Rockford Sun

City of Loves Park City Council met Dec. 2.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Gregory Jury called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

Police Chief Chuck Lynde, opened the meeting with an invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Present: Mayor Gregory Jury

Aldermen Robert Schlensker, Doug Allton, Nancy Warden, John Jacobson, Jim Puckett, Clint Little, John Pruitt, Charles Frykman, Mark Peterson, A. Marie Holmes

Also Present: City Clerk Bob Burden

City Attorney Gino Galluzzo

1. Approve Minutes 11/25/19

The Journal of Proceedings for the regular meeting of November 25, 2019, was approved as submitted by the city clerk on a motion by Alderman Little. Second by Alderman Schlensker. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Schlensker, Allton, Warden, Jacobson, Puckett, Little, Pruitt, Frykman, Peterson, Holmes)

2. Harlem Middle School Art Class

Mayor Jury welcomed Ruth Meissen, Harlem Middle School Art Teacher, and art students to the council meeting, and he presented them with a City of Loves Park flag. The students presented a Christmas Tree ornament they made to the council in appreciation of the donation for their Washington D.C. trip planned for this week. Harlem Middle School Art Students were selected to attend the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington D.C. and to add their ornament, designed and made by the students, to the nation’s Christmas Tree.

3. Ruth Meissen

Ruth Meissen thanked city council for the donation and for supporting the Harlem Middle School Art Students.

4. Water Department Bills

Alderman Jacobson presented the Water Department bills dated November 25, 2019 in the amount of $198,967.23, and moved that they be paid. Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Schlensker, Allton, Warden, Jacobson, Puckett, Little, Pruitt, Frykman, Peterson, Holmes)

5. General Fund Bills

Alderman Jacobson presented the General Fund and all other bills dated November 25, 2019 in the amount of $2,528,138.15, and moved that they be paid. Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Schlensker, Allton, Warden, Jacobson, Puckett, Little, Pruitt, Frykman, Peterson, Holmes)

6. Public Safety Report

Alderman Allton presented the Police Department Report dated November 25, 2019; to be placed on file.

7. Public Works Report

Alderman Schlensker presented the Street Department Report dated December 2, 2019; presented the Water Department Report dated December 2, 2019, to be placed on file.

8. Finance & Administration Committee

Alderman Jacobson of the Finance and Administration Committee presented General Fund and all other bills dated December 2, 2019 in the amount of $233,442.85; for consideration at next week’s city council meeting; presented the minutes from the committee meeting held November 25, 2019, to be placed on file.

9. Public Safety Committee

Alderman Allton of the Public Safety Committee presented the minutes from the committee meeting held November 4, 2019, to be placed on file.

10. Public Works Committee

Alderman Schlensker of the Public Works Committee presented the Water Department list of bills dated December 2, 2019 in the amount of $3,346.01, for consideration at next week’s city council meeting.

11. ORD 4310-19 Real Estate Exchange

Alderman Jacobson presented for second reading an ordinance authorizing exchange of city-owned real estate at 4096 Interstate Boulevard, Loves Park, Illinois with real estate held by Interstate Boulevard Properties LLC along and North of Starwood Drive, Loves Park, IL., and moved for passage of the ordinance. Second by Alderman Peterson. Motion carried. 10 Ayes (Aldermen Schlensker, Allton, Warden, Jacobson, Puckett, Little, Pruitt, Frykman, Peterson, Holmes)

ORDINANCE NO. 4310-19

12. ORD 4311-19 Prohibit Cannabis Sales

Alderman Jacobson presented for second reading an ordinance amending the Municipal Code of the City of Loves Park, Winnebago and Boone Counties, Illinois to prohibit Adult-Use Cannabis Business Establishments, and moved for passage of the ordinance. Second by Alderman Peterson.

13. Alderman Little

Discussion: Alderman Little commented that he is not supporting this ordinance and he feels the city should take advantage of the revenue it would produce and it’s not the city’s responsibility to legislate morality. He added that the majority of residents he spoke to were in support of allowing cannabis sales for the benefit of the revenue.

14. Alderman Jacobson

Alderman Jacobson commented that since he is uncertain of the impact of allowing cannabis sales in the city, he plans to revisit this issue in August, when there will be more information.

15. Mayor Jury

Mayor Jury commented that council could vote to prohibit cannabis sales now, with the possibility of allowing it in the future.

16. Alderman Peterson

Alderman Peterson commented that there is a social cost to allowing cannabis sales in the city; such as increased traffic accidents/fatalities. He supports the ordinance to prohibit cannabis sales in the city and he urged council to vote the same.

17. Alderman Pruitt

Alderman Pruitt commented that the social issues will occur in the city regardless if the city allows cannabis sales or not. He feels the city will need the revenue to work thru the issues.

18. Motion Carried

Motion carried. 7 Ayes (Aldermen Schlensker, Allton, Jacobson, Puckett, Frykman, Peterson, Holmes) 3 Nays (Aldermen Warden, Little, Pruitt)

ORDINANCE NO. 4311-19

19. Leaf-Vacuuming/ Bagged Yard Waste

Mayor Jury announced that leaf vacuuming and will continue thru next week, weather permitting. He added that the last pickup for bagged yard waste will be Friday, December 6.

20. Adjourn

Alderman Jacobson moved that the meeting be adjourned. Second by Alderman Schlensker. Motion carried by voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at 6:18 p.m.

https://cityoflovespark.com/wp-content/uploads/minutes-agendas-newsletters/CCMinutes_2019-12-02.pdf