City of Olney City Council met Sept. 11.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
AGENDA #1 “CALL TO ORDER” The September 11, 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. Steve Wingert led the group in prayer.
AGENDA #3 “ROLL CALL” The following Council members were present: Mark Lambird, John McLaughlin, Morgan Fehrenbacher, and Julia Eichhorst. Jack Eyer was absent. Also present were City Manager Allen Barker, City Engineer Mike Bridges, 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 28, 2023”
5-B “Approve and Authorize Payment of Accounts Payable September 12, 2023” Pooled Cash $278,836.52, Manual Pooled Cash $99,793.84, Foreign Fire $513.03, MFT $1,972.35, IMRF $31,358.68, Tourism $1,300.00, Route 130 TIF $1,196.00
5-C “Appointment of Victor Colwell to the Plan Commission”
5-D “Appointment of Julia Eichhorst to the Chamber Board”
AGENDA #6 “REMOVAL OF ITEMS FROM CONSENT AGENDA” No items were requested for removal from the consent agenda.
AGENDA #7 “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 #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 “Ordinance: Amend Section 5.12.070 (Restriction on Number of Licenses Authorized) of the City of Olney Municipal Code” The Council was provided with a proposed ordinance that would amend Section 5.12.070 (Restriction on Number of Licenses Authorized) of the City of Olney Municipal Code.
Mr. Barker explained that Season Pass Bar & Grill had been granted a Class C liquor license for their business. The restaurant had since closed, so it was necessary to reduce the number of available Class C liquor licenses.
Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve Ordinance 2023-25, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.
9-B “Discussion/Possible Resolution: Authorize Extension of a Letter of Intent for Real Estate Agreement Between the City of Olney & Organica Grow, Ltd.” The Council was provided with a Letter of Intent dated September 14, 2021, and a copy of 2022-R-52. Ami Smithenry of Organica Grow, Ltd. (Organica) was present to speak with the Council.
In 2021, the Council authorized a Letter of Intent for a real estate agreement with Organica should Organica receive a cannabis cultivation license from the State. The State then instituted a hold on the licensing program, and in 2022, the Council authorized a resolution of acknowledgement and approval to extend the term of that Letter of Intent to September 14, 2023.
Mrs. Smithenry stated that Organica did not receive any licenses in their original lottery, and they would be submitting an application for the next lottery. As a part of the new application, the term on the Letter of Intent would again need to be extended. She asked that the Council approve another one-year extension. If no licenses were granted between now and September 14, 2024, Mrs. Smithenry indicated that Organica would no longer be pursuing the venture.
Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to approve 2023-R-63 which would extend the term on the Letter of Intent with Organica through September 14, 2024, seconded by Councilman McLaughlin. A majority affirmative voice vote was received. The resolution would be created.
9-C “Resolution: Accept Quote for a Ford Dump Truck & Waive Formal Bidding Procedures” Unfortunately this truck sold before Council meeting, so this item was not considered.
9-D “Discussion/Possible Action: City Cleanup” Councilwoman Eichhorst distributed a proposal regarding a possible City Wide Cleanup event.
The Councilwoman was aware that the City had not been able to offer a cleanup in quite a while. She hoped to reinstate this service twice per year in the Spring and the Fall. She suggested that roll-off dumpsters be placed in a municipal parking lot for residents to use. She was working on securing volunteers to staff the dumpsters. She also suggested that City crews could pick up items for people that could not handle the transport to the dumpsters.
Councilwoman Fehrenbacher felt that volunteers would be needed on any and all days that the dumpsters would be in the parking lot. She had been involved in the Clean and Green organization when they offered such cleanup days. Even though there were rules then, she pointed out that people often tried to get away with dumping items that were not allowed. Councilwoman Eichhorst agreed that some people would likely try to break the rules.
Councilwoman Fehrenbacher suggested barricading off the parking lot after the last day of the scheduled cleanup. She recalled that with Clean and Green, people would still dump trash at the cleanup site even after the dumpsters were removed.
Councilwoman Fehrenbacher was also concerned that the City would receive way more requests for removal than could be handled in an 8-hour period. She then asked if Republic still offered bulk trash pick up. City Clerk Sterchi replied that Republic did still offer that service, on allowable items, at a rate of $10.00 per item. Hide-a-bed couches were $20.00 each.
Mr. Barker told Councilwoman Eichhorst that the Street Department Supervisor had some ideas if she would be willing to meet with him in order to discuss. Councilwoman Eichhorst was interested in speaking with the Street Department Supervisor.
Looking at Councilwoman Eichhorst’s options for dates, Councilman McLaughlin recommended excluding the weekend of Trick or Treat Night.
Councilwoman Fehrenbacher asked what would happen if someone showed up at a dumpster with an item that was not allowed. Councilwoman Eichhorst replied that the person would be turned away.
Councilwoman Eichhorst was aware that the City’s agreement with Republic allowed them to utilize up to eight dumpsters per year. One dumpster was used for Oktoberfest which would leave seven for use by the City. Councilman McLaughlin agreed that the City should use the dumpsters available to them.
Mayor Lambird said that the City would need to be cautious as to how many items City crews could pick up in a single day. He did not want a resident to sit out a couch for pick up only to find that the City ran out of time.
