East Central Reporter

City of Neoga City Council met July 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 Pro-Tem Schabbing. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Those present were Commissioners Williams, Edwards, Letizia, and Mayor Pro-tem Schabbing. Others present were City Clerk Brenda Evans, City Treasurer Diana Foor, Engineer Lee Beckman, Billie Chambers, Stephanie Jenkins, and Mary Atteberry.

MINUTES

After reviewing the regular session minutes from July 8, 2024, Commissioner Edwards made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Williams. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Letizia, Williams, and Mayor Pro-tem Schabbing. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Stephanie Jenkins addressed the council regarding the sidewalk project and the removal of trees. Jenkins told the council that she lives on Maple Avenue, and has noticed that seven (7) trees were removed for the sidewalk project. Jenkins said that she is not a tree hugger, but these were nice mature trees that provided nice shade. Ms. Jenkins asked if the city would be replacing trees in the near future.

Mary Atteberry also addressed her concerns about the project, and wanted to express her displeasure with the trees being removed. Ms. Atteberry said that she has a sidewalk on her side of the street that is in total disrepair. She asked if the sidewalks could be repaired with grant funds so people could use them. Atteberry also explained that the new sidewalk is going to the “old city park”, but after the storm last spring, all the swings and playground equipment were damaged and removed.

City Engineer Beckman explained that the “Shared Path” grant started over four (4) or five (5) years ago with the “Safe Routes to School” grant, and the city has held four (4) or five (5) public hearings during that time. Beckman explained the reason for the sidewalks being placed on Maple is so young kids do not have to cross Rt. #45 or the Canadian National railroad to get to the park. Beckman did say that approximately twenty (20) trees had to be removed.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS, MAYOR HELM

CLOSING LOCUST AVENUE ON AUGUST 25, 2024

City Clerk Evans informed the council that the First Christian Church has requested a small section of Locust Avenue be closed for their annual Back to School Carnival. Evans explained that the area would be only a portion of the 600 block on Locust from 6th Street to approximately 200 feet north. Commissioner Edwards made a motion to approve the road closure, and Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Letizia, Williams, and Mayor Pro-tem Schabbing. Nays, none. motion carried. 4-0.

LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION/ADVISORY REPORT – TEXT AMENDMENT TO APPENDIX B OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF NEOGA, ILLINOIS

Commissioner Letizia made a motion to accept the Letter of Recommendation/Advisory Report, which stated the Neoga Zoning Board of Appeals recommended Appendix B of the Code of Ordinances to allow a bowling alley in the downtown zoning. Commissioner Edwards seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Letizia, Williams, Edwards, and Mayor Pro-tem Schabbing. Nays, none. motion carried. 4-0.

ORDINANCE #1090-07-24 An Ordinance Amending Appendix B of the Code of Ordinance of the City of Neoga, Illinois

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

AMERICAN LEGION BINGO DONATION/SPONSOR

The American Legion will be holding BINGO night, and they are asking for a $50 donation or a $100 sponsorship with advertising. Commissioner Edwards made a motion to donate $100 for sponsorship to the legion. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Williams. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Letizia, Williams, and Mayor Pro-tem Schabbing. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

PURCHASE OF PAYMENT DROP BOX

City Clerk Evans said that the repairs to the payment drop box in front of the municipal building did not work, and asked that the council approve the purchase of a new one. After a brief discussion, Commissioner Edwards made a motion to approve up to $1700 for the purchase of a payment drop box and pole. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Letizia. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Letizia, Williams, and Mayor Pro-tem Schabbing. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

FINANCE, COMMISSIONER SCHABBING

MONTHLY BILLS

After reviewing the bill list, Commissioner Williams made a motion to pay the monthly bills as presented in the amount of $71,350.19. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Letizia. Ayes, Commissioner Williams, Edwards, Letizia, and Mayor Pro-tem Schabbing. 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 the CDAP Water project, which will be replacing the remaining water lines on the east side of Rt. #45 will have a bid opening on August 22nd at 2:00 pm. The ITEP Shared Path project has started on the west side of town on Park Avenue and looks nice. The bid opening for replacing the clarifier forcemain line at the wastewater treatment plant was held, and one bid came in at $24,576.18, and that bid will be awarded later in the meeting. The city was awarded the Lead Service Line inventory (LSLI) grant, and the grant agreement should be arriving soon; and the Rebuild Illinois / RISE grant for downtown was submitted on July 22, 2024.

INVOICE #30284 FOR WATERMAIN IMPROVEMENTS

Commissioner Edwards made a motion to pay the invoice for the east side watermain replacement project in the amount of $5,500. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Letizia. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Letizia, Williams, and Mayor Pro-tem Schabbing. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

ITEP INVOICE #30286

Commissioner Edwards made a motion to approve the ITEP invoice in the amount of $939.60. Commissioner Williams seconded the motion. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Letizia, Williams, and Mayor Pro-tem Schabbing. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

STREETS AND ALLEYS, COMMISSIONER EDWARDS

Commissioner Edwards informed the Council that TGM has installed a drive for all the construction vehicles to enter into their property on Locust Avenue; however, it is starting to damage the road so it will need to be watched. Commissioner Letizia asked if the city was going to do anything about heavy vehicles on the residential roads before the harvest started. City Clerk Evans said that she will talk to Police Chief Schabbing and Superintendent Durbin about what options they have.

HEALTH AND SAFETY, COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS Commissioner Williams said that he is still concerned about the holes that might be in the city’s right of way from when Seamless Fiber did work in town. Williams also mentioned that ditches need dug, sidewalks need to be repaired, and the speed wagon needs to be out more often. Commissioner Edwards and Letizia agreed.

ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Edwards made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 p.m. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Williams. Ayes, Commissioner Edwards, Letizia, Williams, and Mayor Pro-tem Schabbing. Nays, none. Motion carried. 4-0.

https://neoga.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Minutes-July-22-2024.pdf