East Central Reporter

The Tuscola City Council met Sept. 12 to propose a five year extension of the current ambulance service contract.

Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the council:

The Tuscola City Council meets at 7:30 p.m on the second and fourth Monday of every month. If a city-recognized holiday falls on those days, the meeting is rescheduled for the following Tuesday. The meetings are held at the Tuscola City Hall, 214 N. Main.

September 12, 2016

CITY OF TUSCOLA COUNTY OF DOUGLAS STATE OF ILLINOS TUSCOLA CITY HALL September 12, 2016

The regular meeting of the city Council was called to order with Cleland, Day, Henderson, Shoemaker, Slaughter, and Mayor Kleiss in attendance. Aldermen Hoey and Truitt were absent, Clerk Leamon was also absent, Deputy Clerk Hawkins recorded the meeting. Mayor Kleiss led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Public Comment - None

Consent Agenda

Mayor Kleiss went over the items on the Consent agenda:

Minutes of the August 22, 2016 meeting

Payment of bills totaling $189,285.41

Pay request from Building Systems of Illinois in the amount of $59,437.70 (included in total), for Community Building renovations

Request from the Tuscola Rotary to hold their annual food drive on October 1, 2016

Community Building lease request with alcohol from Carol Beals for the Class of 1966 Reunion On October 8, 2016

Permission to close streets for the Homecoming 5K on October 8, 2016

TusCola Library request to hold an outdoor movie night on Festival Corner, September 17, 2016

Request for an Artisan Market on Festival Corner on October 1, 2016

Henderson moved to approve the items on the consent agenda. Cleland seconded. Amber Seip, Homecoming 5K organizer, pointed out the 5K route will begin and end at the Community Building. VOTE YEA" Cleland, Day, Henderson, Shoemaker, Slaughter. Shoemaker moved to approve the Consent agenda for September 12, 2016. Day seconded. VOTE YEA* Cleland, Day, Henderson, Shoemaker, Slaughter,

Requested Time on the Agenda

Sean Conner and Paul Wisovaty, representing the TK Martin VFW Post 10009, were present to address Council about an upcoming event the post has planned. Conner stated Post 10009 would like to sell poppies on October 8, 2016, at Main and Sale and the mall exit. Conner presented a Certificate of appreciation to the City of Tuscola for their support of the VFW Post 10009.

Paul Wisovaty addressed Council on behalf of the TusCola Lions Club. The club will hold their annual candy days on October 14 from 4-6 pm and October 15 from 8 am to noon.

Mayor

Mayor Kleiss noted the city received Correspondence from Randy Bissey thanking us for our efforts in getting the Bissey property out of the floodplain. Kleiss also noted Aldermen Hoey and Truitt both asked to be excused from tonight's meeting. Kleiss added he hopes Hoey has a speedy recovery from his surgery.

City Clerk - Nothing

City Treasurer

Treasurer Long reported the TIF delinquencies are Eddie Boutilier, Red Barn Vet Services, and Rachel Puckett.

City Attorney - No Report

City Administrator - No Report

Ordinances

Cleland moved to approve ordinance 2016-0-10, an ordinance amending Chapter 75: Traffic schedules of the City of Tuscola Code of Ordinances to create stop intersections in Forest Glen Subdivision. Slaughter seconded. Mayor Kleiss pointed out approval of the Ordinance COdifies the stop intersections already in place in Forest Glen. VOTE YEA"Cleland, Day, Henderson, Shoemaker, Slaughter.

Contracts and Agreements

o Administrator Hoel discussed the proposed five year extension of the current ambulance

service Contract with Arrow Ambulance. Hoel stated Arrow proposed the extension and all entities involved are in agreement with the extension. Henderson moved to approve the agreement with Arrow Ambulance, LLC, for a five year extension of the Current ambulance service Contract, with no price increase. Shoemaker seconded. VOTE YEA" Cleland, Day, Henderson, Shoemaker, Slaughter.

o Hoel reported we have been successful in getting Court orders to demolish two dangerous

properties in town. Proposals were sent to five or six demolition Contractors, with Block Field Tiling, LLC, coming in as the low bidder on both properties. Attorney Bequette noted this is a positive development. Once the city has put money into the properties, Bequette will file alien against the properties. Hoel added the terms of the proposal call for Completion by October 15, 2016. Slaughter moved to waive formal bidding on demolition of properties at 111 East Wilson and 607 East Wilson and award both demolitions to Block Field Tiling, LLC in the amount of $6800.00 (111 East Wilson) and $7400.00 (607 East Wilson). Henderson seconded. VOTE YEA* Cleland, Day, Henderson, Shoemaker, Slaughter.

