East Central Reporter

City of Neoga City Council met April 22.

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, Edwards, Letizia, and Mayor Helm. Others present were City Clerk Brenda Evans, City Treasurer Diana Foor, Police Chief Andy Schabbing, Engineer Lee Beckman, Billie Chambers, Engineer Andrew Ewing, Shari Morrison, and Jeff Morrison.

MINUTES

After reviewing the regular session minutes from April 8, 2024, Commissioner Edwards made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Letizia, Williams, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

After reviewing the executive session minutes, Commissioner Williams made a motion to approve the executive session minutes from March 11 & 25, 2024. Commissioner Letizia seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Williams, Edwards, Letizia, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

No public comments were heard.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS, MAYOR HELM

POLICE DEPARTMENT REMODEL

Andrew Ewing, engineer with Upchurch and Associates, discussed with the council options to remodel the police department and the approximate cost. Remodeling the police station would be approximately $480,000 plus $1,140,000 for the municipal building. Ewing also mentioned the pros and cons of remodeling the buildings compared to building a combined new building at $2,250,000 – $3,000,000.

MOWING BIDS

Mayor Helm opened the only mowing bid received. The bid was from M & E Lawn Care in the amount of $850 per mowing. Commissioner Edwards made a motion to award the bid to M & E Lawn Care in the amount of $850. Commissioner Letizia seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Letizia, Williams, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. motion carried. 4-0.

CLEANING BIDS

Mayor Helm opened the following cleaning bids:

Audrina Lane Municipal Building & Police Department $400 / mo.

Community Center $600/ mo.

Shari Morrison Municipal Building & Police Department $375 / mo.

Community Center $600 / mo.

121 Cleaning Services Municipal Building & Police Department $1920 / mo.

Community Center $3856 / mo.

Sonny Cleaning Municipal Building & Police Department $350 / mo.

Community Center $720 / mo.

After a lengthy discussion on each bid, Commissioner Edwards made a motion to award the bid to Shari Morrison to clean both the municipal building and the police department, and the community center. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Letizia, Williams, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

ORDINANCE #1087-04-2024 Appointment Ordinance for the City of Neoga, Illinois

After reviewing the ordinance, Commissioner Letizia made a motion to accept the ordinance as presented. Commissioner Edwards seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Letizia, Williams, Edwards, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

ORDINANCE #1088-04-2024 An ordinance Waiving the Automatic Increase of Water Rates and Sewer Rates Effective May 1, 2024, in the City of Neoga, Illinois

After reviewing the ordinance, Commissioner Letizia made a motion to accept the ordinance as presented. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Letizia, Williams, Edwards, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

ARPA FUNDS

Treasurer Foor informed the Council that the City has received $218,000 in ARPA funds that needs to be committed before December 31, 2024, and used/spent by December 2026. According to Foor, some of the items the funds can be used for are utilities like new meters, building remodel, etc. The Council recommended getting prices on new water meters before making a commitment.

FINANCE, COMMISSIONER SCHABBING

MONTHLY BILLS

After reviewing the bill list, Commissioner Letizia made a motion to pay the monthly bills as presented in the amount of $166,796.24. Commissioner Edwards seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Letizia, Williams, Edwards, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

ORDINANCE #1089-04-2024 An Ordinance Setting Forth an Amended Budget of Estimated Receipts and Disbursements and Making Appropriations for City

Purposes of the City of Neoga, Cumberland County, Illinois, for the Fiscal Year 2024 Commencing on May 1, 2023, and Ending on April 30, 2024

After reviewing the ordinance, Commissioner Edwards made a motion to accept the ordinance as presented. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Letizia, Williams, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

PUBLIC PROPERTY, COMMISSIONER LETIZIA

UPDATES FROM MILANO & GRUNLOH

Engineer Lee Beckman handed out the project update sheet to the council. Beckman explained they are working on securing contractor installation numbers for the 10” force main clarifier improvements that were sent to IEPA. The CDAP Water Grant project is still waiting for IEPA funding which should be before the end of June. The ITEP bid letting will be held on April 26th. Beckman reminded the Council that the audit will need to be completed by the end of October, and if the city must get an extension for the audit, all grant funding will be placed on a hold status.

ITEP INVOICE #29781

After reviewing the invoice, Commissioner Letizia made a motion to pay the invoice in the amount of $3,771.43. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Letizia, Williams, Edwards, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

STREETS AND ALLEYS, COMMISSIONER EDWARDS

Commissioner Edwards asked to have Superintendent Durbin have the street broom out and clean up the rock that has been pushed into the culverts on the streets.

HEALTH AND SAFETY, COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS

City Clerk Evans informed the Council that she has contacted the following companies for the city wide cleanup:

Rumpke $500 / container plus $65 / ton

Com 2 $850 / trailer

Stericycle $350 / hr. (3 hr. min)

TNT Recycle $ 0

Evans said May 18th is the best Saturday that everyone had available from 8-11 am. Commissioner Williams made a motion to set the City-Wide cleanup for May 18th from 8-11 am. Commissioner Edwards seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Williams, Edwards, Letizia, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0. All employees were encouraged to help if possible, but it is not required.

Commissioner Williams also asked if Evans could reach out to the county about holding a county wide tire/hazardous waste program in the future.

OTHER BUSINESS

Police Chief Schabbing informed the Council that he received the camara grant in the amount of $7,791. According to Schabbing, this will be for an in car and two maybe three body cameras all paid for by the state.

ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Edwards made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:53p.m. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Letizia, Williams, and Mayor Helm. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

https://neoga.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Minutes-April-22-2024.pdf