Democracy on the Front Lines
City Administrator’s Blog
Walter Denton
April 10, 2008
Here is a summary of Monday’s City Council meeting items. The items are listed in the order as they appeared in the agenda. Click here to see the full texts of the resolutions, ordinances, and staff reports. As a reminder, resolutions, special event permits and motions only need to be approved once to become official. Ordinances are required to be approved in two readings (over two meetings) before they become official.
1. Fire Chief Brent Saunders: The City Council confirmed Brent Saunders as the City’s first full time fire chief. Brent has been a member of the O’Fallon Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years and has served as the department’s volunteer fire chief for five years. He competed in a full selection process and was clearly the best candidate. (More on this in a future blog.)
2. Resolution for OTHS Milburn Campus Easement Plat: A public waterline will be installed through the new 9th Grade Center property, so an easement is necessary for the City to have access to the water main.
3. Resolution of the City’s Intent to Create Regency Park Tax Increment Financing District: The resolution approves a feasibility study to determine whether the property is eligible for Tax Increment Financing (TIF). When the study is completed, the City Council will have the opportunity to vote one whether to formally create the TIF. Over the past two years, we have had three major developers look at the property and decline because they said it was economically infeasible to develop there. BJC HealthCare was the latest to consider the property and they ultimately chose to locate in placeShiloh. The reason they say it is economically infeasible is because of the underground coal mines. Developers tell us the best use for the land is for office buildings, but if you have to spend money to fill in the underground mines then your
office lease rates cannot pay back your development and construction costs. Thus, it becomes infeasible.
4. Resolution Accepting Design Proposal of Southview Garden Drainage Improvements: The Southview Gardens subdivision was built before storm drainage requirements were established, so there are extensive drainage issues throughout the area. The resolution approves for engineering designs to be developed on how to address the drainage problems.
5. Resolution for IDOT Utility Permit for Reider Road Water Main Extension: The City plans to extend a water main from Hwy. 50 down to I-64. We need a permit to install the water main under and across the state right-of-way along Hwy. 50.
6. Resolution to Apply for Community Development Block Grant for Carson and Behrens Sewer Project: Believe it or not, the residential area east of the Pet Dairy along State Street is not in the city limits and does not have sanitary sewer service. I don’t know why the area was never annexed or sewered, but the small lots all have septic systems that are failing, causing a serious public health problem. The City is submitting a $100,000 grant application to the county to extend the City’s sewer system into the subdivision. The application requires City Council approval.
7. Resolutions to Execute Engineering Agreements with CSX Railroad for Rail Crossings at State Street and Obernuefemann: In order for the City to extend sidewalks over rail crossings, state law requires that we formally petition the Illinois Commerce Commission for approval. Engineering fees are $8,000 for each crossing to comply with the state mandate. Typically, anything involving the railroad is time consuming and expensive (also see below).
8. Resolution to Design the Venita Drive Overpass over the CSX Railroad: The City has pursued a railroad overpass on the west side of town for more than 10 years. There is no ideal location, but two studies determined that Venita Drive is the most practical and least costly. We submitted a grant application to the state eight years ago for the overpass and it was recently approved to be constructed in 2011. The current estimate for construction is $4.6 million, and local funding is required for 40% of the cost. The resolution is to pay $295,000 for the engineering design of the project.
9. Ordinance Approving the Final Plat to Cobblestone Ridge (1st Reading): This is the plat for the second addition of the subdivision consisting of 49 lots.
10. Ordinance Approving the Annual Budget (1st Reading): This is the formal approval of the City’s annual budget. Click here, here, and here to read more on the budget.
11. Ordinance Regulating Stop Signs in Hearthstone Subdivision (1st Reading): As the Hearthstone subdivision is built out, new stop signs are required to be installed.
12. Ordinance Adopting Sign Regulations (1st Reading): The City has been working on an overhaul of the Sign Ordinance for about six months. With assistance from the Chamber of Commerce, Planning Commission, and other local businesses, the ordinance encompasses all forms of signage within the city limits.
13. Ordinance Adopting the 2003 International Property Maintenance Code (1st Reading): Since the Property Maintenance Code was first implemented several years ago, there have been several updates that have resulted in a complicated and confusing set of regulations. This ordinance is a complete rewrite that should be more user-friendly for both citizens and inspectors. In addition, the ordinance includes the recent state law requiring Carbon Monoxide Detectors in all buildings.
14. Ordinance Authorizing the City to Borrow Funds for the Water Supply Loan Program (1st and 2nd Readings): In 2006, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) mandated that the City build a new pump station and two one million gallon water tanks. The City received low interest loans from the IEPA to complete the project. When the City opened bids for the project last month, the costs were much higher than anticipated. The bids were reviewed by IEPA and determined they are valid and this ordinance was necessary to adjust the amount of the IEPA loan. The ordinance was given an emergency reading in order to expedite the loan authorization and construction of the project.
15. Ordinance Approving Shakthi Plaza (2nd Reading): When Frieze Harley Davidson located its new dealership on Green Mount Road, they vacated their apparel store on Hwy. 50. A proposal has been received to convert the old building into a four-tenant retail strip center. As presently designed, the site could support up to 800 sq. ft. of small restaurant space (an establishment with capacity less than 40 people).
16. Ordinance Approving Sam’s Club Car Wash (2nd Reading): Sam’s Club would like to construct an automatic car wash adjacent to the gas station at their present location on Hwy. 50.
17. Special Event Permit for Home Depot Spring Plant and Tractor Event from April 8-July 5, 2008: This is an annual request for outdoor display at their store on Hwy. 50.
18. Special Event Permit for Walk FASTT for Autism on April 26, 2008: This is a fund raiser to benefit FASTT (Foundation for Autism Services Today and Tomorrow).
19. Special Event Permit for the Grand Prix Bike Race on May 31, 2008: Metro East Cycling is holding a bike race in north O’Fallon that will close Kyle Road for the start and finish of the race. Most of the race will take place on the country roads north of O’Fallon.
20. Motion to Approve Sign Amendment for Aldi Grocery Store: Aldi wants to install a larger sign than they requested in their original proposal. The new sign still complies with the sign ordinance.
Now you’re up to date. Next Monday night, committee meetings will be held for Park and Environment at 5:30 p.m., Community Development at 6 p.m., and Public Safety at 7 p.m.
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