Galesburg Reporter

City of Knoxville City Council met June 17

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, Chief Poyner, Attorney McCoy, and City Clerk Wilt. Absent:

None. Also present: Mrs. Jill Davis, Ms. Penny Flesner.

Public Comments: None.

Approval of Minutes: Alderman Gruner moved to approve the Minutes of the June 3, 2024 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: Clerk Wilt reported that Utility Employee Johnathan German had found money in a resident’s trash can, and had returned it to the owner. The owner had called City Hall to thank the employee and to inform the Council.

Payment of City Bills: Alderman Eiker moved to approve payment of the City Bills. Alderman

Hillier 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

None.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Replacing James Knox Park Restroom Fixtures: Alderman Gruner moved to allow Lambasio Inc to replace the restroom fixtures in James Knox Park at a cost of $3,412.00. Alderman Reed seconded the motion, which passed with eight (8) Yes votes.

2. Possible Parking Restrictions on Narrow Streets: Mayor Myers noted he had received reports that emergency vehicles have difficulty maneuvering narrower streets such as Oakview Drive if there are trailers or other large vehicles parked on both sides of the street. Chief Poyner will review, and the item will be discussed at the July 1, 2024 Council meeting.

3. Wheel Tax Sticker Compliance: Clerk Wilt noted that there are at least 500 vehicles that were not in compliance with wheel tax stickers for 2023-2024. The 2024-2025 stickers are being sold now. Attorney McCoy stated that water bills are contractual and wheel tax is a tax, so the wheel tax cannot be charged on the monthly water bill. Attorney McCoy will investigate other options for compliance.

4. Resolution 2024-42 – Electric Aggregation Program: Rock River Energy Services is again working with several communities to combine to sign a municipal aggregation contract. Alderman Rainey moved to approve Resolution 2024-42 Regarding the Aggregate Purchase of Electricity, granting the Mayor or a designee authority to approve a contract. Alderman Eiker seconded the motion, which passed with eight (8) Yes votes. This is similar to Resolution 2023-36 from July 17, 2023.

Clerk’s note: Following the meeting, the Clerk discovered a numbering error in this Resolution. The number was 2024-36 on the agenda and at the meeting, but the actual number should have been 2024-42. These minutes correct that error.

5. Write Off Uncollectable Water Account Balances: Alderman Gruner moved to write off uncollectable water account balances totaling $755.21. Alderman Hillier seconded the motion, which passed with eight (8) Yes votes.

Mayor’s Report:

• The TIF lawyer will be contacted to see if the City needs to keep honoring the TIF agreement with Petersen Health Systems, since they are now in bankruptcy.

• Profanity was painted on the tunnel at James Knox Park, but it has since been painted over. Graffiti on the park pavilion will also be painted over.

• The compost that the City has been making and using in the cemetery is causing weeds to choke out any grass seed.

• There is a meeting with Engineer Cooper scheduled for Thursday, June 20, 2024, to discuss sidewalks in the business district.

• The City uniform policy will be discussed at the July 1, 2024 Council meeting.

• The lift station was plugged up with grease during the week of June 10, 2024. It required jetting by a third party to unplug it. The lift station is probably not getting regular maintenance. Is Bock Inc responsible for maintaining the lift station?

• The lead water line replacement program work is scheduled to begin the week of June 24, 2024.

• The EPA loan for sewer relining has been approved by the state, and is slated for 2025.

• The next regularly scheduled Council meeting will be held on Monday, July 1, 2024 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: No report.

• Water/Sewer: No report.

Adjourn: At 7:43 PM, Alderman Gruner moved to Adjourn the Meeting; Alderman Hillier 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_2024-06-17.pdf