East Central Reporter

City of Olney City Council met Jan. 27.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING

AGENDA #1 “CALL TO ORDER” The January 27, 2025, special meeting of the Olney City Council was called to order at 4:00 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. Mayor Lambird led the group in prayer.

AGENDA #3 “ROLL CALL” The following Council members were present: Julia Eichhorst, Jack Eyer, Morgan Fehrenbacher, John McLaughlin, and Mark Lambird. Also present were City Manager Allen Barker, City Clerk Kelsie Sterchi, City Treasurer Jane Guinn, City Attorney Bart Zuber, Code Enforcement Officer Dallas Colwell, Police Chief Justin Bloomer, Park Department Supervisor Frank Bradley, Water Plant Supervisor Cortney Runyon, Street Department Supervisor Tyler Kocher, Water Distribution Supervisor Brandon Williams, City Mechanic Justin Urfer, Sewer Plant Supervisor Jeff Lathrop, and City Engineer Mike Bridges.

AGENDA #4 “PUBLIC COMMENTS/PRESENTATIONS” No one from the public wished to speak.

AGENDA #5 “WORK SESSION: PRIORITIZE PROJECTS FOR COMING YEAR” Prior to the meeting, department heads and Council members submitted some information to the City Manager. Also, everyone was given the five-year capital improvement plans for all departments.

All department heads and Council members were allowed to discuss and answer questions about their suggested goals, equipment and personnel needs.

Mrs. Guinn had also provided a spreadsheet that included upcoming projects, the City’s financial commitment to those projects, and reserve balances.

For City Hall offices, Mr. Barker told the Council that $30,250.00 would still be spent this fiscal year on server upgrades for City Hall and the Police Department. For the next fiscal year, he suggested budgeting $20,000.00 for a “school car” upgrade. The standard $50,000.00 for Contingencies was also planned for the next 5 fiscal years.

The building at the Gun Range was not in good condition. It would either need demolished or moved. The White Squirrel Saddle Club felt that they may be able to use the building if it was moved up a nearby hill and away from flooding. Mr. Barker was budgeting $7,500.00 for this in the next fiscal year.

Mr. Barker also wished to plan for $250,000.00 in fiscal year 2026/2027 in order to make some improvements to the exterior of City Hall.

Mrs. Sterchi then reminded the Council that new banners were typically purchased every 5 years or so. With the impending project for improvements downtown, the purchase of updated banners was being pushed so that the City could know what types of light poles would be utilized before making any non-compatible purchases. She did not expect to purchase any new banners until the 2027/2028 fiscal year.

Mr. Colwell told the Council that the City typically budgeted $10,000.00 each fiscal year for City Hall building improvements. Because of a furnace on its last legs, Mr. Colwell was suggesting to budget $15,000.00 for next fiscal year to include furnace replacement.

Mrs. Guinn told the Council that all timekeeping records were done on paper. This included time cards, paid-time-off requests, etc. for all departments. She hoped to budget $50,000.00 for timekeeping software in fiscal year 2026/2027.

In the Police Department for next fiscal year, Chief Bloomer expected to need $95,000.00 for a new squad vehicle and a used squad for the Detective. Currently, the Detective’s squad had over 130,000 miles and was becoming untrustworthy. He expected to continue budgeting up to $68,000.00 for the subsequent 4 years in order to keep cycling out old squads and replacing with new.

Interim Fire Chief Harmon entered the meeting at 4:09 p.m.

Chief Bloomer also wished to budget $25,000.00 in the next fiscal year for improvements at the Gun Range. Upon inspection, the Chief has noted rotted posts and holes in the metal roofing of the overhang.

The Chief then planned to budget $15,000.00 to replace some vests for officers. The newer officers would not need new vests, but a majority of the others were in need. Each vest would be good for 5 years. The last time vests were purchased, the Department had received a grant for the purchase. Chief Bloomer expected to apply for this grant again.

Tasers should not be needed again until the 2027/2028 fiscal year in the amount of $70,000.00, and this would include a subscription plan.

