City of Rochelle City Council Met Feb. 8.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
The Rochelle City Council met in Regular Session at 6:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers of City Hall; 420 N. 6th Street; Rochelle, IL 61068.
PLEDGE TO THE FLAG & PRAYER: The pledge was led by Mayor Bearrows and prayer was said by Pastor Rob Hamilton.
ROLL CALL: Mayor - On March 16th, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Pritzker suspended the in-person attendance requirement for public meetings allowing public bodies to conduct meetings electronically without having to comply with the physical quorum requirements or the conditions for participating electronically in a meeting. On March 31st Governor Pritzker extended the order until April 30th. On May 29th Governor Pritzker extended the order until June 27th. On June 26th Governor Pritzker extended the order through July 25th. On July 24th Governor Pritzker extended the order through August 22nd. On August 21st Governor Pritzker extended the order through September 19, 2020. On September 18th Governor Pritzker extended the order through October 17, 2020. On October 16th Governor Pritzker extended the order through November 14th. On November 13th Governor Pritzker extended the order through December 12th. On December 11th Governor Pritzker extended the order through January 9th. On January 8th Governor Pritzker extended the order through February 6th. On February 5th Governor Pritzker extended the order through March 6th. As a result, Councilman Bil Hayes and Councilwoman Kate Shaw-Dickey have notified the City Clerk of their desire to participate remotely. Unless there is a motion objecting to their attendance, the request of the council members will be deemed approved. Present on Roll Call were Councilmembers Gruben, D. McDermott, T. McDermott, Mayor Bearrows, and Councilmembers Shaw Dickey and Hayes attended remotely. Absent: Burke. A quorum of six were present. City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh and City Clerk Sue Messer were also present.
PROCLAMATIONS, COMMENDATIONS, ETC: None.
REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS:
• Mayor’s Report – Mayor thanked the Street Department for the great job they are doing with all of the snow.
• Council Members
• Employee Introductions:
o Danielle Bettner
o Jessica Rogers
o Sebastian McCoy
PUBLIC COMMENTARY: None.
BUSINESS ITEMS:
1) CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS BY OMNIBUS VOTE with Recommendations:
a) Approve Minutes of City Council Meeting – 1/25/21
b) Approve Exceptions – 01/12/21-01/18/21, 01/19/21-01/25/21, 01/26/21-02/01/21
c) Approve Payroll – 01/11/21-01/25/21
d) Approve a Resolution Establishing the Official Zoning Map for 2020
e) Approve Bearrows Real Estate and Auction Co Lucky Hub Dash 5K – 03/13/21
Motion made by Councilor T. McDermott and seconded by Councilor D McDermott, “I move Consent Agenda Items (a) through (e) be approved by Omnibus Vote as recommended.” Roll call vote was taken. Ayes: Gruben, Hayes, D. McDermott, T. McDermott, Shaw-Dickey and Mayor Bearrows. Nays: None. Motion passed 6-0.
2) Purchase of Utility Work Machine The Street and Cemetery Divisions currently share a skid loader to complete daily tasks. This has resulted in reduced efficiency and production for each division. To eliminate this issue and fulfil the daily operational needs of the Cemetery, staff researched different types of machines and found the utility work machine to be the best fit. A utility work machine is a compact vehicle with a front loader that can operate hydraulic tool attachments, The Street Department already owns several tool attachments, such as pallet forks, dirt bucket, snowplow and blower, stump grinder, soil finisher and several others. A utility work machine also offers a hydraulic dump box with a 2,000lb payload and all-wheel steer to reduce ground disturbance and unnecessary restoration work.
The 2021 Street and Cemetery budgets include funds to purchase one new utility work machine. A notice to bidders was published in the Rochelle News Leader, Illinois Public Notice.com and the City’s website. Bids were publicly opened and read aloud on January 5, 2021. One (1) equipment supplier, CSR Bobcat of Dekalb submitted a bid for $49,806.43. After review of the submitted bid, CSR Bobcat meets all bidding requirements and specifications. Public Works Director Tim Isley was available for questions. Motion made by Councilor D. McDermott and seconded by Councilor T. McDermott, “I move Council accept the bid from CSR Bobcat for one new Bobcat Tollcat 5600 in the amount of $49,806.43.” Roll call vote was taken. Ayes: Gruben, Hayes, D. McDermott, T. McDermott, Shaw Dickey and Mayor Bearrows. Nays: None. Motion passed 6-0.
3) Ordinance Authorizing Loan Agreement between the City of Rochelle and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) for the Water Reclamation Treatment Plant Improvements - Phase 2 To advance the project as planned, it is necessary to adopt an ordinance authorizing a loan agreement between the City of Rochelle and the IEPA. This Ordinance will authorize the City of Rochelle to borrow funds from the Water Pollution Control Loan Program in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $9,000,000 to provide funds to pay the cost of the project. The engineering estimate project cost is $7,038,000. All bids will be brought to council for approval.
