Rockford Sun

City of South Beloit City Council met Oct. 7.

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, Fitzgerald, Morse, and Mayor Rehl.

City Attorney Roxanne Sosnowski was present

City Clerk Tracy Patrick recorded the minutes

Department Heads in attendance:

Fire Chief Mike Davenport

Police Chief Adam Truman

Public Works Supervisor Mike Murphy

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. Commissioner Fitzgerald second the motion. Voice vote carried the motion.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

None.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Commissioner Fitzgerald made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held on September 16, 2019, and the Special Council Meeting held on September 24, 2019.

Commissioner Duffy second the motion. Voice vote carried the motion.

REPORT OF OFFICERS:

1. Finance:

Commissioner Morse made a motion to approve the claims to be paid from September 14-October

4, 2019 in the amount of $498,690.36. Commissioner Duffy second the motion. Roll call vote showed 5 ayes.

2. Attorney Report:

None

4. Commissioner’s Report:

Streets & Public Improvements-Commissioner Lori Duffy

Public Properties-Commissioner Ken Morse

Accounts & Finance-Commissioner Tom Fitzgerald

Commissioner Fitzgerald said at the previous Council meeting there was discussion and concern regarding the number of feral cats in the City. Stephanie Hicks was present from C.A.R.E. for P.E.T.S. to discuss what they could do to assist the City in humanely helping the feral colonies within the City. Ms. Hicks explained they would spade/neuter, vaccinate, and ear tip cats that are trapped by citizens within the City and taken to their location for a cost of $50.00 per cat. The cats would then be released back to the location they were taken from. This program would require participation from the community. The goal is population control. After discussion, Ms. Hicks said she would provide a proposal for Council to consider.

Public Health & Safety-Commissioner Brian Hedrington

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Discussion and/or Motion Items:

a. Commissioner Fitzgerald made a motion to approve a request from the South Beloit Historical Society for funds in the amount of $8,500.00 to be taken from the Hotel/Motel Fund.

Commissioner Duffy second the motion. Roll call vote showed 5 ayes.

b. Commissioner Fitzgerald made a motion to approve Open Burning from October 12- November 17, 2019. Commissioner Hedrington second the motion. Commissioner Morse said he is opposed to open burning due to the health, safety, and environmental issues. Commissioner Morse believes the City needs to address the issue. Chief Davenport said open burning creates issues for the Fire Department, and causes issues relating to a number of complaints. Chief Davenport agrees with Commissioner Morse. Due to the wet season there will be excessive smoke from the open burning. Mayor Rehl agreed the City needs to look into alternatives over the winter. The City needs to be environmentally responsible. Voice vote carried the motion.

c. Commissioner Duffy made a motion to approve Trick or Treat hours from 5 - 7 pm. Commissioner Fitzgerald second the motion. Voice vote carried the motion.

d. Commissioner Morse made a motion to approve Resolution 6076 authorizing the thirteenth IEPA Loan Disbursement request in the amount of $3,150,047.80. Commissioner Duffy second the motion. Roll call vote showed 5 ayes.

e. Commissioner Hedrington made a motion to approve Resolution 6077 to approve a Cannabis Retail Sales Tax Rebate Agreement. Commissioner Fitzgerald second the motion. Roll call vote showed 5 ayes.

f. Commissioner Morse made a motion to approve Resolution 6078 awarding Route 2 Repairs to Rock Road at a cost not to exceed $48,460.30. Commissioner Duffy second the motion. Attorney Sosnowski said the Illinois Department of Transportation increased the amount they agreed to pay to $40,205.00. The City will pay the remaining amount of $8,255.30. Roll call vote showed 5 ayes.

g. Commissioner Morse made a motion to approve bid letting for the Fire Department roof. Commissioner Hedrington second the motion. Voice vote carried the motion.

h. Commissioner Duffy made a motion to approve the Budget Timetable for the 2020 Budget. Commissioner Morse second the motion. Voice vote carried the motion.

i. Council discussed establishing a time to hold a public meeting to allow residents to meet with Council to discuss topics. Attorney Sosnowski advised Council that an agenda with items to be discussed would need to be posted, and no action could be taken. Mayor Rehl said he would like to consider scheduling a date in November and would provide dates to determine the best time for Council to meet.

j. Council discussed Alternate Parking regulations with the City of South Beloit. Mayor Rehl said at the Staff Development Meeting there was discussion regarding parking. Recommendations were developed by staff regarding how to address complaints from citizens for where and how people park as well as possibly establishing odd/even parking. Concerns also included the number of days currently allowed before moving inoperable vehicles. Staff recommended changing the code to require an inoperable vehicle to be moved every 72 hours. Commissioner Fitzgerald said he has concerns with snow plowing as well as overtime pay for Public Works employees that odd/even parking may cause. Commissioner Fitzgerald also spoke about concerns for garbage collection. Public Works Superintendent, Jeff Reininger spoke about on street parking and said he believes the snow removal process in the current code may be antiquated. Attorney Sosnowski provided a sample ordinance that was drafted for Council review. The item will be bought back to Council after any recommendations for changes have been made.

MISCELLANEOUS LICENSES AND PERMITS:

1. Business License’s:

a. A Cut Above the Rest

b. D & B Concrete Inc

c. ITC

d. KenEnt Screw Machine Parts

e. Landscapes

2. RLE’s:

a. Ashley McCammond-Got Slots

b. Adriann McKnight-Jena’s

3. Miscellaneous Licenses:

a. Tollway Inn

4. Tattoo Artist Licenses:

a. Austin Nelson

5. Video Gaming Licenses:

a. Blackhawk Restaurant Group b. Bordertown Gaming

c. Vegas Magic

6. Flea Market/Thrift Store Licenses: a. Best of Beloit

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

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

At 6:16 pm on a motion made by Commissioner Morse second by Commissioner Duffy. Voice vote

carried the motion. The purpose for Executive Session is to:

1. Discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific employee of a public body that is subject to the Local Government Wage Increase Transparency Act (50 ILCS 155/1 et seq.) may not be closed and shall be open to the public and posted and held in accordance with this Act as provided by 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (1) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

2. Discuss the selection of a person to fill a public office, as defined in this Act, including a vacancy in a public office, when the public body is given power to appoint under law or ordinance, or the discipline, performance or removal of the occupant of a public office, when the public body is given power to remove the occupant under law or ordinance as provided by 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (3) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

3. Discuss the purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired as provided by 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (5) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

4. Discuss litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting provided by 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (11) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

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

RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION: At 6:47 pm.

ROLL CALL:

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

ORDER OF BUSINESS:

None.

ADJOURN:

At 5:51pm on a motion made by Commissioner Fitzgerald second by Commissioner Morse. Voice vote carried the motion.

https://southbeloit.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/10-7-19-Regular-Council-Meeting.pdf