City of Sterling City Council met Nov. 15.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Mayor Lee called the Sterling City Council to order at 6:30 pm. Roll call. Present: Mayor Lee, Aldermen Retha Elston(Zoom), Josh Johnson, Joe Martin, Christine Wilen, Kaitlyn Ekquist and Jim Wise. Absent: None.
Also attending were City Attorney Tim Zollinger, City Manager Scott Shumard, Finance Director Cindy Von Holten, Superintendent of Building and Zoning Amanda Schmidt (Zoom), Superintendent of Public Works Brad Schrader, Police Chief Alex Chavira, Fire Chief Michael Dettman and City Clerk Teri Sathoff.
The Pledge of allegiance was recited.
Alderman Elston made a motion to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda:
A. Approval of Minutes.
B. Approval of Bills and Payroll.
C. Pay Request #4 to Martin and Company for 1st Avenue in the amount of $624,001.04.
D. Sterling-Rock Falls Jaycees to hold a bucket brigade on 12/4/2021.
E. Pay Request #4 to Fischer Excavating for the 4th and 5th Avenue drainage project in the amount of $485,462.89.
Motion seconded by Alderman Wilen. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Elston, Martin, Johnson, Ekquist, Wilen and Wise. Nayes – None. Motion carried.
Sterling Firefighters were present for promotional pinning. Captain Jason Williamson was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief, he was pinned by his father, retired Captain Gerald Williamson. Lieutenant Trevor Meyers was promoted to the rank of Captain, he was pinned by his daughter Ellison Meyers. Firefighter Adrian Avelar was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, he was pinned by his wife Stacey Avelar.
Dr. Lori Cortez and Chris Pilling from Sauk Valley Community College (SVCC) were present to request funding for the SVCC Impact Program. The Impact Program is an earned tuition incentive program. To qualify for the program each student will need to register by September 1st of their freshman year, apply for the free application for financial aid, apply for a scholarship, graduate early or on time with their class and they have to complete 25 hours of community service per year (100 hours total). Once accepted to the program students will still have to complete the 25 hours of community service per year while attending SVCC. The SVCC Impact Program is based on Promise Programs that are in place all over the United States. Promise Programs, unlike the Impact Program, receive state funding. Dr. Cortez asked that the City of Sterling invest in the Impact Program and by doing so, they will be investing in the future.
Alderman Wilen asked what the deadline is for raising these funds, the money being raised today is for the first class, Dr. Cortez stated the first class would start in the year 2025. Alderman Johnson asked how many municipality’s have invested, Dr. Cortez stated that Sterling is the first municipality that has been asked to invest, other communities will be asked. Alderman Wise asked Mayor Lee if ARPA funds could be used for this. Mayor Lee stated that is something they could investigate. Alderman Johnson stated that $10,000 a year for five years is what they are asking for and he would like to see the City of Sterling pledge twice that amount. Alderman Martin asked if the other programs have seen a boost in enrollment, Dr. Cortez stated that yes, they have seen a 12% increase in enrollment. Alderman Wise asked if the funds that is donated by the City of Sterling can be designated to be used by Sterling students, Dr. Cortez stated that yes that can be done.
John Vezzetti from Bernardi Securities provided an update for a potential issuance for pension bonds to reduce the unfunded liabilities in the police and fire pension funds. These bonds would be repaid using the existing tax levy for fire and police pensions. Other bonds would be used to facilitate future projects including, but not limited to, East 2nd Street, Griswold Avenue and Wallace Street using the revenues from both of the local option sales taxes. The bonds could potentially total $33 million for police and fire pensions as well as the projects.
Alderman Wise made a motion to approve the Tax Levy Estimate of $5,412,155, which is below the requirement for a Truth-in-Taxation hearing; seconded by Alderman Martin. City Manager Shumard stated that the average home owner will see an increase of sixty cents. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Elston, Martin, Wilen, Johnson, Ekquist and Wise. Nayes – None. Motion carried.
Alderman Ekquist made a motion to Approve Ordinance 2021-11-29 to sell surplus City property portable radios; seconded by Alderman Johnson. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Elston, Martin, Wilen, Johnson, Ekquist and Wise. Nayes – None. Motion carried.
Alderman Elston made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2021-11-30 Establishing and designating the Lincoln Highway Business District Plan and approving the Lincoln Highway Business District within the City of Sterling, Whiteside County, Illinois; seconded by Alderman Wilen. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Elston, Martin, Wilen, Johnson, Ekquist and Wise. Nayes – None. Motion carried.
Alderman Ekquist made a motion to approve the Proposal for a Strategic Planning Update with the NIU Center for Governmental Studies; seconded by Alderman Martin. Dr. Greg Kuhn, director of the NIU Center for Governmental Studies presented the program for the strategic planning process. Dr. Kuhn stated that it is fundamental to define the future for the City of Sterling. Mayor Lee stated that an important part of the process is to have professional development for the council. Alderman Martin asked Dr. Kuhn when would be a good time to start this process,
Dr. Kuhn stated that the first of the year is a reasonable time frame. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Elston, Martin, Wilen, Johnson, Ekquist and Wise. Nayes – None. Motion carried.
Alderman Johnson made a motion to approve Change Order Number one in the amount of $16,787.00 to Gehrke Construction for the former National Training Building Demolition and renovation; seconded by Alderman Wise. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Elston, Martin, Wilen, Johnson, Ekquist and Wise. Nayes – None. Motion carried.
Superintendent of Building and Zoning Amanda Schmidt stated that work at 1802 East 3rd Street is scheduled to start this week, equipment and dirt has been delivered. This property has been an eye sore for several years.
Superintendent of Public Works Brad Schrader reported that the last day for paving will be November 16th due to weather. Schrader advised that 1st Avenue will be paved from 8th street to 5th street and they will start working on the intersections, 1st Avenue should be open soon. Schrader then advised that 4th and 5th Avenues north of the high school will be paved on the November 16th. Alderman Ekquist asked about the status of 14th Avenue between East 3rd and East 4th Streets, Schrader stated this was work being done by Illinois American Water, he will contact them for an update.
Attorney Zollinger stated that that House Bill 3136 is sitting on the Governor’s desk, there is a provision in this bill to allow non-home rule municipalities to increase the gaming fee from $25 per terminal to $250 per terminal.
City Manager Shumard stated that there will be an ordinance to address 1st Avenue becoming a two-way street on the next Council agenda.
Alderman Martin complimented Attorney Zollinger on the plans to redistrict the wards, Martin stated that he is fine with either plan.
Alderman Wilen asked City Manager Shumard if there has been anything further from Mathew Hicks on the Whiteside Area Career Center home. Alderman Johnson stated he is waiting on two contractors to get him estimates. Alderman Johnson stated that there are two potential buyers for the property. Alderman Johnson would like to set a price and sell the property. Attorney Zollinger stated the price will have to be at least 80% of the appraised value and depending on how much work has been done since the last appraisal, another appraisal may have to be done.
Alderman Ekquist reminded everyone that Sights and Sounds will be on December 3rd at 5:00pm with fireworks at 8:00pm.
Alderman Wise also thanked Attorney Zollinger for the work he has done on the redistricting plans.
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 pm.
https://www.sterling-il.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11152021-198
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