Rockford Sun

City of South Beloit City Council met July 15.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

CALL TO ORDER: 5:00 pm, Council Chambers, City Hall by Mayor Rehl.

ROLL CALL: Present & answering to roll call were Commissioners Duffy, Fitzgerald, Morse, and

Mayor Rehl.Commissioner Hedrington was absent.

City Attorney Kristine Gibbons was present

City Clerk Tracy Patrick recorded the minutes

Department Heads in attendance:

Fire Chief Mike Davenport

Police Sergeant James Peterson

Public Works Superintendent Jeff Reininger

PLEDGE OF

ALLEGIANCE: Led by Mayor Rehl and recited by all members present.

INVOCATION: Mayor Rehl asked for a moment of silence.

APPROVE AGENDA:

Commissioner Duffy made a motion to approve the agenda second by Commissioner

Fitzgerald. Voice vote carried the motion.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

None.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Commissioner Morse made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held on July 1, 2019 and the minutes of the Public Hearing held on July 1, 2019. Commissioner Duffy second the motion. Voice vote carried the motion.

REPORT OF OFFICERS:

1. Finance:

Commissioner Fitzgerald made a motion to approve the claims to be paid from June 29- July 12, 2019 in the amount of $312,448.81. Commissioner Duffy second the motion. Roll call vote showed 4 ayes and 1 absent by Commissioner Hedrington.

2. Attorney Report:

Attorney Gibbons said their office was asked to look into a Facade Grant Program for the City to be able to offer for properties along Gardner Street. Attorney Gibbons said the City will need to consider some things prior to putting the grant together such as:

 Where the funds will come from

 How much to allocate for the grant

 How much of a match amount will be required

 What kind of improvements will be covered

 A cap amount for the grant

Mayor Rehl said this is something he would like to discuss with Council in August and would like to plan for this grant in 2020.

3. Commissioner’s Report:

Accounts & Finance-Commissioner Brian Hedrington Public Health & Safety-Commissioner Tom Fitzgerald Streets & Public Improvements-Commissioner Lori Duffy Public Properties-Commissioner Ken Moore.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

1. Discussion and/or Motion Items:

a. Commissioner Fitzgerald made a motion to approve Ordinance 2444 Reducing the Speed Limit to 25 Miles Per Hour. Commissioner Duffy second the motion. Mayor Rehl said Council has received comments regarding speeding cars not being enforced. Sergeant Sanders said it’s impossible to write a speeding ticket for 4 miles over the limit. If the limit is reduced to 25 mph a ticket could be written for 9 miles over. The Police Department is not looking to write more tickets, but to slow drivers down.

Mayor Rehl asked why this is an issue now. Sergeant Sanders said they receive messages from people regarding speeders as well. Lowering the speed limit will help slow drivers down. Street Supervisor, Mike Murphy said the cost to replace each sign will be between $125-130 per sign. Commissioner Fitzgerald said he believes 30 mph in residential areas is too fast. Commissioner Duffy said she does not believe changing the speed limit will help speeders. Roll call vote showed 3 ayes, 1 nay by Commissioner Duffy, and 1 absent by Commissioner Hedrington.

b-c. Commissioner Morse asked that items b. and c. be laid over to the next meeting. Commissioner Morse made a motion to layover items b. and c. Commissioner Fitzgerald second the motion. Voice vote carried the motion.

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Discussion and/or Motion Items:

a. Commissioner Duffy made a motion to approve Ordinance 2445 approving a Class

EV Liquor License for Viking Lanes for the Annual Corn Boil to be held on August 24, 2019. Commissioner Morse second the motion. Roll call vote showed 4 ayes and 1 absent by Commissioner Hedrington.

b. Commissioner Duffy made a motion to approve Ordinance 2446 amending Chapter 34 Environment Section 34-1-Use of Groundwater as a Potable Water Supply. Commissioner Morse second the motion. Attorney Gibbons said the amendment was needed to obtain the No Further Remediation letter from the IEPA for the corner parcel remediation. Roll call vote showed 4 ayes and 1 absent by Commissioner Hedrington.

