Chambana Sun

City of Gibson City Council Met May 3.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

Call to order at 7:00 pm by City Clerk Carla Moxley in the absence of Mayor Dickey.

Roll Call: Ward #1 Susan Tongate, present; Greg Houtzel, present

               Ward #2 Randy Wyant, present; Aaron Franks, absent

               Ward #3 Scott Davis, present; Michele Celeschi, present

               Ward #4 Dennis Pardick, absent; Denis Fisher, present

Others present: Exploratory Pool Committee member Jan Hall, Randy Ferguson (Pool manager), Pool Board member Deb Davis, Jeremy Darnell (GCMS Superintendent), Paula Dickey, Kendal and Tim King of King’s Financial from Monticello, and Engineer Andy Kieser of Fehr-Graham.

Clerk Moxley called for a motion to approve Alderman Susie Tongate as Mayor Pro-Tem for this meeting. Alderman Scott Davis made the motion; second by Alderman Randy Wyant. MC 6-0.

Pledge of Allegiance was led by Randy Ferguson.

Presentation from Tim and Kendall King (Kings Financial Consultants) about Municipal Bonding Possibilities to Fund a New Public Swimming Pool ; B.) Presentation from Engineer Andy Kieser of Fehr Graham & Associates to Give an Updated Potential Timeline for the Pool Project.

Mr. Darnell addressed the council in support of King Financial. He stated that the school board has benefited greatly by having King Financial represent them in borrowing through bonds and complemented the Kings on ‘no hidden fees’ and fast response in answering questions and returning calls. Mayor Pro-Tem Tongate turned the meeting over to Tim and Kendall King to present the bond options to the council, as they had presented last Monday night to the Exploratory Pool committee. They provided a handout that delineates how the city can borrow roughly $5 million dollars over a 12-year period and have the entire debt repaid by using TIF2 funds. The interest is at such a low rate that it makes sense to act now if the City wants to pursue building a brand new public pool.

Alderman Davis, Finance chairman, reminded council that the city has been truly fortunate in operating without debt up to this point, and also asked questions regarding a safe level of borrowing so that the City is still in good condition for other projects, such as water/sewer improvements. Engineer Andy Kieser explained that the City has options of borrowing from IL EPA at low interest rates for water/sewer projects as well as possibly bonds.

Mr Kieser summarized the likely timeframe for design, bidding and construction as it could begin as quickly as funds are assured, with the bidding process holding off until winter. The new pool will be heated and have a special finish that does not require any painting. The tentative plan is with approval of funding, the process will begin the City could possibly break ground on construction in the spring of 2022. It was also explained that the State is likely to allow our current pool to remain open until the new one is built if they see activity, but beyond a 2-year time frame, it is doubtful the pool would pass state inspections to continue reopening.

Newly appointed Alderman Michelle Celeschi asked the dollar estimates for the project. Engineer Kieser answered that at the time he obtained the estimates, it was $2.3 million for the new bathhouse/office, and $2 million for the heated pool.

Mayor Pro-Tem Tongate then explained that is the committee’s hope that the City Council will decide soon if they will approve a ‘not to exceed’ dollar amount to proceed with bonds possibly up to $5 million, and see the process begin.

Adjourn: Alderman Davis moved to adjourn the meeting; second by Alderman Houtzel. MC 6 /0.

http://www.gibsoncityillinois.com/images/Special_Council_Minutes_Monday_May_3-2021.docx