East Central Reporter

City of Olney City Council met April 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

AGENDA #1 “CALL TO ORDER” The April 22, 2024, 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. Jason Burkhartt 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”

4-A “Jodi Brucken” The Council was provided with a copy of Ordinance 2023-15. Mrs. Brucken told the Council that her issue with the ordinance revolved around the regulations for Memorial Gardens that were passed last year. She asked if it was correct that no grave decorations were allowed in that cemetery.

Mayor Lambird asked who would like to answer Mrs. Brucken’s question. Mrs. Sterchi said that in Memorial Gardens, mounted grave decorations were allowed. From the audience, Parks & Cemeteries Supervisor Frank Bradley confirmed.

Mrs. Brucken understood that the stemming concern regarding the ordinance changes were due to difficulties with cemetery maintenance. She told the Council that she went out and weed-eated her family’s stone each week. Also, even though the ordinance was passed last year, her grave decorations had just now been removed.

Mayor Lambird believed that at the time the ordinance was passed, cemetery maintenance had finished for the year. Mr. Bradley agreed. Cemetery maintenance began each year in March, so the department had just begun the necessary work for 2024.

Mrs. Brucken asked if she would be permitted to have unmounted grave decorations as long as she maintained the grass around the plot.

Mayor Lambird told Mrs. Brucken that when this ordinance had been discussed, the Council had varying opinions. While he did not support the ordinance when it was passed, he confirmed that the ordinance was ultimately voted into action. He was not certain if the Council wished to re-visit the topic.

Councilman Eyer had received a photo from Mr. Bradley of the decorations on the headstone that Mrs. Brucken was referencing. He noticed that several items had been placed

such as two shepherd’s hooks, a bird feeder, a bench, etc. While he applauded Mrs. Brucken for honoring her family, he reminded her that it was an area shared by many other families and their grave markers. He believed that the ordinance change to allow for mounted decorations only in Memorial Gardens increased the efficiency and ease of cemetery maintenance. Additionally, the cemetery would look more neat and orderly.

Mrs. Brucken felt that limiting the space to the stone only was too small of an area for decoration. She added her thought that mounting decorations would be too expensive.

The Council did not express interest in moving forward with changing Ordinance 2023- 15.

AGENDA #5 “PRESENTATION OF CONSENT AGENDA”

5-A “Approve Minutes of the Council Meeting on April 9, 2024”

5-B “Approve and Authorize Payment of Accounts Payable April 23, 2024” Pooled Cash $373,443.36, Manual Pooled Cash $5,380.11, Unemployment $6,477.73, MFT $8,688.70, IMRF $21,533.75, Tourism $16,780.00

5-C “Resolution: Waive Formal Bidding Procedures for the Purchase of a 2024 Pickup Truck” 2024-R-33

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 Eichhorst moved to approve the items on the consent agenda, seconded by Councilman Eyer. 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 “Bid Openings: Sale of 200 N. Lexington Street, and 207 N. Saratoga Street” Earlier in the year, the Council approved Ordinance 2024-11 which authorized solicitation of sealed bids for the sale of 200 N. Lexington Street, and 207 N. Saratoga Street. After complying with publication requirements, bids were accepted until 4:00 p.m. this day. Mrs. Sterchi had received one bid for 200 N. Lexington Street.

Mrs. Sterchi opened the bid and read that Gary L. Petty had bid an amount of $5,000.00 for the purchase of 200 N. Lexington Street.

9-B “Ordinance: Authorize the Sale of Public Real Estate Owned by the City of Olney” Councilman McLaughlin moved to accept the $5,000.00 from Gary L. Petty for the purchase of 200 N. Lexington Street by Ordinance 2024-20, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

The City Attorney will draft this ordinance.

9-C “Discussion/Possible Action: Parking Lot Extension at Musgrove Park” This topic was tabled.

9-D “Presentation/Possible Action: Project Community Donation to the City of Olney” Project Community Board Member Herman Zuber approached the Council. Mr. H. Zuber thanked the City for its support and cooperation during the Splash Pad Project. The Splash Pad was a great addition to the community, and Project Community then presented the City with a $10,000.00 check to be used towards future maintenance of the Splash Pad.

Mr. H. Zuber also voiced appreciation to Mr. Bradley for his instrumental assistance in getting the Splash Pad completed.

