Galesburg Reporter

City of Knoxville City Council met Oct. 19.

Here is the minutes 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 Eiker, Gruner, Hillier, Hope, Howard, and Myers; Mayor Maurer, Treasurer Bivens, Chief of Police Poyner, Attorney McCoy, Engineer Cooper, and City Clerk Wilt. Absent: Aldermen Benjamin and Naslund.

Public Comments: None.

Approval of Minutes: Alderman Gruner moved to approve the Minutes of the October 5, 2020 City Council Meeting. Alderman Hillier 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.

Payment of City Bills: Alderman Howard moved to approve payment of the City Bills; Alderman Hillier seconded the motion which passed with six (6) Yes votes and two (2) Absent.

INFORMATION ITEMS

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

• Clerk Wilt passed out the 2019-2020 financial report, prepared by auditor Ben Burgland. Mr. Burgland will be in attendance at the November 2, 2020 meeting.

OLD BUSINESS

1. Sewer Lining Project – Bid Review: Engineer Cooper reported that the bid opening for sewer lining was moved to Monday, October 19, and that three bids were received. Hoerr Construction from Goodfield, IL, presented the low bid of $70,408.50, and Engineer Cooper recommended accepting this bid. Alderman Gruner moved to accept the Hoerr Construction bid. Alderman Howard seconded the motion, which passed with five (5) Yes votes, two (2) Absent, and one (1) Abstention.

2. Ordinance 2020-12 Building Permits for Sheds Under 150 Sq Ft and Floating Decks: Attorney McCoy presented a draft ordinance clarifying and defining floating decks and clarifying permit requirements on sheds under 150 sq feet. Alderman Hillier moved to adopt Ordinance 2020-12 Building Permits for Sheds Under 150 Sq Ft and Floating Decks. Alderman Gruner seconded the motion, which passed with six (6) Yes votes and two (2) Absent.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Property/Liability Insurance Renewal: Mayor Maurer postponed this item to the November 2, 2020 Council meeting, when the insurance representative will be in attendance.

2. Employee Holiday Bonus: Alderman Myers moved to raise the full time employee holiday bonus from $100.00 to $200.00 this year, in part due to exemplary service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alderman Eiker seconded the motion, which passed with six (6) Yes votes and two (2) Absent. The part time bonus will remain at $50.00.

3. Liquor Ordinance Happy Hour Law Provision: Mayor Maurer reported that Keith Vaughn of the Beavers Teeth Axe Throwing, Brew and Chew, has asked the City to consider amending the liquor ordinance to allow the Illinois Happy Hour law, which was passed statewide in 2015, after the City ordinance was adopted. By general consensus, the Council agreed that the City ordinance should match the State ordinance, and Attorney McCoy was directed to prepare a draft ordinance to make this change.

Mayor’s Report:

• Employees from Huber Technologies were performing maintenance on the step screen at the Wastewater Treatment plant last week, and a technician was injured. The City was not liable for this injury, and the technician has recovered. The step screen should not need maintenance for at least five more years.

• Mr. Pradeep Kataria has regained control of the BP station at 747 Knox Hwy 10 after filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy. He is still interested in obtaining a pouring license so that he may offer video gambling. That request was denied by the Council in 2017. Mr. Kataria will be asked to share his business plan at the November 2, 2020 Council meeting.

• The new east side Library windows are installed.

• On July 29, the Illinois Municipal League (IML) filed a lawsuit against the Illinois State Board of Elections (SBE) to determine if the unfunded mandate to close governmental offices for Election Day on November 3, 2020, applies to municipalities. On October 16, 2020 the courts decided that the mandate does not apply to municipalities.

• The annual Christmas Parade is scheduled for December 5, 2020. The status is in question due to COVID-19 concerns. The High School will be contacted to see if the band is planning to participate. The item will be on the November 2, 2020 agenda.

• The Dodge truck authorized for sale as surplus at the October 5, 2020 meeting was sold for $400.00.

• The next regularly scheduled Council meeting will be held on Monday, November 2, 2020 at 7:00 pm.

• The next Library Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at 7:00 pm.

Committee Reports

• Administration: Alderman Myers asked for Council wage increases and City Hall Addition plans be placed on the November 2, 2020 Council agenda.

• Cemetery: No report.

• Economic Development: No report.

• Parks: No report.

• Police: No report.

• Sanitation: No report.

• Streets: Alderman Eiker reported that the police garage concrete project is almost completed, and then the equipment will be prepared for the winter.

• Water/Sewer: No report.

Adjourn: At 7:37 PM, Alderman Gruner moved to Adjourn the Meeting; Alderman Eiker seconded the motion, which passed by voice vote with no dissent. The meeting was adjourned

https://kville.org/wp-content/uploads/minutes-agendas-newsletters/Minutes_2020-10-19.pdf