O’FALLON CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
March 21, 2005
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Gary Graham, who 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.
Motion was made by J. Albrecht and seconded by E. True to approve the minutes of the March 7, 2005, meeting. All ayes. Motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARING: None.
Mayor Graham asked the Council for permission to change the order of the Agenda since several police officers were in the audience for a presentation and they needed to return to duty.
Motion was made by M. Bennett and seconded by N. Grogan to revise the Agenda as requested. All ayes. Motion carried.
Mayor Graham presented Police Officer Devin Watts with a plaque in recognition of his recent military service. Officer Watts has been a Special Agent with the 399th Military Police Group, Criminal Investigation Detachment, out of St. Louis, Missouri. For the past year, his Unit was deployed to Washington, D.C. and to Baghdad, Iraq. During this time Special Agent Watts’ unit was assigned to protection details of all Department of Defense personnel, U.S. political leaders, and foreign dignitaries. Mayor Graham further described his responsibilities while in Baghdad, noting the many volatile and dangerous situations his unit encountered. The Mayor thanked Special Agent Watts for his military service and added that the City is happy for his safe return to duty with O’Fallon
as of March~7, 2005.
Mayor Graham introduced Police Chief William Hill, who was representing the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the Regional Institute of Community Policing. This year they were very impressed with the City of O’Fallon and its police officers. With over 1,200 police departments in the State of Illinois, only 18 have received the “Community Policing” award. Chief Hill said he was happy to present the “2005 Community Policing” award to the City of O’Fallon and its Police Department.
RESIDENTS:
Mayor Graham invited any residents of O’Fallon who would like to speak to the Council to step to the microphone.
Jackie True of 503 East Adams addressed the Council regarding the ongoing storm water problems in the area of East Adams. She referenced an article in the March 10 issue of the O’Fallon Progress regarding the City’s solution to this problem of purchasing homes, demolishing them and turning the lots into detention ponds. Ms.~True expressed her concern with water stagnation, health issues, and safety concerns for children in that area. Ms.~True said the correct solution is to install storm sewers.
Mayor Graham thanked Ms. True for her comments. He responded that if the City puts in a detention area, it would most definitely have drainage and will not hold water and stagnate. The Mayor also noted the cost to correct the problem on Washington Street is $2 million, and he estimated the cost to correct the problems on East Adams would be in excess of $1 million. He said the City does want to fix these storm water problems. They have applied for funding from the State and are continuing to work toward a solution.
Mayor Graham asked if anyone else would like to speak to the Council, and Mary~Schmidt of 204 Monroe Circle came forward with questions on the proposed roundabout and asked if anyone was prepared to answer questions regarding this issue. Mayor Graham suggested she attend the next Public Safety Committee meeting, and they would be able to address her questions. Ms.~Schmidt also asked that North~Cherry and North~Oak be added to the list of storm drainage problems.
Mayor Graham welcomed Dennis Grimmer, retired principal of O’Fallon Township High School. Mr.~Grimmer gave a presentation on the great need for a new high school in the City of O’Fallon. He stated the high school has an over-crowded capacity of 2,500 students; right now student population is at 2,300. If the bond issue is approved on April 5, it is about a four-year turnaround before there is a building the students can occupy. Mr.~Grimmer showed a videotape prepared by “Excel 203” – a group of people who want the community to understand (1) there is a real need for a new high school, (2) the time to move forward is now, and (3) the plan they have developed is sound. The video stated that on the $53 million bond, the cost to the owner of a $150,000 home would
be $8.75 per month.
Mr. Grimmer said the bond is strictly for construction of the building. The high school formula set up for financing should not require the school to have any operation increase in terms of going to the voters for that expense. Mr. Grimmer said there is a Resolution they would like the Council to consider later in tonight’s meeting.
E. True asked for clarification on if there would be a second issue on the ballot for residents to vote on for the new school’s operating expenses. Superintendent Russell Clover affirmed there is only one issue on the ballot for April~5, and that is for the construction of the new high school; there will be no operating costs involved.
Mayor Graham added that three-fourths of all the new homes being built in our school district are in unincorporated St. Clair County, so the growth is going to come whether the City approves another subdivision in its borders or not.
REPORTS:
Clerk’s Report: City Clerk Phil Goodwin presented a request from the Rotary Club to sell alcohol at the Katy Cavins Community Center for a Trivia Night and Silent Auction sponsored by District 90 on May 13th and a Trivia Night sponsored by the St. Clair Associated Vocation Enterprises on May 14th.
A motion was made by R. Reckamp and seconded by J. West to approve the request. All ayes. Motion carried.
Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Graham announced that he has been appointed to a National League of Cities Health Task Force. He is 1 of 16 people across the country who will study the cost of health insurance.
The Mayor stated the federal government passed out of the House a Federal Transportation Bill for funding in the amount of approximately $2~million to rebuild Lincoln Avenue from Summerlin Ridge to Seven Hills Road. Congressman Costello has helped with that effort. It will now go to the Senate, and the Mayor indicated they believe it will be passed.
On March 21 the Senate voted on SB-150, which supports the overhaul of the medical malpractice system in Illinois by capping non-economic damages on doctors of $250,000. Mayor Graham stated that vote was postponed. The legislature returns to Springfield the first week of April, and we are asking that SB-150 be released for a vote in the House and Senate. Mayor Graham urged everyone to write Senator Emil~Jones and Senator James Clayborne, Jr. and let them know how critical it is for SB-150 be released for vote by the House and Senate during this session.
Mayor Graham welcomed District 90 Board President John Coers, Superintendent Dr.~Nancy Gibson, Kathy Long, and Carrie Sernel, who were present to introduce an international program called the “New Parents as Teachers Program.” In this program, volunteers make monthly visits to homes with children aged 0-3~years and counsel the parents in understanding each stage of their child’s development. District~90 is applying for an Early Childhood Block Grant to fund the program and expects to receive a response in August or early September. However, this is a volunteer program and will begin with or without the grant. He noted that every city around us already has this program in place, and District 90 is excited to offer this new educational tool for our parents.
Mayor Graham recognized a Boy Scout from Troop 35 who stated he was working on a merit badge for Eagle Scout.
RESOLUTIONS:
Motion was made by A. Medford and seconded by J. Albrecht to approve Resolution Item~1.
ITEM 1 - Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Agreement with Gleeson Asphalt for the Street Resurfacing Program in the amount of $540,074
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.
Motion was made by A. Medford and seconded by E. True to approve Resolution Item~2.
ITEM 2 - Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Agreement with MSI for Micro-surfacing of City Streets in the amount of $74,400
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, aye; J. West, aye; J. Albrecht, aye; D. Horton, aye; N. Grogan, aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
J. Boone asked if there was a Resolution from District 203 to recommend the Council’s endorsement on the upcoming Bond Issue. Mayor Graham confirmed there was such a Resolution and asked for a motion.
Motion was made by D.~Renner and seconded by E. True to endorse District 203 on the April 5 Bond Issue.
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.
ORDINANCES:
1st Readings
Mayor Graham stated 1st Reading Items 3 and 4 had to go into Executive Session, and these Items would be discussed when the Council returned to Open Session.
ITEM 3 – Ordinance Authorizing the Purchase of Real Estate located at 413 East Adams
ITEM 4 – Ordinance Authorizing the Purchase of Real Estate consisting of approximately 88 acres situated along Porter Road
Motion was made by A. Medford and seconded by J. West to place on 1st Reading Ordinance Item 5.
ITEM 5 - Ordinance Amending Chapter 77, 4-Way Stop Signs, regarding Victoria Road and Thornbury Place
Discussion was held regarding the need for stop signs in light of the fact that Thornbury Place is a collector street. It was noted that the area probably warrants a stop sign with the close proximity to Moye School.
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.
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by J. Albrecht to place on 1st Reading Ordinance Item 6.
ITEM 6 – Ordinance Authorizing the Lease of Real Estate located at 1415 W. Hwy 50
D. Renner suggested that if the City would ever need that property back, the business owner may say we are creating a hardship on his business. He asked if we have any kind of safety net built into the lease agreement. Mayor Graham said either party can terminate the lease with a 60-day notice, which is included in the lease agreement.
D. Horton said there has been some question recently as to whether or not the City actually owns the property in front of the Beltone building, and he questioned how the City could enter into a lease agreement on property they may not actually own. Mayor Graham asked Joe~Behnken if he would like the Council to table this until the issue has been resolved or if he would like them to move forward on the 1st Reading. Mr.~Behnken asked them to move forward.
ROLL CALL: J.~Mouser, aye; T.~Bequette, aye; A.~Medford, aye; M.~Bennett, aye; D.~Renner, nay; 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. Ayes – 13; Nays~_~1. Motion carried.
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by J. Albrecht to place on 1st Reading Ordinance Item 7.
ITEM 7 – Ordinance Amending 623, Zoning, Planned Use Development known as “Beltone Building”
ROLL CALL: T.~Bequette, aye; A.~Medford, aye; M.~Bennett, aye; D.~Renner, nay; 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. Ayes – 13; Nays~_~1. Motion carried.
