Galesburg Reporter

City of Monmouth City Council Met Feb. 16.

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), Aldermen Brian Daw, Juan Pinedo, Dan Heatherly and Alderwoman Mary Kelly Also Present: Mayor Rod Davies, City Clerk Susan S. Trevor, City Attorney Marcum Spears and Administrator Lew Steinbrecher, 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 Members of the Press: Jane Carlson, Register Mail

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A. Approval of February 1, 2021 Council Meeting Minutes

It was moved by Alderman Cook and seconded by Alderman Daw to approve the February 1, 2021 Council Meeting Minutes as presented. AYE: Aldermen Thomas, Cook, Alderwoman Twomey (remotely), Aldermen Daw, Pinedo, Heatherly and Alderwoman Kelly NAY: none 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 Pinedo to approve the bills as presented. AYE: Aldermen Cook, Alderwoman Twomey (remotely), Aldermen Daw, Pinedo, Heatherly, Alderwoman Kelly and Alderman Thomas NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.

V. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

A. Swearing-in of Newly Appointed 3rd Ward Alderman – Jim Conard 

City Clerk Susan Trevor administered the oath of office for 3rd Ward Alderman to Jim Conard, who was appointed by Mayor Davies to fill the vacancy created by the death of Alderman Bob Wells.

B. MFD January Report – Chief Rexroat

The department responded to 115 calls in January.

A sizable fire on the corner of South 10th and E. 2nd Ave. resulted in a total loss. 

The department hosted an Instructor II Class for MFD and area fire departments. It is taught by instructors from the Illinois Fire Service Institute. The class teaches firefighters how to provide training to other firefighters. Four firefighters from MFD and at least a dozen other firefighters from area departments attended the training.

Chief Rexroat met with a representative from the Insurance Services Office to provide information in order to update the fire department’s public protection classification. The last time Monmouth’s classification was updated was in 2014 when it went from a 5 down to a 4 on a scale of 1-10. A rating of 1 means that a department has met all the ISO’s criteria and 10 means that a department does not meet the minimum ISO criteria.

The department applied for a grant to the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal’s Small Equipment Grant Program. Tis grant can provide assistance up to $26,00 to purchase small firefighting and ambulance equipment. MFD is requesting funds to purchase new extrication equipment as the current extrication equipment is over 20 years old.

The department also applied for a Federal grant through FEMA in order to purchase a new ladder truck, which would cost around $1,000,000. This grant is very competitive and the department was turned down the last time it applied. Due to the ongoing issues with our current ladder truck, it is important to keep applying for the Assistance to Firefighter’s Grant.

FEMA also has a micro-grant that provides funds up to $25,000. The department has applied for this grant as well in order to update our gear washer and dryer as ours is 20 years old. There is a 5% match for both grants.

C. MPD January Report – Chief Switzer

• Robin Avery, our traffic and animal control officer, broke her wrist while on duty and had surgery to repair the break.

• This month the Illinois State Legislature passed a Criminal Justice Reform Omnibus Bill. It will have a significant impact on law enforcement in the State of Illinois if the Governor signs it into law.

• The department is currently taking applications for custodian.

VI. ORDINANCES

A. 1st Reading

1. 21-005, A Special Ordinance Authorizing the Ceding of Private Activity Bonding Authority to WIEDA

Administrator Steinbrecher explained that annually the State of Illinois allocates tax exempt bonds up to 1 million dollars to Home Rule communities to use for private activity if they choose. The City has traditionally ceded their bonding authority to Western Illinois Development Authority (WIEDA) to utilize on large-scale projects. This ceding of authority to WIEDA allows our smaller home rule community to potentially use these bonds for housing developments and large industrial projects that might not be possible if the City were utilizing these bonds by itself. It was moved by Alderman Heatherly and seconded by Alderman Cook to approve Ordinance 21-005 and cede the City’s 2021 bonding authority to WIEDA. AYE: Alderwoman Twomey (remotely), Aldermen Daw, Conard, Pinedo, Heatherly, Alderwoman Kelly, Aldermen Thomas and Cook NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.

VII. EXECUTIVE SESSION

A. Per Illinois Statute 5 ILCS 120/2 to consider Collective Bargaining Negotiations 

1. It was moved by Alderman Daw and seconded by Alderman Cook to go into Executive Session to consider Collective Bargaining Negotiations at 6:12 p.m. AYE: Alderwoman Twomey (remotely), Aldermen Daw, Conard, Pinedo, Heatherly, Alderwoman Kelly and Alderman Cook NAY: none RECUSE: Alderman Thomas MOTION CARRIED. 

2. It was moved by Alderman Heatherly and seconded by Alderman Daw to return to Regular Session at 6:25 p.m. AYE: Aldermen Conard, Pinedo, Heatherly, Alderwoman Kelly, Aldermen Thomas, Cook, Alderwoman Twomey (remotely) and Alderman Daw NAY: none MOTION CARRIED.

VIII. OTHER BUSINESS

There was none to be considered.

IX. ADJOURNMENT

It was moved by Alderman Heatherly and seconded by Alderman Daw to adjourn the February 16, 2021 meeting at 6:25 p.m. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous voice vote.

https://www.cityofmonmouth.com/attachments/article/811/February%2016,%202021%20Council%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf