City Council

 

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

 

Philip Goodwin, City Clerk, called the roll:  Gene McCoskey, arrived at 7:30; Richie Meile, present; Ed True, present; Jerry Albrecht, present; Jerry Mouser, present; Kevin Hagarty, present; John Drolet, present; Herb Roach, present; Michael Bennett, present; Courtney Cardona, present; Jim Hursey, present; Ray Holden, present; David Cozad, present; Harlan Gerrish, present.  A quorum was declared present.

 

Mayor Graham asked for approval of the minutes.  Motion was made by J. Mouser and seconded by J. Albrecht to approve the minutes of November 3, 2014.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

 

PUBLIC HEARING – None scheduled.

 

RESIDENTS:    Mayor Graham invited residents forward to speak.

 

Ron Zelms came forward to voice his opposition to the proposed water sale or lease.  He had several concerns regarding the hire of Huron Consulting and the hire of the global law firm, Baker and McKenzie.  He said their sole interest is in privatization.

 

JoAnn Fischer came forward about her concern of spending money on the design of Ashland Avenue and whether it was practical if we are low on money.  She was also concerned about the homes on Carson and Lawn.  She complained about the City sending out information about St. Elizabeth Hospital in the billing, as both sides should be represented.  She was also concerned about the water tower.  She voiced her opposition about the sale of the water department.  She commended H. Roach and J. Drolet for holding town hall meetings.

 

Mayor Graham stressed that Ashland is important because of the sales tax revenue from that area.  We are still trying to attract companies like Costco and Trader Joe’s.  Green Mount and Frank Scott Parkway is already filled to capacity.  St. Elizabeth Hospital will bring jobs to the area, so our children do not have to leave.  The cell tower is authorized by State law; we were not able to do anything about it.  He also stated that the mailing did not cost anything extra.

 

Vicki Thorsen also came forward to ask that the sale of the water be placed up for vote of the people.  She is concerned our bills will be much higher with a company.  She is also concerned about the level of service, as she is very pleased with our employees.

 

 

 

Clerk’s Report:  Motion by J. Mouser and seconded by E. True to approve the request from Request from Knights of Columbus Council 592 to conduct a raffle from November 18 - December 22, 2014 for four turkeys and four hams at the 5420 Old Collinsville Road location, as well as a request from Knights of Columbus Council 592 to conduct a raffle from November 18 – January 24, 2105 for a wheelbarrow of alcohol at the 5420 Old Collinsville Road location.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

 

Mayor’s Report:   Mayor Graham did not have an additional report.

 

RESOLUTIONS:  Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by H. Gerrish to approve Resolution Item 1 – a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with Kuhlmann Design Group, Inc. for professional services for the design of Ashland Avenue and for the use of Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds in an amount not to exceed $143,615 and for the use of MFT funds in an amount not to exceed $2,100,000 for the total cost of the project.

 

J. Drolet said the road leads to nowhere.  He did not see evidence of the three parcels that it was supposed to open up. The money won’t be available until 2018.  He stated we would have to extend Ashland to Old Collinsville Road to make a difference.

 

H. Roach said it is not high on the priority list as the Green Mount expansion, Central Park Drive, and the Green Mount Medical Center have higher priority.

 

Mayor Graham responded that 3.6 million dollars of MFT funds are committed to Ashland.  We have been trying to get a grant for this for years.  We need it to get it to attract companies and get more sales tax.

 

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; True, aye; Albrecht, aye; Mouser, aye; Hagarty, aye; Drolet, no; Roach, no; Bennett, aye; Cardona, aye; Hursey, aye; Holden, aye; Cozad, aye; Gerrish, aye.  Ayes - 12; Nos – 2.  Motion carried.

 

 

1^st Reading – Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by E. True to consider 1^st Reading Ordinance, Item 3, an Ordinance adopting the 2012 International Building Code, the 2012 International Fire Code, the 2012 International Mechanical Code, the 2012 International Property Maintenance Code, the 2012 International Residential Code, the 2012 International existing Building Code, the 2012 International Fuel Gas Code, the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code, and the 2011 National Electrical Code.

 

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; True, aye; Albrecht, aye; Mouser, aye; Hagarty, aye; Drolet, aye; Roach, aye; Bennett, aye; Cardona, aye; Hursey, aye; Holden, aye; Cozad, aye; Gerrish, aye.  Ayes - 14; Nos – 0.  Motion carried.

 

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by E. True to consider 1^st Reading Ordinance, Item 4, an Ordinance amending Ordinance 3789, Zoning Districts and Ordinance 3792, Execution of an Economic Incentive Agreement (Development known as CarMax) located at 1254 Central Park Drive.

