City of Pekin City Council met March 7.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Notice of a Council meeting was properly posted and received by Council. The purpose of the meeting was to conduct a Work Session to discuss the Capital Improvements Draft Budget FY23.
Mayor Pro Tem Cloyd called the meeting to order at 5:34 P.M.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Hilst.
CALL TO ORDER
City Clerk Sue McMillan determined all Councilmembers were present with the exception of Mayor Luft, who was absent.
| Attendee Name | Organization | Title | Status | Arrived |
| Rick Hilst | City of Pekin | Councilman | Present | |
| Karen Hohimer | City of Pekin | Councilwoman | Present | |
| Dave Nutter | City of Pekin | Councilman | Present | |
| Becky Cloyd | City of Pekin | Mayor Pro tem | Present | |
| Lloyd Orrick | City of Pekin | Council Member | Present | |
| John P Abel | City of Pekin | Councilman | Present | |
| Mark Luft | City of Pekin | Mayor | Absent |
Mayor Pro Tem Cloyd requested a change to the order of business by moving Public Input after Communications, moving the Public Meeting for Siting Study on new Fire Station Locations to 4.1 Communications and moving the Draft Budget FY23 Capital Improvements to Agenda Item 4.2.
A motion was made by Councilmember Abel, seconded by Councilmember Hohimer to approve the agenda as amended. On viva voce vote all present voted Aye. Motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS
PUBLIC MEETING FOR SITING STUDY ON NEW FIRE STATION LOCATIONS Fire Chief Trent Reeise and Deputy Fire Chief Tony Rendelman presented a power point presentation on the siting study for the new fire station locations. The fire department ran over 6400 calls for service in 2022 compared to 3700 calls in 2007. Those calls included service for firefighting, EMS, technical rescue, hazmat and public service.
The three fire stations were all built in the 1960’s and 1970’s and a discussion of each was led throughout the presentation. Fire Station #1 was first occupied in 1976 and currently lacks modern technologies that help keep firefighters safe and free of contaminants. Station 1 staffs 3 personnel daily that includes a fire chief, an admin, fire prevention and a battalion chief. Ladder #1 is housed as the admin building after the former Central Station or House closed.
The main concern expressed was that after a full assessment of each fire station, it was determined that the condition of each as it related to public property was in poor condition and that there were concerns about the operations and mapping of each. Renovations to Ladder #1 included repairs to the fire alarm system, storage building, and requires a future analysis of structural issues, but suitable to bring up to standards and was in a good location within the City.
Fire Station #2 covered mostly residential areas that included the North side of the City to the East that was further than 1.5 road miles from the station. Ladder #2 was built in 1962 and lacked proper insulation, inadequate living quarters, apparatus size exceeded the capacity of the station, and lacked features of a modern fire station. Turnout gear was exposed to sunlight and not property ventilated with no decontamination area. The bunk rooms were open directly into the garage space. Major issues of disrepair were addressed along with HVAC upgrades.
Fire Station #3, also known as the South Side Fire Station, was built in 1962. This fire station mirrored Fire Station #2 with inadequate areas, a flat roof with holes, no insulation, structural deficiencies that presented long- term issues. Road circulation at this location was not ideal with coverage road miles beyond the preferred 1.5 miles.
In 2006, City Council identified that the fire station presented a problem for the future and was recommended that something be done to rectify the problem by building a new fire station to allow for growth in the area.
Discussion continued about industry standards, response times, and other metrics used other than the 1.5 road miles or 4 minute response time. A map of the City was presented with a division of four quadrants that would place much of the City within the 1.5 road miles. The proposed Station #4 location at the corner of Broadway and Ironwood was selected to provide as much coverage as possible and would provide additional coverage in areas not yet developed. It was also discussed how Broadway was the best road in the City to travel to other locations quickly. The proposed quadrant would carve out existing areas of Fire Station #1 and #2, with the potential new location of Fire Station #2 centrally located in the Northwest quadrant; the location would still need to be determined. The proposed Fire Station #3 was selected to build for administration for future hope to have a training facility.
Council discussed the lack of training facilities located within the City and how that impacted the departments ratings.
Public Property Manager, Mr. Jayson Brienen explained that a 7 person committee was formed to conduct interviews with architectural firms with Dewberry ultimately being selected to lay the groundwork for floor plans and the needs of the department.
Benefits of the proposed quadrants and fire stations would provide a safer working environment for employees, increased coverage of the City’s residential areas and future growth cells. Off-loading inefficient facilities with high maintenance costs and providing a capacity for the future. A perfect model would proposed 5 fire stations to adequately cover the needs of the City.
4.1. Draft Budget FY23 Capital Improvements
City Manager, Mr. Mark Rothert, led the discussion regarding the FY23 Capital Improvements Budget by providing a proposed budget handout to Council. Mr. Rothert went through each line item with Council.
Discussion continued with Council regarding wastewater fee increases used to pay off the debt of the Wastewater Treatment Plant and how those numbers did not reflect the cost of a new storm sewer system. Wastewater fees had not increased since 2018. Raising the wastewater fee $1.00 would allow for $1M in revenue. Discussion continued about removing the $4.00 charge and creating a usage charge.
Also discussed was the maintenance needed on the splash pad near the Riverfront, other street maintenance projects, the salt barn, airport and the Kholson Building.
Councilmember Hilst expressed his disappointment that there were not more street projects budgeted. City Engineer, Ms. Josie Esker, explained that a shortfall existed but would be willing to meet with Councilmembers by two for suggestions on road projects.
Mr. Rothert announced that the budget would be on the agenda for adoption the second Council meeting in April.
PUBLIC INPUT
Keith Dunkelbarger reminded Council to consider the cost of building new fire stations and spoke about the declining population of the City. A handout was provided to Council.
Larry Moreland questioned the type of service calls to the fire department and how many proposed fire stations were considered. Fire Chief Trent Reeise explained that 73-76% of service calls were medical and that 3 fire stations were considered in the beginning but prosed a coverage issue on East Broadway.
Ron Hawkins, Vice President of the Local 524 advocated for the fire department to add an additional man per shift.
ADJOURN
Councilmember Hohimer left the meeting at 6:25 P.M.
Seeing no other business of the Council, a motion was made by Councilmember Abel seconded by Councilmember Nutter to adjourn. Mayor Pro Tem Cloyd adjourned the meeting at 8:40 P.M. Motion carried viva voice vote.
http://pekinil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=12&ID=1742&Inline=True
Alerts Sign-up