East Central Reporter

City of Olney City Council met Sept. 23.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

AGENDA #1 “CALL TO ORDER” The September 23, 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, Morgan Fehrenbacher, Jack Eyer, and Julia Eichhorst. John McLaughlin was absent. Also present were City Manager Allen Barker, City Engineer Mike Bridges, City Treasurer Jane Guinn, 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 September 9, 2024”

5-B “Approve and Authorize Payment of Accounts Payable September 24, 2024” Pooled Cash $414,707.73, Manual Pooled Cash $3,816.80, Foreign Fire $2,150.00, Police Pension $2,150.00, Sewer Capital Improvement $58,075.79, MFT $2,142.25, Tourism $20,000.00, Route 130 TIF $2,183.59, South Olney TIF District $2,321.00

5-C “Payment Request: Main Street Sanitary Sewer Relining”

5-D “Payment Request: Sanitary Sewer CIPP Lining Rehabilitation”

5-E “Approve Application to Erect a Mausoleum”

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 “Resolution: Amend the 2024-2025 Water Plant & Tourism Budgets” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would amend the Water Plant and Tourism budgets. Mrs. Guinn told the Council that this resolution would reflect the chlorine shutoff valve for the Water Plant and the $20,000.00 OCC Theater sponsorship that were approved at the prior meeting. The funds would be coming out of reserves from the Water Fund and Sewer Fund, respectively.

Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to approve 2024-R-78, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-B “Discussion/Possible Action: Musgrove Park Retention Pond Project” This topic was tabled.

9-C “Resolution: Accept Bid for the Demolition of 526 S. Saratoga Street” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would accept a bid for the demolition of 526 S. Saratoga Street. Robert Petty had bid $10,000.00, Doll’s, Inc., had bid $9,200.00, Daugherty Excavating & Repair, LLC., had bid $8,250.00, Guisewite Excavating & Recycling, LLC., had bid, $7,200.00, and Steve Hemrich bid $6,900.00.

Code Enforcement Officer Dallas Colwell told the Council that the City had accepted this property back in July and it was ready for demolition. If approved to move forward, there would also be a cost of $2,063.00 for asbestos removal. For the demolition, Mr. Colwell recommended to accept the low bid from Steve Hemrich.

Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to approve 2024-R-79, seconded by Councilwoman Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-D “Resolution: Approve an Amended Tourism Grant Application & Program” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would approve an amended Tourism Grant application and program. The Council was also provided with a copy of the amended program/application, the suspended program/application, and minutes from December 9, 2019.

Mrs. Sterchi said that at the end of 2019, the Tourism Grant program had been suspended. Tourism Grants had recently been brought up again, and Councilwomen Fehrenbahcer and Eichhorst had met with Mrs. Sterchi, Mr. Barker, and Mrs. Guinn to discuss some amendments.

The amended program would make the process easier for applicants, but would limit grant requests to no more than $5,000.00. For the Council’s information, Mrs. Sterchi advised that under the prior program, the largest about to be requested and granted was $5,000.00.

Councilman Eyer recalled that donations higher than $5,000.00 had recently been awarded to requesters with the funds coming from Tourism. He understood that the City collected approximately $10,000.00 per month from hotel/motel tax. He felt that the Tourism Fund would generate quite a bit each year to be limited to $5,000.00 grant awards.

Mrs. Guinn reminded the Councilman that there were other expenses paid for by the Tourism Fund, so not all of the generated revenue would be for grants.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher added that the City could also use Tourism funds for its own projects. Councilwoman Eichhorst agreed and specifically wished to see funds utilized towards downtown beautification and white squirrel statues.

Since the program suspension in 2019, people had to request sponsorships out of the Tourism Fund and there were no guidelines to justify approval.

Councilman Eyer asked if more than $5,000.00 could be contributed for larger events. The Council agreed that larger events that the City was partnered with could have larger amounts allocated; such as the recent eclipse festival.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve 2024-R-80, 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 reported that the relining of the Main Street sanitary sewer had been completed. The rest of the project would be related to the grant that had been received. Mr. Barker hoped to continue sanitary sewer relining with additional projects. He hoped to move towards getting another CDBG grant application prepared for next year.

Mayor Lambird asked if the contractor had found anything extraordinary during their work. To the contrary, Mr. Bridges indicated that there were fewer repairs needed that originally thought.

Councilman Eyer asked if the contractor had been performing satisfactorily. Mr. Bridges believed that they had done well so far.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher was aware that an unpleasant smell had arisen along Main Street during the relining work. She asked if more of that should be expected. Mr. Bridges did not believe so and was not aware that there should be any smells. He did comment that the contractor had been using steam the cure the lines. One evening, Mr. Bridges did notice steam coming out of a manhole downstream from the work. Somehow, steam must have gotten out of the liner and into sewer lines.

Mr. Barker said that if they applied for another CDBG grant, the maximum award amount would be $550,000.00. This project ended up having the City contribute an additional $600,000.00. He wondered if the Council would want to limit a project to $550,000.00 or if they would be willing to contribute additional funds for a larger project.

Mr. Barker also expected work to begin next month on the East Street Bridge.

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

10-C “Chamber of Commerce Report” Councilwoman Eichhorst said that submissions were being received for the Scarecrow Contest. The Friends of Olney may make some changes to the contest next year.

The Ladies Night tickets for November were now on sale.

10-D “Tourism Board Report” There was no report.

Mayor Lambird wished Mr. Barker a happy birthday.

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 Eichhorst 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 Fehrenbacher. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

The meeting adjourned to closed session at 6:13 p.m.

AGENDA #12 “RECONVENE OPEN SESSION” Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to enter back into open session, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received. Open session resumed at 6:43 p.m.

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

12-B “Resolution: Authorize Execution of a Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Olney and the International Association of Firefighters Local 4301” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would authorize the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Association of Firefighters Local 4301 (IAFF), and a copy of the proposed Memorandum. The Memorandum would alter the collective bargaining agreement to allow for 48/96 scheduling.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to approve 2024-R-81, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

Mr. Barker then told the Council that he had met with the Fair Board recently to discuss improvements to the Fairgrounds. Some requests should come to the Council at some point in the future.

Mr. Barker was also working with local organizations on a potential Field of Flags program, and he would be attending a meeting with the Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission on September 26th.

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

The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

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