 

M. Bennett said that he would love to have them out there, but the timing is not good.  He supports economic sales tax agreements to get a business here faster.  He could have supported the extension of the economic agreement if it had been reduced.  However, he can only support the zoning expansion for this request.

 

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; True, aye; Albrecht, aye; Mouser, aye; Hagarty, aye; Drolet, aye; Roach, aye; Bennett, no; Cardona, no; Hursey, no; Holden, aye; Cozad, aye; Gerrish, aye.  Ayes - 11; Nos – 3.  Motion carried.

 

2nd Readings –

 

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by E. True to pass 2nd Reading Ordinance, Item 5, an Ordinance which authorizes the execution of the Redevelopment Agreement with Commercial Real Estate Investors, LP, as amended.

 

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; True, aye; Albrecht, aye; Mouser, aye; Hagarty, aye; Drolet, aye; Roach, aye; Bennett, aye; Cardona, aye; Hursey, aye; Holden, aye; Cozad, aye; Gerrish, aye.  Ayes - 14; Nos – 0.  Motion carried.

 

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by E. True to pass 2nd Reading Ordinance, Item 7, an Ordinance 7. Ord. authorizing the addendum to the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Agreement.

 

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; True, aye; Albrecht, aye; Mouser, aye; Hagarty, aye; Drolet, aye; Roach, aye; Bennett, aye; Cardona, aye; Hursey, aye; Holden, aye; Cozad, aye; Gerrish, aye.  Ayes - 14; Nos – 0.  Motion carried.

 

An Ordinance amending Chapter 111, Section 111.99 is on hold.

 

 

Community Development:J. Albrecht stated the committee will meet on Monday at 6:00 p.m. at the Public Safety building.

 

Public Works:  R. Meile announced that they will meet on Monday at the Public Safety Building at 7:00 p.m.

 

Public Safety:  K. Hagarty said they will meet at 5:00 p.m. on December 8^th at the Public Safety Building.

 

Finance/Administration:  Motion by M. Bennett and seconded by J. Albrecht to approve Warrant #313 in the amount of $1,238,502.15.  M. Bennett mentioned a bill from Gifts for Individuals is included.

 

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; True, aye; Albrecht, aye; Mouser, no; Hagarty, aye; Drolet, recuse; Roach, aye; Bennett, no; Cardona, no; Hursey, aye; Holden, aye; Cozad, aye; Gerrish, aye.  Ayes - 10; Recuse – 1; Nos – 3.  Motion carried.

 

Parks and Environment:  E. True said they are talking about a tour of the new Fire, EMs, and Parks facilities for their next meeting.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mayor Graham the Council will go into closed session to discuss pending litigation.

 

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by J. Mouser to discuss pending litigation.

 

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; True, aye; Albrecht, aye; Mouser, aye; Hagarty, aye; Drolet, aye; Roach, aye; Bennett, aye; Cardona, aye; Hursey, aye; Holden, aye; Cozad, aye; Gerrish, aye.  Ayes - 14; Nos – 0.  Motion carried.

 

The Council went into closed session at 7:35 p.m. and returned at 7:50 p.m.

 

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by J. Hursey to pass Item 6, an Ordinance terminating an existing Franchise Agreement with Ameren Illinois Company d/b/a Ameren Illinois, successor to Illinois Power Company and granting Ameren Illinois Company d/b/a Ameren Illinois and its successors and assigns, for a period of 10 years, the franchise, right, permission and authority to construct, reconstruct, excavate for, place, remove, extend, maintain, and operate an electric utility system within public rights-of-way in the City under according to the terms, provisions, and conditions herein set forth, as amended.

 

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; True, aye; Albrecht, aye; Mouser, aye; Hagarty, aye; Drolet, aye; Roach, aye; Bennett, aye; Cardona, aye; Hursey, aye; Holden, aye; Cozad, aye; Gerrish, aye.  Ayes - 14; Nos – 0.  Motion carried.

 

Motion by J. Albrecht and seconded by J. Mouser to pass Item 2, A Resolution to settle the claim against Ameren Illinois Company d/b/a Ameren Illinois.

 

ROLL CALL: McCoskey, aye; Meile, aye; True, aye; Albrecht, aye; Mouser, aye; Hagarty, aye; Drolet, aye; Roach, aye; Bennett, aye; Cardona, aye; Hursey, aye; Holden, aye; Cozad, aye; Gerrish, aye.  Ayes - 14; Nos – 0.  Motion carried.

 

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

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

 

Submitted by,

 

 

 

__________________________

Philip A. Goodwin

City Clerk                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                               

Minutes recorded by

Maryanne Fair, Deputy City Clerk

Proper notice having been duly given