City of Lanark City Council met June 4.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
Lanark City Council met in regular session at the Lanark City Hall at 7:02 p.m. Roll call taken by Kim Hunter, City Clerk, showed Alderpersons present were Lance Leverton, Brad Knutti, Weston Burkholder, Mark Macomber and Jay VanMatre. Absent: Haley Grim. Mayor Ken Viglietta was present and presiding.
Others present were: Donalee Yenney, Treasurer; Ed Mitchell, Attorney; Jason Alvarado, Maintenance Manager; Matt Magill, Chief of Police and Kim Hunter, City Clerk. Dan Kruse, Ed Schreiner, Rosemary Flikkema, Dave Shaulis and LaMoille Poffenberger.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – was led by Alderperson Lance Leverton.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – MOTION- was made by Alderperson Lance Leverton and seconded by Alderperson Brad Knutti to accept the minutes of the May 21, 2019 meeting as presented. Motion carried by 4 aye votes. Abstained: Mark Macomber. Absent: Haley Grim.
STANDING COMMITTEES AND BOARDS – POSSIBLE ACTION – Rosemary Flikkema from the Park Board, updated the council on the work being done at the park for the new playground equipment. She said there will be a Community Build on June 15, 2019 from 8:00 a.m. to around 3:00 p.m. until it is done. She has about 30 people lined up to work. She invited the alderpersons to come help if they can. They are going to build rain or shine. She thanked the city crew for all the work they have been doing. The mulch is coming from Cordova.
Rosemary also reported for the Transformers, they are having a “Keep Them Busy” Fun Fair for Kids on June 8th at the Heritage Center from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Local businesses and distant businesses are giving out information for activities for the children to do this summer. There are also vendors. There will be games, books and toys that can be purchased. The library is also involved with the Fun Fair, they have Timberlake Playhouse coming to talk about the programs they have to offer and children’s plays. Aerial from the Little Mermaid will be there to perform along with other performers. Rosemary mentioned Erickson Paving may have paved a little bit too high near the information center.
PUBLIC COMMENTS – Ed Schreiner, a resident of Lanark is still having issues with his next door neighbor. He says it is better, but the neighbor is still loud. Chief of Police, Matt Magill explained he needs to call it in as he needs documentation to follow up on it.
APPOINT OF LIBRARY BOARD MEMBERS – ACTION REQUIRED – Mayor Ken, had a letter from Janie Dollinger, Director of the Library asking the council for their consent to file her suggestions for appointing the following Lanark residents for 3 year terms to the Library Board effective June 1st, 2019. They will be having a meeting June 11, 2019 and they would be active if they are approved tonight. She asked to please consider the reappointment of Kari Scobee. Dave Shaulis and Jodi York will be retiring from the board as their terms have expired June 2019. She also asked to consider the appointment of Mary Beth Landherr, 647 E. Locust St. and Leonard (Lenny) Freidhof, 528 E. Pearl. Mayor Ken asked for consent of the council to make these appointments and accept the resignations of Dave Shaulis and Jodi York. Motion was made by Alderperson Lance Leverton and seconded by Alderperson Jay VanMatre to accept the resignations of Dave Shaulis and Jodi York and to accept the appointments of Kari Scobee, Mary Beth Landherr and Lenny Freidhof. Motion carried by 5 aye votes. Absent: Haley Grim. Donalee would like to know who the new treasurer for the Library will be as she needs their contact information.
FIRST BRETHREN ALLEY ISSUE – ACTION REQUIRED – LaMoille Poffenberger was here in regards to the First Brethren Alley issue. Alderperson Weston Burkholder said they want to redo the parking lot pavement and do seal coating on their black top on two parking lots. The city has an alley on the north side of the church. Weston said that he figured the alley would be 10 percent of the project, the total project will be $1,280 and figured if the city paid around 10 percent we could contribute $200.00. Motion was made by Alderperson Mark Macomber and seconded by Alderperson Weston Burkholder to contribute to the First Brethern Church seal coating of $200.00. Motion carried by 5 aye votes. Absent: Haley Grim. Fritz will be doing the seal coating. Donalee Yenney asked how did they want to be reimbursed, Alderperson Mark Macomber said the First Brethren Church can bring in a paper so we can reimburse them. LaMoille thanked the council.
