City of Neoga City Council met April 24.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Hartke. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Those present were Commissioners Schabbing, Hakman, Edwards, Helm, and Mayor Hartke. Others present were City Clerk Brenda Evans, Police Chief Andy Schabbing, Public Works Supervisor Shawn Durbin, Engineer Lee Beckman, Building Inspector Jeff Morrison, and Neoga News Editor Billie Chambers. Others present were Shari Morrison, Wes Chambers, Debbie Thomas, Paula Rupel, Katie Lindley, Patsy Ehrhart, and Katie Hakman.
MINUTES
After reviewing the regular session minutes from April 10, 2023, Commissioner Edwards made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Helm. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Helm, Schabbing, Hakman, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 5-0.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS, MAYOR HARTKE
CLEANING BIDS
Commissioner Hakman opened the only cleaning bid, which was from Shari Morrison. The bid was $975 per month to clean the Municipal building, Community Center and the annex building. Commissioner Edwards made a motion to accept the bid at $975 per month. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Helm. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Helm, Schabbing, Hakman, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 5-0.
ORDINANCE #1054-04-2023 An Ordinance Authorizing Execution of Lease Agreement (Neoga Bucks)
After reviewing the proposed ordinance, Commissioner Edwards made a motion to approve the ordinance as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hakman. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Helm, Schabbing, Hakman, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 5-0.
ORDINANCE #1055-04-2023 An Appointment Ordinance for the City of Neoga, Illinois
After reviewing the proposed ordinance, Commissioner Edwards made a motion to approve the ordinance as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Schabbing. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Helm, Schabbing, Hakman, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 5-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jeff Morrison said that he moved to town to get away from farm animals, including chickens and hens. Not only will they cluck, but the smell is intrusive. Although some people will take good care of the hens, others will not, and someone will have to police that too.
Debbie Thomas told the Council that she did not want hens/chickens in her neighborhood either.
Paula Rupel said that she is concerned about the property values going down if chickens/ hens are allowed in the corporate limits. Rupel said she appreciated the council taking time to hear her concerns.
Katie Lindley said that she has lived next to a bird farm for years, and she has never had an issue with them. The area where they have birds is in a large real estate area and they work on them every day. Occasionally some would get out, but the property owners are always good at keeping the bird area well maintained. In the corporate limits, if you have a small real estate area with 6 chickens or hens, they will become a first-class mess. “Once started,” Lindley said “it will be very hard to stop it.”
Patsy Ehrhart addressed the council about the hens as well. Ehrhart said that hens/chickens are not pets. They should not be raised as pets, maybe to have eggs, but not pets. There will be concerns on how the droppings will be disposed of, and even with a nice coup they will still get out. Once they get out other animals will try to get to them. Another concern is how the city will police the complaints.
Commissioner Hakman said that he appreciated everyone who came to discuss the chickens/hen issue. Hakman said that he has spoken with multiple families, and they have either left Neoga or would like to move because they can’t have chickens or hens. Hakman said that he feels the younger adults are leaving Neoga because they would like to teach their children a self-sustained lifestyle by raising animals, gardening, and being in 4H. According to Hakman there are 4 or 5 families that would like to move to Neoga, but they won’t, due to the city ordinances.
Jeff Morrison said that the ordinance doesn’t address this issue: if the coup is empty for 6 months, what happens to the coup?
ORDINANCE #1056-04-2023 An Ordinance Amending Article 14 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Neoga, Illinois
Commissioner Hakman made a motion to accept the ordinance as presented. Commissioner Edwards said that he had spoken with multiple people about the ordinance, and at this time he would not vote for the ordinance. Commissioner Schabbing said that she is not in favor of the ordinance either. Commissioner Helm said that he spoke with numerous residents as well, and most of those people do not want chickens/hens in Neoga. Mayor Hartke asked for a second on the motion. After no one seconded the motion, the motion died, and the ordinance did not pass.
ADVISORY REPORT FROM BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AND PLANNING
The Council received an advisory report from the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning regarding Wind Energy Conversion Systems. After reading the report, Mayor Hartke asked if anyone had any questions. With no questions asked, Commissioner Edwards made a motion to accept the report as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Helm. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Helm, Schabbing, Hakman, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried 5-0. Mayor Hartke ordered the report to be filed.
ORDINANE #1057-04-2023 An Ordinance Amending Appendix B of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Neoga.