A few new office computers were also needed in the next fiscal year at $7,000.00, and in car computers would also be needed at $6,000.00.

An amount of $15,000.00 would be needed in each of the next 2 fiscal years for body cams/subscription plans. This cost was expected to increase over the years to $18,000.00 by 2029/2030.

Next fiscal year would also budget $20,000.00 for building improvements at the Police Department. Chief Bloomer’s plan was to focus on exterior cleaning and painting.

Each of the next 5 fiscal years would also require $12,000.00 for the subscription plan for the license plate reading cameras.

Lastly, the Police Department was budgeting $100,000.00 to go towards a county-wide radio system. This contribution was desired by the Council at their January 13th meeting.

Mayor Lambird wondered if the Department needed more than one new squad per year. Mechanic Justin Urfer did not believe so, but he agreed that the Detective vehicle would need replaced in the next fiscal year in addition to a regular new squad.

For the next fiscal year, the Fire Department would need $9,000.00 for portable radios. While Interim Chief Harmon understood that county-wide radios would be coming at some point, he had a few radios that would need to be replaced before that time because the purchase could not wait. The new radios would be compatible with the new county-wide radios. He would also need to plan for continued replacements until the county-wide radio project was complete.

An amount of $20,000.00 would be needed to replace bunker gear. The Interim Chief hoped to again apply for a Small Equipment Grant in the amount of $17,000.00 to help with the purchase, but he cautioned that receipt of grant funds could cause a timeline issue. If the grant was not received, bunker gear would still need replaced as some equipment was years outdated according to OSHA and NFPA guidelines.

The Fire Department would also need $5,600.00 for mobile radios, and $6,500.00 for lighting at the training ground.

The Interim Chief then expressed the need for $50,000.00 to purchase a new Chief squad. The current “Chief” squad was being used by the Assistant Fire Chief. It was a 2008 model that was “limping along.” Currently, Interim Chief Harmon utilized the prior Police Chief’s squad as best he could. This vehicle was a 2013 model with several miles. Even so, this vehicle was not conducive to the duties of the Interim Chief. Recently, he had been using his personal truck to combat the winter weather and to respond to calls in the County.

The Interim Chief also hoped to budget $5,000.00 in order to get a fire hydrant placed on the Fire Department’s property in order to help with hose testing. In previous years, the Department had to contract hose testing at approximately $5,000.00 per year. Now with the addition of the Assistant Fire Chief and a full-time Chief, the Department was able to conduct its own hose testing. The only issue that remained was that the Department has to shut down a road due to no hydrant access, and this caused traffic problems for residents and a local business.

Mayor Lambird asked about the next anticipated large purchase. Interim Chief Harmon replied that would be an apparatus. He was budgeting $1,300,000.00 in fiscal year 2027/2028 for this purpose. He noted that used apparatus could be an option. Currently, the oldest was a 1996 model. An additional option would be to refurbish, but that option would not benefit the Department’s ISO rating.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher asked how much used apparatus ran. Interim Chief Harmon said that amount could range from $200,000.00 to $800,000. A ladder truck would exceed $850,000.00.

Mayor Lambird noted that a ladder truck would come with a pumper.

Interim Chief Harmon added that the brush truck would also need replaced at some point. He was currently budgeting an amount of $90,000.00 for this in fiscal year 2026/2027. While the current brush truck was a 1991 model that was functioning well, its age was hurting the ISO rating.

Mayor Lambird asked about the condition of the Fire Station. Interim Chief Harmon replied that Foreign Fire had been helping with the cost of some of the upkeep, and the Fire Station was mostly in good shape. The biggest issue was that the Department was running out of storage space.

Park Department Supervisor Frank Bradley had budgeted an amount of $32,000.00 for the parking lot extension in Musgrove Park. He expected work to be done this Spring, and reminded the Council that this project was funded by Project Community.

Mr. Bradley also budgeted an amount of $38,000.00 for a half-ton pick up truck. He noted than an amount of $35,000.00 was also included in the current budget for the purchase of a truck, but one had yet to be found. The 2 new trucks would replace 1998 models.

An amount of 31,000.00 was also budgeted to replace 3 riding lawn mowers.

Mr. Bradley also wished to budget funds for an interior lighting project, but he had no indication of an amount to budget for quite yet. He had been working with Ameren on incentives for the replacement of interior and dusk-to-dawn lighting throughout the parks. Mr. Bradley would be meeting with a representative on February 12th to learn more. He expected that if it would cost the City $10,000.00 or more, then it may not be worthwhile.

For the Council’s information, Mr. Bradley planned for replacement of the split rail fence in the City Park, continued removal of Ash trees, stump grinding, and mulching of the playgrounds. He also hoped to replace all wood mulch in landscaped areas with rock. This would eliminate purchasing and placement of mulch every year.

In Mr. Bradley’s Recreation Department, he was budgeting an amount of $8,500.00 in order to replace 4 of the 3-tier bleachers at the tennis courts. Also with the tennis courts, Mr. Bradley would soon be consulting with a contractor about repair to courts 4 through 6. Crack repair may even be an option. At any rate, TIF funds could be used for that project. Minor work near the baseline of courts 1 through 3 may also be considered. Mr. Bradley was estimating $250,000.00 for this work.

Councilman Eyer recalled that the Tennis Association and RCCU #1 had helped contribute financially to such repair work in the past. He wondered if that would also be an option. Mr. Bradley believed it was possible.

Mrs. Guinn felt that the split rail fence replacement in the City Park should be able to use TIF funds. Mr. Bradley agreed and noted that project could even be completed in phases.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher was not sure she understood the purpose of some of the split rail fencing other than for display of Christmas lights. She understood the need for fencing around the playgrounds, but otherwise, she was not sure that the others needed replacing. Mr. Bradley agreed that he was not a fan of the split rail fencing. He would rather see fencing with posts.

Councilman Eyer agreed with the Councilwoman. Several years ago, before the addition of Musgrove Park and the new pool, the City Park had more volume with children. Less fencing was now needed.

City Manager Barker felt that if the split rail fencing was to be kept, then it needed to look decent.

Mr. Bradley cautioned that if some of the split rail fencing was removed, then that would affect some of the look of the current Christmas Light Display. Perhaps other options could be found.

Mrs. Guinn informed the Council that there would be no budgeted capital expenditures in the Lake or Band Departments. She did note that Mr. Bradley hoped to work on the bathrooms at Borah Lake in fiscal year 2026/2027, but an estimate on that work had not been received.

In the Street Department, Supervisor Tyler Kocher hoped to budget $65,000.00 for a used 1-ton truck with dump bed. One was procured last year that had really benefited the department. An amount of $9,000.00 would also be budgeted for a new salt spreader. Mr. Kocher clarified that if a 1-ton truck with dump bed was not purchased, then there would be no need for the new salt spreader.

Mr. Kocher had also budgeted $40,000.00 for a half-ton pick up truck. A total of 2 trucks were currently out of service. Mr. Kocher did have $38,000.00 budgeted this fiscal year to replace 1 of the trucks out of service, but no truck had yet been found.

An amount of $500,000.00 would be budgeted for a road project, and $100,000.00 to address the Eastgate/Scott storm sewer. The storm sewer work could be completed by City workers.

Storm sewer repair at Taylor Lakeside Drive was also needed at $30,000.00. The plastic top of the storm sewer kept collapsing. This work would be contracted because the storm sewer was too deep for the City to complete the work safely.

An amount of $2,444,663.00 would also be included for the completion of the Main Street/Walnut Street Storm Sewer Project.

The resurfacing of Main Street would take place in the 2026/2027 fiscal year. Mr. Kocher indicated that Mr. Bridges would need to begin engineering work now in order to go out for bid in January or February of next year.

