City of Flora City Council met Sept. 5.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
OPENING CEREMONIES
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 Linda Spicer, Commissioner Jeremy Henderson, Commissioner Phil Wiley 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, Superintendent of Public Services Toby Rinehart and Building and Zoning Official Chad Bayles. Two media representatives and several guests were also present.
Mayor Rick Slaughter led the Pledge of Allegiance and Commissioner Linda Spicer offered the Invocation.
Mayor Slaughter presented retired Librarian Donna Corry with an engraved clock and gift certificates, in honor of her 48 years of service to the Flora Public Library. Ms. Corry's last day of work was August 31, 2023. Corry was thanked for her services and received a standing ovation.
PUBLIC COMMENTS - None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA FOR THE SEPTEMBER 5, 2023 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING FOR THE CITY OF FLORA WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER SPICER; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WILEY.
➤ Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Spicer, Henderson, Wiley, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent - None
CONSENT AGENDA
The following items were listed under the Consent Agenda:
• APPROVE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 21, 2023
• APPROVE SCHEDULE OF BILLS FOR PERIOD ENDING AUGUST 31, 2023
• SET TRICK-OR-TREAT FOR OCTOBER 31, 2023 (6:00 P.M. -8:00 P.M.)
A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER FEHRENBACHER; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WILEY.
➤ Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Spicer, Henderson, Wiley, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent - None
Before moving on to Regular Business, Mayor Slaughter requested that City Administrator/Economic Development Director Mike Stanford make an announcement regarding property taxes for residents within the City of Flora.
Stanford stated that an error was made on the 2022 property tax statements (payable in 2023) which resulted in a mistake on the calculation of the extension of taxes for the City of Flora's portion. Stanford noted that he is currently working with the County Clerk to see the best way to correct it. Stanford thanked Commissioner Henderson for catching this error so quickly and took full responsibility for the error and apologized to the residents and the Council members for the inconvenience. Stanford thanked everyone for their patience and understanding while working to ensure the residents have a corrected balance.
Stanford noted that there had been some talk regarding the video gaming revenue. Stanford explained that last year $136,000 of the gaming money went to the police pension fund and the other $36,000 went to the general fund.
REGULAR BUSINESS
Commissioner Linda Spicer thanked Mike Stanford for working with the County Board to correct the tax situation.
Commissioner Jeremy Henderson thanked Oil Belt Campground for their recent display of fireworks.
City Administrator/Economic Development Director Mike Stanford handed the floor over to Lee Beckman with Milano & Grunloh Engineers. Mr. Beckman updated Council on various grants that he is seeking for the City.
Following a few comments regarding the grant, Stanford presented several items for Council to consider.
A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE NO. 23-3286, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE REPLACEMENT OF ROOF AND SIDING ON THE GAS PLANT BUILDING (WINTERROWD CONSTRUCTION) WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WILEY; SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER FEHRENBACHER.
➤ Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Spicer, Henderson, Wiley, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent - None
A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE NO. 23-3287, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE PARKING LOT LOCATED AT 201 E. NORTH AVENUE (LUTTRELL BACKHOE, INC.) WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER SPICER; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WILEY.
➤ Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Spicer, Henderson, Wiley, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent - None
A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE NO. 23-3288, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH MILANO AND GRUNLOH ENGINEERS, LLC WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER FEHRENBACHER; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HENDERSON.
➤ Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Spicer, Henderson, Wiley, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent - None
A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE NO. 23-3289, AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE SALE OF REAL ESTATE AT 750 W. 3RD STREET, FLORA, ILLINOIS WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER WILEY; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SPICER.
➤ Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Spicer, Henderson, Wiley, Fehrenbacher
No - None
Abstain - None; Absent - None
Stanford asked that Council reaffirm a vote that was taken at the March 20, 2023 City Council Meeting regarding stipends that were paid out to essential employees during the COVID period. Stanford stated that due to the formal agenda inadvertently lacking the specification of a vote, he was advised to readdress it. Following a couple of comments from Commissioner Henderson, Mayor Slaughter requested a motion.
A MOTION TO RATIFY AND CONFIRM THE ONE-TIME STIPEND PAID TO EACH FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE, EXCLUDING THE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS AND CITY ADMINISTRATOR ($1,150.00 FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE GRANT) AND THE ONE-TIME UTILITY CREDIT GIVEN TO EACH FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ESDA MEMBER ($100.00 FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE GRANT) PREVIOUSLY VOTED ON AT THE MARCH 20, 2023 CITY COUNCIL MEETING, WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER SPICER; SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WILEY.
➤ Vote: Yes - Slaughter, Spicer, Wiley, Fehrenbacher
No - Henderson
Abstain - None; Absent - None
ADJOURN
At approximately 4:48 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.
https://florail.govoffice2.com/vertical/sites/%7B62602091-720B-4C05-8923-FB9F25FCDE7A%7D/uploads/09.05_min.pdf
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