Chambana Sun

City of Hoopeston City Council met July 30

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

I. PUBLIC HEARING – A public hearing was held for comments on the FY2025 Appropriations Ordinance. There was no public comments regarding the ordinance.

II. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Wise called the special meeting or order at 6:48 pm following the pledge of allegiance.

III. ROLL CALL – The following 5 alderpersons were present: Eyrich, K. Ferrell,

M. Ferrell, Porth, and Scharlach. Mayor Wise and Clerk Hardcastle were also present.

IV. AMENDMENT OR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA – Alderwoman K. Ferrell moved to approve the agenda as presented. Alderman Scharlach seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

V. PUBLIC COMMENT:

a. Anonymous male addressed the council. He stated that it has been 69 days since the case that he has been coming to the council about has happened and the police department has not caught the suspect. He has spoken with a state senator’s office. He also reviewed the report that was written, and he thinks that the police did not take the call seriously. He does not understand why he has to come back up here each meeting. He went on to ask another question about who sets the priority of calls that Vermilion County 911 takes. He then asked what has the mayor done? In his opinion the mayor is in charge of the police department, and he does not know why he has to come up here and ask for more officers to be hired. The pool costs a lot of money, and we could have hired 10 police officers for the cost of running the pool. He also thinks that the cemetery is not needed and could go to private management. The police department has a budget of $1 million and a pension budget of $393,750. He is supposed to pay his taxes just for the officers to get to his house late. Communications has a budget of $381,227 plus the dispatch fee on the water bill. He said that they do not even field 911 calls and all they do is operator the radio. He then asked who took the meeting minutes and asked why his name was included in the minutes. Mayor Wise then told him that his time was up for comment, and he needed to sit back down. The male refused to sit down and continued to speak. The police had to be called and the male was removed from the meeting.

VI. REPORT OF OFFICERS

a. EYRICH

i. UNION PARK TREE STUMPS – Alderman Eyrich thanked the Street and Alley department for removing the tree stumps from Union Park.

b. K. FERRELL

i. Nothing to report.

c. M. FERRELL

i. Nothing to report.

d. GARRETT

i. Absent.

e. LAWSON

i. Absent.

f. PORTH

i. ORDINANCE 2025-5 – APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE – Alderman Porth moved to approve the annual appropriations ordinance. Alderman Eyrich seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Porth, Scharlach – Nays: None – Abstentions: None) and Ordinance 2025-5 was approved 5-0.

g. SCHARLACH

i. FIRE DEPARTMENT UPDATE: Chief Joel Bird advised Alderman Scharlach that the department has taken possession of the ladder truck and new rescue trucks. These new vehicles will be in service soon.

VII. MAYOR COMMENTS

a. Mayor Wise advised that he does not get directly involved in police matters. Mayor Wise and Alderwoman K. Ferrell thanked the police officers for all they do.

VIII. 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 5-0 and the council adjourned the meeting.

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