Chambana Sun

City of Paxton City Council met Nov. 10.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

The monthly meeting of the Paxton City Council was held at 7:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers.

Roll call showed the following aldermen in attendance: Evans, Geiken, Johnson Anderson, Pacey, Satterlee, Wilson and Withers. Alderman Hoedebecke was absent. Also, in attendance were: Mayor Bill Ingold, Treasurer/Comptroller Tammy Jensen, Assistant Public Works Director Bob Carleton, Police Chief Coy Cornett, ERS Director Ed Hanson, and members of the audience and press.

Mayor Ingold called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with 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 October Council meeting. Alderman Wilson made a motion to approve the minutes of the October Council meeting. Aldermen Johnson Anderson seconded the motion. All approved on a voice vote.

LIST OF CLAIMS

Alderman Withers made a motion to approve the lists of claims, except for the EIEC. Alderman Wilson seconded the motion. Roll Call: ayes – Alderman Evans, Geiken, Johnson Anderson, Pacey, Satterlee, Wilson and Withers. Seven ayes, motion carried.

Alderman Johnson Anderson made a motion to approve the EIEC bill. Alderman Pacey seconded the motion. Roll Call: ayes – Alderman Evans, Geiken, Johnson Anderson, Pacey, Satterlee, and Withers. Abstain – Wilson. Six ayes, one abstains, motion carried.

TREASURER’S REPORT AND INVESTMENT REGISTER

The reports have been emailed to all Aldermen. Alderman Wilson made a motion to approve theTreasurer’s Report and Investment Register. Alderman Withers seconded the motion. All approved on a voice vote.

FINANCE/BUDGET

There were no committee meetings.

The Library Maintenance Tax was discussed. This is an annual resolution for the Library. Alderman Wilson made a motion to APPROVE RESOLUTION 20-26 RESOLUTION RE LIBRARY MAINTENANCE TAX. Alderman Evans seconded the motion. Roll Call: ayes –Alderman Evans, Geiken, Johnson Anderson, Pacey, Satterlee, Wilson and Withers. Seven ayes, motion carried.

Next the Council discussed the ordinance to abate the levy for waterworks and sewerage refunding bonds. The City does not tax for bonds, since they are done through debt service. Alderman Wilson made a motion to APPROVE ORDINANCE 20-27 AN ORDINANCE ABATING LEVY FOR GENERAL OBLIGATION WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE REFUNDING BONDS (ALTERNATE REVENUE SOURCE), SERIES 2011. Alderman Johnson Anderson seconded the motion. Roll Call: ayes – Alderman Evans, Geiken, Johnson Anderson, Pacey, Satterlee, Wilson and Withers. Seven ayes, motion carried.

The Tax Levy will be coming out next month for approval.

The City’s bills were a bit higher this month, but they included some unusual expenses. Sludge removal was significantly cheaper this year compared to last.

PUBLIC WORKS

There were no committee meetings and nothing on the agenda.

Alderman Withers let everyone know that sidewalks are still being worked on, when weather permits. Water meters are still being replaced. The second shipment of 300 meters is in, and 300 removed meters are ready to be shipped back to the company. The door hangers are working great for contacting people.

Mayor Ingold updated the Council on the prospect of getting solar panels for locations around town. He also spoke on a potential change to some pumps. Assistant Public Works Director Carleton said that these would be pumps that could be repaired on site instead of taking them to a shop in Peoria and having significant downtime. Mayor Ingold also would like for engineers to come look and give the City a game plan for the future, short and long term.

PUBLIC SAFETY

There were no committee meetings.

Alderman Pacey made a motion to move the discussion regarding cats running at large to a committee meeting. Alderman Evans seconded the motion. There was discussion on themotion. June Bane was in attendance for tonight’s meeting. Roll Call: ayes – Alderman Evans, Geiken, Pacey, and Satterlee. Nays – Johnson Anderson, Wilson, Wither. Four ayes, three nays, motion carried. Alderman Johnson Anderson hopes that the committee will do their homework or review the data that she has collected and work on a solution to the problem of cats running loose.

Chief Cornett discussed the training that he’s been working on. He’s looking into a QR code program for local businesses that lets the police officers give messages to the business owners if they have a light out, etc.

Chief Cornett was contacted by Ford County Public Health Director Lana Sample to let them know about free Covid-19 testing that will be taking place on November 20, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. There was some discussion on traffic control for that event. ERS Director Hanson discussed some alternate sites and will work with the health department on this.

