East Central Reporter

Charleston City Council met Tuesday, Oct. 4.

The City Council is the duly elected legislative and policy-making body of the City of Charleston. The fundamental job of the City Council is to make policy decisions for the City based on relevant and accurate information received from the full-time City Manager and his staff. Committees and Advisory Boards of the City Council render recommendations to the full body regarding municipal projects, facilities, services, finance and personnel as well as issues of health, safety, and welfare of the community at large. The City Council solicits and receives the support of many volunteer citizen committees to ensure a democratic, citizen-centered process.

Here are the minutes as provided by Charleston:

City of Charleston Regular City Council Meeting Minutes October 4, 2016 State of Illinois County of Coles ss. City of Charleston

The Council of the City of Charleston, Coles County, Illinois, met for the regular scheduled session at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 4, 2016, at 520 Jackson Avenue, Charleston, Illinois, with Mayor Brandon Combs, presiding. The meeting commenced at 6:30 p.m. The Mayor directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following were physically present and answered affirmatively to the call of his or her name: Council Members Jim Dunn, Matthew Hutti, Jeff Lahr, Tim Newell and Mayor Brandon Combs were physically present. Other City Officers present were: City Attorney Rachael Cunningham, City Clerk Deborah Muller; Police Chief Bryan Baker; Assistant Fire Chief Tim Meister; Comptroller Heather Kuykendall; Operations Engineer Casey Beck; City Planner Steve Pamperin; Parks & Recreation Director Brian Jones; and Network Administrator Todd Kibler.

Mayor Combs welcomed everyone and then led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Combs then introduced and reviewed the CONSENT AGENDA, which consisted of the following items: 1) MINUTES—Public Hearing and Regular Meeting held on September 20, 2016; 2) PAYROLL—Regular Pay Period ending September 17, 2016; 3) BILLS PAYABLE—October 7, 2016; and 4) RAFFLE LICENSE—5:00 o’clock Floozies Club at Lefty’s Holler on November 4, 2016, at 6:00 o’clock p.m. to raise funds for a Hoveround® motorized scooter for Michele Drake.

Mayor Combs directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following voted Yea: Council Members Dunn, Hutti, Lahr, Newell, and Mayor Combs. Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 5 Yeas, Nays—0.

ITEM 5: A written motion was made by Council Member Newell and seconded by Council Member Hutti that the Resolution authorizing the temporary closure of certain streets for the annual “Christmas in the Heart of Charleston” Celebration, be approved and the layover period waived.

Mayor Combs directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following voted Yea: Council Members Dunn, Hutti, Lahr, Newell, and Mayor Combs. Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 5 Yeas, Nays—0.

ITEM 6: A written motion was made by Council Member Lahr and seconded by Council Member Dunn that the Resolution authorizing Street Closures for the Charleston High School Homecoming Parade on September 30, 2016, be approved and the layover period waived.

Mayor Combs directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following voted Yea: Council Members Dunn, Hutti, Lahr, Newell, and Mayor Combs. Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 5 Yeas, Nays—0.

ITEM 7: A written motion was made by Council Member Dunn and seconded by Council Member Lahr that the Resolution authorizing Street Closures for the EIU Homecoming Parade on October 22, 2016, be approved and the layover period waived.

Mayor Combs directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following voted Yea: Council Members Dunn, Hutti, Lahr, Newell, and Mayor Combs. Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 5 Yeas, Nays—0.

ITEM 8: A written motion was made by Council Member Hutti and seconded by Council Member Newell that the Resolution authorizing Street Closures for the Jefferson Elementary Grade School Halloween Parade on October 28, 2016, be approved and the layover period waived.

Mayor Combs directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following voted Yea: Council Members Dunn, Hutti, Lahr, Newell, and Mayor Combs. Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 5 Yeas, Nays—0.

With regard to Item 9, Mayor Combs explained that in order to satisfy the City’s insurance carrier, water fowl hunters needed to register at City Hall and obtain a registration card at no expense to the hunters. And the hunters needed to sign in and record their water fowl permit number.

ITEM 9: A written motion was made by Council Member Newell and seconded by Council Member Hutti that the Resolution authorizing the renewal of a License Agreement with the Charleston Water Fowl Association with regard to the use and regulation of hunting activities at Lake Charleston, be approved and the layover period waived.

Mayor Combs directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following voted Yea: Council Members Dunn, Hutti, Lahr, Newell, and Mayor Combs. Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 5 Yeas, Nays—0.

ITEM 10: An Announcement as to Trick or Treat Hours in Charleston: Mayor Combs announced that Trick or Treat Hours would take place from 5:00 o’clock p.m. until 8:00 o’clock p.m. on the night of Halloween—Monday, October 31, 2016.

Mayor Combs directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following voted Yea: Council Members Dunn, Hutti, Lahr, Newell, and Mayor Combs. Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 5 Yeas, Nays—0.

The Mayor said that this concluded the Agenda items.

Mayor Combs noted that EIU students were coming back—students had already begun to move in, and then the big move-in day on Thursday. Additionally, he wanted to draw attention to the big Carnegie Library fundraiser at 6:00 p.m. on Friday evening at the Library--a night of “Literature & Libations”—it should be a good time and well worth attending.

The Mayor asked if there were any comments from Council; there were not.

The Mayor asked if there were any comments from City Attorney Cunningham; there were not.

The Mayor then opened the floor to any public comments, communications and presentations. He asked that those doing so come up to the podium and give the Clerk their name and address for the record. He noted that this was solely for the benefit of the Clerk, and was not required. He asked that they limit their comments to 3 minutes and avoid repetition.

No one came forward. Seeing no one, Mayor Combs explained that there was an Executive Session that evening at which no action would take place. There would be no further action that evening. He noted that they would be returning to Council Chambers only to reconvene and then adjourn the Regular Council meeting. He added that anyone wishing to was welcome to hang out until they were done with the Executive Session.

At this time the Mayor said that he would entertain a motion to go into Executive Session.

A written motion was made by Council Member Lahr and seconded by Council Member Dunn to go into Executive Session to discuss pending or imminent litigation pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(11); the purchase or lease of real property pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(5); the setting of a price for sale or lease of City–owned property pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(6); and personnel matters pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (1).

Mayor Combs directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following voted Yea: Council Members Dunn, Hutti, Lahr, Newell, and Mayor Combs. Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 5 Yeas, Nays—0

Recess: 6:38 p.m.

Mayor Combs reconvened the regular session of City Council at 7:33 p.m.

Present were Council Members Dunn, Lahr, Dunn and Mayor Combs. Council Member Hutti was absent. Also present were City Attorney Cunningham and City Clerk Muller.

Mayor Combs said that he would entertain a motion to adjourn.

A written motion was made by Council Member Dunn and seconded by Council Member Lahr to adjourn.

Mayor Combs directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following voted Yea: Council Members Dunn, Hutti, Lahr, Newell, and Mayor Combs. Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 5 Yeas, Nays—0.

Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 5 Yeas, Nays—0.

Adjournment: 7:37 p.m.

Minutes approved this 18th Day of October 2016.

Brandon Combs, Mayor ATTEST:

Deborah Muller, City Clerk