Peoria Standard

City of El Paso City Council met Aug. 23.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

A Regular Meeting of the El Paso City Council was called to order by Mayor, JW Price on August 23, 2023, at 7:00 PM.

Council Members Present in person: Mool, Moore, Brucker, Kilpatrick, Howard, and Ragusa.

Present in Person: Treasurer, Linda Haas; Director of Public Service, Barry Kauther; Attorney, Jim Stoller. Also present: Operations Supervisor, Casey Jones; Chief Montemurro; Parks & Recreation Director, Colton Scott; Local Press, Jennie Kearney and Brandi Montalbano.

Present via Zoom: Administrative Assistant, Sandee Kessinger; Karen, Kim, and Bob.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Approval of Agenda: A motion was made by Moore and Brucker seconded to approve the agenda. A voice vote was taken of all ayes.

Consent Agenda

Council Minutes: The minutes of the August 7, 2023, City Council Meeting were presented in written form.

Register of Bills: The Register of Bills in the amount of $128,580.01 from August 8, 2023, to August 21, 2023, was presented in written form.

The minutes of the August 7, 2023, Water/Sewer Committee Meeting were presented in written form.

A motion was made by Kilpatrick and seconded by Mool to approve the items on the Consent Agenda. A voice vote was taken of all ayes.

Public Comments: Brandi Montalbano from The El Paso Business Association brought a draft of the business directory and would like Council Members to look at it and give her some input. The Mayor asked her to stay after the meeting for the Council to look at it.

Old City Council Business: None.

New City Council Business:

A) Consideration and possible approval of the recommendation of the Water and Sewer Committee to raise the water and sewer rate between 5% and 7% and adjust the current bill to 65% towards water and 35% towards sewer. After much discussion, a motion was made by Mool to raise the rate 7.5% and to adjust the ratio to 65% to water and 35% to sewer. The motion was seconded by Howard and a voice vote was taken of all ayes.

B) Consideration and possible approval for City Council Meeting dates for the calendar year of 2024. Due to the 1st Monday in January being New Years Day, the council decided to schedule a meeting on January 8, 2024 and not have another meeting in January. The other meetings on the proposed calendar are acceptable. A motion was made by Brucker to accept the proposed calendar with the change in January and Joshua Ragusa seconded. A voice vote was taken of all ayes.

C) Consideration and possible approval to pay bills on September 5th and the register of bills would be submitted September 18th for approval. A motion was made by Moore to allow the bills to be paid on September 5, 2024, along with the board report emailed to the council. The motion was seconded by Kilpatrick and a voice vote was taken of all ayes.

Director of Public Service: Kauther stated that Sandee and Jenny are working on upgrading the city website.

Mayor’s Report: The Mayor had a good meeting with our Senator at the HOI Mayor’s Meeting. There were also many questions to JW regarding the American Buildings Recreation Building. The Mayor is also concerned with the safety of the new outside stairs to the basement of the Legacy Building and the Corn Festival rides being near there. He asked Brandi to see what she could do to keep people from sitting on the railing and possibly falling down the steps. Brandi replied that there is a locked gate on the railing, but she will look into using cones or caution tape.

City Council Comments: Moore states that he was at the Project XV Block Party, and it was well attended. Moore also asked when the MFT will begin, and Jones stated that it should start this week.

Police Chief Report: Chief stated there was another sting operation this past weekend with another male looking to meet up with a minor. The Police Department has also joined the task force group CHAOS (Crimes Happening Against Our Students).

Operations Supervisor: Nothing more to report.

Parks and Recreation Report: Scott spoke about a tournament coming up that the American Buildings Recreation Center.

City Clerk Report: Absent.

City Attorney Report: Had questions regarding the spreadsheet that City Clerk, David Fever complied regarding the change in raising the water/sewer rates.

A motion was made by Moore and seconded by Mool to adjourn the meeting; a voice vote was taken of all ayes. The meeting was adjourned at 7:57 PM.

https://www.elpasoil.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_08212023-259