Hillsboro City Council Meeting
April 12, 2005
Mayor Baran called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Roll call was taken and those present were Mayor Baran and Commissioners Trost, Richmond, McCammack and Hill.
Minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
Mayor Baran mentioned there would be a meeting April 20th with the I.E.P.A. the U.S.E.P.A. and the Hillsboro Planning Commission concerning the Eagle Zinc property. The hopes are arrangements can be made to have the buildings on site demolished.
Meetings are still ongoing with Ameren I.P. concerning funding for the new water plant.
Mayor Baran mentioned he has been selected by Senator Demuzio to serve on a Statewide Economic Development Council task force.
Commissioner Hill stated her departments have had a busy couple of weeks. The campground hosts and her marina operators both had to give up their respective positions for personal reasons. A new campground host has been found as well as a new lessee for the marina. Crews have been busy mowing and Merle’s new miniature golf course is in operation.
Commissioner Richmond reported for the Police Department there for the month of March there have been filed 14 accident reports, 1 warrant arrest, 24 parking citations issued, 10 ordinance violations, 12 verbal warnings, 32 written warnings, 37 traffic citations and 15 non-traffic citations. Reporting on nuisance abatements there has been 12 vehicle abatement notices sent out where 6 have complied, one made an honest effort and 5 were towed. There were also 5 cleanup notices sent and several are actively working on them. An abandoned home was found and the owner was contacted to get the property cleaned up. The Code Enforcement Officer also made one warrant arrest.
Commissioner Trost gave a report outlining the status of the Revolving Fund Loans, with 10 being current and 3 in bankruptcy. Trost also reminded everyone to be working on his or her budgets.
Commissioner McCammack stated his crews have been helping with getting the Parks opened. McCammack also stated he is still having problems with professional tree trimmers cutting and trimming trees then expecting the City to haul off the debris. McCammack reminded everyone that the City would not pick up those items. Water Superintendent Fath informed everyone that fire hydrants would be flushed on April the 26th beginning at 10:00 pm. Fath also mentioned that this years Consumer Confidence Reports would be mailed to all of the water consumers in Hillsboro by July. A link to the report will also be placed on Hillsboro’s web site and a copy placed at City Hall.
Treasurer McCoy asked Council permission to pay this month’s bills.
Motion was made by Commissioner Trost and seconded by Commissioner Richmond to pay bills in the amount of $148,801.39. Motion carried 5-0.
Attorney Jarman informed the Council that the Durbin’s (previous Bakery owners) have been served with a summons concerning the defaulting on their Revolving Fund Loan and are to appear in court on April 18th.
City Engineer Hunt reported the 2005 MFF bids have been forwarded to I.D.O.T. and the Tremont Street resurfacing project has been approved. Tests are being conducted at the water treatment plant to obtain parameters for feeding caustic soda. When these are completed an application for an operating permit will be submitted to the I.E.P.A.
The next item on the agenda involved a representative from Illinois Power explaining how to conserve on their utility bills. This agenda item had been cancelled before the agenda could be changed.
The next item on the agenda was the hiring of departmental summer help and this would be done under one motion.
Motion was made by Commissioner Hill and seconded by Commissioner McCammack to hire the following summer help. Ed Stewart and family would lease the marina, Jeff Eisentraut would lease the beach, John and La Donna Webb would operate the campground and Mike and Andrea Malisia would operate the swimming pool with Devon Maroney running the concession stand. Lifeguards at the Beach would be Megan Donham, Ali Brohammer, Katie Golden, and Natalie Eickoff. Guards at the pool would be Nicole Beasley, Matt Reinicke, Max Paller, Rachel Province, Emily Puckett, Emily McCario, Anna Blankenship, Kasey McCammack, Sarah Puckett, Lauren Daniels and Tara Luckett. Summer help in the Parks would be Taylor Cullison, Andrew Ott, Nicholas Hopwood, Ronny Thomas, Clint Evans, Zachary Rahe, and Mathew Roberts. Summer help at the Sports Complex would be Nathan Clinard, Nic White, James Hertel, and Daniel Whitlow. Nick Zuck would be hired to help Sid Blankenship for one month of the summer. Summer help in the Water Department would be Justin Hamrock and Keith McLaughlin. Summer help for the Waste Water Department would be Justin Cameron and Jarod Lubbert. Summer help in the Street Department would be Kyle Meyer, Adam Loucks, Jeremy Reid, and Josh Moore. Summer help in City Hall would be Kate Rappe`. Motion carried 5-0.
Commissioner McCammack discussed this years Spring Cleanup and stated they would be using the same procedure as last year. Dumpsters would be placed at the Street Department for City residents to deposit items they would like to get rid of. Drop offs can be made from 7 to 3 Monday through Saturday April 25th to April 30th. Normal yard waste pickup will be the first four working days of May.
Motion was made by Commissioner Richmond and seconded by Commissioner Trost to adopt an ordinance authorizing a mutual aid box alarm system agreement. Motion carried 5-0.
Motion was made by Commissioner Trost and seconded by Commissioner Richmond to pass a Resolution addressing a “deferred compensation plan” with AIG Valic. Motion carried 5-0.
Motion was made by Commissioner McCammack and seconded by Commissioner Trost to approve the purchase of a water line tapping kit that will tap lines from ˝ inch to 2 inch. Motion carried 5-0.
Amanda Cole from the University of Illinois Extension office was present to give the highlights of the newly formed Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation. Heather Hampton-Knodle is Chairman of the newly formed organization and Mayor Baran is one of four Officers.
Commissioner Richmond reported on a couple of ongoing nuisance abatement situations. Joe Lohr has been give a schedule and deadlines to complete property cleanup, and vehicle problems. There is also a schedule involving the former Rader Lumber property and if compliance is not achieved the City Attorney has been instructed to begin court proceedings.
Mayor Baran informed the Council of two recommendations he would like to have Council approval on. One was to appoint Guy Sheridan to the Revolving Fund Loan Committee and Jim O’Neil to the Planning Commission.
Motion was made by Commissioner Richmond and seconded by Commissioner Trost to appoint Guy Sheridan to the Revolving Loan Committee. Motion carried 5-0.
Motion was made by Commissioner Richmond and seconded by Commissioner Trost to appoint James O’Neil to the Planning Commission. Motion carried 5-0.
There was a brief discussion from Commissioner Hill concerning the riding of electric scooters in the campground. The campground roads are public roads and motor vehicle rules apply to those roads. Therefore riding electric scooters is illegal.
Upcoming Agenda Items;
The purchase of a dry chemical feeder for the pool, give John Booher consent to sign all CRP contracts involving City property, and approval of bids for the Tremont Street paving project.
Mayor Baran next challenged the Council and citizens of Hillsboro to meet on May 1st at 1:00 pm for a City cleanup of the roads entering the City. (Smith Road and Industrial Park Drive) The City would furnish dump trucks and bags. Mayor Baran would also like to see the littering fines increased and enforced throughout the City.
Motion to adjourn was made at 7:50 pm by Commissioner Richmond and seconded by Commissioner Trost. Motion carried 5-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dave Booher, City Clerk