Galesburg Reporter

City of Knoxville City Council met Sept. 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Call to Order: Mayor Myers called the regular Council Meeting to order at 7:00 PM. All rose to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Roll Call: Present: Aldermen Eiker, Gruner, Hillier, Hope, Moore, Rainey, Reed, and Taylor; Mayor Myers, Treasurer Barnum, Attorney McCoy, Chief Poyner, and City Clerk Wilt. Absent: None. Also present: Mrs. Dawn Hutchison, Mr. Thomas Poplett.

Proclamation – U.S. Constitution Week : Mayor Myers read a proclamation declaring September 17-23, 2023 as Constitution Week.

Public Comments: Mr. Thomas Poplett, 214 S Market St stated that he had been served a nuisance abatement notice for his yard, and he asked why the officer serving the abatement ran the emergency lights during the process, and why his neighbors had not been abated for the same issues. Chief Poyner stated that Mr. Poplett had resolved the issues with his own yard and any applicable neighbors are under the same abatement process that he is, and are afforded the same time frame to respond. He said he was not aware that the officer ran the emergency lights.

Approval of Minutes: Alderman Gruner moved to approve the Minutes of the September 5, 2023 City Council Meeting. Alderman Eiker seconded the motion which passed by voice vote with no dissent.

GENERAL REPORTS 

Attorney Report: No report.

Engineer Report: Mayor Myers note that he had received an engineer’s report after the recent inspection of the City Hall Annex. The main item was inadequate insulation, and the work is now out of warranty.

Treasurer’s Report: No report.

City Clerk’s Report: Clerk Wilt thanked the Council for adding dental and vision insurance coverage for employees, and noted that all eligible employees were participating in the program. Payment of City Bills: Alderman Hillier moved to approve payment of the City Bills. Alderman Gruner seconded the motion which passed with eight (8) Yes votes.

INFORMATION ITEMS 

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

OLD BUSINESS

1. Draft Ordinance 2023-06 Mandating Paid Time Off and Unpaid Bereavement Leave for City Employees: Attorney McCoy presented a draft ordinance making updates to the full time and part time personnel policies to reflect the changes mandated in the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, effective January 1, 2024. The ordinance changes the definition of additional covered family members, and adds broader uses of sick leave, including adding a sick time benefit for part time employees. Also added are unpaid bereavement leave options. Alderman Hillier moved to approve Ordinance 2023-06 Mandating Paid Time Off and Unpaid Bereavement Leave for City Employees. Alderman Gruner seconded the motion, which passed with eight (8) Yes votes.

NEW BUSINESS 

1. Knox County Scenic Drive 2023: Mrs. Dawn Hutchison, Knoxville Scenic Drive Stop chairman, requested $1,500.00 to assist with porta-potty rental and entertainment costs. Alderman Hillier moved to donate $1,500.00 to the Knoxville Stop of the Knox County Scenic Drive. Alderman Taylor seconded the motion, which passed with eight (8) Yes votes. By general consent, vendors may leave tents set up in the Central Park Square between the two Scenic Drive weekends. Set up will not occur before 5:00 PM on each Friday, October 6 and Friday, October 13, 2023.

2. Zoning Board of Appeals – TIF Request Linda Anderson 232 E Main St: Ms. Linda Anderson had submitted a TIF request for $15,581.63 for new roofs, new windows, a new door, tuckpointing, and a new driveway. The Zoning Board of Appeals reviewed and recommended approval of this request at their September 14, 2023 meeting. Alderman Moore moved to approve the TIF request for Linda Anderson, 232 E Main St. Alderman Taylor seconded the motion, which passed with eight (8) Yes votes.

3. Zoning Board of Appeals – TIF Request Sit N Knit Yarn Shop 236 E Main St: Mrs. Maureen Carlson had submitted a TIF request for $1,740.67 for awnings, paint, and a door. The Zoning Board of Appeals reviewed and recommended approval of this request at their September 14, 2023 meeting. Alderman Eiker moved to approve the TIF request for Sit N Knit Yarn Shop, 236 E Main St. Alderman Hillier seconded the motion, which passed with eight (8) Yes votes.

4. Set Trick or Treat Hours for Tuesday, October 31, 2023: Alderman Moore moved to set Trick or Treat hours from 6:00-8:00 PM on Tuesday, October 31, 2023. Alderman Eiker seconded the motion, which passed by voice vote with no dissent.

5. Close City Hall Friday, November 24, 2023 Day After Thanksgiving: Alderman Hillier moved to close City Hall on Friday, November 24, 2023. Alderman Gruner seconded the motion, which passed by voice vote with no dissent. All other City services will remain open, and City Hall employees will use vacation time for that day.

6. Resolution 2023-37 – Christmas Parade Saturday, December 2, 2023: Alderman Eiker moved to approve Resolution 2023-27 to hold a Christmas Parade at 1:00 PM on December 2, 2023. Alderman Hillier seconded the motion, which passed by voice vote with no dissent.

Mayor’s Report: 

• The owner of the storage facility at 1438 Knox Hwy 9 has requested to annex into Knoxville. As the property is north of Knoxville on the north side of Interstate 74, Attorney McCoy will research the matter.

• The energy aggregation program has been fully executed. There is a greenback program with potential rebates for participating communities that Mayor Myers will investigate. 

• Mayor Myers is also looking into an EPA grant program for Knoxville. 

• The basketball and pickleball courts at James Knox Park needed sealcoating. Mayor Myers had approved the $2,300.00 cost to move the project forward.

• The electric cost for the Wastewater treatment plant for August 2023 was only $18.67 since the solar farm has been operational. The area around the panels has not been mowed by the vendor as promised. An alternative would be to plant a perennial cover crop there and hide the panels with a fence.

• The Old Courthouse painting project is almost completed. There is one decayed sill that needed replacement.

• The next regularly scheduled Council meeting will be held on Monday, October 2, 2023 at 7:00 pm.

Committee Reports 

• Administration: No report.

• Cemetery: No report.

• Economic Development: No report.

• Parks: No report.

• Police: No report.

• Sanitation: No report.

• Streets: Alderman Eiker stated that the asbestos inspection for the 109 W Main St demolition should occur this week. He also requested that consideration of changing the Street, Sanitation, Parks, Cemetery and Water Department hours from 7:30 AM-4:15 PM to 7:00 AM-3:30 PM with a half hour lunch be discussed at the October 2, 2023 Council meeting.

• Water/Sewer: Alderman Gruner requested that consideration of changing from two water billing cycles to one be discussed at the October 2, 2023 Council meeting.

Adjourn: At 7:32 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_2023-09-18.pdf