The Harrisburg City Council met on November 17, 2011 at 6:00 pm in the Council Room, City Hall, Harrisburg, Illinois.

Mayor Eric Gregg presided over the meeting with Commissioners Ron Crank, Bart Schiff and John McPeek answering roll call. Commissioner Ron Fearheiley was absent.

Mayor Gregg recognized Pastor Ownley Williams from Harvest Deliverance Center who lead the group in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

The November 2011 Citizen of the Month was Jacob Marcum.

The November 2011 Businesses of the Month were The Daily Register and WEBQ.

Mayor Gregg recognized Jim Maurer, AT&T Vice President of External Affairs, who presented Council with a $5,000.00 check to be used for various signs around the City. Mayor Gregg thanked Maurer for his generous contribution and stated how much he appreciated the conversations the two of them had.

Commissioner McPeek made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Schiff, to approve the following items under the Consent Agenda:

1.      Minutes from the Regular Meeting of November 3, 2011.

2.      Minutes from the Special Meeting of November 10, 2011.

3.      Circuit Clerk’s Court Fee Disbursement of $3,577.47.

4.      Bill from Brown & Roberts for Annexations in the amount of $1,831.13 to be taken out of Council Contingency.

5.      Bill from Bishop’s Truck Service for sand and trucking in the amount of $4,991.00 to be taken out of MFT.

6.      Payment of the Industrial Subdivision Lot 11 Building for labor in the amount of $2,047.62 to be taken out of TIF.

7.      Bill from Brown & Roberts for H. E. Mitchell for the Pankey Branch Pumping Station in the amount of $265,963.86 to be taken out of TIF.

Jim Brown of Brown & Roberts addressed Council stating there were still some ROW issues and property owners’ requests for the Pankey Branch Man-Tra-Con project but he would discuss them in Executive Session.

Jim Brown stated he had composed a response to the October 20, 2011 IEPA letter asking for a Capital Improvement Plan that could be used for the financial planning of the EPA revolving loan funds. Brown had identified two projects, one for the sewage treatment plant and one for the sewage collection system. Commissioner McPeek moved to send the letter composed by Brown. Commissioner Crank seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Jim Brown stated the proposed restroom on the bike path near the museum was ready to be advertised for bids. An intergovernmental agreement would be needed because the City was receiving the funding for construction and would be maintaining the facility but property is owned by the Harrisburg Park District and leased to the Saline County Historical Society. Commissioner McPeek moved to allow Brown & Roberts to advertise for bids on the restroom on the bike path near the museum. Commissioner Schiff seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Mayor Gregg stated there would be no action taken on the Lot 11 Building. He had met with Dr. Fillingim who would be at the December 1 meeting to discuss a rental proposal.

Jim Brown stated a Army Corps levee conference scheduled in Louisville on November 30 and December 1. He asked for permission for him and Bobby Brown to attend. Commissioner McPeek moved that City Engineer Jim Brown and Lead Sewer Forman Bobby Brown be allowed to attend the Army Corps Levee Conference. Commissioner Crank seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Jim Brown presented Change Order #4 from H. E. Mitchell for the Storm Water Pumping Station. It was for the repair of rodent holes and to fill the sub-levee and slope the levee to a 3 to 1 slope which would allow mowing thereby discouraging future rodent holes. Commissioner McPeek moved to accept Change Order # 4 from H. E. Mitchell that increases the amount by $25,850.00 to be taken out of TIF. Commissioner Schiff seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Fire Chief Bill Summers addressed Council with a mobile home permit from Paula F. Stroub at 816 West Robinson. He noted she had met all the requirements and he recommended Council allow the permit. Commissioner McPeek moved to issue a Mobile Home Permit to Paula F. Stroub at 816 West Robinson. Commissioner Schiff seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Chief Summers stated the Dangerous Buildings Committee had done everything it could in regards to 427 West Church and asked for approval of legal action. Commissioner McPeek moved to proceed with legal action on 427 West Church for demolition. Commissioner Schiff seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Sarah Farmer of Southeastern Illinois Regional Planning stated she held a Public Hearing prior to Council meeting to closeout a CDAP grant.

