Peoria Standard

City of Marquette Heights City Council met Sept. 3.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1. CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Hamm called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

2. ROLL CALL

Alderpersons: Amundson, Babb, Joos, Neuhaus, Neumann and Greiner (7:35 p.m.)

ALSO PRESENT:

Clerk Steele, Deputy Clerk Fogle, Deputy Treasurer Russell, Street Supt. Helms, Water Supt. Smith, Police Chief Merritt, Bldg. Inspector Dearborn, and Attorney Herman.

ABSENT: Treasurer Worent and Fire Chief Hermancinski.

3. REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS:

a. MAYOR

• Email from Phil on grants. Walking trail – T-Mobile Hometown Grant

o What do we want to see with walking trail?

• 100% up to $50,000

• Resurface

• Extend the trail

• Maybe add lights or benches

b. CITY CLERK

• Reach out to the MHMC and Recreation Association

o Are to have their mail sent to a PO Box or a postal address

• Limiting foot traffic in office

c. CITY TREASURER – No report

d. INSPECTOR

• Possible Airbnb

o Wants to know the rules on short-term rentals

• They fall under our Rental Agreement – no long- or short- term rental is in our policy

• Mayor- will we need to pass an ordinance?

ü No it falls under our Rental Agreement per Attorney

• 1 Airbnb at 115 Calumet

• Prepare a physical permit (business)

4. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES

a. WATER AND SEWER - ALDERMAN AMUNDSON

• Water line going to dollar store

o Decided to go with a 1” or 2” line instead of 4”

o Chris from Test said EPA said it is okay to do

o Using existing 4” line and push new line through it

o Attorney needs description of work to be done for dollar store agreement

• Transformer at Briarwood – going bad – heating up

o Estimate at $4,850.00 from Copperfield – put on next agenda

• Justin - can we pay our Electrical Inspector to inspect the electrical work?

o Internal policy or informal policy – 106 Pontiac

o Ran camera through it with no damage at our sewer line

• It is the homeowner’s responsibility from main to their house

• Regardless of who’s it is, nothing is being done – we need to dig it to find the issue

b. LAW ENFORCEMENT – ALDERMAN NEUHAUS

• Property clean-up on St. Clair

o Police shown a lot of gratitude

c. FIRE – ALDERMAN GREINER – No report

d. STREETS – ALDERMAN BABB

• Change Order from Dillon to line 3 pipes

• Engineer recommended to do the 18” at 123 Douglas and leave the other two for now

o $4,550.00 put on next agenda

o 2-15” pipes, there are linear cracks

• If we are already doing it, do we need to just do the 15” ones at the same time

• Look at putting in next budget for the 15” pipes

• Sweeper – $25,000 – talked to owner and got all of the information

o Located in West Allis, WI

o Would like to take a day and look at it/drive it

o We can add a vac hose later on – $15,000 to $30,000

o 2011 with 14,000 miles – Nissan

e. PUBLIC BUILDINGS / PARKS – ALDERMAN NEUMANN

• Tree trimming done in Independence Park

• Only 2 people have taken an application for tree trimming – Alderman Neuhaus is the only one to turn in application – no one from MHMC has filed one

• Sewer clean-out installed from corner of water tower to corner of power boxes

o No communication on this install

o J.U.L.I.E called to locate

o MHMC installed to pull wires through

o Inspector Dearborn looked and there are 5 locations that have been placed under City right-of-way

o Electrical conduit has to be 30” underground and they are not

o Electrical work been done in the building with no permit

o New panel in building

o Received email from Nate Hollan

• Pekin Park District -- waiting for the agreement

f. PLANNING / FINANCE – ALDERMAN JOOS

• Called for an Executive Session for specific personnel – compensation

5. NEW BUSINESS

a. Approve the salary increase for Pam Zych of the Office Staff. Retroactive pay back to August 7, 2024 for completion of her probationary period. Alderman Amundson made a motion seconded by Alderman Neuhaus to approve the salary increase. Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Amundson, Babb, Neuhaus and Neumann. Nays: Alderperson Joos. Absent: Alderperson Greiner. Motion passed.

b. Approve the salary increase for Alisha Russell of the Office Staff. Retroactive pay back to August 10, 2024 for completion of her probationary period. Alderman Neumann made a motion, seconded by Alderman Amundson to approve the salary increase. Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Neumann, Amundson, Babb, Joos and Neuhaus. Nays: 0. Absent: Greiner.

Motion passed.

c. Approve proposal from Corner Stone Master Builders for new entrance sign in the amount of $29,464.66. Alderman Neumann made a motion, seconded by Alderman Babb, to approve the proposal for the new entrance sign. Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Neumann, Babb, Amundson, Joos, and Neuhaus. Nays: 0. Absent: Alderperson Greiner. Motion passed.

d. Approve proposal for Watermain Repair at the 100 block of Joliet from GA Rich & Sons in the amount of $14,327.00. Alderman Amundson made a motion, seconded by Alderman Neumann to approve the Watermain Repair as proposed. Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Neumann, Babb, Amundson, Joos, and Neuhaus. Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Neumann, Amundson, Babb, Joos, and Neuhaus. Nays: 0. Absent: Alderperson Greiner. Motion passed.

e. Approve the Purchase of a new sub pump for the Water Department to be no more than $1,600.00 from Dultmeier. Alderman Amundson made a motion, seconded by Alderperson Greiner to approve the purchase of the sub pump. Roll Call: Ayes: Aldermen Amundson, Greiner, Babb, Joos, Neuhaus and Neumann. Nays: 0. Absent: 0. Motion passed.

6. CITIZENS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL

7. OTHER BUSINESS

• Spook Hollow applications will not be taken at City Hall this year

• MHMC conduit underground? Tear it out?

o MHMC should have come to Council and told what they want to do

o Alderperson Joos - pull it out and get permits

o Alderperson Greiner - ordinance violation, request permission from Council

o Alderperson Neumann - use what powers with how you would treat homeowner

o Alderman Babb - ordinance violations and come to compromise

o Alderman Neuhaus - need more info min to get fined and expect to remove

o Alderman Amundson - ordinance violation

o Approx. $2,500.00 plus $600 for fines

o Maybe reach out to MHMC to let them know there are multiple issues. Is there a way to get a representative that can know and enforce the City policies and rules?

CLOSED SESSION:

Council exited regular session and entered executive session at 7:58 p.m.

Council resumed regular session at 8:12 p.m.

• Draft letter to MHMC

• Department Head emails – signatures – update

• 808 Lincoln – transfer complete – Streets no mowing

• Executive specific

8. ADJOURNMENT

Alderman Neumann made a motion, seconded by Alderman Amundson to adjourn the City of Marquette Heights Committee meeting at 8:13 p.m. Roll Call: All ayes. Motion passed

 http://cityofmhgov.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/09-03-2024-Com-Mins.doc