City of Geneseo Committee of the Whole met June 25.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
Mayor Kathy Carroll-Duda called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. Alderman Rothschild, Sean Johnson, Doug Crow, Brett Barnhart, Bob Wachtel, Bob James and Craig Arnold answered roll call. Paula Simosky was absent. Others in attendance included Interim City Administrator Dawn Tubbs, City Attorney Margaret Kostopulos, City Clerk Loree K Phlypo, Public Works Director Chad VanDeWoestyne, Electrical Operations Director Lewis Opsal, Inspector Rick Mills, Chief Casey Disterhoft, Deputy Chief Gene Karzin and Pastor Steve Palm.
A Quorum was present.
Public Comment
Mayor Carroll-Duda read a thank you letter from outgoing Chamber Director Jim Kelly thanking the City and Staff for all the help during the Music Fest last weekend.
Jon Zahm introduced himself as a reporter for the Geneseo Republic.
Discussion of Ordinance O-19-07 An Ordinance Amending the Utility Service Billing Policy to include broadening approval parameters for the Finance Director.
Discussion was held on after hour reconnection of service and it was recommended by staff not to perform reconnects after hours. It would require a list being submitted to the Police Department each day staff felt that this was not a good productive solution. Customers on the shut off list have received a letter in the mail, a shut off door tag and multiple phone calls prior to being shut off. Shut offs are done by 2:30pm on the shut off day and reconnects between 3 and 4 on shut off day will receive a $75 fee for reconnect. Discussion was held on there being a one-time waiver of the $200 deposit currently required once you receive a shut off notice. If a customer is going to receive help from a church or organization with their utility bill, they can have the organization email confirmation to the City and the shut off will be stopped. A meter tech is the only electric employee that can disconnect and reconnect service, this employee is off work at 3:30pm, Electric Director Opsal stated that the Meter Tech can be paid a half hour of overtime to accommodate any one that may need to be reconnected on disconnect day. The second part of the requested changes involve adding the Finance Director to the list of persons that can approve an exception to the ordinance. Currently the ordinance reads that the City Administrator and the Mayor are the only two who can grant an exception to the Utility Billing Service Policy. There were a couple incidents that happened and the Finance Director granted exceptions and didn’t realize that she didn’t have the authority to. The City Council agreed to leave the approval of exceptions to the City Administrator and the Mayor’s discretion and to bring the Utility Service Billing Policy to the next Committee of the Whole for further discussion.
Not Action Taken
Discussion of Ordinance O-19-09 An Ordinance Amending the City Code of Ordinances concerning the Sale and Possession of Tobacco.
Discussion was held at a previous meeting on this item and it will mirror the State Law except for the local law will include Possession also. All references to the age of “18” need to be changed to “21”. Ordinance violations will be issued to the person selling the product and the business that employees the seller. The owners license could be revoked. The fine amount will include $100 first offense, $150 second offense and $200 third offense in a 24-month period. In section 114.03 the word “punishable” should be replaced with “held in violation”.
Motion by Rothschild, second by Arnold to recommend to City Council approval of changes to current ordinance and direct City Attorney to create updated ordinance.
ROLL CALL
Ayes 7 Arnold, James, Crow, Rothschild, Robinson, Wachtel, Barnhart
Nays 0
Absent 1 Simosky
Motion Carried
Discussion of Resolution R-19-09 A Resolution Authorizing the Sale of Personal Property
The Electric Department has 2 pieces of equipment to surplus and dispose of by best means possible. A 2001 International 4700 4x2 Truck with an Altec D 947T-R Digger attached and a 1989 Koehring LRT-110 Rough Terrain Crane.
Motion by Wachtel, second by Arnold to recommend to City Council approval of the items listed on Resolution R-19-09 A Resolution Authorizing the Sale of Personal Property Exhibit A and to put this on the Consent Agenda.
ROLL CALL
Ayes 7 Arnold, James, Crow, Rothschild, Robinson, Wachtel, Barnhart
Nays 0
Absent 1 Simosky
Motion Carried
Discussion on changes to Chapter 91 on Abandoned Vehicles.
Municies Judge Hamer reported that our ordinance doesn’t have the language in it to cover a boat on a trailer with regards to the abandoned vehicle Section 91.01. By expanding on the wording it will give our CSO the ability to issue tickets on such violations. The Verbiage would be added to Sections 91.01 Definitions to Trailer and 91.03 Prohibited Acts.
Motion by Wachtel, second by James to recommend to City approval of changes to current ordinance and direct City Attorney to create updated ordinance.
ROLL CALL
Ayes 7 Arnold, James, Crow, Rothschild, Robinson, Wachtel, Barnhart
Nays 0
Absent 1 Simosky
Motion Carried
Discussion on additional TIF District incentives for Businesses
A businessman wants to create an indoorsports practice facility, the building would be 70x120 Metal Pole and cost approximately $200,000. He would like help with cleaning up the lot and tearing down an existing structure, but is asking the City for help funding the property up to $25,000. City Attorney Price reported that we can do this with an Inducement Resolution. This business would create 1-2 full time jobs or up to 4 part-time jobs. It would generate very little sales tax revenue but would generate utilities. They would like the $25,000 up front to purchase the property. Concerns can be drafted into the resolution about guarantees since the money would be upfront. Other incentives that they could apply for include, Façade, Utilities, Revolving loan and Sales tax on building materials. With funding being given upfront concerns included, the project being completed, not bringing very many jobs or generating sales tax revenue and this location is prime retail space for traffic from the commuter train traffic.
