Peoria Standard

City of Marquette Heights City Council Met July 26.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

CALL TO ORDER

The City Council meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M by Mayor Hamm.

ROLL CALL

Aldermen present for Roll Call: Alderman Neuhaus, Amundson, Greiner, Naugle, Neumann, and Little.

Also present were Clerk Steele, Attorney Herman, Public Works Director Brown, Police Chief Merritt, Fire Chief Fortier, Office Manager Minson, and Building Inspector Dearborn.

Absent: None.

REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS

Mayor

Mayor Hamm cancelled his vacation for next week.

Clerk

Office Manager Minson will be out of the office beginning August 2nd until further notice.

Clerk requested a tally of who would be driving to the IML Conference in Chicago.

Treasurer

Fiscal year 2020 audit is completed and has been submitted. The 2021 audit is being prepared.

Attorney

Attorney Herman passed out handbooks for Elected Officials.

Communication

None.

Citizens Wishing to Address the Council

Colleen Lickiss, 810 LaSalle Blvd., donated $1,000 to the city to fund flag purchase. She would like a flag placed at the entrance of LaSalle and is willing to pay for the total installation. Also discussed a memorial bench for veterans. Council will discuss this at the next committee meeting.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES:

Water and Sewer – Alderman Neuhaus

Phase Two Tower work is ready to begin. We are waiting for A.G. Rich to schedule the work.

Water meter replacements are still ongoing. Seven residents that we were unable to contact by phone were sent letters. All have now been scheduled for replacement. For future notifications. Attorney Herman suggested both regular and certified letters be utilized to confirm letters have been delivered.

Concrete contract work will be starting this week to repair curbs, sidewalks, and driveway.

Law Enforcement – Alderman Naugle

The informational sign for the Police Department is in and will be placed on the city office building in front of the police door.

Streets – Alderman Little

Curb spraying and mosquito spraying is being done.

MFT reimbursement requirements for the year have been met.

Street painting is being done. One invoice has been approved and one invoice is under $500.00.

Hot patch will be next week, then sidewalk work on Craig will be done. Fill work on Sangamon is scheduled.

PWD Brown is compiling a master list of our traffic control signs. Our current signs are legal, but to be eligible for obtaining grants, the traffic control signs need to meet a 2009 standard.

Public Buildings / Parks – Alderman Greiner

Drop ceiling replacement at Liberty Hall should be complete by end of the week. Lights at Liberty Hall will be upgraded to qualify for an Ameren rebate.

Marquette Heights Park will have the flag installed once the Genie is back.

Clean up is continuing at Spook Hollow.

Fire – Alderman Amundson

Fire Engine 312 broke down and is currently out of service.

Planning – Alderman Neumann

No report.

CONSENT AGENDA:

Approve July 12, 2021, Regular Council Meeting minutes.

Approve July 12, 2021, Executive Council Meeting minutes.

Approve Fire Engine 313 loan payment to Better Banks for $3,119.79.

Approve Police Squad 21-1 loan payment to Better Banks for $757.36.

Approve $5,234.00 payment to Air One Equipment for two sets of bunker gear.

Approve salary increase for T.J. Reynolds, retro active back to July 1, 2021.

Approve payment not to exceed $3,000 to Core & Main to flush and replace hydrants.

Approve purchasing laptops not to exceed $8,000.00.

Approve Bi-Monthly expenditures in the amount of $51,653.94.

APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA:

Alderman Amundson made a motion, seconded by Alderman Neuhaus to approve the consent agenda in its entirety. Roll Call Vote: All Ayes, Motion passed.

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Alderman Greiner made a motion, seconded by Alderman Little to appoint T.J. Reynolds as Deputy Clerk. Roll Call Vote: All Ayes. Motion passed.

2. Alderman Neuhaus made a motion, seconded by Alderman Amundson to appoint Corry Harris as Treasurer for the remainder of the current two-year term. Roll Call Vote: All Ayes. Motion passed.

3. Alderman Naugle made a motion, seconded by Alderman Greiner to approve hiring Cody Sutter as a full time Police Officer with August Academy enrollment. Roll Call Vote: All Ayes. Motion passed.

4. Alderman Naugle made a motion, seconded by Alderman Greiner to approve hiring Bridget Burke as Impound Hearing Attorney for the city. Roll Call Vote: All Ayes. Motion passed.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS PERTAINING TO THE CITY

Clerk Steele administered the Oath of Office to Corry Harris as Treasurer.

Clerk Steele administered the Oath of Office to T.J. Reynolds as Deputy Clerk.

Alderman Little brought up the distinction between Mayoral forms of government. He stated we are an Aldermanic form and he asked for clarification if Mayor Hamm was transitioning to a strong Mayoral format. State statutes were discussed. Alderman Greiner has begun research on weak mayor vs. strong mayor formats. Attorney Herman stated the mayor enforces the laws of the municipality and is responsible for maintaining peace. The mayor has the authority to terminate any appointed position except the Fire Chief, who is elected by the fire department. Upon such termination, Council must be notified within five days.

ADJOURNMENT

Alderman Little made motion, seconded by Alderman Neumann, to adjourn the regular City Council Meeting at 7:45 p.m. Roll Call Vote: All Ayes. Motion passed.

http://cityofmhgov.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/7.26.21-Council-Meeting.doc