East Central Reporter

City of Olney City Council met Aug. 28.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

AGENDA #1 “CALL TO ORDER” 

The August 28, 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. Joel Harrison led the group in prayer.

AGENDA #3 “ROLL CALL” 

The following Council members were present: Mark Lambird, John McLaughlin, Morgan Fehrenbacher, Jack Eyer, and Julia Eichhorst. Also present were City Manager Allen Barker, City Treasurer Jane Guinn, City Engineer Mike Bridges, City Attorney Bart Zuber, and City Clerk Kelsie Sterchi.

AGENDA #4 “PUBLIC COMMENTS/PRESENTATIONS” 

No one from the public wished to speak.

AGENDA #5 “PRESENTATION OF CONSENT AGENDA”

5-A “Approve Minutes of the Council Meeting on August 14, 2023”

5-B “Approve and Authorize Payment of Accounts Payable August 29, 2023” Pooled Cash $211,806.53, Manual Pooled Cash $15,342.33, Utility Refunds $1,050.77, Electronic Citation $1,517.00, JFFildes Grant K9 Officer $35,000.00, Tourism $1,500.00

5-C “Raffle License: St. Joseph Church”

5-D “Ordinance: Authorize the Sale of Items of Personal Property Owned by the City of Olney – 1984 International Tractor from the Parks & Cemeteries Department” 2023-23

AGENDA #6 “REMOVAL OF ITEMS FROM CONSENT AGENDA” 

No items were requested for removal from the consent agenda.

AGENDA #7 “CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT AGENDA” 

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve the items on the consent agenda, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

AGENDA #8 “CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA” 

No items were requested for removal from the consent agenda.

AGENDA #9 “PRESENTATION OF ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, ETC.” 

9-A “Request: Class S Liquor License for the B.P.O.E. #926” The Council was provided with a Class S liquor license application from the B.P.O.E. #926 (Elks). If approved, the Elks would then submit applications to the Liquor Commissioner (Mayor) for specific events, and the Liquor Commissioner could then approve as many events as he deemed appropriate for the 2023/2024 license year.

Elk Louis Gassmann was present. He stated that the Elks were interested in vending alcohol at the upcoming Bluegrass Festival, and this was their first step in being able to do so.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve a Class S liquor license for the B.P.O.E. #926 for the 2023/2024 license year, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-B “Request: Permission to Use Fireworks at the RCHS Homecoming Football Game” The Council was provided with a certificate of liability insurance from RCHS and information regarding pyrotechnic licenses for Travis Wilcox. RCHS Football Coach Luke Carmody was present to speak with the Council.

Coach Carmody explained that RCHS was interested in having fireworks at the Homecoming Game coming up on October 6. Mr. Wilcox had approached the school about the use of fireworks at the game, and had indicated that he had funds raised to accomplish this. Because the use of fireworks inside of City limits was not allowed, the school was asking special permission from the Council.

Councilman McLaughlin recalled approving a similar request several years ago. He asked Fire Chief Rusty Holmes for his opinion. Chief Holmes recalled that the last time, the fireworks were not set off by anyone that was licensed. If Mr. Wilcox was licensed, then Chief Holmes did not foresee a big problem. If anything, Chief Holmes may request to review the area conditions before firework use.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve the use of fireworks at the RCHS Homecoming Game on October 6, 2023, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-C “Discussion/Possible Action: Presentation & Acceptance of Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Financial Audit & 2022/2023 Tax Increment Financing Fund Audit” The Council was provided with copies of the Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Financial Audit and the 2022/2023 Tax Increment Financing Fund Audit. From Kemper CPA Group, Krista McLaren was present to speak with the Council.

Mrs. McLaren reported Kemper CPA Group had issued a clean audit opinion for FY 2022/2023 with no material weaknesses with internal control. All City funds were audited, as well as procedures over the Olney Public Library.

The City’s governmental funds showed assets totaled at $9,018,699.00. The fire truck loan was still being paid, and $227,500.00 was still owed on that loan. The only liability under the governmental funds was the $35,000.00 K9 grant that was being returned.

Other governmental funds such as IMRF, TIF, Business District, etc. showed assets totaled at $3,017,360.00.

For FY 2022/2023, governmental funds saw a net change in the amount of $1,580,288.00. Other governmental funds saw a net change in the amount of $143,348.00. Mrs. McLaren said that the fund balances were all in a good position.

Mrs. McLaren pointed out that approximately $590,000.00 of the governmental funds was from ARPA money. Tax revenue was also continuing to increase, although not at the same rate as what was seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mrs. McLaren then reported that the MFT and TIF funds both had more expenses than revenue due to current projects.

In the Water Fund, assets totaled $1,997,187.00. In the Sewer Fund, assets totaled $1,574,399.00. The only debt in the proprietary funds was in relation to the EPA loan for the addition of UV disinfection. An amount of approximately $225,000.00 had been forgiven off of that loan.

During the FY 2022/2023, the Water Fund net position increased by $288,248.00 with the Sewer Fund increasing by $655,750.00.

In fiduciary funds, Fire Pension showed total assets at $2,388.907.00 with the Police Pension showing total assets at $6,675,026.00. These funds were rebounding after the difficulties of the previous year.

The Fire Pension increased by $28,151.00, and the Police Pension increased by $198,180.00. Mrs. McLaren then stated that the TIF fund audit was also clean with no findings.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve the Fiscal Year 2022/2023 financial audit, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

Councilman Eyer moved to approve the Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Tax Increment Financing fund audit, seconded by Councilman McLaughlin. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-D “Resolution: Authorize Execution of an Amendment to the Sewer and Waterline Marketing License Agreement Between the City of Olney, Illinois, and Utility Service Partners Private Label, Inc. d.b.a. Service Line Warranties of America” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would authorize the execution of an amendment to the sewer and waterline marketing license agreement with Utility Service Partners Private Label, Inc., d.b.a. Service Line Warranties of America (SLWA). The Council was also provided with a copy of the proposed amendment.

