Tuscola City Council met Monday, Jan. 9.
City Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday of every month. If a city recognized holiday falls on a second or fourth Monday the meeting is rescheduled for the following Tuesday. The meetings are held at the Tuscola City Hall, 214 N. Main at 7:30 pm. City Council meeting are open to the public.
Here are the minutes as provided by Tuscola:
January 9, 2017
CITY OF TUSCOLA COUNTY OF DOUGLAS STATE OF ILLINOS TUSCOLA CITY HALL January 9, 2017
In the absence of Mayor Kleiss, Truitt moved and Shoemaker seconded Alderman Boyd Henderson act as Mayor Pro-Tem for the January 9, 2017 meeting. VOTE YEA" Cleland, Day. Hoey, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Truitt, Waldrop. Alderman Henderson abstained. Motion carried.
The regular meeting of the City Council was called to order with Cleland, Day, Henderson, Hoey, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Truitt, and Waldrop in attendance. Mayor Kleiss was absent. Mayor ProTem Henderson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Comment - None
Consent Agenda
Mayor Pro-Tem Henderson went over the items on the consent agenda:
Minutes of the December 27, 2016 meeting I Payment of bills totaling $79,540.91
Request for time extension for Van Allen street closure through January 20, 2017
Cleland moved to approve the items on the Consent agenda. Waldrop seconded. VOTE YEA" Cleland, Day, Henderson, Hoey, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Truitt, Waldrop. Hoey asked if Van Allen would definitely be opened by January 20. Administrator Hoel answered this is what he was told by the contractor. Truitt moved to approve the consent agenda for January 9, 2017. Hoey seconded. VOTE YEA' Cleland, Day, Henderson, Hoey, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Truitt, Waldrop.
Mayor - No Report
City Clerk - No Report
City Treasurer
Treasurer Long reported the TIF delinquencies are Eddie Boutilier, Red Barn Vet Services, and Rache PUCkett.
City Attorney - Nothing
City Administrator - Nothing
Henderson stated today is National Law Enforcement Day and he would like to take the opportunity to thank our local officers for the job they do.
Contracts and Agreements
Administrator Hoel asked to table the PSA with Clark Dietz. He had hoped to have an amount to discuss with Council, but has not yet received it from Clark Dietz.
Hoel discussed the ASCAP licensing agreement, which allows the city to play recorded music by various artists at city events such as Concerts, pageants, sporting events, etc. The Cost of the one year license is $341. Truitt moved to approve the ASCAP licensing agreement for local government entities in the amount of $341. Cleland seconded. VOTE YEA" Cleland, Day, Henderson, Hoey, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Truitt, Waldrop.
Tabled Discussion Topics
Administrator Hoel Went over the points discussed regarding nuisance properties and vehicle parking.
Reduce notice period from 30 days to 5 days. Require licenses and registration for vehicles parked on private property (with possible exemption for antique vehicles). Any Vehicle parked in front yard setback and on private property would have to be on improved surface. This is already required for boats, trailers, semi, RV's, etc. The big Question here is whether or not gravel Counts. New driveways are required to be hard Surface, Hoel added, but We have a lot of existing gravel driveways. * Limit right of Way parking of vehicles not being driven regularly to a particular period of time
(72 hours Suggested) to discourage people from storing vehicles on the right of way.
HenderSon Stated he feels gravel does not Count as hard surface. Pavers, concrete, or asphalt should be used for hard surfaces. Attorney Bequette feels well-maintained gravel areas that are already established WOuld be permissible. Hoey asked if we can prevent someone from having a used Car Collection in their yard. Truitt answered if the vehicles are licensed, registered, and parked on a hard Surface on private property We have to allow. Day asked what difference it makes Whether or not a vehicle is licensed if the owners have it parked on an improved surface. Hoey anSWered there are a lot of junk cars around town with weeds growing up around them that have been sitting for years. Day has a hard time telling someone they have to have a sticker on their car. Shoemaker suggests the Committee consider spelling out what they mean by hard Surface and even add a necessary thickness. Truitt asked if we wanted to leave gravel in as a permissible surface, Could we specify a well-maintained gravel drive. Attorney Bequette thinks the Ordinance should not give people a lot of 'outs'. Administrator Hoel addressed Day's point about licensing. If a vehicle is either parked on an improved surface in the front yard or moves every 72 hours On the right Of Way, and Someone has an old antique car in the back yard they are restoring, do you Care if it's registered? Hoel added he believes there are people who do this. Hoey pointed Out the intent of the Committee was to keep people from storing inoperable vehicles in the middle of a neighborhood. This is what the Complaints are about. People cannot enjoy their property When this is allowed. When you infringe on your neighbors, the private property wording is incorrect, Hoey thinks. Day pointed out infringing on your neighbor is subjective. He agrees with the intent but is unsure about the scope. Hoey stated if citizens park a bunch of vehicles outside, the vehicles should be licensed. When asked by Hoey, Attorney Bequette stated these requirements are not a stretch; however, if this is passed and Chief Hastings cites 75 people, we may have Some unpleasantness. Bequette suggests a draft of the ordinance for all Council to review at the next meeting, with a vote in February. Hoey asked if we have an ordinance that COverS boats Or any Vehicle of any kind that sits on one place for years, with weeds growing around. Attorney Bequette answered we can cite for inoperable vehicles and weeds, but if Someone has a perfectly operable vehicle sitting in a Well-maintained area, we don't have anything to address this. Bequette stated again Council should look over a draft ordinance next meeting and Consider passing in February, adding the ordinance will most likely serve as a wake-up call for many of the offenders.
Other
Administrator Hoel discussed the recent Plan Commission action regarding a request for a Special Use Permit for a recreational vehicle repair and restoration shop at 606 S. Washington. The Commission met January 5, 2017, to discuss the request. They heard from several neighbors opposed to a business in their residential neighborhood and voted to deny the Special Use Permit request. Cleland moved to approve the Plan Commission's recommendation and deny the request for a Special Use Permit for a recreational vehicle repair and restoration shop at 606 S. Washington. Shoemaker seconded. VOTE YEA* Cleland, Day, Henderson, Hoey, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Truitt, Waldrop.
The motion to adjourn was made by Hoey and seconded by Slaughter. VOTE YEA* Cleland, Day, Henderson, Hoey, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Truitt, Waldrop.
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