Galesburg Reporter

City of Knoxville City Council met March 16.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

Call to Order: Mayor Maurer called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 PM. All rose to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call: Present: Aldermen Benjamin, Eiker, Gruner, Hillier, Hope, Howard, and Myers; Mayor Maurer, Treasurer Bivens, Chief of Police Poyner, City Clerk Wilt, Attorney McCoy, Water Superintendent Johnson. Absent: Alderman Naslund.

Public Comments: None.

Approval of Minutes: Alderman Gruner moved to approve the Minutes of the March 2, 2020 City Council Meeting; Alderman Eiker seconded the motion which passed by voice vote with no dissent.

GENERAL REPORTS

Attorney Report: Attorney McCoy stated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor today announced a partial suspension of the Open Meetings Act to allow for council members to attend meetings electronically.

Engineer Report: Mayor Maurer reported for Engineer Cooper that the Jackson Street culvert project has been approved by IDOT and work will begin soon.

Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Bivens provided her report, and noted that interest rates are currently trending downward. She also noted that the Police account expenditures could potentially go over the appropriated amount before the end of the fiscal year.

City Clerk’s Report: City Clerk Wilt noted that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Easter Egg hunt scheduled for April 4 has been cancelled. The company providing the July 4 fireworks has been in contact with the City, and is still planning to provide services at this point.

Payment of City Bills: Alderman Hillier moved to approve payment of the City Bills; Alderman Eiker seconded the motion which passed with seven (7) Yes votes and one (1) Absent.

Information Items:

• Mayor Maurer noted that the monthly departmental operating reports were available in the online Council packet.

• Resignation of Full Time Police Officer Shawn Keith, effective March 12, 2020.

OLD BUSINESS

None.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Request for Side by Side Fun Run: No one representing this April 4, 2020 event was present. Alderman Gruner moved to table the request. Alderman Howard seconded the motion, which passed by voice vote with no dissent.

2. Resolution 2020-05 – Hire Full Time Police Officer Ryder Cudd: Alderman Myers moved to hire Ryder Cudd at $15.50 per hour. Alderman Eiker seconded the motion, which passed with seven (7) Yes votes and one (1) Absent. Chief Poyner has scheduled Officer Cudd for training through the state.

3. Possible Employee Sick Time Pool: Police Officer Don Ryner offered to donate up to 160 hours of his accrued sick time to Police Officer Barry Petzold, who is off for an extended length of time due to an injury. Starting an employee sick time pool was discussed with no action taken. Alderman Gruner moved to allow any employee to donate accrued sick time to Police Officer Barry Petzold. Alderman Hillier seconded the motion, which passed with seven (7) Yes votes and one (1) Absent.

Mayor’s Report:

• Thank you to Alderman Myers for leading the March 2, 2020 Council meeting.

• Thank you to Chief Poyner for securing new furniture for the Council to use in the Police Station conference room.

• City Clerk Wilt prepared the 9 month financial report for fiscal year 2019-2020.

• A Special Council meeting has been called for Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 6:00 pm, to discuss a draft ordinance granting emergency powers to the mayor. In light of the daily changes with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council did not want to wait until the next regularly scheduled Council meeting to act on this issue.

• As recommended by the Illinois State Library Association, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Public Library will close to the public at least through the end of March, but the librarian will work normal hours. Also, the museum and all Historic Sites will close to the public, and the Tourism Associate will work normal hours.

• An Administrative Committee of the whole will be on April 6, 2020, at 6:00 pm, prior to the regular Council meeting.

• A facilities tour was last held in 2012. By general consensus, there is interest in offering this tour again later in the year.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Administrative – Myers: None.

Cemetery – Hillier: None. Community & Economic Development – Benjamin: None. Parks – Howard: None. Police – Naslund: None. Sanitation – Hope: None. Streets – Eiker: Alderman Eiker said that the February 25, 2020 Street Committee meeting that was postponed has not been rescheduled. Water/Sewer – Gruner: Alderman Gruner stated that he had requested a monthly preventative maintenance checklist from BOCK Inc.

Adjourn: At 8:25 PM, Alderman Gruner moved to Adjourn the Meeting; Alderman Hillier seconded the motion which passed by voice vote with no dissent.

http://kville.org/wp-content/uploads/minutes-agendas-newsletters/Minutes_2020-03-16.pdf