2nd Readings
Mayor Graham stated that 2nd Reading Item 8 would be discussed in Executive Session tonight, and it would be voted on when the Council came back into Open Session.
ITEM 8 - Ordinance Authorizing the Purchase of Real Estate located at 413 East Adams
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by N. Grogan to consider the Omnibus Rule for 2nd Reading Ordinance Items 9-11. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by E. True to approve 2nd Reading Ordinance Items 9-11.
ITEM 9 - Ordinance Amending Chapter 77, Regarding Stop Signs at Penn and E.~Madison
ITEM 10 – Ordinance Rescinding Chapter 98, Section 98.08, Vehicles on Sidewalks
ITEM 11 – Ordinance Authorizing the Lease of City Real Estate to be known as Lot 14 of the Shoppes at Greenmount Subdivision Plat for the Purpose of Constructing a Flagpole Style Communications Tower for Collocation of Antennas and Related Equipment
ROLL CALL: 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; T.~Bequette, aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
ITEM 12 - Shoppes at Greenmount Final Plat has been placed on hold.
STANDING COMMITTEES:
Community Development: J. Mouser stated they met on March 14, 2005. Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by J. West to approve a Special Event request from Tropical Sno to operate their booth on South Lincoln from May 1 to September~30. He noted this would be their last year of operation. All ayes. Motion carried.
Their next meeting will be March 28, 2005, at 6:30 p.m.
Public Works: A. Medford indicated they met on February 28, 2005. Motion was made by A. Medford and seconded by J. Albrecht to approve the low bid from Arch Way International, Inc., for a 2005 4200SBA Low Profile truck with a Knapheide Utility body in the amount of $52,172.34.
ROLL CALL: 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; T.~Bequette, aye; A.~Medford, aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
Their next meeting is scheduled for March 28, 2005, at 7:30~p.m.
Public Safety: E. True stated they met on March 14, 2005, and there was nothing to come before the Council. Their next meeting is scheduled for April~11, 2005, at 7:30~p.m.
Finance/Administration: J. West stated their last meeting was February 28, 2005. They met before tonight’s City Council meeting to discuss Warrant 84. A motion was made by J. West and seconded by R.~Reckamp to approve Warrant 84 in the amount of $409,983.27.
ROLL CALL: 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; T.~Bequette, aye; A.~Medford, aye; M.~Bennett, aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
J. West said the next meeting of the Finance/Administration Committee would be March~28, 2005, at 5:30 p.m.
Parks/Environment: J. Albrecht stated their last meeting was scheduled for March~14, 2005, but they did not have a quorum. Their next meeting is scheduled for April 11, 2005, at 5:30 p.m.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: At 8:03 a motion was made by D. Renner and seconded by J.~West to go into Executive Session to discuss litigation and the purchase of property.
ROLL CALL: 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; T.~Bequette, aye; A.~Medford, aye; M.~Bennett, aye; D.~Renner, aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
At 8:45 p.m. City Council members returned from Executive Session.
Mayor Graham stated their first item of business would be 1st Reading of Ordinance Item 3. The Council agreed to move forward with the acquisition of the property located at 413 East Adams. However, the Council has also agreed the house will not be touched until they bring all the residents in for a meeting to decide their course of action on the drainage situation. Mayor Graham explained that if the Council and residents agree to not use the property as a detention pond, the house could be sold; but they didn’t want to miss the opportunity now to purchase the property in case it is needed for that purpose.
Motion was made by J. Albrecht and seconded by N. Grogan to place on 1st Reading Ordinance Item 3.
ITEM 3 – Ordinance Authorizing the Purchase of Real Estate located at 413 East Adams
ROLL CALL: J.~West, aye; J.~Albrecht, aye; D. Horton, aye; 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. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion was made by J. Albrecht and seconded by J. Mouser to suspend the rules for the 2nd Reading of Ordinance Item 8. All ayes.
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by E. True to approve 2nd Reading Ordinance Item 8.
ITEM 8 – Ordinance Authorizing the Purchase of Real Estate located at 413 East Adams
ROLL CALL: J.~Albrecht, aye; D. Horton, aye; 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. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion was made by J. West and seconded by E. True to place on 1st Reading Ordinance Item 4.
ITEM 4 – Ordinance Authorizing the Purchase of Real Estate consisting of approximately 88 acres situated along Porter Road
ROLL CALL: D. Horton, aye; 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. All ayes. Motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion was made by J. West and seconded by D. Renner to adjourn. All ayes. Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by,
__________________________
Philip A. Goodwin, City Clerk
Minutes taken by
Sharon L. Wisely, Transcriptionist
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