City of Mount Caroll City Council Met Nov. 10.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
Mayor Bates rang the bell to announce the start of the meeting.
Mayor Bates called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Roll Call: Mayor Bates, present, Alderman Jeff Elliott, present, Mike Risko, present, Joe Grim, present, Paul Kaczmarski, present, Doug Bergren Absent.
Alderman Doug Bregren led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Alderman Elliott moved and Alderman Grim seconded to approve the minutes of the October 27, 2020 regular meeting as presented. Roll call vote: Alderman Elliott, yes, Kaczmarski, yes, Risko yes, Grim, yes, Bergren, yes. Vote: 5 yeses and 0 noes. The motion was carried.
Alderman Kaczmarksi moved and Alderman Risko seconded to authorize the payment of accounts payable date for the month of November 10, 2020, as approved by the Finance Committee. Roll call vote: Alderman Kaczmarski, yes, Risko, yes, Elliott, yes, Grim yes, Bergren Yes. Vote 5 yeses and 0 noes. The motion was carried.
Mayor Bates reported that the bank account balances were totaling $840,762.36 as of today.
Treasurer Lisa reported of the November 10, 2020 Streets and Police committee meetings:
STEETS DEPARTMENT
1. Eric reported that they ran the street sweeper most of the week and trimmed more trees before winter comes.
2. Mayor Bates wanted to Thank Eric and his crew for the great job they did on the Park gates and trimming the trees around the star at the Cemetery.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
1. Replaced the running board on the 2019 Tahoe. Had starting issue with the 2017 Tahoe both batteries were tested and replaced.
2. Still waiting to hear back from Dell Customer Service about the mobile laptops.
3. Starcom 21 The cost for 4 portables is $23,100.00 and 2 mobiles are $11,700.00. Motorala is also recommending adding a base radio or adding WiFi connect to the portables so they reliably work inside our building. The airtime costs for year one will waived by Motorola and per the State Contract our agency cost will $204.00 per month after that. This will be an added budget line for next year’s budget.
4. Lexis Nexis will be set up and running by November 15th, 2020. They will collect all fees for any crash report and transmit the money monthly.
5. Replaced the Monitor that was failing for a commercial grade Samsung for $157.00. The printer scanner also stopped working in October, after a short round of trouble shooting led to the replacement of a $9.00 power cord.
5. Still taking all precautions with Covid-19.
6. Code Red was discussed at length when we had a tornado warning for the Northern part of Carroll County. Even though the City warning whistle went off we were not in the geographic area for the warning so that is why the Code Red was not activated. Chief Marth checked and a Code Red warning did go to the residents in that affected area.
7. Need to have a discussion at the next ordinance committee meeting regarding our nuisance ordnance and whether it needs to be amended due to its age and vagueness.
FINANCE
Alderman Kaczmarski reported of the November 10, 2020 finance committee meeting:
1. Bills were reviewed and approved for 35 claims in the amount of $81,470.01.
2. Reviewed the Tax Levy Worksheet and a consensus was made to draft it at the $300,000.00. Julie said that we have to wait 20 days to pass it, so it will be done at the December 8th, 2020 meeting.
Under old business the council heard updates on vacant properties.
1. Have yet to receive a bid from Law Excavating. Mayor is going to talk with the company that took down Fecke Flats.
2. Had a complaint about a vacant house on Pleasant St. City Attorney will send a letter out to owner.
Under new business the council discussed the update on the Davis Trust and Community Building Survey.
1. City Attorney gave an update that they had a conference call challenging North Central’s distribution from the Davis Trust. They are also in negotiations with North Central of taking a smaller percentage. Discussed what the city felt was fair and agreed we would want this done before it will go to a different Judge 2. Public Survey for the proposed Community Building is approved and ready for printing mailing. Must be returned to the city by December 31, 2020.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Approved IEPA Loan Request #16 in the amount of $582,177.18 for the Waste Water Treatment Facility Project. Includes MSA Profesional Services, Inc Invoice# 18 for $55,723.35 and the Leander Construction Pay Application #14 for $526,453.83. Alderman Grim made the motion Elliott seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Grim, yes, Elliott, yes, Risko, yes, Kaczmarski, yes, Bergren, yes. Vote: 5 yesses 0 noes. The motion was carried.
2. Discussion and first reading of Ordinance NO 2020-11-11, Ordinance authorizing the purchase of Real Property commonly known as the Kraft Building 320 N. Main St. Mt. Carroll, IL (PIN:05-08-01-401-021). City Attorney addressed the issue of Mayor Bates. Alderman Risko and Bergen who are members of the Mt. Carroll Economic Development Group (MCEDGE) that we are purchasing the building from. Reading their by-laws they did not have any voting rights, so there is no conflict. Mayor spoke with Kathy Orr regarding the TIF and she said that there was nothing wrong with purchasing the building and supports it. Talked about the repairs needing done and will have for the next meeting.
2. Agreed to have a public comment session before Committee meetings on November 24, 2020 thru Zoom, this will give the residents a chance to ask questions.
Status of State Executive Order and Restore: Mayor Bates would like to keep City Hall open as long as possible. With that everyone coming into the City Hall Office area must have a mask on. Will try and get interviews done for the treasurer position but with the rising COVID-19 cases we have delayed them. Will try and have recommendations at the November 24, 2020 meeting.
General Audience: Nothing
Correspondence:
1. Illinois Tax Increment Association
2. Thank You from the Humane Society
3. Thank You from McQuire Iron.
4. Water and Sewer has moved to the new plant and is up and running.
Alderman Grim made a motion at 8:05 p.m. for into Executive Session, seconded by Alderman Bergren.
https://www.mtcarrollil.org/index.asp?SEC=F252C717-4E52-41E5-BED7-645A604CB4CD&DE=9AA489EF-4F90-4EDA-8C13-6E36F1EDA17A
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