NW Illinois News

City of Galena Council met Dec. 10.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

18C-0459 – CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Renner called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Chambers at 101 Green Street on 10 December 2018.

18C-0460 – ROLL CALL

Upon roll call, the following members were present: Allendorf, Bernstein, Fach, Kieffer, Westemeier, Renner

Absent: Hahn

18C-0461 – ESTABLISHMENT OF QUORUM

Mayor Renner announced a quorum of Board members present to conduct City business.

18C-0462 – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Pledge was recited.

18C-0463 - REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEE

Turner Hall Committee – Fach reported the committee met last week. A determination was made to terminate the committee. A very successful Festival of the Arts concert, Tallymore, was held. Attendance was 450 people. The Galena High School concerts are being held at Turner Hall tonight, the Galena Middle School concerts will be held on Tuesday, December 11th and a wedding is scheduled for this weekend.

Mayor Renner thanked Charlie and the committee for their time serving and the work they have done.

18C-0464 – CITIZENS COMMENTS

None.

CONSENT AGENDA CA18-23

18C-0465 – APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF NOVEMBER 26, 2018

18C-0466 – ACCEPTANCE OF OCTOBER 2018 FINANCIAL REPORT

Allendorf requested item 18C-0467 be pulled from the Consent Agenda.

Motion: Allendorf moved, seconded by Fach, to approve Consent Agenda, CA18-23, with the exception of item 18C-0467.

Discussion: None.

Roll Call:

AYES: Bernstein, Fach, Kieffer, Westemeier, Allendorf, Renner

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Hahn The motion carried.

Regular Board Meeting 10 December 2018

18C-0467 – APPROVAL OF RATE AND POLICY CHANGES FOR TURNER HALL

Allendorf stated he would like to look at rates for resident vs. non-resident. He would prefer to see residents get more of a break.

Mayor Renner voiced concern with the amount charged for the Boy Scouts, $825. He recommended giving them a flat rate as they are a not-for-profit and have been coming here for years. Council felt the Boy Scouts should be kept at the not-for-profit rate.

Mayor Renner also questioned why the Bridal Fair pays nothing. Janelle Keeffer explained this event was taken on as a co-sponsorship event as a marketing initiative. The rental agreement provides the facility and our name will be on all marketing materials. Keefer advised she will serve on an advisory committee to make sure everything is done in a professional manner. Turner Hall will be named on all advertising. The entry fee is $250-$300 per table. They are hopeful for 40 vendors. They currently have 25 vendors. Any money received will be turned back into marketing. They will be doing destination marketing in the surrounding area.

Allendorf stated he is most concerned with wedding packages. He personally would like to see residents get more of a break to give them more of an incentive to rent the hall. Keefer advised currently there is a discount on 4-day rental packages for residents. All other rates are not discounted. Allendorf recommended a 10 percent discount overall on rates for residents.

Keefer advised one of her recommendations for 2019 is short term reservations. If the hall hasn’t been booked out 1 month in advance, offer it discounted at the regular week day rate. Council was in favor of implementing short term reservations.

Motion: Allendorf moved, seconded by Kieffer, to postpone item 18C-0467, Approval of Rate and Policy Changes for Turner Hall, to the next meeting.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

18C-0452 – SECOND READING AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF THE 2018 TAX LEVY ORDINANCE FOR TAXES TO BE COLLECTED IN 2019

Motion: Kieffer moved, seconded by Bernstein, to approve the second reading of an ordinance approving the 2018 Tax Levy for taxes to be collected in 2019 in the amount of $1,439,693.

Discussion: Westemeier stated he would vote no as he feels people are getting taxed out of Galena because they can’t afford to live here. Westemeier feels the $37,000 can be made up with the video gaming revenues received. Allendorf agreed stating he is not in favor of levying for the money just because we lose it if we don’t.

Bernstein noted the problem with not increasing it is that it is compounded. The City will never regain it and the cost of services continues to go up. Kieffer agreed. He feels the money could fix a street or two.

Fach stated he had originally voted in favor of the increase; however, since that time he has read that the EMT’s will be coming in with a 10 percent increase, he will be voting no.

Mayor Renner stated he understands both sides. He is concerned if the city continues to sit in the background and lose out every year, when in fact we do have to increase, it could require us to go to referendum. He was in favor of the increase.

Roll Call:

AYES: Kieffer, Bernstein

NAYS: Westemeier, Allendorf, Fach

ABSENT: Hahn

The motion was denied.

Motion: Fach moved, seconded by Allendorf, to approve an ordinance approving the 2018 Tax Levy for taxes to be collected in 2019 in the amount of $1,420,861 and waive the second reading.

Discussion: Fach was in favor of reducing the increase by half to $18,832.

Moran advised he would deduct $18,832 from the Police Protection Tax which is currently levied

at $25,084. Roll Call:

AYES: Kieffer, Allendorf, Bernstein, Fach, Renner 

NAYS: Westemeier

ABSENT: Hahn

The motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS

18C-0468 – DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON 2019 GOALS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE OLD CITY CEMETERY

Glick stated he has been working at the cemetery for the past three years. This is the second year he has received a grant from the Galena Foundation. Glick summarized the work completed in 2018.

The following goals for 2019 were presented:

 Design and get approval for up to three interpretive signs.

 Have a Ground Positioning Radar (GPR) survey on part of the cemetery.

 Erect an iron fence at Reverend Aratus Kent’s original burial plot. (Kent was re-interred

in 1929 at Greenwood along with his wife and children).

 Place two stone benches. The City has the donated benches and will place when weather permits.

Glick advised the goals are listed roughly in the priority with which he hopes to complete them. He will continue to raise funds by asking for donations from community organizations and interested persons.

