East Central Reporter

City of Olney City Council met June 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

AGENDA #1 “CALL TO ORDER” The meeting of the Olney City Council was called to order at 6:00 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. Jason Burkhartt led the group in prayer.

AGENDA #3 “ROLL CALL” The following Council members were present: Mark Lambird, Morgan Fehrenbacher, John McLaughlin, Belinda Henton, and Greg Eyer. Also present were City Manager Allen Barker, City Engineer Mike Bridges, City Attorney Bart Zuber, and Deputy City Clerk Lori Zimmerle.

AGENDA #4 “PRESENTATION OF CONSENT AGENDA”

4-A “Approve Minutes of the Council Meeting on May 23, 2022”

4-B “Approve and Authorize Payment of Accounts Payable June 14, 2022” Pooled Cash $191,598.50, Manual Pooled Cash $368,881.4, Petty Cash $241.05, Foreign Fire $169.87, MFT $267,413.18, IMRF $25,713.14, Tourism $2,500.00

4-C “Raffle License: Petroleum Club of Olney”

4-D “Raffle License: Rolling Thunder IL 3”

4-E “Approval: Payment Request for the Cherry/Morgan Street Resurfacing Project” 

4-F “Approval: Payment Request for the City Park Restroom Facility Project” 

4-G “Raffle License: American Legion Post 30”

AGENDA #5 “REMOVAL OF ITEMS FROM CONSENT AGENDA” No items were requested for removal from the consent agenda.

AGENDA #6 “CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT AGENDA” Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve the items on the consent agenda, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

AGENDA #7 “CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA” No items were requested for removal from the consent agenda.

AGENDA #8 “PRESENTATION OF ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, ETC.” 

8-A “Request: Sponsorship of Miss Richland County Fair Queen Pageant Program Booklets” The Council was provided with a request letter from the Richland County Fair Queen Pageant Committee for $250.00. No representative from the Committee was present.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher asked if the City had made such a sponsorship in the past. It was determined that the City had never made this sponsorship before.

Councilman Eyer moved to approve donating $250.00 to the Richland County Fair Queen Pageant for program booklets, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

8-B “Request: Closure of Main Street, From Fair Street to Walnut Street, on July 16, 2022, From 1:00 P.M. Until 10:00 P.M. for the 1st Annual American Legion Cruise-In” The Council was provided with a copy of a Special Event Application for the 1st Annual American Legion Cruise-In. Since part of the request included closure of a portion of Main Street, the City Manager preferred that the Council approve or deny that street closure. Dawn Hemrich was present to speak on the request.

Mrs. Hemrich explained the event that will be held on July 16, 2022. The Legion was requesting closure of Main Street, from N. Walnut Street to N. Fair Street from 1:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve the closure, seconded by Councilwoman Henton. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

8-C “Request: Class S Liquor License for The Fireside at the Day of Hope Event on October 22, 2022” The Council was provided with a Class S Liquor License Application for The Fireside to serve alcohol at the Day of Hope event on October 22, 2022. Tosha Hancock was present to speak on the request.

Mrs. Hancock explained the event that would be held at the Olney City Park and would include a dinner, entertainment and separate children’s activities.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve a Class S liquor license for The Fireside at the Day of Hope event on October 22, 2022, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

8-D “Request: Class S Liquor License for The Fireside for Five Events at the Richland County Fair” The Council was provided with a Class S Liquor License Application for The Fireside to serve alcohol at given events during the Richland County Fair on July 22, 26, 27, 29, and 30, 2022.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve a Class S liquor license for The Fireside for five events at the Richland County Fair for 2022, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

8-E “Discussion/Possible Resolution: Authorize Extension of a Letter of Intent for a Real Estate Agreement Between the City of Olney & Organica Grow, Ltd.” RCDC Executive Director Lauren McClain and Ami Smithenry were present to speak on this topic.

Mrs. McClain handed out a letter that explained how the State of Illinois currently had a freeze on the application process and it was unknown when the freeze would be lifted.

Organica was requesting a one-year extension on the original Letter of Intent. Organica would have an advantage on receipt of points if they already had dedicated land for the project.

Councilwoman Henton moved to approve a one-year extension of a Letter of Intent with Organica Grow, LLC., seconded by Mayor Lambird. Councilwomen Fehrenbacher, Henton, Councilman McLaughlin and Mayor Lambird voted yes. Councilman Eyer voted no. The motion carried. Resolution 2022-R-52 would be created.

