City of Tuscola City Council met Nov. 14.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The regular meeting of the City Council was called to order with Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Slaughter, Waldrop, and Mayor Kleiss in attendance. Alderman Shoemaker was absent. Mayor Kleiss led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Comment - None
Consent Agenda
Mayor Kleiss went over the items on the consent agenda:
Minutes of the October 24, 2022 meeting
Payment of bills totaling $589,198.79
Permission to conduct fundraising for the Salvation Army Holiday Kettle Drive
Community Building lease request with alcohol from Angela Conner for a wedding reception November 18-20, 2022
Request from Frenchie's Mobile Boutique to set up in parking area at 101 N Main on November 24, 2022
Approval of Christmas Town parade and 5K run/walk planned for December 3, 2022
Hoey moved to approve the items on the consent agenda. Morris seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Slaughter, Waldrop. Rund moved to approve the consent agenda for November 14, 2022. Waldrop seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Slaughter, Waldrop.
Mayor Kleiss invited Paul Wisovaty to address council about the Red Kettle Holiday Drive. Wisovaty stated the Salvation Army plans to collect funds each Saturday, beginning November 19 and ending December 17. They will be stationed at Main and Sale each of these Saturday's from 8:00 am - noon. Attorney Bequette, Mayor Kleiss, several council members, and some audience members made donations to the Red Kettle before Wisovaty left the meeting.
Requested Time on the Agenda
Dave Schaab, Waste Management, addressed council about curb side trash pickup. Waste Management plans to discontinue solid waste pickup in the alleys. All services will be curbside. Schaab stated less than one third of solid waste pickup is being done from the alleys. Because of the larger collection vehicles and the lifting and dropping mechanisms, this is no longer feasible. Schaab announced customers will be notified of the change and when it will take effect and estimates this will be around the first of the New Year. Hoey asked what streets would be affected by this. Administrator Hoel stated mostly the original town. Hoey stated this will not be a popular change. Schaab agreed, adding the route supervisor will be in town the first few days of the change in case anyone wants to speak with a representative. Hoey asked if this was a request or something that will be done. Schaab answered they are asking for concurrence. The contract states only curbside pickup but somehow got changed when other waste management systems were in charge. Slaughter mentioned the curb service is quick but not that effective if something drops out. He has seen papers and broken glass on the road not picked up by the employees after the truck has gone through. Schaab ended by saying Waste Management realizes servicing Tuscola is a privilege not à right.
Mayor
Mayor Kleiss called council's attention to the Christmas Town schedule for November 30 December 4, 2022.
Kleiss congratulated the Warrior football team and the girls and boys cross country teams on great fall seasons.
City Clerk - No Report
City Treasurer
Treasurer Long introduced Kaci Magee, Larrson, Woodyard & Henson CPA's, and asked her to give a summary of the city's FY 22 audit. Magee reported this audit was a clean audit with no internal control problems. Cash is higher this year due to increase in all taxes (mostly sales). The only restricted cash at the end of the year was $250,000, in Build Illinois Funds that have not yet been spent.
City Attorney - No Report
City Administrator – No Report
Contracts and Agreements
1. Mayor Kleiss presented an agreement with Donohue & Associates for engineering services or the master meter station project. The agreement covers design, bidding, construction administration, and IEPA loan administration on the master meter station improvement project. Hoey moved to approve the Professional Services Agreement for engineering services related to the master meter station project at a fee not to exceed $96,660.00. Brace seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Slaughter, Waldrop.
2. Building Inspector Salmon explained a problem with the library roof. Salmon stated the top half of the Library roof was replaced in 2014; however, the bottom half with built in gutters, was not touched. The lower part of the roof with gutters, soffit, and fascia has rotted out and is full of holes. The old trimming around the edge is part of the problem and needs to be replaced Salmon added. Administrator Hoel added this is not a simple roof repair because of the way it was built and the intricacies of the edging. Only one contractor was willing to provide a proposal, Hoel added, and there is a possibility of hidden damages once the repairs begin. Slaughter moved to waive formal bidding on the repair/replacement of the library roof. Rund seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Slaughter, Waldrop. These repairs will likely be done in the spring. Hoey moved to approve the proposal submitted by 1-57 Roofing in the amount of $30,132.12, for repair/replacement of the library roof. Brace seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Slaughter, Waldrop.
Other
Chief Moody recommends the promotion of firefighter Brian Endres to Lieutenant. Moody stated Endres is a great firefighter and person. Morris moved to approve the promotion of firefighter Brian Endres to Lieutenant, effective December 1, 2022. Day seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Slaughter, Waldrop.
Mayor Kleiss opened the discussion on the property tax levy and how to capture the additional EAV ($16 million) that will come to the city as a result of the dissolution of two TIF districts. Kleiss stated our goal is to keep the levy at about what it was last year. In order to do this, the rate setting EAV will need to increase more than the less than 5% that we usually do. City staff has prepared some numbers for council based on different percentage increases (25% -33%) to the levy. Kleiss recommends starting at the 25% increase in the levy. The city's tax rate would be 0.82, resulting in a lower tax rate than last year due to the larger EAV. Treasurer Long added the rate setting EAV will increase 31%. If we raise the levy by 25%, some of the TIF money will go back to the residents in property tax decrease and increase the city revenues by about $137,000. Overall city expenses currently paid out of the TIF fund are $165,000-170,000. Administrator Hoel stated council will need to approve a formal estimate of the property tax levy tonight. Since it will be higher than 5%, a public hearing will be held prior to the November 28 meeting and the actual levy ordinance will be considered at the December 12 meeting. Day moved to set the property tax levy estimate at 25%. Morris seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Slaughter, Waldrop.
Mayor Kleiss wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!
The motion to adjourn was made by Slaughter and seconded by Rund. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris Rund, Slaughter, Waldrop.
https://tuscola.org/government/city-council
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