City of Byron City Council Met June 16.
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, Mittzi Fulrath, Cheryl Metz, Zeke Hobbie, Jessica Nehring, Michael Gyorkos, Christy Hanlin. Seven members present. Quorum established.
* - denotes start of the roll call
Aldermen Absent: Emily Gerdes
PRESENT: Mayor John Rickard
City Clerk Caryn Huber
City Attorney Wiktoria Goscik (filling in for 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
4. REVERENCE PERIOD – Mayor Rickard led the Council in prayer.
5. APPROVAL/AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA –Motion by Alderman Isaacs to approve, as presented, the June 16, 2021, agenda. Seconded by Alderman Gyorkos. Roll call vote: Fulrath, AYE; Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 7; NAY, 0; ABS 0.
6. MINUTES –
a. June 2, 2021 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes – Motion by Alderman Hanlin to approve, as presented, the June 2, 2021, City Council Regular Meeting Minutes. Seconded by Alderman Nehring. Roll call vote: Metz, AYE; Hobbie, ABS; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Fulrath, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS 1.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT – None
8. TREASURER’S REPORT – Treasurer Huber stated that the treasurer’s report for the month of May is in Dropbox. Four CDs matured (two tort CDs and two Water & Sewer CDs) in the first week of June. All were renewed for 91 days at .20%. Director Hewitt added that initial reports regarding sales tax remitted in June (for sales in March) indicate a higher than average payment.
9. LIST OF BILLS – Alderman Isaacs asked about the $45,180.00 charge from Veto Enterprises. Chief Murray said this is a charge for the new squad car. The check will be held until the car is delivered. Alderman Isaacs asked about the charge from Stewart Spreading in the amount of $6,480.00. Director Vincer explained this charge is for sludge hauling. We can expect another charge in the fall. Alderman Isaacs also asked about charges of $8,766.60 for SES Co. Director Vincer stated this was the charge for the new chlorine sensors at the well sites. Alderman Fulrath motioned to approve the list of bills dated June 16, 2021, in the amount of $241,984.71 (less Vito Enterprises for $45,180.00). Seconded by Alderman Hanlin. Roll call vote: Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Metz, AYE. Motion passed: AYE 7; NAY 0; ABS 0.
10. MAYOR’S REPORT – Mayor Rickard reported that the IML Conference is scheduled for Sept. 23-25 at the Hilton in Chicago. There was a bill proposed in Springfield that prohibited spending taxpayer dollars for conference attendance, but it was not passed.
• Mayor Rickard has signed the contract for electric aggregation. Six communities went in together on the bid that was awarded to Eligo for three years at 6.084 (ComEd is currently at 6.985). Out of 1,594 eligible households in Byron, 812 participate in the aggregation agreement. That leaves approximately half that have opted out, and the mayor is curious as to why (lack of trust, solar, better price?). We will post on Facebook and on the website in an effort to get feedback.
• Mayor Rickard has received the Fehr-Graham contract. The Administrative Committee will discuss at the next committee meeting.
11. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT – Attorney Goscik reported that Attorney Szeto has drafted an ordinance regarding administrative hearings. It will be discussed at TAS in July.
• Ordinances for Sidewalk Cafes and Food Trucks will also continue to be discussed at the next Administrative committee, and an ordinance regarding short term rentals will be discussed at the next ZBA meeting.
• The bank has agreed to release the mortgage on the Rush property and needs to be notified a day or two before closing to prepare the release of mortgage. We are waiting for documents from the title company, and once Aaron receives the title documents, he will circulate them to the heirs.
• There is no word yet regarding the $3,600 in attorney fees that we are asking for from the Baker house demolition.
12. CITY ENGINEER’S PROJECT STATUS – Engineer Stoll reported that we did not get selected for the ITEP grant, which was submitted to extend the bike path on Mill Road to Shadow Wood. We will continue to advance the project, and he will provide a proposal for engineering fees. It is possible we will use money received from the Rebuild Illinois funds.
• Engineer Stoll is almost done with the visual survey of streets, and they will be ranked in order to develop the street plan. The plan will include estimated costs of the projects. He hopes to have an update in July.
