City of Byron Community Services Committee met June 5.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Alderman Mittzi Fulrath, Alderman Emily Gerdes, Alderman Mike Gyorkos, Alderman Zeke Hobbie
OTHERS PRESENT: City Clerk Caryn Huber, City Engineer Jason Stoll, Public Works Director Aaron Vincer, Director Larry Hewitt.
Alderman Fulrath called the meeting to order at 5:35 pm. She asked to add three items to the agenda: Plow truck, angular parking and Mill Rd.
1. PUBLIC COMMENT – None
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MAY 1, 2019: Alderman Gerdes motioned to approve the Community Services Committee meeting minutes of May 1, 2019, seconded by Alderman Gyorkos. Motion passed.
3. BYRON REC PATH/MAINTENANCE BUDGET – Director Stoll said there will be a Safe Routes to School grant available in October 2020. If we are serious about going after this grant, a portion of the engineering work needs to be done. The extension being discussed is from Kingsway going west to the far entrance of Shadowwood. We could potentially qualify for up to $500,000.
4. DRAINAGE REIMBURSEMENT – Move to end of agenda.
5. INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH BYRON TOWNSHIP – Attorney Krahenbuhl is revising the wording of the agreement and incorporating the changes that the Township requested.
6. DOWNTOWN SIDEWALK SNOW PLOWING – Not all downtown business owners are clearing their sidewalks of snow, and the TAS Committee has been discussing this in an effort to find possible ways to resolve the problem. Director Vincer said there is not enough manpower in house, and he feels this job should be contracted out. He will be contacting several contractors for pricing. The sidewalks (2nd St. from Walnut to Union St.) would need to be cleared and snow put in the street before the city plows the downtown area so the snow can be removed by the city crews. One possibility of funding could be an additional charge on the business owner’s water bills. Depending on the amount of snowfall in any year, the account could have an excess or deficit. Alderman Gerdes asked if this should be implemented now in order to provide funds for the winter. Director Vincer is in the gathering data phase right now, and if the cost proves to be reasonable, we will proceed with this or another solution. Alderman Hobbie suggested that since Chris Logston has been hired as a city mower, perhaps that would be an option. Director Vincer added that the job needs to be done with equipment we don’t have, and also suggested the possibility of an intergovernmental agreement with the Park District or Forest Preserve.
7. PLOW TRUCK – Director Vincer would like to purchase one plow truck this year with a loan from Byron Bank for up to $120,000. The quote he received on the truck was $111,000. The rate is 3.1%, which is better than the rate from the leasing company. The loan would be over 5 years, with a yearly payment of $26,312.27, which would come out of the Road and Bridge account ($50,000 is budgeted for vehicles). Currently, the department has four dump trucks. Two are Chassis International (semi chassis), and two are Chevy 5500’s that are 12 years old. GM has since discontinued that line of truck, and parts are harder to find. Chevy has come out with a new version of that truck, and that is what Director Vincer is looking at. One truck is in bad shape (approximately $20,000 to repair), and even though we have a mechanic on staff, it would be more cost efficient to sell and put the money toward a new truck. Vehicle maintenance costs in the last seven years have been low because our equipment was newer. Do we want to start a capital replacement program (every 7 or 8 years), or use the vehicles until they run down? Taking the funds out of the road and bridge fund still leaves money left for other equipment and repairs. The truck that needs repair is not safe to drive, and may not be fixed before the winter. Since this item was added to the agenda, Alderman Fulrath said we will discuss at the July committee meeting and make a recommendation to Council at that time. Director Vincer said that even though the money is in the budget, his intent is to be transparent.
8. ANGULAR PARKING – At the committee’s request, Engineer Stoll took a look at the angular parking downtown to determine if changing the angle of the stalls would make backing out of a parking space any easier or safer. We would lose eleven parking spots by changing the angle, and the committee determined we do not want to lose any spots.
Director Hewitt joined the meeting and asked to revisit agenda Item #3, Rec Path Maintenance.
REC PATH MAINTENANCE – Director Hewitt pointed out that we have not done any maintenance on the bike paths. The school asphalted the portion of the path that is surrounding the schools, but there are many other areas that not only need sealcoating, but also symbols (we have stencils) and signage. The areas we maintain are Colfax St., from the railroad tracks to Route 2, 2nd St. by the Nursing Home, and the path that extends into Rose Meadows. Jason will put together some estimates. Aaron would rather not do in house. An intergovernmental agreement with the Township could open up new options.
9. MILL ROAD – Mill Rd. (by Glacier and Kingsway) is settling. The area around the manhole had dropped 2-3”. There was no stone in the manholes, so there is no collapsed structure. Public Works saw-cut an area enough to see under the blacktop to see if there was a void, but the stone was very solid. The settling continues east along the sewer line. Aaron’s theory is that because of the higher level of ground water, the stone has compacted. He has put signage up to indicate a rough road. King Blacktop will look at it to see if a level of blacktop will help smooth it out. A permanent solution will not be sought until they are sure the settling is done. They have done measurements, and continue to watch the area with plans to revisit the subject in the fall. Ideally, they would like to sealcoat the manholes and eventually the sewer mains to prevent storm water from infiltrating the water system.
10. PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE – Public Works has started hydrant flushing and the pressure is being checked. An ISO review is due soon, which effects the city’s insurance rates. After this is complete, a hydrant painting program will begin. • 3rd Street is looking good and they are finishing up some loose ends. • The department is doing a lot of mowing • Engineer Stoll said that the contracts are here from N-Track and they are preparing for a pre-construction meeting.
11. DRAINAGE REIMBURSEMENT – This is in regard to a house at the end of Washington St. The committee has considered this before, and has been asked to look at it again. The homeowner has purchased from the city and spent a total of $9,300 to clean up an area (about 45 ft) from the end of the street to the river. The homeowner is asking if the city can help with the expense of cleaning up and maintaining this area since it has improved the drainage. Alderman Gerdes stated she maintains her original position. The homeowner asked the city to deed the property to him and it is now out of our hands. She feels this is setting a bad precedent for similar situations. Alderman Fulrath, Alderman Hobbie and Alderman Gyorkos agreed. No action will be taken.
12. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Section )(c)(21)-Review and Approval of Closed Meeting Minutes. No Executive Session.
13. Alderman Fulrath adjourned the meeting at 6:30 pm. Next regular meeting is June 3, 2019, at 5:30 pm.
https://www.cityofbyron.com/vertical/sites/%7B67304C08-5FC3-4329-8F07-4786D33EE040%7D/uploads/6-05-19_CSC_Minutes-Approved.pdf
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