Chambana Sun

City of Hoopeston City Council met Sept. 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE following the Appropriation Hearing

I. Clerk Lane called the meeting to order.

II. Roll Call: All eight council members were present in person. Mayor Cruisinberry was on Zoom and would not be conducting the meeting.

Alderman Garrett moved to nominate Alderwoman Florek to Mayor Pro Tem to conduct the meeting. Lawson seconded the motion. Florek was approved to act as Mayor Pro Tem.

III., Garrett moved to approve the agenda seconded by Porth. Agenda was approved 8-0.

IV. Lawson moved to approve minutes of the prior meeting seconded by Garrett. Minutes were approved 8-0.

V. Garrett moved to approve payment of bills seconded by Eyrich. Roll call vote 8-0 approved payment of bills.

Pause in the meeting was taken at 7:05 p.m. to honor the homecoming of Lance Corporal Corey Moore who has returned from Afghanistan. Meeting resumed at 7:12 p.m.

VI. No Presentations

VII. No Petitions to Council

VIII. Report of Officers:

A) Eyrich reported that Justin Rice has been hired as fulltime employee at the cemetery.

B) Ferrell proposed an ordinance requiring owners to register vacant buildings. The ordinance will be presented at the next council meeting for approval.

C) Florek reported that the pool is being drained. The pool committee will meet next month to discuss recommendations for next season. There is a pump out at the water plant. The system will need shut down to do repairs when parts arrive.

D) Garrett announced bid specs are out for the EMA building. Bid openings will be October 15.

E) Lawson had nothing to report.

F) Porth made the motion to adopt Appropriation Ordinance 2022-4. Garrett seconded the motion. Roll call vote was taken and Ordinance 2022-4 was adopted 8-0. A Finance Committee meeting will be held September 30 at 3:00 p.m.

G) Richards will be holding a Park Committee meeting at 5 p.m. Friday.

H) Wise reported that 18 trees were taken down last week. The city employees are cleaning up the debris and will grind stumps later. Tree removal will be taking precedence over alley clean-up this fall. The General Maintenance work to be done by Silver Brothers has been pushed back due to Brian Silver contracting COVID.

IX. No Communications to Council

X. No Unfinished Business

XI. No New Business

XII. Mayor Comments

The application to buy the property at 105 E. Main St. Has been submitted to the Tax Trustees.

An agreement for the Dollar General to connect to the sanitary sewer has been reached and will not be an expense to the city.

Work on Casey’s is expected to resume soon.

The EPA rejected the inspectors’ report on clean-up the Suiter Building on South Market St. All debris must be treated as asbestos contaminated. This will increase the cost of hauling away debris.

In addressing the request from Jeremy Deck for a liquor license and gaming parlor the mayor gave his reasons for denying the request. Eyrich made the motion to override the Mayor’s decision. Ferell seconded the motion. Roll call vote was taken. Aldermen Eyrich, Ferrell and Richards voted aye. Florek, Garrett, Lawson, Porth and Wise voted no. Council supported the Mayor’s decision with five votes not to override and three votes in favor or overriding the mayor’s decision.

XIII. Public Comment:

Jerry Hopkins requested an answer on the nuisance situation. Florek learned that the parties are scheduled for an appearance in City Court in October.

Jeremy Deck addressed council stating that he didn’t see the difference between a Gaming Parlor and gaming machines in Teds or Convenience.

XIV. No Executive Session

XV. Adjourn: Eyrich moved to adjourn seconded by Lawson. Council adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

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