Rockford Sun

City of South Beloit City Council met Nov. 18.

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, Hedrington, Morse, and

Mayor Rehl

City Attorney’s Roxanne Sosnowski and Wiktoria Goscik were present

City Clerk Tracy Patrick recorded the minutes

Department Heads in attendance:

Fire Chief Mike Davenport

Police Chief Adam Truman

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 Hedrington made a motion to approve the agenda second by Commissioner

Fitzgerald. Voice vote carried the motion.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

None.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

1. Commissioner Morse made a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held on November 4, 2019, and the minutes of the Special Council Meeting held on October 28, 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 November 2-15, 2019 in the amount of $227,121.44. Commissioner Duffy second the motion. Roll call vote showed 5 ayes.

2. Attorney Report:

None

4. Commissioner’s Report:

Accounts & Finance-Commissioner Tom Fitzgerald

Public Health & Safety-Commissioner Brian Hedrington

Streets & Public Improvements-Commissioner Lori Duffy

Public Properties-Commissioner Ken Morse

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Discussion and/or Motion Items:

a. Commissioner Hedrington made a motion to approve hiring Sawyer Kurth as Full-time Police

Officer. Commissioner Fitzgerald second the motion. Roll call vote showed 5 ayes.

b. Police Officer, Sawyer Kurth was sworn in by City Clerk, Tracy Patrick. A short break was taken for celebration with cake.

c. Commissioner Fitzgerald made a motion to approve the promotion of Andrew Kitson to Lieutenant for the Fire Department. Commissioner Hedrington second the motion. Roll call vote showed 5 ayes.

d. Commissioner Morse made a motion to approve Ordinance 2473 amending Certain Provisions of the City of South Beloit Handbook relating to Holiday Pay for Part-Time Firefighters.

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

e. Commissioner Duffy made a motion to approve Ordinance 2474 approving a Class EV Special Event Liquor License for Jackson 620 d/b/a The Wheel for an event to be held on December 5, 2019. Commissioner Morse second the motion. Roll call vote showed 5 ayes.

f. Commissioner Fitzgerald made a motion to approve Ordinance 2475 approving a Class EV Special Event Liquor License for Jackson 620 d/b/a The Wheel for an event to be held on December 31, 2019. Commissioner Duffy second the motion. Roll call voted 5 ayes.

g. Commissioner Hedrington made a motion to approve Ordinance 2476 approving a Class J Live Entertainment Liquor License for Jackson 620 d/b/a The Wheel. Commissioner Fitzgerald second the motion. Roll call vote showed 5 ayes.

h. Commissioner Hedrington made a motion to approve Ordinance 2477 authorizing the sale of Personal Items owned by the City of South Beloit (2003 Honda Civic). Commissioner Duffy second the motion. Chief Truman said the vehicle was seized by the Police Department and will be sent to the auction to be sold. Roll call vote showed 5 ayes.

i. Commissioner Hedrington made a motion to approve Resolution 6086 awarding the bid for the Fire Department Roof to Larson & Larson Builders at a cost not to exceed $138,260.00. Commissioner Duffy second the motion. Chief Davenport said the City received 2 bids. Both bids were reviewed. The bid price will allow for a pitched metal roof. Roll call vote showed 5 ayes.

j. Commissioner Duffy made a motion to approve Resolution 6087 approving a Service Agreement with iWorQ for Community Development & Public Works Software. Commissioner Morse second the motion, Public Works Superintendent Reininger said the program will help with several tasks such as creating work orders, time saving for personnel, and how to save the City money. Roll call vote showed 5 ayes.

k. Council discussed Car Canopy Regulations. Commissioner Fitzgerald said concerns with the issue of car ports was discussed at the Staff Development Meeting. Commissioner Fitzgerald said he looked at other neighboring municipalities and did not find the same issues as the City is currently having regarding car canopies. Attorney Sosnowski read recommendations from the Staff Development Meeting’s position that stated the issue with car ports have become problematic. Car ports are becoming tattered and an eye sore. Staff is recommending car ports become more permanent and must be affixed to a primary structure with an exception to be made to the Mobile Home Park (MHP) due to the existing small lot space. Staff is proposing a Temporary Moratorium to the Zoning Board of Appeals at their next meeting to prohibit any further accessory structures in the MHP while the City works with the MHP to obtain a Special Use Permit for a Planned Unit Development that will include regulations for car ports at the MHP. For the remainder of the City, Staff recommends no new canopies be allowed. Existing violators that have a cloth or vinyl canopy will be sent a Notice of Violation with time to come into compliance. Existing violators with metal top canopies will be sent a notice stating the canopy can remain until it either becomes damaged beyond 50% or until the canopy needs replaced. At that time the canopy will need to come into compliance with the Car Port Ordinance. Staff will create an inventory of existing canopies and start conversations with owners if an ordinance is drafted. Council discussed the different types of canopies that are currently found in the City including the older part of the City where the lots are smaller. Chief Davenport said he has concerns with regards to the safety of the canopies since they are mostly made of aluminum and become a projectile in the event of a wind storm. Council also asked if there are current regulations regarding canopies. Attorney Sosnowski said the current code does not allow for fabric canopies. The ordinance has been enforced on commercial properties, however; not residential owners at this point. Consensus from Council was to follow Staff recommendations. Attorney Sosnowski’s office will prepare an Ordinance and bring back to the next Council Meeting for review.

l. Council discussed drainage ditch issues within the City. Commissioner Fitzgerald said the issue was discussed at the Staff Development Meeting. There are issues with residents either filling in ditches, building fences, or putting items in the ditches. Superintendent Reininger said the ditches were meant to be detention basins or retain runoff water. The City is not following the intent of the EPA regarding what the ditches are for. Ditches should not be obstructing the flow of water and are required to store a certain percentage of runoff water within the area, lot, or home. Any obstruction prohibits water flow, and will become an issue at some point in the future if regulations are not put in place prohibiting anything being put in the ditches. Initially the ditches were added by the developer of the subdivision to maximize the number of lots that could be put in the subdivision. Attorney Sosnowski read Staff recommendations regarding the issues that included: no new structures would be allowed. Existing structures would remain until damaged beyond 50% or replacement is needed. At that time a NOV will be sent to remove the structure. Staff will make an inventory of current ditches that contain items within them. Commissioner Morse said the City would also need to create a Comprehensive Plan that states any new development would not be allowed to construct developments that include drainage ditches to create additional lot spaces as well as no yard waste would be allowed in the ditches. Consensus from Council was to follow Staff recommendations.

MISCELLANEOUS

LICENSES & PERMITS:

1. Video Gaming Licenses:

a. Jackson 620

Commissioner Duffy made a motion to approve the License second by Commissioner Fitzgerald.

Voice vote carried the motion.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

At 5:59 pm on a motion made by Commissioner Morse second by Commissioner Fitzgerald. The purpose for Executive Session is to:

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

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

RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION:

At 6:37 pm.

ROLL CALL:

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

ORDER OF BUSINESS:

None

ADJOURN:

At 6:37 pm on a motion made by Commissioner Morse second by Commissioner Hedrington. Voice vote carried the motion.

https://southbeloit.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/11-18-19-Regular-Council-Meeting.pdf