Sarah Farmer asked Council to review the grant writing agreement in their packets which included a newly instituted $2,500.00 fee for processing grant applications. This agreement would cover a grant application for $350,000.00 for the Dorrisville water main project. Commissioner McPeek moved to pay the $2,500.00 fee. Commissioner Crank seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Sarah Farmer stated she had held a public hearing prior to Council meeting to receive input for the proposed CDAP application for the Dorrisville water main project. She asked for Council’s permission to proceed with the grant application. Commissioner McPeek moved to approve Resolution 11-1117A to apply for a CDAP grant for the Dorrisville water main project. Commissioner Schiff seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Abbey Reeves of the Southeastern Illinois Regional Planning stated she held a Public Hearing prior to Council meeting before applying for a CDAP housing rehabilitation grant for homes from Jackson and Sloan to Sloan and Capital. Commissioner McPeek moved to approve Resolution 11-1117B. Commissioner Crank seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Attorney Todd Bittle presented Council with the ordinance to vacate an alley for Chelsea Atkinson. He held a Public Hearing prior to Council meeting to hear any objections with none presented. Commissioner McPeek moved to pass Ordinance 1601 An Ordinance Vacating Alley. Commissioner Crank seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Attorney Bittle presented Council with an ordinance to complete a land exchange with Dorrisville Baptist Church. He held a Public Hearing prior to Council meeting to hear any objections with none presented. Commissioner McPeek moved to pass Ordinance 1602 An Ordinance To Exchange Certain Property Within The City Of Harrisburg. Commissioner Schiff seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Attorney Bittle stated a revised flood plain ordinance needed to be adopted and approved by FEMA by December 16 to avoid suspension from the National Flood Insurance Program. Jim Brown was inquiring about the correct dates for certain maps that are a part of the ordinance. Commissioner McPeek moved to allow Attorney Bittle to proceed with the preparation of the ordinance. Commissioner Crank seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Attorney Bittle asked Council to consider setting some sort of fee structure for various requests by citizens that involve publishing notices and attorney costs. He stated he would compose a draft for future consideration.

Commissioner Crank stated the FEMA grant money in the amount of $113,500.00 would be received to cover the cost of flood expenses this year.

Commissioner Schiff stated as result of a citizen complaint he had requested Attorney Bittle draw up a fine structure for barking dog issues. He moved to pass Ordinance 1603 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 3 Of The Harrisburg Municipal Code. Commissioner Crank seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner McPeek spoke on behalf of absent Commissioner Fearheiley stating there were crime issues at the intersection of Cherry and McHaney. Commissioner McPeek moved to have a street light installed at the intersection of Cherry and McHaney. Commissioner Crank seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner McPeek stated there had been eleven dumpsters filled during the Fall Cleanup.

Commissioner McPeek stated he wanted to acknowledge Deputy Treasurer Linda George for the great job that she does and thanked her for the job performance.

Mayor Gregg stated Dan Wilson had resigned from the Fire and Police Merit Board. Mayor Gregg thanked him for his service. Mayor Gregg suggested Michael Gall as a replacement.

Commissioner McPeek moved to appoint Michael Gall to the Fire and Police Merit Board. Commissioner Crank seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Mayor Gregg stated City Hall would be closed November 24 and November 25 for Thanksgiving.

Mayor Gregg stated he would like to have Rick Mallady reappointed as Emergency Management Coordinator. Commissioner McPeek moved to reappoint Rick Mallady as the Emergency Management Coordinator. Commissioner Schiff seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Mayor Gregg stated the boil order is still in effect. He asked Jim Brown to explain the reason for the boil order. Brown stated Saline Valley had to cut in a larger supply line which caused a pressure loss. The pressure loss is what initiated the boil order.

Citizen Jonathon Gericke addressed Council. Statement attached. Attorney Bittle stated that insurance did not fall under the Public Works Contracts statute. Mayor Gregg stated he took full responsibility for Energy Systems Group being in Harrisburg. Treasurer Will stated he was not being paid by Energy Systems Group. Gericke was assured local businesses would do any work suggested by Energy Systems Group.

Commissioner McPeek moved to adjourn to Executive Session to discuss Contract Negotiations and Property Acquisition. Commissioner Schiff seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Adjourned 7:52 pm

Reconvened 7:43 pm

Mayor Eric Gregg presided over the reconvened meeting with Commissioners Bart Schiff, Ron Fearheiley and John McPeek answering roll call. Commissioner Ron Fearheiley was absent.

Commissioner Schiff moved to accept the property owners’ requests for the ROW easements of Pankey Branch Man-Tra-Con project. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Schiff moved to purchase Lot 1, Block 15 of the George Gaskins Addition of Outlots from the Abraham’s for the amount of $100.00. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Mayor Gregg stated there was no action to be taken regarding Contract Negotiations. There were still discussions being held and the gathering of information on insurance to be done. Applications were being filled out by employees for agents in order to get quotes.

Commissioner Crank moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner McPeek seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Adjourned: 7:44 pm