City of Geneseo Committee of the Whole Met Feb. 23.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
The Committee of the Whole of the City of Geneseo was called to order at 6:00 PM, in the Council Chambers, with the following members present:
COUNCIL PRESENT: Council Bob James, Council Brett Barnhart, Council Craig Arnold, Council Douglas Crow, Mayor Sean Johnson, Council Martin Rothschild, Council Robert Wachtel, Council Paula Simosky, and Council Keith Kennett
COUNCIL ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT: Director of Finance Jamie Matthews, City Admin JoAnn Hollenkamp, HR/Deputy Clerk Brandon Maeglin, Director of IT Garrett Griswold, Director of Public Works Chad VandeWoestyne, Chief of Police Casey Disterhoft, Director of Electrical Operations Eric Rowold, Deputy Chief of Police Kondon Karzin, and Attorney Margaret Kostopulos
PUBLIC PRESENT:
1 INVOCATION
Meting start 6:00pm
2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3 ROLL CALL
4 PRESENTATION BY GENESEO COMMUNICATIONS
4.1. GENESEO COMMUNICATIONS WILL HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION ON THEIR FIBER OPTIC PLAN FOR THE CITY.
5 PUBLIC COMMENT
City Ordinance allows members of the Public to speak and give input up to 3 minutes during Public Comment, there can be no debate or action by the City Council at this time.
To participate remotely, please email your comments to cadministrator@cityofgeneseo.com or text to 309-489-6562.
Chamber Director Sullivan stated that the majority of chamber business owners are in favor of video gaming, but not all of them.
Public Comments related to Video Gaming:
-Ryan Shannon: opposed
-Dr. Matt Nelson: opposed
-Gary Joiner: opposed
-Karen Johnson: opposed
-David Nelson: opposed
-Kathy Allen: opposed
-Pastor Palm: opposed
-Chris Leamen: in favor
-Jason Robinson: opposed
Paul Cain:comments supporting yard waste pickup, concerns with the sale of the cell tower, would like to see a study conducted concerning video gaming, kudos to the street department for snow removal efforts.
6 MAYOR'S COMMENTS
Video played of Mayor thanking city workforce for efforts during covid-19 crisis.
7 CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS
-Alderman Barnhart would like to see the city administrator develop a system for bringing large budgeted expense items/purchases in from of the council during her comments at meetings so the council has an FYI on these activities.
8 CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S COMMENTS
-Hollenkamp thanked Finance Director Matthews for her work heading up our census as Geneseo had one of the state's top response rates.
8.1. "THE PLAN"
Hollenkamp presented ideas to address revenue growth and control expenses for the coming years.
9 DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMENTS
-Electric Director Rowold discussed the recent energy crisis and informed the council that we will see higher energy costs and impacts to the fuel budget. By generating at the power plant however, significant expenses were avoided vs. us buying all of our power from the grid.
-PW Director VanDeWoestyne stated that three big proejcts are getting underway during the first half of March: Ash St. lift station, Drainage Project, and the WW Treatment Plant.
10 ADMINISTRATION
10.1. DISCUSSION OF RESOLUTION R-21-02 APPROVING CARRY-OVER
EXPENSES FROM FISCAL YEAR 2020-2 TO 2021 CONCERNING THE ASH STREET LIFT STATION, NORTHEAST DRAINAGE, CONTROL PANEL FOR EAST IRON REMOVAL PLANT, AND HYDRAULIC JACK HAMMER.
Brett Barnhart moved, seconded by Craig Arnold, Motion to recommend to the City Council Resolution R-21-02 and to put on the consent agenda.
RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Brett Barnhart SECONDER: Craig Arnold AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Douglas Crow, Martin Rothschild, Robert Wachtel, Paula Simosky, and Keith Kennett |
Robert Wachtel moved, seconded by Craig Arnold, Motion to recommend to City Council to purchase used mower from Prairie State Tractor for $15,000 and to put on the consent agenda.
RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Robert Wachtel SECONDER: Craig Arnold AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Douglas Crow, Martin Rothschild, Robert Wachtel, Paula Simosky, and Keith Kennett |
Information provided by VanDeWoestyne - no vote.
