City Council

Meeting date:

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

O’FALLON CITY COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

February 16, 2016

The regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Gary Graham who led the Council in “The Pledge of Allegiance.”

Philip Goodwin, City Clerk, called the roll: Gene McCoskey, present; Richie Meile, present; Jerry Albrecht, present; Robert Kueker, present; Jerry Mouser, present; Kevin Hagarty, present; Herb Roach, present; Matthew Smallheer, present; Michael Bennett, present; Courtney Marsh, present; Ray Holden, present; Ned Drolet, present; David Cozad, excused; Harlan Gerrish, excused. A quorum was declared present.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Mayor Graham asked for approval of the minutes. Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by K. Hagarty to approve the minutes of February 1, 2016. All ayes. Motion carried.

PUBLIC HEARING – None scheduled.

RESIDENTS: Mayor Graham asked if anyone wished to come forward to speak to the Council.

Charlie Pitt of Ward 7 said that there is a meeting regarding a 1% sales tax at 7:00 p.m. on February 23rd at the Smiley Campus. He said they are looking for public comment for the sales tax that is to be allocated for school building funds.

Vern Malare asked for a presidential street update. J. Taylor replied that the letters to the residents went out today. He hopes for a response next week.

V. Malare also inquired about the parcels that St. Elizabeth purchased over by highway 50. C. Marsh responded that she saw in the paper that they were sold by Glen Dempsey. Mayor Graham added that they took the options from Carrollton Bank because they hope to have an entrance there.

V. Malare asked what the parcels were going to be used for and Mayor Graham said he was not consulted but they had mentioned having another entrance for ambulances someday.

Michael Smith of Hemingway’s said that whenever it rains hard and the pumper truck is used on Vine it shoots water toward First Street. Every time they get water in their basement. On Second Street, he has seen seven people fall because of the problem and is concerned. He also asked if commercial businesses could get free recycling.

Mayor Graham asked J. Taylor to take it to the committee and look at the water problem for Mr. Smith.

REPORTS:

Clerk’s Report: P. Goodwin read the following requests:

1. Request from O’Fallon Columbus Club to conduct a raffle from February 2, 2016 – December 31, 2016 for various prizes

2. Request from St. Joseph Church to conduct a raffle from March 1 – March 19, 2016 for various donated items

3. Request from O’Fallon Moose Lodge #2608 to conduct a raffle from February 2 – April 30, 2016 for two whole hogs, two half hogs, and split the pot cash prizes

4. Request from Robert L. Powers to conduct a raffle for a Split the Pot prize for a fundraiser for a select baseball team on March 6, 2016 at St. Clair Bowl

5. Request from Carriel Jr. High PTO to conduct a raffle on February 26, 2016 for their fundraiser

6. Request from the East St. Louis Knights of Columbus #592 to conduct a raffle for baseball tickets from February 17^th – March 25, 2016

7. Request from the Knights of Columbus Squires to conduct a raffle for baseball tickets from February 17^th – April 4, 2016

8. Request from Marie Schaefer Elementary PTO to conduct a raffle for cash, services, and goods on March 19, 2016

9. Request from Faith Lutheran Preschool to conduct a raffle for Disney Park Hopper Passes on March 4, 2016

10. Request from the Senior Citizen’s Club of O’Fallon, Illinois to conduct a raffle for a quilt, cash, groceries and more from April 1 – September 21, 2016

11. Request from Blessed Savior Lutheran Church to conduct a raffle for lottery tickets on March 5, 2016

Motion by M. Bennett and seconded by J. Mouser to approve the requests. All ayes. Motion carried.

P. Goodwin then read a request from the Dania Shrine Club of O’Fallon to conduct a roadblock on September 2^nd from 7 – 9 a.m. and September 3^rd from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the intersections of State and Smiley and State and Lincoln, insurance pending.

Motion by J. Mouser and seconded by M. Bennett to approve the request. All ayes, except for N. Drolet. Motion carried.

Mayor’s Report: No report.

RESOLUTIONS:

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by J. Mouser to approve Item 1, a Resolution authorizing a sub-lease of a portion of the City’s Conference Center Property.

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; Albrecht, aye; Kueker, aye; Mouser, aye; Hagarty, aye; Roach, aye; Smallheer, aye; Bennett, aye; Marsh, aye; Holden, aye; Drolet, aye. Ayes – 12; Nos – 0. All ayes. Motion carried.