LOCUST STREET DRAINAGE ISSUE – POSSIBLE ACTION – Alderperson Jay VanMatre explained this issue to the council. The property is 533 E. Locust. It goes back to a 2011 issue to fix it. Leaking of a tube is causing flooding in their backyard. Water is starting to submerge the shed and is getting close to the house due to a lot of rain. Jason Alavarado said that a tube blew out inside a tube. They need to get a camera in it and check it out. Jason said he will try and do it in the middle of next week and let Jay know and Jay will get back to the resident. Jason will also talk to Les Guenzler about it.
LANARK CEMETERY BOARD REPORT #2 – ACTION REQUIRED – Dave Shaulis discussed the Lanark Cemetery Board Report #2 with the council. He said on behalf of the current cemetery board they would like to thank the council, Ed Mitchell for helping with legal issues, Jocelyn Lilly, Joe Drozd, Laura Snider, Norm Brinkmeier, Leroy Hasbrook, Donalee Yenney, Kim Hunter, the city council and Matt Magill. He thanked Amy Milby, he said she is a great sexton and he thanked Harvey Brinker, her part-time helper. He thanked and appreciates Mayor Ken Viglietta for his advice. Dave brought an expense report and account balances for their end of year and explained them to the council. He talked about the new cement work that was done by Burkholders’ for $6,600.00 and thanked Jason Alvarado for his work. They gave $5,000.00 to the Park Board for new playground equipment. They also had a few trees taken down also. He said they have spent around $14,000.00 since March 31, 2019. The report balances he handed out are as of March 31, 2019, their end of year. So if they wanted to subtract the $14,000.00 off of the report balances this is what they would currently have. They had 24 burials, 11 regular burials and 13 cremations and only 3 lots were sold. He discussed the tiling of the city farm and medical bills also. Donalee Yenney mentioned that Amy Milby has the short term disability along with the other full time city employees.
APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE – ACTION REQUIRED – Motion was made by Alderperson Mark Macomber and seconded by Alderperson Brad Knutti to approve Ordinance #963 “Appropriation Ordinance for the Fiscal Year Beginning April 1, 2019 and Ending March 31, 2020.” Motion carried by 5 aye votes. Absent: Haley Grim.
CORNERSTONE TIF ISSUE – POSSIBLE ACTION – Attorney Ed Mitchell recommended going into Executive Session as there could be a threat of litigation.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – MOTION – was made by Alderperson Jay VanMatre and seconded by Alderperson Lance Leverton to convene in Executive Session at 7:48 p.m. in order to discuss Litigation and Real Estate. Motion carried by 5 aye votes. Absent: Haley Grim.
REGULAR SESSION – MOTION – was made by Alderperson Weston Burkholder and seconded by Alderperson Jay VanMatre to reconvene into regular session at 8:18 p.m. Motion carried by 5 aye votes. Absent: Haley Grim.
REPORTS – EMPLOYEES, ATTORNEY, CLERK, TREASURER, ALDERPERSONS AND MAYOR – Jason Alvarado, Maintenance Manager passed out his Monthly Report. He discussed how the water tower project is coming along and it is estimated the completion date is the last part of July depending on the weather. He said that Geoff Williams will be back June 17th. He snipped the wire for the buzzer at the lift station so all you will see is a flashing light. Brad Knutti brought up well #4. Jason talked about Well #4, and the SKATA system, it was checked by Jason DeMichele for water samples and he suggested that it be checked and he called Darin from Fehr Graham to have someone check it out. It bangs really bad, it is caused by pressure. Brian from Fehr Graham said he has never heard one hit that hard. The hammering causes main breaks. Darin recommended holding off on the SKADA system and maybe bundle it in with the sewer plant, and after getting well #3 and tower done that we look into getting a VFD for well #4. They think it will be about $20,000.00. Mayor Ken said to let him know when they would like to get this on the city council agenda. Mayor Ken said that if you see people blowing the grass into the street and into the gutters and storm drains to let the people know they cannot do that. It is a State Law and a City Ordinance is in place. Donalee suggested that maybe we can put something in the water bill to let the people know on bright colored paper.
