Peoria Standard

City of Chillicothe City Council Met March 8.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Chillicothe, Peoria County, Illinois, met in Regular Session in person and via conference call at 7:00 P.M with Mayor Donald Z White presiding and with proper notice having been posted.

Electronic Attendance:

In accordance to Governor JB Pritzker’s Executive Order members of the Council were allowed to attend by teleconference. Those members attending the meeting via phone shall be declared present. To comply with these recommendations and requirements, the City is complying with the spirit of the Open Meetings Act by permitting this meeting open to the public by teleconference using Zoom Meeting to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to comply with the recommendations and requirements of Executive Order.

Mayor Donald Z. White called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

The Pledge of Allegiance, to the Flag of the United States of America, was recited. Chairman White directed Clerk Hurd to take roll.

Physically Present: Mayor Donald Z. White

City Clerk Margaret Hurd

Treasurer B.L. Bredeman

Alderman Braun, Alderman Bredeman,

Alderman Connor, Alderman Dennis Gould,

Alderman Hughes, Alderman Jeff Jenkins

Alderman Gary Sharp

Attending by Phone: None

Also, Physically Present: Office Manager Denise Passage

Economic Development Director Amanda Beadles

Police Chief Scott Mettille

City Attorney Michael Seghetti

Superintendent Shawn Sutherland

City Engineer Ken Coulter

Absent: None

Chairman White declared a Quorum present.

The Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held on February 22, 2021 were presented. Motion Alderman Braun , second Alderman Gould that the Council dispense with the reading of the Minutes of the February 22, 2021 Regular Council Meeting, and approve the Minutes as presented. Motion carried via voce vote.

Clerk Hurd presented the following Committee Minutes:

Finance/EDC – March 1, 2021

Marketing & Tourism Commission – March 1, 2021

Public Safety – March 2, 2021

Judicial Committee – March 4, 2021

Clerk Hurd presented the following reports:

City Engineer Report dated March 8, 2021

City Collectors Report for the month ending February 2021

Clerk Hurd presented the City’s Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) Document Review #71 covering receipts and disbursement of Motor Fuel Tax Funds by the city for the period January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 as prepared by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Clerk Hurd presented a letter from Pearce Community Center requesting a $2,000.00 donation to help community programs.

Clerk Hurd read a letter sent by Mayor White to Herreld Webster of Triple Dipple congratulating him on his business being recognized by the Illinois Office of Tourism.

Clerk Hurd presented an application for variance submitted by Nat’s Place for a parking variance. She informed the council that the Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a hearing on March 31, 2021.

Clerk Hurd gave a brief report to the council on the recent disposal of public records that was authorized by the Office of the Secretary of State Local Records Commission. The Clerk informed the council that the City’s most recent Application for Authority to Dispose of Local Records (APP) was last done in 1989 and that a representative from the Secretary of State Records Management Division will be coming March 16, 2021 to review and update the City’s APP.

Motion Alderman Gould, second Alderman Braun to approve the communications as presented by Clerk Hurd be accepted and placed on file.

Motion carried via voce vote.

Chairman White reported to the council that he would be attending the Peoria County Zoning Board of Appeals Hearing on March 11 in regards to the Dollar General request to rezone south of town.

Motion Alderman Braun, second Alderman Gould to approve the communications as presented by Chairman White be accepted and placed on file.

Motion carried via voce vote.

Alderman Connor, Chairman of Finance Committee announced that the Budget Workshop will be held Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. Alderman Connor also informed the council that city Hall will start issuing vouchers for the Spring clean Up on March 23.

Motion Alderman Connor, second Alderman Gould that the bills as presented be paid and the payrolls and transfers be approved.

Roll Call Vote was:

Ayes: Braun, Bredeman, Connor Gould, Hughes, Jenkins, Sharp

Nays: None

Chairman declared motion carried

Motion Alderman Sharp, Second Alderman Jenkins that eh Council approve a Notice for Special Event held on Public Property as submitted by Shirley Loser, Covered Wagon Crafts, for the use of the city Park for the annual Easter Egg Hunt, to be held on April 3, 2021, form 8:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. (Noon). Subject to COVID regulations.

Motion carried via voce vote.

Motion Alderman Sharp, second Alderman Hughes that the Council approve Resolution No. 21-03-03 a resolution approving a second amendment to the agreement for security with SLG Cohen Foundation, Inc. Chief Mettille informed the Council that the agreement was going from $45.00 per officer per hour to $50.00 per officer per hour.

Ayes: Braun, Bredeman, Connor, Gould, Hughes, Jenkins, Sharp

Nays: None

Chairman declared Resolution No. 21-03-03 passed and signed the same motion failed.

Motion Alderman Sharp, second Alderman Hughes that the Council approve an expenditure of $1,140.00 payable to Police Law Institute for online police training. Payable from the Police Protection Fund.

Roll Call Vote was:

Ayes: Braun, Bredeman, Connor Gould, Hughes, Jenkins, Sharp

Nays: None

Chairman declared motion carried.

