Chambana Sun

City of Hoopeston City Council met Oct. 19.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Pro Tem Florek.

1.  Call to Order:  Mayor Pro Tem Florek
2. Roll Call:  All eight council members were present.
3. Agenda:  Alderman Garrett moved to approve the agenda seconded by Wise. Agenda approved 8-0.
4. Minutes:  Eyrich moved to approve minutes of the October 5 council meeting seconded by Richards.  Minutes approved 8-0.
5. Payment of Bills: Porth made a motion to approve payment of bills seconded by Garrett. Roll call vote 8 to 0 approved payment of bills.
6. No Presentations
7. No Petitions to Council.
8. Report of Officers:

a).  Eyrich had nothing to report.

b).  Ferrell made a motion to approve properties for Fast Track for demolition. The designated property addresses are 624 and 628 E McCracken and 317, 320 and 322 Front Street. Voice vote taken and all eight council members voted aye to approve Fast Track of the properties. Next Ferrell made a motion to waive a delinquent water bill on 320 Front St., contingent upon if the property is signed over to the city. Florek seconded the motion. Roll call vote taken and all eight council members voted aye approving the motion to waive the water bill with the contingency. Ferrell moved to approve the Keep Vermilion County Beautiful Membership at the corporate level in the amount of $1000. Richards seconded the motion. Roll call vote 8-0 approved the motion. Ferrell announced a tire collection at the annex on November 6.  

c).  Florek reported that the water line is going in for the new Caseys. The pool committee met and reviewed financial information from the season. Also discussed repairs needed before next season.

d).  Garrett stated that approval of the Communication Maintenance Contract would be on the next meeting agenda for a vote. Two bids were received for the EMA building. The bid from Quality Buildings & Repairs was $33,906.44 and Silver Brothers bid was $59,450.75. Garrett moved to accept the lower bid from Quality Buildings and Ferrell seconded the motion. Roll call vote taken and council approved the bid from Quality Buildings 8-0. Garrett received an email asking why the city does not have its own tow truck and impound lot. Costs would need to be looked at to consider it. A study would need done however the consensus was that it would be a losing proposition.

e).  Lawson had nothing to report.

f).  Porth brought up the ARPA budget. Garrett made a motion to reduce the purchase of UTVs from two to one and purchase up to five air packs for the fire department. Wise seconded the motion. Roll call vote taken and council vote 8-0 for the amended budget to purchase one UTV and air packs.

g).  Richards specified the North side of the Tennis Court as the location for the proposed skate park.  A straw poll had no objections to the proposed location. Lights and power are already connected to the area.

h).  Wise made the motion to pay Ribbe Trucking for the completed seal coat work. The amount is $34,795.34. Garrett seconded the motion.  Roll call vote 8-0 approved the payment. Street and Alley department are continuing with tree removal.

9.  Clerk Lane read an invitation to the annual Appreciation Dinner from ERH.  
10. No Unfinished Business
11. No New Business 
12. Mayor Pro Tem Florek announced the Spooktacular event Monday October 25 and that closure of the downtown streets is approved.
13. Public Comment:

April Jones thanked the city for progress being done.  She gave an update on Skate Park fundraising: More than $8600 is now in the account. A meeting will be held November 9, a fundraiser will be held March 5.

Josh Clifton wondered why city police have no body cameras and no cameras are in squad cars.

14.  Executive Session: Garrett moved to go into Executive Session to discuss Land Acquisition, Buildings, Executive Minutes Review and Personnel. Ferrell seconded the motion. Council went into Executive Session at 7:50 p.m. vote 8-0. Wise moved to come out of Executive Session seconded by Garrett. Council came out of Executive Session at 8:53 p.m.  
15. Adjourn: Garrett moved to adjourn seconded by Wise. Council adjourned at 8:54 p.m.

https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://cityofhoopeston.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Document43.docx&hl=en_US