City of Sterling Mayor & Council met April 17.
Here is the minutes as provided by the council:
Mayor Charles “Skip” Lee called a meeting of the Sterling City Council to order at
6:30 pm on Monday, April 17, 2017. Roll call. Present: Aldermen Bob Conklin, Retha
Elston, Joe Martin, John Stauter, and Christine Wilen. Absent: Alderman Chris
Schuchard.
Also present were City Attorney Tim Zollinger, City Manager Scott Shumard, Finance
Director Cindy Von Holten, Superintendent of Public Works Brad Schrader, Fire Chief
Gary Cook, Police Chief Tim Morgan, and City Clerk Marie Rombouts.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
There were no Communications from Visitors.
Alderman Elston made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:
A) Minutes from April 3, 2017
B) Bills and Payroll totaling $916,775.67
C) Resolution #R2017-04-07 to Close Fourth Street for Concerts at
Grandon throughout the summer
D) Refer Petition to Plan Commission from Richard Haan, John and Paula Gabor to
rezone 20 East Third Street from DB to DB Special Use for a tattoo studio.
The motion was seconded by Alderman Wilen. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Conklin,
Elston, Martin, Stauter, and Wilen. Nayes – None. Motion carried.
Alderman Elston made a motion to approve Mayor’s Lee’s appointment of Amy Boze to
the Band Commission to complete a term expiring June 30, 2020; seconded by
Alderman Martin. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Conklin, Elston, Martin, Stauter, and Wilen.
Nayes – None. Motion carried.
Alderman Martin made a motion to approve the Employment Contract with Rock Falls
for the Twin City Joint Command Chief Gary Cook; seconded by Alderman Conklin.
Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Conklin, Elston, Martin, Stauter, and Wilen. Nayes – None.
Motion carried.
Alderman Martin made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2017-04-04 Amending
the FY 2016-2017 budget with a decrease of $374,044; seconded by Alderman
Conklin. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Conklin, Elston, Martin, Stauter, and Wilen. Nayes –
None. Motion carried.
Alderman Wilen made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2017-04-05 Adopting
the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Budget in the amount of $33,025,400; seconded by
Alderman Martin. Alderman Martin asked if this budget includes extra capital
expenditures from the additional sales tax approved in the referendum. Manager
Shumard stated it does not reflect that increase. We will prioritize projects, study the
possibility of bonds and begin engineering for stormwater management. The budget
will be amended later. Alderman Stauter was concerned about numbers used for
current sales tax with the closing of a couple of major stores. Alderman Martin
reported Sterling had weathered several storms with sales tax before and the numbers
remained constant. Martin agrees with Manager Shumard’s estimates of sales tax
revenues. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Conklin, Elston, Martin, Stauter, and Wilen.
Nayes – None. Motion carried.
Alderman Martin made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2017-04-06 Amending
the Sterling City Code Section 74-14 to establish the cost of refuse collection
to reflect the $.70 contractual increase; seconded by Alderman Elston. Voting:
Ayes – Aldermen Conklin, Elston, Martin, Stauter, and Wilen. Nayes – None. Motion
carried.
Alderman Elston made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2017-04-07 Amending
Chapter 94, Section 34 regarding Wastewater Service Charges and Section
35 Regarding Billing and Collection of Service Charges in the amount of
$2.00 added to the minimum basic user charge and $.65 to the basic user
rate per 100 cu. ft.; seconded by Alderman Martin. Manager Shumard reported
Sterling will still be the fourth lowest with this increase. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen
Conklin, Elston, Martin, Stauter, and Wilen. Nayes – None. Motion carried.
Alderman Martin made a motion to approve the write-off of uncollectible accounts
totaling $11,786.06; seconded by Alderman Stauter. Mayor Lee applauded Michelle
Parks for her work on collecting closed sewer accounts. Director Von Holten reported
that accounts can still be collected but auditors prefer that the uncollectible accounts be
written off. Michelle has made great progress in collecting closed sewer accounts. Von
Holten reported the accounts are less than last year and the percentage is low. Voting:
Ayes – Aldermen Conklin, Elston, Martin, Stauter, and Wilen. Nayes – None. Motion
carried.
