Peoria Standard

City of Lewistown City Council met Nov. 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Lewistown City Council met in regular session in the council chambers. Mayor Doug Lafary. called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Invocation: Mayor Doug Lafary

ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Alderperson Sally Clark, Jim Long, Brad Ward, Kendall Miller, Kim Pascal, and Mayor Doug Lafary. Also Present: City Clerk Cindy Goddard, Public Works Director Evinn Palmer. ABSENT: Alderperson John Spotloe.

DECLARATION OF QUORUM by Mayor Doug Lafary

CLERKS REPORT/MINUTES: Cindy Goddard. Changing how business is addressed on the agenda, now will say discuss/act upon for next meeting.

Motion carried all ayes approving minutes of November 7, 2022.

TREASURER'S REPORT: Debbie Brown. Absent.

ATTORNEY'S REPORT: Attorney Nathan Collins. Nothing to report.

ENGINEER'S REPORT: Keith Plavec. Did not attend.

PUBLIC COMMENTS AND PETITIONS: George Cox wondered why Ricky Negley does not have the dumpster filled yet. Negley thinks he can put more stuff in the back yard. He can haul stuff in and not haul stuff out, need to take him to court, city needs to do something. Allen Tippey, neighbor also talked to Negley regarding this, dumpster is about 1⁄2 full. Chief Merrill said he has discussed this many times with him also his mother is now involved. Will probably need close to 10 dumpsters to get all cleaned up, give him time. His mother got the dumpster. Just because we have ordinances and judgements doesn't mean we can get the money. Negley has been told a million times not to burn at night according to Chief Merrill.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Finance/Insurance/Zoning - Alderperson Clark Chairperson: Nothing to report.

Sewer - Alderperson Spotloe Chairperson: Absent.

Street & Alley - Alderperson Miller Chairperson: Nothing to report.

Police/ESDA – Alderperson Ward Chairperson: Discussed at 6:15 p.m. meeting police meeting.

Water - Alderperson Miller Alderperson: Nothing to report.

Utilities/Publications - Alderperson Long: Nothing to report.

Buildings & Grounds - Alderperson Long: Bid from Brad Burrows for repair on door at Visitors Center. Bid is $4,050.00. Alderperson Miller suggested use the other door. The door handle needs changed, right now it only goes out for a fire. This would save $4050.00. Also bid on Visitors Center floor, it is around $6,000.00 maybe consider ceramic floor, that would be cheaper. Will table for now.

Tourism - Alderperson Pascal: Nothing new to report.

Tax Increment Financing -Alderperson Spotloe: Absent.

Citizens Committee - Amanda Smith - Absent. City Clerk talked to Josh Mercer we need to pass resolution in January and will need 10 people present at meeting in January. We needed 30-40 applications then 10 are picked.

Christmas Committee

Kenney Haacke Mayor and Alderperson Long went and got the Christmas trees, present count 62. Around 12 participants for the parade. Also, side x side parade after lighting. December 1 at 6:00 is the last meeting to fill the candy bags, also received around 300 stuffed animals for Santa to hand out.

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: Evinn Palmer: Working on Christmas decorations. Got valved installed at Fair Grounds, also a water leak on East Washington waiting on clamp for it.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

1. Discuss Tax Levy Ordinance first viewing of Ordinance - There were no questions, no increase this year. Will vote on it at next meeting. Tabled.

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Discuss/Approve charges on water bill for Ashley Duncan Ms. Duncan's Grandfather spoke for her, Franklin Shawgo. He said she did not get a call to tell her that she was using water. Bill was $177.49 usually $46.51. He checked the house and couldn't find anything leaking. City Clerk made comment that water clerk tried calling twice two different days. Ashley said she did see two calls but no message was left. No city employee went to house and left anything. Discussed different ways the water could have been running. Evinn even checked the computer, and saw when it was running then stopped. Council agreed that since her water bill is usually around $46.00, they would make it the same as last month $46.51 adjust off the difference. Alderperson Ward wants to get tags to put on doors, we already have them. Motion by Alderperson Clark, second by Alderman Miller, to adjust off the difference between $177.49 to $46.51, roll call vote motion carried all ayes.

2. Discuss/Approve resurfacing the kitchen floor at the Visitors Center - Table for now have another business coming to give estimate. Also maybe changing plans.

3. Discuss/Approve tasers and body cams for the police department discussed at 6:15 p.m. police meeting.

PRESENTATION OF BILLS:

Table for now

Alderperson Miller made a motion to approve all bills properly endorsed; Second by Alderperson Clark, Alderperson Pascal asked us to get Amazon Prime for shipping to be less, roll call vote, the motion carried all ayes.

CLOSED SESSION: Motion to go into closed session by Alderperson Long, second by Alderperson Clark at 7:07 p.m. to discuss personnel.

Door Closed.

Door opened back up.

ADJOURNMENT:

Alderperson Miller made a motion to adjourn at 8:02 p.m.; Second by Alderperson Clark motion carried all ayes.

http://lewistownillinois.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Nov-22-2022-council-police-min..pdf