East Central Reporter

City of Neoga City Council met Aug. 12.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Marty Hartke. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Those present were: Commissioners Helm, Hakman, Edwards, and Mayor Hartke. Commissioner Groves was absent. Others present were City Clerk Brenda Evans, City Treasurer Diana Foor, Chief of Police Andy Schabbing, Building Inspector Jeff Morrison, Engineer Narendra Patel, Neoga School Superintendent Bill Fritcher, Clint Willenborg, Trevor Moore, and Neoga News Editor Chambers.

MINUTES

After reviewing the regular session minutes from July 22, 2019, Commissioner Hakman made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Helm. Ayes, Commissioner Hakman, Helm, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Commissioner Edwards abstained. Motion carried. 3-0.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS, MAYOR HARTKE

BILL FRITCHER, NEOGA SCHOOL DISTRICT #3

Bill Fritcher introduced himself to the Council as the new superintendent of Neoga School District #3. Fritcher said that he is very excited to be working in his community and to be a part of the new things happening in the school district as well as Neoga.

ORDINANCE #945-08-19 An Ordinance Authorizing Execution of Lease Agreement (Eastern Illinois Area of Special Education)

After review the lease agreement, Commissioner Edwards made a motion to accept the ordinance as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hakman. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Helm, Hakman, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

FINANCE, COMMISSIONER GROVES

TREASURER’S REPORT

After a brief discussion, Mayor Hartke ordered the financial report to be placed into the files of the City Clerk.

PUBLIC PROPERTY, COMMISSIONER HAKMAN

NPDES PERMIT

Narendra Patel spoke to the Council regarding the need to apply for the expiring NPDES permit in March of 2020. Mr. Patel explained that the permit application takes some time to complete and should be started no later than September 1, 2019. Patel said he has worked on the last three (3) permits over the past 15 years and will have most of the information needed on file. After a brief discussion, Commissioner Helm made a motion to have Fehr Graham complete the NPDES Permit application. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Edwards. Ayes, Commissioner Helm, Hakman, Edwards, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

PURCHASE OF FIRE DOORS

City Clerk Evans told the Council that DCFS has approved placing a fire door in the hall way between classrooms for the day care and EIASE program. After a brief discussion, Commissioner Hakman made a motion to award the installation of the fire doors to Wohltman Construction. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Edwards. Ayes, Commissioner Hakman, Edwards, Helm, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

PURCHASE OF SMOKE DETECTORS

City Clerk Evans informed the Council that the Fire Marshall has required that smoke detectors be installed in the daycare rooms and bathrooms. The bid also included strobe lights in each bathroom. After a brief discussion, Commissioner Edwards made a motion to purchase the smoke detectors and strobe lights from FESSI for $11,826. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hakman. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Helm, Hakman, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

FIRE ALARM SYSTEM FOR COMMUNITY CENTER

City Clerk Evans said that the monthly fee for fire alarm system from F. E. Moran will be $77.50 per month, and FESSI will be $38. After a lengthy discussion, Commissioner Edwards made a motion to sign an agreement with FESSI for a monthly fire alarm monitoring system for $38 per month. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Edwards. Ayes, Commissioner Hakman, Edwards, Helm and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

REMOVAL OF WALL

City Clerk Evans told the Council that DCFS has approved the EIASE program locating on the east wing of the Community Center. EIASE would like to use two rooms next to the daycare; however, they would need to have a doorway from room to room so that they are not accessing the hallway to get to the restrooms. After reviewing the bid from Wohltman Construction for $7,548, Commissioner Hakman made a motion to have the wall removed. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Helm. Ayes, Commissioner Hakman, Edwards, Helm, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

POWERWASHING COMMUNITY CENTER

The Council reviewed a quote from two power washing companies to power wash the Community Center. After reviewing both, Commissioner Hakman made a motion to have X-Shine power wash the Center for $3,384. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Edwards. Ayes, Commissioner Hakman, Edwards, Helm, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

PURCHASE OF SUBMERSIBLE ELECTRIC PUMP

City Clerk Evans explained to the Council that the high flow pump at the Cedar Lift Station could not be repaired, and the quote to purchase a new one was $17,004.86. After little discussion, Commissioner Helm made a motion to purchase the pump from Vandevanter Engineering. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hakman. Ayes, Commissioner Helm, Hakman, Edwards, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0..

