City of Byron City Council met July 20.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
1. CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Rickard called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Led by Mayor Rickard
3. ROLL CALL – Aldermen present: Todd Isaacs, Emily Gerdes, Cheryl Metz, Zeke Hobbie, Jessica Nehring, Michael Gyorkos. Six members present.
Aldermen Absent: Mittzi Fulrath, Christy Hanlin
PRESENT: Mayor John Rickard
City Clerk Caryn Huber
City Attorney Aaron Szeto
Police Chief Todd Murray
Dir. of Public Works Aaron Vincer
Citizens Bill Pirnat
Derek Humphrey (Midwest Disposal)
4. REVERENCE PERIOD – Mayor Rickard led the Council in prayer.
5. APPROVAL/AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA – Mayor Rickard asked to add “Crossing Guard Salary” as item b. under New Business. Motion by Alderman Isaacs to approve, as amended, the July 20, 2022, agenda. Seconded by Alderman Nehring. Roll call vote: Gerdes, AYE; Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS 0.
6. MINUTES –
a. July 6, 2022 - City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Motion by Alderman Metz to approve, as presented, the July 6, 2022, City Council Regular Meeting Minutes. Seconded by Alderman Isaacs. Roll call vote: Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, ABS. Motion passed: AYE, 5; NAY, 0; ABS 1.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT – None
8. TREASURER’S REPORT – Treasurer Huber reported that the Treasurer’s Report for June is in Dropbox. Interest rates are improving and we have begun to increase the terms on CDs.
9. LIST OF BILLS – Alderman Hobbie asked about the charge for Sunbelt, and asked if we might receive a discount for our second month of lift rental. Director Vincer said he is doubtful we would receive a discount, but has mentioned the possibility of a sponsorship for the mural. Alderman Isaacs questioned the account number used for elevator repair. He will continue to look into this further. Chief Murray added that more bills for the elevator repair are expected. Alderman Gerdes asked about payment to Michele Wills. Mayor Rickard explained she has been contracted to consult on payroll. Alderman Isaacs motioned to approve the list of bills dated 7/20/22 for $127,722.69. Motion seconded by Alderman Gerdes. Roll call vote: Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Metz, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.
10. MAYOR’S REPORT – Mayor Rickard reported that a recent IMRF audit had no findings. He added that it is rare for this to happen on a first audit, and credited Michele Wills for the good report. • The County is formally organizing an economic development group. The group will be a clearinghouse that will inventory land and properties available throughout the county. The group will also train and support local economic development committees. He would like to form a committee consisting of members of the community (bankers, school officials, real estate agents, etc). • Initial conversations have been initiated with the Forest Preserve regarding moving the public works building to their property. • NextSite has provided demographic information to Mayor Rickard.
11. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT – A complaint has been filed for 412 E. 2nd St. The owner is deceased and heirs have been named. Sheriff Departments in the communities where they reside will be asked to serve summons to them. If they cannot be served in person, they can be served by publication. • Attorney Szeto has summarized the two garbage proposals in a memo to committee members. The Administrative Committee will discuss further at their meeting in August.
12. CITY ENGINEER’S REPORT – No report.
13. DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT – No report.
14. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REPORT – Director Vincer reported that the change order for Martin to do the ADA ramps on Colfax St. has come in at $25,000. • We have not yet received the reimbursement agreement from Constellation. • We have received approval to run the water line under the train tracks. Kelsey will be doing the work and should start next week. • Lead service line inventory is continuing. • Nicor has approved setting meters on the sites that will receive generators. Deposits will appear on the next list of bills. Locations for generators will be at city hall and at lift stations. • Crack sealing will begin next week. • The auditor asked Director Vincer about the higher than anticipated water revenue. He attributes this to rate increases, new customers and collecting of bills that were deferred through COVID.
15. POLICE CHIEF REPORT – All items will be covered under committee reports.
16. COMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Community Services – No report.
b. Public Safety – Alderman Hobbie reported that two new squad cars have been received. They are marked and are now getting equipment installed. • The Police Department has been struggling to staff the crossing guard positions. Chief Murray has been in touch regularly with Superintendent Barton and it is hoped that the school will take on the responsibility of staffing the crossing guard locations using support staff. The school and police department have always split this expense. The committee recommends raising the pay from $20/day to $30/day (item has been added to the agenda). • The police department reported a quiet ByronFest. • Officer Curtis will be finished with Academy training on August 11. He will then start field training. Officer Woolbright is in the shadowing phase of his field training. • National Night Out will be August 2. The Sheriff’s Department will have K-9 and vehicle demonstrations. • Sgt. Brechon injured his knee in the line of duty prior to leaving. A workman’s comp case has been filed. • The mural has been getting very positive feedback on social media. The mural has taken longer than expected due to the porousness and uneven surface of the brick, as well as the inability to work when the afternoon sun hits the wall on hot days.
c. Administrative – No report.
17. CONTINUING BUSINESS
a. Sunshine Park – Attorney Szeto has forwarded a revised draft of the contract to the other attorney.
b. Mill Road Rec Path – The change order quote of $25,000 is less than the engineer’s estimate of $35,000. Alderman Isaacs said the cost should go into the street projects account. If adjustments need to be made later, they can be. Alderman Isaacs motioned to approve the change order from Martin & Co. for $25,000 to build six ADA ramps on Colfax St.. Motion seconded by Alderman Metz. Roll call vote: Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.
c. Wastewater Treatment Plant – Nothing new to report.
d. City Hall Parking Lot – Engineer Stoll has met with the contractor. Work will begin in several weeks.
e. UTV Ordinance – Nothing new to report.
f. TARP Grant-Colfax St. – Nothing new to report.
g. Constellation Sewer Extension– Nothing new to report.
18. NEW BUSINESS
a. Resolution in Support of Further Negotiations of Maintenance of IDOT Pump Station and Rec Path – This is a resolution to state that we have some level of interest in continuing discussions with IDOT regarding maintaining a new storm water pump station and rec path as part of the Route 2 reconstruction project. This is on the agenda for first read.
b. Crossing Guard Salary - Alderman Hobbie said that the current crossing guard salary is $20/day. The Public Safety Committee recommends increasing this amount to $30/day. The city splits the cost with the school district. As of now, there is only one person hired and the start of school is coming soon. Discussion will continue at the next meeting.
19. COUNCIL TALK – Mayor Rickard and Director Hewitt have begun to put together a list of people to serve on the economic development committee. Now that the county has organized, they will begin to ask people to serve. • Alderman Metz will remain on City Council through November, however, she will resign at that point since she will no longer be a full time resident of Byron.
20. COMMUNICATION –
a. Regular City Council Meeting – Wednesday, August 3, 2022, 6:30 pm.
21. ADJOURN – Alderman Gyorkos motioned to adjourn. Motion seconded by Alderman Gerdes. Roll call vote: Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE;. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.
Mayor Rickard adjourned the City Council meeting at 7:04 pm.
https://www.cityofbyron.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/3926/minutes_-_2022-07-20-approved.pdf
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