City of Flora City Council met Feb. 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/Economic Development Director Mike Stanford, Chief of Police Guye Durre, City Clerk Becky Burgess, City Treasurer Abbie Orel and Building and Zoning Official Chad Bayles. Superintendent of Public Services Toby Rinehart was absent. Two media representatives were also in attendance.
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 FEBRUARY 21, 2023 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:
APPROVE PUBLIC HEARING MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 6, 2023
APPROVE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 6, 2023
ACCEPT POLICE DEPARTMENT ACTIVITY REPORT FOR JANUARY 2023
ACCEPT BUILDING AND ZONING REPORT FOR JANUARY 2023
APPROVE SCHEDULE OF BILLS FOR PERIOD ENDING FEBRUARY 16, 2023
APPROVE TREASURER'S REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 2022
APPROVE TREASURER'S REPORT FOR DECEMBER 2022
APPROVE TREASURER'S REPORT FOR JANUARY 2023
APPROVE CITY WIDE RUMMAGE SALES FOR MAY 12 & 13, 2023
APPROVE CITY'S SPRING CLEAN-UP THE WEEK OF MAY 15, 2023
APPROVE CHUCKIN' ACES DISC GOLF CLUB TO USE CHARLEY BROWN PARK ON MAY 6, 2023 (FLORA ROTARY CLUB - ANNUAL OPEN DISC GOLF TOURNAMENT)
A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR FINAL ABATEMENT ON SERIES 2014A BONDS (ORDINANCE NO. 14-2614)
A RESOLUTION ABATING TAXES ON SERIES 2012 BONDS (ORDINANCE NO. 12-2536)
A RESOLUTION ABATING TAXES ON SERIES 2015A BONDS (ORDINANCE NO. 15-2672)
A RESOLUTION ABATING TAXES ON SERIES 2017 BONDS (ORDINANCE NO. 17-2942)
A RESOLUTION ABATING TAXES ON SERIES 2020 BONDS (ORDINANCE NO. 20-3102)
City Administrator/Economic Development Director Mike Stanford gave a brief update on the Bonds listed under the Consent Agenda before it was approved.
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
Mayor Rick Slaughter presented an appointment to the Zoning Board.
A MOTION TO APPOINT KASSI MICHELS TO THE ZONING BOARD, FOR A 5-YEAR TERM TO EXPIRE FEBRUARY 20, 2028, WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WILEY; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SPICER.
Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Genthe, Wiley, Spicer, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent - None
Commissioner Phil Wiley reminded residents that City Administrator/Economic Development Director Stanford is on the local radio (WNOI) on the first and third Tuesday of each month, at approximately 8:40 a.m., to share information about the City and our community.
Commissioner Linda Spicer thanked Tyla Knapp and Becky Burgess for putting together a City newsletter.
City Administrator/Economic Development Director Mike Stanford mentioned that FEMA is hosting a Clay County Flood Map Information Open House on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 (5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.) at the Flora Fire Department. Residents were encouraged to attend and learn about the risk of flooding and how property may be impacted.
Stanford then presented three ordinances for Council consideration.
A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE NO. 23-3246, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND RATIFYING A GRANT UNDER THE FAÇADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR YONGXIN ENTERPRISE, INC. (207 W. NORTH AVENUE) WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WILEY; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GENTHE.
Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Genthe, Wiley, Spicer, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent - None
A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE NO. 23-3247, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH IPKEYS CYBER PARTNERS WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER FEHRENBACHER; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SPICER.
Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Genthe, Wiley, Spicer, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent - None
A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE NO. 23-3248, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ACCEPTING A CONVEYANCE OF REAL ESTATE (BRITT BAILEY PROPERTY BY THE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT) WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER SPICER; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WILEY.
Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Genthe, Wiley, Spicer, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent - None
Building and Zoning Official Chad Bayles sought Council approval for items regarding operations of the Flora Swimming Pool.
A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2023 FLORA POOL HOURS AND FEES, AS PRESENTED, WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WILEY; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GENTHE.
Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Genthe, Wiley, Spicer, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent - None
A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2023 POOL EMPLOYEES AND RATES OF PAY, AS PRESENTED, 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:
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)(6) The setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body.
AT APPROXIMATELY 4:42 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 4:58 p.m., Council entered back into open session.
Stanford informed Council that David Rudy, Street Department employee, turned in his resignation for retirement in April of 2023. Bid sheets were posted, backfilling the positions. It appears that in the end, the open position will be in the Waste Water Treatment Plant. Stanford sought approval to advertise for the open position once the bidding cycle is complete.
A MOTION TO APPROVE ADVERTISING FOR THE OPEN CITY POSITION, ONCE THE LAST BID CYCLE IS COMPLETE, WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER SPICER; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WILEY.
Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Genthe, Wiley, Spicer, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent - None
Stanford explained to Council that we are moving forward with the building of the new Waste Water Treatment Plant and the rate schedule is currently in the process of being reviewed and completed.
Stanford stated that the grant for the Parking Lot at the potential new Police Department will be going to bid soon. Stanford met with UTZ, the engineering company that prepared a site plan for overhauling the old medical clinic, and he informed Council that the cost has risen immensely. Stanford will be meeting with another Engineer this week to see what their company can offer.
Commissioner Spicer mentioned that Drew Lane Consultants are very hopeful that we will receive all of the approved grant money for the Main Street Program. It appears that what money cannot be used somewhere else could possibly be used for the Police Station. Unfortunately, the businesses cannot add additional items and are only eligible to receive money on what was originally submitted and approved.
Stanford stated that the closing on Dollar General will take place on March 20, 2023 and that we should hear about the success of the Pickleball grant on February 28, 2023.
Stanford noted that we are looking at changing our fee structure for the Enterprise Zone.
ADJOURN
At approximately 5:17 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 WILEY. COUNCIL MEMBERS CONCURRED AND MAYOR SLAUGHTER DECLARED SAID MEETING ADJOURNED.
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