Galesburg Reporter

City of Knoxville City Council met Oct. 21

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, Engineer Cooper and City Clerk Wilt. Absent: None. Also present: Officer Logan Butler, Mr. Ben Burgland, Mr. Denny Dean, Mrs. Joan Dean, Mrs. Jill Davis, Ms. Penny Flesner, Mrs. Dawn Hutchison.

Mayor Myers recognized Police Officer Logan Butler and thanked him for his service. Officer Butler has returned to his position with Knoxville following a year long deployment with the Army.

Public Comments: None.

Approval of Minutes: Alderman Eiker moved to approve the Minutes of the October 7, 2024 City Council Meeting. Alderman Taylor seconded the motion which passed by voice vote with no dissent.

GENERAL REPORTS

Attorney Report: Attorney McCoy noted that supplemental appropriations are necessary for the lead line replacement project and for tree removal. The item will be discussed at the November 4, 2024 Council meeting.

Engineer Report: Engineer Cooper reported that the $2.7 million IEPA loan application to reline all remaining uncompleted sewer lines has been authorized. Bids will be let out in the winter, and awarded in Spring 2025. The project would start in Fall 2025 and take 3-4 months to complete. Engineer Cooper also presented a concept drawing of the Downtown Streetscape project. This $2.1 million, multi-year project features stamped sidewalks and new street lamps.

A Street Committee meeting will be held at a later date to determine how to proceed with this project.

Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Barnum stated that she had transferred $500,000.00 from the General Fund checking account into the General Fund money market account, and that she had closed the Petersen Health Special account and transferred the remaining funds into the TIF account.

City Clerk’s Report: No report.

Payment of City Bills: Alderman Taylor 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.

• Dawn Hutchison, Knoxville Stop Chairman of the Knox County Scenic Drive, thanked the Council for their support of the Drive, which was held Oct 5, 6, 12, and 13, 2024.

OLD BUSINESS

1. 1% Sales Tax: Mayor Myers noted that non-home rule communities could implement a 1% sales tax. As a result, the wheel tax sticker program could be eliminated, and Mayor Myers suggested freezing property taxes for four years. This item will be on the agenda for consideration at the November 4, 2024 meeting.

2. Ordinance 2024-05 Amending the Municipal Code Regarding Cemetery Fees: This ordinance makes official the cemetery fees changed at the October 7, 2024 Council meeting. Alderman Hillier moved to approve Ordinance 2024-05 Amending the Municipal Code Regarding Cemetery Fees. Alderman Gruner seconded the motion, which passed with eight (8) Yes votes.

3. Cemetery Deed Changes: Alderman Hillier noted that Cemetery Sexton Hurd suggested changing the term “cemetery deed” to a different name to clarify that a burial space is for burial only, and not as a parcel of real estate. Attorney McCoy stated that the proposed change from the name “cemetery deed” to “gravesite burial certificate,” or some other term, would unduly complicate the deed process, in that there would be two different names for basically the same document. By general consent, the term “cemetery deed” will not change.

4. Resolution 2024-47 – Temporary Road Closure for a Christmas Parade December 7, 2024: Resolution 2024-46 was already passed for this parade on 10-7-2024, but parade officials have requested changing the parade time from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, to lead into the scheduled evening Downtown luminary display and business open houses. Alderman Hillier moved to approve Resolution 2024-47 – Temporary Road Closure for a Christmas Parade December 7, 2024. Alderman Eiker seconded the motion, which passed by voice vote with no dissent.

NEW BUSINESS

1. 2023-2024 Audit: Ben Burgland with Blucker, Kneer & Associates stated that the 2023- 2024 audit was completed with no issues found, and that he had submitted the completed financial report to the state in compliance. He noted that the City had a good financial year.

2. Required Water Structure Inspections: Engineer Cooper noted that the IEPA requires inspections every five years for the City’s ground storage tank and north and south water towers. Alderman Gruner moved to contract with Bruner, Cooper & Zuck for water structure inspections for $6,000.00. Alderman Hillier seconded the motion, which passed with eight (8) Yes votes.

Mayor’s Report:

• Quotes to wash the south water tower are being solicited.

• The backhoe purchased in July 2023 does not work as expected, and quotes are being solicited to trade it in for another one.

• The next regularly scheduled Council meeting will be held on Monday, November 4, 2024 at 7:00 pm.

Committee Reports

• Administration: No report.

• Cemetery: Alderman Hillier noted that the lighted Halloween Parade on October 19, 2024 was a success, and, on another matter, that she had received a compliment on

Officer Butler.

• Economic Development: No report.

• Parks: No report.

• Police: Alderman Moore stated that he had received complaints from some businesses that they did not know about the lighted Halloween Parade on October 19, 2024, so they were inadequately staffed for the extra people.

• Sanitation: No report.

• Streets: No report.

• Water/Sewer: No report.

Adjourn: At 7:35 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_2024-10-21.pdf