East Central Reporter

Charleston City Council met Nov. 7.

Here is the minutes provided by the Council:

The Council of the City of Charleston, Coles County, Illinois, met for the re- scheduled regular session at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7, 2017, 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: Councilmen Jeff Lahr, Dennis Malak, and Tim Newell; and Mayor Brandon Combs. Councilman Matthew Hutti was absent. Other City Officers present were: City Manager Scott Smith; City Attorney Rachael Cunningham; City Clerk Deborah Muller; Police Chief Bryan Baker; City Planner Steve Pamperin; and Parks & Recreation Director Brian Jones.

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

Mayor Combs then introduced and thoroughly reviewed the CONSENT AGENDA, which consisted of the following items: 1) MINUTES—The Regular City Council Meeting held on October 17, 2017; 2) PAYROLL—Regular Pay Periods ending on October 14, 2017 and October 28, 2017; 3) BILLS PAYABLE—November 10, 2017; 4) RAFFLE LICENSE—Citizens Against Child Abuse on November 30, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. at the Charleston VFW, 1821 20th Street, to raise funds for families or children in need at Christmastime, who are unable to get help elsewhere; and 5) RAFFLE LICENSE— Bright Minds Educational Program at 8:00 p.m. on December 9, 2017, to raise funds for Kitchen Food Service Update.

A written motion was made by Council Member Malak and seconded by Council Member Lahr that the Consent Agenda, with the exception of Bills Payable, be approved as presented.

Mayor Combs directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following voted Yea: Council Members Lahr, Malak, Newell; and Mayor Combs. Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 4 Yeas, Nays—0.

With regard to Item #6, Mayor Combs explained that the playground would be located at Lake Charleston in order to complement existing work that had been done there.

ITEM 6: A written motion was made by Council Member Lahr and seconded by Council Member Newell that the Resolution authorizing the purchase of a Playground System, be approved and the layover period waived.

Mayor Combs directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following voted Yea: Council Members Lahr, Malak, Newell; and Mayor Combs. Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 4 Yeas, Nays—0.

ITEM 3: A written motion was made by Council Member Newell and seconded by Council Member Lahr that payment of Bills Payable be approved.

Mayor Combs directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following voted Yea: Council Members Lahr, Malak, Newell; and Mayor Combs. Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 4 Yeas, Nays—0.

With regard to Item #7, Mayor Combs explained that this Resolution would provide for the closure of certain streets from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on December 2nd. He noted that the annual race would begin at Old Main—Run east on the Sidewalk to 7th Street; South on 7th Street to Johnson Avenue; East on Johnson to 9th Street; South on 9th Street to Taft Avenue; West on Taft Avenue to 4th Street; North on 4th Street to the Panther Trail; Follow Panther Trail through O’Brien Stadium Parking Lot to Grant Avenue; West on Grant Avenue to 4th Street; North on 4th Street to sidewalk between Pemberton Hall and Physical Science Building; and then Follow the Sidewalk to Finish at Old Main, EIU.

ITEM 7: A written motion was made by Council Member Malak and seconded by Council Member Lahr that the Resolution authorizing various street closures for the E.I.U. Holiday Hustle 5K Run to be held on December 2, 2017, be approved and the layover period waived.

Mayor Combs directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following voted Yea: Council Members Lahr, Malak, Newell; and Mayor Combs. Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 4 Yeas, Nays—0.

With regard to Item #8, Mayor Combs explained that this Resolution dealt with a Contractual Agreement with the Coles County Regional Planning and Development Commission that the City entered into every year. The annual amount was for $7,000.

ITEM 8: A written motion was made by Council Member Lahr and seconded by Council Member Newell that the Resolution entering into a Contractual Agreement for Technical Assistance Services with the Coles County Regional Planning and Development Commission, be approved and the layover period waived.

Mayor Combs directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following voted Yea: Council Members Lahr, Malak, Newell; and Mayor Combs. Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 4 Yeas, Nays—0.

