City of Colona Committee of the Whole met May 22.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
CALL TO ORDER: 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Mayor Ropp, Attorney Wright, Aldermen Swemline, Painter, Shady- Dahl, Stablein, Lack, Jones, Goodrum, Dooley, and Clerk Jones answered present.
STAFF PRESENT:
Mike Swemline, Police Chief
Jen Legare, Finance Director
Mike Stephens, Publics Work Director
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
➤ Melanie Hergert expressed her concerns about how things are being done and not going through the council for approval. She inquired on who was making these changes and if this is how it would be going forward. Mayor Ropp responded that if she was concerned about hiring Barb Winegar, it was an administrative decision he made. She is a seasonal employee for public works and helping to train the new City Clerk.
MAYOR'S REPORT:
1. Mayor Ropp updated everyone present of the actions he is working on or has accomplished. A list is attached to these minutes.
2. Alderman Stablein sent an email asking that the following two ordinances be read to refresh all who attend these meetings. She then read the following two ordinances: O-1-6-6, public recordings of meetings. Anyone wishing to record an open meeting must inform the council of the recording; the recording cannot be started until the meeting is called to order; and must end when the meeting is adjourned. O-1-6-2, Meetings, Section E, Disturbing Meetings. All attendees of meetings should act with proper decorum.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
➤ The minutes from the council meeting from May 8, 2023 and the special council meeting from May 12, 2023 were on the agenda for approval; however, Alderman Stablein expressed that there were some errors on the minutes and she had not reviewed them thoroughly due to time constraints. Alderman Lack expressed she had not been able to review them. Alderman Stablein made a motion to table the minutes from both meetings. Alderman Painter seconded. Roll Call: Aldermen Dooley, Stablein, Swemline, Lack, Jones, Painter, Goodrum, Shady-Dahl voted yes. Motion passed with 8 affirmative votes.
CONSENT AGENDA:
Alderman Shady-Dahl made a motion to approve:
1. Payment of bills for the period May 9-25, 2023
2. Payroll for the period May 11-25, 2023
Alderman Swemline seconded. Roll call: Aldermen Shady-Dahl, Goodrum, Painter, Jones, Lack, Swemline, Stablein, Dooley voted yes. Motion passed with 8 affirmative votes.
CLERKS REPORT:
Clerk Jones asked the council members, committee chairmen, and staff to submit items for council agendas by 12:00 noon on Wednesday before the next meeting. She would really appreciation your cooperation until she has a better handle on all the things she has yet to learn.
OLD BUSINESS:
➤ Approve Ordinance O-23-06, Establishing Responsible Bidder Requirements for Public Works Projects. Alderman Painter made a motion to approve Ordinance O-23-06, Establishing Responsible Bidder Requirements for Public Works Projects. Alderman Swemline seconded. Roil call: Aldermen Painter, Jones, Lack, Swemline, Stablein, Dooley, Shady-Dahl, Goodrum voted yes. Motion passed with 8 affirmative votes.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Alderman Shady-Dahl made the motion to approve Video Gaming Licenses for:
a. 7 Eleven, 412 1st Ave, Greg Evans, owner
b. Big River Gaming, d/b/a Vegas, 602 1st Ave
c. Grease Monkeys Sports Bar & Grill, Inc., 709 1st St
d. BG Mini Mart, Inc., 502 1st Ave.
Alderman Stablein seconded. Chief Swemline stated that the new manager for Vegas has not gotten digital finger prints as required. A gaming license will not be issued until she has complied with the finger print requirement. NOTE: The fingerprints have been received by the Mayor.
2. Alderman Stablein made a motion to approve liquor licenses for:
a. Grease Monkeys Sports Bar & Grill, Inc., 709 1st St
b. Big River Gaming, LLC., d/b/a Vegas, 602 1st Ave
c. BG Mini Mart, 502 1st Ave
Alderman Lack seconded. Roll call: Aldermen Stablein, Dooley, Shady-Dahl, Goodrum, Painter, Jones, Lack, Swemline voted yes. Motion passed with 8 affirmative votes.
3. Alderman Stablein made the motion to approve participation in Self-Evaluation Services offered by IML at a cost of $500. Alderman Painter seconded. Roll call: Aldermen Dooley, Lack, Goodrum, Shady-Dahl, Stablein, Painter, Jones, Swemline voted yes. Motion passed with 8 affirmative votes.
4. Alderman Painter made a motion to approve the appointment of George McDanel to the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Commission. Alderman Goodrum seconded. Roll call: Aldermen Jones, Lack, Swemline, Stablein, Dooley, Shady- Dahl, Goodrum, Painter, Mayor Ropp voted yes. Motion passed with 9 affirmative votes.
