City of Geneseo Committee of the Whole met Oct. 24.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
The Committee of the Whole of the City of Geneseo was called to order on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at 6:00 PM, in the Council Chambers, with the following members present:
COUNCIL PRESENT: Council Bob James, Council Brett Barnhart, Council Craig Arnold, Mayor Sean Johnson, Council Martin Rothschild, Council Paula Simosky, Council Keith Kennett, and Alderman Kent Swanson
COUNCIL ABSENT: Alderman James Roodhouse
STAFF PRESENT: Director of Finance Jamie Matthews, City Administrator Brandon Maeglin, Attorney Derke Price, Director of IT Garrett Griswold, Director of Public Works Chad VandeWoestyne, Chief of Police Casey Disterhoft, Director of Electrical Operations Eric Rowold, Building Inspector Rick Mills, and City Clerk Paige Seibel
PUBLIC
PRESENT:
1 INVOCATION
2 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3 ROLL CALL
Meeting began at 6:00 PM
4 PUBLIC COMMENT - AGENDA ITEMS
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.
None
5 MAYOR'S COMMENTS
None
6 CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS
None
7 CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S COMMENTS
- Dementia Friendly Community Certification -Maeglin invited the Dementia Task Force to Present
Officer Shoemaker spoke about the collaboration with community members and businesses to create the Dementia Friendly Task Force. Shoemaker explained the task force will help the community to recognize signs of someone struggling with dementia and learning as a community what we can do to help that individual and caretakers. Shoemaker advised the next step for the task force is writing a grant to provide care bracelets, the bracelet tracks the individual's location in the event they were to wander off without their caretaker noticing, the police will be able to find the individual and bring them back safely.
The Dementia Friendly Geneseo Task Force includes:
Joe Wells with Central Bank, Shelly Hickerson with Black Hawk Bank, Diane Dynes with Liberty Village, Mike Sigwalt with the Geneseo Food Pantry, Barb Sigwalt with the Geneseo Library, Sarah Snyder with Rebuilding Together, Nicole Burton with Henry County Seniors, Heather Charlet with Hammond Henry Hospital, Bill Horrell with Adult Alternatives and Paige Seibel with the City of Geneseo.
Representees with the Geneseo Police Department include:
Chief Disterhoft, Jamie Shoemaker, Tim Steines, Amber Berthoud, and Ben Sleaford.
8 ADMINISTRATION
8.1. CONSIDERATION OF R-23-20 A RESOLUTION REGARDING THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION CONTRACT WITH ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE RISK MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
City Administrator Maeglin spoke to council members about Intergovernmental contract with Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association (IMLRMA). Adding if the City pays by 11/17/2023 the cost will be $311,538.97.
Craig Arnold moved, seconded by Kent Swanson, Motion to recommend to the City Council Meeting R-23-20 and to place on the consent agenda.
| RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Craig Arnold SECONDER: Kent Swanson AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Douglas Crow, Martin Rothschild, Paula Simosky, Keith Kennett, and Kent Swanson ABSENT: James Roodhouse |
City Administrator Maeglin gave a recap to council members about the 09/26/2023 Special City Council Meeting for the Conditional Real Estate Purchase & Sale
Agreement with WCKJJ, LLC. He advised that on 10/16/2023 Plan Commission passed a motion to recommend that City Council approve zoning to R-3 for acondominium use district in the area. On the Special City Council meeting tonight, there will be two separate motions 1) Zoning change 2) to vacate the ground currently owned by the city.
Craig Arnold moved, seconded by Martin Rothschild, Motion to recommend to the Special City Council Meeting Ordinances O-23-13 & O-23-14.
| RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Craig Arnold SECONDER: Martin Rothschild AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Martin Rothschild, Paula Simosky, Keith Kennett, and Kent Swanson ABSENT: James Roodhouse |
Finance Director Matthews gave her presentation for the Tax Levy for Fiscal Year 2024 adding the proposed levy is for a 4.99% increase from the prior year, asdiscussed during budget meetings. Matthews advised that the EAV (estimated value of the city) has gone up significantly. A Q&A took place between council, Matthews, Mayor Johnson, and City Attorney Price.
