City of Byron City Council met Feb. 16.
Here are 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: Emily Gerdes, Mittzi Fulrath, Cheryl Metz, Zeke Hobbie, Jessica Nehring (by phone), Michael Gyorkos. Six members present. Quorum established.
Aldermen Absent: Todd Isaacs, Christy Hanlin
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 Bill Pirnat, Pam Kultgen
4. REVERENCE PERIOD – Mayor Rickard led the Council in prayer.
5. APPROVAL/AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA – Motion by Alderman Gerdes to approve, as presented, the February 16, 2022, agenda. Seconded by Alderman Metz. Roll call vote: Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS 0.
6. MINUTES –
a. February 2, 2022 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Motion by Alderman Gerdes to approve, as presented, the February 2, 2022, City Council Regular Meeting Minutes. Seconded by Alderman Fulrath. Roll call vote: Fulrath, AYE; Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Gerdes, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS 0.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT – None
8. TREASURER’S REPORT – Treasurer Huber stated that the Treasurer’s Report and documents for January 2022 are in Dropbox.
9. LIST OF BILLS – Alderman Gerdes asked about the charge for an ipad case. Clerk Huber explained that the charge was for both an ipad and case for Alderman Hanlin. Motion by Alderman Fulrath to approve the lists of bills dated February 16, 2022, in the amount of $101,293.87. Seconded by Alderman Gerdes. Roll call vote: Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS 0.
10. MAYOR’S REPORT – Mayor Rickard reported that he and department heads met with Todd Isaacs for a budget meeting last Saturday. The group will meet again on March 9 to review the preliminary budget before presenting to council. First read will be on April 6, with a public hearing and vote on April 20.
11. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT – No report. All items are on the agenda.
12. CITY ENGINEER’S REPORT –Progress is being made on the 2022 streets program document, and he should be ready to present to committee next month. All other items are on the agenda.
13. DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT – Director Hewitt reported that Dollar General has been issued a temporary occupancy permit and will open by the first of the next month. • The city will be deeding over a detention pond to a Fawn Ridge resident. The deed will stipulate a city easement.
14. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REPORT – Director Vincer reported that he has been researching generators for city hall and for three lift stations. He plans to use ARPA funds for the generators. • A 4” water main on Grant Street broke last Sunday. • There is also a broken water main on Colfax, under the Canadian Pacific train tracks. He is trying to expedite the approval process by the railroad, which can sometimes take up to nine months to review.
15. POLICE CHIEF REPORT – Chief Murray reported that a vehicle was stolen from outside of the Park District. The running vehicle was parked in the fire lane. The car was recovered in town.
16. COMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Community Services – No report.
b. Public Safety – No report.
c. Administrative – No report.
17. CONTINUING BUSINESS
a. Mill Road Rec Path – Bidding documents should be ready to present to committee on March 2.
b. Wastewater Treatment Plant – Fehr Graham Agreement – Attorney Szeto has reviewed this document for engineering services for the new wastewater treatment plant. He changed the insurance coverages based on what our limits are presently. Alderman Hobbie motioned to approve the Fehr Graham agreement for engineering, at a cost of $947,000, for the wastewater treatment plant. Motion seconded by Alderman Metz. Roll call vote: Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Metz, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS 0.
c. City Hall Parking Lot – Engineer Stoll reported that plans are underway for the project.
d. Ordinance Amending Title 17 Providing for the Installation and Operation of Solar Energy Systems - The Zoning Board of Appeals reviewed, and did not have any objection, to the Solar Ordinance as presented. The Community Services Committee recommends council approval of Ordinance 2021-21, Providing for the Installation and Operation of Solar Energy Systems. Roll call vote: Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS 0.
e. COVID Policy – Attorney Szeto has reworked the proposed policy to be inclusive of all contagious diseases. It will not include additional PTO time, but will include cash incentives for vaccinations. The revised policy will be reviewed at the Administrative Committee meeting in March.
f. UTV Ordinance – Nothing new to report. Item will remain on the agenda in case revisions need to be made to the ordinance prior to implementation of the program.
g. Ordinance Amending 5.50 Video Gaming/Application – The Administrative Committee recommends council approval of the Ordinance Amending 5.50 Video Gaming/Application. The ordinance will impose a $250 tax on each video gaming machine per year. The tax will be implemented when liquor licenses are renewed in April/May. Roll call vote: Gyorkos, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS 0.
h. Mural Project – Clerk Huber reported that the owners of Radiance Salon have approved the design for the first mural project.
i. Surf Broadband – Attorney Szeto is reviewing the contract. He has contacted the Rock Falls City Manager, and they had good interactions with Surf. Rock Falls already had its’ own fiber, and Surf rented some of the fiber lines. The city will not agree to feature Surf as a preferred utility provider, however, they will include Surf on the website in a listing with all other utilities. Alderman Metz asked if fiber will run directly to homes, or if ASDL will run from the fiber lines to homes. Alderman Szeto will ask Surf about ASDL and any other questions from council.
18. NEW BUSINESS
a. An Ordinance Regarding Water/Sewer Connection Fees – The Community Services Committee will review this ordinance on March 2.
b. Leaf Burning Ordinance – This ordinance is on the agenda for first read. It allows city council to amend the leaf burning dates if conditions change in any year.
c. City Hall Lighting Upgrade Proposals – Proposals from ComEd and Thayer are in Dropbox for review. Both include LED upgrades to all lighting fixtures in City Hall. ComEd quoted $20,350.65, and Thayer quoted $12,429.86 after rebates. Thayer estimates a 48% annual savings, with a 3.4 year payback. Because the rebates expire on March 11, Director Vincer asked that the council consider the proposals as soon as possible. Money for the project will come out of ARPA funds. Alderman Gerdes motioned to bypass first read on consideration of the lighting proposals. Motion seconded by Alderman Hobbie. Roll call vote: Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS 0.
Alderman Gerdes motioned to accept the lighting proposal from Thayer at a net cost of $12,429.86. Motion seconded by Alderman Metz. Roll call vote: Fulrath, AYE; Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Gerdes, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS 0.
d. Sunshine Park Purchase – Director Hewitt reported that we have received an offer for the Sunshine Park property. Attorney Szeto will review, and it will be on the Community Services Committee meeting in March.
19. COUNCIL TALK – None
20. COMMUNICATION –
a. Regular City Council Meeting – Wednesday, March 2, 2022, 6:30 pm
21. ADJOURN – Alderman Fulrath motioned to adjourn. Seconded by Alderman Gyorkos. Roll call vote: Fulrath, AYE; Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE, Gerdes, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.
Mayor Rickard adjourned the City Council meeting at 7:07 pm.
https://www.cityofbyron.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/3893/minutes_-_2022-02-16-approved.pdf
Alerts Sign-up