Harrisburg City Council Meeting
Council Room, City Hall
Harrisburg, Illinois

Regular Meeting

September 15, 2011
6:00 PM

The Harrisburg City Council met on September 15, 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, Ron Fearheiley and John McPeek answering roll call.

Mayor Gregg recognized Pastor Roger Lipe from the McKinley Avenue Baptist who lead the group in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Gregg presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Harrisburg Community Unit School District #3 accepted by Superintendent Dennis Smith and School Board President Tom DeNeal in recognition of the 150 Years Of Public Schools.

The August 2011 Citizen of the Month was Coach Jay Thompson.

The August 2011 Business of the Month was Harrisburg Medical Center accepted by Board President Jim Hayes and Cindy Ford.
Commissioner McPeek made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Fearheiley, to approve the following items under the Consent Agenda:

1.      Minutes from the Regular Meeting of September 1, 2011.

2.      Circuit Clerk’s Court Fee Disbursement of $6,736.50.

3.      Bill from Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for the first payment of the Garden Heights sewer loan in the amount of $12, 213.62.

4.      Bill from Brown & Roberts for Reservoir Dam IL 000690 Inspection Statement in the amount of $169.50.

5.      Bill from Brown & Roberts for Pankey Branch Pumping Station C & I in the amount of $6,036.75 to be taken out of TIF.

6.      Bill from Brown & Roberts for Bike Path C & I in the amount of $2,237.09 to be taken out of MFT.

7.      Bill from Martin Marietta Materials for rock in the amount of $5,762.71 to be taken out of MFT.

8.      Bill from Martin Marietta Materials for rock in the amount of $2,614.04 to be taken out of MFT.

Attorney Todd Bittle stated there would be a notice of a Public Hearing prior to the October 6 Council meeting regarding the road vacation requested by Gabe Angelly.

Attorney Bittle stated there had been interest in Industrial Subdivision Lot 7. He requested permission to advertise for bids and asked Council to consider a minimum bid to be set at next Council meeting.

Commissioner Schiff stated Trick or Treat would be Monday, October 31 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Commissioner Fearheiley asked for his topic to be covered in Executive Session.

Commissioner McPeek moved the banner request by HMC for September 19-26 advertising their Teddy Bear Care campaign be allowed. Commissioner Fearheiley seconded. By roll call vote, all voted yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner McPeek stated there would be a Fall Clean Up from October 17 through November 4. The usual restrictions and procedures would be followed.

Commissioner McPeek stated Julie Patera from Regional Planning was working on acquiring emergency grant money for repairs to the front of City Hall.

The carpet in the Water Office would soon be pulled up and new flooring installed.

Bob Vancil from Incremental Strategies addressed Council and noted some difficulties in the administration of TIF I. He would be presenting at the next meeting a resolution to purchase an operating program for the County Assessors Office which would make it easier to determine properties located in the TIF’s. He presented a Sales Tax report from 2000 to 2010 and noted that Harrisburg had an above average per capita receipt. He stated the negative effect of the proposed TIF II being bisected by a highway could be offset and growth encouraged. The population loss could be stemmed with commercial growth. He also suggested that raising the elderly housing to 70%, i.e. retirement community, would be an asset. He presented a development time line for TIF II which should begin in early October.

Mayor Gregg stated there had been a good meeting with all Department heads where they had discussed purchasing first in Harrisburg, then in Saline County and then regionally.

Mayor Gregg asked Council to review the liquor sale hours for discussion and possible change at the next meeting.

Citizen Susan Pritchett was not present but had discussed with Mayor Gregg the possibility of placing a plaque on Veterans Drive. Commissioner McPeek stated there were other plaques there and, when the details were received, there would probably be no problem with her request.  

Citizen Chelsea Atkinson addressed Council with a request to close an alley adjacent to properties he owns. Previous closures had resulted in the portion he was requesting to be closed now being landlocked. Commissioner Fearheiley stated the proper procedure required there be a Public Hearing and signatures from all affected property owners. Atkinson was instructed to acquire the proper signatures and then Attorney Bittle would proceed with the process.

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

Adjourned 6:30 pm
Reconvened 7:04 pm

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

Mayor Gregg stated there was no additional action to be taken.

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

Adjourned: 7:05 pm