O’FALLON CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
December 20, 2004
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Mayor Gary Graham. Cub Scout Pack~#21 then led “The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.”
Philip Goodwin, City Clerk, called the roll: David Horton, present; Nila Grogan, present; Ed True, present; Becky Henry, present; Rick Reckamp, present; Jerry Mouser, present; Tom Bequette, present, Allen Medford, present; Michael Bennett, present; Dennis Renner, present; Jason Boone, present; Ned Drolet, present; John West, present; Jerry Albrecht, present. A quorum was declared present.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by D. Renner to approve the minutes of the December 6, 2004, meeting. All ayes. Motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARING:
1. Proposed Tax Levy. Opened to public at 7:04 p.m. Mayor Graham called three times for public input, but no one came forward. Closed to public at 7:05 p.m.
RESIDENTS:
Mayor Graham invited any residents of O’Fallon who would like to speak to the Council to step to the microphone. Mike Bowen of Bernardi Securities, Inc., came forward and spoke regarding Special Service Areas One and Four. He explained that these bonds would be used to continue funding development in the Greenmount Road interchange area. He thanked the City Council members for the opportunity to work with them and help the project along. He also commended Dean Rich for his hard work on these transactions.
REPORTS:
Clerk’s Report: City Clerk Phil Goodwin presented a request from the Rotary Club of O’Fallon Sunrise to sell alcohol at the Katy Cavin’s Community Center on January 15, 2005, for a dinner theatre event.
A motion was made by R.~Reckamp and seconded by J. Boone to approve the request. All ayes. Motion carried.
P. Goodwin then announced the cancellation of the December 27, 2004, committee meetings for Finance/Administration, Community Development, and Public Works. He added they would all resume their regular schedule in January.
Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Graham wished everyone Happy Holidays, and he thanked the City Council members for all their hard work during 2004.
Mayor Graham then announced that, after 2 years and 9 months of negotiating, the City closed on the 100-acre property purchase. He stated the City now owns 117 acres and will be moving forward with public hearings with residents to see what they would like to do with the property.
RESOLUTIONS:
ITEM 1 – Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Agreement with Korte-Luitjohan Contractors, Inc., for the Fairwood Hills Lift Station Project, in the amount of $19,650.80
Motion was made by D. Renner and seconded by N. Grogan to approve Resolution Item 1.
ROLL CALL: N. Grogan, aye; E. True, aye; B.~Henry, aye; R. Reckamp, aye; J.~Mouser, aye; T. Bequette, aye; A. Medford, aye; M. Bennett, aye; D. Renner, aye; J.~Boone, aye; N.~Drolet, aye; J.~West, aye; J. Albrecht, aye; D. Horton, aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
ORDINANCES:
1ST Readings
ITEM 2 – Ordinance Approving the Final Plat of Plat 4 known as The Enclave of Hearthstone
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by E. True to place on 1st Reading Ordinance Item 2.
ROLL CALL: E. True, aye; B.~Henry, aye; R. Reckamp, aye; J.~Mouser, aye; T.~Bequette, aye; A. Medford, aye; M. Bennett, aye; D. Renner, aye; J.~Boone, aye; N.~Drolet, nay; J.~West, aye; J. Albrecht, aye; D. Horton, aye; N. Grogan, aye. Ayes_13; Nays_1. Motion carried.
2nd Readings
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by E. True to consider 2nd Reading Ordinances A, B, C, D, E, F and G under the omnibus rule. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by N. Grogan to pass 2nd Reading Ordinances A, B, C, D, E, F and G.
A. Ordinance Providing for the Issuance of Special Service Area One, Shoppes at Greenmount, 2004A, Unlimited Ad Valorem Tax Bonds and Providing for the Levy of Direct Annual Taxes on Taxable Property
B. Ordinance Providing for the Issuance of Special Service Area Four, Regency Extension, Series 2004D, Unlimited Ad Valorem Tax Bonds and Providing for the Levy of Direct Annual Taxes on Taxable Property
C. Ordinance Annexing the 4.13 Acre Tract Located at 892 N. Seven Hills Road
D. Ordinance Amending the City of O’Fallon 2001 Comprehensive Plan to Include the Northwest Quadrant Traffic Study Recommendations
E. Ordinance Annual Tax Levy
F. Ordinance Approving Stop Signs
G. Ordinance Approving Snow Routes
ROLL CALL: B.~Henry, aye; R. Reckamp, aye; J.~Mouser, aye; T. Bequette, aye; A.~Medford, aye; M. Bennett, aye; D. Renner, aye; J.~Boone, aye; N.~Drolet, aye; J.~West, aye; J. Albrecht, aye; D. Horton, aye; N. Grogan, aye; E. True, aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
STANDING COMMITTEES:
Community Development: J. Mouser stated they met on December 13, 2004. Their next meeting is scheduled for January 10, 2005.
