City of Oregon Council met August 14.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
Present: Mayor Ken Williams
Commissioner Jim Barnes
Commissioner Thomas E. Izer
Commissioner Terry Schuster
Commissioner Kurt Wilson
Chief Darin DeHaan
City Clerk/Treasurer Charlene Ruthe
City Attorney Paul Chadwick
City Attorney Paul Chadwick started the pledge of allegiance.
The Public Hearing for the Enterprise Zone was opened by Mayor Ken Williams. The purpose of the public hearing is to consider the addition of a unit of government and inclusive territory to the Lee-Ogle Enterprise Zone. Andy Shaw, Lee-Ogle Zone Administrator, spoke on behalf of the Enterprise Zone. City of Oregon is asking for ninety-two acres to be in the Enterprise Zone. Being in the zone will help with tax abatements, utility tax exemptions, and help to create employment with existing and new employers.
Roger Hopkins, of Manheim Solutions, has been working as Economics Development Consultant assisting the City in defining the boundaries of the City’s application for expansion of the Lee-Ogle Enterprise Zone. Reasons to approve the Enterprise Zone:
1.South and Southwest sides of Oregon have the potential for expansion and the Enterprise Zone would assist with retention of those industries, including FN Smith and others along the Pines Road corridor. Preserving jobs and expanding jobs along with the tax base for the City and County. FN Smith sent a letter of support.
2.Areas of the downtown and riverfront are included to recognize the likely use of sales tax abatement, retaining and create retail and service businesses.
3.Riverfront along Rock River are included because of the commercial and hospitality development opportunities.
4.Establishing the zone will create opportunities for potential future expansion to nearby industries outside city limits.
5.The boundaries may also be expanded in the City limits if another new commercial
or industrial businesses require the benefits of the zone.
No one spoke against.
The Public Hearing was closed.
At the next Council meeting will have an Ordinance to vote on for the Enterprise Zone.
Public Comment:
Chief Darin DeHaan read a letter of commendation regarding Officer Tad Dominski action on a traffic stop. He noticed that the two seemed nervous so asked the passenger her age and she was a minor with a gentleman in his twenties. He ended up calling her parents and they were not aware that she was with the gentleman. With his quick action to the situation he stopped any kind of situation from happening. We thank him for his quick action on 7/31/18.
Commissioner Jim Barnes moved to approve the July 24, 2018 minutes, Seconded by Thomas E. Izer.
Roll Call: Barnes, Izer, Schuster, Wilson, Williams. No Nays.
Commissioner Terry Schuster moved to approve the payroll in the amount of $48,732.99 and current warrants as listed:
Aegis Construction Inc., $6,258.73
Aegis Construction Inc., $1,400.00
Airgas USA, LLC, $39.55
Bonnell Industries, $267.75
Carreno Blacktop & Landscaping, $10,295.00
Central Bank Illinois, $2,909.12
Cintas, $162.86
City of Oregon, $4,769.93
City of Oregon, $5,000.00
Comcast, $148.55
Comcast, $136.03
ComEd, $2,087.08
ComEd, $195.42
ComEd, $81.82
ComEd, $4,310.65
Dynamic Horizons Computer Service, $130.00
Ecolab, $145.41
Envision, $190.00
Fastenal, $157.52
Ferguson Waterworks, $205.69
Fidelity Security Life Insurance, $123.08
First Midwest Bank, $4,071.22
Fischer’s, $2,375.11
Frontier, $387.48
Hawkins Inc., $875.50
Health Care Service Corp., $18,404.97
IEPA, $72,768.30
IP Communications, $597.90
James Taylor, $160.00
James Taylor, $90.00
Kunes Country Auto Group, $87.50
MCS Advertising, $75.00
Merlin’s, $1,300.00
Mobotrex, $1,432.00
Moring Disposal, $57.30
Motion Industries, $73.20
NAPA, $103.67
Ogle County Board, $237.60
Ogle County Highway Department, $74.50
Ogle County Sheriff’s Department, $80.00
Oregon Snyder, $230.28
Polo Cooperative Assoc., $2,832.16
Quill, $226.77
Sauk Valley Newspaper, $10.05
Stillman BancCorp, $675.48
Stillman BancCorp, $572.38
Sublette Mechanical Inc., $257.68
Sun Life Financial, $333.00
Village of Progress, $889.60
Visa, $1,161.39
Seconded by Commissioner Kurt Wilson.
