MECHANICAL COMMITTEE OF CANTON CITY COUNCIL Tuesday April 22, 2014 6:30 pm Donald E. Edwards Way Historic Depot 50 N. 4 th Avenue Canton Il 61520 Aldermen in attendance: Aldermen Craig West, Tad Putrich, Jim Nelson, Dave Pickel, Gerald Ellis, John Lovell, Jeremy Pasley, Justin Nelson Aldermen absent: Staff in attendance: Attorney Nancy Rabel, Mayor Jeffrey Fritz, City Clerk Diana Pavley-Rock, Treasurer Kathy Luker, Police Chief Kent McDowell, Fire Chief Tom Shubert, City Engineer Keith Plavec, Community Service Director Jason Strandberg, Comptroller Caty Campbell, Public Works Director Bill Terry Media in attendance: The Daily Ledger, Fulton Democrat Others in the audience: Video Services by: Joe Ginger
PUBLIC SAFETY & TRAFFIC ALDERMAN JIM NELSON, CHAIRMAN POLICE REPORT A copy of the police report was distributed for review and is on file in the Clerk s office. Motion and second were made by Aldermen Jim Nelson/Pickel to send the police report to Council for consideration. (Consent Agenda) The motion carried by voice vote and was unanimous. FIRE REPORT A copy of the fire report was distributed for review and is on file in the Clerk s office. Motion and second were made by Aldermen Jim Nelson/Pickel to send the fire report to Council for consideration. (Consent Agenda) The motion carried by voice vote and was unanimous. HIRING OF ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTER Chief Shubert would like to request approval to move forward in the process of hiring a firefighter to fill a vacancy. Motion and second were made by Aldermen Jim Nelson/Lovell to send to Council for consideration the hiring of an additional firefighter. (full agenda) The motion carried by voice vote and was unanimous. DISCUSSION OF CHANGING THE CITY MEETINGS FROM 4 PER MONTH TO 2 MEETINGS PER MONTH Aldermen Jim Nelson suggested doing a trial period during the months of June and July in changing the City meetings from four per month to two meetings per month. The meetings during June and July will be held on the 1 st and 3 rd Tuesday to see if it expedites the process. Aldermen Jim Nelson will lay out a complete sample of the agenda.
Motion and second were made by Aldermen Jim Nelson/Dave Pickel to send to Council for a trial period during the months of June and July. All voted yes with the exception of Alderman Ellis with the single no vote. The motion carried. Discussion: Alderman Gerald Ellis said that there would be several ordinances that would need to be changed in order to have the meetings changed from four per month to two per month. There are sections in our code that identifies when meetings are held. Alderman Jim Nelson said he would not want to make changes to any ordinances during the trial period. Attorney Rabel said that she will meet with Alderman Jim Nelson to make sure the right items get addressed at the appropriate meetings. If the meetings were officially changed and a meeting took place during an off week it would be considered a special meeting. Special meetings would not apply during the trial period. Alderman Jim Nelson further explained that many other communities only hold their meetings twice per month. This is definitely something that could be done. Mayor Fritz said that regular meetings are established on the 1 st and 3 rd Tuesday. There is no set schedule in the ordinance as to when the committee shall meet. Mayor Fritz said that under our current ordinance we can do this trial period without violating the current ordinance. Alderman Ellis raised concerns about causing delays in repair work if the group only meets twice per month. Engineer Keith Plavec said it could actually speed up the process because if items are brought up that needed repaired, it could be approved that night, rather than having to wait until the next Council meeting as currently scheduled. Alderman Pickel said his only concern is not allowing the community time to give feedback between the meetings. Currently items are discussed at committee and then the following week the Council votes. The community has the week between committee and council to raise concerns with their aldermen. Alderman Jim Nelson explained that the agenda is available for public viewing 48 hours prior to the meeting. This would give the citizens time to be aware of items that would be discussed.
MODERN HEALTH AND FITNESS SIDEWALK REQUEST It is the belief that the sidewalk did not meet the prevailing wage criteria. Alderman Pickel explained that the City has not given out any money for the sidewalk program in the last few years because it was determined that they would have to meet the prevailing wage guidelines. ELECTRICAL AGGREGATION OPT OUT LETTER/COST The City of Canton in cooperation with Homefield Energy has recently sent out letters currently offering an opt out electric municipal aggregation program to all residential and qualified small businesses. We have had several phone calls regarding this information. This letter is legitimate and does offer current residential and qualified small businesses the opportunity to opt out of the new electrical aggregation supplier. You are automatically enrolled in the program unless you choose to opt-out by Friday, May 2, 2014. If a customer wants to stay with the residential aggregation program, the supplier of electricity will change from Integrys to Homefield Energy in June 2014. The new rate of $0.04580 per kwh goes into effect June 2014 and is guaranteed until June 2016. There is no enrollment or switching fee. If you stay with Homefield Energy, you will continue to receive one monthly bill from Ameren Illinois for both your electricity delivery and electricity supply. If you sign the yellow card you are opting out of the program and will go back to Ameren Illinois at the current utility rate as of June 2014, which is higher than the above rate. APPROVAL OF AN ENGAGEMENT LETTER WTH ARENT FOX LLP The engagement letter for Arent Fox LLP, Attorneys at Law is regarding the fifth amendment taking of property case against the Federal Government for the taking of property. Based on applicable Illinois law and our current understanding of the easement that the railroad obtained across our land, we may have a claim for compensation from the federal government for the taking of the property. The engagement letter would authorize Arent Fox, LLP to make a claim on our behalf for the just compensation owned to us pursuant to the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The letter sets forth the terms on which Arent Fox LLP has agreed to provide legal services to the City. They will represent us in presenting our claim against the United States government in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington D.C.
The firm has agreed to represent the City and other property owners that join this action on a contingency fee basis. The City owns railways that run from Farmington to Dunfermline that is the property being presented for the case. Hiring Arent Fox LLP does not cost the City anything. contingency fees only. The attorney fees are based on Motion and second were made by Aldermen Jim Nelson/Pickel to send to Council for consideration The motion carried by voice vote and was unanimous. The Public Safety & Traffic Committee adjourned at 6:55PM. STREETS & GARBAGE ALDERMAN DAVE PICKEL, CHAIRMAN PLACEMENT OF SPEED BUMPS ON SHAMROCK STREET Community Service Director Jason Strandberg said that several phone calls were received regarding speeding at the end of Beech Street and Shamrock Street. Part of the complaints were speeding traffic especially during school hours. The police department monitored the traffic in this area and issued several speeding citations. Several residents have requested speed bumps in this area. City Engineer Keith Plavec said that he does not believe that speed bumps would be a good option. A better option would be to have more enforcement. The Streets and Garbage Committee adjourned at 7:02pm.
LAKE, BUILDINGS & GROUNDS ALDERMAN JOHN LOVELL, CHAIRMAN UPDATE ON THE PLAYGROUND AT CANTON LAKE The concrete was finished today at the lake for the playground. Alderman pickel said he received a complaint about a property owner dumping trash in the ravine on his property. Jason Strandberg said he has talked to the supervisors about getting to the lake area to clean up items that have been dumped at the lake. The City needs to obtain permission from the lease holders to cross the property to get the garbage that has been just dumped. The City will continue to clean the area up with the weather allowing the City crew to do the work. The Lake, Building & Grounds Committee adjourned at 7:05pm
PUBLIC WORKS, WATER & SEWER ALDERMAN GERALD ELLIS, CHAIRMAN DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND VOTE ON WATER AND SEWER RATES Keith Plavec said the City has been working together to discuss the water and sewer rates. The existing rate structure is currently being reviewed. The flat fees vs. usage based and the previous increases are all being reviewed. The City sells to 6 communities that makes up 20% of the water. A lot of communities that sell their water look at different rate structures. On May 6, 2014 the City would like to have a hearing from 5:30-6:30pm at the depot to give information on different options for the rate structure for water and sewer. On May 13, 2014 a meeting would be held again from 5:30-6:30pm to expand upon the previous discussion. The May 13, 2014 agenda would include additional discussion on the topic and would also be televised for the community. There is currently a $150,000.00 deficit in the budget that needs to be addressed with some sort of revenue. Motion and second were made by Aldermen Ellis/Jim Nelson to set the hearing for May 6, 2014 at 5:30pm to be held at the depot. APPLICATION FOR PAYMENT NO 3 FOR THE WWTP STORM BAR SCREEN MODIFICATIONS FROM KEMPER CONSTRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $34,092.81. This pay request is bond project with 10% retainage being held. The final pay request on the project should be sent in the end of May. Motion and second were made by Aldermen Ellis/Lovell to send to Council for consideration (CONSENT AGENDA) The motion carried by voice vote and was unanimous The Public Works, Water & Sewer Committee adjourned at 7:14PM
ADJOURNMENT Motion and second were made by Aldermen Ellis/Jim Nelson to adjourn without the need for executive session. Diana Pavley-Rock City Clerk