ORDINANCES:

1st Reading –

Mayor Graham asked S. Evans to explain the aggregation ordinance and why there is a deadline.

S. Evans replied that we have been in the Municipal Aggregation program since 2013. There is a clause regarding the supplier matching the price with Ameren. All the suppliers are taking out the clause now. We are going out for bids on the 24^th. It is next week, so that is why we need the emergency reading or we will not be able to accept the bid. Residents can still opt out of the program, if the rate exceeds Ameren’s.

M. Bennett asked when we knew about it. S. Evans replied that it is a commodity so our consultant said now is the time to go out for bids. M. Bennett asked if the price match was based on State law. S. Evans said it was not. The suppliers are removing it in the contracts now.

N. Drolet asked what would happen if we delayed the vote. S. Evans stated that the consultant said now is the time that our rates will be low, plus we would not be in the group. Anyone who participates has to pass the change of government. Right now our rate is at .0458 and Ameren’s is .06. The advantage for the aggregation is it will not fluctuate after we lock it in.

N. Drolet asked if there was a means to let the residents know if Ameren is lower. S. Evans replied that it is updated on our website.

H. Roach asked if the city could opt out for the residents, but S. Evans stated the individual has to opt out.

R. Kueker asked how long the terms of the contract are, and S. Evans replied that they are eighteen to two years now, but it varies. We do not know what the terms of the contract will be as the group as a whole has to decide.

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by J. Mouser to consider Ordinance items 2, 3 and 4 on 1^st Reading under the Omnibus Agreement. All ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by J. Mouser to approve Ordinance items 2, 3, and 4 on 1^st Reading under the previous Omnibus Agreement.

J. Albrecht read the following resolutions:

Item 2 – Ord. adopting a new section 37.26 of Chapter 37 (Civil Emergency) regarding maintenance of the City’s Dispatch Call Center

Item 3 – Ord. rescinding Ord. 3892, Towing Companies for the Department of Public Safety

Item 4 – Ord. amending Ord. 3782, regarding the City of O’Fallon Electricity Aggregation Program Plan of Operation and Governance

J. Mouser asked about the stowing of the vehicles in item 3. Chief Van Hook replied we have two towing businesses that can store. J. Mouser asked about the square footage. Chief Van Hook said when we reviewed it, everyone was in compliance.

2^nd Reading –

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by G. McCoskey to approve Item 5, an Ordinance amending Ord. 623, Zoning, Development known as Skyline Community Church located at 870 Milburn School Road.

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by R. Kueker to suspend the rules and have an emergency reading on 2^nd Reading for Item 4, an Ordinance amending Ord. 3782, regarding the City of O’Fallon Electricity Aggregation Program Plan of Operation and Governance.

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; Albrecht, aye; Kueker, aye; Mouser, aye; Hagarty, aye; Roach, aye; Smallheer, aye; Bennett, aye; Marsh, aye; Holden, aye; Drolet, no. Ayes – 11; Nos – 1. Motion carried.

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by R. Kueker to approve on 2^nd Reading an Ordinance amending Ord. 3782, regarding the City of O’Fallon Electricity Aggregation Program Plan of Operation and Governance.

STANDING COMMITTEES –

Community Development: Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by G. McCoskey to approve the Special Event request from Make-A-Wish to hold a erect a sign for their Chicken & Beer Dance on Saturday, March 5^th, with conditions and the Special Event request from Ace Hardware for a Temporary Greenhouse from March 2016 – June 30, 2016 with conditions. All ayes. Motion carried.

J. Albrecht said they will meet next Monday, February 22nd at 6:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Building.

Public Works: G. McCoskey stated the next meeting is February 22nd at 7:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Building.

Public Safety: C. Marsh said they will meet March 14th at 5:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Building.

Finance/Administration:

Motion by M. Bennett and seconded J. Mouser to approve Warrant #344 in the amount of $1,285,682.04.

M. Bennett said they will meet February 22^nd at 5:00 p.m. to kick off the budget.

Parks and Environment: R. Holden said they will not meet this month.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mayor Graham announced there is no closed session tonight.

ADJOURNMENT: Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by J. Mouser to adjourn. All ayes. Motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

Submitted by,

__________________________

Philip A. Goodwin

City Clerk

Minutes recorded by

Maryanne Fair, Deputy City Clerk

Proper notice having been duly given

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