City of Byron City Council Met April 21.
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, Zeke Hobbie, Jessica Nehring, Michael Gyorkos, Christy Hanlin (by phone). Seven members present. Quorum established.
* - denotes start of the roll call
Aldermen Absent: None
PRESENT: Mayor John Rickard
City Clerk Caryn Huber
City Attorney Aaron Szeto
Police Chief Todd Murray
Dir. of Econ. Dev. Larry Hewitt
Dir. of Public Works Aaron Vincer
City Engineer Jason Stoll
Citizens Pam Kultgen, Bill Pirnat
Conor Brown, Connie Kelly (R.A.A.R.)
Neeley Erickson (Illinois Realtors)
Robin Henry, Alisa Patterson, Tonya Vincer (Keller
Williams Realty Signature)
Brian Brooks, Ed Clift, Polly Zeibert, Paige Zeibert,
Kristin Riffle, Kayla Doolittle, Becky Adams,
Heather Nogaj (RE/MAX Professional Advantage)
Sean Hosseini (Dickerson & Neiman)
4. REVERENCE PERIOD – Mayor Rickard led the Council in prayer.
5. APPROVAL/AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA – Motion by Alderman Gerdes to approve, as presented, the April 21, 2021, agenda. Seconded by Alderman Fulrath. Roll call vote: Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 7; NAY, 0; ABS 0.
6. MINUTES –
a. April 7, 2021 – City Council Regular Meeting – Motion by Alderman Hobbie to approve, as presented, the City Council Regular Meeting Minutes. Seconded by Alderman Isaacs. Roll call vote: Fulrath, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, ABSTAIN. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS 1.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT – Neeley Erickson from Illinois Realtors spoke about fair housing in Illinois, and the commitment of realtors in Illinois to expand equal housing opportunities for all.
8. TREASURER’S REPORT – Treasurer Huber stated that the Treasurer’s report for the month of March 2021 is in Dropbox. She noted that the monthly revenue for the month was discussed at the April 7 meeting, and invited Alderman to contact her with questions.
9. LIST OF BILLS –Alderman Isaacs motioned to approve the list of bills dated April 21, 2021, in the amount of $81,886.79. Seconded by Alderman Fulrath. Roll call vote: Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Hobbie, AYE. Motion passed: AYE 7; NAY 0; ABS 0.
10. MAYOR’S REPORT – Mayor Rickard presented a Proclamation declaring April 2021 as Fair Housing month. He thanked all of the realtors present for attending.
11. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT – The Baker house is scheduled for demolition on Monday, April 26. • Attorney Szeto was able to reach the last heir for the Rush property and he is re coordinating efforts to close on the property.
12. CITY ENGINEER’S PROJECT STATUS – Engineer Stoll reported that bids for the 2021- 2022 street project (Union and Sumner St.) will go out tomorrow, and bids should be back for the May 5 committee and council meetings. • Contract documents have been implemented for Struck & Irwin Paving for the Brighton Ridge slurry project. • Work is continuing on the WWTP Facility Plan. A second meeting will be held in May. Alderman Isaacs asked when the plan will be complete. Engineer Stoll anticipated it will be finished later this summer. Alderman Gyorkos asked if the WWTP site would be ever be changed, but Engineer Stoll stated that it would be difficult due to the location of Headworks, and the location on the river.
13. DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT STATUS – Director Hewitt reported that permitting is increasing. • He received plans (in plan review now) and a permit application for both exterior and interior work for a strip building on Blackhawk Dr. in the space next to Swedish American Clinic. Athletico will occupy approximately half of the building. • An exterior structural investigation will be conducted on Spanky’s Byron Inn. There is concern that the Union St. road project could cause structural issues. • Century Tap has been sold to Matt Pendergrass pending liquor license application and approval.
14. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REPORT – Director Vincer reported that he has been working with the Fire Department on grants for a watermain extension on 7th Street. • There was a water service failure on Silverthorn. In Rose Meadows, Fawn Ridge and Prairie Place, there is copper water line between the home and the curb box that fails over time. When failures occur, it is replaced with Poly line. • Director Vincer said they are working on a contract for sludge hauling. We previously were paying up to .24/gallon and hauling approximately 250,000 gallons, which resulted in a $60,000 bill. Stewart Spreading has agreed to haul sludge to DeKalb for .09/gallon, for a savings of approximately $37,500. We have a one year contract with them. • Engineer Stoll and Director Vincer will be meeting to discuss a streets plan in order to sustain the streets over a longer period of time.• A SKADA radio upgrade is needed due to radio failures that recently caused sewer backups. • A washout was completed on the Acorn Rd. water tower. All three of the water towers will be washed out this summer.
15. POLICE CHIEF REPORT – Chief Murray thanked Attorney Szeto for his work on the Rush property, and hopes we can begin to take care of other compliance issues.
16. COMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Community Services – No report.
b. Public Safety – No report.
c. Administrative – No report.
17. CONTINUING BUSINESS
a. Byron Municipal Code Amendments to Chapter 2 – Attorney Szeto explained that this ordinance covers updates being made to the Byron Municipal Code Chapter 2. No motion was made.
b. Ordinance Amending 2020-2021 Budget – Alderman Isaacs explained that this ordinance covers small changes to the 2020-2021 budget to adjust several budget items. It also creates several new categories of revenues. The Administrative Committee recommends passage of Ordinance 2020-17 Amending the 2020-2021 Budget. Roll call vote: Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Hobbie, AYE. Motion passed: AYE 7; NAY 0; ABS 0.
c. 2021-2022 Budget Ordinance – Alderman Isaacs said there were two small changes from the budget that was presented at the last meeting. The Administrative Committee recommends passage of Ordinance 2020-18 City of Byron Budget Ordinance. Roll call vote: Gyorkos, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE. Motion passed: AYE 7; NAY 0; ABS 0.
d. Ordinance Amending Zoning Code to Allow Short Term Rentals as Special Use – The Zoning Board of Appeals will meet to discuss prior to council approval. e. 2021-2022 Street Program bid-Sumner/Union St. – Bids will be available at the next council meeting.
18. NEW BUSINESS
a. Certification of Revenues – Needs to be passed next month.
b. Ordinance Amending Permit Fees – Attorney Szeto stated that our ordinance for permit fees does not match our current fees. Rather than amend the ordinance every time the rate changes, he will change the ordinance to read “in accordance with the rate schedule, which may be amended by the city council from time to time”.
19. COUNCIL TALK – Mayor Rickard asked if there were reasons that there was no motion for amendments to the Chapter 2 code changes earlier in the meeting. Alderman Hobbie and Alderman Nehring felt the code book was too difficult to understand. Mayor Rickard said the changes would be summarized in more detail at the next meeting. • Alderman Hobbie asked for an update regarding Exelon. Mayor Rickard stated that there is a bill in two committees called the Climate Union Job Act. Conversations are going well. The Governor ordered an audit of Exelon, and the result was that it would be helpful for Exelon to receive a subsidy for the next five years in order to remain open.
20. COMMUNICATION –
a. Next Regular City Council Meeting – Wednesday, May 5, 2021, 6:30pm.
21. ADJOURN – Alderman Fulrath motioned to adjourn. Seconded by Alderman Gerdes. Roll call vote: Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE. Motion passed: AYE 7; NAY 0; ABS 0.
Mayor Rickard adjourned the City Council meeting at 7:09 pm.
https://www.cityofbyron.com/vertical/sites/%7B67304C08-5FC3-4329-8F07-4786D33EE040%7D/uploads/Minutes_-_2021-04-21-Approved.pdf
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