In 2026/2027, it was also expected to need $65,000.00 for a newer leaf vac machine, another $65,000.00 for a 1-ton truck, $40,000.00 for a half-ton pick up truck, and $15,000.00 for a stump grinder.

That year would also budget $970,396.00 in the Street Department for the resurfacing of Main Street. An additional $4,300,000.00 would come out of the Business District for this project. The project would include curb work and island removal and/or repair.

The 2027/2028 year would budget another amount of $40,000.00 for a half-ton pick up truck, and $400,000.00 for a new street sweeper. The current street sweeper was a 2011 model that frequently experienced problems.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher asked about availability of used street sweepers. Mr. Kocher had not found any, and figured that used street sweepers were not a good investment.

The box culvert at the intersection of Route 130 and Mack Avenue would also need addressed in 2027/2028 at approximately $300,000.00. The wall of the culvert was cracked, and his department kept patching it until repair was required.

Mayor Lambird asked if the culvert would last until the 2027/2028 year. Mr. Kocher believed so. The intersection would also need widened as part of that project.

The storm sewer at the intersection of N. East Street and Scott Street would also need addressed that year in order to alleviate flooding. This cost was estimated at $400,000.00.

The same year would budget another $500,000.00 for a road project, and $85,000.00 for a mini excavator.

In 2028/2029, Mr. Kocher budgeted $175,000.00 for a new dump truck. This would replace a 1998 model that was experiencing problems. He noted that the newer trucks purchased over the past few years made pushing snow much easier.

The 2028/2029 year would also plan for a used bucket truck at $95,000.00, would plan to address the Laurel Street storm sewer at $400,000.00, and would plan for another road project at $500,000.00.

Mr. Kocher added that IDOT had told him that Route 130 was projected to be re-paved in June of 2026. The City had a long-range sidewalk plan submitted to IDOT that would require the State to include sidewalk placement as part of their project. Mr. Bridges expected that the City would likely be required to share cost on part of that sidewalk project, but that amount was not known.

Mayor Lambird thought that the law would require the State to take full responsibility of the sidewalk extension. Mr. Bridges believed that the law only required the State to include the sidewalk plan as part of their project, but he was not sure about who paid what amount.

Councilman McLaughlin recalled that STU funds would be used to repair E. North Avenue, from Whittle Avenue to N. East Street. He wondered when that project would take place. Mr. Kocher and Mr. Bridges expected that would happen in 2027.

While he understood that the resurfacing of Main Street was overdue and a big project, Councilman McLaughlin pointed out that grants and Business District funds were making that project possible. He felt strongly that the City should not neglect residential roads in order to only focus on Main Street.

Mrs. Guinn clarified that while Business District funds would be used on Main Street, not enough of those funds would be available at first. The General Fund would need to initially pay for some of that project and then the Business District would pay back the General Fund over time.

Councilman McLaughlin recalled that there had been plans to address roads near Eastgate. Mr. Kocher replied that he was waiting to get approval on the engineering. He was also interested in purchasing supplies as soon as possible even if the project could not be completed immediately.

No funds were budgeted in MFT for 2025/2026 year. This was being done to help contribute to the STU project of E. North Avenue in 2026/2027, and then $500,000.00 would be budgeted in alternate years for road projects.

Mrs. Guinn wanted the Council to keep in mind that MFT funds would be used for the East Street Bridge Project. Delays were due to CSX not having available flaggers.

In the Mechanic Department, Supervisor Justin Urfer did not expect to need any capital items until the 2027/2028 year. His larger-ticket items under the capital threshold would be $3,500.00 in 2025/2026 for a scan tool, and $3,000.00 in 2026/2027 for a Miller spool gun.

In 2027/2028, Mr. Urfer would need $8,000.00 for a steam pressure washer. In 2028/2029, he would need $6,500.00 for an air compressor. Lastly, in 2029/2030, he was budgeting $40,000.00 for a three-quarter ton pick up truck.