Matt Magill, Chief of Police reminded everyone regarding the long grass that there is a process to do it, because we are entering private property. There ae notices and warnings first before it gets mowed by the city. They discussed a few properties in town and liens. Mayor Ken asked if anyone has been billed for the long grass yet, Kim Hunter said no. He wanted to get together with Matt Magill, Kim Hunter and himself. Liens were brought up if the homeowner doesn’t pay the fines. Donalee asked questions of how we are going to do this and we can look back at last year on how it was done. She has Ardena Grant’s bills and we can find out which properties will need to be billed. Mayor Ken brought up dead trees on the Fox property that need to have something done. Matt suggested getting a hold of the property owner before they do anything. Mayor Ken asked how the back up generators are doing, Matt explained how they worked. Mayor Ken said we still need to get blankets. The Heritage Center is the designated warming center. Ken passed out a weather map radar picture of the Quad Cities and Clinton and explained it to the council on what kind of weather we have been getting. The sirens went off last week. It was the model used in the disaster preparedness. Matt says that we have 10 licensed UTVs so far. The council asked questions regarding the UTVs such as riding on sidewalks, Matt said they are not allowed on sidewalks.
Kim Hunter, City Clerk said she had made a binder of newspaper clippings for current events regarding the City of Lanark, if anyone would like to see it, it is in the office.
Donalee Yenney, Treasurer passed out a Profit & Loss Budget vs Actual for the income and expenses report for April 2019. She explained the numbers with the council. Mark Macomber asked about the CIP fund, he was saying there was carryover from previous years and was wondering how much there is in it now. Donalee said $103,000.00. The money is earmarked for water and sewer projects. Ken says we are restricted on the projects we can use this money on and Donalee would like to reminded on how these projects need to be paid with the CIP fund. The council discussed raising the CIP amount and the water bills. Our CIP is currently $3.00 a month, Mark Macomber said that Lena’s was $16.00 a month. Shannon’s water bill is over $100.00 a month and they are ready to raise it again. Ken said that he believes Denise Bormann, Utilities Clerk will be at our next council meeting and we can discuss it with her, she has the experience with Shannon. Mayor Ken says that by law we are to be billing enough to be covering our operating system. By raising the rates we could be to catching up with that and also increasing the CIP fund. Weston Burkholder suggested that we should be raising it on an annual basis. Mark Macomber would like to see it in an Ordinance and raise it up to 5 percent each year. Ken said that we can put this on the next Agenda so if the council wants to do any action on this, they can. Mark suggested maybe eliminating the senior citizen discount. The option for paying for a year and get one month free was also mentioned, Ken said that it was a win-win deal with paying for entire year and they can talk to Denise on how successful it is. Alderperson Jay VanMatre said he needs to get the Animal Ordinance information to Ed Mitchell and go over it with him. Cats, dogs and turkeys are separate issues. Ken asked if he would like it on the next Agenda. Ken asked if he wanted Door to Door on the agenda. Jay said that he believes that the Door to Door is done and he needs to talk to Matt Magill regarding the resolution for the lanyards. He wants animal restrictions on the next agenda.
Alderperson Mark Macomber brought up what will the Farmers Market do if the lots are sold. Mayor Ken talked about them using the city parking lot on the blacktop. Mark had a letter from the Eastland Sports Boosters regarding the Cougar Open golf outing they are looking for a donation, the Open is on July 27th. Mark said we should put them on the next agenda. Mayor Ken said he thought we gave them $100.00 last year. Ken will put on the next agenda. Alderperson Brad Knutti told Matt that one of his constituents had told him that the Polo Police Department has a Facebook page and they have said they have a program for when you are heading out of town, it is for the City of Polo residents for when they are going on vacation. They have a vacation house check program and the department provides a free residential check for residents who go on vacation and also for an extended period of time. They put them on a security check list. The Polo Police Department said to contact them before leaving town if they are interested. Matt Magill said that Lanark has a similar program and that he will put it on Lanark’s website.
Mayor Ken Viglietta talked about the paving and said they did a nice job and also talked about the handicap parking spaces. Ken said he received an e-mail from Shawn Copeland, a media executive from WHBF and WKLGB TV from Channel 4 from the Quad Cities. They want to highlight the city of Lanark this year for all the good things happening here, Old Settler’s Day and showcasing 8 people. They would like to set up an interview and do an 8 part series with interviews from 8 people. Haley Grim and Ariel Martz are two of them that will talk about the Old Settler’s Day. Ken asked for suggestions and thoughts for people we can ask to be a part of this. This is very exciting for Lanark.
ADJOURNMENT – MOTION – was made by Alderperson Weston Burkholder and seconded by Alderperson Lance Leverton to adjourn at 9:15 p.m. Motion carried by 5 aye votes. Absent: Haley Grim.
https://lanarkil.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/City-Council-Minutes-06-04-2019.pdf
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