Chambana Sun

City of Hoopeston City Council met April 2

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

I. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Wise called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm following the pledge of allegiance.

II. ROLL CALL – The following 6 alderpersons were present: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Lawson, Porth, Scharlach. Alderman Garrett was absent. Mayor Wise, Clerk Hardcastle, and Attorney Miller were also present.

III. RESIGNATION OF AN ALDERPERSON FROM WARD I – Mayor Wise announced that Angela Highfill has resigned her Ward I alderman seat effective March 27, 2024.

IV. ANNOUNCEMENT OF WARD I VACANCY – Mayor Wise announced that there was a vacancy to be filled due to the resignation of Alderwoman Highfill.

V. APPOINTMENT OF WARD I ALDERPERSON – Mayor Wise presented Nicole Van Hyfte of 513 S. Second Ave as his nomination to the Ward I vacancy. Alderwoman K. Ferrell moved to approve Mayor Wise’s appointment. Alderwoman Lawson seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Lawson, Porth, Scharlach – Nays: None – Absent: Garrett) and Nicole Van Hyfte was appointed as Ward I Alderman 6-0. Clerk Hardcastle then administered the oath of office to Van Hyfte.

VI. AMENDMENT OR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA – Alderwoman K. Ferrell moved to approve an amended agenda with a clerical change to item iii under her to make sure we strike out extra wording in 6.04.10. Alderman Eyrich seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

VII. AMENDMENT OF APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE PRIOR COUNCIL MEETING – Alderwoman K. Ferrell moved to approve the minutes as presented. Alderwoman Lawson seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

VIII. APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF THE BILLS – Alderman M. Ferrell moved to approve the payment of the city’s bills. Alderman Eyrich seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Lawson, Porth, Scharlach, Van Hyfte – Nays: None – Absent: Garrett) and the payment of the bills was passed 7-0.

IX. PRESENTATIONS – None

X. PETITIONS TO THE COUNCIL – None

XI. PUBLIC COMMENT – None

XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION – None

XIII. REPORT OF OFFICERS:

a. EYRICH

i. COX LAW FIRM CONTRACT – Alderman Eyrich moved to reject the proposed contract with the Cox Law Firm to manage the water treatment plant project. Alderwoman K. Ferrell seconded the motion. Alderman Eyrich reported that the water department is satisfied with our current engineer working on the plant and we do not need this agreement. Eyrich reiterated that rejection of this contract would sever all ties with the Cox Law Firm. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Lawson, Porth, Scharlach, Van Hyfte – Nays: None – Absent: Garrett) and the contract with the Cox Law Firm was rejected 7-0.

b. K. Ferrell

i. BUILDING INSPECTOR CONTRACT – Alderwoman K. Ferrell made a motion to accept the new building inspector contract. Alderman Scharlach asked if there were any changes in the contract since it was last brough up and Alderwoman K. Ferrell answered that only the dates had changed. Alderman Eyrich seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Lawson, Porth, Scharlach, Van Hyfte – Nays: None – Absent: Garrett) and the contract with Stephen Chrisman for the building inspector was approved 7-0.

ii. HEN ORDINANCE – Alderwoman K. Ferrell presented the newly revised ordinance for the keeping of hens in the city. Alderwoman Van Hyfte asked if roosters were covered under this ordinance. Alderwoman K. Ferrell answered that roosters are not allowed, only hens. Alderman Scharlach asked who would enforce this ordinance? K. Ferrell answered that Compliance Officer Bane would be enforcing it. Alderwoman Van Hyfte asked what would happen if someone had a rooster? K. Ferrell advised that the compliance officer would handle that complaint. Mayor Wise said that he knows of at least 3 roosters in town. Alderwoman Lawson said that many residents do not want this. She said that if they are kept correctly then it is not a problem. Alderman M. Ferrell asked if there are penalties for violating the ordinance? Mayor Wise said he would have to look into the penalties. Mayor Wise suggested that the permit fee be raised to $25 and be a one-time fee. Also, the #6 item listed in the proposed ordinance needed to be changed to #7 since #6 was duplicate. Alderwoman K. Ferrell made the motion with the change in the permit fee and the change of the second #6 item to #7. Alderwoman Van Hyfte seconded the motion. A roll call  vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Van Hyfte, Mayor Wise – Nays: Lawson, Porth, Scharlach – Absent: Garrett) and Ordinance 2024-18 Keeping of Hens was approved 5-3.

iii. AMENDING ORDINANCE 6.04.010 – Prohibited Animals – With the approval of the keeping of hens, this ordinance needed changed to strike out chickens from the list of prohibited animals. Alderwoman K. Ferrell presented an ordinance making those changes and included striking the word “or” before the word “chickens”. Alderman M. Ferrell seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Lawson, Porth, Van Hyfte – Nays: Scharlach – Absent: Garrett) and Ordinance 2024-19 Changing Ordinance 6.04-010 was passed 6-1.

c. M. FERRELL

i. SALT PURCHASE RESOLUTION – Alderman M. Ferrell advised that due to changes in the State of Illinois to purchase road salt from them, the city must pass a resolution saying how much salt they would buy from the state. Alderman M. Ferrell moved to approve Resolution 2024-6. Alderwoman Van Hyfte seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Lawson, Porth, Scharlach, Van Hyfte – Nays: None – Absent: Garrett) resolution 2024-6 was passed 7-0.

