City of Flora City Council met Nov. 21.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
OPENING CEREMONIES
At 4:30 p.m., Mayor Rick Slaughter called the Regular Council Meeting of the City of Flora to order and City Clerk Becky Burgess called roll. Present were Mayor Rick Slaughter, Commissioner Mike Genthe, Commissioner Phil Wiley, Commissioner Linda Spicer and Commissioner Jim Fehrenbacher.
Others in attendance were City Attorney Bob Coble, City Administrator Mike Stanford, Chief of Police Guye Durre, City Clerk Becky Burgess, and three media representatives. City Treasurer Jeremy Henderson, Superintendent of Public Services Toby Rinehart and Building and Zoning Official Chad Bayles were absent.
Mayor Rick Slaughter led the Pledge of Allegiance and Commissioner Phil Wiley offered the Invocation.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA FOR THE NOVEMBER 21, 2022 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING FOR THE CITY OF FLORA WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER SPICER; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WILEY.
Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Genthe, Wiley, Spicer, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent - None
CONSENT AGENDA
The following items were listed under the Consent Agenda:
• ACCEPT POLICE DEPARTMENT ACTIVITY REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2022
• ACCEPT BUILDING AND ZONING REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2022
• APPROVE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 7, 2022
• APPROVE SCHEDULE OF BILLS FOR PERIOD ENDING NOVEMBER 17, 2022
• APPROVE TREASURER'S REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2022
A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER GENTHE; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FEHRENBACHER.
Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Genthe, Wiley, Spicer, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent - None
Commissioner Spicer commented on the recent Moonlight Madness activities and stated that she appreciates those who took the time to attend.
City Administrator Mike Stanford presented two items for Council consideration.
A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE NO. 22-3235, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE BID FOR THE SALE OF 203 E. SCUDAMORE STREET WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WILEY; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SPICER.
Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Genthe, Wiley, Spicer, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent - None
A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE NO. 22-3237, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN EXTENSION OF LEASE AGREEMENT WITH BM TRUCK EQUIPMENT, INC. WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WILEY; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FEHRENBACHER.
Vote: Yes Slaughter, Genthe, Wiley, Spicer, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent - None
In the absence of City Treasurer Jeremy Henderson, Stanford presented the following ordinance for Council consideration.
A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE NO. 22-3236, AN ORDINANCE FOR THE LEVY & ASSESSMENT OF TAXES FOR THE FLORA POLICE PENSION FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING MAY 1, 2023 AND ENDING APRIL 30, 2024 WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER FEHRENBACHER; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SPICER.
Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Genthe, Wiley, Spicer, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent - None
CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Slaughter requested a motion to enter into closed session pursuant to:
Page 2
5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity.
5 ILCS 120/2(c)(3) The selection of a person to fill a public office, as defined in this Act, including a vacancy in a public office, when the public body is given power to appoint under law or ordinance, or the discipline, performance or removal of the occupant of a public office, when the public body is given power to remove the occupant under law or ordinance.
AT APPROXIMATELY 4:34 P.M., COMMISSIONER WILEY MADE A MOTION TO ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SPICER.
Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Genthe, Wiley, Spicer, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent - None
OPEN SESSION
At approximately 4:51 p.m., Council entered back into open session.
A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF CITY TREASURER JEREMY HENDERSON, EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 30, 2022, WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WILEY; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GENTHE.
Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Genthe, Wiley, Spicer, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent - None
City Administrator Mike Stanford presented Council with a spreadsheet that had several options for the tax levy. Stanford recommended a 3.99% tax levy. Following several comments and questions, it was the consensus that Coble would prepare the appropriate documents to approve this at the next Council Meeting in December.
Stanford then turned discussion to non-union represented wages and distributed a proposal omitting his own name. Stanford stated that the IBEW union received a 4% raise and he was recommending the same.
Stanford was asked to exit the Chambers while his raise was being discussed.
Following a brief discussion, it was the consensus of Council to offer Mike Stanford a 4% raise as well.
Following a brief discussion, Stanford was summoned back to the Chambers. It was the consensus of council to give the non-union employees a 4% raise effective January 1, 2023. This does not include the three fire department employees nor the one ESDA employee who the City pays partial wages.
Stanford then requested that he take only a 2% increase instead of a 4% increase. Council Members were not opposed.
Mayor Slaughter stated that he would like Stanford to look into dollar amount raises in the future, instead of percentages, in order to keep the gap between employees from getting wider.
City Clerk Burgess asked about raises for the ESDA and Fire Department employees that are non-union. Stanford will reach out to Clay County to see what they are giving Steve Lewis with ESDA. Slaughter stated that he felt the Fire Department employees are compensated fairly for what they do.
A MOTION TO APPROVE NON UNION REPRESENTED PAY RAISES AS PRESENTED (2% FOR MIKE STANFORD AND 4% FOR GUYE DURRE, JEREMY RUGER, CHAD BAYLES, TOBY RINEHART, REBEKAH BURGESS, DEANNA RINEDOLLAR, KACI O'DELL, TYLA KNAPP AND CAROLYN BRASHEAR) TO BE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2023, WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WILEY; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SPICER.
Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Genthe, Wiley, Spicer, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent – None
November 21, 2022
ADJOURN
At approximately 5:11 p.m., with no further business to discuss, Mayor Slaughter requested a motion to adjourn.
COMMISSIONER SPICER MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FEHRENBACHER. COUNCIL MEMBERS CONCURRED AND MAYOR SLAUGHTER DECLARED SAID MEETING ADJOURNED.
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