Rock Island Today

City of Lewistown City Council met July 9.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Lewistown City Council met in regular session in the council chambers. Mayor Douglas Lafary called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Invocation: Mayor Lafary

ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Alderperson Sally Clark, Jim Long, Brad Ward, Kendall Miller, David Levingston, John Spotloe and Mayor Doug Lafary. Also present: City Clerk Cindy Goddard, City Treasurer Debby Brown, Administrative Assistant Levi Peitzmeier, Public Works Director Evinn Palmer, Police Chief Chris Ford and City Attorney Nathan Collins.

ABSENT:

DECLARATION OF QUORUM by Mayor Doug Lafary

CLERKS REPORT/MINUTES: Cindy Goddard.

Alderperson Miller made a motion to approve the minutes of June 11 and June 25, 2024, second by Alderperson Clark, the motion carried all ayes.

Report- Windows are all in, will be a couple of weeks before starting.

TREASURER'S REPORT: Debbie Brown. Nothing tonight

ATTORNEY'S REPORT: Attorney Nathan Collins. Nothing

ENGINEER'S REPORT: Keith Plavec. No Engineer present.

PUBLIC COMMENTS AND PETITIONS:

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Finance/Insurance/Zoning - Alderperson Clark: Nothing to report.

Sewer Alderperson Spotloe: Nothing to report.

Streets & Allies - Alderperson Levingston: Nothing to report.

Police/ESDA- Alderperson Ward: Nothing to report.

Water- Alderperson Miller: Nothing to report.

Utilities/Publications -- Alderperson Long: Nothing to report.

Public Buildings & Grounds - Alderperson Long: Radio address system for Porter Park will be integrated, also need more picnic tables for park.

Tourism - Alderman Miller: Junk in the Trunk is on Thursdays, Music in the Park fish fry this week instead of last week. The bicycle parade for the 4th of July was awesome.

Tax Increment Financing - Alderperson Spotloe: Nothing.

Citizens Committee -- Amanda Sutphen Nothing from her this week.

Christmas Committee - Kenny Haacke will start having Christmas meetings soon since it is July.

Economic Development Committee - Erin Ahart handed out mapping information, put on by the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs along with the Chamber of Commerce, 4 dates starting in August. The meetings will be at Central Middle School on August 15, 22, 28 and September 11. Everyone is welcome.

WORKS DIRECTOR'S REPORT

Evinn Palmer Director getting estimate on more electrical placed in Porter Park especially for the Downtown Christmas trees. New compressor has arrived. Filter room getting update. Oil and Chip Program is getting worked on.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Discuss/Act Upon Street closure behind Presbyterian Church for the Lewistown Mobile Food Pantry on July 16th approximately 1-6 p.m. - Also need July 23, need to amend the new business request, because of Fulton County Fair being in progress food cannot be given away at the Fulton County Fairgrounds as usual. Line up down Maple and exit to Main. Motion by Alderperson Miller, second by Alderperson Long, to close behind Presbyterian Church for the Lewistown Mobile Food Pantry on July 16 and July 23 between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., all in favor, motion carried.

2. Discuss/Act Upon Putting in place a background Check/Screening Process for new city Employees/Volunteers - Alderperson Spotloe trying to figure out if need. Table at this time.

3. Discuss/Act Upon Future of Lewistown ESDA - Statement by Mayor Lafary regarding creating ESDA in the beginning of him taking Mayor Position. See attached statement read by Mayor Lafary why Lewistown needs its own ESDA group. Need to make sure we can set alarms off with our frequency. Discussion regarding how sirens can be set off and how the storm spotters function. Mayor said that we do not have a full functioning ESDA yet. Denny Pasley wants to have an open house to get more citizens to join the Lewistown ESDA. Cuba ESDA was represented by John Martin said Cuba or Chris Helle can set their sirens off. Need to work together with the County Deputies and Lewistown City Police when there is an emergency. Mayor said we need to test sirens separate from Helle, the test is always the first Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. Alderperson Spotloe said just having our own ESDA does benefit the County also. Mayor said we also need a backup of another town, will call County Board Chairman and discuss all this. They need magnetic ESDA signs made to put on their cars, also need to take some classes. They can take the classes on line. Meetings are 1st Tuesday of each month. Need radar scope that is a computer program only like $30.00.

4. Discuss/Act Upon What to do with the Old Durango - Water department would like to have this vehicle, Alderperson Long said $8,500.00 for new transmission, or refurbished is cheaper with no guarantee. Alderperson Miller said should we just use the money for a different vehicle. If fix it possibly share with ESDA. Motion by Alderperson Levingston, second by Alderperson Ward to put new transmission in the Durango, roll call vote, Alderperson Clark yes, Long, yes, Ward yes, Miller no, Levingston yes and Spotloe yes, motion carried.

PRESENTATION OF BILLS:

Alderperson Miller made a motion to approve all bills properly endorsed; Seconded by Alderperson Spotloe roll call vote, the motion carried with all ayes.

CLOSED SESSION: No closed session

ADJOURNMENT;

Alderperson Ward made a motion to adjourn at 7:26 p.m.; Seconded by Alderperson Long motion carried all ayes.

https://lewistownillinois.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/July9thMinutes_08142024092626.pdf