Chambana Sun

City of Gibson City Council met June 27.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Call to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Dickey in council chambers at City Hall.

Roll Call:

Ward #1 Susie Tongate Present 

Erick Tjarks Absent 

Ward #2 Randy Wyant Present 

Ray Hankes Present 

Ward #3 Scott Davis Present 

Michelle Celeschi Present 

Ward #4 Denis Fisher Present 

Laura Miller Absent

Others present: Mike Friend – Farnsworth Group, Supt. Wayne Link, Administrative Assistant Peg Stalter, Chief Adam Rosendahl, Treasurer Scott Shull, Jean Noellsch-Ford County Chronicle, Harvest Fest Committee Members – Justin Carpenter, Billie Jo Denny, Stacy Hildebrandt, Brandon Zumwalt.

Alderman Davis led council in Pledge of Allegiance.

Alderman Davis made a motion approve minutes of June 13, 2022, 2nd by Alderman Celeschi. Motion to approve minutes carried 6-0.

Recognition of Visitors: All on Agenda items.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Alderman Randy Wyant reported on the Water/Sewer Committee meeting held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday June 21st. Wyant stated committee had a thorough discussion with Donohue Engineers regarding the needs of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Major replacements/upgrades are needed, no motions at this time. (see attached report)

Mayor Dickey reported on the Streets & Alleys Committee meeting held Tuesday June 21st at 6:30 p.m. The major topic is the massive oil and chip project and Farnsworth Group is listed on the Agenda for details and a vote.

Approval of Bills:

Motion made by Alderman Hankes to pay General fund bills in the amount of $68,294.22, 2nd by Alderman Fisher, motion carried 6/0.

Motion made by Alderman Fisher to pay 2 checks from TIF 2 totaling $5,077.00, 2nd by Alderman Tongate, motion carried 6-0.

New Business:

A. Discussion and consideration of Harvest Fest special requests

Justin Carpenter, President of the Harvest Fest Committee provided hand-outs of details and a map of road closures. (see attached) Carpenter explained that he is making requests for 2 events, Gibson Area Hospital Summer Bash, scheduled for August 20th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. August 21st, and for Gibson City Harvest Festival, on Friday, September 9th through Sunday September 11th at 12:30 a.m. The Harvest Fest Committee is requesting a Special Event Liquor License and they personally will be in charge of sales and monitoring of the beer tent for both events. To guarantee the tent rental, Committee needs permission to leave it set up from the August 20th event through the end of the Harvest Fest Event. Alderman Celeschi questioned how the retail businesses on Sangamon are affected by the road closure. Billie Jo Denny stated that the committee sends a letter to them and have never received negative feedback. Motion to grant Special Event Liquor licenses to the Harvest Fest Committee for both events as discussed was made by Alderman Hankes, 2nd made by Alderman Tongate, motion carried 6/0.

Other requests of the City are to provide picnic tables, trash cans, etc. Alderman Celeschi asked if the Committee has their own man-power rather than having city crew do set up and take down. Supt. Link stated that they can provide what is needed in one location and it is very much appreciated if the committee will do the set-up and then return everything to the drop-off site. Committee agreed.

B. Consideration of Oil & Chip project – Engineer Mike Friend of Farnsworth Group summarized the plan that is being recommended by the Streets & Alleys Committee. This is a massive project that will be bid and overseen by engineers. The black rock ‘Trap rock’ that will be used is to be hauled from Missouri to 2 stock-piles as designated by Supt. Link. The high-grade emulsified oil and labor will be performed by awarded contractor. Biggest issue for the public is to understand that a power-brushing is done in preparation, and it does create lots of dust. Mayor Dickey agreed that city will make all efforts to notify residents as their street comes up to keep windows closed during prep and absolutely no cars will be parked on streets during work. (Map and Summary are attached) Motion to approve made by Alderman Wyant, 2nd by Hankes, to spend a “not-to-exceed amount” of $600K that is all inclusive of materials, engineering, and labor including daily on-site field supervisor, and funds will come from TIF 2 and General Fund. Motion carried 6/0. Friend stated he will expedite the project and Mayor Dickey agreed that if needed a special council meeting will be called to approve bids.

C. Consideration of Waiver of Subdivision Requirements. This item is the Lutheran Church property dividing their current property in Rasmussen Subdivision into 3 lots, which by ordinance qualifies as a ‘minor subdivision’. Council voted on March 14, 2022 to approve, and Mayor Dickey is requesting council grant permission for City Clerk Jan Hall to sign any documentation that may arise for completion of this project. Council agreed.

D. Façade Grant for GC Restoration Association @ 107 N. Sangamon Avenue. This item was removed from the Agenda at the request of the committee at this time.

E. Motion to enter Executive Session to discuss purchase of real estate. Motion made by Alderman Wyant, 2nd by Alderman Davis, to discuss purchase of real estate. Motion carried 6/0 and council entered Executive Session @ 7:50 p.m.

F. Consideration of the Cleaning Bee’s contract revisions – Alderman Tongate reported – The Cleaning Bee was awarded the bid at $375 per week, with hourly emergency call-out to be $30 per hour during normal work hours, and $60 per hour if called out on weekends and holidays. At this time, there is an adjustment of $25 per week, raising to $400.00 requested. Tongate stated that the cleaning person was not aware of all the park properties included at the time of her bid and Tongate recommends this increase be approved. Alderman Celeschi, a committee member who worked on the Cleaning Contract voiced concern that by making this change the city is not following its own contract terms. She agreed on the amount and understood the reasoning but wanted to make the point clearly that per contract no further changes can be considered unless put out to bid. Council agreed. Motion to approve the increase by $25.00 per hour, and $30/60 per hour for emergency call-outs was made by Alderman Tongate, 2nd by Alderman Celeschi, motion carried 6-0.

Agenda items E. & F. were handled in reverse order, and motion to adjourn regular session made by Alderman Davis immediately following Executive Session, 2nd by Alderman Hankes, meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

https://gibsoncityillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/June-27-2022-Minutes.pdf