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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
HELD OCTOBER 15, 2001
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Rice at 7:02 P.M. with all the council
members present at roll call. Also present were Hunt Henderson, Perry
Mayer, Scott Bryant, Steve Reynolds, Steve Brienen, Jeff Clawson and Sue Marcum.
Attached to the minutes is a list of members of the public in attendance.
The mayor requested everyone to join in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes of the regular council meeting held October 1, 2001 were approved on
a motion made by Steve, second by Gary. Roll call: Dave McClelland-yes,
Grace Anderson-yes, Steve Dean-yes, Gary Koerner-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes, John
Haney-yes. Motion carried 6 yeas, 0 nays.
Perry Mayer reported the water department was continuing to flush hydrants.
Steve Reynolds had received from Joyce Niklaus a request for the city to pay
for the concrete to replace the city sidewalk in front of her home at 202 E.
Green Street.
Motion was made by John, second by Steve to approve the purchase of 5.5 yards
of concrete at $62.50 per yard a total cost of $343.75 to be used for the city
sidewalk replacement at 202 E. Green Street, Joyce Niklaus. Roll call:
Dave McClelland-yes, Grace Anderson-yes, Steve Dean-yes, Gary Koerner-yes,
Dawn Thompson-yes, John Haney-yes. Motion carried 6 yeas, 0 nays.
Motion was made by Gary, second by Steve to approve the donation of $5,000 to
the
Le Roy School District for the initial setup of the EAST Program. In addition,
$2,000 would be set aside and paid to the school upon the completion of four
projects to be described to the school when they are ready. The additional
funds would be paid based on a $500 fee for each completed project until the
cap of $2,000 is reached. Roll call: Dave McClelland-yes,
Grace Anderson-yes, Steve Dean-yes, Gary Koerner-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes, John
Haney-yes. Motion carried 6 yeas, 0 nays.
Motion was made by Steve, second by John to approve the initial payment to Warco
Computing of $500, with an additional increment of $3,500 when the site is active
on the web. A final payment of $1000 would be made upon the completion
of all revisions required to the site. (Approximately one year after initial
setup). Roll call: Dave McClelland-yes, Grace Anderson-yes,
Steve Dean-yes, Gary Koerner-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes, John Haney-yes. Motion
carried 6 yeas, 0 nays.
Minutes of the 10/15/01 meeting continued.
It was moved by Gary, second by Steve to approve up to $50,000 in Tax Increment
Financing funds for the purpose of renovating the Opera House and the “Coop”
building located in the 200 block of East Center Street. This $50,000
will be based on an initial investment in renovation costs of a least $150,000
by the developer. If the renovation costs are less than $150,000, the
City will reduce its allocation based on a scale of three to one with the developer
providing the lions share. In addition, the TIF distribution will not
be paid until all three storefronts have been filled with viable businesses.
The distribution will be considered a 0% loan forgiven if all three storefronts
remain viable for one year. For each month a storefront is left empty
after the initial distribution, the City will require reimbursement of 1/36
of the total paid to the developer. Roll call: Dave McClelland-yes,
Grace Anderson-yes, Steve Dean-yes, Gary Koerner-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes, John
Haney-yes. Motion carried 6 yeas, 0 nays.
Motion was made by Dave, second by Steve to accept the Zoning Board Minutes
of the hearings held October 8, 2001, and to waive the reading of such.
Roll call: Dave McClelland-yes, Grace Anderson-yes, Steve Dean-yes,
Gary Koerner-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes, John Haney-yes. Motion carried 6
yeas, 0 nays.
ORDINANCE NO. 01-10-02-51, An ordinance approving
a variation in sign regulations of the Municipal Code, Le Roy, Illinois, Chapter
21 Zoning (Steffen Insurance) was passed on a motion made by Dave, second by
Steve. Roll call: Dave McClelland-yes, Grace Anderson-yes,
Steve Dean-yes, Gary Koerner-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes, John Haney-yes. Motion
carried 6 yeas, 0 nays.
ORDINANCE NO. 01-10-03-51, An ordinance
approving variations as requested on real estate as described herein (Bardwell
Project) was passed on a motion made by Dave, second by Dawn. Roll call:
Dave McClelland-yes, Grace Anderson-yes, Steve Dean-yes, Gary Koerner-yes,
Dawn Thompson-yes, John Haney-yes. Motion carried 6 yeas, 0 nays.
RESOLUTION NO. 01-10-03-90, State highway paved ditch resolution
was passed on a motion made by Steve, second by John. Roll call:
Dave McClelland-yes, Grace Anderson-yes, Steve Dean-yes, Gary Koerner-yes,
Dawn Thompson-yes, John Haney-yes. Motion carried 6 yeas, 0 nays.