Going back to the subject of streets, Mrs. Guinn recalled a meeting that included Councilman McLaughlin where it was discussed and advised for funds to be set aside each year in a specific bank account in order to save up for expensive street projects. She asked the Councilman if he still wanted to do that or if he wanted to put funds towards smaller-scale street projects.

The Councilman did recall targeting N. Elliott and N. Boone Streets, from Butler Street to Locust Street, and having funds saved for repair. He remembered that N. Elliott Street would be handled first as it was less expensive, and then N. Boone Street would be next.

Regardless, the Councilman just wanted to be sure that the City was working with some type of plan to address residential roads. If there were funds left over to set aside for such projects, then he felt that should be done.

Mrs. Guinn said that funds left over to be set aside would be done at the end of a fiscal year. Currently, the road project bank account held only about $387,000.00.

Mr. Kocher brought up the fact that water lines would also need to be moved before road work on N. Elliott or N. Boone Streets.

Water Plant Supervisor Cortney Runyon told the Council that for this next fiscal year, she planned to budget $38,000.00 for a half-ton pick up truck. This amount would actually be a roll over from the current fiscal year as she did not think that one could be purchased in time. Once purchased, she planned to look at a rolling replacement for other trucks every 2 years.

This next fiscal year, she also needed to budget $100,000.00 for carbon replacement in all filters. Replacements were needed every 5 years.

Mrs. Runyon would also need $8,000.00 for clarifier valve replacement. She had a valve that had been down for over a year. If something happened to the clarifier, she would not be able to have it isolated. When ready, the process must be completed in 24 hours, so it would be a tight timeline.

The 2026/2027 budget would include an amount of $14,000.00 for riding lawnmower replacement, $7,500.00 for a spectrophotometer, and $8,000.00 for clarifier painting. She noted that the clarifier valve would need replaced before painting.

In 2027/2028, she expected to budget $40,000.00 for another pick up truck replacement, and $25,000.00 to replace a 30-year old tractor.

As has been brought up for several years, a new Water Plant would soon be needed. She budgeted $18,000,000.00 for this in the 2028/2029 year. The Water Plant was currently 75 years old.

Councilman McLaughlin was aware of the need for a new Water Plant. He was shocked that the price tag had gone up $8,000,000.00 since he had started on the Council.

Mayor Lambird asked what Mrs. Runyon expected from the EPA. She replied that the EPA would be back again this year and would likely issue their same recommendations. The need would go from a recommendation to a requirement whenever the EPA decided to “red flag” the City for not meeting standards.

Past that, the 2029/2030 year would need $43,000.00 for another pick up truck, and $22,000.00 to replace the pump house roof. At this time, she would plan to replace the roof with metal.

For Water Distribution, Supervisor Brandon Williams expected to need $90,000.00 in the next fiscal year to replace the 1994 utility leak truck. An amount of $60,000.00 would be carried over from the current fiscal year into the next as that project would not be completed by the end of this fiscal year.

An amount of $825,000.00 would also be budgeted for replacement of the water line on E. North Avenue, from Whittle Avenue to N. East Street. This work needed to be contracted and completed before that stretch of road could be resurfaced.

Mr. Williams would then be budgeting $850,000.00 in 2026/2027 to replace the water line on S. Whittle Avenue, from Monroe Street to Brentwood Avenue. That year, he would also budget $600,000.00 to paint the Brentwood water tower.

In 2027/2028, Mr. Williams planned to budget $600.000.00 to replace the water line that serviced Harmon Avenue, Ridgway Avenue, Esmeralda Avenue, and Brentwood Avenue.

Yet in this fiscal year, Sewer Department Supervisor Jeff Lathrop told the Council that he expected to spend $1,063,458.00 on the sewer relining as grouting work still remained. Also, he was still anticipating to pay the $85,000.00 for the addition of SCADA to his lift stations, and to pay out the final payment of $105,000.00 toward replacement of sewer line on Main Street.

As in years past and for the next 5 fiscal years, Mr. Lathrop wished to budget $40,000.00 each year for emergency sewer line replacements.

