Chambana Sun

City of Hoopeston City Council met Oct. 1

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 7 alderpersons were present: Eyrich, K. Ferrell, M. Ferrell, Lawson, Porth, and Scharlach. Mayor Wise and Clerk Hardcastle were also present.

Attorney Miller was present via Zoom.

III. AMENDMENT OR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA – Alderman Eyrich requested to address the council under presentations. Alderwoman K. Ferrell moved to approve the amended agenda. Alderman M. Ferrell seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.

IV. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING – Mayor Wise advised that the minutes from the previous special council meeting were not ready yet and will be voted on at the next meeting.

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

VI. PRESENTATIONS – Alderman Eyrich addressed the council regarding the increase in the water infrastructure fee and the projects that it will help fund.

VII. PETITIONS TO THE COUNCIL – None

VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT

a. Yolanda Pemberton addressed the council regarding animal control.

b. Josh Clifton addressed the council regarding his ongoing complaint about the police department.

IX. EXECUTIVE SESSION – None

X. REPORT OF OFFICERS 

a. EYRICH

i. RESOLUTION 2025-17 INFRASTRUCTURE FEE INCREASE – Alderman Eyrich reviewed the resolution and the need for the increase. Alderman Porth reviewed the current loans and line of credit that the city has. Aldermen Eyrich and Porth would both like the increase to start on the November 2024 bills instead of the proposed January 1, 2025. Alderman Eyrich did mention that if there is any left over money after the projects are complete, he would index the fee down. Alderman Eyrich then moved to approve the resolution. Alderwoman K. Ferrell seconded the motion. Alderman Garrett asked if the figure that was listed in Just the Facts was correct. Alderman Eyrich answered that the published issued a correction to the amount paid and that the projects listed were not complete yet. Alderman Garrett then asked what the Waterworth projections were with the proposed increase. Alderman Porth answered that 1 of the projects was included in the original projections produced by Waterworth. Aldermen Eyrich and Porth both advised that we now have better estimates for all the projects that will then be placed into Waterworth to run new projections. Alderwoman K. Ferrell asked what the reasoning was to not sell our water system. Mayor Wise answered that he and Alderman Eyrich had met with officials from Aqua Illinois, owner of Danville’s water system, and the rates would triple if they took over. Alderpersons Eyrich and K. Ferrell reiterated to the public that tax money does not go towards the water department, the department budget is to be self-supporting. A roll call vote was taken A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrel, M. Ferrell, Garrett, Lawson, Porth, Scharlach – Nays: None) and the resolution was approved 7-0.

b. K FERRELL

i. TIRE AND ELECTRONICS RECYCLING EVENT – The city will be hosting an electronics and tire recycling event on October 12, 2024 at McFerren Park. Electronics collection will be held near the Lions Club shelter on the east side of the park. Tire collection will be in front of the maintenance shed. There is a cost for televisions and monitors but every other electronic is free. Alderwoman K. Ferrell did ask if anyone has larger tires or more than 6 tires to please contact City Hall to make arrangements for getting those.

c. M. FERRELL

i. NEW EMPLOYEE – The Street and Alley Department currently has a vacancy for a full time employee. Anyone interested in the position can get an application at City Hall. 

ii. BUILDING REMOVAL BUDGET – There is currently $10,000 in the budget for the rental of equipment to remove a demolished building. The estimate to clean up the 5th street property is only $3500. Alderman Garrett asked why the city was not going to clean it up and instead are contracting it out. Alderman M. Ferrell answered that it was more expensive to rent the required equipment that it was to just pay a contractor to do it.

d. GARRETT

i. Nothing to report.

e. LAWSON

i. BULK GARBAGE – Alderwoman Lawson reminded the public that bulk garbage drop off has been moved out to the landfill since the city hall parking lot is being re-done.

ii. RESOLUTION 2025-18 UPFITTING OF 1 SQUAD CAR – Alderman Porth advised that he now has accurate figures of what is in the ARPA fund and the upfitting of the squad cars can come out of that fund. This would leave a little over $200,000 in the fund to cover the hotel project. Alderwoman Lawson made a motion to approve the resolution. Alderwoman K. Ferell seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken (Ayes: Eyrich, K. Ferrel, M. Ferrell, Garrett, Lawson, Porth, Scharlach – Nays: None) and the resolution was approved 7-0.

iii. ANIMAL CONTROL – Correspondence was just received from Vermilion County that they accepted the city’s terms for animal control services. An intergovernmental agreement will be forthcoming from the county.

f. PORTH

i. Nothing to report.

g. SCHARLACH

i. AMBULANCE CONTRACT – Officials from Arrow Ambulance have reached out a couple of times wanting to go over the ambulance contract. Alderman Garrett asked Alderman Scharlach to make sure that fire Chief Bird is involved in the discussions as well.

XI. COMMUNICATIONS TO THE COUNCIL – None

XII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None

XIII. NEW BUSINESS – None

XIV. MAYOR COMMENTS – None

XV. ATTORNEY COMMENTS

a. ESSEX PROPERTY – A complaint will be filed in the next few days.

b. HENNINGS PROPERTY – Time has passed for the owner to answer the city. The city will need to make a filing on that property. Mayor Wise advised that the city heardthe property was sold again.

c. 408 S. SECOND AVE – The state statute will allow the city to recover the cost of having the garbage removed. Alderwoman K. Ferrell asked was recourse the city would have since they have already cleaned it up multiple times and the owner just places more garbage in the yard. Attorney Miller answered that we cannot control the owner’s behavior but just eventually foreclose on the lien on the property, however it could be more complicated if there is a lender involved on the property.

d. 819 S. FIFTH ST – The deed to the property has been sent to the proper parties. There is some confusion on who the exact group is that succeeded the previous owner after he passed.

e. GARRISON/HERMAN LAWSUITS – The cases against AJ Garrison and Brad Herman have not been filed yet but they will be filed soon.

f. REGINA IRVIN ZONING REQUEST – The Planning and Zoning commission turned down her request for a waiver but they never took a vote. She is appealing it to the zoning board of appeals. Mayor Wise asked Attorney Miller if he can just appoint the council the to the 7 seats on the board. Attorney Miller advised that it needs to be a separate board. Mayor Wise also advised that Ms. Irvin is Alderman M. Ferrell’s mother and Alderwoman K. Ferrell’s mother-in-law. Attorney Miller advised that it should not be a conflict as long as they do not have a financial stake in the outcome.

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/2024/10/10-15-24-Meeting-Packet.pdf