Chambana Sun

City of Hoopeston City Council met April 16

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

I. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Wise called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm following the pledge of allegiance.  

II. ROLL CALL – The following 7 alderpersons were present: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Lawson, Porth, Scharlach, Van Hyfte. Alderman Garrett was absent. Mayor Wise and Clerk Hardcastle were also present. Eric Eves from Attorney Miller’s office was present  on Zoom.  

III. AMENDMENT OR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA – Mayor Wise announced that the AED  Agreement Renewal listed under him will be moved to Alderwoman Van Hyfte’s report. Alderman Scharlach moved to approve the agenda as amended. Alderman M. Ferrell seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.  

IV. AMENDMENT OR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE PRIOR COUNCIL MEETING – Alderwoman K. Ferrell moved to approve the minutes of the April 2, 2024 council  meeting as presented. Alderwoman Lawson seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.  

V. APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF THE BILLS – Alderwoman Lawson 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 bills were approved 7-0.  

VI. PRESENTATIONS – None 

VII. PETITIONS TO THE COUNCIL – None 

VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT – None 

IX. EXECUTIVE SESSION – None 

X. REPORT OF OFFICERS  

a. EYRICH  

i. Nothing to report. 

b. K. Ferrell  

i. ELECTRONIC RECYCLING – It was misprinted in the media about the  electronic recycling that recently took place at DACC. Hoopeston will have  their electronic recycling on Saturday, May 11, 2024 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at McFerren Park. Wood projection and broken TVs are $30, tube TVs are  $25, flat screen TVs and monitors are $5, everything else is free.  

c. M. Ferrell 

i. ORDINANCE 2024-21 – AMENDING ORDINANCE 10.12.030 ADDITION OF  STOP SIGN AT LINCOLN/FIRST AVE – Alderman M. Ferrell made the motion  to add a stop sign at the intersection. Alderwoman K. Ferrell seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferell, M. Ferrell, Lawson, Porth, Scharlach, Van Hyfte – Nays: None – Absent: Garrett) and Ordinance  2024-21 was approved 7-0. 

ii. ORDINANCE 2024-22 – ADDING NO U-TURN ZONES ON THIRD AND FOURTH STREETS BETWEEN LINCOLN AND MAPLE. Alderman M. Ferrell moved to approve the addition of a no U-turn zone on Third St and Fourth St between Lincoln and Maple. 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 Ordinance 2024- 22 was passed 7-0.

d. GARRETT 

i. Absent.  

e. LAWSON  

i. ELECTRIC FENCES – Alderwoman Lawson was asked if electric fences were legal in town. Alderwoman K. Ferrell indicated that they are not. Mayor Wise commented that even if they were, we needed to make sure they are illegal.  

ii. REPUBLIC SERVICES CONTRACT – Alderwoman Lawson presented a new 5 year contract with Republic Services for garbage pickup. There is an increase in the price of the contract and residents will see a $3 increase on their bills reflecting that. The price on the bills will go from $19 to $21 per month and increase 4% each year. Tony Moore from Republic Services was present to answer any questions and he reviewed some potential changes to how bulk garbage is collected. Alderwoman Lawson moved to approve  the new contract. 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 contract was  approved 7-0.  

iii. DOWNTOWN BUILDING SIDING BIDS – 218 E. Main St. has requested that  siding be put up on their side of the building where the city demolished the  neighboring building. Bids were accepted for this project when the initial demolition bids were opened. The bid amount for 218 E. Main St is $15,000 with the city responsible for $7500 of it. Alderwoman Van Hyfte asked if there was a specific budget for this. Alderman Porth answered that it was coming out of TIF money. This item is listed under mayor comments and will be voted on then.  

f. PORTH 

i. FY 2025 BUDGET – Alderman Porth presented the FY 2025 budget and the amended FY 2024 appropriations ordinance. These will go on public viewing and be voted on at a special council meeting on April 30, 2024. Alderman Porth went on to review the budget and the surplus of $177,198 in the budget. Alderman M. Ferrell indicated that there is a problem with the roof at the Street and Alley department building and he may need to amend his budget request. Mayor Wise advised the Ordinance Officer Bane requested increased hours and a raise. He also asked for paid vacation and holidays. The council agreed to increase his wage to $20 per hour and increase his hours to 30 hours a week. They declined to give him paid vacation and holidays since he is a part time employee. The fire department requested a raise in the amount of money they get for going to calls from $17 per call to $20 per call. The council was in agreement with this.  

g. SCHARLACH  

i. ARROW AMBULANCE CONTRACT – Alderman Scharlach reviewed the  discussions with Arrow Ambulance regarding their new contract that they  are requesting. Part of that contract is that Arrow would give the city fair market value of the 3 ambulances that the city owns that Arrow uses. 2 of the ambulances have blown engines and are out of service. Arrow presented the city with a proposal of $12,500 for the 3 ambulances. This agreement will be voted on at the next council meeting.  

ii. AMBLUANCE QUARTERS ISUSE – Mold was discovered in the sleeping quarters of the ambulance building. Arrow has hired a remediation company to come in and mediate the mold issue. Currently crews are sleeping at the hospital. Arrow would like to build a new building at the hospital complex to  house the ambulance crews. This would be 2-3 years out and when the company vacates the current ambulance building, that building would revert back to the city.  

h. VAN HYFTE 

i. OUR TOWN HOOPESTON – Alderwoman Van Hyfte announced that she would be holding an Our Town Hoopeston meeting soon and if anyone is interested in helping with the project to contact her.  

ii. AED AGREEMENT RENEWAL – Alderwoman Van Hyfte presented a renewal agreement with the Hoopeston Area School District for use of their AED at  the pool over the summer. There was an issue with the date at the bottom that says 2023 instead of 2024. Alderwoman Van Hyfte moved to approve the agreement with the change of dates from 2023 to 2024. 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 agreement was approved 7-0.

XI. COMMUNICATIONS  

a. FY 2025 MEETING SCHEDULE – Clerk Hardcastle presented the FY 2025 meeting  schedule.  

XII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None 

XIII. NEW BUISNESS – None 

XIV. MAYOR COMMENTS  

a. DOWNTOWN BUILDING SIDING – Mayor Wise reviewed the bid for placing siding on 218 E. Main St. Alderwoman Van Hyfte moved to accept the bid from Silver Brother’s for $15,000. 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 bid was approved 7-0.  

b. DOWNTOWN DEMOLITION UPDATE – Mayor Wise updated everyone on the progress of the downtown building demolitions. We are currently waiting on Ameren  to remove the gas lines from 209-211 E. Main. Once those lines are removed then demolition can commence. Mayor Wise is still waiting to hear back from Gail Lane on what her plans are for her building.  

XV. ATTORNEY COMMENTS 

a. DIXIE HWY BUILDING – Attorney Miller is needing a good address to serve Justin Acton.  

b. FIFTH ST PROPERTY – Attorney Miller’s office has been in contact with 2 of the 3 individuals involved with the property. The estate was never probated and all 3 parties are needed to sign the property over to the city.  

c. HOTEL TAX ORDINANCE – This ordinance is basically ready to go.  

XVI. 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.

https://cityofhoopeston.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/4-16-24-Meeting-Minutes.pdf