East Central Reporter

City of Olney City Council met June 26.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

AGENDA #1 “CALL TO ORDER” The special meeting of the Olney City Council was called to order at 10:00 a.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 attendees joined in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Mayor Lambird 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 “PUBLIC HEARING: REBUILD ILLINOIS PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROJECT FOR RELINING OF SANITARY SEWER LINES” Heather Neuman from the Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission was present to conduct the public hearing and help answer any questions.

Ms. Neuman noted that the State’s federal Rebuild Illinois Public Infrastructure allocation for 2020 was tentatively $25,000,000.00. The different program components and the total funding levels for each were: $50,000,000.00 for Public Infrastructure, $16,500,000.00 for Regional Economic Development, and $13,000,000.00 for Shovel Ready Sites to address required State planning activities.

The intent of the Rebuild Illinois Program was to benefit low and moderate income persons, aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight, or meet other community development needs that posed a serious and immediate threat to the health and welfare of the community.

The City of Olney wished to submit to the Rebuild Illinois Program a project that would involve relining approximately 30,000 square feet of sanitary sewer lines. The total amount of funds requested for the project would be $2,432,320.00. The City of Olney also proposed to expend $40,000.00 in non-Rebuild Illinois funds on the project. The non-Rebuild Illinois funds would be derived from the City’s General Fund.

Ms. Neuman then asked if the City had any other community development and housing needs within the City of Olney and the surrounding area. Mr. Barker replied that such needs for the City of Olney would include housing rehabilitation, water line replacement, and sanitary sewer upgrades.

Mayor Lambird asked how much the 30,000 square feet of sanitary sewer compared to the total square footage of the City’s sanitary sewers. Mr. Bridges was unsure, but felt that 30,000 square feet could translate to about 10% to 20% of all sewer lines.

Mayor Lambird asked if any of the relining would include laterals. Mr. Bridges replied that some sewer laterals would be sealed off.

Mayor Lambird asked if anyone from the public had questions or comments about the Rebuild Illinois Public Infrastructure Grant Project to be submitted by the City of Olney for the relining of sanitary sewer lines. No one from the public wished to speak. The public hearing was closed.

AGENDA #5 “PUBLIC HEARING: REBUILD ILLINOIS PUBLIC INFRASTRUTURE GRANT PROJECT FOR REPLACEMENT OF EXISTING BRICK STORM SEWER ALONG MAIN STREET AND WALNUT STREET” Ms. Neuman then explained that the City of Olney wished to submit to the Rebuild Illinois Program a project that would involve the replacement of existing brick storm sewer along Main and Walnut Streets. The total amount of funds requested for the project would be $3,430,000.00. The City of Olney also proposed to expend $40,000.00 in non-Rebuild Illinois funds on the project. The non-Rebuild Illinois funds would be derived from the City’s General Fund.

Mayor Lambird asked if anyone from the public had questions or comments about the Rebuild Illinois Public Infrastructure Grant Project to be submitted by the City of Olney for the replacement of existing brick storm sewer along Main and Walnut Streets. No one from the public wished to speak. The public hearing was closed.

Copies of the application packages, including all resolutions and authorizations, would be maintained on file at the Olney City Hall for public inspection. Records of all Rebuild Illinois Public Infrastructure Grants awarded to Olney would be available for public inspection at the office of the Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission.

AGENDA #6 “PRESENTATION OF ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, ETC.”

6-A “Resolution: Committing Local Funds to Sanitary Sewer Relining Project for Rebuild Illinois Public Infrastructure Grant Application” The proposed resolution would commit funds from the General Fund in the amount of $40,000.00 towards the Rebuild Illinois Public Infrastructure Grant for the Sanitary Sewer Relining Project.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve 2020-R-45, seconded by Councilwoman Henton. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

6-B “Resolution: Committing Local Funds to Main Street Storm Sewer Replacement Project for Rebuild Illinois Public Infrastructure Grant Application” The proposed resolution would commit funds from the General Fund in the amount of $40,000.00 towards the Rebuild Illinois Public Infrastructure Grant for the Main Street Storm Sewer Replacement Project.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve 2020-R-46, seconded by Councilwoman Henton. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

6-C “Discussion/Possible Action: Termination of Whittle Avenue Closure from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays” For Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois Plan, the City Council had authorized the closure of Whittle Avenue from 6:00 p.m. until 12:00 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until further notice. Now that Illinois had moved into Phase 4, the Council wished to discuss possible termination of the allowance now that patrons could go inside of restaurants and bars.

The Council agreed that the temporary closure of Whittle Avenue no longer seemed necessary.

Councilwoman Henton moved to terminate the Whittle Avenue closure from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, effective immediately, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher asked if the bars would be notified and if the barricades would be picked up by the Street Department. Mayor Lambird confirmed.

Mayor Lambird then pointed out that consumption on City sidewalks, outside of bars, was still allowed. Mr. Zuber confirmed, but noted that the City could still restrict consumption on City sidewalks outside of bars. The State of Illinois only allowed consumption on sidewalks if the municipality did.

Ophelia’s Cup had also been permitted to use the City sidewalks to serve food and non- alcoholic beverages. Mrs. Sterchi asked if Ophelia’s Cup would still be allowed to serve outdoors. Mr. Zuber indicated that would still be allowable. The consumption of alcohol on City sidewalks strictly coincided with the Whittle Avenue closure.

Mayor Lambird asked if Police Chief Paddock understood that the termination of the Whittle Avenue closure would also terminate the ability to consume alcohol on sidewalks. Chief Paddock replied that he understood.

AGENDA #7 “ADJOURN” Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

The meeting adjourned at 10:14 a.m.

https://www.ci.olney.il.us/sp%20cc%20june%2026%202020.pdf