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MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON DECEMBER 10, 2007

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Mayor Gary Koerner with all the council members present at roll call except.  Dawn Hanafin.  Staff members present were Steve Reynolds, Gordon Beck, Dave Jenkins, Jeff Clawson and Sue Marcum.

Minutes of the council meeting held on November 19, 2007 were approved on a motion made by Dawn T. and seconded by Nancy.  Roll call:  John Haney-yes, Shirley Chancellor-yes, Butch Cook-yes, T. A. Whitsitt-yes, Nancy Bentley-yes, Dave McClelland-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes.  Motion carried 7 yeas, 0 nays.

Dawn Hanafin was seated at 7:03 P.M.

Minutes of the Special Council Meeting held jointly with the Le Roy Community Park District was approved on a motion made by Shirley and seconded by Butch.  Roll call:  John Haney-yes, Shirley Chancellor-yes, Butch Cook-yes, Dawn Hanafin-yes, T. A. Whitsitt-yes, Nancy Bentley-yes, Dave McClelland-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes.  Motion carried 8 yeas, 0 nays.

The Police Department had received grant funds for the purchase of video cameras for the squad cars from Walmart ($1,000), McLean Co. Crime Detection Network ($7,863) and Pioneer Hi-bred ($3,500).  Patrolman Jason Williamson performed the required written procedures in order to be considered for these grant receipts.

In other staff reports:

The necessary engineering for storm water fixes needed at Crumbaugh Subdivision had been completed.  Interviews for the public works position had been held and a recommendation would be made for hiring at the first meeting in January, 2008.  A six month review of the current fiscal year budgets had been made and the result looked good.  Ameren approved the placement of 19 new energy efficient street lights.

Ordinance No. 07-12-01-10, An ordinance levying taxes for corporate purposes for the current year commencing on the first day of May, 2008 and ending on the thirtieth day of April, 2009 for the City of Le Roy, McLean county, Illinois was passed on a motion made by Dave and seconded by John.  Roll call:  John Haney-yes, Shirley Chancellor-yes, Butch Cook-yes, Dawn Hanafin-yes, T. A. Whitsitt-yes, Nancy Bentley-yes, Dave McClelland-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes.  Motion carried 8 yeas, 0 nays.

Minutes of the meeting held on December 10, 2007 continued.

Ordinance No. 07-12-02-10, An ordinance abating the tax hereto levied for the year 2007 to pay the principal of and the interest on $3,600,000 General Obligation Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source), Series 2007, of the City of Le Roy, McLean County, Illinois was passed on a motion made by T. A. and seconded by Dawn H.  Roll call:  John Haney-yes, Shirley Chancellor-yes, Butch Cook-yes, Dawn Hanafin-yes, T. A. Whitsitt-yes, Nancy Bentley-yes, Dave McClelland-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes.  Motion carried 8 yeas, 0 nays.

The council received a letter from Empire Township requesting the city to consider annual TIF increment payments to them of $31,000 for the next 12 years.  The council will discuss this letter at a later time.

Motion was made by Dawn T. and seconded by Shirley to approve the intergovernmental agreement with McLean County Board of Health for the period of January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008 for the purpose of impounding animals at the County Animal Control Center.  Roll call:  John Haney-yes, Shirley Chancellor-yes, Butch Cook-yes, Dawn Hanafin-yes, T. A. Whitsitt-yes, Nancy Bentley-yes, Dave McClelland-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes.  Motion carried 8 yeas, 0 nays.

Ed Duran representing Lewis, Yockey & Brown explained the letter he had written to Jeff regarding the legislative block grant in the amount of $20,000 for the City of Le Roy.

Listed invoices in the total amount of $69,204.36 were approved for payment on the motion made by Dave and seconded by Shirley.  Roll call:  John Haney-yes, Shirley Chancellor-yes, Butch Cook-yes, Dawn Hanafin-yes, T. A. Whitsitt-yes, Nancy Bentley-yes, Dave McClelland-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes.  Motion carried 8 yeas, 0 nays.

The Central Illinois Regional Airport located in Bloomington had given the City of

Le Roy chain link fencing which had been removed from their airport grounds.  The mayor directed Jeff to send a letter of appreciation to the airport.

Motion was made by Dawn T. and seconded by Dawn H. to enter executive session at 8:00 P.M. and to discuss 5ILCS 120/2 (c) (1), Personnel, (2), Union negotiation and (11), Litigation allowing attendance by Dave Jenkins.  Roll call:  John Haney-yes, Shirley Chancellor-yes, Butch Cook-yes, Dawn Hanafin-yes, T. A. Whitsitt-yes, Nancy Bentley-yes, Dave McClelland-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes.  Motion carried 8 yeas, 0 nays.

Motion was made by Dawn T. and seconded by Shirley to adjourn the executive session at 9:45 P.M. and return to the regular session.  Roll call:  John Haney-yes, Shirley Chancellor-yes, Butch Cook-yes, Dawn Hanafin-yes, T. A. Whitsitt-yes, Nancy Bentley-yes, Dave McClelland-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes.  Motion carried 8 yeas, 0 nays.

 Minutes of the meeting held on December 10, 2007 continued.

The letter received from Ed Duran was discussed.  Jeff was directed by the council to contact IDOT and request them to contact the city directly in all matters concerning the City of Le Roy.

Council discussed the request for TIF increments from Empire Township.  The council recommended a proposal be written allowing for the annual TIF payment of $25,000 to Empire Township.  The agreement would be for a two year period.

The plan to increase sewer rates to cover the cost of IEPA mandated storm sewer/sanitary sewer separation was discussed.  No action was taken.

Motion was made by Butch and seconded by Dawn T. to adjourn the regular council meeting at 10:55 P.M.  Roll call:  John Haney-yes, Shirley Chancellor-yes, Butch Cook-yes, Dawn Hanafin-yes, T. A. Whitsitt-yes, Nancy Bentley-yes, Dave McClelland-yes, Dawn Thompson-yes.  Motion carried 8 yeas, 0 nays.

Sue Marcum,

City Clerk