M. Bennett suggested that with all the annexations that have taken place, the current Ward Boundary Ordinance may need to be updated. Mayor Graham said Walter Denton could review it for changes.
Public Works: A. Medford said they would not be meeting in December. Their next meeting is scheduled for January 10, 2005.
Public Safety: E. True stated they met on December 13 and had nothing to bring before the City Council. Their next meeting is scheduled for January 5, 2005, at 7:30~p.m.
Finance/Administration: J. West said they met prior to the City Council meeting to discuss Warrant 78. A motion was made by J. West and seconded by R.~Reckamp to approve Warrant 78 in the amount of $744,820.17.
ROLL CALL: R. Reckamp, aye; J.~Mouser, aye; T. Bequette, aye; A. Medford, aye; M.~Bennett, aye; D. Renner, aye; J.~Boone, aye; N.~Drolet, aye; J.~West, aye; J.~Albrecht, aye; D. Horton, aye; N. Grogan, aye; E. True, aye; B.~Henry, aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
J. West said their December 27, 2004, meeting is cancelled.
Parks and Environment: J. Albrecht stated they met on December 13, 2004. Their next meeting is scheduled for January 5, 2005, at 5:30 p.m.
SPECIAL REPORTS:
Tourism Board: J. Mouser said they met on December 17, 2004.
A motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by J. Albrecht to approve the contract renewal with DDI Media for an annual amount of $7,200.00.
N. Drolet said he feels billboards contaminate the visual environment and felt there could be a better way to spend $7,200.00 to promote tourism in O’Fallon.
D. Renner suggested that billboards that say “Exit 14 in O’Fallon,” such as the Super Smokers billboard, does a great deal to advertise for the City. He asked if we could reward those businesses that would put the O’Fallon name on their billboard instead of the City paying for their own billboard.
M. Bennett suggested that if we used the $7,200.00 to pay a portion of other billboards that displayed the name of O’Fallon large enough for it to be recognizable, drivers on I_64 would see O’Fallon repeatedly advertised instead of just once.
The billboard in question is located west of St.~Louis on I-70 near the Warrenton exit. Mayor Graham said the hotel owners feel the billboard’s location is ideal for attracting overnight guests to their hotels. He explained that, by law, the funds being discussed must be used in conjunction with a hotel/motel and cannot be used on just any billboard.
D. Horton indicated the legislation set up for the tourism revenue funds is written so loosely that the funds can be used for almost anything and call it a tourism action.
Mayor Graham said he would have the City Attorney investigate the “Heads and Beds” law and see how it is interpreted.
J. Mouser indicated that the billboards located between St. Louis and Exit 16 probably cost about $2,000 - $3,000 per month compared to $7,200 annually for the Warrenton location billboard. If the City would share a portion of their costs, it would cost the City much more than the $7,200 proposed.
ROLL CALL: J.~Mouser, aye; T. Bequette, aye; A. Medford, aye; M.~Bennett, nay; D.~Renner, nay; J.~Boone, aye; N.~Drolet, nay; J.~West, aye; J.~Albrecht, aye; D. Horton, nay; N. Grogan, aye; E. True, aye; B.~Henry, aye; R. Reckamp, nay. Ayes-9; Nays-5. Motion carried.
Executive Session: At 7:24 a motion was made by D. Renner and seconded by E.~True for the City Council members to go into Executive Session to discuss the purchase and sale of City property.
ROLL CALL: T. Bequette, aye; A. Medford, aye; M.~Bennett, aye; D.~Renner, aye; J.~Boone, aye; N.~Drolet, aye; J.~West, aye; J.~Albrecht, aye; D. Horton, aye; N. Grogan, aye; E. True, aye; B.~Henry, aye; R. Reckamp, aye; J. Mouser, aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
At 7:38 p.m. City Council members returned from Executive Session.
A motion was made by A. Medford and seconded by R. Reckamp to accept the bid for sale of the property discussed in Executive Session.
ROLL CALL: M.~Bennett, nay; D.~Renner, aye; J.~Boone, aye; N.~Drolet, aye; J.~West, aye; J.~Albrecht, aye; D. Horton, nay; N. Grogan, aye; E. True, aye; B.~Henry, aye; R.~Reckamp, nay; J. Mouser, aye T. Bequette, aye; A. Medford, aye. Ayes-11; Nays-3. Motion carried.
Mayor Graham said they currently have until January 3, 2005, to make a decision on the property sale; and he will ask for an extension until the next City Council meeting. He suggested the City Council members try to walk the property and make sure that selling the property is the best thing to do.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion was made by D. Renner and seconded by N. Grogan to adjourn. All ayes. Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:42 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by,
__________________________
Philip A. Goodwin, City Clerk
Minutes taken by
Sharon L. Wisely, Transcriptionist
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