Councilwoman Eichhorst felt that residents would need to call City Hall ahead of time in order to be placed on a list for pick up. Councilwoman Fehrenbacher felt that still did not answer the question of how many calls the City would allow.
Councilwoman Eichhorst felt that answering the question was difficult without knowing how well the service would be utilized. She offered that for the first cleanup, perhaps only dumpsters could be utilized for residents to drop off items. In the future, the Council could discuss the details of City crews picking up from residences.
Mr. Barker added that City crews would need to use a backhoe for this service. Councilwoman Fehrenbacher felt that having the City crews pick up at all could cause big problems. She felt that residents would be grateful enough to have dumpsters available for drop off. Mayor Lambird did not agree that the City could not offer help at all.
Councilwoman Eichhorst suggested setting dates this evening for drop off of items and to discuss City assistance at the next meeting after she spoke with the Street Department Supervisor.
Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to establish October 21 and 22, 2023, as dates for the City Wide Cleanup that would authorize dumpsters to be placed in the municipal parking lot by the Eagles
for residents to drop off allowable items, seconded by Councilman McLaughlin. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.
Allowable items, as presented in the document at this meeting, included: furniture, mattresses (which must be wrapped in plastic) carpet cut into four-foot sections, small appliances and household goods.
AGENDA #10 “REPORTS FROM ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS”
10-A “Status Report-City Manager” Mr. Barker had nothing to add, but noted that Mr. Bridges wished to update the Council on the Whittle Avenue Railroad Grade Crossing Project.
Mr. Bridges reported that work was being done at the Whittle Avenue railroad crossing by CSX, however this work was being done on the signal and had nothing to do with the grade crossing. Additionally, after the project was bid, the ICC ordered CSX to replace the crossings at Morgan and Fair Streets. Different people were handling the coordination of these projects and communication had been lacking. Now, CSX would be repairing all crossings at the same time with no idea when work could begin.
Mayor Lambird felt it would be at least next Spring before CSX could start due to harvest being underway and conflicts with Consolidated Grain and Barge’s schedules.
10-B “RCDC Report” There was no report.
10-C “Chamber of Commerce Report” Councilwoman Fehrenbacher said that she had resigned as the City representative for the Chamber Board because she could no longer attend meetings. She felt that Councilwoman Eichhorst would be a great fit.
Mayor Lambird said he appreciated the Councilwoman’s service on the Chamber Board over the years.
Councilwoman Eichhorst added that there would be a Chamber Board meeting on September 14th.
10-D “Parks & Recreation Board Report” There was no report.
10-E “Tourism Board Report” There was no report.
10-F “9/11 Remembrance & Moment of Silence” Mayor Lambird reminded all that 22 years ago today, the 9/11 attacks occurred. The entire nation suffered a trauma that day, and he felt that it was important to remember how life can change so rapidly. He felt it was necessary to remember all of the first responders that served and all other persons that went out that day not knowing that their lives would change forever.
Mayor Lambird directed a Moment of Silence for 9/11 remembrance.
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” No closed session was needed.
AGENDA #12 “RECONVENE OPEN SESSION” No closed session was needed.
12-A “Discussion/Possible Action: Potential Redevelopment Agreement” The Council was provided with a non-binding proposal regarding agreements between the City and TKG Olney Development LLC. (TKG).
Mayor Lambird explained that the written proposal listed details that the Council had previously discussed as well as adding a provision that would include increment generated by the Business District and only from the stores in which TKG controlled with their lease. Those entities would need to provide the City with numbers in order to verify accuracy. The additional 4 entities should generate up to $25,000.00 per year, and this would mark less than 1% of Business District funds. This would allow for quicker reimbursement so that the City could again reap the benefits of the entire Business District funding.
If the Council agreed to the tentative terms of the TIF and Business District agreements, Mayor Lambird said that it would take approximately 17 weeks to move Hibbett Sports to the location of the old Factory Connection. Additionally, he believed that architects and site planners would be coming to Olney shortly to get started on the TJ Maxx location and the second potential retail addition.
Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve the non-binding proposal, as presented, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst.
Councilwoman Fehrenbacher pointed out that the Council was just provided with the proposal without much time for review. Mayor Lambird replied that the proposal detailed what the Council had already discussed. The only new provision was the additional $25,000.00 of Business District funds.
Councilwoman Fehrenbacher asked if the Richland County Mall businesses were aware that their Business District taxes were going into the hands of TKG. Mayor Lambird believed that some were with the understanding that could happen. Verizon, Ruler Foods, and Hibbett Sports had no close point of contact, and Mayor Lambird felt that they would be generating very little Business District tax.
Councilman McLaughlin felt that all of the businesses in the Richland County Mall would benefit by the addition of TJ Maxx.
Mayor Lambird then indicated that TKG would also be doing some upgrades to the exterior of the mall building, parking lot, and signage.
Councilwoman Fehrenbacher stated that she was not comfortable in voting on the proposal this evening without having time to review the document.
A majority affirmative voice vote was received to the motion made above with Councilwoman Fehrenbacher voting no.
AGENDA #13 “ADJOURN” With no further business to discuss, Councilman McLaughlin moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.
https://cms2.revize.com/revize/olneynew/cc%20Sep%2011%202023.pdf
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