Alderman Gould announced that the Moffitt Park Landscape Waste Drop Off Schedule for 2021 will begin March 17, 2021 and close November 29, 2021.

Motion Alderman Gould, second Alderman Bredeman that the Council Approve Resolution No. 21-03-04 a resolution appropriating the sum of $175,000.00 of Motor Fuel Tax funds for the purpose of maintain streets and highways, under the applicable provision of the Illinois highway code from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 Overlay program and spray patching.

Roll Call Vote was:

Ayes: Braun, Bredeman, Connor Gould, Hughes, Jenkins, Sharp

Nays: None

Chairman declared Resolution No. 21-03-04 passed and signed the same.

Motion Alderman Connor, second Alderman Sharp that instruct the City Attorney to draft the necessary documents for a Redevelopment Agreement for Cedar House Investments/Nat’s Place, for the expansion of 215 Cedar Street currently known as Nat’s Place, for a TIF Business Grant amount not to exceed $26,700 and a HELP Loan of $100,000, to be secured by a second mortgage on the project site. Attorney Seghetti explained that the total project cost submitted was $211,741.00 and a 2nd mortgage would be held as collateral.

Motion carried via voce vote.

Motion Alderman Connor, second Alderman Jenkins that the Council approve priority one General Fund project technology upgrade, as a project and approve an expenditure of $19,530.00, payable to Pearl Technology, for the purchase and installation of a sound system at City Hall. Payable from the General Fund.

Alderman Connor asked if bids were received for the project. Office Manager Passage stated there were no request for bids. She explained the company she originally contacted was purchased by Pearl Technology whom the city contracts with for Informational Technology (IT). Alderman Bredeman asked if the system was portable. Office Manager Passage informed him that the system was portable. Roll Call Vote was:

Ayes: Bredeman, Connor Gould, Hughes, Jenkins, Sharp

Nays: Braun

Chairman declared motion carried.

Motion Alderman Connor, second Alderman Sharp that the council approve the donation request from Pearce Community Center for a donation of $2,000.00 Payable from the General Fund. Roll Call Vote was:

Ayes: Braun, Bredeman, Connor Gould, Jenkins, Hughes, Sharp

Nays: None

Chairman declared motion carried.

Motion Alderman Braun, second Alderman Gould that the Council adjourn revision to the Façade application as follows to change the language in the application to allow: “building side(s) fully visible from the business-address side of the property” to qualify for the program.

Chairman White gave an explanation of the changes. Discussion was held.

Motion carried via voce vote.

Motion Alderman Braun, second Alderman Gould that the council approve Ordinance No. 21-03-05, an Ordinance amending the video gaming provisions of the city code.

Chairman White reviewed the changes to the Ordinance and gave some examples of what would count toward the 40% such as merchandise and packaged liquor. A lengthy discussion was held. Alderman Hughes stated he would like to put in the ordinance an exemption for businesses prior to 2016.

Alderman Hughes stated he would like to revisit the package liquor once COVID is over. Chairman White explained that establishments that did not have packaged liquor as part of their license classification were/are able to sell packaged due to the restriction lifted during COVID. Chairman White stated that the restrictions would be back in place once COVID is lifted. Alderman Connor asked Chairman White if the revised ordinance was passed if those establishment that were allowed to sell package during COVID would not be allowed to do so. Chairman White explained that the proposed ordinance did not address that however once COVID goes away those establishment would not be allowed to sell packaged liquor. Attorney Seghetti corrected Chairman White informing him that the City did pass an ordinance to allow for restaurants establishments to sell packaged liquor. Chairman White suggested revisiting the packaged liquor ordinance change. Alderman Bredeman was in favor of revisiting the ordinance allowing package liquor.

Roll Call Vote was:

Ayes: Braun, Bredeman, Gould, Jenkins, Sharp

Nays: Connor, Hughes

Chairman declared Resolution No. 21-03-05 passed and signed the same.

Motion Alderman Connor, second Alderman Bredeman approve to extend the DECO Economic Support Grant (20-488049) utilizing the remaining $66,000, of the reimbursable grant funds to the businesses for the finance loss due to COVID 19 and authorize the Mayor and city staff to proceed with the extension. Chairman White gave a power point presentation on the program.

Roll Call Vote was:

Ayes: Braun, Bredeman, Connor Gould, Jenkins, Sharp

Nays: None

Present: Hughes

Chairman declared motion carried.

Motion Alderman Braun, second Alderman Gould that the council adjourn to Closed session at 7:50p.m., for purchase or lease of Real Estate 5 ILCS 120/2 ( C ) ( 5 ) and allow the City Attorney and supervisors to attend closed session Upon returning to open session no action will be taken. Roll Call Vote was:

Ayes: Braun, Bredeman, Connor Gould, Jenkins, Hughes, Sharp

Nays: None

Chairman declared motion carried.

Council returned to open session at 8:15 p.m.

Council adjourned at 8:15p.m.

http://www.cityofchillicotheil.com/03.08.21%20council%20minutes.pdf