With regard to Item #9, Mayor Combs explained that contracts for residents and small businesses within the corporate limits utilizing 15,000 kWh or less per year would be included in this contract. Currently the City’s contract was with Homefield Energy at a rate of 5.85 cents per KWh for 36 months ending in June of 2019. Through the City’s consultant Good Energy, if the City extends the contract with Homefield Energy, beginning January of 2018 to June of 2019, the rates would be reduced from 5.85 to 5.6 cents per kWh. During the extended period from July 2019 to December of 2020, the contract would be reduced to 5.496 cents per kWh. In comparison, the new Ameren rates for this period will be 6.167 cents per kWh.

ITEM 9: A written motion was made by Council Member Newell and seconded by Council Member Lahr that the Resolution approving an Extension of the contract with Homefield Energy, be approved and the layover period waived.

Mayor Combs directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following voted Yea: Council Members Lahr, Malak, Newell; and Mayor Combs. Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 4 Yeas, Nays—0.

With regard to Item #10, Mayor Combs explained that this Resolution would be approving the obligation of $120,000 in MFT Funds for the resurfacing and restriping of existing pavement on 10th Street from Lincoln to Madison and 14th Street from Harrison to Madison. The work would begin in 2018. The City’s portion of the project would be $64,000.

ITEM 10: A written motion was made by Council Member Malak and seconded by Council Member Lahr that the Resolution appropriating MFT Funds in the amount of $120,000 for the Resurfacing and Restriping of Existing Pavement on 10th and 14th Streets (MFT 16-00114-00-RS), be approved and the layover period waived.

Mayor Combs directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following voted Yea: Council Members Lahr, Malak, Newell; and Mayor Combs. Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 4 Yeas, Nays—0.

With regard to Item #11, Mayor Combs explained that this resolution would approve the Local Agency agreement for Federal Participation with IDT for the 10th and 14th Street resurfacing that is scheduled for letting on November 17, 2017, in Springfield. The project will begin after local schools and EIU are out for the summer, and the project will be completed prior to school resuming in the fall.

ITEM 11: A written motion was made by Council Member Lahr and seconded by Council Member Newell that the Resolution authorizing the execution of a Local

Agency Agreement for Federal Participation for MFT Section 16-00114-00-RS for 10th Street and 14th Street Resurfacing, be approved and the layover period waived.

Mayor Combs directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following voted Yea: Council Members Lahr, Malak, Newell; and Mayor Combs. Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 4 Yeas, Nays—0.

With regard to Item #12, Mayor Combs explained that Brad Cole, Executive Director of IML

ITEM 12: A written motion was made by Council Member Newell and seconded by Council Member Lahr that the Resolution in support of Illinois Bicentennial Celebrations, be approved and the layover period waived.

Mayor Combs directed the City Clerk to call the roll and the following voted Yea: Council Members Lahr, Malak, Newell; and Mayor Combs. Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 4 Yeas, Nays—0.

The Mayor noted that for anyone interested in more information on the Illinois Bicentennial Celebration should go to www.illinois200.com. Events across Illinois will take place beginning December 3, 2017 and continue until the official birthday of the State of Illinois on December 3, 2018.

The Mayor said that this concluded the Agenda items.

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.

The Mayor asked if there were any comments from City Manager Smith or City Attorney Cunningham.

City Manager Smith said that he was very pleased with the approval of the Playground System for Lake Charleston. He expected it to be a very fine contribution to the project.

The Mayor noted to the audience that there were pictures of the Playground System on the wall behind Mr. Smith. He said that there would be a lot of work involved in the layout of this massive playground system. City employees, including Greg Culp, Assistant Public Works Director had been working hard on the design placement. He said that it would add a different element to the multi-faceted Lake Charleston project.

By way of an additional positive occurrence in Charleston, Mayor Combs noted that tomorrow (November 8, 2017), he and EIU President David Glassman, and City Planner Steve Pamperin would be among those who would be attending a presentation of the 2017 Governor’s Hometown Award in Springfield.

He noted that he was very proud of this—proud of the City Staff and City volunteers who had worked so hard on this project and brought the whole project to fruition. So, he felt very honored that they would be able to go to Springfield to receive this Award.

The Mayor asked if there were any comments from Council.

There were not.

The Mayor then said that he would entertain a motion to adjourn.

A written motion was made by Council Member Malak 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 Lahr, Malak, Newell; and Mayor Combs. Mayor Combs declared the motion carried by a vote of 4 Yeas, Nays—0.

Adjournment: 6:48 p.m.

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