5. Alderman Painter made a motion to approve IMEG as the City's engineering firm. Alderman Goodrum seconded. Roll call: Aldermen Jones, Lack, Swemline, Stablein, Dooley, Shady-Dahl, Goodrum. Painter voted yes. Motion passed with 8 affirmative votes. Discussion: Alderman Lack questioned on it there had been any other firms considered. Both the Mayor and Alderman Painter stated that IMEG is considered the best engineering firm in the state.
6. Alderman Stablein made the motion to approve the IMEG Short Form Services Agreement. Alderman Goodrum seconded. Roll call: Lack, Swemline, Stablein, Dooley, Shady-Dahl, Goodrum, Painter, Jones voted yes. Motion passed with 8 affirmative votes. Discussion: Alderman Lack asked if this is a one use retainer only.
7. Alderman Stablein made a motion to table approval of finalizing the draft contract between the City and Strand Associates, Inc. for the phosphorus project at the waste water treatment plant until the next meeting on June 12, 2023. Alderman Goodrum seconded. Roll call: Aldermen Jones, Lack, Swemline, Stablein, Dooley, Shady- Dahl, Goodrum, Painter voted yes. Motion passed with 8 affirmative votes. Discussion: Alderman Stablein pointed out that the contract was two-sided and only one-side was included in the packet; therefore, the council did not have an opportunity to review the entire draft contract. She also mentioned that there would need to be a budget amendment as there was only $50k budgeted and the cost is $59.1K.
8. Alderman Stablein had sent an email which is included in the packets inquiring if the City would donate to a gift basket for the Colona School's community picnic. She suggested that maybe a cabin rental or some swim passes. Alderman Painter made the motion to donate 2 1-night cabin rentals and 10 swim passes. Alderman Jones seconded. Roll call: Aldermen Lack, Jones, Painter, Goodrum, Shady-Dahl, Dooley, Stablein, Swemline, Mayor Ropp voted yes. Motion passed with 9 affirmative votes.
9. The Mayor requested approval from the council to approve him to proceed with contacting IMEG to investigate needed repair at SWTP sludge building cost estimate and contract service - bids, specs, and inspection. Alderman Painter asked if this is the same as item 5 above. The Mayor stated he wants to keep everyone involved and aware of these issues. Alderman Painter made a motion to approve the Mayor proceeding to contact IMEG to investigate the needed repair at the SWTP as required. Alderman Goodrum seconded. Roll call: Aldermen Dooley, Stablein, Swemline, Lack, Jones, Painter, Goodrum, Shady-Dahl voted yes. Motion passed with 8 affirmative votes.
10. Alderman Painter made a motion to approve using Moline and possibly IMEG for a cost estimate and plan for the out-fall access to the river at the SWTP. Alderman Shady-Dahl seconded. Roll call: Aldermen Shady-Dahl, Goodrum, Painter, Jones, Lack, Swemline, Stablein, Dooley voted yes. Motion passed with 8 affirmative votes.
11. The Mayor requested the council grant him authority to proceed in getting a price from Moline for SWTP wet-well clean-up. Discussion: Alderman Stablein asked if this is just an approval to get a price from Moline. Alderman Painter inquired if this issue would come back to the council. The Mayor replied yes to both. Alderman Shady-Dahl made a motion to approve going ahead to get a price from Moline for the wet-well clean-up at the SWTP. Alderman Jones seconded. Roll call: Aldermen Dooley, Swemline, Stablein. Lack, Jones, Painter, Goodrum, Shady-Dahl voted yes. Motion passed with 8 affirmative votes.
12. The Mayor informed the council that the City's Comprehensive Plan is out-dated and he is requesting approval from the council to move forward with an update of the Comprehensive Plan. This will be a 12 to 18-month process. He is getting cost estimates for the project and he has been in contact with Bi-State to set up a meeting the first part of June with himself and the chair of the planning commission. He proposes to use funds from general funds and TIF. Discussion: Update of the plan, maps, population, etc. will help the City with grants and development. Alderman Stablein made a motion to begin the process to update the Comprehensive Plan. Alderman Goodrum seconded. Roll call: Aldermen Goodrum, Painter, Jones, Lack, Swemline, Stablein, Dooley, Shady-Dahl voted Motion passed with 8 affirmative votes.
ADJOURN: Alderman Shady-Dahl made a motion to adjourn; Alderman Stablein seconded. Roll call: Aldermen Dooley, Lack, Goodrum, Shady-Dahl, Stablein, Swemline, Painter, Jones voted yes. Motion passed with 8 affirmative votes. Meeting adjourned at 7:05 pm.
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