The Charleston City Council met Oct. 18 to approve film festival expenses.
Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the council:
City of Charleston
Regular City Council Meeting
Minutes
October 18, 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 18, 2016, at 520 Jackson Avenue,
Charleston, Illinois, with Mayor Pro Tem Matthew Hutti, presiding. The meeting
commenced at 6:30 p.m. The Mayor Pro Tem 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, and Tim Newell. Mayor
Brandon Combs was absent. Other City Officers present were: City Manager Scott
Smith; City Attorney Rachael Cunningham; City Clerk Deborah Muller; Police Chief
Bryan Baker; Fire Chief Steve Bennett; Comptroller Heather Kuykendall; City Planner
Steve Pamperin; Public Works Director Curt Buescher; and Parks & Recreation Director
Brian Jones.
Mayor Pro Tem Hutti welcomed everyone and then led the audience in the Pledge
of Allegiance.
Mayor Pro Tem Hutti then introduced and reviewed the CONSENT AGENDA,
which consisted of the following items: 1) MINUTES—Regular and Executive City
Council Meetings held on October 4, 2016; 2) PAYROLL—Regular Pay Period ending
October 1, 2016; 3) BILLS PAYABLE—October 21, 2016; 4) COMPTROLLER’S
REPORT—September 2016; and 5) RAFFLE LICENSE—Christmas in the Heart of
Charleston at 7:00 p.m. on November 2, 2016, at Moose Lodge #1388, 615 7th Street, to
raise funds for the “Christmas in the Heart of Charleston” Celebration on December 3,
2016.
A written motion was made by Council Member Newell and seconded by
Council Member Lahr that the Consent Agenda be approved as presented.
Mayor Pro Tem Hutti directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following
voted Yea: Council Members Dunn, Hutti, Lahr, and Newell. Mayor Pro Tem Hutti
declared the motion carried by a vote of 4 Yeas, Nays—0.
ITEM 6: A written motion was made by Council Member Lahr and seconded
by Council Member Dunn that the Resolution authorizing the various street closures for
the 5th Annual Holiday Hustle 5K Run/Walk on December 3, 2016, be approved and the
layover period waived.
Mayor Pro Tem Hutti directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following
voted Yea: Council Members Dunn, Hutti, Lahr, and Newell. Mayor Pro Tem Hutti
declared the motion carried by a vote of 4 Yeas, Nays—0.
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ITEM 7: A written motion was made by Council Member Dunn and seconded
by Council Member Lahr that the Resolution authorizing various street closures for the
EIU Homecoming 2016 – 2.5K Race on October 22, 2016, be approved and the layover
period waived.
Mayor Pro Tem Hutti directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following
voted Yea: Council Members Dunn, Hutti, Lahr, and Newell. Mayor Pro Tem Hutti
declared the motion carried by a vote of 4 Yeas, Nays—0.
With regard to Item #8, the Mayor explained that this Resolution would be
approving $600.00 in Tourism Funds to cover expenses relating to the Embarras River
Valley Film Festival on November 2-4, 2016.
ITEM 8: A written motion was made by Council Member Newell and seconded
by Council Member Lahr that the Resolution authorizing granting Tourism Funds for
expenses relating to the Embarras River Valley Film Festival taking place on November
2-4, 2016, be approved and the layover period waived.
Mayor Pro Tem Hutti directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following
voted Yea: Council Members Dunn, Hutti, Lahr, and Newell. Mayor Pro Tem Hutti
declared the motion carried by a vote of 4 Yeas, Nays—0.
The Mayor Pro Tem said that this concluded the Agenda items.
The Mayor Pro Tem 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.
It was noted that 2 people had signed up to speak; however, the first—Christopher
Gaines—said that he had decided not to speak.
Gary Henigman, 950 10th Street, said that he had three (3) comments to make.
1. With regard to the Will Rogers Theater, the Sheriff’s Sale would take place on
October 28, 2016. They had one more meeting before the auction would take place, and
they did have a plan of action regarding this.
2. Mr. Henigman noted that with regard to the Post Office, the Historic
Preservation Commission had received the coveted Driehaus Award for their 5-year
effort to save it. And additionally for having been nominated for the award by Steve
Thompson. He noted that Mike and Denise Corray who had purchased the Post Office,
and who had worked to maintain the historic nature of the building, were the true heroes
in this scenario. Regarding the Driehaus Award, he noted that he would like to see a nice
display case built for the award (a replica of the entrance to the Chicago Stock Exchange
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Building), that the HPC received. He would like to see it on display somewhere that the
public could see it.
3. Finally, the HPC was very excited about the $800,000 ITEP Grant that the City
had received for improvements regarding the Bicycle Path since the bicycle path would
also go up and down 6th and 7th Streets which were designated an Historic District. He
noted that the HPC had been talking to the City Planner and City Clerk about the
possibilities of things they could do to engage cyclists and pedestrians—possibly some
additional signage, possibly y of an smartphone or tablet interactive Application that
would allow them to type in an address and it would provide structural and architectural
characteristics.
Mr. Henigman said that was all he had to share.
The Mayor Pro Tem asked if there were any comments from Council; there were
not.
The Mayor Pro Tem asked if there were any comments from City Attorney
Cunningham; there were not.
Mayor Pro Tem Hutti said that he had a few EIU Homecoming activities that he
wanted to highlight. Senior Catie Witt of Alpha Gamma Delta and Junior Justin Earls of
Alpha Phi Alpha were elected Eastern’s Homecoming Queen and King the prior evening.
He congratulated them on that.
Mayor Pro Tem Hutti noted some of the activities taking place during
Homecoming Week:
• Wednesday—Scavenger Hunt;
• Thursday—Homecoming Bonfire & Barbeque;
• Friday—“Yell Like Hell” Pep Rally;
• Saturday—Rotary Pancake Sunrise Breakfast;
• Saturday—17th Annual Homecoming 2.5K Race;
• 2016 EIU Homecoming Parade;
• Saturday—50th Class Reunion—Class of 1966;
• Saturday—EIU Homecoming Football Game—O’Brien Stadium;
• Sunday—Trash Bash Community Cleanup
He said that it would be a very busy weekend, and he hoped they all would have a
safe and enjoyable time.
Seeing no further comments, Mayor Pro Tem Hutti 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.
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At this time the Mayor Pro Tem said that he would entertain a motion to go into
Executive Session.
A written motion was made by Council Member Newell and seconded by
Council Member Lahr 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); and he setting of a price for sale or lease of City–owned
property pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(6).
Mayor Pro Tem Hutti directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following
voted Yea: Council Members Dunn, Hutti, Lahr, and Newell. Mayor Pro Tem Hutti
declared the motion carried by a vote of 4 Yeas, Nays—0.
Recess: 6:39 p.m.
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Mayor Combs reconvened the regular session of City Council at 7:17 p.m.
Present were Council Members Dunn, Hutti, Lahr, and Newell. 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 Lahr and seconded by Council
Member Dunn to adjourn.
Mayor Pro Tem Hutti directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following
voted Yea: Council Members Dunn, Hutti, Lahr, and Newell. Mayor Pro Tem Hutti
declared the motion carried by a vote of 4 Yeas, Nays—0.
Mayor Pro Tem Hutti declared the motion carried by a vote of 5 Yeas, Nays—0.
Adjournment: 7:18 p.m.
Minutes approved this 1st Day of November 2016.
____________________________________
Matthew Hutti, Mayor Pro Tem
ATTEST:
___________________________________
Deborah Muller, City Clerk
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