O’FALLON CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
March 19, 2007
The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. by Mayor Gary Graham, who then led “The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.”
Philip Goodwin called the roll: Nila Grogan, present; Mary Schmidt, present; Ed True, present; Rick Reckamp, present; Jerry Mouser, present; Phil Gardner, present; Allen Medford, present; Michael Bennett, present; Dennis Renner, excused; 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 5, 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.
REPORTS:
Clerk’s Report: City Clerk Phil Goodwin presented two requests:
1. Request from Frieze Harley-Davidson Sales, Inc. to conduct a raffle from March 19 – May 20, 2007.
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by R. Reckamp to approve the request. All ayes. Motion carried.
N.~Drolet asked the purpose of the raffle. P.~Goodwin indicated it is for a cancer benefit.
2. Request from Applebee’s in Shiloh to sell alcohol at the Katy Cavins Community Center on April 6, 2007 for a retirement dinner for Scott AFB Personnel.
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by J. West to approve the request. All ayes. Motion carried.
Mayor’s Report: The Mayor recognized a boy scout in the audience who was in attendance for a merit badge.
Mayor Graham announced the following OTHS athletic accomplishments: the boys soccer team reached the “Elite Eight,” the boys cross country went to state, the cheerleaders took state and second in the nation, the Golden Girls pom squad took fifth at state, and the boys bowling took fifth place at state. The Mayor then read a proclamation declaring March 19, 2007, as OTHS Panther Basketball Day in O’Fallon for the outstanding achievement of the boys’ basketball team taking 2nd~place at state under the direction of Coach Rick Gibson. Coach Gibson said they finished with 28 wins and 8 losses this season. They won the first sectional game in the school’s history and continued on to win sectionals. The team advanced to super sectionals and won. Then they made it to state
and the championship game, finishing in 2nd place against a Chicago team that was ranked in the top five teams in the nation. The team and Coach Gibson received a standing ovation from the audience.
Police Officer Brian Gimpel was recognized for his accomplishments as a member of the FBI Operation Safe Streets Task Force. ~Chief Betten stated Officer Gimpel was assigned to the Operation Safe Streets Task Force for four years beginning in October of 2002. The purpose of the assignment was to work street-level crime (i.e., drug dealing, gangs, etc.) throughout the Metro-East area. Assistant United States Attorney James Crowe also spoke and commended Officer Gimpel for the critical role he played in one particular investigation and prosecution of five individuals who were involved in dealing drugs in this area since the early 1990s. ~Mr.~Crowe indicated that, as a result of Officer Gimpel’s work, all five individuals are serving lengthy prison sentences. Mr.~Crowe praised Officer Gimpel for going above and beyond the call
of duty in his investigative work, and he thanked Chief Betten for allowing his officers to participate in these task forces.
O’Fallon Township High School Principal Steve Dirnbeck presented a plan for building a freshman campus on Milburn School Road in O’Fallon. He spoke of the extreme overcrowding that currently exists at the high school. Mr.~Dirnbeck stated our PSAE and ACT scores are the best in this area, and the school is a good steward of its finances with low instructional costs per student. The student capacity of the facility on Smiley Street is 2,050, and current enrollment is over 2,450. In addition, a recent study indicated growth would continue at an average increase of 60 students per year.
Mr.~Dirnbeck said the community is faced with two choices: (1) build a freshman campus on Milburn School Road or (2) add extensively to the current facility located on Smiley Street to create a “mega-campus.” He explained the many disadvantages of building a mega-campus, including the displacement of athletic fields to Milburn School Road, increased traffic congestion, ongoing construction for many years, and more expenses involved than with a new building. He stated a new freshman campus would resolve the overcrowding and accommodate new growth for all grades at both campuses for many years with no tax increase. Other advantages of a freshman campus include more academic, social and extracurricular opportunities at both campuses; the opportunity for the freshman class to become a unified
group as they arrive from five feeder schools; an additional 1000-capacity auditorium; no new teachers/staff required; and no tax rate increase. Mr.~Dirnbeck urged residents to vote YES for a new freshman campus on April 17, 2007.