No Action Taken
Discussion on Public Utility Incentives
Discussion was held on our business incentive applications and it appears that there may have been some doubling up on incentives given on accident. It was recommended that sections 52.27 through 52.30 from Chapter 52 Public Utility Billing be stricken from the ordinance, these are repetitive to Chapter 118 Financial Incentives for New or Expanding Retail Businesses.
With an addition to Chapter 118, Section 118.02 A2 to read, “from date approved by City Council”.
Motion by Barnhart, second by Arnold to recommend to the City Council that 52.27, 52.28, 52.29 and 52.30 be struck from Chapter 52 of our Public Utility Billing Ordinance and the City Attorney to amend the Ordinance.
ROLL CALL
Ayes 7 Arnold, James, Crow, Rothschild, Robinson, Wachtel, Barnhart
Nays 0
Absent 1 Simosky
Motion Carried
Wachtel out at 7:42, return at 7:45
Discussion on Richmond Hill Naming Rights
Richmond Hill Park Project donation ideas discussed included setting up a naming rights program for the different areas of the park. Whether or not the dollar amounts donated should be connected with the donor’s name and should there be one large sign with the names of all donor amounts and then individual for larger donations. Naming rights usually have a time frame.
Interim Administrator Tubbs to reach out to the Park District or Hospital to get information on the naming rights program that they used. Some Aldermen were not in favor of a naming rights program. Another option that would be less expensive would be to offer Memorial Trees as a donation possibility. These ideas will go back to the Ad-hoc Committee for discussion.
No Action Taken
Crow out at 8:00, return at 8:03.
Discussion on Henry County Trafficking Enforcement Group
This Resolution was brought forward by Chief Disterhoft in an effort to increase the Community Service to cut down on drugs and human trafficking. Kewanee and the Sheriff’s Department are already on board and basically just waiting on Geneseo and Colona to get approval. The first official meeting of the group will be on July 1, 2019. It was noted that there is some wording that need to be corrected and the Mayor’s name needs to be removed from the Voting list.
Motion by Barnhart, second by James to recommend to the City Council to approve Resolution R-19-10 A Resolution
Authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement Between the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, Geneseo Police Department, Colona Police Department and the City of Kewanee Police Department. They shall operate a Multi-
Jurisdictional Group known as the Henry County Trafficking Enforcement Group within the County of Henry in the State of Illinois and declaring that this Resolution shall be in full force Immediately.
ROLL CALL
Ayes 7 Arnold, James, Crow, Rothschild, Robinson, Wachtel, Barnhart
Nays 0
Absent 1 Simosky
Motion Carried
Discussion on 2019-2020 Motor Fuel Tax Funds
This is an annual Resolution and it comes from IMEG. This Resolution approves the expenditure of the MFT Funds for the year.
Motion by Barnhart, second by Johnson to recommend to City Council adoption of Resolution once supplied to us for Maintenance of Streets and Highways by Municipality Under the Illinois Highway Code as required by IDOT for fiscal year July 1, 2019 thru June 30, 2020 in the amount of (unknown at this time) for the expenditure of Motor Fuel Tax Funds and approve the Intergovernmental Agreement with Henry County for the Paving Contract.
ROLL CALL
Ayes 7 Arnold, James, Crow, Rothschild, Robinson, Wachtel, Barnhart
Nays 0
Absent 1 Simosky
Motion Carried
Payment of City and Utility Bills
Additional Bills handed out.
Motion by Arnold, second by Wachtel to approve City and Utility bills as presented.
ROLL CALL
Ayes 7 Arnold, James, Crow, Rothschild, Robinson, Wachtel, Barnhart
Nays 0
Absent 1 Simosky
Motion Carried
Public Comment
Mayor Carroll-Duda recommended that the Staff review the Capitol Project list and give the Elected Officials a status update.
Pastor Steve Palm reported that he feels that the buck stopping with the Mayor on fines for the Tobacco enforcement is “policing” and is a bad idea, it should stop with the City Administrator.
Executive Session
Re: Land Agreement
Pursuant to the purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body: 5ILCS 120/2 (c)(5) The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired.
Re: Interim City Administrator Agreement
City Administrator Position
Pursuant to personnel matter pursuant to: 5ILCS 120/2(c)(1) The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity.
Re: Employee Wage Increase
Motion by Wachtel, second by Arnold to enter into Executive Session under 5ILCS 120/2(c)(5) Purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public Body and 5ILCS 120/2(c)(1) personnel matter at 8:33 pm.
ROLL CALL
Ayes 7 Arnold, James, Crow, Rothschild, Robinson, Wachtel, Barnhart
Nays 0
Absent 1 Simosky
Motion Carried
Return to open meeting
Motion by Wachtel, second by Arnold to enter back into open session at 10:09 pm.
ROLL CALL
Ayes 7 Arnold, James, Crow, Rothschild, Robinson, Wachtel, Barnhart
Nays 0
Absent 1 Simosky
Motion Carried
Adjournment
Motion by Arnold second by James to adjourn at 10:10 PM.
Voice Vote. All Ayes.
Motion Carried.
Alerts Sign-up