Galesburg Reporter

City of Knoxville City Council met Oct. 7.

Here is the agenda provided by the council:

Call to Order: Mayor Maurer called the Meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

All rose to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call: Present: Aldermen Benjamin, Eiker, Gruner, Hillier, Howard, and Myers; Mayor Maurer, Treasurer Bivens, Attorney McCoy, and City Clerk Wilt. Absent: Alderman Naslund, Chief of Police Poyner, Engineer Cooper. Also in attendance: Mr. Bryan Conley, Mr. Don Moffitt, Mr. Dave Beard, Mr. Al Hayden, Mr. Lowell Mannhardt, Mrs. Darcy Thorp, Mr. Shawn Mason, Mr. Bill Munson and two members of the press.

Public Comments: Mrs. Peg Bivens, representing the Knoxville Community Fund of the Galesburg Community Foundation, presented a check for $2,000.00 to Alderman Howard for paint for Knoxville High School to decorate the new park trash cans.

Mr. Bryan Conley, 703 E. North St, asked the Council to consider installing two culverts for two of his three driveways that do not currently have culverts. Alderman Eiker reported that he and Superintendent of Public Works Rossell had looked at the area and agreed that additional culverts are necessary. This request will be placed on the October 21, 2019 agenda.

Approval of Minutes: Alderman Hillier moved to approve the Minutes of the September 16, 2019 City Council Meeting. Alderman Gruner seconded the motion which passed by voice vote with no dissent.

GENERAL REPORTS

Attorney Report: No report.

Engineer Report: No report.

Treasurer’s Report: No report.

City Clerk’s Report: No report.

INFORMATION ITEMS

None.

OLD BUSINESS

None.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Set Trick or Treat Hours for October 31: Alderman Myers moved to set trick or treat hours from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on October 31. Alderman Hillier seconded the motion, which passed by voice vote with no dissent.

2. Knoxville Fire Protection District Intergovernmental Agreement Request: Mayor Maurer stated that the Fire Department had submitted a TIF Commercial Repair Grant request in 2018, but since they are also a taxing body, an intergovernmental agreement is appropriate instead. Mr. Don Moffitt, president of the Fire Protection District, outlined capital improvements already made (attachment A), such as new overhead doors and new furnaces, plus a list of proposed items (attachment B), such as replacing interior paneling and coating the floors. Mayor Maurer stated that the Economic Development Council can draft an intergovernmental agreement for as much as the Council suggests.

Alderman Myers suggested a grant for $36,560.00 for all items on Attachment A and the interior paneling replacement from Attachment B. The agreement will be prepared for voting at the October 21, 2019 meeting. The remaining item is the floor coating, and if the Fire Department chooses to do this project later, they can request funding at that time.

3. Knox County Fairgrounds Sign Request: In 2015, the Knox County Fairgrounds had an agreement with the City to provide $10,000.00 from the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund for the purchase of an electronic sign. The Fairgrounds did not purchase the sign at that time.

Mrs. Darcy Thorp, representing the Fairgrounds, is resubmitting their request for $10,000.00 at this time as they have located a rebuilt sign that meets their needs for about $22,000.00. The proposed location for the sign on the northeast side of the fairgrounds is outside of city limits and the TIF district, so Hotel/Motel Tax funds are requested.

Treasurer Bivens noted that the Hotel/Motel Tax balance is currently less than $10,000.00 and most of those funds are earmarked for other projects. The sign could also be funded out of the Town Fund. The Knoxville Action team has been working on a Welcome to Knoxville sign, and this sign could meet that need. The Fairgrounds would work with the City to have the proper verbiage on the sign, plus the electronic portion of the sign could be programmed with city announcements. By general consensus, the request was tabled until the October 21, 2019 meeting, to research funding options.

4. Sidewalk Replacement: Alderman Myers suggested sending out a mailer informing the public of the City’s sidewalk replacement program. It would be targeted toward those homes that could actually have a sidewalk installed or repaired. Mayor Maurer suggested reviewing the Action Team’s plan from March 2018 to prioritize the areas that need sidewalks the most. Alderman Myers will work with City Hall on the mailer. 

5. Terrace 408 E Mill St: Alderman Gruner lives at this address. A postal relay box has been installed on his terrace, and he requests that the part gravel/part grass terrace be converted to all gravel for the ease of mail trucks. Alderman Myers stated that there is an ordinance prohibiting the addition of gravel to the terrace, due to drainage and safety issues. As there is already gravel on the terrace under the grass at 408 E. Mill St, the grass will be scarified to reveal the existing gravel below, which does not go against the ordinance. 

6. Knoxville Public Library Additional Building Updates: Mayor Maurer presented additional bids from Glass Specialty for additional library improvements including interior trim on the new windows, replacing two alleyway windows, replacing the front door and an interior vestibule window, and replacing the glass on the old outdoor teller area. Alderman Myers moved to allow the library improvements of interior window trim for $3,695.31 and the new front door for $4,138.00 for a total of $7,833.31, to be paidwith TIF funds. Alderman Eiker seconded the motion, which passed with six (6) Yes votes and one (1) Absent. The additional improvements will be considered for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. No decision was made for the outdoor teller area, which is currently used as a display area by community groups.

Mayor’s Report:

• The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Monday, October 21, 2019 at 7:00 pm.

• Additional leaks in the City Hall ceiling have appeared after the recent heavy rains.

• The new golf cart permit stickers have arrived.

• Due to a recent Illinois state law, employers may no longer ask for salary history on job applications. The City job application will be modified for this change.

• A thank you note from the Community Bible Church was circulated commending the Mayor and City Council for their service.

Committee Reports

• Administration: No report.

• Cemetery: No report.

• Economic Development: No report.

• Parks: No report.

• Police: No report.

• Sanitation: No report.

• Streets: No report.

• Water/Sewer: Alderman Gruner reported that with all of the recent rains, he had received several calls reporting sewers backing up. The sewer relining project is scheduled to begin the first week of November.

Adjourn: At 8:28 PM, Alderman Hillier moved to Adjourn the Meeting; Alderman Gruner seconded the motion which passed by voice vote with no dissent.

http://kville.org/wp-content/uploads/minutes-agendas-newsletters/Minutes_2019-10-07.pdf