Chambana Sun

City of Hoopeston City Council met May 7

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

I. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Wise called the meeting to order at 7:10 pm following the pledge of allegiance.

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

III. AMENDMENT OR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA – Alderwoman K. Ferrell made a motion to amend the agenda and move the executive session after attorney comments.

Alderman Scharlach seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.

IV. AMENDMENT OR APPORVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE PRIOR COUNCIL MEETING AND MINUTES FROM THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING – Alderwoman K. Ferrell moved to approve the minutes of the meetings. Alderman M. Ferrell seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.

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

VI. PRESENTATIONS

a. Gary Polchow was on the agenda but did not show up for the meeting.

b. Carolyn Eyrich-Mastin representing the American Legion Auxiliary requested approval of their street corner collection on May 18, 2024 to go towards programs for veterans. She also requested a change in the ordinance to allow them to use different intersections rather than the ones listed in the ordinance. A discussion was had about the fee that applicants are required to pay.

VII. PETITIONS TO THE COUNCIL – None

VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT

a. Dustin Fink addressed the council requesting a change in the permitting of food trucks. He is requesting a yearly permit fee instead of a daily permit fee. It is his  opinion that the daily fee is discriminatory towards food trucks that are based in

Hoopeston and that brick-and-mortar establishments do not have to pay a daily fee.

He requested around $25 yearly fee.

b. Truman Page of 507 E. Young addressed the council regarding tall grass, weeds, garbage, and dilapidated buildings.

IX. REPORT OF OFFICERS

a. Eyrich

i. Nothing to report.

b. K. Ferrell

i. ELECTRONIC RECYCLING – Hoopeston will have their electronic recycling on Saturday, May 11, 2024 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at McFerren Park. Woodprojection and broken TVs are $30, tube TVs are $25, flat screen TVs and monitors are $5, everything else is free.

ii. YEARLY FOOD TRUCK PERMIT – Alderwoman K. Ferrell discussed adding a yearly permit fee to the food truck ordinance. In addition to Mr. Fink’s request in public comments, the office administration requested a yearly fee as well to ease the administrative burden of processing the permit applications. Alderwoman K. Ferrell asked the council what they thought an appropriate fee would be. She reported that Danville’s fee is $600 and Champaign was $200. Alderman Scharlach asked if we could keep the daily fee and just cap it at a certain amount. Alderman M. Ferrell suggested that 501(c)3 organizations be exempt from any fees. Mayor Wise suggested a $200 fee. Alderman Scharlach suggested $500. Alderman Garrett suggested $250. Alderman Eyrich said $200 was plenty. Alderwoman K. Ferrell asked the council if it was ok to proceed with the waiving of the fee for 501(c)3 organizations and the council was ok with it.

iii. CHANGE ORDER FOR 218 E MAIN ST SIDING – The bid paperwork had a mix up in the amounts and the bid that was approved was $4000 less than what the bid was for. The city’s portion of that difference would be $2000.

Alderwoman K. Ferrell moved to approve the change order. Alderman Scharlach seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Garrett, Porth, Scharlach – Nays: None – Absent: Lawson, Van Hyfte) and the change order was approved 6-0.

iv. STREET CORNER COLLECTION APPROVAL – Alderwoman K. Ferrell made the motion to approve the American Legion Auxiliary street corner collection  for May 18, 2024 and to refund the fee that they paid. Alderman Scharlach seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Garrett, Porth, Scharlach – Nays: None – Absent: Lawson, Van Hyfte) and the street corner collection was approved 6-0.

c. M. Ferrell

i. Nothing to report.

d. Garrett

i. Nothing to report.

e. Lawson

i. Absent.

f. Porth

i. Nothing to report.

g. Scharlach

i. AMBULANCE SALE – Alderman Scharlach moved to approve the sale of 3 of the city’s ambulances to Arrow Ambulance, as stated in the service contract, at market value. Arrow Ambulance placed the market value of the ambulances at $12,500. 2 of the ambulances are unusable and out of service due to mechanical issues. The third ambulance is outside its useful life and is held in reserve. Alderman Eyrich seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Garrett, Porth, Scharlach – Nays: None – Absent: Lawson, Van Hyfte) and the sale was approved 6-0.

h. Van Hyfte

i. Absent.

