East Central Reporter

City of Olney City Council met June 23.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

AGENDA #1 “CALL TO ORDER” The June 23, 2025, 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. Willard Anderson led the group in prayer.

AGENDA #3 “ROLL CALL” The following Council members were present: Mark Lambird, Jack Eyer, Julia Eichhorst, Bryce Fehrenbacher, and Matt Miller. Also present were City Manager Allen Barker, City Treasurer Jane Guinn, City Attorney Bart Zuber, City Engineer Mike Bridges, 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 9, 2025”

5-B “Approve and Authorize Payment of Accounts Payable June 24, 2025” Pooled Cash $143,866.26, Manual Pooled Cash $26,727.32, Walnut/Main Storm Sewer $10,000.00, Dog Park $66.48, Route 130 TIF $1,710.76

5-C “Various Appointments & Re-Appointments to City Boards & Commissions” Scott Jones and Bridgett Jensen to the Board of Appeals; Kevin Ochs to the Police Pension Board; Josh Feddes to the Parks & Recreation Board; Bryce Fehrenbacher to the Joint Review Board; Julie Hearring to the Board of Fire & Police Commissioners

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

5-E “Raffle License: Olney Masonic Lodge”

5-F “Raffle License: Stopping Women Abuse Now, Inc.”

5-G “Raffle License: Fraternal Order of Eagles”

5-H “Raffle License: Rolling Thunder ® IL 3”

AGENDA #6 “REMOVAL OF ITEMS FROM CONSENT AGENDA”

No items were requested for removal from the Consent Agenda.

AGENDA #7 “CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT AGENDA”

Councilman Eyer moved to approve the remaining items on the consent agenda, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

AGENDA #8 “CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA”

No items were requested for removal from Consent Agenda.

AGENDA #9 “PRESENTATION OF ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, ETC.”

9-A “Façade Improvement Grant Request: 224 E. Main Street” The Council was provided with a copy of the Olney Façade Improvement Grant Program and a copy of the Façade Improvement Grant Application for 224 E. Main Street as submitted by Fehrenbacher LLC. The Richland County Development Corporation (RCDC) is the administrator of the program and worked with Fehrenbacher LLC. on its grant application and collection of supporting documentation.

Fehrenbacher LLC. applied for $5,000.00 to be used towards window improvements at this location.

Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to approve award of up to $5,000.00 to Fehrenbacher LLC. for window replacement at 224 E. Main Street, seconded by Councilman Miller. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

From here, the applicant would need to complete the work, submit photos of the completed work, submit copies of invoices and receipts validating project costs, and submit time sheets recording labor on the project. These items should be submitted to RCDC, and subsequently the City, in order for reimbursement of the $5,000.00 to be issued.

9-B “Façade Improvement Grant Request: 205 E. Main Street” The Council was provided with a copy of the Olney Façade Improvement Grant Program and a copy of the Façade Improvement Grant Application for 205 E. Main Street as submitted by Travis Paddock. The Richland County Development Corporation (RCDC) is the administrator of the program and worked with Travis Paddock on his grant application and collection of supporting documentation.

Travis Paddock applied for $5,000.00 to be used towards wall façade repair and treatment at this location.

Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to approve award of up to $5,000.00 to Travis Paddock for wall façade repair and treatment at 205 E. Main Street, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

From here, the applicant would need to complete the work, submit photos of the completed work, submit copies of invoices and receipts validating project costs, and submit time sheets recording labor on the project. These items should be submitted to RCDC, and subsequently the City, in order for reimbursement of the $5,000.00 to be issued.

9-C “Façade Improvement Grant Request: 202 S. Whittle Avenue” The Council was provided with a copy of the Olney Façade Improvement Grant Program and a copy of the Façade Improvement Grant Application for 202 S. Whittle Avenue as submitted by Elaine M. Racklin Revocable Trust. The Richland County Development Corporation (RCDC) is the administrator of the program and worked with the Elaine M. Racklin Revocable Trust on its grant application and collection of supporting documentation.

The Elaine M. Racklin Revocable Trust applied for $1,964.50 to be used towards awnings at this location.

Councilman Miller moved to approve award of up to $1,964.50 to Elaine M. Racklin Revocable Trust for awnings at 202 S. Whittle Avenue, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

From here, the applicant would need to complete the work, submit photos of the completed work, submit copies of invoices and receipts validating project costs, and submit time sheets recording labor on the project. These items should be submitted to RCDC, and subsequently the City, in order for reimbursement of the $1,964.50 to be issued.

9-D “Façade Improvement Grant Request: 206-212 S. Whittle Avenue” The Council was provided with a copy of the Olney Façade Improvement Grant Program and a copy of the Façade Improvement Grant Application for 206-212 S. Whittle Avenue as submitted by Elaine M. Racklin Revocable Trust. The Richland County Development Corporation (RCDC) is the administrator of the program and worked with the Elaine M. Racklin Revocable Trust on its grant application and collection of supporting documentation.

The Elaine M. Racklin Revocable Trust applied for $2,125.30 to be used towards awnings at this location.

Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to approve award of up to $2,125.30 to the Elaine M. Racklin Revocable Trust for awning at 206-212 S. Whittle Avenue, seconded by Councilman Miller. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

From here, the applicant would need to complete the work, submit photos of the completed work, submit copies of invoices and receipts validating project costs, and submit time sheets recording labor on the project. These items should be submitted to RCDC, and subsequently the City, in order for reimbursement of the $2,125.30 to be issued.

