Chambana Sun

City of Paxton City Council met October 10.

Here is the minutes as provided by the council:

The monthly meeting of the Paxton City Council was held on Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

Mayor Ingold called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Roll call showed the following aldermen in attendance: Evans, Glad, Pacey, Satterlee, Steiger,Wilson, and Wylie. Also in attendance were: Mayor Ingold, Attorney Marc Miller,

Treasurer/Comptroller Burgess, Tammy Jensen, Public Works Director LeClair, Acting Chief of Police Cornett, ERS Director Hanson, and members of the audience and press.

Mayor Ingold led everyone in saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Minutes

Mayor Ingold asked if there were any changes, corrections or additions that needed made to the minutes from the September Council meeting. Alderman Steiger made a motion to approve the minutes of the September Council Meeting. Aldermen Wilson seconded the motion. All ayes, motion carried on a voice vote.

List Of Claims

Alderman Pacey made a motion to approve the lists of claims, except for the Eastern Illini Electric Co-Op bill. Alderman Wylie seconded the motion. Roll Call: ayes – Aldermen Evans, Glad, Pacey, Satterlee, Steiger, Wilson, and Wylie. All ayes, motion carried.

Alderman Evans made a motion to approve the Eastern Illini Electric Co-Op bill. Alderman Pacey seconded the motion. Roll Call: ayes – Aldermen Evans, Glad, Pacey, Satterlee, Steiger, and Wylie. Alderman Wilson abstained. Six ayes, one abstain, motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report and Investment Register

The reports had been emailed to all Aldermen. Alderman Steiger made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report and Investment Register. Alderman Wylie seconded the motion. All ayes - motion carried on a voice vote.

Finance/Budget

There were no committee meetings.

Mr. Curt Liles, from Kemper CPA Group, presented the FY2017 audit. The City received a clean opinion, which is the best the City can do. The statement of deposition shows that things look very good as of April 2017. Funds are in good shape.

Alderman Wylie asked about the old checks that are still on the books. They can be investigated, and most of them are for small dollar amounts. Mr. Liles feels like we can write the off and add them back to the bank.

Alderman Wylie asked about the problem with one person having sole financial responsibility. As a small city, there’s really nothing that the City can do to alleviate this. City Attorney Miller made a recommendation to create a policy as to what to do with those checks. Mr. Liles feels like anything that hasn’t been cashed in a year could be added back. City Attorney Miller mentioned that the City might have to go through the State and their process.

Alderman Wylie made a motion to accept the FY17 Audit. Alderman Steiger seconded the motion. All ayes - motion carried on a voice vote.

Alderman Wylie spoke to the Council regarding the salary for the new Comptroller/Treasurer. Alderman Wylie made a motion to APPROVE ORDINANCE 17-37 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 33 SECTION 33.30 SALARIES. Alderman Wilson seconded the motion. Roll Call: ayes – Aldermen Evans, Glad, Pacey, Satterlee, Steiger, Wilson, and Wylie. All ayes, motion carried.

Alderman Wylie spoke about the memo from City Attorney Miller regarding special council for the City. City Attorney Miller recommends Carl Tenney, to assist with employment law matters, and Anne Viner, to assist with environmental issues. Alderman Wylie made a motion to appoint Carl Tenney and Anne Viner as special legal counsel for the City to be paid at a rate of $200 per hour for Attorney Tenney and $400 per hour for Attorney Viner. Alderman Evans seconded the motion. Roll Call: ayes – Aldermen Evans, Glad, Pacey, Satterlee, Steiger, Wilson, and Wylie. All ayes, motion carried.

Public Works

There were no committee meetings and nothing on the agenda.

Public Works Director Mark LeClair said the pump at the sewer plant is done and working.

The City was nominated for Tank of the Year. Vote if you can. Voting closes on October 20th

.Public Works Director LeClair gave an update on projects.

Brush pickup is on-going, work is taking place on curbs and sidewalks, and more trees are set to be cut.

Public Works employees have really stepped up and it is greatly appreciated.

Public Safety

There was a committee meeting.

ERS Director Ed Hanson spoke to the Council regarding the ordinance to change the department’s name. ERS would like to change their name from Paxton Emergency Response Services to Paxton Emergency Management Agency. They will still be a City agency, but if there is a disaster in town the City would be eligible for Federal aid. ERS Director Hanson let the Council know that this will benefit the City and the ERS department.

Alderman Wilson made a motion to APPROVE ORDINANCE 17-38 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 34 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY OF THE CODE OF PAXTON. Alderman Pacey seconded the motion. Roll Call: ayes – Aldermen Evans, Glad, Pacey, Satterlee, Steiger, Wilson, and Wylie. All ayes, motion carried.

Trick or Treat hours were discussed as 5 – 8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 31. The Council would like to use these hours for all subsequent Halloweens, unless otherwise noted. EMA will be out with a vehicle, and with groups in the Cemetery and schools. Alderman Wilson made a motion to set Trick or Treat hours as 5 – 8 p.m. on October 31 for this, and all subsequent, Halloweens. Alderman Steiger seconded the motion. All ayes - motion carried on a voice vote.

The Loda Lions Club asked at the September Council meeting for permission to collect donations on Market and Pells Streets and Market and Patton Streets from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on October 14. Alderman Wilson made a motion to approve the Loda Lions Club collecting donations on Market and Pells Streets and Market and Patton Streets from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on October 14. Alderman Pacey seconded the motion. All ayes - motion carried on a voice vote. Alderman Wilson made a motion to approve street closures for the Christmas Tree Lighting on Market St, between Pells and Holmes, on November 24, starting at 6 p.m. Alderman Pacey seconded the motion. All ayes - motion carried on a voice vote.

Alderman Wilson discussed posting No Parking signs on November 25th on the parade route. EMA Director Hanson said this will be taken care of, and the signs will be up the night before. Alderman Wilson also discussed the street closures for this parade. Alderman Wilson made a motion to approve posting No Parking signs on November 25th and closing Taft St. from Patton to Center, Orleans from American to Market, and Market St, from Orleans to Pine from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on November 25th. Alderman Pacey seconded the motion. All ayes - motion carried on a voice vote.

There was discussion about keeping kids safe at the Homecoming Parade. There were a lot of kids very close to the cars. EMA Director Hanson talked about bagging candy and making sure that every kid gets a bag.

Regarding the speed limit reduction on streets, city-wide, Alderman Steiger spoke to the Council about the report from the speed radar box. Most of the traffic was between 25 – 35 MPH. The speed limit around parks can be lowered to 20 MPH without doing any special engineering survey. There was discussion about lowering speed limit around parks, but not City-wide. Acting Chief Cornett mentioned that a car has 500 feet to slow down, and will be past any parks at that point. If the City put the signs a block ahead and after a park, that would work. Alderman Steiger asked to get a list of parks and fields to reduce the speed limit to 20 MPH, and clarify the reduced speed limit areas. This will be on November’s City Council Agenda.

Acting Chief Cornett said they have 7 vehicles going to the junkyard to help clear out the lot. Mayor Ingold talked about the renovations that have happened at the Police Department. Areas are more secure. Acting Chief Cornett is also working on continuing education for officers. The Police Department is up to date on its certifications.

Alderman Steiger asked when siren inspections were taking place. EMA Director Hanson will get back to the Council on this. There’s also possible wind damage to one siren.

City Property

There were no committee meetings.

http://www.cityofpaxton.com/docs/minutes/10-10-17%20Council%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf