Galesburg Reporter

City of Monmouth City Council met July 20.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

I. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mayor Rod Davies called the meeting to order in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 East Broadway at 6:00 p.m. and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

II. ROLL CALL

City Clerk Susan S. Trevor called the roll and those answering Present were: Aldermen

Justin Thomas, Tony Cook, Alderwoman Susan Twomey (remotely), Brian Daw (late arrival at 6:30 p.m.), Robert Wells, Juan Pinedo, Dan Heatherly and Alderwoman Mary Kelly Also Present: Mayor Rod Davies, City Clerk Susan S. Trevor and Administrator Lew Steinbrecher Also Present in Adjacent Room: City Attorney Marcum Spears, Communications Director Ken Helms, Building and Zoning Director Joe Clark, MFD Chief Casey Rexroat, MPD Chief Joe Switzer and Woodard and Curran Public Works Director Andy Jackson

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A. Approval of July 6, 2020 Council Meeting Minutes

It was moved by Alderman Cook and seconded by Alderwoman Kelly to approve the July 6, 2020 Council Meeting Minutes as presented. AYE: Aldermen Thomas, Cook, Alderwoman Twomey (remotely), Aldermen Wells, Pinedo, Heatherly and Alderwoman Kelly NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Daw MOTION CARRIED.

IV. PRESENTATION TO THE COUNCIL

A. Presentations or Citizen Inquiries (All inquiries are limited to 3 minutes per City Ordinance) There were none to be heard.

B. Consent Agenda

1. Approval of Bills

It was moved by Alderman Heatherly and seconded by Alderman Wells to approve the bills as presented. AYE: Alderman Cook, Alderwoman Twomey (remotely), Aldermen Wells, Pinedo, Heatherly, Alderwoman Kelly and Alderman Thomas NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Daw MOTION CARRIED.

V. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

A. MFD June Report – Chief Rexroat

Emergency medical training for the month included a review of spinal trauma care procedures.

The department completed the repainting of select hydrants the were flow- tested. The bonnets of the hydrant are color-coded based on the volume of water available from the hydrant.

A tour of the North Fire Station was given to the Y.M.C.A. day campers. 

The MABAS Western Shelter was retrieved from Centreville, IL. and thoroughly cleaned to ensure it is ready for another response if necessary. 

Chief Rexroat continues to participate in bi-weekly conference calls with the Health Department to stay up-to-date with local COVID-19 updates.

B. MPD June Report – Lt. Bratcher

• Lt. Bratcher expressed the Department’s appreciation for all the peer support they have received from surrounding departments in Macomb and Galesburg.

• Due to the increase in people responding to Lighthouse Baptist’s once a week food bank on South 1st Street, the department has been providing some traffic control.

• Solar panels are being installed on our speed trailer.

• Unit 2 had a water pump leak and was repaired under warranty.

• Lt. Bratcher also expressed appreciation to the Monmouth Auxiliary Police for their assistance during the Protest Event on June 27th as the MPD is short staffed at present.

• Mayor Davies and Alderwoman Twomey conveyed their thanks to the MPD for their handling of the Protest Event on June 27th.

C. Update on the Airport Hangar Project – Hutchison Engineering

Jeff Olson from Hutchison Engineering gave the Council an overview of the airport hangar project. He said that there will be two phases – a design phase and a construction phase. The timeline for the Design Phase is approximately six weeks to prepare a plan and then one month to advertise for bids. The Construction Phase will consist of three months lead time in the fabrication of the building. The building will have a similar foot print of the old hangar except each bay will be separate with separate controls for lighting and electrical.

D. Street Closure Request from Immaculate Conception School

ICS Principal Randy Frakes is requesting the City of Monmouth to temporarily close West Archer Avenue between North A and North B Streets during school hours between 7:30 A.M. and 3:30 P.M. on Mondays through Fridays. The request is being made in response to COVID-19 guidelines. The school will have three points of entrance and exit for students where in the past there has been only one point of entrance and exit. Also, according to COVID-19 guidelines, the school will have to physically distance students during recess time and having the street temporarily closed during the school day would allow the students and staff to use the street safely as an additional area to have recess. It was moved by Alderman Heatherly and seconded by Alderman Cook to temporarily close West Archer Avenue between North A and North B Streets during school hours between 7:30 A.M. and 3:30 P.M. on Mondays through Fridays for the 2020-2021 school year. AYE: Alderwoman Twomey (remotely), Aldermen Wells, Pinedo, Heatherly, Alderwoman Kelly, Aldermen Thomas and Cook NAY: none ABSENT: Alderman Daw MOTION CARRIED.

E. Water Bill Late Payments

Woodard and Curran Public Works Director Jackson explained that from March through the end of June during the COVID-19 pandemic shut down, the City followed the Governor’s Executive Order to not disconnect City utilities for non-payment. There are a number of accounts that are in arrears as of the Phase 4 reopening which took effect June 27th. The total of residential accounts in arrears is $17,802 and the total for commercial accounts in arrears is $5,909. During many discussions and following the suggestions from IML and the Illinois Commerce Commission, the staff is proposing that the accounts in arears receive written communications from the City stating their account is in arrears and that they have 30 days to contact the City and make arrangements to pay back the past due amounts within a 6 month period. Failure to contact the City to make such arrangements or failure to make the agreed upon monthly payment amount would result in disconnection of service. The $50 disconnect fee would be waived during the payback period. The goal is to collect the bill not to penalize customers. Notices will be sent sometime next week. It was moved by Alderman Heatherly and seconded by Alderwoman Kelly to approve the proposal by City staff to allow customers who became in arrears in their water bill during the shutdown period from March to the end of June to enter into a payback amount for a six month period and to disconnect the customers who fail to make arrangements for payback or do not continue their agreed upon payback amounts. AYE: Aldermen Daw, Wells, Pinedo, Heatherly, Alderwoman Kelly, Aldermen Thomas, Cook and Alderwoman Twomey (remotely). NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.

F. Rotary Club BBQ Request for Parking Lane Closure

As Chairman of the 2020 Rotary Club BBQ event, Marcum Spears requested on behalf of the Club to have the use of the parking lane next to the Pattee Plaza in the 100 block of West Broadway for drive through pickup of BBQ sandwich dinners on Tuesday, August 4th from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. The Club is also requesting cones to mark the drive through lane for pickup. Chairman Spears also said that the dinners are all free this year as a goodwill gesture to the community. It was moved by Alderman Wells and seconded by Alderwoman Twomey (remotely) to approve the above-stated request by the Rotary Club. AYE: Aldermen Wells, Pinedo, Heatherly, Alderwoman Kelly, Aldermen Thomas, Cook, Alderwoman Twomey and Alderman Daw NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.

VI. ORDINANCES A. 1st Reading

1. 20-021, Stop Sign Ordinance on West Harlem

Public Works Director Jackson explained that due to the opening of the new YMCA pool there are concerns about children and people safely crossing a busy West Harlem street from the YMCA to the new YMCA pool. After much study and discussion among the Y staff, MPD Chief Switzer, City Administration and Public Works, it was decided the best site for the placement of a 10-foot wide crosswalk on West Harlem is in the middle of the block between North F and North G Streets. After further discussion, Council felt that it should be a permanent placement rather than just during the pool season. Director Jackson said that there will be signs placed about a block ahead of the actual stop sign warning of an upcoming stop sign. It was moved by Alderman Wells and seconded by Alderwoman Kelly to approve placing a permanent stop sign in the middle of the block on West Harlem between North F and North G Streets to allow for a crosswalk for people crossing from the YMCA to the YMCA pool. AYE: Aldermen Pinedo, Heatherly, Alderwoman Kelly, Aldermen Thomas, Cook, Alderwoman Twomey (remotely), Aldermen Daw and Wells NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.

VII. OTHER BUSINESS

There was none to be considered.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Alderman Heatherly and seconded by Alderman Cook to adjourn the July 20, 2020 meeting at 6:45 p.m. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote.

https://www.cityofmonmouth.com/attachments/article/780/July%2020,%202020%20Council%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf