Rock Island Today

City of Colona City Council Met Jan. 11.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

THIS MEETING WAS HELD VIA ZOOM DUE TO COVID-19 CALL TO ORDER: 6:32 p.m. 

ROLL CALL: Mayor Lack, Attorney Wright, Aldermen Hillman, Feliksiak, Swemline, Holman, Shady-Dahl, Jones, Stablein, Clerk Winegar answered present.  Alderman King was absent. 

STAFF PRESENT:  M. Swemline Police Chief 

   M. StephensInterim Public Works 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Mr. Mike Devita representing Landmark Dividend an investment company who specializes in cell towers and billboards informed the council that he had approached Mayor Lack in October 2020 with a proposal to purchase the City’s Verizon lease agreement for $460k. He stated that if the City decides to sell their rights his company could make it happen quickly, within 30-45 days and all closing costs would be paid by Landmark. Alderman Holman inquired how did Landmark find out the City had this lease with Verizon. Mr. Devita said they also have an office in Chicago and he believes that someone drove through the area and noticed the cell tower around 2014. Alderman Hillman asked when the current lease expires. Mr. DeVita replied 2038; however, if the City sells the lease agreement, they relinquish those towers forever. That is the risk factor. Mr. Devita also explained that if there is room on the tower, their marketing department will work on selling the empty space. Landmark owns 7k cell towers and is growing. He closed by saying that since the original offer was given in October, there may be some room to negotiate a little higher sale price.

Mr. Harrison Bailey representing TowerPoint also presented an offer of $470k to purchase the Verizon lease. Since there was concern expressed in the earlier discussion about relinquishing ownership his discussion centered on how the purchase would work. He said that there are actually two separate pieces. The first piece is the purchase of the remaining 17 years of the lease and the second piece is granting the purchaser a 99-year easement on the property. If TowerPoint found new leases for the property the revenue would be split 50/50 between the City and TowerPoint. Any new lease would need approval by the council. After both presentations, Alderman Holman expressed that he was against losing $200-300k. Alderman Stablein agreed with Alderman Holman because she feels that geographically there will always be a need for a cell tower here.

MAYOR’S REPORT: None

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Alderman Feliksiak made a motion to approve the minutes of the December 28, 2020 council meeting. Alderman Stablein seconded. Roll call: Aldermen Hillman, Feliksiak, Swemline, Holman, Shady-Dahl, Jones, Stablein voted yes. Aldermen King was absent. Motion passed with 7 affirmative votes, 1 absent.

CONSENT AGENDA:

Alderman Hillman made the motion to approve consent agenda items:

Payment of bills for the period December 29, 2020-January 11, 2021

Payroll for the period December 26, 2020-January 10, 2021

Treasurer’s report for December 2020

Alderman Shady-Dahl seconded the motion. Roll call: Aldermen Hillman, Feliksiak, Swemline, Holman, Shady-Dahl, Jones, Stablein voted yes. Aldermen King was absent. Motion passed with 7 affirmative votes, 1 absent.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Public Works Committee: (Alderman Swemline, chair; Aldermen Feliksiak, Jones, members; M. Stephens, I. Crew, staff). A copy of the minutes is available at City Hall and on the City’s website.

Alderman Hillman made the motion to approve the purchase of a salt spreader for a 1-ton truck from line item 150-000-1034. Alderman Holman seconded. Roll call: Aldermen Hillman, Feliksiak, Swemline, Holman, Shady-Dahl, Jones, Stablein voted yes. Alderman King was absent. Motion passed with 7 affirmative votes, 1 absent.

CLERKS REPORT: None

OLD BUSINESS:

Under Rebuild Illinois the City will be receiving $336k over the next three years to do the type of project such as a new canal crossing between S 3rd St and Greenview Ave so the Mayor asked the council if the City wishes to pursue looking into this. Alderman Hillman made a motion to move ahead with getting estimates for the work and engineering study to pursue a canal crossing. Alderman Swemline seconded. Roll call: Aldermen Hillman, Swemline, Holman, Shady-Dahl, Stablein voted yes; Aldermen Feliksiak, Jones voted no; Alderman King was absent. Motion passed with 5 affirmative votes, 2 no votes, 1 absent.

NEW BUSINESS:

Alderman Holman made a motion to approve a business license for Colona Storage, located at 105 4th Street pending receipt of the state issued license.

Alderman Hillman seconded. Roll call: Aldermen Hillman, Feliksiak, Swemline, Holman, Shady-Dahl, Jones, Stablein voted yes. Alderman King was absent.

Motion passed with 7 affirmative votes, 1 absent.

After returning to open session, Alderman Shady-Dahl made a motion to approve the sale of 703 6th Street to Charles Finney in the amount of $52k. Alderman Hillman seconded. Roll call: Aldermen Hillman, Feliksiak, Swemline, Holman, Shady-Dahl, Jones, Stablein voted yes. Alderman King was absent. Motion passed with 7 affirmative votes, 1 absent.

CLOSED SESSION:

Alderman Shady-Dahl made the motion to go into closed session per 5 ILCS 120/2, from Chapter 102, Paragraph 42, Section 2. Open Meetings, Paragraph (c) Exceptions, subparagraph (6) The setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body. Alderman Feliksiak seconded. An oral vote was call and receiving all affirmative votes the motion was passed. The council adjourned for a short break at 7:12 p.m.

The council returned to open session at 7:28 p.m. under the same roll call as the closed session. The council made the motion and approved item 2 under new business upon their return.

ADJOURN:

Alderman Holman made a motion to adjourn. Alderman Shady-Dahl seconded. An oral vote was called with all ayes received. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 7:29 pm.

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