East Central Reporter

City of Olney City Council met June 24.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

AGENDA #1 “CALL TO ORDER” The June 24, 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. Gary Wachtel led the group in prayer.

AGENDA #3 “ROLL CALL” The following Council members were present: Mark Lambird, Morgan Fehrenbacher, Jack Eyer, and Julia Eichhorst. John McLaughlin was absent. 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 June 10, 2024”

5-B “Approve and Authorize Payment of Accounts Payable June 25, 2024” Pooled Cash $232,507.20, Manual Pooled Cash $155,334.87, Utility Refunds $490.20, Cochran Cemetery Flowers $200.00, MFT $47,134.68

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

5-D “Raffle License: ABATE of Illinois”

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 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 “Request: Permit to Sell in City Park or Recreation Area – For-Profit Yoga Classes” The Council was provided with an application for permit to sell in a City park or recreation area from Hannah Orenich. Mrs. Orenich was interested in holding for-profit yoga classes in the City Park in 2024.

Mrs. Orenich was present to speak with the Council about the request. She told the Council that she had been regularly teaching yoga for the past two years. Now, she was interested in offering yoga classes in the City Park on Tuesdays in August and September from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. She would be charging $10.00 per person, and expected 15 people or less. Additionally, Mrs. Orenich would require participants to sign a waiver of liability that also included the City as a released party. Mrs. Orenich also carried liability insurance with the City of Olney listed as Additional Insured. The City Clerk had a copy of this insurance certificate in her office.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve Mrs. Orenich’s application for permit to sell in a City park or recreation area, as presented, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-B “Resolution: Accept Quote for Water Plant Turbidimeters & Waive Formal Bidding Procedures” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would accept a quote for Water Plant turbidimeters and waive formal bidding procedures. The Council was also provided with a quote from Hach, of Loveland, Colorado, in the amount of $20,100.01.

Mr. Barker told the Council that the need for turbidimeter replacement had been expected, and an amount of $23,000.00 had been budgeted for this purpose. The Water Plant Supervisor had indicated that these turbidimeters could only be purchased through Hach, so that was why bidding needed to be waived.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve 2024-R-55, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-C “Resolution: Accept Bids for the Sanitary Sewer Relining Project” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would accept bids for the Sanitary Sewer Relining Project and a copy of the bid tabulations.

Mr. Bridges reminded the Council that bids for the 3 portions of this total project were opened on June 5, 2024. Due to a faulty bid received under Division 1, it was recommended to only accept the bid for the Main Street Sanitary Sewer Relining portion of the project since the faulty bid would not affect that work in any way. The Council did accept the bid for that portion of the project on June 10, 2024.

Division 1 of this project included cleaning, video inspection, and point repairs.

Division 2 would include cured-in-place pipe lining rehab.

Visu-Sewer of Missouri, of E. St. Louis, Illinois, bid $424,108.85 for Division 1. They were the only bidder for this Division.

Visu-Sewer of Missouri, of E. St. Louis, Illinois, bid $714,168.10 for Division 2. Instituform Technologies, of Chesterfield, Missouri, bid $501,037.41 for Division 2.

After review the bid line items, Mr. Bridges discovered that Instituform had bid $70.00 per unit for reconnection of live services while Visu-Sewer had bid $575.00 per unit. Mr. Bridges knew that could not be correct. He then called Instituform and was told that Instituform had not intended to bid $70.00 per unit on that line item, and that they would not sign a contract based on that pricing, if awarded. Visu-Sewer’s bid of $575.00 per unit was more in line with what Mr. Bridges had been expecting.

Because Division 2 was a grant project, Mr. Bridges checked in with the grant manager to see if the low bid could be awarded due to this circumstance. He was told by the grant manager that as long as the City had proper documentation from Instituform indicating that they would not sign the contract, then it would be possible to award the bid to Visu-Sewer instead.

The bids for Division 1 and Division 2, if both were awarded to Visu-Sewer, would total $1,138,276.95. Mr. Bridges’ estimate for this work had come in at $1,241,298.00.

Mr. Bridges then pointed out that there was also benefit to having both bids awarded to the same contractor in regard to flow of the project and timelines. He recommended awarding the bids for both Divisions to Visu-Sewer.

Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to approve 2024-R-56, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher.

Councilman Eyer asked when the project could begin. While it would depend on the time needed to deliver materials, Mr. Bridges expected that the project could start in about 60 days.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher asked if streets would be closed while the project was taking place. Mr. Bridges indicated that the work would be done in sections with trucks parked in front of the manholes. If a street was fairly wide, no closures would be required. If a street was narrow, that portion of the street may be blocked.

Mayor Lambird, Councilwomen Eichhorst, Fehrenbacher, and Councilman Eyer voted yes. There were no opposing votes. The motion carried.

9-D “Discussion/Possible Action: Approve Grant Application for the Upgrade of Municipal Parking Lots in Downtown Olney” Mr. Barker told the Council that a DCEO grant was available through the Rebuild Downtowns & Main Streets Program that would aid in the upgrading of municipally owned parking lots in downtown Olney. The hope would be to upgrade the municipal parking lot off of York Street and the municipal parking lot off of Market Street with resurfacing, sidewalks, and lighting. The grant would require a 25% match, and it was proposed to fund that match through Business District tax revenue.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve a grant application for the upgrade of municipal parking lots in downtown Olney, 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” Mr. Barker told the Council that he would not be at this coming Thursday’s Sounds of Summer concert as he would be attending a meeting of the Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission.

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

10-C “Chamber of Commerce Report” Councilwoman Eichhorst said that the Chamber Golf Outing would be held on June 28, 2024, with 14 registered teams. The Chamber Board had also welcomed 3 new members, and a ribbon cutting was being scheduled for September.

10-D “Tourism Board Report” Councilwoman Eichhorst reported that the June 13, 2024, Sounds of Summer concert had gone very well. That evening’s music featured gospel music. This coming week’s music would be performed by Nathaniel James. There would be no concert on July 4th due to the holiday.

Before adjourning into closed session, Mrs. Guinn wished to update the Council regarding dog park donations. At the June 10, 2024, meeting, the County Board had provided a $50,000.00 donation. Since then, Mrs. Guinn had received a separate donation in the amount of $28,000.00.

Mayor Lambird extended congratulations to Trenton Payne on being named the State FFA President.

AGENDA #11 “CLOSED SESSION: SALE OR LEASE PRICE OF REAL PROPERTY; ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY; AND APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, COMPENSATION, AND PERFORMANCE OF SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES” Councilman Eyer moved to adjourn to closed session to discuss the sale or lease price of real property; acquisition of real property; and appointment, employment, compensation, and performance of specific employees, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

The meeting adjourned to closed session at 6:12 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 6:51 p.m.

12-A “Approve Minutes of Closed Session on June 10, 2024” Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve minutes of closed session from June 10, 2024, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

12-B “Resolution: Authorize the Destruction of Closed Session Audio” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would authorize the destruction of closed session audio. Mrs. Sterchi explained this was part of the bi-annual review process for closed session meetings.

The Council wished to take action on agenda items 12-B and 12-C together.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve 2024-R-57 and 2024-R-58, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

12-C “Resolution: Authorize Release of Closed Session Minutes” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution hat would authorize the release of closed session minutes. Action on this item was taken under agenda item 12-B.

Before adjourning, Mr. Barker asked the Council if they would like for him to schedule a time to meet with the Police Chief to go over police reports. Councilman Eyer and Councilwoman Fehrenbacher did not believe that was necessary.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher again stated that she wished to see similar reports submitted from the Fire Department.

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

The meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m.

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