Willett, Hofmann & Associates, Inc. is currently working on the design of the Phase 2 Water Reclamation Plant Improvements; these will include biological nutrient removal upgrades to aeration bays 5-8, rehabilitation of the final clarifiers, replacement of the tertiary sand filters with cloth media filters, rehabilitate the excess flow lagoons, add a fine screen unit to the second influent channel in the Headworks building and piping modification so the anaerobic lagoon effluent can be screened. Utilities Superintendent Adam Lanning was available for questions. Motion made by Councilor Gruben and seconded by Councilor D. McDermott, “I move Ordinance 21-5212, an Ordinance Authorizing Loan Agreement between the City of Rochelle and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) for the Water Reclamation Treatment Plant Improvements - Phase 2, be approved..” Roll call vote was taken. Ayes: Gruben, Hayes, D. McDermott, T. McDermott, Shaw-Dickey and Mayor Bearrows. Nays: None. Motion passed 6-0.
4) Ordinance Waiving the Competitive Bidding Requirements and Awarding Wesco Distribution the Purchase Order for the Purchase of LED Streetlights The proposed ordinance approves the purchase of 60 LED streetlights for a few areas around town, including the rest of the downtown. These lights are part of the beautification project and will match the recently installed lights downtown. Wesco Distribution is the only authorized dealer and available supplier in our area. Utilities Superintendent Adam Lanning was available for questions. Motion made by Councilor D. McDermott and seconded by Councilor Gruben, “I move Ordinance 21-5213, an Ordinance Waiving the Competitive Bidding Requirements and Awarding Wesco Distribution the Purchase Order for the Purchase of LED Streetlights in the amount of $151,488, be approved.” Roll call vote was taken. Ayes: Gruben, Hayes, D. McDermott, T. McDermott, Shaw-Dickey and Mayor Bearrows. Nays: None. Motion passed 6-0.
5) Ordinance Waiving the Competitive Bidding Requirements and Awarding Wesco Distribution the Purchase Order for the Purchase of Elster REX-U Electric Meters Wesco Distribution has offered an 11% discount for purchasing the remaining 880 Elster REX-U meters to replace the outdated analog meters. This will allow the City to fully deploy the conversion to smart meters throughout the community. Wesco Distribution is the only authorized dealer and available supplier in our area. Utilities Superintendent, Adam Lanning was available for questions. Motion made by Councilor T. McDermott and seconded by Councilor D. McDermott, “I move Ordinance 21-5214, an Ordinance Waiving the Competitive Bidding Requirements and Awarding Wesco Distribution the Purchase Order for the Purchase of Elster REX-U Electric Meters in the amount of $108,680, be approved.” Roll call vote was taken. Ayes: Gruben, Hayes, D. McDermott, T. McDermott, Shaw-Dickey and Mayor Bearrows. Nays: None. Motion passed 6-0.
6) Resolution Retaining Adam Lanning as Primary Board Member and Appointing Adriana Milan as Alternate Board Member to the Rock River Watershed Group In accordance with the recently issued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) discharge permit for the water reclamation facility, the Rock River Watershed Group was organized. The City of Rochelle is required to appoint a primary and alternate member to represent the City. Currently Adam Lanning serves as the primary and Jeff Fiegenschuh serves as the alternate. Utilities Superintendent Adam Lanning was available for questions. Motion made by Councilor Gruben and seconded by Councilor D. McDermott, “I move Resolution 21-04, a Resolution Retaining Adam Lanning as Primary Board Member and Appointing Adriana Milan as Alternate Board Member to the Rock River Watershed Group, be approved. Roll call vote was taken. Ayes: Gruben, Hayes, D. McDermott, T. McDermott, Shaw-Dickey and Mayor Bearrows. Nays: None. Motion passed 6-0.
DISCUSSION:
1) Strategic Plan Updates and Accomplishments In 2017-18, the City of Rochelle, in cooperation with Northern Illinois University, developed a strategic plan and related goals. In the fall of 2019, a resident survey was conducted to gather input on the satisfaction of various services provided by City departments. Recently, the City partnered with NIU to help us align the Strategic Plan with the Community Survey. As a part of this process, staff updated objectives based on our progress and established new objectives to meet our goals. City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh gave a presentation on the Strategic Plan updates and accomplishments.
ADJOURNMENT: At 7:25 PM, moved by Councilor T. McDermott and seconded by Councilor D. McDermott, “I move the Council adjourn.” Roll call vote was taken. Ayes: Gruben, Hayes, D. McDermott, T. McDermott, Shaw-Dickey and Mayor Bearrows. Absent: Burke. Nays: None. Motion passed 6-0.
https://www.cityofrochelle.net/2021-city-council-meeting-minutes/8230-02-08-2021-city-council-meeting-minutes/file.html
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