City of Olney City Council met Feb. 24.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
AGENDA #1 “CALL TO ORDER” The February 24, 2020, meeting of the Olney City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Olney City Hall located at 300 S. Whittle Avenue, Olney, Illinois, with Mayor Mark Lambird presiding.
AGENDA #2 “PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG-PRAYER” Council members and visitors joined in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. John Monroe led the group in prayer.
AGENDA #3 “ROLL CALL” The following Council members were present: Greg Eyer, Morgan Fehrenbacher, Belinda Henton, and Mark Lambird. John McLaughlin was absent. Also present were City Manager Allen Barker, City Clerk Kelsie Sterchi, City Treasurer Jane Guinn, City Attorney Bart Zuber, and City Engineer Mike Bridges.
AGENDA #4 “PRESENTATION OF CONSENT AGENDA”
4-A “Approve Minutes of Council Meeting on February 10, 2020”
4-B “Approve and Authorize Payment of Accounts Payable February 25, 2020” Pooled Cash $88,022.45, Manual Pooled Cash $6,548.70, Utility Refunds $1,566.49, MFT $3,351.26, Tourism $669.10
4-C “Appointment: Leon Stallard to the Fire Pension Board”
AGENDA #5 “REMOVAL OF ITEMS FROM CONSENT AGENDA” No items were requested for removal from the consent agenda.
AGENDA #6 “CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT AGENDA” Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve the items on the consent agenda, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.
AGENDA #7 “CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA” No consideration was necessary since no items were removed from the consent agenda.
AGENDA #8 “PRESENTATION OF ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, ETC.”
8-A “Ordinance: Amend Title 13 (Public Services) of the City of Olney Municipal Code”
The Council was provided with a proposed ordinance that would amend Title 13 (Public Services) of the City of Olney Municipal Code. The proposed ordinance was created as a result of the Council’s recent decision to no longer hold landlords responsible for tenants’ unpaid utility bills.
Mr. Zuber explained that he had done some research as to how the City’s current ordinance compared to what was allowed by State law. The State law dictated that any charges were already liens when they become delinquent, but left it up to the municipality to determine what would define delinquent. The City of Olney defined that a charge would become delinquent if not paid 60 days after being billed.
Mr. Zuber made proposed changes that would allow both water and sewer delinquencies to have permissive options to lien for unpaid charges. Both portions of the Code now stated that the City Clerk “may” file a lien. This provision would still allow for the City to file a lien for unpaid charges against owner-occupied residences, but would now give an option to reflect the Council’s wishes to not file a lien on properties rented out by landlords.
Mr. Zuber also clarified language that the City would have the option to sue a tenant or homeowner (not landlord) for unpaid charges. He noted that the City would not, however, be able to sue such party, receive a judgement, and then also place a lien.
Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve Ordinance 2020-05, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.
8-B “Discussion/Possible Action: Summer Recreation Fees” The Council was provided with a sheet of summer recreation fees from area communities compared to Olney’s current rates.
Mr. Barker reminded the Council that this discussion was continuing from the February 10, 2020, meeting. Summer recreation fees were being assessed for any additional increases due to new minimum wage laws. The rates for other communities were for the 2019 season. Mrs. Sterchi added that due to the new minimum wage laws, other area rates were likely to increase, but nothing had changed quite yet.
Councilwoman Fehrenbacher wondered how much of an increase would be needed to cover the additional wage costs. Mrs. Guinn and Mayor Lambird expected that an increase of $1.00 may be sufficient. Mrs. Guinn then pointed out that excluding capital related to the pool, this year’s budget was expected to come in about $10,000.00 favorable. The 2020/2021 budget projections were looking to come in about ($10,000.00) unfavorable.
Mayor Lambird was quite surprised that non-capital costs related to the pool would be coming in $10,000.00 favorable for this year. He was worried that if pool fees raised too much, then fewer people would attend. He felt that perhaps rates should stay the same for the 2020 season, and then could be re-evaluated for the 2021 season. Councilman Eyer agreed.
Councilwoman Henton cautioned that there were still several capital expenses related to the pool that should be considered. Mayor Lambird agreed, but was still concerned with raising summer recreation fees too much. Councilwoman Henton understood, and did not want Olney’s prices to be out of line with other communities. Even so, Councilwoman Fehrenbacher felt that it was likely that the other communities would be addressing their fee structures to make up the difference that the minimum wage increases would create.
From the audience, Dr. David Eckiss expressed his confusion on expenses related to the operation of the pool in projected loss to actual gain, and the increases of minimum wage.