10.4. DISCUSSION OF PURCHASE OF JOHN DEERE RIDING MOWER FOR THE PARK.
Brett Barnhart moved, seconded by Craig Arnold, Motion to recommend to City Council to purchase a John Deere mower from Prairie State Tractor for $8,126.75 and to put on the consent agenda.
RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Brett Barnhart SECONDER: Craig Arnold AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Douglas Crow, Martin Rothschild, Robert Wachtel, Paula Simosky, and Keith Kennett |
Brett Barnhart moved, seconded by Bob James, Motion to bond the unfunded portion of the police pension up to 90% through Bernardi Securities.
RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Brett Barnhart SECONDER: Bob James AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Douglas Crow, Martin Rothschild, Robert Wachtel, Paula Simosky, and Keith Kennett |
Martin Rothschild moved, seconded by Craig Arnold, Motion to recommend to the City Council to approve the agreement for recodification with Muni-Code and to put on the consent agenda.
RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Martin Rothschild SECONDER: Craig Arnold AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Douglas Crow, Martin Rothschild, Robert Wachtel, Paula Simosky, and Keith Kennett |
PAYMENTS.
Robert Wachtel moved, seconded by Craig Arnold, Motion to recommend to the City Council to modify the code of ordinances eliminating red tags and to put on the consent agenda.
RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Robert Wachtel SECONDER: Craig Arnold AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Douglas Crow, Martin Rothschild, Robert Wachtel, Paula Simosky, and Keith Kennett |
Discussion Tabled
10.9. DISCUSSION OF YARD WASTE DISPOSAL.
Martin Rothschild moved, seconded by Craig Arnold, Motion to recommend to the City Council to extend the contract with Republic for an additional two years with a reduction of $1.50 in the cost of yard waste stickers and to put on the consent agenda.
RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Martin Rothschild SECONDER: Craig Arnold AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Douglas Crow, Martin Rothschild, Robert Wachtel, Paula Simosky, and Keith Kennett |
Craig Arnold moved, seconded by Brett Barnhart, Motion to recommend to City Council ordinances O-21-01 and O-21-02 and have the city attorney review signage restrictions as well as food and alcohol sales percentage restrictions with the city administrator.
RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Craig Arnold SECONDER: Brett Barnhart AYES: Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Sean Johnson, Martin Rothschild, and Paula Simosky NAYS: Bob James, Douglas Crow, Robert Wachtel, and Keith Kennett |
11.1. APPROVAL OF CITY BILLS
Craig Arnold moved, seconded by Keith Kennett, Motion to approve the bills as submitted.
RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Craig Arnold SECONDER: Keith Kennett AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Douglas Crow, Martin Rothschild, Robert Wachtel, Paula Simosky, and Keith Kennett |
City Ordinance allows members of the Public to speak and give input up to 3 minutes during Public Comment, there can be no debate or action by the City Council at this time.
To participate remotely, please email your comments to cadministrator@cityofgeneseo.com or text to 309-489-6562.
-Paul Cain: Comments concerning video gaming, our water tower turning green (would like to see cleaned up), and new technology with electric chainsaws.
-Pastor Palm: Comments concerning his disappointment with tonight's vote on video gaming and he would like to see the meetings moved to a larger venue.
-Gary Joiner: Comments concerning his disappointment with tonight's vote on video gaming but also his admiration for the mayor tonight leading such a thoughtful discussion on the issue.
13 EXECUTIVE SESSION
13.1. ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION
Brett Barnhart moved, seconded by Craig Arnold, Motion to move into Executive Session per 5ILCS 120/2(c)(1) The ... performance... of specific employees of the public body ...
and
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.
RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Brett Barnhart SECONDER: Craig Arnold AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Douglas Crow, Martin Rothschild, Robert Wachtel, Paula Simosky, and Keith Kennett |
Martin Rothschild moved, seconded by Keith Kennett, Motion to move into Open Session
RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Martin Rothschild SECONDER: Keith Kennett AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Douglas Crow, Martin Rothschild, Robert Wachtel, Paula Simosky, and Keith Kennett |
none.
15 ADJOURNMENT
15.1. MOVE TO CLOSE THE MEETING
Craig Arnold moved, seconded by Martin Rothschild, Motion to Adjourn
RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Craig Arnold SECONDER: Martin Rothschild AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Douglas Crow, Martin Rothschild, Robert Wachtel, Paula Simosky, and Keith Kennett |