Motion: Westemeier moved, seconded by Kieffer, to approve the 2019 goals for improvements to the Old City Cemetery.

Discussion: Mayor Renner thanked Glick and his volunteers for all of their hard work.

Roll Call: 

AYES: Westemeier, Allendorf, Bernstein, Fach, Kieffer, Renner 

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Hahn

The motion carried.

18C-0469 – PRESENTATION OF YEAR END SWIMMING POOL REPORT

Council thanked Janelle Keefer for the report and commended her for a job well done.

18C-0470 – DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON WATER AND SEWER OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE CONTRACT EXPIRING JULY 31, 2019

Motion: Allendorf moved, seconded by Fach, to move ahead with putting the Water and Sewer Operations and Maintenance Contract out to bid after expiration of the existing contract at the end of July.

Discussion: Allendorf agrees taking it in house doesn’t make sense. He would prefer to see the City go out for bid to see how prices compare.

Bernstein recommended proceeding with negotiations with Veolia. If that is not successful, it could then be opened up for bid. The City has been satisfied with the way things have been going with Veolia.

Kieffer was in favor of working with Veolia. It would be more feasible to renegotiate with them as opposed to going out for bid.

Allendorf was concerned with having Veolia’s price without any competing bids.

Roll Call: 

AYES: Allendorf, Bernstein, Fach, Kieffer, Westemeier 

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Hahn

The motion carried.

18C-0471 – WARRANTS

Motion: Kieffer moved, seconded by Bernstein, to approve the Warrants as presented, 18C-0471.

Discussion: None.

Roll Call: 

AYES: Bernstein, Fach, Kieffer, Westemeier, Allendorf, Renner 

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Hahn

The motion carried.

18C-0472 – ALDERPERSONS’ COMMENTS

Flood Levy Signs – Westemeier questioned if the City plans to replace the signs along the levy pathway. Moran advised the original artwork for most of these signs doesn’t exist anymore. Staff has been looking into starting over with new artwork.

Light Posts – Westemeier thanked Kimberly and Earl Thompson for the addition of the lights to the light poles on Main Street. They make the wreaths look much better.

Luminaria/Living Windows – Westemeier thanked the volunteers for the Luminaria/Living Windows. It was a perfect weekend for it and you could hardly walk downtown.

Thank you – Westemeier thanked Janelle Keefer for her work with the pool and Charlie for his work with Turner Hall.

Thank you – Allendorf thanked Janelle for the work she has done with Turner Hall. There have been quite a few events there and is a great option to have in the City. He would like to see a price break for residents to give them more incentive to rent the hall.

Thank you – Allendorf thanked Fach for his work on the Turner Hall Committee and the Galena Foundation for their support.

Luminaria – Fach gave a shout out to the crew that did the luminaria. It was a very successful weekend for everyone.

Water at Dodge/Spring Street – Kieffer voiced concern with the water at Dodge/Spring Streets. It is dangerous situation.

18C-0473 – CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Water at Dodge/Spring Street – Moran advised Veolia has tested the water numerous times and it still does not appear to be city water. It seems to be a natural occurrence. Staff will continue to work on that intersection and will keep it salted for safety.

Galena Foundation – The City received two checks from the Galena Foundation today; One in the amount of $31,846.48 for Turner Hall and the other in the amount of $72,665.34 for Grant Park.

Ash Tree Removal – Moran advised the bid packets are out for the ash tree removal. The bids could potentially be approved at the next meeting to allow contractors to work throughout the winter. Moran noted this has not been budgeted for in this budget.

18C-0474 – MAYOR’S REPORT

Thank you – Mayor Renner thanked Janelle Keefer for her hard work.

Luminaria/Living Windows – Mayor Renner thanked those involved with Luminaria/Living Windows. Town was crowded.

Fire in the Sky Weekend – Mayor Renner thanked those involved with Fire in the Sky. County Economic Growth Committee – Janelle Keeffer has graciously offered to sit on the

County Economic Growth Committee.

Meeting – Mayor Renner noted the next meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 26th due to the Christmas holiday.

18C-0475 – MOTION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION

Motion: Allendorf moved, seconded by Westemeier, to recess to Executive Session to discuss the following:

 Employee hiring, firing, compensation, discipline and performance, Section 2 (c) (1)

 Review of Executive Session Minutes, Section 2 (c) (21)

Discussion: None.

Roll Call: 

AYES: Fach, Kieffer, Westemeier, Allendorf, Bernstein, Renner 

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Hahn

The motion carried. The meeting recessed at 7:15 p.m.

The meeting reconvened at 7:31 p.m.

The following action was taken after Executive Session:

Motion: Allendorf moved, seconded by Kieffer, to require Mary Beth Hyde to compensate the City of Galena $1.00 for each of the 11 faxes sent to the Illinois State Board of Elections from the City of Galena fax machine as Treasurer of the Friends of Nick Hyde political campaign and $21.96, the equivalent of one-hour of pay. In making this motion, we find the use of the fax machine by Mary Beth Hyde to be an innocent act and therefore de Minimis.

Discussion: None.

Roll Call: 

AYES: Fach, Kieffer, Westemeier, Allendorf, Bernstein, Renner 

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Hahn

The motion carried.

18C-0476 - ADJOURNMENT

Motion: Kieffer moved, seconded by Westemeier, to adjourn.

Discussion: None.

Roll Call: 

AYES: Allendorf, Bernstein, Fach, Kieffer, Westemeier, Renner 

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Hahn

The motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m.

http://www.cityofgalena.org/documents/filelibrary/side_tabs/agendas__minutes/city_council_minutes/2018/cc121018_1D424DF1834EB.pdf