Mayor Lambird and Mrs. Guinn explained how they figured the projections, but did note that they were simply assumptions. Calculating to the dime was a bit difficult as all recreation income and expense was in the same category of the budget.
Referencing the spreadsheet, Councilman Eyer pointed out that Olney’s child and senior price for pool entry was at the height of others’ rates, and Olney’s adult admission was lower that two others, but on par or higher than three others. While he felt that the community would likely understand the need to raise rates due to minimum wage, he did not see how raising rates over $0.50 would be feasible without losing customers.
Councilwoman Fehrenbacher requested that the City keep an eye on the other communities’ actions over the next few weeks to see if there were any changes made to their rates. The Council would discuss summer recreation rates again in the future.
From the audience, Courtney Hunt asked if any other big pool projects were expected for this budget year. Mrs. Guinn replied there were not. Councilwoman Henton clarified that water heaters, shades, and pump replacements had all been planned for the current fiscal year.
8-C “Ordinance: Amend Chapter 2.60 (Drug-Free Workplace Policy) & Chapter 2.68 (Employee Drug Testing) of the City of Olney Municipal Code” The Council was provided with a proposed ordinance that would amend Chapter 2.60 (Drug-Free Workplace Policy) & Chapter 2.68 (Employee Drug Testing) of the City of Olney Municipal Code.
As a result of the enactment of Public Act 101-0027, which created the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (CRTA) legalizing adult-use cannabis and amended the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act (RPWA), Mr. Barker explained that it was necessary for the City to amend the Drug- Free Workplace Policy and Employee Drug Testing Policy. Human Resources Director Cindy Harlan, Mr. Zuber, and labor attorney John Kuenstler had all reviewed the policy and believed it was in order.
Councilwoman Henton moved to approve Ordinance 2020-06, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.
8-D “Ordinance: Adopt a Revised Drug & Alcohol Abuse Policy for Drivers Who Hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)” The Council was provided with a proposed ordinance that would adopt a revised Drug & Alcohol Abuse Policy for drivers who hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
Mr. Barker told the Council that the Mid-West Truckers Association Inc., was the company that administered the drug and alcohol testing program for City employees with a CDL. The Association had provided a revised Drug & Alcohol Policy for the City to review and adopt. The revisions would be necessary as a result of the CRTA and RPWA.
Councilwoman Henton moved to approve 2020-07, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.
AGENDA #9 “REPORTS FROM ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS”
9-A “Status Report-City Manager” Mr. Barker had nothing to add.
9-B “RCDC Report” Mr. Yockey reported that clearing work was coming along nicely at the Love’s truck stop location. Work was also continuing on a TIF application that would soon come to the Council. Additionally, the RCDC website had been re-worked, and he encouraged the Council to take a look.
9-C “Chamber of Commerce Report” Councilwoman Fehrenbacher reminded the Council that the Ladies Night Out event would take place on March 19, 2020, and the event had sold out. The Chamber’s Annual Meeting/Luncheon would be taking place on April 21, 2020, with Mayor Lambird and City Clerk Sterchi as speakers. Lastly, the Walldogs Fundraising Art Auction tickets were now on sale and available at City Hall, the Chamber Office, and local banks. The auction would take place at the VFW on June 20, 2020, at 7:30 p.m.
9-D “Parks & Recreation Board Report” Courtney Hunt, Chair of the Parks & Recreation Board, was present to give the report. Mrs. Hunt told the Council that the Board would be dividing up to do a clean up of all parks. The Board was interested in updating its 2015 Comprehensive Plan. During the park clean up days, Board members would note what projects had been completed, and what might need an update. The Board would discuss their findings at a future meeting in order to update the Comprehensive Plan as a whole.
9-E “Tourism Board Report” Councilwoman Henton had nothing to report.
AGENDA #10 “PUBLIC COMMENTS/PRESENTATIONS” No one from the public wished to speak.
AGENDA #11 “CLOSED SESSION: SALE OR LEASE PRICE OF REAL PROPERTY; ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY; APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, COMPENSATION, AND PERFORMANCE OF SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES” No closed session was needed.
AGENDA #12 “RECONVENE OPEN SESSION” No closed session was necessary, so this item was not needed.
AGENDA #13 “ADJOURN” With no further business to discuss, Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilwoman Henton. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.
The meeting adjourned at 7:19 p.m.
https://www.ci.olney.il.us/cc%20Feb%2024%202020.pdf
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