J.~West asked Mr. Dirnbeck about New Trier School, located in Northfield, Illinois. Mr.~Dirnbeck stated New~Trier’s administration came and spoke to the OTHS administration about their history in building a freshman campus. He stated the New~Trier situation was very similar to that of OTHS. Building a freshman campus was their last choice but their only option for expansion. Mr.~Dirnbeck said the school is now very pleased with their freshman campus. The school’s test scores are the highest in the state and have even gone up after the addition of the freshman campus.
E.~True commended the high school for the addition of the Jr. ROTC a couple years ago, which was rated as one of the top units in the Air Force during its very first year at OTHS. Mr.~Dirnbeck said he was initially opposed to bringing the Jr. ROTC to the high school at first because he had no room for them to meet. However, he said it has been a tremendous success and a huge plus for the students; and they are expecting about 200 students to participate next year. ~
RESOLUTIONS:
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by J. Albrecht to consider the Omnibus Agreement for Resolution Items 3-9. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by N. Grogan to approve Resolution Items~3-9 under the previous Omnibus Agreement.
ITEM 3 - Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Agreement with Burns & McDonnell for Professional Services for the Design of the Reconstruction of North Lincoln Ave., Phase II with a cost not to exceed $16,100.00
ITEM 4 - Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Agreement with Haier Plumbing for Installation of Water Line Along Porter, Obernuefemann and Ogles Road in the amount not to exceed $116,547.90
ITEM 5 - Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Agreement with Rite-Way Excavating for General Concrete Repairs in the amount of $45,317.05
ITEM 6 - Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Agreement with Hank’s Excavating for the Reconstruction of North Lincoln – Phase 2 in the amount of $320,743.60
ITEM 7 - Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Agreement with Korte-Luitjohan for Construction of a Sanitary Sewer Sampler Adjacent to Prairie Farms Dairy in the amount of $59,500
ITEM 8 - Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Agreement with Killian Corporation for the Street Resurfacing Program CY07 in an amount not to exceed $376,902.23
ITEM 9 - Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Agreement with Crawford, Bunte, Brammeier for Professional Traffic Engineering services at Eight Locations with a cost not to exceed $7,630.00
ROLL CALL: M.~Schmidt, aye; E.~True, aye; R.~Reckamp, aye; J.~Mouser, aye; P.~Gardner, aye; A.~Medford, aye; M.~Bennett, aye; J.~Boone, aye; N.~Drolet, aye; J.~West, aye; J.~Albrecht, aye; N.~Grogan, aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by E. True to approved Resolution Item~1.
ITEM 1 – Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Real Estate Located at 802~West~State Street
ROLL CALL: E.~True, aye; R.~Reckamp, aye; J.~Mouser, aye; P.~Gardner, aye; A.~Medford, aye; M.~Bennett, nay; J.~Boone, aye; N.~Drolet, aye; J.~West, aye; J.~Albrecht, aye; N.~Grogan, aye; M. Schmidt, aye. Ayes – 11; Nays - 1. Motion carried.
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by E. True to approve Resolution Item~2.
ITEM 2 - Resolution Approving a Variance and Amended Improvement Plans for Cambridge Condominiums, Phase IV
N.~Drolet said when he attended the second committee meeting on this issue, he requested the representative of Cambridge Condominiums to show how Phases I-III were constructed and how they vary from Phase IV; but the representative failed to do so. N.~Drolet said he has a strong feeling that Phases I-III were not constructed according to BOCA and neither is Phase IV.
R.~Reckamp expressed concern with the Homeowner’s Association maintaining these sewers in the future, especially if the maintenance becomes costly and is divided among a few homeowners. He felt the proper design of the sewers should be required now, the costs should be assessed on the condominiums to begin with, and the City should maintain the sewers from the beginning.
