City of Kewanee City Council met Feb. 10.
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:
Steve Faber Council Member
Chris Colomer Council Member
Michael Yaklich Council Member
Michael Komnick Council Member
Gary Moore Mayor
News media present was as follows:
Mike Helenthal Star Courier
Sean Kernan WKEI
The Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Moore asked for a moment of silence for our troops still fighting overseas.
Mayor Moore 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 Moore 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 January 27th , 2020 Council Meeting, payroll for the pay period ending February 1st, 2020 in the amount of $266,095.90. The consent agenda items were approved on a motion made by Council Member Faber and seconded by Council Member Komnick. The motion passed 5 aye 0 nay.
Bills submitted for approval totaling $515,064.83 were approved on a motion made by Council Member Colomer and seconded by Council Member Faber. Council Member Yaklich had a question in regards to the amount gloves that Rod Johnson purchased in an amount of $1900.00? Rod Johnson stated that this was a purchase from Boss and this was merchandise that they had in stock and since he will no longer be able to buy local for these he would have to pay shipping. Council Member Yaklich also had a question in regards to restricted fund balances. The packet states the balances are confusing. City Manager Gary Bradley stated that thisis a matter of transfering funds to appropriate accounts. The balances will make it above the min balance requirements. Motion passed 5 ayes no Nays.
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION:
• No one stepped up
NEW BUSINESS
• Consideration of an Ordinance # 3995 granting a Special Use Permit to Wethersfield School for an Agricultural learning lab and greenhouse. Motion made by Council Member Komnick and seconded by Council Member Yaklich. Council Member asked if we had representation. Shane from Wetherdfield stepped to ask with the FFA teacher answer any questions. The Mayor stated that he had a email from a resident that stated they were concerned about a property that is on the map that the school planned to use was not theres. Shane stated he would look in to that. City Manager Bradley stated that that would be checked in future process. Shane stated that he is willing to work with the City and the Engineer to make sure any and all set back and codes are all followed. Lights will be an option in the future for the parking lot. Another concern was parking in and on thestreets and the view that would be hindered when trying to pull out. This is something that can be added at a later time and closer to when the parking lot would be constructed. Council Member Yaklich asked if information and a file was kept on the propertied and their updates? City Manager Bradley stated that every property has a file that can be referred too. Chief Troy Ainley stepped up and stated parking on the streets is something that we can definatley look into at a later date. Council member Colomer was concerned about the parking lot becoming a hang out for the kids. Colomer asked Shane if there would be any locked gates or security cameras. At this time Shane stated that a gate was not in the plans but he is open to adding it if it is needed. Council Member Faber asked about the size of the crops that they are planning to plant. FFA teacher Kate stated these crops are smaller and cpould be done with by hand and or with a smaller pull behind spreader/ sprayer and picker. FFA teacher Kate stated this is her program to help fund FFA and stated that at this time they have been abloe to send and pay for her current students with fundraising. Mayor Moore had one last concern about spraying herbicides on the crops. FFA Teacher Kate stated organic is their plan at this time. Motion passed with 5 ayes and 0 Nays.
• Consideration of an Resolution # 5199 a resolution authorizing the continuation of the nonconforming use at 801 n east street as a b-2 business district. Motion made by Council Member Yaklich and seconded by Council Member Colomer. Council Member Yklich asked that Mr Prather step forward. Mr Prather started with he explanation on why and how he plans to put a new building in that location. It was a better solution rather then trying to fix that older building. The site plan is in their packet that Yaklich and Faber were not aware of. Scott Hinton stated it was in there. Council Member Komnick asked why this process was not started when the existing building was still standing. Prather stated that his property managers were frustrated with the City of Kewanee and felt there were having to jump through hoops so they referred to their lawyer. The frustration with the City is why he didn’t follow the process. Council Member Yaklich asked if he was against any perameters that they may set. Prather stated not at all. Mayor Moore stated he spoke with 8 residents and 5 were against it completely due to the past and the neighborhood condition. 3 were neutral and stated they had no opinion about the bar coming. The neighbors directly affected had the same concerns and there are young children there. Some concerns with outside unrination, trash, and they had tried to shield their kids from these views by shutting the blinds and maintaining family activities to the back of the house. Council Member Colomer stated that we have plenty of Bars in our city that does not have these issues and stated that maybe its the owners, managers that are the issue and expressed hopes that Prather would makesure the owners/managers are responsible to makesure these issues do not arise again. Prather stated that he would have to come up with Plan B if this was not approved. Motion passed with 3 ayes and 2 nays.