Alderman Elston made a motion to approve Ordinance #2017-04-08 Amending
Pay Plan for Fiscal Year 2017-2018; seconded by Alderman Martin. Manager
Shumard conferred with other communities and a 2% increase was typical. Voting:
Ayes – Aldermen Conklin, Elston, Martin, Stauter, and Wilen. Nayes – None. Motion
carried.
Alderman Elston made a motion to approve Resolution #R2017-04-08 Declaring
the Results of the Consolidated Municipal Election on April 4, 2017, Declaring
Jim Wise and H. John Stauter as Aldermen-at-Large for a term from May 1,
2017 to April 30, 2021; seconded by Alderman Martin. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen
Conklin, Elston, Martin, Stauter, and Wilen. Nayes – None. Motion carried.
Alderman Stauter made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2017-04-09 Certifying
the Results of the Election Regarding the Imposition of a Non-Home Rule
Municipal Retailers’ Occupation Tax and Non-Home Rule Municipal Service
Use Tax in the amount of 1/2%; seconded by Alderman Conklin. Voting: Ayes –
Aldermen Conklin, Elston, Martin, Stauter, and Wilen. Nayes – None. Motion carried.
Alderman Elston is excited about the upcoming summer activities.
May Lee reminded everyone of the special meeting on April 26 and the Municipal Band
Concert later that evening.
Alderman Wilen reported Sauk Valley Bank has received several calls inquiring about
Main Street’s Car Show.
Mayor Lee thanked emergency personnel for their response to the shooting in Rock
Falls over the weekend. He also noted a local nurse that was recognized for performing
CPR during a road race. Mayor Lee reminded Council of an annual re-evaluation of the
Strategic Plan.
Manager Shumard displayed the paperwork necessary for the letter of No Further
Remediation from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
Mayor Lee reminded citizens of a coffee chat with state representatives at the Sterling
Candlelight Inn at 9:00 am on Friday, April 21.
Alderman Conklin made a motion to move to “closed session” at 7:05 pm to discuss
appointment, employment, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of
the public body as covered under subsection (1) of 5 ILCS 120/2(c) and collective
negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives
under subsection (2) of 5 ILCS 120/2(c); seconded by Alderman Martin. Voting:
Ayes – Aldermen Conklin, Elston, Martin, Stauter, and Wilen. Nayes – None. Motion
carried.
Alderman Wilen made a motion to reconvene the open meeting at 7:21 pm; seconded
by Alderman Conklin. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Conklin, Elston, Martin, Stauter, and
Wilen. Nayes – None. Motion carried.
Alderman Conklin made a motion to approve the Collective Bargaining Agreement with
the Sterling Police Officers/Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) for a term form May 1, 2016
to April 30, 2020; seconded by Alderman Elston. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Conklin,
Elston, Martin, Stauter, and Wilen. Nayes – None. Moton carried.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 7:22 pm for a Study
Session regarding the 911 Dispatch Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA).
Manager Shumard reported there was a meeting last week. He has been waiting for a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) from the County. The salary for the Dispatch
Director will be paid by the County, Rock Falls, and Sterling. The Director will also
oversee dispatch in Morrison that covers the rest of the county. Why should Rock Falls
and Sterling be paying twice? We already pay County tax; we should not pay again.
Rock Falls has signed the IGA and they do want to change anything.
Deadline for consolidation is July 1. Attorney Zollinger stated there could be a penalty
unless an extension is granted. Zollinger encouraged citizens to talk with their
legislators. For counties our size, it should have been consolidated to one dispatch.
Chief Cook stated the county should have consolidated to one dispatch in 1992 when
911 became functional.
Chief Morgan stated that expenses for County employees are greater.
Whiteside County and Rock Falls have signed the IGA and have dug their heels into any
change. An MOU would be attached to the IGA.
Concluding discussion, the meeting adjourned at 7:47 pm.
http://www.sterling-il.gov/docs/meetings/minutes/cc041717.pdf
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