Rock Island Today

Rock Island County Public Works and Facilities Committee met Jan. 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The Public Works & Facilities Committee met at the above date and time in the Board Chambers on the third floor of the Rock Island County Office Building at 1504 Third Avenue, Rock Island Illinois. Meeting minutes as follow:

Call to order and roll call

Chairman Burns called the meeting to order at 8:30 A roll call was taken as follows:

MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman L. Burns, B. Westpfahl, C. Layer, D. Adams, R. Morthland, T. Foster

MEMBERS ABSENT: None

OTHERS PRESENT: R. Brunk, A. Palmer, P. Castro, J. Grafton, J. Massa, C. Reiss, G. Thorpe, J. Boudi, K. Davis, C. Przybyla

Public Comment

Chairman Burns made three calls for public comment; there were no requests for public comment.

Approval of Minutes from the December 11th 2023 Public Works & Facilities Meeting

Motion to approve as presented D. Adams

Second T. Foster

Voice vote

Motion carried

Reports to the Committee

Mr. Thorpe reported for December there were 58 total receipts with net revenue of $17,486.17. Estimated value of work at under half a million dollars. Compared to the previous year with $16,000 in revenue and 1.1 million in valuation. No new residences and 4 zoning board of appeals cases with 3 going to the Board.

Motion to approve R. Morthland

Second D. Adams

Voice vote

Motion carried

Mr. Boudi reported $11,881 in recorder fee revenue for December and noted the figure was continually going down. He noted work with Sidwell on Assessments and GIS Services. He noted the concern and a transfer was made for GIS to make payroll cover for a few months. He noted doing a cost study and other avenues to increase revenues and that would be available for the committee next month.

Motion to approve D. Adams

Second T. Foster

Voice vote

Motion carried

Mr. Massa reported routine maintenance shoulder repair and preparing for impending snow in the forecast. He noted one culvert replacement for Blackhawk Township and planning for next year was ready for County Highway 2 and doing an overlay.

Motion to approve C.Layer

Second D.Adams

Voice vote

Motion carried

Mr. Grafton reported updates on county office building projects noting the elevator renovations and interior painting was done and carpeting was to wrap up at the end of the month. Some remediation issues were a factor in the finishing. He also noted signage for all interior offices as an agenda item. Sliding doors were being looked at for the main entrances. Furniture replacement would occur next month and Paragon would present to the Committee of the Whole.

Mr. Morthland asked about the protective coverings in the elevators; it was noted to keep it up until after furniture moving and the rest of the scaffolding work was completed.

Motion to approve R. Morthland

Second T. Foster

Voice vote

Motion carried

Mr. Camlin reported on the tax sale that occurred at the end of December. 926 parcels were sold compared to 1200 the previous year. He stated there were some upset tax buyers at selling the lowest amount of parcels and noted he was interested in the tax payor not the tax buyer. He stated final balancing for tax year 2023 would being today with DevNet. He mentioned investment earnings increased over the 569% over the last two years.

Consider Quote for Interior Office Building Signage

Mr. Grafton stated black and white signs would $12,013.60 with money coming from the general fund.

Motion to approve R. Morthland

Second D. Adams

Voice vote

Motion carried

Consider Quotes for Refurbishment of Gettysburg Address Plaque

Motion to approve D. Adams

Second T. Foster

Voice vote

Motion carried

Consider Quotes for Historic Courthouse Square and Exterior County Office Building Signs

Motion to approve D. Adams

Second T. Foster

Voice vote

Motion carried

Consider Zoning Board of Appeals Cases

a. SU-24-201 MidAmerican Energy Co. Utility Substation CR

The request was for a special use permit to create a 6 acre utility station in Cordova Township There were objectors and concerned citizens. The recommendation was to approve the request.

b. SU-24-202 J. Newsome Landscaping Contractor BO

This request was for a special use permit for a landscaping contractor in Bowling Township. There were objectors present and the zoning board recommended to deny the request

c. RZ-24-101 Tina Hillestead AG-1 to AG 2 CO

The request was for rezoning from AG-1 to AG2 on approximately 22 acres in Coe Township. The board’s recommendation was to approve.

Mr. Morthland stated he wanted to abstain on item A. Mr. Westpfahl noted he would like to make the denial more permanent; Mr. Thorpe noted the gentleman did tree removal service and bought a 2 acre lot zoned AG and wanted to operate a landscaping business. Chairman Burns stated there was a lot of opposition in the zoning board of appeals meeting.

Motion to approve recommendations of the Zoning Board of Appeals as presented items B & C D. Adams

Second C. Layer

Voice vote

Motion carried

Mr. Morthland abstained

Consider Highway Items

a. General County Letting Stone

This was for the annual rock bid with 15 groups. He noted mileage was accounted for from the center of the township to the quarry.

Motion to approve D. Adams

Second R. Morthland

Voice vote

Motion carried

b. 2024 Fuel

This was for an annual fuel bid with one bid from Goldstar F/S to deliver to Hampton or Milan with the cost

Motion to approve R. Morthland

Second D. Adams, C. Layer

Voice vote

Motion carried

Closed Session

The Committee may enter into Closed Session per the following:

▪ 5 ILCS 120/2(c) (1) – The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity.

▪ 5 ILCS 120/2(c) (2) – Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees.

▪ 5 ILCS 120/2(c) (11) – Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probably or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.

No items for closed session review; no action necessary.

Adjourn

No further business the committee adjourned at 8:54 AM with motion by C. Layer Second D. Adams

https://www.rockislandcountyil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/1425?fileID=1616