City of Tuscola City Council met June 8.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
The regular meeting of the City Council was called to order with Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Truitt, Waldrop, and Mayor Kleiss in attendance. The virtual attendees included media, Foreman Cruz.an, and one or two citizens. Mayor Kleiss led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Comment
Administrator Hoel read an email submitted by Margie Carter. Ms Carter thanked council for tabling the earlier pool conversation and encouraged the city to again consider opening the pool once the state reaches stage IV. Carter then added suggestions for opening, hiring guards, pool passes, and limiting attendance.
Consent Agenda
Mayor Kleiss went over the items on the consent agenda for June 8, 2020:
1. The minutes of the May 26, 2020 virtual meeting
2. Payment of bills totaling $147,321.35
Day moved to approve the items on the consent agenda. Morris seconded. VOTE YEA*Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Truitt, Waldrop. Day moved to approve the consent agenda for June 8, 2020. Rund seconded. VOTE YEA* Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Truitt, Waldrop.
Mayor
Mayor Kleiss thanked the city staff and crews for their work helping get tables and tents up for local restaurants so they could re-open with outside seating. Kleiss added there have been many positive comments about this.
City Clerk·- No Report
City Treasurer
Treasurer Long reported Eddie Boutilier and Red Barn Veterinary Services are delinquent on their Tl F loans.
City Attorney - Nothing
City Administrator
Administrator Hoel announced that in anticipation of stage IV, the city staff will begin accepting bookings for the Community Building and Senior Center. Bookings will be accepted as long as the requestors are adhering to the Re-open Illinois guidelines. After a question from Truitt about individuals meeting in these locations for board games, etc., Hoel stated we could discuss this later. For now the building usage will be limited to events with a responsible lease holder.
Resolutions
Administrator Hoel stated there has been only one Executive Session in the past six months. The minutes from that meeting are not sensitive and can be released. Waldrop moved to approve 2020--R-2, a resolution concerning the review and release of Executive Session minutes and the destruction of Executive Session audio recordings. Truitt seconded. VOTE YEA* Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Truitt, Waldrop.
Contracts and Agreements
• Mayor Kleiss opened discussion on the professional services agreement with Donohue & Association for a water audit. Administrator Hoel reported we have been looking into water loss issues for the past two years. Since February of this year, the situation has gotten much worse with the last two months showing a 35% water loss. Hoel went on to explain there can be many reasons for this. It could be an accounting error or software error, Hoel stated, but Treasurer Long has been over this with a fine tooth comb and they do not feel this is the problem. Another possibility is water could be leaking into the ground somewhere. In order to find this, a leak detection company comes into town and listens with tools to all valves and hydrants in town. This was recently completed and no leaks were found. Hoel explained we have a complicated water system with various valves and meters and pipes. We have exhausted all the possibilities we can and are out of idea. Hoel stated Donohue and Associates will take a comprehensive look at the entire system using recommended water audit methods to see where the vulnerabilities are. Hoel went on to say this is different from leak detection; we've done this and have not found the problem. Shoemaker asked if this could be a billing error. Hoel answered we don't think so but this is one of the things the audit will show. Shoemaker asked about recent usage. Hoel answered the usage (water purchased) has gone up since February. Last month was $50,000 compared to high 30's or low 40's for a normal. Shoemaker moved to approve a Professional Services Agreement with Donohue & Associates in the amount of $12,000, for a water audit and water balance. Rund seconded. VOTE YEA* Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Truitt, Waldrop.
• Mayor Kleiss reported the sewer lift station at Syngenta has been having frequent blockages and is often shut down. Replacing one of the pumps at Syngenta with a pump similar to the one at the Ironhorse lift station is recommended. In addition, a second pump will also be added at the Ironhorse lift station. Hoey moved to approve the purchase of two lift station pumps - one each at Syngenta and Ironhorse - from Straeffer Pump & Supply, in the amount of $9,152.60. Morris seconded. Rund asked how the pumps are different. Hoel answered we are going from a normal impellor pump to a pump with an open impellor and grinder. During COVID 19 we are seeing a lot of disinfectant wipes clogging the system. A similar situation was experienced at Ironhorse a few years ago and the open impellor punip alleviated the problem, Hoel added. VOTE YEA* Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Truitt, Waldrop.
Other
1. Administrator Hoel recommends a budget study session before the next council meeting to discuss and approve the bare bones budget the staff has put together. The economic news is not good and likely will not improve anytime soon. Hoel and Treasurer Long are available to answer questions before the budget session/council meeting. Appropriations are still required by the end of July.
2. Mayor Kleiss reported our new municipal aggregation rate for electricity will drop to.0435 (from.05406) with the December 2020 meter read date and will be in effect for 18 months. Homeowners will receive information from the supplier about opting out of this program if they do not wish to take part.
3. Attorney Bequette informed council he is comfortable with the actions the Mayor, staff and council have taken during the COVID 19 pandemic. Bequette does recommend ratifying these acts in the event someone would come back with a challenge. Truitt moved to ratify and reaffirm the prior acts of the Mayor and City Council during the COVID 19 pandemic crisis and period of electronic meetings from March 16, 2020, up to and including June 8, 2020. Shoemaker seconded. VOTE YEA* Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Truitt, Waldrop.
4. Mayor Kleiss opened discussion on the pool by asking if anyone had changed their minds since last meeting. Kleiss appreciated Ms Carter's concerns but stated the pool is not a money maker for us at all; it is more of a service. Hoel stated the pool lost $22,000 last year. When you consider the money loss and the economic picture, Kleiss is not sure opening the pool would be a good idea. Shoemaker thinks what we did for the small businesses was a great thing. He would like to be able to do something for our kids. Shoemaker suggests incentivizing families to buy passes or perhaps do something like a splash pad or sprinklers for kids. Day wonders if the money we are saving by not holding Sparks in the Park could be used to help with pool opening expenses. Hoel stated he and Treasurer Long project a loss of $45 - $50,000 for this year if we try to open the pool. In addition to the monetary issues, there are also staffing issues, social distancing, sanitizing, and money handling issues to resolve. The 50 person maximum could also be hard to manage. Shoemaker understands we do not want to lose more money but we need some ideas for something we can do for the kids. Council discussed the library movie nights, the possibility of a splash pad or some other water related activity, and weeklong virtual 4111 of July events as possibilities.
The motion to adjourn was made by Truitt and seconded by Hoey. VOTE YEA* Day, Hoey, Morris Rund, Shoemaker, Slaughter, Truitt, Waldrop.
https://tuscola.org/file/819/minutes-6-8-20.pdf
Alerts Sign-up