East Central Reporter

City of Olney City Council met July 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

AGENDA #1 “CALL TO ORDER” The July 8, 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. Tim Loomis 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 Engineer Mike Bridges, City Attorney Bart Zuber, and Deputy City Clerk Lori Zimmerle.

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 Meetings on June 24 & July 1, 2024” 5-B “Approve and Authorize Payment of Accounts Payable June 25, 2024” Pooled Cash $154,703.63, Manual Pooled Cash $91,5611.09, Petty Cash $49.97, Foreign Fire $5,036.66, IMRF $23,739.75, Sewer Capital Improvement $53,049.00, Liability $894.99, Tourism $2,500.00

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 Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. 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/Possible Ordinance: Closure of a Portion of the North/South Alley Between E. Butler and E. Laurel Streets & N. Sycamore and N. Mill Streets” The Council was provided with a copy of an e-mail from Tony Brooks and a satellite image of the north/south alley. Mr. Brooks was requesting a partial closure of the alley that adjoined 318 N. Sycamore Street. Letters were sent to all property owners adjoining this alley advising them of this request and giving them the opportunity to support or oppose the request.

Julie Brooks was in attendance to answer any questions from the Council. No questions or comments were heard. Councilman McLaughlin asked if part of the alley had already been closed and was answered yes.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve Ordinance 2024-30, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received. The City Attorney would draft the ordinance.

9-B “Resolution: Accept Bid for Demolition of 614 N. Walnut Street” The Council was provided with a code enforcement timeline for this property and a proposed resolution that would accept a bid for its demolition. Code Enforcement Officer Dallas Colwell presented the Council with information about the shape of the property and the bids that were received. A woman purchased the property at a tax sale and has done nothing with the property. A couple of the walls of the house were falling down and had become a hazard to the community.

Guisewite Excavating & Recycling had bid $14,900.00. Hemrich Excavating bid $13,700.00. Mr. Colwell recommended accepting the low bid from Hemrich Excavating.

Councilman Eyer moved to approve 2024-R-60, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-C “Ordinance: Adopt the 2021 Edition of the Illinois Energy Conservation Code, Regulating and Governing Energy Efficient Building Envelopes and Installation of Energy Efficient Mechanical, Lighting and Power Systems in the City of Olney; Providing for the Issuance of Permits and Collections of Fees Therefore; and Amending Title 15 (Buildings and Construction) of the City of Olney Municipal Code by Amending Chapter 15.56 (Energy Conservation Code) Thereto” The Council was provided with a proposed ordinance that would amend the City of Olney Municipal Code by adopting the 2021 edition of the Illinois Energy Conservation Code.

Code Enforcement Officer Dallas Colwell stated that the Municipal Code needed an amendment to adopt the 2021 edition of the Illinois Energy Conservation Code since this was now State statute.

Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to approve Ordinance 2024-31, seconded by Councilman McLaughlin. A majority voice vote was received.

9-D “Resolution: Authorize Tax Abatement Within the Enterprise Zone” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would authorize tax abatement within the Enterprise Zone.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve 2024-R-61, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority voice vote was received.

9-E “Discussion/Possible Action: Authorize Solicitation of Bids for the Main Street Storm Sewer Drainage Project” City Engineer Mike Bridges asked the Council to begin to solicit bids for the planned Main Street Storm Sewer Drainage Project.

Councilman Eyer moved to approve solicitation of bids for the Main Street Storm Sewer Drainage Project, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority voice vote was received.

9-F “Resolution: Accept Quote for Light Fixture Replacement on Diamond #9 & Waive Formal Bidding Procedures” The Council was provided with a memo from Park Department Supervisor Frank Bradley, a proposed resolution that would accept a quote and waive formal bidding procedures for light fixture replacement on Diamond #9, and a copy of the quote.

Mr. Bradley stated that 10 out of 36 lights were not working on Diamond #9 and needed to be replaced with LED lighting. The quote received from Keystone Lighting was in the amount of $37,879.92.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve 2024-R-62, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority voice vote was received.

9-G “Discussion/Possible Action: Reschedule Date and/or Time of the July 22, 2024, City Council Meeting” Mayor Lambird stated that the next Council meeting conflicted in time with the Richland County Fair Queen Pageant. He asked if the meeting could be moved to an earlier time. Councilwoman Eichhorst said she would also be involved in that event.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to change the meeting time to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, July 22, 2024, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority 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 told the Council that interviews were scheduled on Wednesday for the two vacancies in the Street Department. Also, Mr. Barker, City Treasurer Guinn, and the Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission were still working on the grant application for municipal parking lot renovations.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher asked where we are at with the Downtown Revitalization Project. Mr. Bridges said that it was at the environmental stage and that the process was not really moving that much at this time. He also said they will be excavating for the new light poles.

Councilman McLaughlin wanted to know when the Council could see a plan for that project. Mr. Bridges said that he had plans that were submitted with the application that the Council could review.

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

10-C “Chamber of Commerce Report” Councilwoman Eichhorst said that the Sounds of Summer Concert will not be held during the week of the Fair.

10-D “Tourism Board Report” Councilwoman Eichhorst stated that while she was at the Red Hill Racetrack, Tourism Times publications were being handed out.

AGENDA #11 “CLOSED SESSION: SALE OR LEASE PRICE OF REAL PROPERTY; ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY; AND APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, COMPENSATION, AND PERFORMANCE OF SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES” Councilwoman Eichhorst 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 7:13 p.m.

AGENDA #12 “RECONVENE OPEN SESSION” Councilman McLaughlin moved to enter back into open session, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received. Open session resumed at 7:29 p.m.

12-A “Approve Minutes of Closed Session on June 24 & July 1, 2024” Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve minutes of closed session from June 24 and July 1, 2024, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

12-B “Discussion/Possible Ordinance: Purchase of Real Property” The City had an opportunity to purchase 1440 N. Silver Street.

Councilman McLaughlin moved to approve Ordinance 2024-32, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

Mr. Zuber asked for a roll call to affirm the 2/3 vote. Mayor Lambird, Councilwoman Eichhorst, Councilman Eyer, Councilwoman Fehrenbacher and Councilman McLaughlin voted yes. The motion passed.

Councilman Eyer told the Council that he was stopped by a person at the Bandshell and wanted to know why there was no handicap parking close to that area. The Council was in favor of having a sign placed in the parking area north of the gazebo.

Councilman Eyer also spoke with Kenny Wilson about re-starting the recycling program. Councilwoman Fehrenbacher wanted to know where Mr. Wilson would be taking the items to be recycled. Mr. Eyer was unsure.

The Council was still interested in a recycling program, but need to have some answers.

Councilman Eyer wanted to know what he would need to do to have the old Silver St. School become a more wooded area via natural means. It would take some time and he did not want to create problems if the area was not mowed. Mr. Zuber said he would probably have to get a variance for the property.

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

The meeting adjourned at 7:39 p.m.

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