Chief Cornett updated the Council regarding the tree lighting ceremony. There will be no people there, but there will be a Santa to hand out candy.

On Halloween, the Police Department took part in the Trunk or Treat event at the Park District. They handed out 350 bags.

There was a court case for 640 E. Patton Street two weeks ago. A warrant to enter the property was issued. A price to fix or sell the property will be decided. The next court date is in December for this property.

CITY PROPERTY

There were no committee meetings and nothing on the agenda.

Alderman Evans would like to hold on Clock Tower bids until the spring.

Mayor Ingold spoke regarding the roof on the back part of the City building. It needs new shingles or metal. It will be looked at in the spring.

Mayor Ingold let the Council know about some changes that the City will be making with some of the funding available for Covid-19. These included replacing the sliding window, installing touchless features in the bathroom, and other items.

Mayor Ingold would like to go into Executive Session at the end of the meeting tonight to discuss the sale of City Property.

LICENSE, PERMIT, ZONING & INSURANCE

There was a committee meeting.

Work is still progressing in the committee on updating the zoning ordinances. There will be another committee meeting at 6:30 p.m., on December 8.

Bob Hunzinger, with EIEC, spoke regarding 350 W. Ottawa Street. This property is contingent to their existing property. They have purchased the property and plan on tearing the house down. The property will be re-zoned from residential to M1. The Planning Commission recommended approving this change. Alderman Pacey made a motion to APPROVE ORDINANCE 20-28 AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A CHANGE IN ZONING CLASSIFICATION TO ZONING ORDINANCE NO. 88-30. Alderman Evans seconded the motion. Roll Call: ayes –Alderman Evans, Geiken, Johnson Anderson, Pacey, Satterlee, and Withers. Abstain – Wilson. Six ayes, one abstain, motion carried.

Treasurer/Comptroller Jensen discussed the IMLRMA Minimum/Maximum contribution agreement. This agreement allows the City to pay 85% of the amount, unless the City has claims that go over that amount. In the years that the City does not have large claims, they have saved $12,000. Alderman Satterlee made a motion to APPROVE ORDINANCE 20-29 ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE IMLRMA MINIMUM/MAXIMUM CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT. Alderman Pacey seconded the motion. Roll Call: ayes – Alderman Evans, Geiken, Johnson Anderson, Pacey, Satterlee, Wilson and Withers. Seven ayes, motion carried.

COMMUNITY

There were no committee meetings.

Derek Babbs was in attendance to discuss the Christmas/Thanksgiving parade. He would like to still have the parade. For some children this might be their only chance to see Santa. He was glad to hear that Santa will be at the tree lighting. ERS Director Hanson also said that ERS is doing a Cookies with Santa on December 7 as well.

Decorations are going up today for the holiday season. Trees are being looking into now.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

There were no committee meetings and nothing on the agenda.

The first payments to the downstate stabilization grant have been made. Three more are on the way.

The Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce did a second round of gift card purchases. $51,000 has been spent in the City of Paxton.

LONG TERM PLANNING

There were no committee meetings and nothing on the agenda.

Mayor Ingold gave the Council an update on the StreetScape project. The City is waiting on responses back from the local Indian Tribes. The environmental survey is still in progress.

Mayor Ingold let the Council know that the City is going to partner with Ford County and do an Electronic Recycling event in the spring of 2021. There was discussion on this item.

OTHER

Mayor Ingold spoke regarding an effort by P.R.I.D.E. to decorate shops downtown.Mayor Ingold reminded everyone that tomorrow is Veteran’s Day.

Alderman Johnson Anderson let the Council know that she will be resigning on November 30. She would like to have the committee meeting regarding the cats before then, if possible. Mayor Ingold asked for some potential dates regarding this committee meeting. Nothing was set, but the Mayor asked for the Aldermen to email him with dates for this meeting.

At 7:51 p.m. Alderman Evans made a motion to enter into Executive Session for the limited purposes of the setting of a price for the sale of real estate owned by the City pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(6). Alderman Withers seconded the motion. Roll Call: ayes – Alderman Evans, Geiken, Johnson Anderson, Pacey, Satterlee, Wilson and Withers. Seven ayes, motion carried.

Open session resumed at 7:59 p.m.

At 7:59 p.m. Alderman Wilson made a motion to adjourn tonight’s regular meeting of the Mayorand City Council. Alderman Johnson Anderson seconded the motion. All approved on a voice vote.

https://www.cityofpaxton.com/DocumentCenter/View/394/11-10-2020-City-Council-Meeting-Minutes-PDF