reed III, owner of and doing business as LeMirage, to be located at 544 Tenney Street was approved on a motion made by Council Member Koehler and seconded by Council Member Colomer. Council Members noted that the Plan Commission members voted 3 – 2. However, all of the members voted unanimously for the stipulations. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Ordinance #3957 to grant a special use permit to sell alcohol by the individual serving in the proposed gaming parlor to Luis Anaya, owner of and doing business as Slotsland, LLC, to be located at 113 West Third Street was approved on a motion made by Council Member Faber and seconded by Council Member Koehler. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Resolution #5147 authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to execute an amendment to the existing Intergovernmental Agreement with Henry County Housing Authority for policing services was approved on a motion made by Council Member Colomer and seconded by Council Member Faber. The agreement was amended to no longer provide a full time officer and detail the scheduling of part time officers to the Housing Authority. The Housing Authority would be invoiced monthly to reimburse the City’s expenses. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Resolution #5148 authorizing the City Manager to execute a side letter of agreement with IAFF 513 to the collective bargaining agreement was approved on a motion made by Council Member Yaklich and seconded by Council Member Faber. City Manager Bradley explained that the agreement was clarification with the one change of allowing the funds to be paid directly to the retiree rather than the PEHP account if the retiree chooses not continue on the City’s health insurance. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

Resolution #5149 authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to execute a Mutual Aid agreement with Stark County Ambulance Service was approved on a motion made by Council Member Faber and seconded by Council Member Colomer. Fire Chief Shook noted that the original Mutual Aid agreement was with the volunteer department. The new agreement would be with the for profit department. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

A discussion regarding the provision of Ambulance service to Neponset was held. Fire Chief Shook explained that the City has been asked by Neponset to be the primary provider for ambulance service. The City had been providing the service at no fee to Neponset for 70% of the calls. After Buda signed an agreement with Stark County Ambulance, the City began providing 100% of the service to Neponset. Council Members wanted further information regarding the costs to the city prior to making any decisions. The Mayor of Neponset explained the need for the service from Kewanee. Mayor Looney requested that the item be brought back to the Council at the next meeting.

Resolution #5150 authorizing the purchase of 95-gallon trash containers for use with the automated trash collection vehicles was approved on a motion made by Council Member Colomer and seconded by Council Member Yaklich. Mayor Looney noted that the purchase follows the purchasing policy. Residents would be notified about the delivery of the cans and beginning of the program via the newsletter, the media, the city website and Facebook. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The motion passed.

A discussion regarding an ordinance to amend sections 50.04-(A-M) Residential Refuse and Garbage Pickup and 50.07-(D-E) Residential Bulk Brush Pickup and Christmas Trees and 50.09- (D) Rates and Rules for Solid Waste Pickup of Chapter 50 Solid Waste Management of Title V Public Works of the Kewanee City Code. Mayor Looney stated that he thought a second container charge at twice the rate was expensive. He also noted that the City had never charged for the collection of Christmas trees and does not feel we should start charging for them now. Public Works Operations Manager Johnson explained, at the request of Council Member Yaklich, that the City now pays to dispose of the Christmas trees and the landscape waste sticker would help defray that cost. Johnson also stated that two times the cost was the current practice. Council Member Yaklich requested additional information about the suggested change to the bulk brush collection. Operations Manager Johnson stated that the change was an update of the code to follow the practice that was in place for the past couple of years. Council Member Faber questioned the use of a chipper for disposal of the Christmas trees and brush. Johnson reported that the chipper had not been used in years due to injuries sustained by staff when using the chipper. Mayor Looney stated that the sticker purchase would be an inconvenience for the residents at Christmas time. Mayor Looney also requested that City Attorney Raver review the ordinance, specifically letter G regarding vandalism or theft of the container.

City Clerk Edwards also read a proclamation declaring April 17 as a day celebrating 100 years of healthcare provided to the community of Kewanee.

OTHER BUSINESS

Council Member Faber urged motorists to watch for motorcyclists and bicyclists, as well as emergency vehicles.

Council Member Colomer echoed Council Member Faber’s sentiments to use caution, adding to watch for people walking and their animals.

Council Member Koehler thanked Community Development Director Edwards for his professionalism and assistance with working to fix the roof on his building. He stated it had been a privilege to work with staff and to see their growth. He welcomed and congratulated Mike Komnick to the Council.

Council Member Yaklich noted the upcoming budget meeting on Monday, April 15 and an ordinance that requires a balanced budget. He also noted a codicil that the City Manager has a duty to present a balanced budget to the Council, which he had not yet seen. Mayor Looney stated that we are close but we will get there.

Mayor Looney asked City Manager Bradley to give an update on the viaduct. City Manager Bradley reported that he had received an email from the person responsible for permitting requesting the recommendations of the engineer so that the permit process could begin.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

City Clerk Edwards announced that City offices would be closed on Friday, April 19 in observance of Good Friday. There were no planned changes to the trash collection schedule. The transfer station would be open the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month beginning April 13 and continuing

through September 28. The automated trash collection was scheduled to begin May 14th. There would be no changes to landscape waste or recycling collection.

There being no further business, Council Member Faber moved to adjourn the meeting and Council Member Yaklich seconded the motion. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The meeting adjourned at 7:48 PM.

http://www.cityofkewanee.com/COUNCIL%20MEETING%2019-07.pdf

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