Galesburg Reporter

City of Knoxville City Council Met May 17.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

Call to Order: Mayor Myers 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, Moore and Reed; Mayor Myers, Treasurer Barnum, Chief of Police Poyner, Attorney McCoy, and City Clerk Wilt. Absent: None. Also in attendance: Mr. Keith Vaughn, Mr. Cooper Wilt.

Public Comments: None.

Approval of Minutes: Alderman Eiker moved to approve the Minutes of the May 3, 2021 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: Treasurer Barnum stated that former Treasurer Whitney assisted her in reinvesting some maturing CDs.

City Clerk’s Report: No report.

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

INFORMATION ITEMS

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

• Ward 2 Alderman Karen Benjamin submitted her resignation, effective May 3, 2021, due to her pending move out of Knoxville.

OLD BUSINESS

None.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Bulk Water Sales Vending: The current bulk water sales system at the water plant is mechanically obsolete, is often vandalized, and can only accept coins. Alderman Howard moved to purchase a new bulk water vending machine from Water Products Company for $5,655.00. Alderman Eiker seconded the motion, which passed with seven (7) Yes votes. The new machine will accept coins and currency.

2. Section 2-3-1.1 – Emergency Powers of the Mayor: Due to a sunset clause, the previous ordinance concerning emergency powers of the mayor expired May 4, 2021. Alderman Howard moved to approve Ordinance 2021-03 Emergency Powers of the Mayor. Alderman Gruner seconded the motion, which passed with seven (7) Yes votes.

3. Appoint Mayor Pro Tem: Alderman Howard moved to appoint Alderman Gruner as Mayor Pro Tem. Alderman Hillier seconded the motion, which passed with six (6) Yes votes and one (1) Abstention.

4. Sewer Connection 310 Galesburg Road: Alderman Gruner moved to allow the residence at 310 Galesburg Road to connect to the city sewer. Alderman Eiker seconded the motion, which passed with seven (7) Yes votes.

Mayor’s Report:

• Ameren Illinois will view the light pole at Beavers Teeth at 320 E Main St on May 4, 2021 to start the removal process.

• New City Hall construction is currently in rain delay, but the floor and ramp will be poured soon. The walls were fabricated off-site.

• The Knoxville Community Fund will meet on June 2, 2021. There is currently $433,000.00 invested. Mayor Myers is exploring options to purchase St Mary’s Chapel, which Keith Vaughn owns and has offered to sell to the City for $190,000.00.

• Payment #4 of the Rebuild Illinois Grant has been received, and will be used for street projects.

• According to an Illinois Municipal League publication, communities with populations under 3000 following the 2020 census are required to realign to three wards and six aldermen. An ordinance could be created to keep the wards and representation the same as now. No results of the 2020 census have been received yet.

• The Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce will hold ribbon cuttings on May 26, 2021 for Big Catz BBQ, 221 E Main St, and on June 11, 2021 for Garrett’s Glass, 110 Galesburg Rd.

• The Knoxville Fire Department submitted its schedule for holding fund raising lunches, and requested to post signage on City property. As these are on-going fundraisers and this has been allowed in the past, no formal action was needed.

• A note from former Mayor Dennis Maurer was circulated, thanking the City for the retirement reception and gift.

• A resident is interested in purchasing the city-owned lot at 610 S Division St. Others have inquired in the past. Mayor Myers and Clerk Wilt will look into this matter.

• Library employee Sarah Leedham has resigned, effective May 17, 2021. She is moving out of state.

• A resident from Circle Drive reported that for years the street floods each time it rains. There is a culvert in the area, but the City is currently not allowed access to it due to not enough right-of-way.

• The next regularly scheduled Council meeting will be held on Monday, June 7, 2021 at 7:00 pm.

Committee Reports

• Administration: No report.

• Cemetery: No report.

• Economic Development: No report.

• Parks: Alderman Eiker requested permission to hold Praise in the Park in Central Park east of the Courthouse on July 7, 14, and 21, 2021. As this is a park reservation, no Council approval was necessary.

• Police: Chief Poyner reported that Officer Bradford would like to go from full time to part time. The Chief would allow this due to needing the part time coverage.

• Sanitation: No report.

• Streets: No report.

• Water/Sewer: Alderman Gruner reported that a power surge at the water plant apparently damaged the laptop, and that Dell would be working on it.

Adjourn: At 7:45 PM, Alderman Hillier moved to Adjourn the Meeting; Alderman Reed 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_2021-05-17.pdf