c. Commissioner Fitzgerald made a motion to approve Ordinance 2447 amending the City’s Code of Ordinances regarding Video Gaming Terminals. Commissioner Duffy second the motion. Attorney Gibbons said the State Statute now allows for 6 gaming terminals instead of 5, and also amends to add Large Truck Stop Establishments. Roll call vote showed 4 ayes and 1 absent by Commissioner Hedrington.

d. Commissioner Duffy made a motion to approve Ordinance 2448 approving a Property Tax Abatement for Clinkenbeard. Commissioner Morse second the motion. Mayor Rehl said the abatement was an incentive to get the business to move here. Mayor Rehl spoke to Hononegah School who agreed to give the abatement. Roll call vote showed 4 ayes and 1 absent by Commissioner Hedrington.

e. Commissioner Morse made a motion to approve Resolution 6059 reapproving the selection of the City’s Health Insurance Plan for the year 2019-2020. Commissioner Duffy second the motion. Clerk Patrick said there was a resolution numbering error. The re-approval of the resolution was needed to correct the error. Roll call vote showed 4 ayes and 1 absent by Commissioner Hedrington.

f. Commissioner Duffy made a motion to approve Resolution 6060 authorizing the Tenth IEPA Loan Disbursement request in the amount of $753,936.22. Commissioner Fitzgerald second the motion. Roll call vote showed 4 ayes and 1 absent by Commissioner Hedrington.

g. Commissioner Morse made a motion to approve Resolution 6061 approving a Professional Services Agreement with Fehr Graham for the Fire Department in the amount of $4,900. Commissioner Fitzgerald second the motion. City Engineer, Seth Gronewold was present and said the purpose is for the roof over the office to change it from a flat to a pitched roof. Chief Davenport said the roof has been troublesome and the funds have been budgeted for the project. Roll call vote showed 4 ayes and 1 absent by Commissioner Hedrington.

h. City Engineer, Seth Gronewold was present to speak to Council about the proposed bike path. Mr. Gronewold said after speaking with IDOT and conversations in the City Staff Development Meeting the issues with trying to obtain permission from the Union Pacific (UP) Railway for crossing under the railroad for the path would be expensive. UP wants the city to have a specific box installed that would take up to a year and a half. IDOT recommends changing the proposed path to eliminate the issue. If this is done the City will need another scope amendment with IDOT. Mayor Rehl recommended Council approve the change otherwise the City would have to pay back grant funds that have already been spent. Mr. Gronewold said the City could aply for additional ITEP funding. The matter will come back to the next meeting.

i. Commissioner Fitzgerald said he wanted to provide a follow up to the consideration of renovations to City Hall. The City has received quotes for engineering and architect plans. Commissioner Fitzgerald said the renovation would bring City Hall into ADA compliance as well as create 1,200 sf of office space. The estimated cost would be $160,000. Consensus was to move forward.

j. Commissioner Duffy made a motion to approve hiring Emiliano Ortega as part-time Parks Department. Commissioner Fitzgerald second the motion. Voice vote carried the motion.

k. Commissioner Fitzgerald made a motion to approve hiring Chad Mazeica as part time Parks Department. Commissioner Duffy second the motion. Voice vote carried the motion.

MISCELLANEOUS

LICENSES AND PERMITS:

1. Business Licenses:

a. Best of Beloit Vintage Mall

2. RLE’s:

a. John Picot-Hollywood Slots

b. Tracey Slabaugh-Hollywood Slots

c. Michelle Sorrentino-Pearl Lake

Commissioner Duffy made a motion to approve all licenses second by Commissioner Morse. Voice vote carried the motion.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

At 5:54 pm on a motion made by Commissioner Fitzgerald second by Commissioner Duffy. Voice vote carried the motion. The purpose for Executive Session is to:

1. Discuss litigation issues as provided by 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (11) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION:

At 6:19 pm

ROLL CALL:

Roll call showed all members present at the onset of the meeting.

ORDER OF BUSINESS:

None

ADJOURN:

At 6:19 pm on a motion made by Commissioner Fitzgerald second by Commissioner Duffy. Voice vote carried the motion.

https://southbeloit.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/7-15-19-Regular-Council-Meeting.pdf