X. COMMUNICATIONS TO THE COUNCIL – None

XI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

a. DOOR SYSTEM – Alderman Garrett asked if we ever got a bid on the replacement of the door system. Mayor Wise said that the bid came in at $40,000 and we are looking at different options. 

b. SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL – Alderman Porth asked if there was any update on the safe routes to school grant. Mayor Wise said that he would follow up on that.

XII. NEW BUSINESS

a. ELECTRIC BIKES – Alderman Porth asked if anything has ever been brought up about the electric bicycles and scooters that are zooming around town. If electric golf carts have to be permitted, then electric bikes should be as well. Alderman Garrett answered that around 700 watts is the cut off before they are considered electric vehicles. The operators of the bikes and scooters still have to follow the rules of the road and can be ticketed. Alderman Porth asked if they could be banned. Alderman Garrett suggested some additional enforcement action be taken with regards to the reckless driving. Mayor Wise said that he will speak with Chief Kelnhofer about this issue.

XIII. COMMENTS BY THE MAYOR

a. RESOLUTION 2025-1 APPOINTMENTS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS – Mayor Wise presented the resolution appointing people to various city board and commissions. Alderman Garrett moved to approve the resolution. Alderman Scharlach seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Garrett, Porth, Scharlach – Nays: None – Absent: Lawson, Van Hyfte) and the resolution was approved 6-0.

b. RESOLUTION 2025-2 APPOINTMENT OF CITY OFFICERS – Mayor Wise reviewed the resolution approving various city officers. The mayor advised that he would like to revise this ordinance in the future. Alderman Garrett asked about the police chief since he was on the list to be approved but he works under a contract. Mayor Wise requested that this item be tabled until an opinion can be made by Attorney Miller.

c. COUNCIL COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS – Mayor Wise distributed a list of new city council committee assignments.

d. SOLAR PANELS – There are some solar panels going up around town without the necessary permits. Mayor Wise asked if we could send a mailer out. The cost of the mailer would be $1000. Alderman Porth said that we cannot afford the mailer.

Mayor Wise said that we would post reminders of the solar panel ordinance on the city’s Facebook page and in Just the Facts. Attorney Miller said that a police officer or compliance officer should have information about the ordinance to hand out if they see the panels being installed. Mayor Wise will also look into putting a link on the city service’s bill to the ordinance.

e. EMAIL PROBLEMS – The city has been having an issue with sending email to certain addresses. The IT department is looking into the issue. 

f. DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS – Lee Farms is ready to take down the Doyle Building, they are just waiting for good weather. The original bid specifications stated that grass seed would be put down and Mayor Wise will follow up with them on that.

g. BURIED FIBER LINES – This project is done. Any work still ongoing is from the pole to the buried lines. Mayor Wise asked all city departments to calculate the cost of the repairs to the city’s infrastructure. Alderwoman K. Ferrell asked if citizens could submit repair costs to their private property to go on the bill to the company also.

Attorney Miller stated that we can do that. Mayor Wise said that citizens would have to know that the city would not cover any legal costs pertaining to any claims to damage to private property.

h. ZONING ISSUES – Several lots are zoned incorrectly. The city needs to investigate updating the zoning map and correcting how certain lots are zoned.

XIV. COMMENTS BY THE ATTORNEY

a. Attorney Miller gave an update on various city issues. His office is looking into the zoning issues, dilapidated buildings, and the hotel project. The owner of the properties on Dixie Hwy was successfully served and the time is almost up on that notice. Alderwoman K. Ferrell asked about the dumping fees not paid by the contractor who took down a downtown building. Attorney Miller stated that this matter is going to court.

XV. EXECTIVE SESSION

a. Alderwoman K. Ferrell moved to go into executive session for potential litigation.

Alderman Porth seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Garrett, Porth, Scharlach – Nays: None – Absent: Lawson, Van Hyfte) and the council entered executive session at 8:10 pm.

b. Alderwoman K. Ferrell moved to come out of executive session. Alderman Garrett seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0 and the council came out of executive session at 8:38 pm.

XVI. ADJOURNMENT

a. There being no further action to come before the council, Alderman Garrett moved to adjourn the meeting. Alderwoman K. Ferrell seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0. 

https://cityofhoopeston.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/5-7-24-Meeting-Minutes.pdf