Bids for the paved ditch project were received from Stark Excavating, $36,012.20
and Rowe Construction, $43,710.00. Motion was made by Steve, second by
Dave acknowledging the bids received from Stark Excavating and Rowe Construction
but putting this project on hold. Roll call: Dave McClelland-yes,
Grace Anderson-yes, Steve Dean-yes, Gary Koerner-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes, John
Haney-yes. Motion carried 6 yeas, 0 nays.
Minutes of the 10/15/01 meeting continued.
Motion was made by Dave, second by Steve authorizing the Mayor to sign the IEPA
permit request which is the next step in the process to approve Corn Belt Electric’s
request for the City of Le Roy to accept their wash bay discharge at our sewer
treatment plant. Roll call: Dave McClelland-yes, Grace Anderson-yes,
Steve Dean-yes, Gary Koerner-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes, John Haney-yes. Motion
carried 6 yeas, 0 nays.
Motion was made by Steve, second by Gary to approve the new City Council Agenda
Policy with the noted corrections.
Roll call: Dave McClelland-yes, Grace Anderson-yes, Steve Dean-yes,
Gary Koerner-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes, John Haney-yes. Motion carried 6
yeas, 0 nays.
Motion was made by Gary, second by Steve to approve the payment of the listed
invoices in the total amount of $52,377.96. Roll call: Dave McClelland-yes,
Grace Anderson-yes, Steve Dean-yes, Gary Koerner-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes, John
Haney-yes. Motion carried 6 yeas, 0 nays.
John reported the Utility Committee of the City Council met on Monday, October
8th in reference to garbage rates and the concern raised by Phil Moss.
A lengthy review of the rate structure was discussed and evaluated by the committee.
This evaluation included a review of the past six years audited financial statements.
Over this six year period, the City has averaged approximately $12,000 of profit
in the refuse fund per year.
John also stated the primary concern of the council is the future closure of
the landfill. Over the past six months, the council has spent over $5,000
in engineering fees alone to begin the closure process. Overall, the city
council is 100% certain the existing rate structure is reasonable, accurate
and was designed with the best interest of all Le Roy residents in mind.
Motion was made by John, second by Steve to schedule a Town Meeting for Monday,
October 29, 2001 at 7:00 P.M. to outline the structure utilized for setting
up refuse rates, as well as an explanation of rates and the intended uses for
the revenue and to provide a status report on the new water treatment plant.
Roll call: Dave McClelland-yes, Grace Anderson-yes, Steve Dean-yes,
Gary Koerner-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes, John Haney-yes. Motion carried 6
yeas, 0 nays.
Mayor Bob Rice appointed Duane West as a new member of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Motion was made by Steve, second by John to approve the Mayor’s appointment
of Duane West to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Roll call: Dave McClelland-yes,
Grace Anderson-yes, Steve Dean-yes, Gary Koerner-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes, John
Haney-yes. Motion carried 6 yeas, 0 nays.
Trick or Treating hours were set for October 31, 2001, between the hours of
6:00 P.M. and 8:30 P.M.
Motion was made by Dave, second by Dawn to enter executive session at 8:20 P.M.
to discuss pending litigation, 5ILCS 120/2 (c) (11), and Personnel, 5ILCS 120/2
(c) (1). Roll call: Dave McClelland-yes, Grace Anderson-yes,
Steve Dean-yes, Gary Koerner-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes, John Haney-yes. Motion
carried 6 yeas, 0 nays.
Motion was made by Dave, second by John to adjourn the executive session at
9:20 P.M. and return to the regular session. Roll call: Dave McClelland-yes,
Grace Anderson-yes, Steve Dean-yes, Gary Koerner-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes, John
Haney-yes. Motion carried 6 yeas, 0 nays.
Steve Dean, Alderman for Ward 3, submitted his resignation from the City Council
effective at the close of the October 15, 2001 Council Meeting. He explained
the reason for this action was to pursue a liquor license for his restaurant
business. Illinois state law prohibits an elected municipal official from
holding a liquor license.
Mayor Bob Rice accepted Steve’s resignation and appointed Steve an advisory
to the parks committee.
Motion was made by John, second by Dave ratifying the Mayor’s appointment
of Steve Dean as an advisory to the parks committee. Roll call:
Dave McClelland-yes, Grace Anderson-yes, Steve Dean-yes, Gary Koerner-yes,
Dawn Thompson-yes, John Haney-yes. Motion carried 6 yeas, 0 nays.
Motion was made by Steve, second by Gary to adjourn the regular council meeting
at 9:25 P.M. Roll call: Dave McClelland-yes, Grace Anderson-yes,
Steve Dean-yes, Gary Koerner-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes, John Haney-yes. Motion
carried 6 yeas, 0 nays.
Sue Marcum,
City Clerk