East Central Reporter

City of Olney City Council met May 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the council

AGENDA #1 “CALL TO ORDER” The May 13, 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. Steve Wingert 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” No one from the public wished to speak.

AGENDA #5 “PRESENTATION OF CONSENT AGENDA”

5-A “Approve Minutes of the Council Meeting on April 22, 2024”

5-B “Approve and Authorize Payment of Accounts Payable April 29, 2024, & May 14, 2024” Pooled Cash $263,190.63, Manual Pooled Cash $1,597,424.28, Foreign Fire $2,939.40, IMRF $21,915.01, MFT $3,975.95, Tourism $5,074.98

5-C “Reschedule the May 27, 2024, Council Meeting to May 28, 2024”

5-D “Application for Permit to Sell Merchandise in the City Park – Farmers Market”

5-E “Resolution: Support SWAN Grant Application” 2024-R-41

5-F “Ordinance: Authorize the Disposal of Personal Property Owned by the City of Olney by Recycling – Unusable Bicycles from the Police Department” 2024-22

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 Councilwoman Eichhorst. 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: Acceptance of Buddy Poppy Donations at the Intersection of Main and East Streets from 10:00 A.M. Until 2:00 P.M. on May 25, 2024” Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve the VFW to accept Buddy Poppy donations at the intersection of Main and East Streets from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on May 25, 2024, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

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

9-C “Appointment: Mayor Pro-Tem” Each year, the Council should select from its members at the first regular meeting in May a new Mayor pro-tem. Mayor Lambird recommended appointing the next most-senior Council member.

Councilman Eyer moved to appoint Councilman McLaughlin as Mayor pro-tem, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-D “Resolution: Accept Quote for Repair of the Hawthorne Lift Station & the Magnolia Lift Station, and Waive Formal Bidding Procedures” This topic was tabled.

9-E “Ordinance: Authorize the Sale of Items of Personal Property Owned by the City of Olney – Riding Mowers from the Sewer Department” The Council was provided with a proposed ordinance that would authorize the sale of riding mowers from the Sewer Department on GovDeals.com.

Councilman Eyer moved to approve Ordinance 2024-23, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-F “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.

This proposed ordinance would reduce the number of available Class A (Tavern) liquor licenses available due to Alaska Lily’s wish to not renew their liquor license.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve Ordinance 2024-24, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-G “Request: Fishing Tournament Exception on East Fork Lake for Flora High School Bass Club” The Council was provided with a request letter from Nate Jones, head of the Flora High School Bass Club.

Mrs. Sterchi explained that Mr. Jones was asking for the Council to authorize a 60-boat fundraising tournament at East Fork Lake on Labor Day. The current regulations limited the amount of boats for tournaments at 30. She added that some similar exceptions had been approved in the past.

Councilman McLaughlin asked if the tournament would run all day. Mrs. Sterchi replied that the request was for an 8-hour tournament that would go from 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Councilman Eyer asked if this exception would be harmful to fish. Mrs. Sterchi advised that the City had a fisheries counterpart with IDNR. He felt that as long as that was the only tournament on that day, then the exception should not be a problem. The City’s fish population numbers were currently healthy.

Councilman Eyer moved to approve a 60-boat tournament for the Flora High School Bass Club at East Fork Lake on September 2, 2024, seconded by Councilman McLaughlin. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-H “Resolution: Amend the City of Olney Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 for the Park Lift Station Pump Replacement” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would amend the budget for replacement of the Park lift station pump.

In January of this year, the Council took action to approve the expense for pump repair for the Park lift station. Mrs. Guinn told the Council that the invoice received was $916.39 over what had been budgeted, so an amendment would be needed to transfer $1,000.00 from the Sewer Line Replacement line item into the Park Lift Station line item.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve 2024-R-42, 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” The Council was provided with a Status Report from the City Manager. Mr. Barker had nothing further to add.

Councilman McLaughlin told the Council that he had several residents speak with him about speeding on N. East Street, north of Mack Avenue. He noticed that there were no speed limit signs in that area, heading north on N. East Street. He wondered if a speed limit sign could be installed even though he was aware that would likely not solve the issue.

Police Chief Bloomer had not received complaints about this issue, but could have officers provide additional patrol in that area with radar.

Councilman Eyer asked about the portable radar trailer. Chief Bloomer advised that the trailer was older now and not functioning properly. He was curious if the City was interested in putting a good amount of money into repair. He noted that the radar trailer did offer some benefit, but felt that citations would be more of a deterrent.

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

10-C “Chamber of Commerce Report” Councilwoman Eichhorst said that the Chamber Annual Meeting had gone well, including presentation of the new fee structure. The Chamber was also exploring the idea of holding Oktoberfest downtown.

10-D “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”

Councilman McLaughlin 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” Councilman McLaughlin moved to enter back into open session, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received. Open session resumed at 6:17 p.m.

12-A “Approve Minutes of Closed Session on April 22, 2024” Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve minutes of closed session from April 22, 2024, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

12-B “Ordinance: Establish Wages for Employees of the City of Olney” The Council was provided with a proposed ordinance that would establish wages for non-bargaining employees of the City of Olney.

Due to the pending grocery tax issue, the Council discussed postponement of wage increases for non-contractual employees. Councilman McLaughlin wondered if all proposed wage amounts could be passed now but frozen until a future date. Mrs. Guinn recommended waiting to take action on the other wages.

Mayor Lambird believed that the City would know more about the grocery tax issue at its next meeting or the first meeting in June.

Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to approve Ordinance 2024-25, which would establish wages for the Police Chief and the Water Treatment Plant Supervisor, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

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

The meeting adjourned at 6:23 p.m.

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