In the next fiscal year, he expected to need $700,000.00 for a storage building for his caustic. Such a storage building was at the direction of EPA and was needed for zinc remediation.

An amount of $35,500.00 would also be needed next year for a sewer camera program. The program would communicate with the GIS system on the computer and help with Sewer Department record keeping and future engineering.

The 2026/2027 year would need $11,000.00 each for a sludge pump and a filter building wet well pump. Mr. Lathrop also expected to need $2,000,000.00 for replacement of filter cells. For the time being, Mr. Lathrop could still get parts, but that would not be the case for much longer.

In 2027/2028, Mr. Lathrop expected to need $15,000.00 in order to replace some lab equipment. By 2028/2029, he expected to need $40,000.00 to replace a pick up truck, $11,000.00 for another sludge pump, and another $11,000.00 for a filter building wet well pump.

In 2029/2030, an amount of $2,000,000.00 was being budgeted for a screw press to handle sludge.

Mrs. Guinn told the Council that the only capital requests for the next 5 years from the Library would be at $7,000.00 each year for the purchase of books.

Regarding the Route 130 TIF, Mrs. Guinn indicated that a plan for spending was needed in order for her to complete the annual TIF report. For the next fiscal year, she planned to use $15,000.00 on the final bill for the Route 130 Sidewalk Project, and $150,000.00 to improve the entrance to the City Park.

Mrs. Guinn also expected to use TIF funds for tennis court improvements, but could not input a budgeted amount until Mr. Bradley met with the contractor.

An amount of $25,000.00 was also planned toward the new OCC nursing extension. Mr. Zuber was in the process of drafting a TIF agreement for that purpose.

Past that, she anticipated the possible need to use TIF funds in the amount of $100,000.00 to replace the split rail fencing in the City Park, $150,000.00 to upgrade a part of the Fairgrounds, and $270,000.00 for fencing along Route 130 in the City Park.

In 2026/2027, Mr. Barker stated that he wanted to budget $200,000.00 to help upgrade parking in the City Park. He had been made aware from the Fair Board that more parking across from the Community Building would be desired.

Regarding the Fairground upgrades in this next fiscal year, Mr. Barker explained that those funds would go towards the demolition of some old structures and bathroom improvements. He also hoped to add some more lighting along White Squirrel Drive.

In the South Olney TIF, Mrs. Guinn told the Council that $75,680.00 was able to be reimbursed back to the City this fiscal year for reimbursement of this TIF district’s start up costs.

By 2027/2028, Mrs. Guinn planned to extend utilities to the Whittle Avenue Industrial Park. From there, an amount of $600,000.00 was planned to be needed in 2029/2030 for a roadway from S. East Street into the Whittle Avenue Industrial Park.

In the Business District for the next fiscal year, Mrs. Guinn expected to spend $1,000,000.00 on the Main/Walnut storm sewer and $500,000.00 on engineering work for the resurfacing of Main Street.

In 2026/2027, she planned to need $2,800,000.00 for the remainder of the resurfacing of Main Street, from Route 130 to Van Street. An amount of $600,000.00 would also be needed for curb replacement along a portion of Main Street, an amount of $589,604.00 to replace and/or remove concrete islands between Van Street and Route 50. Lastly, $300,000.00 was budgeted to improve street lights at the intersection of Main Street and N. East Street.

For 2027/2028, an amount of $400,000.00 was expected to be needed as the City’s portion of the ITEP grant for the downtown improvements. An additional amount of $355,000.00 was also being slated for the City’s portion of a grant that would help to resurface 2 municipal parking lots. It was yet unknown if the City would be receiving that grant, but she wanted to plan ahead.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher had submitted a listing of short term goals, long term goals, and goals related to the TIF districts. Some items had already been addressed by departments earlier in the meeting.

The Councilwoman felt that all of the downtown projects were extremely important and should be watched carefully. She expected that the end costs would be higher than originally expected and hoped to be cautious on the spending of Business District funds until the downtown projects were further along.

