Chambana Sun

City of Hoopeston City Council met Aug. 6

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

I. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Wise called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm following the pledge of allegiance.

II. ROLL CALL – The following 5 alderpersons were present: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Porth, and Scharlach. Mayor Wise, Clerk Hardcastle, and Attorney Miller were also present.

III. AMENDMENT OR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA – Mayor Wise indicated that item B listed under Mayor Comments can be struck from the agenda. Alderwoman K. Ferrell moved to approve the amended agenda. Alderman Eyrich seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

IV. APPORVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETINGS – Alderwoman K. Ferrell moved to approve the minutes from the following meetings: June 27, 2024, special meeting, July 16, 2024 regular council meeting, and the July 30, 2024 special meeting. Alderman M. Ferrell seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

V. APPROVAL OF THE PAYMENT OF THE BILLS – Alderwoman K. Ferrell moved to approve the payment of the city’s bills. Alderman Eyrich seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Porth, Scharlach – Nays: None – Absent: Garrett, Lawson) and the bills were approved 5-0.

VI. PRESENTATIONS – None

VII. PETITIONS TO THE COUNCIL – None

VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT

a. Anonymous Male addressed the council. He indicated that he was wearing the shirt that the female was wearing when she was attacked. He is wearing this shirt because of a meeting that he had with the Mayor on Saturday. He had heard from an alderman at that meeting that we are doing all we can and that state representatives will not help us. He has said several times that he will keep coming to these meetings until the police catch the suspect that assaulted the female, and that the city council enacts laws to take care of the problem. He is also requesting the hiring of additional police officers in order to have 3 officers on at all times. He is also requesting that the city council reduce the number of calls that police must respond to. It is his opinion that the city council is not taking crime seriously. He is going to keep coming until justice is served to his girlfriend because that is what a real man does. He went on to ask how long the alderman that questioned him would fight for his wife. He is upset that the alderman asked him what the point was. The city council and the police department are the ones who is to blame for all of this. He reiterated that he would keep coming until the city acts.

b. April Fivecoat – It has been 76 days since she was attacked. The police department was able to catch an arsonist in less than 24 hours but not her attacker. The citizens elected the city council to help, and the council has not passed ordinances about homelessness or tents or hired enough police. They also think that state or federal representatives will not help. The city spends $80,000 to run the pool and $200,000 to run the cemetery. These funds could pay for 3 extra police officers for 1 year. There are other ways of hiring police officers rather than raising taxes. It is her opinion that the city council is no better than her attacker since she has no faith in the system any more. No one will ever silence her. She then stated her name was April Fivecoat and she will no longer be a victim due to the city council’s lack of action. She then stated that we could go ahead and print that in the newspaper.

IX. EXECUTIVE SESSION – None

X. REPORT OF OFFICERS

a. EYRICH

i. Nothing to report.

b. K. FERRELL

i. TIRE/ELECTRONIC RECYCLING – Alderwoman K. Ferrell announced that she is working on another tire and electronic recycling event. She is hoping to have both run at the same time, possibly at the beginning of October. She will report back with an exact date.

c. M. FERRELL

i. RESOLUTION 2025-9 – AWARDING THE BID FOR THE 2004 FORD F150. Alderman M. Ferrell announced that the city received 1 bid for the 2004 Ford F150 previously used by the Street and Alley department. Pete Neal submitted the bid for $300. Alderman M. Ferrell moved to approve accepting the bid. Alderwoman K. Ferrell seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Scharlach, Porth – Nays: None – Absent: Garrett, Lawson) and the bid was accepted 5-0. 

d. GARRETT

i. Absent.

e. LAWSON

i. ORDINANCE 2025-5 – CHANGING ORDINANCE 10.43.020C – In Alderwoman Lawson’s absence, Mayor Wise spoke about this ordinance. At the previous council meeting we passed an ordinance regulating the use of low-speed powered bicycles and scooters. In that original ordinance there was a 1-time registration fee. This new ordinance would create an annual registration fee of $15. Alderman Porth moved to approve the ordinance. Alderwoman K. Ferrell seconded the motion. A voice vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Scharlach, Porth – Nays: None – Absent: Garrett, Lawson) and the ordinance was approved 5-0.

f. PORTH

i. Nothing to report.

g. SCHARLACH

i. Nothing to report.

XI. COMMUNICATIONS TO THE COUNCIL – Clerk Hardcastle read a letter from Cayley Martin from the Vermilion County Probation and Court Services Department soliciting donations for their Problem-Solving Courts program.

XII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None

XIII. NEW BUSINESS – None

XIV. MAYOR COMMENTS

a. FOOD TRUCK PERMITS – The daily food truck permits have it that the only person to sign the permits is the mayor. We need to change this to allow the city office workers to approve the permits.

b. WELCOME BANNERS – Visit Downtown Hoopeston will be taking over the welcome banner program from Vermilion Advantage.

c. SWEETCORN FESTIVAL REQUEST – Mayor Wise read a letter from the Hoopeston Jaycees requesting the use of McFerren Park for the 80th National Sweetcorn Festival. Mayor Wise granted the request. 

d. SIGN ORIDNANCE – Mayor Wise reviewed the sign ordinance and indicated that Attorney Miller will review the draft, and it would be put up for a vote at the next meeting.

XV. ATTORNEY COMMENTS

a. PROPERTY UPDATES – Attorney Miller advised that Eric has been ill and he has been out of town but some progress has been made on some of the property issues. Eric is currently working on the S Fifth St property to get the new-found heir to sign off on the agreement. He is also working on the Henning’s property. Alderman Scharlach asked about the downtown building project. Mayor Wise answered that Silver Bros. was at Gail Lane’s building working the last few days. When they are done with that then Lee Farms Excavating will be able to take down the old Chronicle building and the Doyle building. He is hoping that they will be down before the Sweetcorn Festival.

b. TENT ORDINANCE – Alderman M. Ferrell asked about the tent ordinance. Alderwoman K. Ferrell indicated that she has a draft of the ordinance but has not forwarded it out to everyone.

c. SOLAR ORDINANCE – Attorney Keyt is still working on this. There is a potential solar farm that would be placed within the city’s zoning jurisdiction.

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 5-0 and the council adjourned the meeting.

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