Roll Call: Barnes, Izer, Schuster, Wilson, Williams. No Nays
Commissioner Jim Barnes moved to approve Ordinance 2018-117 to advertise for sale the vacant lot on South 10th Street owned by the City, Seconded by Commissioner Terry Schuster.
Discussion: The adjoining property owner is interesting in purchasing however, still need to go through with the requirements of selling city property. Bids will be opened at the September 25th Council meeting.
Roll Call: Barnes, Izer, Schuster, Wilson, Williams. No Nays.
Mayor Ken Williams moved to approve the revisions to City Code Chapter 4 Alcoholic Liquor to add LLC business type, Seconded by Commissioner Terry Schuster.
Discussion: Our current code doesn’t list LLC as an option for a type of business.
Roll Call: Barnes, Izer, Schuster, Wilson, Williams. No Nays.
Mayor Ken Williams moved to approve the revisions to City Code Chapter 4 Alcoholic Liquor to allow accompanied minors to be in the establishment up to 8:00 pm, Seconded by Commissioner Kurt Wilson.
Discussion: This will allow minors to be in a place that doesn’t serve food just alcohol. Commissioner Jim Barnes is not for the change why make it 8:00 pm? Who is going to check to see if minors are out after 8:00 pm? The police department has enough going on. He asked Commissioner Terry Schuster since he worked at the school do you think it’s a good idea? Commissioner Schuster said they are already doing it in the state of Wisconsin and thinks it will bring more business in the downtown. Feels 8:00 pm is late enough.
Roll Call: Schuster, Wilson, Williams. Nays: Barnes and Izer.
Mayor Ken Williams moved to approve the revisions to City Code Chapter 4 Alcoholic Liquor to allow removal of the manager being local, Seconded by Commissioner Kurt Wilson.
Discussion: Would like the manager to be at least twenty-five miles from city limits, in case they would need to be called in for an emergency.
Roll Call: Barnes, Izer, Schuster, Wilson, Williams. No Nays.
Commissioner Kurt Wilson moved to approve the Raffle License for the Oregon Park District, Seconded by Commissioner Thomas E. Izer.
Roll Call: Barnes, Izer, Schuster, Wilson, Williams. No Nays.
Mayor Ken Williams moved to approve the Municode Code Section on Zoning with the changes discussed, Seconded by Commissioner Thomas E, Izer.
Discussion: Special use applications will not require a public notice in newspaper, however will still need to contact adjoining property owners of the public hearing date. Talked about non-conforming use-in the definition they talk about Ordinance No. 285 will put in the date that it was approved October 13, 1941. Added vacation to tourist home definition. Added regular Commercial to use districts. In Commercial and Commercial Highway Business District zoning under use restrictions will take out candle, soap, and glass manufacturing.
Roll Call: Barnes, Izer, Schuster, Wilson, Williams. No Nays.
Chief Darin DeHaan announced that they had a good turnout for National Night Out. Hope to grow in the future. Will be interviewing applicants for the Police Officer position.
Commissioner Kurt Wilson asked when a replacement would be hired for Mike Bowers position? Mayor met with Mike this week to go over his job description.
Hope to have something soon in local newspapers, IML magazine, and if needed the GOVHR people, that helped with the salary survey. Once superintendent is hired they can fill the position for Ray Hawn, which is also retiring.
Mayor Ken Williams thanked the Council for going through the Municode updates, it has been time consuming. Only have a few left then will be completed.
Commissioner Jim Barnes moved to adjourn the meeting, Seconded by Commissioner Terry Schuster.
Roll Call: Barnes, Izer, Schuster, Wilson, Williams. No Nays.
Adjourn: 7:20 p.m.
http://cityoforegon.org/resident-information/agendaminutes/
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