In the short term, Councilwoman Fehrenbacher wished to keep focus on a good end solution for sewer sludge. While a temporary solution had been found for sludge disposal, she wanted to be sure to pursue a permanent solution.

The Councilwoman was also aware that there had been discussion about the addition of restrooms near the pickleball courts, and did see that as a need. She had heard that an organization was interested in fund raising for this purpose, and she was interested in pursuing that project with the fund raising.

Regarding the need for a new Water Plant, Councilwoman Fehrenbacher felt that should be watched closely.

Due to Olney continuing to lose dentists, veterinarians, and lawyers, Councilwoman Fehrenbacher indicated that she was interested in the City exploring incentives that would attract young professionals to the community.

The Councilwoman was also interested in taking long term approaches towards tourism and seeing if tourism dollars could be used to support development at East Fork Lake and/or a miniature golf course in a park area.

Councilwoman Fehrenbacher supported the use of TIF funds to help clean up the Fairground area in the area of the old ball complex in the City Park. She felt that the rest of the City Park looked nice, but that area did not look great.

Mayor Lambird had also submitted a list of goals. First off, he explained his interest in extending road improvements off of Main Street at least one block north and south along Fair Street, Walnut Street, and Kitchell Avenue. He felt that general funds could be used to complete this, and then that the Business District could reimburse those costs. This project would add efficiency and ensure that surrounding areas benefitted from the project’s momentum.

The Mayor was also interested in the addition of a turn lane for turning north onto Van Street from Main Street in order to improve traffic flow and safety at this intersection.

Mayor Lambird was also interested in continuing focus on enhancing City parks.

Focus on the need for equipment procurement was also of interest to the Mayor. Specifically, he felt that surplus IDOT dump trucks and plows could be available at a fraction of the cost of new equipment. Based on his research, he felt that suitable equipment could be found in a range of $4,000.00 to $7,000.00.

The Mayor then discussed goals related to economic development. He was still interested in moving forward with a Downtown Façade Grant Program, but he wanted to wait on implementation until Love’s started with its video gaming. Mayor Lambird also wished to pass a Utility Abatement Program for locally owned, sales-tax producing business downtown. Lastly, he hoped to install fiesta lights above the heart of downtown to make the area more attractive.

Councilman Eyer was in favor of the Brentwood water tower painting. He was ready to get rid of the current “Olney” script that was currently on that tower.

Councilman Eyer was also concerned about the patching of potholes. He appreciated the City’s efforts, but the hot patch struggled to hold. He wondered if dedicated equipment could be purchased that would help to bore, undercut, and improve the entire process.

Mr. Kocher was aware of the type of equipment that Councilman Eyer was referencing. The equipment itself would be approximately $250,000.00, but would also require a new type of patch and more oil which would also increase cost. An oil tank would also be needed. He had spoken with Olney Township about a possible partnership, but that would be tough to manage. Additionally, the oil would need to be contained in a tank that was heated and could be kept stirred.

Mayor Lambird felt that the new County Chairman would be interested in working with the City on needs.

Councilman Eyer then hoped to see the City install an EV charging station. Councilwoman Fehrenbacher thought she recalled such installation being discussed during the resurfacing of the City Hall parking lot.

Lastly, Councilman Eyer continued to express his concern with the loss of trees. Trees also were squirrel habitat. He hoped to promote the urban forest with addition of nut trees.

Regarding the recruitment of young professionals, Mayor Lambird advised that RCDC was exploring such a system. Not many rural communities had such a program, so finding a good system to look at was taking some time.

Mr. Zuber felt that a good resource would be the Richland County CEO Program. He felt it would be difficult to recruit someone into town who did not have roots here. Mayor Lambird disagreed.

This was Councilman McLaughlin’s last budget meeting as he was not running for re election in the Spring. He thanked the staff for “putting up” with him over the last 12 years.

AGENDA #6 “ADJOURN” Councilwoman Fehrenbacher moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman McLaughlin. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

The special meeting of City Council adjourned at 5:28 p.m.

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