City of Byron City Council Met Feb. 17.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Rickard called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Led by Mayor Rickard
3. ROLL CALL – Aldermen present: Todd Isaacs, Emily Gerdes, Mittzi Fulrath, Dan Reilly, Zeke Hobbie, Jessica Nehring, Michael Gyorkos. Seven members present. (All aldermen participated electronically). Quorum established.
* - denotes start of the roll call
Aldermen Absent: Christy Hanlin
PRESENT: Mayor John Rickard (participating in person at City Hall)
City Attorney Aaron Szeto (participating electronically)
Police Chief Todd Murray (participating in person at City Hall)
Dir. of Econ. Dev. Larry Hewitt (participating in person at City Hall)
City Engineer Jason Stoll (participating electronically)
Citizens Pam Kultgen, Bill Pirnat (participating electronically)
4. REVERENCE PERIOD – Mayor Rickard led the Council in prayer.
5. APPROVAL/AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA –Motion by Alderman Gerdes to approve, as presented, the February 17, 2021, agenda. Seconded by Alderman Isaacs. Roll call vote: Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Reilly, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE. Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 7; NAY, 0; ABS 0.
6. MINUTES -
a. February 3, 2021-Regular City Council Meeting – Motion made by Alderman Reilly to approve, as presented, the February 3, 2021, Regular City Council Meeting Minutes, seconded by Alderman Gerdes. Roll call vote: Fulrath, AYE; Reilly, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 7; NAY, 0; ABS 0.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT – None
8. TREASURER’S REPORT – Treasurer Huber was not in attendance, but the Treasurer’s Report is in Dropbox. She can be contacted with questions.
9. LIST OF BILLS – Alderman Isaacs asked about the charge to Byron Bank for phone cases and virus protection. Chief Murray explained these were for officers. Alderman Isaacs asked why they were coded to the general account and not the police account. Chief Murray will look into this. Alderman Isaacs also asked why Comcast charges were under Byron Bank. Chief Murray explained that if they received notice of the bill, but not a hard copy, they pay with the city credit card. Alderman Isaacs noted that there are other charges on the List of Bills for Comcast totaling $1,023.09. Chief Murray will investigate. Director Hewitt noted that there is a payment on the List of Bills to Weezy’s for $30,000. This is pending the decision of council later in the agenda. Alderman Gyorkos motioned to approve the list of bills dated February 17, 2021, in the amount of $99,812.99. Seconded by Alderman Isaacs. Roll call vote: Reilly, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE. Motion passed: AYE 7; NAY 0; ABS 0.
10. MAYOR’S REPORT – Mayor Rickard reported that he was contacted by a Dutch reporter from the Netherlands regarding the Exelon nuclear plant. • The mayor received a letter from a teenager asking why Moring was dumping recycling with waste. Several of the Aldermen have heard reports of this. We will contact Moring to clarify.
11. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT – No report. Items are on the agenda.
12. CITY ENGINEER’S PROJECT STATUS – Engineer Stoll reported that bid documents are out for the slurry seal and fabric in Brighton Ridge as part of the 2021 street projects. He has spoken to two contractors who indicated they would bid. Because this work is specialized, he would be pleased with receiving two bids. The documents are in the engineering folder in Dropbox. • A facility plan kick off meeting will be March. Aldermen who wish to attend may contact Engineer Stoll, subject to Open Meetings Act rules. Information about the scope of the project should be available in April.
13. REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – Director Hewitt reported that there are a few open foundations in the city. There are only seven home listings available in Byron (typically there are 80-100 at this time of year). New construction is not appraising well since construction costs are so high. • The Zoning Board will meet next month to discuss a special use permit for an Air B and B downtown. • Representatives from ComEd will be in town tomorrow to discuss several pole situations. They will also discuss possible pole relocations along Mill Road where the rec path addition will go.
14. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REPORT – Director Vincer was not in attendance, however, Mayor Rickard stated that Engineer Stoll has received notice from IEPA that we do qualify for a loan, with loan forgiveness of 15%. He questioned some numbers used in the process to determine eligibility of loan forgiveness. Engineer Stoll will look into this further.
, Alderman Isaacs asked to return to the List of Bills, and questioned the charge from NW Concrete. Director Hewitt speculated it may be a delayed bill for work done in the ShadowWood Subdivision, but he will ask Director Vincer.
15. POLICE CHIEF REPORT – Chief Murray reported that one of the officers is being deployed for 110 days to Chicago for COVID related issues. He will be getting a copy of the orders, and will report back to the council with additional information.
16. COMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Community Services – No report.
b. Public Safety – No report.
c. Administrative – No report.
17. CONTINUING BUSINESS
a. Weezy’s TIF Payment – The committee granted a TIF payment to Weezy’s in the amount of $30,000 for façade improvement. The payment would be split, paying $10,000/year over three years. The TIF account is healthy, and the committee recommends that the entire $30,000 be paid to Weezy’s in one lump sum. Roll call vote: Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Reilly, AYE. Motion passed: AYE 7; NAY 0; ABS 0.
b. Extended Bar Owners Ordinance – This ordinance, 2020-11, to extend Class A liquor license holders Sunday hours (allowing them to open from 8am until midnight), had first read at the last meeting. Although this was first presented in October, we had delayed acting on the ordinance because of the COVID mitigations that had been in place. The committee recommends extending Class A liquor license Sunday hours. Roll call vote: Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Reilly, AYE; Hobbie, NAY. Motion passed: AYE 6; NAY 1; ABS 0.
18. NEW BUSINESS –
a. Ordinance Amending License Fee – Change in Ownership – Attorney Szeto explained that this ordinance clarifies what happens in the event of a change in ownership of a liquor license. $500 will be charged if there is a change in ownership of 50% or more of the ownership interest. A $250 fee will be charged if the change in ownership is less than 50%. This ordinance is on the agenda as a first read.
19. COUNCIL TALK – Mayor Rickard asked the Community Services committee to consider adding an additional project onto the 2021 Streets Program based on the amount of money we have dedicated to road repairs in our accounts. The committee will discuss at their next meeting.
20. EXECUTIVE SESSION - Mayor Rickard advised there was no need for an Executive Session.
21. COMMUNICATION –
a. Next Regular City Council Meeting – Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at 6:30pm. b. City Budget Meeting – Saturday, March 6, 2021, at 9:00 am.
22. ADJOURN – Alderman Isaacs motioned to adjourn. Seconded by Alderman Gerdes. Roll call vote: Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Reilly, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE. Motion passed: AYE 7; NAY 0; ABS 0. Mayor Rickard adjourned the City Council meeting at 7:01 pm.
https://www.cityofbyron.com/vertical/sites/%7B67304C08-5FC3-4329-8F07-4786D33EE040%7D/uploads/Minutes_-_2021-02-17-Approved.pdf
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