Peoria Standard

City of Marquette Heights City Council met Aug. 22.

Here are 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 Little, Naugle, Amundson, Neumann, Greiner and Neuhaus.

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

REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS

Mayor

No Report.

Clerk

September Committee meeting will be Tuesday September 6th due to Labor Day.

A Business application was received from Erin Hamilton at 148 Joliet Road.

Treasurer

No Report.

Attorney

No Report.

Communication

None.

Citizens Wishing to Address the Council

Chris Carrol, new Rec Association President, introduced himself to Council. Asked permission for three items:

Revitalize Diamond One at Independence Park by removing the top 5 inches of soil and replacing it with fresh dirt. Two quotes were mentioned. One was $58,000.00 which was rejected and another from Litwiller for $20,000.00 and an extra $2,000.00 for bases totaling $22,000.00. The Rec Association is looking to split the cost with the City. More to come during the next Committee meeting.

Permission to use the concession stand for three weekends in October during Spook Hollow. To get rid of leftovers. If first event doesn’t turn out well, Rec Association will donate the remaining food to the fire department and a food bank. Will be discussed at committee.

Three travel teams have asked for permission to use fields for fall practice. They were advised to contact the office for insurance purposes and cost. Scheduling will coordinated between the Rec. Association and the teams and forwarded to the Admin. Office.

Police Chief Merritt introduced his potential new hire Skylar. Pending successful completion of Physical fitness test at the end of August, Skylar would then go straight into the police academy and would have a completion date in December.

Comcast representative Jonathan Smith presented proposals to Council for adding broadband at three locations and increasing service. Council will deliberate between switching to I3 Broadband or staying with Comcast at the next Committee meeting.

James Kelsey Lickiss of 1305 Lincoln Rd spoke about prioritizing safety in the community. Mr. Lickiss has concerns at his intersection (1300 block of Lincoln and 700 block of Joliet) with so many close calls or near miss accidents. He would like the Council to act before another accident, injury or fatality happens at this location. He mentioned he had a camera he could face towards the intersection to help support his evidence, but someone would need to review the footage. Police Chief Merritt is aware of the situation and his department is conducting a study of how to better the intersection. Mr. Lickiss was advised if he notices a near miss accident to contact the local authorities so they can follow up immediately.

Resident Lisa Joos had the same concerns as Mr. Lickiss.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES:

Water and Sewer – Alderman Neuhaus

Briarwood storage tank testing is schedule for September 8th.

Waiting on replacement fire hydrant parts.

Scheduling water class training for water employees.

Curb stop at 214 LaSalle has been repaired and now waiting for cement.

Public Works Director Brown asked Attorney Hermann to investigate a PFAS class action lawsuit to see if City should proceed or not.

Alderman Neuhaus sent an email about work order procedure that will be discussed at the next Committee meeting. This will establish a standard for businesses and non-for-profits regarding contacting Public Works Director Brown with work requests.

Agenda Item for 9/12/22: Approve $531.80 to Water Products for the restocking of curb boxes, rods, and marker paint.

Call for Executive Session on Section 5 ILCS 120/2c:1

Law Enforcement – Alderman Naugle

Skylar Coryell headed to PT test. If he successfully passes and completes Academy, his graduation date will be December 9, 2022.

Last month North Pekin passed a Golf Cart Ordinance. After speaking to North Pekin’s Police Chief, Police Chief Merritt does not feel there will be a crossover between townships.

Squad 17-2 needs two new tires and the camera is faulty. Both need replaced.

Two new tires have been installed on squad 17-1.

Call for Exec on Section 5 ILCS 120/2c:1

Streets – Alderman Little

Still waiting on concrete contractor for the remaining MFT projects.

Hazardous trees around the city have been removed.

Public Works Director Brown will discuss residents’ shrubs hanging over and blocking sidewalks at next Committee meeting.

Public Works Director Brown restated LaSalle bridge project going out for bid January 2023.

Alderman Little made a clarification of Agenda Item #1. He stated the work completed was more than the crosswalks. It included the parking lot and curbs at Independence Park and a portion of the funding came from the Marquette Heights Men’s Club.

Marquette Heights Elementary School is requesting the assistants of the City to trim their tree. This would make their new sign visible from the street.

Public Buildings / Parks – Alderman Greiner

Mosquito chemical drum has arrived.

Marquette Heights Men’s Club is requesting two dump truck loads of fill dirt and clay for the trails behind Spook Hollow.

Men’s Club requested that the buildings crew replace or repair the egress at the block building to prevent hornets from building a nest.

Facia and gutter replacement scheduled for mid to late September at City Hall.

Fire – Alderman Amundson

No Report.

Planning – Alderman Neumann

Alderman Neumann will be sending two emails out for the review of employee evaluations process.

Treasurer Harris and Alderman Neumann met with a grant specialist last Friday. A proposal to come.

Alderman Neumann thanked Alderman Naugle for two referrals looking to develop business in Marquette Heights.

Building Inspector – Dana Dearborn

No Report.

Old Business

None.

CONSENT AGENDA:

Approve August 8, 2022, Regular Council Meeting Minutes.

Approve August 8, 2022, Executive Meeting Minutes.

Approve Bi-Monthly Expenditures in the amount of $66,295.77.

Approve $540.00 to Turnbull Electronics for annual monitoring service.

Approve $3,812.35 to Mid-Illini Auto Center for Squad 17-2 repairs.

Approve $504.00 to Altorfer for annual lift inspection.

Approve $534.22 to Best One for two new tires.

ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA:

None.

APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA:

Alderman Greiner made a motion, seconded by Alderman Naugle, to approve the Consent Agenda in its entirety. Roll Call Vote: All Ayes, Motion passed.

NEW BUSINESS

Alderman Little made a motion, seconded by Neumann to approve $995.00 to Ace Striping pavement marking paint for crosswalks. Roll Call Vote: All Ayes. Motion passed.

Alderman Amundson made a motion, seconded by Little to approve $1,562.41 to MES for SCBA flow tests, batteries, sensors & regulators. Roll Call Vote: All Ayes. Motion passed.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS PERTAINING TO THE CITY.

At this point Alderman Neuhaus made a motion, seconded by Alderman Naugle, to enter Executive Session at 7:53 p.m. for the purpose of discussion of personnel discipline. Roll Call Vote: All Ayes. Motion passed.

Council exited Regular Session and entered Executive Session at 7:53 p.m.

Council resumed Regular Session at 9:00 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT

Alderman Little made a motion, seconded by Alderman Neumann, to adjourn the regular City Council Meeting at 9:00 p.m. Roll Call Vote: All Ayes. Motion passed.

http://cityofmhgov.org/2022-meetings-and-agendas/