East Central Reporter

City of Olney City Council met Dec. 11.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

AGENDA #1 “CALL TO ORDER” The December 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. Tim Loomis 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” From the audience, Herb Meeker (Hometown Register newspaper) said that the Christmas Light Display was very impressive. He had taken some photos that he hoped to have published in the newspaper.

AGENDA #5 “PRESENTATION OF CONSENT AGENDA”

5-A “Approve Minutes of the Council Meeting on November 27, 2023”

5-B “Approve and Authorize Payment of Accounts Payable December 12, 2023” Pooled Cash $220,873.49, Manual Pooled Cash $99,949.97, Foreign Fire $639.17, Walnut/Main Storm Sewer $33,100.00, MFT $2,227.50, IMRF $20,996.23, Tourism 25.36, Christmas Light Display $986.05, South Olney TIF District $28,325.63

5-C “Raffle License: Olney Memorial VFW Post #4226”

5-D “Resolution: Cancel the December 25, 2023, City Council Meeting” 2023-R-86

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 McLaughlin. 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 C Liquor License for Smoke Rise Steakhouse LLC.” The Council was provided with a Class C liquor license application from Smoke Rise Steakhouse LLC. Owner, Peter Luther, was present.

Mr. Luther told the Council that he hoped to offer a very welcoming and family-oriented restaurant.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve a Class C liquor license for Smoke Rise Steakhouse LLC., seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-B “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 since the Council agreed to grant an additional Class C liquor license, then the Code would need to be amended in order to reflect that increase.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve Ordinance 2023-35, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-C “Request/Possible Ordinance: Closure of a Portion of the East/West Unimproved Alley/Roadway Between E. Main and E. Butler Streets & N. Lincoln and N. Jackson Streets” The Council was provided with a request letter from Jeremy Scaggs, two plat copies of A. Balding’s Addition to East Olney, and a GIS image of the area.

Mr. Scaggs was requesting closure of at least a portion of the above-listed alley in order to allow for a bigger yard to his property at 111 N. Jackson Street.

Letters were sent to all adjoining property owners to advise them of this request. Property owners adjoining portions of this alley/roadway being requested for closure had also been given the opportunity to indicate whether or not they would like to purchase their portions of the alley, if approved. Because there were no apparent easements in this area, the cost would be $0.25 per square foot, plus the $91.00 recording fee.

From the audience, Tom Fehrenbacher (Fehrenbacher LLC./1500 E. Main) and Paul Harmon (117 N. Jackson) expressed interest in purchasing their portions of this alley/roadway.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve closing approximately 114-feet of this East/West unimproved alley/roadway between E. Main and E. Butler Streets, and N. Lincoln and N. Jackson Streets, seconded by Councilman Eyer. Councilmen McLaughlin, Eyer, Mayor Lambird, and Councilwoman Eichhorst voted yes. Councilwoman Fehrenbacher abstained. The motion carried.

Mr. Zuber would create Ordinance 2023-36.

9-D “Resolution: Authorize Execution of a Professional Service/Consultant Agreement for the Lead Service Line Inventory Grant” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would authorize the execution of a Professional Service/Consultant Agreement with Charleston Engineering, Inc. for the Lead Service Line Inventory Grant.

Mr. Barker reminded the Council that the City was granted $40,000.00 for this project, and the project should be completed before April of 2024.

Councilman Eyer moved to approve 2023-R-87, seconded by Councilman McLaughlin. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-E “Ordinance: Tax Levy” The Council was provided with a proposed tax levy ordinance.

Mrs. Guinn reminded the Council that after the options presented at the last meeting, the Council leaned toward Option 1 which would levy a total of $2,315,270.00. This would lower the overall City tax rate by (0.1089) compared to last year.

Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to approve Ordinance 2023-37, seconded by Councilman McLaughlin. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-F “Resolution: Authorize an Additional IMRF Payment & Amend the 2023-2024 Budget” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would authorize an additional $100,000.00 IMRF payment and amend the 2023-2024 budget.

Mrs. Guinn stated that there was sufficient cash available in the City’s IMRF account to make this additional contribution. It was also recommended by the CFO of the IMRF that cities with unfunded benefit obligations make additional contributions when funds were available. It was also their recommendation to submit additional contributions in the month of December in order to receive the maximum credit for investment returns.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve 2023-R-88, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-G “Ordinance: Prohibit the Use of Groundwater as a Potable Water Supply By the Installation or Use of Potable Water Supply Wells or By Any Other Method Within a Limited Area of the City” The Council was provided with a proposed ordinance that would prohibit the use of groundwater as a potable water supply by the installation or use of potable water supply wells, or by any other method, in an area near 310 W. Main Street.

Mr. Barker said that an environmental consulting firm that was working with the IEPA had requested that the City adopt this ordinance.

Councilman McLaughlin asked if anyone in the area currently had a well. Mr. Bridges did not believe so.

Councilman Eyer moved to approve Ordinance 2023-38, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-H “Resolution: Accept Quote for Fire Department Air Pack Upgrades, Waive Formal Bidding Procedures, & Amend the 2023-2024 Budget” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would accept a quote for Fire Department air pack upgrades, waive formal bidding procedures, and amend the 2023-2024 budget.

Mrs. Guinn told the Council that Sentinel Emergency Solutions, St. Louis, Missouri, had quoted $29,335.96 for these upgrades that would bring all of the Department’s air pack gear up to the same level. The budget would need to be amended for this purchase. Mrs. Guinn added that Chief Holmes had indicated that the City should be reimbursed the difference from contributions made by the Olney Firefighters Association and Foreign Fire.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve 2023-R-89, seconded by Councilman McLaughlin. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

AGENDA #10 “REPORTS FROM ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS”

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

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

10-C “Chamber of Commerce Report” Councilwoman Eichhorst said that two new businesses had opened since the last Council meeting. Those businesses were Scooter’s and also the Humble & Kind boutique.

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 NEGOTIATION MATTERS” Councilwoman Fehrenbacher 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 Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

The meeting adjourned to closed session at 6:09 p.m.

AGENDA #12 “RECONVENE OPEN SESSION” Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to enter back into open session, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received. Open session resumed at 6:38 p.m.

12-A “Approve Minutes of Closed Session on November 27, 2023” Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve minutes of closed session from November 27, 2023, seconded by Councilman McLaughlin. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

12-B “Ordinance: Establish Wage Rates for Paid-On-Call Firefighters, Part-Time Employees, and Summer Recreation Employees of the City of Olney” The Council was provided with a proposed ordinance that would establish wage rates for paid-on-call firefighters, part-time employees, and Summer Recreation employees.

Mr. Barker explained that the ordinance would increase wages as a result of the increase in minimum wage rates set to go into effect on January 1, 2024.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve Ordinance 2023-39, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

12-B “Ordinance: Establish Hourly Wages for Part-Time (Seasonal) Employees with Special Skills in the Police and Public Works Departments of the City of Olney” The Council was provided with a proposed ordinance that would establish hourly wages for part-time (seasonal) employees with special skills in the Police and Public Works Departments of the City of Olney.

Mr. Barker stated that since minimum wage rates were increasing, wage rates for employees with special skills should, as well.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve Ordinance 2023-40, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

Before adjourning, Mr. Zuber told the Council that the Arcadia had been put up for sale. Because of this, the pending agreement with DK Smith was no longer relevant.

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.

The meeting adjourned at 6:39 p.m.

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