ii. STREET PARKING AROUND MAPLE SCHOOL – Alderman M. Ferrell advised that the city would be posting sings and enforcing no parking zones around Maple School using the current ordinance in place.

iii. DRAFT ORDINANCES – Alderman M. Ferrell presented 2 draft ordinances. The first was to add no U-Turn signs on Third St. between Lincoln and Maple St. The second one is for a stop sign placement at Lincoln and First Ave. These ordinances would be voted on at the next meeting.

d. GARRETT - Absent

e. LAWSON

i. POLICE OFFICER TESTING – Alderwoman Lawson reported that the police department will be hiring another police officer and to be on the lookout for testing information.

f. PORTH

i. BUDGET MEETING – Alderman Porth announced that we would have a special council meeting to pass the new budget and to pass an amended appropriations  ordinance for the current fiscal year. The meeting will be held on April 30, 2024, at 7:00 pm.

g. SCHARLACH

i. AMBULANCE CONTRACT – Alderman Scharlach advised that he has been in contact with Arrow Ambulance regarding our service contract. We currently have 2 broken down ambulances that Arrow is supposed to give us fair market value for. Alderman Scharlach asked Arrow what that value was, and he is still waiting on an answer.

h. VAN HYFTE

i. Mayor Wise announced that Alderwoman Van Hyfte would be the Parks Committee chairwoman.

XIV. COMMUNICATIONS TO THE COUNCIL

a. STATEMENTS OF ECONOMIC INTEREST – Clerk Hardcastle announced that the Statements of Economic Interest are due to the County Clerk’s office by May 1,2024. After that date there is a $15 per day fine.

b. EMA SEVERE WEATHER TALK – Clerk Hardcastle announced that there would be a severe weather talk put on by EMA on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 7:00 pm at city hall.

XV. UNIFISHED BUSINESS – None

XVI. NEW BUSINESS – Alderwoman Van Hyfte asked if there is any update on the hotel project. Mayor Wise advised that the city received an updated development agreement on Tuesday and Attorney Miller is looking it over.

XVII. MAYOR COMMENTS

a. SOLAR ORDINANCE – Mayor Wise presented the solar ordinance for approval. There were no changes made since it was presented at the last meeting. Alderwoman K. Ferrell moved to approve the new ordinance. Alderman M. Ferrell seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Lawson, Porth, Scharlach, Van Hyfte – Nays: None – Absent: Garrett) and Ordinance 2024-20 was approved 7-0.

b. LEE FARMS EXCAVATION PARTIAL PAYMENT – Mayor Wise presented a bill for partial payment from Lee Farms Excavation for the downtown building demolition project. This bill was for $52,100. Alderman M. Ferrell asked if we were still in line with the budget. Mayor Wise answered that we will be over budget by about $30,000 but this was due to the addition of the 209-211 E. Main St. building getting demolished. Alderman M. Ferrell moved to approve the partial payment. Alderwoman K. Ferrell seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Lawson, Porth, Scharlach, Van Hyfte – Nays: None – Absent: Garrett) and the payment to Lee Farms Excavation was approved 7-0.

c. 810 N MARKET ST SETTLEMENT OFFER EXPIRATION – Mayor Wise indicated that he would like to set an expiration date for this settlement since no action has been taken by Mr. Kelnhofer. Attorney Miller stated that 30 days from today would be an advisable timeline. Alderman M. Ferrell made the motion to approve the expiration date. Alderman Scharlach seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Lawson, Porth, Scharlach, Van Hyfte – Nays: None – Absent: Garrett) and the settlement agreement was given a 30-day expiration from Tuesday, April 2, 2024 by a vote of 7-0.

d. FIREWORKS CONTRACT – Mayor Wise presented this year’s fireworks contract for approval. The contract is worth $20,000 with the city guaranteeing payment. Traditionally the city gives $5,000 towards the show and $15,000 comes from fundraising. This year’s show will be on Saturday, June 29, 2024. Alderman Scharlach moved to approve the contract. Alderwoman Van Hyfte seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Lawson, Porth, Scharlach, Van Hyfte – Nays: None – Absent: Garrett) and the contract with J&M Displays was approved 7-0.

e. OUR TOWN HOOPESTON – Mayor Wise announced that Alderwoman Van Hyfte has agreed to chair the project on behalf of the city. WCIA will be at city hall on Friday to have a kickoff meeting. They are needing 15-20 stories about Hoopeston and will be running promotions all week. Emily Brown and Kathy Alwardt have also volunteered to help. The event will be held the week of May 31.

f. ITEMS FOR THE ATTORNEY – Mayor Wise asked if anyone had items to go to the city attorney, that those items be placed in a folder to be given to him after each council meeting.

XVIII. ATTORNEY COMMENTS

a. HOTEL PROJECT – Attorney Miller met with the loan officer for the developer of the project and presented guidelines that the city would be looking for.

b. 209-211 E MAIN ST – Deeds to those properties have been recorded and the city is in possession of the property now.

XIX. ADJOURNMENT – There being no further action to come before the council, Alderwoman K. Ferrell moved to adjourn the meeting. Alderman M. Ferrell seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0. 

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