Debbie Thomas spoke with the Council about the ordinance and her concerns regarding wind farms. Thomas told the Council that she has some of the same concerns as she has with solar farms, and she would not want them within the extra-territorial area. Paula Rupel addressed the Council regarding the wind farms and what it will do to the property values in our community, andour health. Rupel said that she feels the wind farms need to be further away from the city. After a brief discussion, Commissioner Schabbing made a motion to accept the ordinance as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Helm. Ayes, Commissioner Schabbing, Hakman, Edwards, Helm, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 5-0.
ADVISORY REPORT FROM BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AND PLANNING
The Council received an advisory report from the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning regarding C1, C2, and Industrial for rail spurs. After reading the report, Mayor Hartke asked if anyone had any questions. With no questions asked, Commissioner Helm made a motion to accept the report as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Schabbing. Ayes, Commissioner Helm, Schabbing, Hakman, Edwards, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried 5-0. Mayor Hartke ordered the report to be filed.
ORDINANCE 1058-04-2023 An Ordinance Amending Appendix B of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Neoga, Illinois (Conditional Uses – C-1, C-2, and I)
City Clerk Evans explained that the current zoning does not allow for a rail spur in Commercial 1, Commercial 2, or Industrial. Evans said that the city owns 33 acres of farm ground by the interstate, and if someone needed to have a rail spur our ordinance would not allow for it. After no questions were asked, Commissioner Helm made a motion to accept the ordinance as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Schabbing. Ayes, Commissioner Helm, Schabbing, Hakman, Edwards, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 5-0.
FINANCE, COMMISSIONER SCHABBING
MONTHLY BILLS
After reviewing the bill list, Commissioner Edwards made a motion to pay the monthly bills as presented in the amount of $82,460.16. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Schabbing. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Helm, Schabbing, Hakman, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 5-0.
ORDINANCE #1058-04-2023 An Ordinance Setting Forth an Amended Budget of Estimated Receipts and Disbursements and Making Appropriations for City Purposes of the City of Neoga, Cumberland County, Illinois, for the Fiscal Year 2023 Commencing on May 1, 2022, and Ending on April 30, 2023
After reviewing the ordinance, Commissioner Schabbing made a motion to accept the ordinance as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Edwards. Ayes, Commissioner Schabbing, Hakman, Edwards, Helm, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 5-0.
PUBLIC PROPERTY, COMMISSIONER HAKMAN
UPDATE ON PROJECTS
Engineer Beckman updated the Council on the following projects:
Sewer Project – the original project only completed improvements on the treatment portion of the sewer plant. No work was done on storm water flows. With that being said, the overflow clarifier force main needs to have some larger lines to bring the water into the plant. They are working on the paperwork to replace the line.
CDAP Water Grant – the updated construction estimates with projected material price increases, and project estimate including engineering and administration costs total $1,015,000. The City is applying for an IEPA Public Water Supply Loan which offers some principal forgiveness ($140,107) to cover the cost of the leverage. He handed out a sheet detailing the loan amount and amount of potential loan forgiveness.
ITEP - The engineering agreement is approved and back from IDOT. Engineering is progressing on the project and will move forward in 30-60 days.
3 METER AND CAP MAIN – This is complete except for concrete, and he will follow up with the concrete.
RESOLUTION #04-04-2023 MAINTENANCE UNDER THE ILLINOIS HIGHWAY CODE
After reviewing the resolution, Commissioner Hakman made a motion to accept the resolution as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Helm. Ayes, Commissioner Hakman, Edwards, Helm, Schabbing, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 5-0.
PAY REQUEST #28612 FOR ITEP
After reviewing invoice #28612 from Milano & Grunloh, Commissioner Hakman made a motion to pay the invoice in the amount of $7,763.53. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Edwards. Ayes, Commissioner Hakman, Edwards, Helm, Schabbing, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 5-0.
STREETS AND ALLEYS, COMMISSIONER EDWARDS
2023 MFT
No report was given.
HEALTH AND SAFETY, COMMISSIONER HELM
Commissioner Helm informed the Council that the wooden bridge at Jennings Park will be replaced this summer. According to Helm, it is still secure but will be rebuilt. Mayor Hartke said that he should have the bridge blocked off so no one can walk across it.
PRESENTATIONS
City Clerk Evans presented Mayor Hartke and Commissioner Hakman certificates of appreciation for their years of service to the Neoga community.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Edwards made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:59 p.m. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hakman. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Helm, Schabbing, Hakman, and Mayor Hartke. Nays, none. Motion carried. 5-0.
https://neoga.org/sites/default/files/meetingminutes/April%2024.2023.pdf
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