8-F “Resolution: Accept Quote for a Backhoe for the Street Department & Waive Formal Bidding Procedures” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would accept a quote for a backhoe for the Street Department and waive formal bidding procedures. The Council was also provided with three backhoe quotes. Tyler Kocher, Street Supervisor was in attendance to answer any questions.

Mr. Barker told the Council that a backhoe purchase had been budgeted for the current fiscal year. Three quotes had been received. John Deere, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois bid $114,843.96. Diamond Equipment, Inc., of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, bid $118,852.11. Fabick CAT, of Fenton, Missouri, bid $128,445.86. The pricing included trade in of the current backhoe.

Councilwoman Henton moved to approve 2022-R-53, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

AGENDA #9 “REPORTS FROM ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS” 

9-A “Status Report-City Manager” The Council was provided with a Status Report from the City Manager. Mr. Barker reviewed the status of some of the listed projects.

Councilman McLaughlin questioned the long time frame of the projects as it seemed that they were still in the beginning stages. Mr. Barker explained that grants and State approvals needed to be completed before work could start. That stage would be slower due to engineering estimates and the scope of the work cannot be provided until funds were secured.

Mr. Barker then told the Council that the City had been setting aside funds and seeking grants for a sanitary sewer project and the repaving of Main Street. Councilman McLaughlin questioned where the money would come from for the projects and their time frame. Councilman Eyer also questioned this as any additional funding may have payback dates.

Mr. Barker explained that the City would be apply to apply for more grants once expanding into additional phases of a project. Some of these large projects could be in a three year time frame before a project could get started. Additionally, the forthcoming Business District could help with some costs. Until then, preliminary work could take place until grants and State contracts were completed.

9-B “RCDC Report” Mrs. McClain said that a new apartment complex in Newton had opened and recommended that the Council visit the location.

9-B “Chamber of Commerce Report” Councilwoman Fehrenbacher said there would be a Business After Hours event at the Elks on June 14th, and the Annual Golf Outing would be held on July 29th.

9-D “Parks & Recreation Board Report” There was no report.

9-E “Tourism Board Report” Councilwoman Henton commended the ILLINOISouth Tourism Bureau and City Clerk Kelsie Sterchi for the Olney Walldogs Walking Tour Pamphlet that was made. It turned out very nicely and was being distributed at various places.

AGENDA #10 “PUBLIC COMMENTS/PRESENTATIONS” Heather Yonaka came before the Council again to seek an amendment to the noise ordinance. She felt that the City ordinance was out of date. As this had been discussed before, she was wanting to know when there would be a decision.

City Attorney Bart Zuber clarified that he did not make a recommendation on the decibels. Mrs. Yonaka stated the standard for hearing damage was 85 decibels. She asked the Council to seek the City Attorney’s advice on wording to make the ordinance objective rather than subjective.

Councilman McLaughlin asked for examples of what would make noise at 85 decibels and if there should be exemptions for recreational use. It was stated that a chain saw would be at that level.

Councilwoman Henton said that there should not be exceptions and that those noises should also be considered. Councilman Eyer stated that there were special events approved that might need to be exempt. Councilwoman Henton disagreed because the noise would still be over the proposed 85-decible limit. The Police Department would also need a decibel device to determine if noise was over the limit.

Mrs. Yonaka wanted this topic on the next agenda for further discussion. Mayor Lambird asked if any Council members wanted to have this topic on the next agenda. Councilman Eyer stated that he would like to have the topic placed on the next agenda.

AGENDA #11 “CLOSED SESSION: SALE OR LEASE PRICE OF REAL PROPERTY; ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY; APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, COMPENSATION, AND PERFORMANCE OF SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES; AND LITIGATION MATTERS” Councilwoman Henton moved to adjourn to closed session to discuss the sale or lease price of real property; acquisition of real property; appointment, employment, compensation, and performance of specific employees; and litigation matters, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

The meeting adjourned to closed session at 6:37 p.m.

AGENDA #12 “RECONVENE OPEN SESSION” Councilwoman Henton moved to enter back into open session, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received. Open session resumed at 6:48 p.m.

Mayor Lambird requested a Special City Council meeting for some time in July in order to discuss the Business District and project planning. The meeting was set for Monday, July 18, 2022, at 4 p.m.

12-A “Ordinance: Establish the Hourly Rate of the Junior Accountant in the City Treasurer’s Office” No action was taken on this item.

AGENDA #13 “ADJOURN” With no further business to discuss, Councilman McLaughlin moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

The meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m.

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