Galesburg Reporter

City of Knoxville City Council met Nov. 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, Chief Poyner, Attorney McCoy and City Clerk Wilt. Absent: Treasurer Barnum.

Also present: Mr. Raymond Powell, Mrs. Jill Davis, Ms. Penny Flesner.

Public Comments: None.

Approval of Minutes: Alderman Eiker moved to approve the Minutes of the November 4, 2024

City Council Meeting. Alderman Taylor seconded the motion which passed by voice vote with two (2) Abstentions.

GENERAL REPORTS

Attorney Report: No report.

Engineer Report: No report.

Treasurer’s Report: No report.

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 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. Ordinance 2024-08 Authorizing the Sale of Personal Property – 1985 Chevrolet C70 Dump Truck Chassis: Alderman Eiker moved to approve Ordinance 2024-08 Authorizing the Sale of a 1985 Chevrolet C70 Dump Truck Chassis, at a price not less than $2,500.00. Alderman Hillier seconded the motion which passed with eight (8) Yes votes. 

2. Cease Wheel Tax Fees and Collection: Attorney McCoy presented a draft ordinance repealing the entire City Vehicle Licenses portion of Chapter 14 of the City Code, effective May 1, 2025. Alderman Gruner moved to approve Ordinance 2024-09, Repealing Charge for City Vehicle Licenses, Commonly Known as the City Wheel Tax.

Alderman Taylor seconded the motion, which passed with eight (8) Yes votes. Thisrevenue will be replaced by revenue to be generated through Ordinance 2024-06, the imposition of a non-home rule municipal retailers’ occupation tax, which was adopted on November 4, 2024.

3. Terrace Opening Fee: Mayor Myers suggested implementing a $50.00 opening fee per address for any contractors needing to dig the terrace. The fee would offset any necessary maintenance costs following the work performed. By general consent, Attorney McCoy was directed to prepare an ordinance for opening the terrace.

4. Demolition of Storage Building behind Water Department: The storage building directly west of the Water Department building is dilapidated and too costly to repair for the amount of storage lease fees received. Alderman Gruner moved to demolish the storage building directly west of the Water Department building after May 31, 2025.

Alderman Taylor seconded the motion, which passed with eight (8) Yes votes. Account Specialist Tuthill will inform the four tenants that they will need to remove all personal property from the building by May 31, 2025. City employees will demolish the building starting in June 2025.

5. Storage Rate Review: Current storage rental rates are $60.00 per month for any size item. Alderman Moore moved to increase storage rates to $75.00 per month for items 25 ft and under, and $100.00 per month for items 25 ft and over starting in the fall of 2025.

Alderman Hope seconded the motion, which passed with eight (8) Yes votes. Current tenants will be informed that these changes will be added to the contract, and it will also include a clause stating that no maintenance to stored vehicles is allowed.

6. Zoning Board of Appeals – 611 S Market St: Raymond Powell submitted a request to build a 1,600 sq ft accessory building (40x40) at 611 S Market St with 12 ft walls and a 19 ft overall height. The Zoning Board of Appeals reviewed and recommended approval of this request at the November 13, 2024 meeting. Alderman Rainey moved to approve the variance request for an accessory building at 611 S Market St. Alderman Taylor seconded the motion, which passed with eight (8) Yes votes.

7. Zoning Board of Appeals – 215 W Main St: Bob McCommons submitted a request to build a 6 ft 8 in privacy fence at 215 W Main St. The Zoning Board of Appeals reviewed and recommended approval of this request at their November 13, 2024 meeting.

Alderman Rainey moved to approve the variance request for a fence at 215 W Main St. Alderman Gruner seconded the motion, which passed with seven (7) Yes votes and one

(1) No vote (Moore).

Mayor’s Report:

• The filing of petitions for open seats for the April 1, 2025 Consolidated Election closed at 5:00 PM today.

• When the new Council is seated in May 2025, Mayor Myers may reassign committee chairmen.

• We will look into draining and dredging the James Knox Park pond in 2025.

• Mayor Myers attended a School District 202 Mable Woolsey Elementary community meeting. The school has currently has 120 life safety violations, and both repair and rebuild options are being explored by the school district.

• A five-year plan meeting will be scheduled for February 2025.

• The Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 4:00 PM. The luminaries and the business open houses will be held later that evening.

• The next regularly scheduled Council meeting will be held on Monday, December 2, 2024 at 7:00 pm. An Administrative Committee meeting will precede the meeting at 6:30 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 7:33 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_2024-11-18.pdf