Galesburg Reporter

City of Knoxville City Council met Sept. 7.

Here are 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, Hope, Howard, and Moore; Mayor Myers, Treasurer Barnum, Chief of Police Poyner, Attorney McCoy, Supervisor of Public Works Rossell, and City Clerk Wilt. Absent: Alderman Hillier, Alderman Reed. Also present: Mr. Scott Erickson, Mr. Pradeep Kataria, Mr. Trevor Myers, Mr. Sam Pemberton.

Public Comments: None.

Approval of Minutes: Alderman Howard moved to approve the Minutes of the August 16, 2021 City Council Meeting. Alderman Gruner 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 reported that she had rolled over 3 CDs and there is one more CD maturing later in September.

City Clerk’s Report: Clerk Wilt reported that a letter was sent to Mr. Don Bybee, owner of 102 S. West St, letting him know of the Council’s August 16, 2021 decision against removing a terrace tree.

INFORMATION ITEMS

None.

OLD BUSINESS

1. Wastewater Treatment Plant Solar Power Information – Keystone Power Holdings: Phase One of this project is a non-binding feasibility study. Alderman Gruner moved to enter into Phase One with Keystone Power Holdings for solar power for the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Alderman Hope seconded the motion, which passed with five (5) Yes votes and two (2) Absent.

2. General Police Orders – In-Car and Body-Worn Cameras: Attorney McCoy presented these general orders with updates to the Freedom of Information Act section as a second reading. Alderman Gruner moved to adopt the General Orders – In-Car and Body-Worn Cameras. Alderman Eiker seconded the motion, which passed by voice vote with no dissent.

3. Ordinance 2021-05 Correction – Increase Water/Sewer/Sanitation/Capital Improvement Rates: Ordinance 2021-05, approved at the August 2, 2021 Council meeting, was later discovered to list an incorrect minimum monthly sewer rate of $19.00 instead of $20.00. Alderman Howard moved to approve Ordinance 2021-06 Correcting Certain Sewer Rates. Alderman Gruner seconded the motion, which passed with five (5) Yes votes and two (2) Absent.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Culvert Extension 527 W Main St: Mr. Scott Erickson, owner of 527 W Main St, asked to be permitted to replace his existing 35 foot culvert with one of the same length, which is over the allowable length. Alderman Gruner moved to allow the replacement of a same size culvert at 527 W Main St. Alderman Eiker seconded the motion, which passed by voice vote with no dissent.

2. New City Hall Office Furniture Proposal: A proposal from Office Specialists Inc for office furniture for the new City Hall was presented. The Vocational Education classes at Knoxville High School will make a conference table and two side tables for the Council Chambers. Alderman Howard moved to approve the office furniture proposal from Office Specialists Inc for $18,010.55 and to pay Knoxville High School $5,000.00 for materials to build tables. Alderman Eiker seconded the motion, which passed with five (5) Yes votes and two (2) Absent.

3. Increase Lines of Spending Authority: Mayor Myers suggested increasing the lines of spending authority, which have not been updated since 2007. Attorney McCoy will draft an ordinance with new recommended amounts, plus eliminating the verbiage requiring first and second readings on items $5,000.00 and over, and removing the requirement that expenditures over $25,000.00 require a formal bid process. Both of those items could be waived by the Council, so their inclusion is unnecessary. This item will be tabled until the September 20, 2021 Council meeting.

4. Wastewater Treatment Plant Air Conditioner: The air conditioner system at the wastewater treatment plant has failed and is no longer repairable. Alderman Gruner moved to purchase a new air conditioner system for $4,500.00 from Ring Sheet Metal. Alderman Eiker seconded the motion, which passed with five (5) Yes votes and two (2) Absent.

5. Purchase Additional Dumpsters: Alderman Hope moved to purchase six 2 yard and two 8 yard dumpsters from Gregory Container for $9,236.00. Alderman Howard seconded the motion, which passed with five (5) Yes votes and two (2) Absent.

6. Variance Request 821 Swedenburg Rd – Zoning Board of Appeals Recommendation: The Zoning Board of Appeals met on August 31, 2021, and voted to recommend to allow Nicole and Armando Vasquez of 821 Swedenburg Road to build a 40 x 32 ft accessory building, which is larger than the allowable maximum size of 1,000 sq feet. Alderman Moore moved to allow the variance. Alderman Eiker seconded the motion, which passed by voice vote with no dissent.

7. Adoption of Whistleblower Policy and Appointment of Auditing Official: Attorney McCoy presented a draft ordinance for Illinois Public Act 101-0652, which became effective July 1, 2021, amending the Public Officers Prohibited Activities Act, providing employees with policies and procedures to report improper governmental actions. This Ordinance names the Mayor as the Auditing Official for this this policy. Alderman Howard moved to adopt Ordinance 2021-07 Adopting a Whistleblower Protection Policy. Alderman Eiker seconded the motion, which passed with five (5) Yes votes and two (2) Absent. Employees will need to sign off annually on this policy.

8. Consideration of Liquor License for JBH Petroleum 747 Knox County Hwy 10: Mr. Pradeep Kataria, owner of JBH Petroleum, asked the Council to again consider allowing the creation of a liquor pouring license for which he could apply. If granted such a license, he could then apply to receive a state gaming license, which he says he needs to maintain his business. Alderman Gruner moved to table the discussion until the September 20, 2021 Council meeting. Alderman Howard seconded the motion, which passed by voice vote with no dissent.

Mayor Myers adjourned to Executive Session.

The Public Meeting was re-opened by Mayor Myers at 8:08 PM.

Roll Call: Present: Aldermen Eiker, Gruner, Hope, Howard, and Moore; Mayor Myers, Treasurer Barnum, Chief of Police Poyner, Attorney McCoy, Supervisor of Public Works Rossell, and City Clerk Wilt. Absent: Alderman Hillier, Alderman Reed.

9. Status of Employee: Alderman Gruner moved to terminate Sanitation employee Nick Pettifurd based on violation of the following disciplinary codes from the City of Knoxville Personnel Policies: Paragraph 42 #5 Disorderly conduct during working time, and threatening or abusing any person by word or act, and #6 Insubordination, refusing to carry out supervisor’s orders or instructions. Alderman Eiker seconded the motion, which passed with five (5) Yes votes and two (2) Absent.

Mayor’s Report:

• Drywall and the exterior ramp have been started on the new City Hall. The old City Hall west door has been cut to accommodate the ramp.

• The Knoxville Community Foundation has ordered trees to be placed in James Knox Park plus other city locations this fall and to continue the process in the spring. The trees are a donation from an anonymous benefactor.

• The next regularly scheduled Council meeting will be held on Monday, September 20, 2021 at 7:00 PM at the Police Station.

Committee Reports

• Administration: No report.

• Cemetery: No report.

• Economic Development: No report.

• Parks: No report.

• Police: No report.

• Sanitation: No report.

• Streets: Alderman Eiker reported that curbs have been completed at 223 and 320 E Main St. Alderman Howard reported that the owner of the land on the northwest corner of Circle Drive will be contacted about possible solutions to the water drainage issues in that area.

• Water/Sewer: Mayor Myers reported that the land where the Galesburg water main comes in to the northwest side of Knoxville has multiple trees that need to be proactively removed in case emergency access to the main is ever needed.

Adjourn: At 8:30 PM, Alderman Gruner moved to Adjourn the Meeting; Alderman Moore 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_2021-09-07.pdf