NW Illinois News

City of Fulton City Council met Oct. 10.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Meeting was called to order by Mayor Wendy Ottens at 5:30 p.m. On roll call, Alderpersons King, VanKampen, Boonstra, Burggraaf, Banker, Wilkin, Mask, and Brondyke were present. Police Chief Neblung, Public Works Director Sikkema, City Business Manager Garibay, City Attorney Huizenga, Deputy City Clerk Grant and City Clerk Wade were also in attendance.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

New Appointments by Mayor Wendy - None

Recognition of Volunteers – None

Communications from Visitors – David Chaudhari from AmericInn Hotel in Fulton asked the Council to consider bringing in more restaurants to Fulton. He stated that their guests have nowhere to eat when visiting Fulton. They have to drive to Clinton.

Presentations – IL Route 30 and North River Drive Project in Clinton. Barb Frantz presented the need to make IL Route 30 to a 4-lane.

David Rose, Brenda Thornton, Dennis Lauver and Tom Determan, Iowa State Representative, District 69, all presented to the Council the North River Drive Project for the north end of the dike/bike path near the Lyon’s District in Clinton.

Mayor Wendy asked for a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.

Motion to approve the City Council Meeting Minutes from September 25, 2023, and the Bill List.

Motion to approve, Alderperson King, seconded by Alderperson Wilkin.

Corrections were stated for the Sept. 25, 2023, meeting minutes.

Motion to approve with corrections to the Sept. 2023, minutes. Alderperson Mask, seconded by Alderperson Burggraaf.

On Roll Call, all yes.

Motion passed.

Business

Mayor Wendy asked for a motion to approve the purchase of a 2023 Tahoe from State Center, Iowa.

Alderperson Banker made the motion, Alderperson Brondyke seconded.

Upon roll call vote, all are in favor. Motion approved.

Mayor Wendy asked for a motion to approve an ordinance amending Chapter 72 entitled Parking Schedules of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Fulton.

Alderperson King made the motion. Alderperson Burggraaf seconded.

Police Chief Neblung stated that the motion as presented would be for not including 7th Ave. & 9th St. The 7th Ave. & 9th St. would go on the next motion. So this motion would be for the 7th St. from 10th Ave. to 13th Ave. and 11th Ave. from 10th St. to 14th St.

Support with those corrections.

On roll call, all yes. Motion approved.

Mayor Wendy asked for a motion to approve an ordinance amending Chapter 71 entitled Parking Schedules of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Fulton. Adding a stop sign at 7th Ave. & 9th St., adding stop signs for 4-way stop at 10th St. & 7th Ave., and stop sign at 12th St. in front of the Middle School

Alderperson King motioned, Alderperson VanKampen seconded.

On roll call, all yes. Motion approved.

Committee of the Whole Discussion

This is a continuation discussing our ordinance on liquor licenses. The Council was directed to a map in their packet that shows the only areas where the liquor licenses can be located.

Alderperson Wilkin asked how much it costs everytime the Council has to amend an ordinance and how often it has been done in the past? City Attorney Huizenga stated that a quarter of a billable hour for a simple ordinance - so about $40.00 each time an ordinance is amended. City Business Manager Garibay was asked how much the City’s former attorney charged to recently amend ordinances, such as the liquor license ordinance? Garibay thought it was $235.00.

Alderperson VanKampen said she had collected from nine cities in the area what their liquor license code of ordinances are. She feels that before the Council can give out any more liquor licenses, our Code of Ordinance for liquor licenses needs to be updated. Some are very old and a lot of things have changed and the laws have changed.

City Attorney Huizenga stated that our books have not been recodified in a very long time. (since 2019). This needs to be updated as soon as possible.

Alderperson VanKampen also stated that a $2,000.00 Bond that is supposed to be accompanied by an application for a liquor license payable to the City. Alderperson VanKampen asked if we have ever collected that? Mayor Wendy asked ReNee Grant to explain this. She said that the City asks for an Assurity Bond for the liquor license through the insurance company which we do get. As far as paying that to the City, she’s not aware of that. It is just a bond, it only gets paid if there is a need to.

Alderperson VanKampen said that the rules read that it is the City Clerk’s job. Is this something we also need to change? Mayor Wendy said that it needs to be updated in our Code Book.

Alderperson VanKampen suggested that before the Council does anything more with liquor licenses, they review this, make the necessary changes. Liquor license fees from surrounding towns and our fees were discussed.

Alderperson Mask suggested that the Council put this on the agenda for discussion and then do certain sections of it and just start going through it.

Discussion was held on how to get it updated from 2019 to the present, the cost of doing that and how it is done. Alderperson Wilkin asked how many applications for liquor licenses are waiting right now. There are 3.

A member of the audience asked if he could speak, Mayor Wendy let him speak because he had signed the sheet requesting to speak when he arrived at the meeting. He was concerned about the number of liquor licenses in the City. He wants to make sure the Council is being fair about who gets a license. He is against adding more licenses.

A member of the audience asked about the City’s income from Cannabis tax and how it is spent.

A member of the audience asked about our City ordinances and why we pay an attorney to create these.

Mayor Wendy asked for a motion to go into closed session for purposes of personnel, litigation, or sale of property.

Motion to move into closed session, Alderperson King. Second by Alderperson Boonstra.

On roll call, all yes.

Motion approved.

Council went into closed session at 6:27 p.m.

Council adjourned closed session at 7:01 p.m.

Mayor Wendy asked to make a motion to adjourn the regular meeting, all present were in favor.

Meeting adjourned. 7:05 p.m.

https://www.cityoffulton.us/government/city-council/city-council-meeting-minutes/city-council-meeting-minutes-10-09-23.html