East Central Reporter

City of Olney City Council met Feb. 13.

HHere are the minutes provided by the council:

AGENDA #1 “CALL TO ORDER” The February 13, 2023, 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. Gary Wachtel led the group in prayer.

AGENDA #3 “ROLL CALL” The following Council members were present: Mark Lambird, John McLaughlin, Morgan Fehrenbacher, and Greg Eyer. Attending via teleconference was Belinda Henton. Also present were City Manager Allen Barker, City Treasurer Jane Guinn, City Attorney Bart Zuber, City Engineer Mike Bridges, and City Clerk Kelsie Sterchi.

AGENDA #4 “PRESENTATION OF CONSENT AGENDA”

4-A “Approve Minutes of the Council Meetings on January 23, 2023”

4-B “Approve and Authorize Payment of Accounts Payable February 14, 2023” Pooled Cash $288,008.69, Manual Pooled Cash $202,644.35, Utility Refunds $787.07, Foreign Fire $2,044.46, Cemetery Perpetual Care $3,180.00, General Capital Improvement $114,843.96, MFT $2,842.00, IMRF $24,870.82, Tourism $1,795.41, Christmas Light Display $1,889.45, South Olney TIF District $115.50

4-C “Raffle License: Olney Central College Phi Theta Kappa”

4-D “Raffle License: Olney Memorial VFW Post #4226”

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

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 “Discussion: Amendments to the City of Olney Municipal Code to Allow for Video Gaming at Establishments with a Class B Liquor License” This item was tabled and should be discussed on February 27, 2023.

8-B “Resolution: Accept Bid for the Glenwood/Franklin Waterline Replacement Project” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would accept a bid for the Glenwood/Franklin Waterline Replacement Project. The Council was also provided with a bid tabulation.

Mr. Barker explained that on January 26, 2023, bids were opened for this project with 3 bids received. Wiggs Excavating bid $266,967.00, MB Construction bid $276,025.00, and Mideastern Plumbing, Heating, & AC bid $280,574.00. Mr. Barker recommended accepting the low bid from Wiggs Excavating.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve 2023-R-12, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

8-C “Resolution: Authorize the Execution of a Professional Service/Consultation Agreement Between the City of Olney and Charleston Engineering, Inc. for the Main Street Storm Sewer Project” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would authorize the execution of a Professional Service/Consultation Agreement with Charleston Engineering, Inc. for the Main Street Storm Sewer Project. The Council was also provided with a copy of the proposed agreement.

Mr. Barker stated that this proposed agreement was the next step for this project. As a reminder, Requests for Qualifications had been sought regarding engineering for this project, and Charleston Engineering had been the only response received.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve 2023-R-13, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

8-D “Resolution: Authorize Participation in the Sister Cities International Program with Olney, Buckinghamshire, England” Mrs. Sterchi reminded the Council that at the last Council meeting, the Council had unanimously voted to move forward in participating in the Sister Cities International Program with Olney, Buckinghamshire, England. The next step now was to have a formal resolution signed, and documentation of the signing sent to the program administrator.

Mrs. Sterchi took a photo of Mayor Lambird with the resolution.

Councilman Eyer moved to approve 2023-R-14, seconded by Councilman McLaughlin. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

8-E “Discussion/Possible Action: Authorize Solicitation of Bids for Musgrove Aquatic Center Roofing Project” Mr. Barker reminded the Council that the Recreation Department planned to budget for re-roofing of the Musgrove Aquatic Center bathhouse and pump house for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. A very small window in that fiscal year would be available to have the work completed before the pool began its seasonal activities. Because of this, Mr. Bradley was requesting the Council’s approval to begin solicitation of bids for this project.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to authorize solicitation of bids for the Musgrove Aquatic Center Roofing Project, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

8-F “Resolution: Amend the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Park Department and Code Enforcement Budgets” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would amend the fiscal year 2022-2023 Park Department and Code Enforcement budgets.

Mr. Barker explained that the proposed amendment to the Park Department’s budget would take $10,000.00 from the Perpetual Care account and put those funds into the line item for Drives & Grounds. The funds would be utilized to repair some cemetery headstones.

The amendment for Code Enforcement would transfer $36,500.00 from the General Fund’s reserves into the Demolition line item. This amendment would be for the asbestos abatement and demolition of 410 E. Main Street.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve 2023-R-15, 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” Mr. Barker reported that work continued for ongoing infrastructure projects. Some additional projects would likely take place around this time next year due to the time it would take to put together engineering and bid specifications. Mr. Barker felt that much progress was being made.

9-B “RCDC Report” Mayor Lambird said that the new RCDC Director would begin work within the next month or so.

9-C “Chamber of Commerce Report” Councilwoman Fehrenbacher said that the Chocolate Tour had taken place on February 10th, and she heard nothing but positive feedback. Additionally, Ladies Night Out tickets would be on sale as of March 16th.

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

9-E “Tourism Board Report” Councilwoman Henton stated that she had attended the Tourism Bureau’s quarterly meeting on January 24th. The meeting was also a rebranding party for the Bureau. Instead of the ILLINOISouth Tourism Bureau, the Bureau would now be called Discover Downstate Illinois.

The Bureau had yet to send update documents, but Mrs. Sterchi would forward those to the Council once they were received.

Lastly, Councilwoman Henton said that the Bureau had received impressive statistics and rewards at the recent Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism.

AGENDA #10 “PUBLIC COMMENTS/PRESENTATIONS” No one from the public wished to speak.

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

The meeting adjourned to closed session at 6:10 p.m.

AGENDA #12 “RECONVENE OPEN SESSION” Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to enter back into open session, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received. Open session resumed at 6:41 p.m.

12-A “Resolution: Authorize Execution of an Agreement Regarding Employment Benefits for Chief of Police” The Council was provided with a proposed agreement regarding employment benefits for Justin Bloomer as Chief of Police.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve 2023-R-16, including changes discussed in closed session, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received. Mrs. Sterchi would draft the resolution, and Mr. Zuber would make the two document changes.

12-B “Discussion/Possible Action: Extension of Real Estate Option on Potential Real Estate” Mr. Barker said that the City currently held a real estate option for 200 W. Elm Street, but the option was set to expire on March 1, 2023.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to continue forward with the necessary actions needed to extend the real estate option for 200 W. Elm Street by an additional year, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

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

The meeting adjourned at 6:42 p.m.

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