O’FALLON CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
March 5, 2007
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Mayor Gary Graham. A troop of boy scouts led “The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.” Mayor Graham acknowledged boy scouts from other troops who were also in attendance.
Philip Goodwin called the roll: Nila Grogan, present; Mary Schmidt, present; Ed True, present; Rick Reckamp, present; Jerry Mouser, present; Phil Gardner, excused; 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. Mouser and seconded by E. True to approve the minutes of the February 20, 2007, meeting. All ayes. Motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARING: None.
RESIDENTS: Mayor Graham invited any residents of O’Fallon who would like to speak to the Council to step to the microphone, but no one responded. The Mayor stated representatives from Stone Briar development were in the audience to answer any questions Council members may pose later in the meeting.
REPORTS:
Clerk’s Report: City Clerk Phil Goodwin presented two requests:
1. Request from the O’Fallon Rotary Club to sell alcohol during the annual Women’s Club event at the Katy Cavins Community Center on March 31, 2007.
2. Request from the Rotary Club of O’Fallon – Sunrise to sell alcohol at the Katy Cavins Community Center for Trivia Night on March 24 and March 31, 2007.
Motion was made by N. Grogan and seconded by E. True to approve both requests. All ayes. Motion carried.
Mayor’s Report:
1. Mayor Graham introduced 11-year old Hannah Cooper as Mayor for the Day. Hannah is a student at Marie Schaefer; and she spent the day with Mayor Graham touring the fire station, touring the police station, and performing the ribbon cutting at Drury Inn.
Developers Darrell Shelton and Darwin Miles were in attendance regarding the O’Fallon Hotel and Conference Center, and Mr. Miles gave an update on the project. Mr.~Miles said their proposal last May was for a 25,000 sq. ft. conference center with a 128-room Hilton Garden Inn. The project will be located off of Exit 14 of Interstate 64, and was proposed to be north of Regency Park Drive and south of the existing 3.5_acre lake. The project has since grown to include high-end, casual dining restaurants; its conference center has increased in size to 32,000 sq. ft.; and it will include a 99-room Hampton Inn to accommodate the need for more hotel rooms. An additional 48~acres to the north has also been acquired for the project, and the lake will increase in size and be moved some to accommodate these changes. A
plat view and an aerial view of the project were displayed. Mr.~Miles also showed architectural renderings of the conference center, including its floor plan. He described the conference center in detail, explaining one room in particular that will be named the Becky Henry Room in honor of Alderwoman Becky Henry who recently passed away. Mr.~Miles pointed out the additional 48~acres they have acquired, and said their property now extends up to the now-abandoned bowling alley. He noted they are also trying to get the bowling alley back into operation. Finally, he said their plans would include eventually looping Regency Park Drive and Central Park Plaza together.
Mayor Graham commended Mr. Shelton and Mr. Miles for the outstanding work they have done on this project. He indicated that when this area began being developed years ago, the City took in approximately $1 million in sales tax. This year the City will exceed $7~million in sales tax. J.~Albrecht stated that at the Illinois Municipal League Conference last October there was a presentation that specifically talked about Central Park Plaza where the investment of about $2 million has yielded about $200 million in economic activity for our City.
RESOLUTIONS:
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by D. Renner to consider the Omnibus Agreement for Resolution Items 1-5. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by E. True to approve Resolution Items~1-5 under the previous Omnibus Agreement.
Regarding Item 1, M. Bennett asked if the school would still be required to go through building inspections, adhere to codes, etc. Mary Jeanne Hutchison said the plans are going through the same procedures and having to adhere to the same codes as everyone else.
ITEM 1 - Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Enter into a Third Amendment to the Intergovernmental Agreement with O’Fallon Township High School, District 203 Relating to the Shared Use of Park Facilities
ITEM 2 - Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Agreement with Burns & McDonnell for Professional Services for Additional Design Services related to a New Water Booster Pump Station with a cost not to exceed $36,000
ITEM 3 – Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Agreement with Rhutasel & Associates, Inc. for Professional Engineering Services for the Design of a Reider Road and Shiloh Valley Township Road Water Main for an amount not to exceed $70, 500
ITEM 4 – Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Agreement with SCI Engineering for Professional Real Estate Services for Negotiation of Easements needed for Construction of a Reider Road and Shiloh Valley Township Road Water Main Extension for an amount not to exceed $15,750
ITEM 5 – Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Agreement with Rhutasel & Associates, Inc. for Professional Services for the Topographic Survey of the area in the Vicinity of the Pet Dairy for an amount not to exceed $13,700
ROLL CALL: M.~Schmidt, aye; E.~True, aye; R.~Reckamp, aye; J.~Mouser, aye; A.~Medford, aye; M.~Bennett, aye; D. Renner, aye; J.~Boone, aye; N.~Drolet, aye; J.~West, aye; J.~Albrecht, aye; N.~Grogan, aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
ORDINANCES:
1st Readings – None.
2nd Readings
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by J. West to approve 2nd Reading Item~6.
ITEM 6 – Ordinance Approving the Final Plat of Stone Briar Phase 2 (As Amended)
R.~Reckamp asked if the City could force the next developer to the east to build a bridge connecting the two properties, even though the bridge would need to be built on the Stone Briar property. T.~Shekell clarified that the City will actually own the property where the road/bridge would need to be built. The right-of-way and common ground surrounding it will be deeded to the City; therefore, he felt the City could require the next developer to construct the required road and bridge. M.~Bennett expressed concerns with the City setting a precedent in situations like this where developers are allowed to pass the expense of building a road on to the next developer. E.~True asked if the developer is requesting a variance to the ordinance that requires him to extend the road up to the adjacent property line.