Brett Barnhart moved, seconded by Craig Arnold, Motion to recommend to the City Council Meeting O-23-15 and to place on the consent agenda.
| RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Brett Barnhart SECONDER: Craig Arnold AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Martin Rothschild, Paula Simosky, Keith Kennett, and Kent Swanson ABSENT: James Roodhouse |
Finance Director Matthews spoke to council about the Abatement of GeneralObligation Bonds. Matthews advised the bonds were sent to County Clerk Barbra Link to review the abatements, and the numbers have been confirmed with county for accuracy.
Craig Arnold moved, seconded by Bob James, Motion to recommend to the City Council Meeting ordinances O-23-16 through O-23-20 and to place on the consent agenda.
| RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Craig Arnold SECONDER: Bob James AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Martin Rothschild, Paula Simosky, Keith Kennett, and Kent Swanson ABSENT: James Roodhouse |
City Administrator Maeglin spoke to council members about the plans for theIntergovernmental Agreement between the Henry County Tourism Bureau and the City. Kelly Wolf (HTCB Contractor), Jim Kelly (Henry County Economic Development Director), and Erin Knackstedt (County Administrator) joined the council meeting to explain the plans for Bureau .
Kelly Wolf is a contractor under the RISE grant (Research in Illinois to Spur Economic Recovery), to establish/create a plan to make Henry County a destination point and draw people into the County for things like hosting conferences, sporting events, and getting people to stay our hotels.
The HCTB is asking the City of Geneseo for a $5,000/annual, 3year commitment, to fund a Full Time Tourism Director Position with the Bureau.
County Administrator Knackstedt advised the full-time position would receive a compensation package of $75,000, adding that this will be a great opportunity within Henry County to be a destination, and the Bureau will open us up to federal grant opportunities.
A Q&A took place between County Administrator Knackstedt and Councilman Arnold.
Brett Barnhart moved, seconded by Bob James, Motion to recommend to the City Council Meeting the IGA between the HCTB and The City of Geneseo and to place on the consent agenda.
| RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Brett Barnhart SECONDER: Bob James AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Martin Rothschild, Paula Simosky, Keith Kennett, and Kent Swanson NAYS: Craig Arnold ABSENT: James Roodhouse |
City Engineer Rains and Public Works Director VanDeWoestyne spoke to council members about the proposal for preliminary engineering for a 6th Well and Water Treatment Facility in the amount of $91,500.
A Q&A took place between Council, Rains, and Mayor Johnson.
Brett Barnhart moved, seconded by Keith Kennett, Motion to recommend to the City Council Meeting the proposal from IMEG for Water System Study & Preliminary Engineering Services in the amount of $91,500 and to place on the consent agenda.
| RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Brett Barnhart SECONDER: Keith Kennett AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Martin Rothschild, Paula Simosky, Keith Kennett, and Kent Swanson ABSENT: James Roodhouse |
City Administrator Maeglin spoke to council members about replacing the sign that was destroyed from the straight-line wind event on 04/04/2023. Adding, the sign would match the new sign that is being constructed in the historical landing area, and will be placed along Route 82 to be visible to north bound traffic coming into city limits. Maeglin advised the City received $10,000 in insurance money from the damaged sign, and the remaining funding will come from the Route 82 Commercial TIF.
Craig Arnold moved, seconded by Martin Rothschild, Motion to recommend to the City Council Meeting the expenditure of $18,595.00 to replace the Windy Point Observation Area Sign, with $10,000 coming from received insurance claim funds and $8,595.00 from the Route 82 Commercial Tif Fund, and to place on the consent agenda.
| RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Craig Arnold SECONDER: Martin Rothschild AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Martin Rothschild, Paula Simosky, Keith Kennett, and Kent Swanson ABSENT: James Roodhouse |
9.1. PAYMENT OF THE BILLS.
A Q&A took place between Simosky and Matthews.
Craig Arnold moved, seconded by Keith Kennett, Motion to pay the bills as presented.
| RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Craig Arnold SECONDER: Keith Kennett AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Martin Rothschild, Paula Simosky, Keith Kennett, and Kent Swanson ABSENT: James Roodhouse |
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.
None
11 ADJOURNMENT
11.1. MOVE TO CLOSE THE MEETING
Meeting adjourned at 6:44 PM.
Craig Arnold moved, seconded by Kent Swanson, Motion to Adjourn
| RESULT: Carried
MOVER: Craig Arnold SECONDER: Kent Swanson AYES: Bob James, Brett Barnhart, Craig Arnold, Martin Rothschild, Paula Simosky, Keith Kennett, and Kent Swanson ABSENT: James Roodhouse |
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