East Central Reporter

City of Neoga City Council met Feb. 26.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Helm. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Those present were Commissioners Williams, Schabbing, and Mayor Helm. Others present were City Clerk Brenda Evans, City Treasurer Diana Foor, Police Chief Andy Schabbing, Public Works Superintendent Shawn Durbin, Doug Jackson, and Billie Chambers.

MINUTES

After reviewing the regular session minutes from February 12, 2024, Commissioner Schabbing made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Williams. Ayes, Commissioner Schabbing, Williams, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motion carried. 3-0.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

No public comments were heard.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS, MAYOR HELM

RESOLUTION 01-02-24 A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Service Agreement to the Lowest Responsible Proposal for the Supply of Electricity for Residential and Small Commercial Retail Customers Who Do Not Opt Our of Such a Program (Municipal Electric Aggregation)

After reviewing the resolution, Commissioner Schabbing made a motion to accept the resolution as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Williams. Ayes, Commissioner Schabbing, Williams, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motion carried. 3-0.

CCDC 2024 DUES

Billie Chambers told the Council that the annual Cumberland County Development Corporation dues for 2024 were due in the amount of $1000. Chambers said that the CCDC has been active since COVID ended by holding the annual Chili Cook-off and auction, and their annual dinner. They have also held multiple job fairs in each community, and their biggest challenge was assisting the county with the census, which took approximately six months of driving around the county verifying homes and addresses. This saved the county over $5,000 by having CCDC do it on a voluntary basis. Chambers said that CCDC also gives out scholarships to both Cumberland and Neoga schools to a senior who is furthering their education in business. Chambers also mentioned that they will be working with individuals and / or businesses on applying for grants. Commissioner Williams made a motion to pay the 2024 dues in the amount of $1,000. Commissioner Schabbing seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Williams, Schabbing, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motion carried. 3-0.

NEOGA DAY SPONSOR

Doug Jackson explained to the council the different options that the Neoga Days Committee is offering this year. Jackson said last year the city was a $500 sponsor. This gives us a half page ad in the Neoga Days book, a vendor booth space, mentioned in all Neoga Days advertising, city logo featured in the pavilion, mentioned at the opening ceremony each night, mentioned on social media sites, and company name listed on festival banners. Commissioner Williams made the motion to be a $500 sponsor for 2024 Neoga Days. Commissioner Schabbing seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Williams, Schabbing, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motion carried. 3-0.

NEOGA DAYS SPECIAL EVENT LIQUOR LICENSE

Neoga Days Chairperson Doug Jackson told the council that the committee would like to move the beer garden from the tennis courts at Jennings Park to the Neoga Community Center ballfield where there is a fence to section off the beer garden. Jackson said they would like to move the stage to the west side of the entrance which would allow the beer garden closer to the pavilion. Mayor Helm said that he had spoken with the Train GEO Thermal company, and the system in the field was over four feet deep, so they could drive stakes into the ground and would not hit anything. Commissioner Williams said his main concern was people walking across 6th Street. Jackson said they usually ask to shut down 6th Street from traffic so that should not be a problem. After a lengthy discussion on how the committee was going to caution people walking from the pavilion to the garden, Commissioner Williams made a motion to approve the liquor license for the Neoga Days celebration. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Schabbing. Ayes, Commissioner Williams, Schabbing, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motion carried. 3-0.

FINANCE, COMMISSIONER SCHABBING

MONTHLY BILLS

After reviewing the bill list, Commissioner Schabbing made a motion to pay the monthly bills as presented in the amount of $109,982.74. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Schabbing, Williams, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motion carried. 3-0.

PUBLIC PROPERTY, COMMISSIONER LETIZIA LEE BECKMAN, PROJECT UPDATES

Engineer Lee Beckman from Milano & Grunloh updated the council on the following projects:

Sewer Plant: The bathroom has been installed and completed, but the funds have not been requested from Rural Development. Also, the original project only completed improvements on the treatment portion of the plant. There was not work done on the storm water flow portion of the sewer plant. Beckman explained that the current clarifier is being fed by a 10” force main but has only a 4” gravity flow discharge which is causing an overflow situation when the city receives heavy rain. Beckman said to correct this problem, there needs to be a valve installed which would allow the public works employees to discharge the excess water into the main lagoon. Beckman explained there are still RD Grant dollars available for the valve. Commissioner Schabbing asked Beckman, ”Why was this not in with the construction of the new sewer plant?” Beckman explained that this is actually a problem before the water gets to the sewer plant, and the construction on the treatment portion of the plant. Commissioner Williams said that since this was a needed expense, and we could use grant money, he felt there was no good reason to not repair the problem. Commissioner Williams made a motion to approve the valve installation at the clarifier as proposed by Engineer Beckman. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Schabbing. Ayes, Commissioner Williams, Schabbing, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motion carried. 3-0.

CDAP WATER GRANT: The grant agreement was received from DCEO and hopefully the IEPA funding will be in place by the second quarter of 2024.

ITEP: Engineering is complete, and the plans have been submitted to IDOT and are approved for ADA. They should have been sent to IDOT for bidding review with a bid letting on April 26th.

RLF & STATE GRANT PROJECT: Still in litigation.

LEAD WATER LINES: A $30,000 grant has been applied for which would pay 100% for a third party to complete the lead service line requirements. We should hear back soon on it.

ITEP INVOICE #29677

After reviewing the invoice, Commissioner Williams made a motion to pay the invoice in the amount of $3,895.43. Commissioner Schabbing seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Williams, Schabbing, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motin carried. 3-0.

FORCEMAIN EXTENSION

This was discussed and approved under updates above.

SEWER PLANT VENT

Engineer Beckman explained the sewer plant building needed to have a ventilation system installed due to the newly constructed building being so airtight that the air conditioning system is not able to keep up. Again, there are funds from the RD grant that can be used for this. Commissioner Schabbing made a motion to approve the installation for the vent in the amount of $3,381. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Williams. Ayes, Commissioner Schabbing, Williams, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motion carried. 3-0.

STREETS AND ALLEYS, COMMISSIONER EDWARDS No report was given.

HEALTH AND SAFETY, COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS Commissioner Williams told the council that he has driven around town to look at how many homes do not have natural gas and would need to install a propane tank if they wanted to install a generator. Williams said he contacted a propane dealer, and they do have smaller 115-gallon tanks for purchase that could be used for that purpose. Williams asked the council to please keep that in mind when propane tanks are discussed again, because we shouldn’t eliminate households that are all electric.

Chief Schabbing told the council that he met with Upchurch Engineers regarding ideas for the remodel at the police department, and they hope to have something in the next couple of meetings.

Superintendent Durbin said the public works department has completed the prep work for the new garage doors on the shop, and they are ready to be installed.

ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Williams made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:04 p.m. Commissioner Schabbing seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Williams, Schabbing, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motion carried. 3-0.

https://neoga.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Minutes-February-26-2024.pdf