NW Illinois News

City of Byron City Council met Aug. 3.

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: Todd Isaacs, Emily Gerdes, Mittzi Fulrath, Cheryl Metz, Zeke Hobbie, Jessica Nehring, Michael Gyorkos. Seven members present.

Aldermen Absent: Christy Hanlin

PRESENT: Mayor John Rickard

City Clerk Caryn Huber

City Attorney Aaron Szeto

Police Chief Todd Murray

Dir. of Public Works Aaron Vincer

Dir. of Econ. Dev. Larry Hewitt

Engineer Gene Stoll

Citizens 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 August 3, 2022, agenda. Seconded by Alderman Gyorkos. Roll call vote: Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 7; NAY, 0; ABS 0.

6. MINUTES –

a. July 20, 2022 - City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Motion by Alderman Metz to approve, as presented, the July 20, 2022, City Council Regular Meeting Minutes. Seconded by Alderman Isaacs. Roll call vote: Fulrath, ABS; Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 6; NAY, 0; ABS 1.

7. PUBLIC COMMENT – None

8. TREASURER’S REPORT – No report.

9. LIST OF BILLS – Alderman Isaacs asked why we are just now paying a deposit to United Electric for generators, even though it was approved months ago. Director Vincer said they were waiting for Nicor to clarify some questions before deciding to go with natural gas. The generators have now been ordered. In addition, there is a second list of bills for payment to Martin & Company and Struck & Irwin for street project work. Alderman Isaacs motioned to approve both lists of bills dated 8/03/22 for $183,024.86 plus $362,015.69. Motion seconded by Alderman Gyorkos. Roll call vote: Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 7; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

10. MAYOR’S REPORT – Mayor Rickard reported the city received a certificate of appreciation from ByronFest.

11. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT – All items are on the agenda.

12. CITY ENGINEER’S REPORT – Engineer Stoll reported that work has begun on the City Hall parking lot. Concrete work will be done this week. Signs have been placed directing residents to enter City Hall on the Washington St. side of the building. • TARP grant – Construction plans for Colfax St. will be sent to IDOT next week for their first review. • The $2 million grant we were awarded from Kinzinger’s office is in DCEO for processing This grant is for water and sewer work. Fehr Graham will begin work on the scope of the project. • The DNR Boat Launch Grant and the Downtown grant should be awarded soon. We have applied for both.

13. DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT – Director Hewitt reported that three new homes are being built in Rose Meadows. There will be two lots remaining. • There has been interest in the flower shop on Route 2. • Director Hewitt thanked the Chamber for their help with the ALS walk during ByronFest weekend. An estimated 400+ people took part in the walk.

14. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REPORT – Director Vincer reported that the sewer jetter should be repaired by the end of the month. • The department is working on street crack sealing. • The summer help will be returning to school within the next couple of weeks. • The watermain under the tracks will be repaired next week.

15. POLICE CHIEF REPORT – Chief Murray reported that National Night Out on Tuesday, August 3, had a good turnout. • Paperwork has been filed on the Second St. house and it is now in the court system. • We have been informed by our insurance carrier that our health insurance rate increase will be 3.85% in October.

16. COMMITTEE REPORTS

a. Community Services – All items are on the agenda.

b. Public Safety – No report

c. Administrative – Alderman Isaacs reported that the committee discussed the waste disposal contract. The committee also recommends council approval for the Letter to Support Availability of Affordable Broadband.

17. CONTINUING BUSINESS

a. Sunshine Park Purchase– Revised contract is under review after receiving comments from the other attorney. Once this contract is signed, the parties have 90 days to negotiate a redevelopment agreement. Alderman Metz raised concern regarding rec path connectivity to the river rec path.

b. Mill Road Rec Path – Project is almost complete. There is still additional work on intersection paving, painting and landscaping.

c. Wastewater Treatment Plant – Nothing new to report.

d. City Hall Parking Lot – Construction is taking place now.

e. UTV Ordinance – Nothing new to report.

f. TARP Grant-Colfax St. – Nothing new to report.

g. Constellation Sewer Extension–

a. Fehr Graham Engineering Agreement Approval – Alderman Fulrath reported that the Community Services Committee recommends approval of the Fehr Graham Constellation Engineering Agreement pending review and approval of the Constellation engineering reimbursement agreement – Roll Call Vote: Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Metz, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 7; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

b. Constellation Engineering Reimbursement Agreement Approval – Agreement was just received today. It will be reviewed by Attorney Szeto and Engineer Stoll.

h. Resolution in Support of Further Negotiations of Maintenance of IDOT Pump Station and Rec Path – Alderman Fulrath reported that the Community Services Committee recommends approval of the Resolution in Support of Further Negotiations of Maintenance of IDOT Pump Station and Rec Path. Roll call vote: Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 7; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

i. Crossing Guard Salary – Alderman Hobbie reported that the Public Safety Committee recommends increasing the crossing guard salary from $20 to $30/day in an effort to fill the positions. The cost is split with the school. Roll call vote: Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 7; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

18. NEW BUSINESS

a. Water Rate-CPI Increase – Alderman Fulrath reported that the CPI is at 9% this year, however, our ordinance caps water rate increases at a CPI of 5%. The increase will be reflected in this month’s water bills. We will ask Matt Johnson to recalculate the step rate structure based on this increase.

b. Waste Disposal Contract – Alderman Isaacs reported that the waste disposal contract with Moring ends at the end of the month. The Administrative Committee did not put the contract out to bid, but has reviewed proposals from Midwest Disposal and Moring, and Moring’s pricing is substantially less. The Administrative Committee recommends negotiating the contract with Moring exclusively. Roll call vote: Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 7; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

c. Ogle County Broadband Letter of Support – The Ogle County Board is working on seeking funding to provide affordable broadband to every household in Ogle County, and is applying for a grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).They have asked for letters of support from the communities in Ogle County. The Administrative Committee recommends bypassing first read and approving the letter of support regarding broadband. Roll call vote: Gerdes, AYE; Fulrath, AYE; Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 7; NAY, 0; ABS, 0.

d. Resolution Supporting Availability of Affordable Broadband – This resolution will be included on the agenda at the next council meeting.

19. COUNCIL TALK – Mayor Rickard asked if anyone was interested in attending the IML Conference in September.

20. COMMUNICATION –

a. Regular City Council Meeting – Wednesday, August 17, 2022, 6:30 pm.

21. ADJOURN – Alderman Fulrath motioned to adjourn. Motion seconded by Alderman Nehring. Roll call vote: Fulrath, AYE; Metz, AYE; Hobbie, AYE; Nehring, AYE; Gyorkos, AYE; Isaacs, AYE; Gerdes, AYE. Motion passed: AYE, 7; 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/3931/minutes_-_2022-08-03-approved.pdf