• Presentation on the WWTP with Scott Hinton. Scott started with wanting to get everyone up to speed on the issue with the WWTP. Scott had a scamatic with to show the actual break and fix. Scott explained about the break.where the break was located.how we are able to function while we fix the break. Fortunatley the overflow was able to hold the excess that we had to redirect to that area. The intial fix took about 10 days and Rod headed to get that valve. The hole that we found was due to corrosion from the outside. After we were able to install the valve.turned the water flow back on and found that water was still leaking down the hill. We now knew that we had another or additional leaks. Called for estimates and found that our pipe is a unique size. A rubber liner was an option but could not be guaranteed due to not being able to completely shut the water flow off and let the install cure. Options for the fix are at $180k to $160k. The EPA is aware and we are within our permit to do this as we are and as long as we do not upgrade the size of line we are considered a maintenece and not a construction permit.
• Discussion on Recycling program in Kewanee by Rod Johnson. Eagle enterprise have new rates. We were paying.50 per household. With the new market rates it wont be a fixed cost each month it will be based off the tonnage that crosses the scale. On average we are at 37 ton per month. The amount of volume in cardboard is considerable due to home delivery. Rod asked the council to give direction on the next steps. One option is to go automated with a new truck and new carts. We can sublet it out to Eagle Enterprises, or not recycle and take all to landfill. Subscription fee per household is out there and user based fee. This is not an immediate need but dialogue needs to be started.
• Consideration of a Ordinance #3997 amending Section 92.06 Rates and Charges of Chapter 92 Cemeteries. Motion made by Council Member Komnick and seconded by Council Member Colomer. Council Member Komnick asked how often we adjust our rates? Kevin Newton stated that every 3 years we re-evaluate and make adjustments accordingly. The rate changes are in part due to the min wage increase and this is one way to off set the fees. After comparing these rates with other municipalites we are very competitive and compared to private we are way better. Kevin was asked to explain perpetual care. On a cemetery space the state Illinois requires that you pay for the upkeep and half of the cost go into a endowment that is not able to be touched. These additional funds we can only receive the interest and not the principal of the funds. Kevin has spoke with the funeral homes and they are all on the same page and understand that the fees are ever changing and they stated that as long as it handled correctly there should be now issues. Council Member Yaklich asked about pre paid fees and what does that look like for those residents. Kevin stated that it has been his experience that the people that take that intiative to preplan and prepay are over prepared any way. Motion Passed with 5 ayes and 0 nays.
• Proclamation to celebrate the 100th anniversary of The League of Women Voters
OTHER BUSINESS Council Communications
• First to go was Council Member Yaklich wanted to say that the City Mangers only shares what he feels the council needs to know. Kewanee City is working on a failing grade. Yaklich asked that the mayor answer the questions that were asked 4 weeks ago. The mayor stated these answers were in the packet. Yaklich asked about the audit.Mayor responded with it is in the auditors hands. Yaklich asked that they get financial reports monthly.
• Council Member Faber was glad to see Hwy 81 will be considered to getting fixed and taken care of. Faber stated still hard to believe that woman didn’t have the right to vote. Hard to imagine.
• Council Member Colomer had nothing tonight.
• Council Member Komnick had an email from a concerned citizen in regards to the salvage yard and how high they can be stacked. City Manager Bradley stated he would look into this matter. Komnick also attended the Black History Month Extravaganza. It was a very impressive event. Lots of attendance and great speaches from all speakers.
• Mayor Moore nothing at this point tonight.
• ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• none
• There being no further business, Council Member Komnick moved to adjourn the meeting and Council Member Faber seconded the motion. Roll call showed 5 ayes, no nays. The meeting adjourned at 8:41 PM.
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