City of Byron Community Services Committee met April 7.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
1. ROLL CALL:
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Alderman Mittzi Fulrath, Alderman Zeke Hobbie, Alderman Mike Gyorkos
MEMBERS ABSENT: Alderman Emily Gerdes
OTHERS PRESENT: Mayor John Rickard, Engineer Jason Stoll, Director Aaron Vincer, Pam Kultgen, Bill Pirnat, Ken Mrozek (arrived at 6:23 pm)
Arrived at 5:57 pm from Administrative Committee meeting: City Clerk Caryn Huber, Attorney Aaron Szeto, Alderman Todd Isaacs, Alderman Jessica Nehring, Director Larry Hewitt.
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA – APRIL 7, 2021 – Alderman Hobbie motioned to approve, as presented, the April 7, 2021, Community Services Committee meeting agenda. Seconded by Alderman Gyorkos. Roll call vote: Fulrath, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Hobbie, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 3; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT – None
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – MARCH 3, 2021 –Alderman Hobbie motioned to approve, as presented, the March 3, 2021, Community Services Committee meeting minutes. Seconded by Alderman Gyorkos. Roll call vote: Gyorkos, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Fulrath, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 3; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.
5. PRESENTATION/DISCUSSION REGARDING CREEKSIDE WATER METERS – Pam Kultgen spoke on behalf of the Creekside Homeowners Association. There are seven four plex buildings at Creekside, and residents use varying amounts of water. There is only one water meter for each four-plex. After discussions with Director Vincer, Pam is proposing that two of the four-plexes be switched from one meter to four individual meters. Director Vincer confirmed there are separate water lines for each unit. A plumber will charge $1200 per building to separate the meters. Meters cost the city approximately $150 each, and the readers are $150 each. Pam is asking for the city to share in the cost of this project by providing the meters at no charge. Creekside will pay for the plumber and the readers, as well as the $25/per unit charge to set up new water accounts. Total cost to the city would be $1200, but the city would also receive additional money towards the capital improvement fund since each unit would be billed separately. She noted the duplexes and triplexes do not appear to have a problem. If this proves to work in the two initial four-plexes, the five additional buildings would be done in the future. Director Vincer added that there will still be only one shut-off for each building, so in the event of non-payment, they will not be able to shut off only one unit. After discussion, Alderman Gyorkos motioned to recommend to council to approve the request from Creekside to switch two of their four-plexes from one water meter to four water meters. The city will pay for the meters, and the Creekside Association will pay for the readers, plumbing, and set up costs. Motion seconded by Alderman Hobbie. Roll call vote: Hobbie, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 3; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.
6. QUALITY METAL WATER RATES – Quality Metal is the only user in the Industrial water rate category. Quality Metal has asked the city to consider a reduction in water rates, since they use a large volume of water, and recently had their highest monthly water usage. Director Vincer said there have been discussions to offer a volume discount of 25% for water used over 1,000 units. This would also apply to any other companies added into the industrial category in the future. Director Vincer added that for the last three months, they have paid full price for water, and he asked, if the new rate is approved, if the council will consider crediting their overpayment and their late fees from January through March. Alderman Gyorkos motioned to amend our ordinance to reflect a 25% discount after 1,000 units for industrial water. Seconded by Alderman Hobbie. Roll call vote: Fulrath, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Hobbie, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 3; NAY, 0; ABS, 0. • Alderman Hobbie motioned to backdate the new industrial water rate for Quality Metal to January 1. Motion seconded by Alderman Gyorkos. Roll call vote: Gyorkos, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Fulrath, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 3; NAY, 0; ABS, 0. • Alderman Hobbie motioned to credit late fees paid from the rate increase to the present. Seconded by Alderman Gyorkos. Roll call vote: Hobbie, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 3; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.
7. PUBLIC WORKS EQUIPMENT PURCHASE- SKID LOADER AND BACKHOE – Director Vincer stated that every two years the public works department trades in their skid loader in order to stay within warranty. Cost is $8,000-$10,000 per year. Because of the uncertainty last year due to COVID, they did not trade in the machine, and the cost to trade it in this year is $13,000. The department also needs to upgrade their backhoe. The current machine is from 2006, and repairs this winter were costly. Rockvale Township is upgrading equipment, and they have a backhoe available for $12,000. Director Vincer is asking for a budget of $30,000 to be split between three budget codes for the 2021-2022 budget year. These purchases will be an increase to his current budget. Alderman Gyorkos motioned that the committee affirm the need for a new skid loader and backhoe, and to recommend to council that purchase of the new machines be approved. Seconded by Alderman Hobbie. Roll call vote: Fulrath, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Hobbie, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 3; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.
8. NEXTSITE – In the interest of time, Alderman Fulrath tabled discussion of NextSite.
9. ORDINANCE VACATING 5TH STREET ROW – This ordinance deals with a Right of Way located on the north side of 5th Street at Chestnut. Director Hewitt suggested we vacate that right of way and grant an easement. We would then have no maintenance responsibility or liability. The homeowners on either side use the ROW as a shared driveway, and they will continue to do so. Alderman Hobbie motioned to recommend to council that they grant approval of the ordinance to vacate the ROW at 5th and Chestnut. Seconded by Alderman Gyorkos. Roll call vote: Gyorkos, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Fulrath, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 3; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.
10. 2021-2022 STREETS PROGRAM-UNION/SUMNER ST. BIDS – Engineer Stoll stated that he does not have bids for the Union/Sumner St. project. As they started preparing the bid documents, they are recommending changes to the plan that need council approval. He stated that Union St. is not wide enough and cannot support parking on both sides of the street. His recommendation is that parking only be allowed on the east side of the street, and that the curb be expanded on the west side, allowing for either a concrete patio or a landscaped area. This would allow easier street maintenance as well. Engineer Stoll will prepare the bid with both options.
11. WWTP FACILITY PLAN – Engineer Stoll reported that an initial site visit is complete, and he is currently working on the planning document.
12. PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE – Pertinent items will be reported on at the City Council meeting.
13. ADJOURN - Alderman Gyorkos motioned to adjourn the Community Services Committee meeting. Seconded by Alderman Hobbie. Roll call vote: Gyorkos, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Fulrath, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 3; NAY, 0; ABS, 0. Alderman Fulrath adjourned the meeting at 6:31 pm. The next regular Community Services meeting is May 5, 2021.
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