In 2015, the Council authorized this agreement with SLWA that would have the City endorse their warranty programs for water and sewer service lines. Mr. Barker explained that now, additional warranties were available that included Interior Plumbing & Drainage Warranties and Water Heater Warranties. In order to partner with SLWA on these new warranty programs, an amendment to the agreement would be necessary. As with the previously available water and sewer line warranties, these two new warranty programs were optional to residents, and they would contact SLWA directly if interested in participating.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve 2023-R-60, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-E “Ordinance: Authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement for Participation in the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System-MABAS Master Agreement 2022” The Council was provided with a proposed ordinance that would authorize an intergovernmental agreement for participation in MABAS by way of the 2022 agreement. The Council was also provided with a copy of the proposed agreement.

Fire Chief Holmes stated that the City was currently in an agreement for MABAS, but the agreement was old and required the City to adopt the 2022 version in order to participate. MABAS agreements were designed to facilitate all levels of mutual aid from day-to-day automatic aid responses to major incidents and disasters. Additionally, executed MABAS agreements would be to the City’s advantage during grant opportunities.

Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to approve Ordinance 2023-24, seconded by Councilman McLaughlin. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-F “Resolution: Accept a Quote for Flock Safety Camera Installation, Waive Formal Bidding Procedures, & Amend the 2023-2024 Budget” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would accept a quote for Flock safety camera installation, waive formal bidding procedures, and amend the 2023-2024 budget. The Council was also provided with a quote and product information sheets from Flock.

Police Chief Bloomer had some brief conversations in the past regarding interest in Flock safety cameras. The cameras were license plate readers that would be attached at stop lights. To be clear, these would not be radar detectors or devices used to ticket motorists. The cameras would read license plates and could detect other vehicle identifiers that would aid in law enforcement.

Chief Bloomer was interested in installing 4 cameras. Each camera would cost $3,000.00 per camera, per year. IDOT would also have a one-time fee of $1,900.00 per camera. Funds used for this purchase would come from the Cannabis Excise Tax account, and those funds were to be utilized solely for crime prevention.

The cameras would be mounted on a traffic pole and powered by solar panels and cellular technology. If the cameras were damaged, they would be replaced by Flock as they were leased each year. Data would be stored for 30 days unless there was an active investigation. If a vehicle or license plate was detected as a “hit,” the Police Department would be notified within 5 to 15 seconds of the vehicle passing the intersection. The Department could also share Flock camera information with other law enforcement agencies.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve 2023-R-61, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher.

Mayor Lambird asked how long it would take to get the system up and running. Chief Bloomer replied that the process would take about three months.

A majority affirmative voice vote was made to the motions above.

9-G “Discussion/Possible Action: Vandalism” It was no secret that recent graffiti had been painted on several locations in the downtown area. Councilman Eyer was concerned that the graffiti could be associated with gang activity. Chief Bloomer did not believe that this graffiti was tied to any gangs. There were no promising leads at this time, but the School Resource Officer had also been contacted to keep a look out for the same type of designs in the schools.

Councilman Eyer felt badly that property owners had the responsibility to remediate the vandalism, and he felt the graffiti was a poor reflection on the City. He noted that Councilwoman Fehrenbacher had painted over graffiti on her buildings. He wondered if the City would have authority to remediate the others. City Attorney Zuber indicated that the City would not have that authority.

If the individual was caught, Councilman Eyer asked what the penalty would be. Mr. Zuber indicated that if individual incidents costed over $500.00 in damage, that would be a felony. Chief Bloomer felt that depending on the situation, the penalty could be up to a Class 4 misdemeanor. A juvenile perpetrator may have a different punishment.

Councilman Eyer felt that those consequences seemed minimal when the vandalism affronted the entire town. He felt the vandalism could escalate if it was not nipped in the bud.

Councilman Eyer and Councilwoman Fehrenbacher offered to paint over the graffiti, if the affected property owners were agreeable. The Councilman wanted to quickly discourage any additional vandalism.

AGENDA #10 “REPORTS FROM ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS”

10-A “Status Report-City Manager” Mr. Barker had nothing to add.

10-B “RCDC Report” There was no report.

10-C “Chamber of Commerce Report” Councilwoman Fehrenbacher reported that the Bicycle Classic went well.

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

10-E “Tourism Board Report” There was no report.

AGENDA #11 “CLOSED SESSION: SALE OR LEASE PRICE OF REAL PROPERTY; ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY; APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, COMPENSATION, AND PERFORMANCE OF SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES; AND COLLECTIVE NEGOTIATING MATTERS” 

Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to adjourn to closed session to discuss the sale or lease price of real property; acquisition of real property; appointment, employment, compensation, and performance of specific employees; and collective negotiating matters, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

The meeting adjourned to closed session at 6:31 p.m.

AGENDA #12 “RECONVENE OPEN SESSION” Councilwoman Eihhorst moved to enter back into open session, seconded by Councilman McLaughlin. A majority affirmative voice vote was received. Open session resumed at 6:57 p.m.

12-A “Resolution: Authorize Agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Number 702” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would authorize an agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Number 702 (IBEW), and a copy of agreed-to terms between the City and the IBEW.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve 2023-R-62, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

Councilman McLaughlin told the Council that the RCHS Interact Club would be doing a clean up day at Rotary Park on September 9th. Councilwoman Eichhorst asked if supplies would be needed. Councilman McLaughlin believed so, and he would be getting in touch with the Park Department Supervisor later in the week.

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

The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

https://cms2.revize.com/revize/olneynew/cc%20Aug%2028%202023.pdf