o Treasurer Long reported the server that handles the network traffic Controller between internal computers and email needs to be replaced. This server is seven years old, Long added. The Computer itself is not that expensive, but the Computer plus software and installation and Configuration makes the cost close to $10,000. Administrator Hoel stated Simplified Computer has done most of the city's Computer Work for a long time. They have submitted a proposal of $9505.00. Hoel recommends approval of the quote from Simplified Computer for the purchase and installation of the network exchange server. Day moved to approve the purchase of a network exchange server from Simplified Computers in the amount of $9505.00. Cleland seconded. Shoemaker asked if this was a budgeted item. Hoel answered it was budgeted at $10,000. VOTE YEA* Cleland, Day, Henderson, Shoemaker, Slaughter.

O Administrator Hoel discussed the purchase of a leaf vacuum, which is included in the budget at $50,000. Hoel stated the city has identified a vendor that will have a unit ready in two weeks. The unit has an operator station on it, so you can ride instead of Walking. The COst of this particular unit is about $17,000 over budget, Hoel stated, but he hopes Council will Consider the purchase as he feels this unit will be much more productive. Hoel added the seller has offered $5000 on a trade in but he feels it would be best to keep the old Vacuum as back up. Cleland moved to waive formal bidding on the leaf vacuum and purchase the vacuum from Bonnell Industries Inc., at a Cost of $67,577.00. Henderson seconded. VOTE YEA* Cleland, Day, Henderson, Shoemaker, Slaughter.

o Hoel next discussed upgrades to the park Little League and Softball diamonds. A total of $40,000 has been budgeted for these projects. Hoel added that based on the estimates, Only the Little League diamond will be upgraded at this time. Hoel Went on to say he has an estimate of $15,000.00, from Hunt Excavating for the concrete work to complete the dugout walls and backstop. Another part of the Little League diamond upgrade is nets and poles, Hoel stated, and he has a proposal for those in the amount of $11,973.00, down from $14,323.00. Hoel went on to say assuming Council approves the ConCrete WOrk and purchase of nets and poles, there should be enough left of the $40,000.00 budgeted to take care of the remaining fencing, electrical work, and padding. Day moved to approve the $15,000.00, Contract with Hunt Excavating for concrete Work to complete the dugout Walls and backStop at the Little League diamond. Shoemaker seconded. VOTE YEA* Cleland, Day, Henderson, Shoemaker, Slaughter. Cleland then moved to authorize Administrator Hoel to Order the nets and poles for the netting system for the Little League diamond from Beacon Athletics at a cost of $11,973.00. Day seconded. VOTE YEA* Cleland, Day, Henderson, Shoemaker, Slaughter.

Mayor Kleiss stated it is a good day when We can sit at Council and feel good about Spending our money wisely and be able to upgrade the park. He Commends Council and the administration for managing our capital projects appropriately. Kleiss is proud of the fact We can continue to make our city proud of our recreational facilities.

Requests for TIF ASSistance

Administrator Hoel reported Council had previously approved a 100% property tax rebate, up to $50,000, and a 30% interest subsidy on new construction for Steve Lacine, Lighthouse Insurance, Lacine attended the TIF Committee meeting last week, Hoel added, and asked the Committee to reconsider his request. Lacine suggested he may pay more in property taxes than the $50,000 Cap, Hoel reported, and the TIF committee agreed their intent was to give Lacine a rebate of all his property taxes until the termination of TIF on December 31, 2021. Hoel went on to say he is not sure Lacine's property taxes will go over the $50,000.00 cap. If they do, Hoel believes it will only be by a few thousand dollars. The TIF Committee would like to remove the $50,000.00 cap from Lacine's TIF award so he will receive a rebate on all property taxes paid. Shoemaker moved to remove the $50,000.00, cap on Steve Lacine's TIF award and rebate all incremental property taxes paid on his Lighthouse Insurance project, 200 E. South line Road, through the termination of TIF on December 31, 2021. Day seconded. VOTE YEA* Cleland, Day, Henderson, Shoemaker, Slaughter.

The motion to adjourn was made by Henderson and seconded by Cleland. VOTE YEA" Cleland, Day, Henderson, Shoemaker, Slaughter.