• A Committee of the Whole is scheduled for 5pm on July 21 to discuss the WWTP Facility Plan.
• Martin & Co. will begin the Union and Sumner street projects right after ByronFest.
13. DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT STATUS – Director Hewitt reported that Doug Reber and Randy Snider have been selected as new ZBA members. They will be sworn in at the next meeting. The parcels that include the Rush and Cravatta houses on Route 2 should be commercial, but are currently zoned multi-family.
14. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REPORT – Director Vincer reported that pumps are running longer and the river is low due to the lack of rain. There is no watering ban currently, but it may be considered at some point.
• The new backhoe has been received from Rockvale Township.
• Summer projects include weed spraying and sewer cleaning.
• Director Vincer reported that they now have public works employees on call over the weekend. Information on who is assigned can be found on the Outlook calendar.
• Two part time employees will pick up more hours in Jerry’s absence.
15. POLICE CHIEF REPORT – Chief Murray reported that squad car battery replacement and vehicle radios are on the list of bills tonight.
• Officer Henderson has received his final orders for deployment from 6/9/21-3/21/23.
• Two spots are reserved for class in January. Testing takes place at the end of the summer.
16. COMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Community Services – No report.
b. Public Safety – No report.
c. Administrative – No report.
17. CONTINUING BUSINESS
a. Food Truck Application and Ordinance – In process. Changes will be presented to the Administrative Committee in July.
b. Approval of Permit Fee Schedule – All changes to the fee schedule will be reviewed by the Administrative Committee in July.
c. Ordinance Amending Zoning Code to Allow Short Term Rentals as Special Use – This needs to first go to the ZBA for a recommendation.
d. Struck & Irwin Change Order – Slurry Seal in Fawn Ridge – Not available yet. Engineer Stoll should have this ready to be reviewed by the Community Services Committee in July.
e. Street Plan Proposal - Engineer Stoll is working on prioritizing street maintenance and repair.
f. Rush Property Demolition – Byron Bank has agreed to release the mortgage. Attorney Szeto is still waiting on title documents from the title company.
g. Administrative Hearings – Compliance - This alternative method for code enforcement will be discussed by TAS in July prior to going to committee. It would apply to nuisance and building complaints.
h. Municipal Aggregation Bid Review – Six communities (Byron, Davis Junction, Oregon, Pecatonica, Polo, and Stillman Valley) have joined together to bid electric aggregation through Rock River Energy. The current contract with Dynegy runs through September 2021 at a rate of $.07068 per kwhr. Six suppliers bid, with Eligio Energy providing the best three year rate at $.06084. The ComEd current rate is $.06985. Alderman Isaacs and Alderman Metz questioned the reputation of the company, but Mayor Rickard said all of the companies are vetted by Rock River Energy.
18. NEW BUSINESS
a. P.U.D. Plat for First Midwest – Director Hewitt has a P.U.D. (Plan Unit Development) Plat for the two lots that were joined together to build the Swedish American Clinic. The ZBA approved the change, but the P.U.D. Plat was never recorded or executed by the developer. The Plat needs the mayor’s signature in order to be approved. Attorney Goscik asked if there is an ordinance relating to the change in the property status. Clerk Huber will check. Discussion will continue at the next Community Services Committee meeting in July.
19. COUNCIL TALK – None
20. COMMUNICATION –
a. Next Regular City Council Meeting – Wednesday, July 7, 2021, 6:30pm.
b. Committee of the Whole – Wednesday, July 21, 2021, 5:00 pm.
21. ADJOURN – Alderman Fulrath motioned to adjourn. Seconded by Alderman Nehring. Roll call vote: Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Hanlin, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE. Motion passed: AYE 7; NAY 0; ABS 0.
Mayor Rickard adjourned the City Council meeting at 7:05 pm.
https://www.cityofbyron.com/vertical/sites/%7B67304C08-5FC3-4329-8F07-4786D33EE040%7D/uploads/Minutes_-_2021-06-16-Approved.pdf
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