T.~Shekell said the ordinance does not actually require the road to be extended to the adjacent property line. It simply states the City may require a developer to stub to the adjacent property.
ROLL CALL: E.~True, aye; R.~Reckamp, aye; J.~Mouser, aye; A.~Medford, aye; M.~Bennett, nay; D. Renner, aye; J.~Boone, aye; N.~Drolet, nay; J.~West, aye; J.~Albrecht, aye; N.~Grogan, aye; M.~Schmidt, aye. Ayes – 10; Nays - 2. Motion carried.
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by D. Renner to refer 2nd Reading Ordinance Item 7 back to Community Development for further review.
ITEM 7 – Ordinance 3499, Lots 5 and 6 of the Shoppes at Green Mount
Mayor Graham said the reason for the motion is because he received a letter today from Walpert Properties requesting the Council to hold the pending petition because they are currently evaluating several design changes to the site plan and elevations of the project.
ROLL CALL: R.~Reckamp, aye; J.~Mouser, aye; A.~Medford, aye; M.~Bennett, aye; D.~Renner, aye; J.~Boone, aye; N.~Drolet, aye; J.~West, aye; J.~Albrecht, aye; N.~Grogan, aye; M.~Schmidt, aye; E.~True, aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
STANDING COMMITTEES:
Community Development: J. Mouser stated they met on February 26, and copies of the minutes are in the packets.
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by J. Albrecht to approve the Special
Event request from Luehr’s Rides. The event will take place from April 12 – April 22, 2007, in the PetsMart Lincoln Crossing Shopping Center parking lot. All ayes. Motion carried.
M. Bennett asked the hours of operation. It was noted the hours of operation are 4~p.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, and noon to 10 p.m. weekends.
Their next meeting is scheduled for March 12, 2007, at 6~p.m.
Public Works: A. Medford said they met on February 26, 2007. Motion was made by A. Medford and seconded by J. West to contract with Vandevanter Engineering in an amount not to exceed $14,953 for the Julia Sanitary Sewer Liftstation Emergency Repair.
ROLL CALL: J.~Mouser, aye; A.~Medford, aye; M.~Bennett, aye; D.~Renner, aye; J.~Boone, aye; N.~Drolet, aye; J.~West, aye; J.~Albrecht, aye; N.~Grogan, aye; M.~Schmidt, aye; E.~True, aye; R.~Reckamp, aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion was made by A.~Medford and seconded by E. True to award the low bidder, Midwest Meter, Inc. for the Water Division Supplies in the amount of $10,711.75.
ROLL CALL: A.~Medford, aye; M.~Bennett, aye; D.~Renner, aye; J.~Boone, aye; N.~Drolet, aye; J.~West, aye; J.~Albrecht, aye; N.~Grogan, aye; M.~Schmidt, aye; E.~True, aye; R.~Reckamp, aye; J.~Mouser, aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
The next Public Works meeting will be held March 26, 2007, at 7 p.m.
Public Safety: E. True said they have not met since the last Council meeting. Their next meeting is scheduled for March 12, 2007, at 7 p.m.
Mayor Graham said he is putting into the Finance/Administration Committee a request for a special study regarding the utility tax – given the fact that Ameren UE has raised rates and determining how much the City is getting on those items. He also noted the City is looking into a group called Cost Plus Corporation whereby the City would purchase power wholesale and pay Ameren to deliver it. Discussion was held regarding the increased cost of electric and how it is affecting various wards, as well as the City budget. D.~Renner encouraged all residents to call their state representatives to protest this increase. The number to call is 217-782-2728. J.~West suggested the City’s website include e-mail address links to our senators and representatives.
Finance/Administration: J.~West stated they met before tonight’s meeting to discuss Warrant~131. Motion was made by J. West and seconded by R. Reckamp to approve Warrant~131 in the amount of $860,339.79.
ROLL CALL: M.~Bennett, aye; D.~Renner, aye; J.~Boone, aye; N.~Drolet, aye; J.~West, aye; J.~Albrecht, aye; N.~Grogan, aye; M.~Schmidt, aye; E.~True, aye; R.~Reckamp, aye; J.~Mouser, aye; A.~Medford, aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
There will be a special Finance/Administration meeting on March 8 at 6 p.m. to review the budget. Their next regularly scheduled meeting will be March 12, 2007, at 5:30~p.m.
Parks/Environment: J.~Albrecht stated their next meeting is scheduled for March~12, 2007, at 5:30~p.m.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: At 7:43 p.m. a motion was made by E. True and seconded by J.~West to go into Executive Session to discuss the purchase of property.
ROLL CALL: D.~Renner, aye; J.~Boone, aye; N.~Drolet, aye; J.~West, aye; J.~Albrecht, aye; N.~Grogan, aye; M.~Schmidt, aye; E.~True, aye; R.~Reckamp, aye; J.~Mouser, aye; A.~Medford, aye; M.~Bennett, aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
At 7:59 p.m. Council members returned from Executive Session.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion was made by D. Renner and seconded by A. Medford to adjourn. All ayes. Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:01 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by,
__________________________
Philip A. Goodwin, City Clerk
Minutes taken by
Sharon L. Wisely, Transcriptionist
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