PURCHASE OF TAPPING KIT

City Clerk Evans told the Council that the Public Works department has done two (2) water and sewer taps in the past few weeks, but since they didn’t have a tapping machine, they have had to rely on someone else to come, and do it for the department. Evans said that Superintendent Durbin would to purchase a tapping machine at a cost of $1,795. After a brief discussion regarding the necessity of the tool, it was decided to table the purchase.

WEIU DONATION TO “THIS IS OUR STORY”

City Clerk Evans told the Council that she had received an email from WEIU requesting a donation for the program. The Council tabled this decision until additional information was received.

STREETS AND ALLEYS, COMMISSIONER EDWARDS

CLEANING DITCH FROM 5TH TO 7TH STREET

Commissioner Edwards received a quote to have the ditch sprayed from 5th Street to 7th Street between Eastern Illinois Railroad and Burrows Avenue. The quote came in at $600 from M & E Spraying. Commissioner Edwards made a motion to have M & E spray the ditch. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hakman. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Helm, and Hakman. Nays, Mayor Hartke. Motion carried. 3-1.

STRIPING OF W. 6TH STREET FROM RT. #45 TO ELM AVENUE

Commissioner Edwards explained to the Council that since 6th Street has been repaved, it would be a good time to stripe the road. Commissioner Hakman made a motion to have Effingham Striping Service stripe the parking area for $2,125. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Edwards. Ayes, Commissioner Hakman, Edwards, Helm and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

PAINTING CURBS ON EAST 6TH STEET

After reviewing the bid to paint the curbs on East 6th Street, Commissioner Edwards made a motion to have Effingham Striping Service paint the curbs for $500. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hakman. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Helm, Hakman, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

PARKING ON EAST 6TH STREET

The Council discussed changing the parking on East 6th Street to parallel parking. Due to the larger vehicles and the additional traffic on East 6th Street, Commissioner Edwards made a motion to change parking on the south side of East 6th Street to parallel parking from Rt. #45 to Maple Avenue. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hakman. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Helm, Hakman, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

HEALTH AND SAFETY, COMMISSIONER HELM

ABANDONED PROPERTY

Commissioner Helm explained to the Council that there are numerous homes in the corporate limits that have been vacant and not maintained for a number of years and are dilapidated. After reviewing an email from City Attorney Willenborg, it was the consensus of the Council to proceed with amending the city ordinance to address this issue.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Chief of Police Schabbing told the Council that he will be looking for a grant to upgrade the radio system and replacing a squad car in the coming months. Schabbing also said that the new software was installed, and is working very well.

Building Inspector Jeff Morrison informed the Council that they are still looking for a person to fill the vacant seat on the Zoning Board, and hopefully will have one by the next meeting.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Commissioner Helm made a motion to move into executive session for Personnel Section 2(c) (1) – employee hiring, firing, compensation, discipline and performance, at 8:00 p.m. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hakman. Ayes, Commissioner Helm, Hakman, Edwards, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

RECONVENED AND ROLL CALL

The meeting was reconvened at 9:28 p.m. on a motion from Commissioner Hakman. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Helm. Those present for roll call were: Commissioners Helm, Hakman, Edwards, and Mayor Hartke.

HIRING POLICE OFFICER

Commissioner Edwards made a motion to hire Trevor Moore as a police officer for $35,000, and start Police Training Institute (PTI) on Monday. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Helm. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Helm, Hakman, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Helm made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Edwards. Ayes, Commissioner Helm, Hakman, Edwards, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

https://neoga.org/sites/neoga.org/files/meetingminutes/August%2012%2C%202019.pdf