Discussion ensued regarding concern over various issues that may arise from this in the future. Mayor Graham indicated staff recommends approval but with several conditions that he read to the Council. A.~Medford said future homeowners would be aware of these stipulations before they purchase a condominium, so he did not see why the City would ever be responsible for the costs of maintaining the sewers.
ROLL CALL: R.~Reckamp, nay; J.~Mouser, aye; P.~Gardner, aye; A.~Medford, aye; M.~Bennett, nay; J.~Boone, nay; N.~Drolet, nay; J.~West, nay; J.~Albrecht, aye; N.~Grogan, nay; M. Schmidt, aye; E. True, aye. Ayes – 6; Nays - 6. Motion failed.
ORDINANCES:
1st Readings
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded R. Reckamp to place on 1st Reading Ordinance Item 10.
ITEM 10 – Ordinance Designating as a Local Landmark, 209 E. Fifth Street, aka~American Legion – Grange Hut
ROLL CALL: J.~Mouser, aye; P.~Gardner, aye; A.~Medford, aye; M.~Bennett, 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.
2nd Readings – None.
STANDING COMMITTEES:
Community Development: J. Mouser stated they met on March 12, but they did not have a quorum and no minutes are available from the meeting. However, two motions came out of the meeting.
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by J. Albrecht to approve the Special Event Permit request for Tropical Sno at 510 South Lincoln. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by J. West to approve the Special Event Permit request for the Wal-Mart Garden Center.
N. Drolet recalled years earlier that Wal-Mart requested the size of their parking spaces be decreased to allow for more spaces, and now they are asking for a garden center to be allowed on the parking lot, thus eliminating many of their parking spaces. M.~Bennett asked for Chief Betten’s thoughts on the matter. Chief Betten said if it is done in the same manner as in the past, it does not seem to create more difficulty or problems than the ordinary congestion seen on the weekends. J.~Mouser said when property was obtained from the adjacent lumber center to the east several years ago, part of the purpose was for this seasonal garden center.
All ayes except for one (N. Drolet). Motion carried.
Their next meeting is scheduled for March 26, 2007, at 6~p.m.
Public Works: A. Medford said the minutes from their last meeting are included in the packets.
Motion was made by A. Medford and seconded by J. West to approve the purchase of a Flail Mower attachment from Woody’s Municipal Supply in the amount of $9,379.
ROLL CALL: P.~Gardner, aye; A.~Medford, aye; M.~Bennett, 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.
Motion was made by A. Medford and seconded by J. West to approve the payment to LW Contractors for the earth moving services in the amount of $23,000.
M. Bennett said it appears that the work has already been completed. D.~Sullivan said they had already given L.W.~Contractors permission to begin work, which was within their authority to do so.
ROLL CALL: A.~Medford, aye; M.~Bennett, 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; P.~Gardner, aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
Public Safety: E. True said they met on March 12, 2007. He also stated Alderman~West has been able to resolve some of the safety concerns in the Moye School area and continues to work on the other issues. Their next meeting is scheduled for April 9, 2007, at 7 p.m.
E.~True also asked for clarification on what would happen next with Resolution Item~2 since it failed. T.~Shekell said staff would readdress the issue of the sewers at Cambridge Condominiums Phase IV to ensure that they can be designed and built as standard sewers. Staff will report back to the Council with their findings and recommendation.
Finance/Administration: J.~West stated they met before tonight’s meeting to discuss Warrant~132. Motion was made by J. West and seconded by N. Grogan to approve Warrant~132 in the amount of $608,090.01.
ROLL CALL: M.~Bennett, 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; P.~Gardner, aye; A. Medford, aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
Their next meeting will be March 26, 2007, at 5:30~p.m. One item they will discuss is the Municipal Utility Tax.
Parks/Environment: J.~Albrecht stated their next meeting is scheduled for April 9, 2007, at 5:30~p.m.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: None.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by E. True to adjourn. All ayes. Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by,
__________________________
Philip A. Goodwin, City Clerk
Minutes taken by
Sharon L. Wisely, Transcriptionist
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