9-E “Ordinance: Amending City of Olney Ordinance No. 2015-47 to Add Territory, Delete Territory, and to Expand and Add Incentives to the Olney/Richland/Newton/Jasper Enterprise Zone” The Council was provided with a proposed ordinance that would amend Ordinance 2015-47 by adding and deleting territory, and adding incentives to the Olney/Richland/Newton/Jasper Enterprise Zone.

The City had been discussing Enterprise Zone amendments for the past few months, and had been working with Moran Economic Development on the process. It was now time to officially adopt this proposed ordinance.

Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to approve Ordinance 2024-21, seconded by Councilman McLaughlin. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-F “Resolution: Authorize Amendment to the Olney/Richland/Newton/Jasper Enterprise Zone Intergovernmental Agreement” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would authorize an amendment to the Olney/Richland/Newton/Jasper Enterprise Zone Intergovernmental Agreement. The Council was also provided with a copy of the proposed Intergovernmental Agreement.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve 2024-R-34, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-G “Resolution: Authorize Execution of Joint Funding Agreement for the East Street Bridge Project” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would authorize a Joint Funding Agreement for the East Street Bridge Project. The Council was also provided with a copy of the proposed agreement.

Mr. Bridges explained that this grant project was to be administered by IDOT and would be joint funded. The Joint Funding Agreement would authorize use of State and local funds on this project.

Councilman Eyer moved to approve 2024-R-35, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-H “Resolution: Authorize Execution of Olney Police Department Retention Agreements” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would authorize execution of Olney Police Department Retention Agreements. The Council was also provided with a copy of the proposed Retention Agreement.

Mr. Barker reminded the Council that the City had received a $140,000.00 grant from the State of Illinois, Law Enforcement Training Standards Board for the retention of police officers. The proposal would be to issue an amount of $5,000.00 to each officer in the first pay period following execution of the agreement, and another $5,000.00 after being employed by the City for another 18 months. If the officer(s) should cease employment with the City at any point within 36 months of executing the agreement, they would be required to pay back to the City what funds had been issued as part of the agreement.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve 2024-R-36, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-I “Resolution: Amend the City of Olney Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 for the Law Enforcement Retention Grant” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would amend the budget for the Law Enforcement Retention Grant. Because this grant was received in the current fiscal year, the budget would need to be amended to reflect this receipt.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve 2024-R-37, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-J “Resolution: Designate Funds for Capital Expenditures” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would designate funds for capital expenditures.

Mrs. Guinn told the Council that at the end of each fiscal year, she would review spending in each fund to see if it would be possible to set aside money for future capital expenditures. This year, she recommended setting aside $200,000.00 for capital projects in the Sewer Fund, $300,000.00 for road projects in the General Fund, and $200,000.00 for capital equipment expenditures in the General Fund.

Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to approve 2024-R-38, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-K “Resolution: Approve 2024-2025 Fiscal Year Budget” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would approve the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget. The Council had also been provided with a listing of changes to the proposed budget since budget discussions had first begun.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve 2024-R-39, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-L “Adoption of a Resolution for Maintenance of Streets and Highways by Municipality Under the Illinois Highway Code” The Council was provided with an IDOT resolution that would appropriate $150,000.00 of City MFT funds for the summer road maintenance program.

Councilman Eyer moved to approve 2024-R-40, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

AGENDA #10 “REPORTS FROM ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS”

10-A “Status Report-City Manager” There was no report

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

10-C “Chamber of Commerce Report” Councilwoman Eichhorst stated that the Chamber’s Annual Meeting would be held on May 7th at the Parkside Event Center. The golf outing had also been rescheduled to June 28th. Additionally, the Sounds of Summer music groups were set in place with the concerts starting off on June 6th with The Ashes. Lastly, some scholarships would soon be awarded to high school students.

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 NEGOTIATING 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 Councilman McLaughlin. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

The meeting adjourned to closed session at 6:19 p.m.

AGENDA #12 “RECONVENE OPEN SESSION” Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to enter back into open session, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received. Open session resumed at 6:25 p.m.

12-A “Approve Minutes of Closed Session on April 9, 2024” Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve minutes of closed session from April 9, 2024, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

Mrs. Guinn asked how the Council would wish to have the $10,000.00 from Project Community handled. The Council felt that a separate account should be created specifically for Splash Pad maintenance.

AGENDA #13 “ADJOURN” With no further business to discuss, Councilman Eyer moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

The meeting adjourned at 6:26 p.m.

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