9-E “Ordinance: Authorize the Sale of Municipally Owned Real Property & Authorize Execution of Deed” Earlier this day at 4:00 p.m., a public auction was held for the sale of 207 N. Saratoga Street. Mr. Barker reported that there was only one bidder. Previously, the Council had taken action to require a minimum bid of $100.00. The Robert F. Greve and Kristy L. Geltz Joint Revocable Living Trust had bid $100.00.

Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to approve the $100.00 bid from the Robert F. Greve and Kristy L. Geltz Joint Revocable Living Trust, and subsequently Ordinance 2025-30, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

Mr. Zuber would draft the ordinance and deed.

9-F “Resolution: Amend the 2025-2026 Budget in the Recreation and Water Plant Departments” The Council was provided with a proposed resolution that would amend the 2025-2026 budget in the Recreation and Water Plant Departments.

Mrs. Guinn told the Council that the budget amendment for the Recreation Department was to replace a valve for the Splash Pad. Funds would be taken out of the Splash Pad Maintenance bank account to pay for the valve in the amount of $1,636.00. The originally budgeted amount of $1,000.00 would remain in the Repairs & Maintenance – Splash Pad line item for other minimal repairs that would likely arise during the remainder of the season.

The budget amendment for the Water Plant was for the Clarifier Valve Replacement Project. An amount of $8,000.00 was budgeted this fiscal year for the replacement of the north clarifier valve. Since that time, Supervisor Cortney Runyon thought it would make most sense to go ahead and replace both the north and the south clarifiers at the same time. Both valves were original and currently exposed. An amount of $1,805.00 could be transferred from the Maintenance of Equipment line item to cover the overage and take care of both valves.

Regarding the Splash Pad valve, Councilmen Eyer and Miller wondered if any Splash Pad equipment had a warranty since the facility was relatively new. Mrs. Guinn was unsure.

From the audience, Project Community member Morgan Fehrenbacher said she could follow up with another member, Jason Doris, to see about a possible warranty.

If no warranty, the Council would be agreeable to the budget amendment.

Councilman Eyer moved to approve 2025-R-42, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

9-G “Discussion/Possible Action: County-Wide Radio Project Clarification & Funding” This topic was also discussed at the last Council meeting but was ultimately tabled. Interim Fire Chief Daron Harmon was present to speak further on the topic.

Chief Harmon had provided a breakdown of expected project costs and sources of funding. He told the Council that Requests for Proposal (RFPs) were re-sent by the County to five different companies because the plans were now to go fully to a P25 system and analog. This would result in a long-term cost savings with infrastructure installed first and then radios added. Also, the Olney Police Department and Richland County Sheriff’s Department were currently P25-capable.

Councilman Miller asked if he was correct in his assessment that the County was not contributing any funds other what had been received from a drug seizure. Chief Harmon indicated that was how he understood that contribution.

Councilman Miller was aware that most of the Fire Department calls were made in City limits. Because of this, he wondered how many repeaters that Department would need. Chief Harmon replied that the Olney Fire Department would rely on four of the nine.

Chief Harmon noted that the $880,074.00 total listed on the breakdown would likely be incorrect, pending the new the RFPs received.

Councilman Miller felt that the County should invest more funds for repeaters because they covered the entire county.

Councilman Miller asked how the City should make a decision when no new proposals had been submitted. Chief Harmon replied that he did not know that plans had changed until about 5:00 p.m. this evening. If he had, he would have removed the topic from consideration.

The City would have an option of just allowing the County to have their own system and the City have its own. However, Chief Harmon felt that going that route would still result in the City paying more for the upgrades instead of going in collectively.

Mr. Barker was aware that Chief Harmon had budgeted for three additional radios this year. He wondered if that purchase should wait. Chief Hermon indicated that those three radios would need to be replaced regardless of any pending upgrades. Any newly purchased radios would be compatible with any upgraded systems. The Department progressively replaced radios here and there over the years so that the City would not need to spend a large amount every 15 years or so.

Mr. Barker wondered if it would be better to include these radio replacements in the county-wide upgrade. Chief Harmon pointed out that a 5% to 10% price increase on the radios was expected in August.

The Council discussed the possibility of holding a joint special meeting with the County Board to discuss this topic.

AGENDA #10 “REPORTS FROM ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS” 10-A “Status Report - City Manager”

Mr. Barker had nothing to report.

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

10-C “Chamber of Commerce Report” Councilwoman Eichhorst said that the Shake, Raffle, & Roll event held on June 21st had been successful. The raffle winner had donated his winnings back to the Chamber. Also, the annual Golf Outing was coming up on July 18th.

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

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; appointment, employment, compensation, and performance of specific employees; and collective negotiating matters, seconded by Councilman Miller. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

The meeting adjourned to closed session at 6:20 p.m.

AGENDA #12 “RECONVENE OPEN SESSION”

Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to enter back into open session, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received. Open session resumed at 6:45 p.m.

12-A “Approve Minutes of Closed Session on May 27, 2025” Councilwoman Eichhorst moved to approve the closed session minutes from May 27, 2025, seconded by Councilman Eyer. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

Before adjourning, Councilman Eyer told of an interesting piece he had seen from a 1940 newspaper article. The big news was that a deer was spotted near a pipeline west of Dundas with a crowd coming to see the deer. Prior to that, the last sighting of a deer had been in Parkersburg several years before.

AGENDA #13 “ADJOURN”

With no further business to discuss, Councilman Eyer moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilwoman Eichhorst. A majority affirmative voice vote was received.

The meeting adjourned at 6:47 p.m.

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