MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF DECEMBER 10, 2007.
The minutes of the regularly scheduled Monticello City Council Meeting of December 10, 2007 held in Council Chambers of the Municipal Building in Monticello, Piatt County, Illinois.
Meeting convened at 7:00 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Mayor Mitze Alderman: Allman Student Advisor King
Deputy Clerk McFarland Hayes
Attorney Tracy Vanderkloot
Hiller
Brown
McHale
Corrie
Kuetemeyer
Mayor Mitze led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
A motion was made by Alderman Hiller seconded by Alderman Allman to approve the Claims Report of December 10, 2007, City Council Study Session Meeting Minutes of December 3, 2007, Police Department Month End Report for November 2007, Treasurer’s Report for October 31, 2007, and Monthly Permits Report for November 2007. Motion carried.
Mayor Mitze complimented the generosity of the City employees, who contributed money to go to local school children. He reminded everyone that the Department of Recreation’s first Listen, Learn & Digest, a community enrichment program, will be on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 11:30. A representative from the Attorney General’s office will be speaking on identity theft and consumer fraud. For those who can’t make it, the program will be recorded and aired on Channel 2. Mayor Mitze encouraged and reminded residents to shop locally, keeping sales tax dollars in Monticello.
There was no old business.
Resolution 2007-65 allows for the City to close out the annual 2006 Motor Fuel Tax project. Ordinance 2006-44 allowed for the City of Monticello to expend funds for the annual Motor Fuel Tax program in the amount of $138,500. The expenditures amounted to $4,048.29 higher than the allotted amount. A motion was made by Alderman McHale, seconded by Alderman Hiller to pass Resolution 2007-65. Motion carried.
Resolution 2007-66, a Resolution to support the continued study of relocating the existing airport, was drafted at the direction of the City Council at the December 3, 2007 Study Session. Specifically mentioned items include the following: The study will not begin until a site is identified, no eminent domain will be used to acquire a site, the site must be purchased from a willing seller, and the study has the support of the Chamber of Commerce and Farm Bureau. Following the passage of this resolution, Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Aviation will be asked that the existing airport remain open to the public, so long as the City is making a continuing effort to seek a new site. Mayor Mitze stated that Sage Air, Inc. must also submit a letter of request to IDOT for the airport to remain open. A motion was made by Alderman Hayes to pass Resolution 2007-66. Alderman Hiller seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The Chamber of Commerce stated that this past year there were 50 documented flights that came into Monticello on business. This is in addition to the 6,000 regular operations that occur at the airport.
Mayor Mitze had previously requested the number of members on the Economic Advisory Committee be changed from 12 to 15, and the members will be appointed annually. A motion was made by Alderman McHale to pass Resolution 2007-67, Economic Advisory Committee Adjustment. Motion seconded by Alderman Corrie and passed. Alderman Corrie commented that the current members of the Committee represent a good cross-section of the entire community.
A motion was made by Alderman Corrie, seconded by Alderman Hiller to cancel the last meeting in December, scheduled for the 26th. Motion carried.
In the Alderman’s report, Alderman Corrie complimented on the Chamber’s Lunch with Santa on the Train event as a great success, despite the weather. Over 1,900 tickets were sold and the event sold out 11 days prior to the event. Visitors from 3 states and 98 communities were represented, 10 of those communities being over 100 miles away. Mr. Corrie wished to thank all the volunteers for the event. There will be a ribbon cutting event on December 13th at 3:00pm for “Two Loose Screws,” a new arts and crafts store opening at 101 N. Market St. Celebrations has moved into a new storefront east of the Brown Bag Restaurant. He wished everyone a happy and safe holiday.
Alderman Kuetemeyer expressed thanks and complimented the new Monticello directional sign on Old Route 47.
Alderman Hiller expressed thanks for the Lunch with Santa event. He mentioned that Decatur will no longer be having their similar event and the Chamber may need to add more cars.
Alderman Hayes reminded of the Listen, Learn & Digest community enrichment program, scheduled for Tuesday, December 11, at 11:30pm, where a representative from the Attorney General’s Office will be speaking of Identity Theft. There is still open gym volleyball going on Wednesdays and Sundays for $1. The Make-&-Take Holiday Craft was rescheduled to December 13th from 10-11am. Children 3-6 and their parents are invited and encouraged to attend for a small fee. The Holiday House Decorating contest will be on Enews for the public to vote for the winner, and over 100 children turned in coloring contest pictures.
In the Superintendent’s Report, it had been indicated to Mr. Allsop that there is a problem with visible house numbers. Mr. Allsop included a copy of the ordinance requiring house numbers to be visible in his correspondence. House numbering, especially visible house numbering, is important for the EMS services. Alderman Kuetemeyer was approached by Terry Jones of Kirby Ambulance about what can be done to help those who don’t have their houses marked. Suggestions included using the EMS to help, creating an Eagle Scout Project involving house numbering and putting a public service announcement on the City utility service bills. Mr. Allsop reported that the generator project at the Waste Water Treatment Plant is going well with no major setbacks thus far. The public works department will be picking up Christmas trees curbside during the week of January 2nd. 33 new home permits have been issued in 2007 so far, which is higher than the 32/year average. Sales tax income for the City of Monticello is $81,000 higher than the budgeted amount through December. The City is $165,000 ahead of the same period last year for the Corporate Replacement Tax.
Resolution 2007-68 allows for the City of Monticello to enter into an agreement with Heartland Pathways, purchasing a permanent easement. On November 19, 2007, correspondence was sent to Mr. Monk of Heartland Pathways thanking him for his efforts, but stating that the City did not find a conditional agreement that satisfied both parties. At the November 26, 2007 City Council meeting, Mr. Monk stated that Heartland Pathways was ready to commit to an agreement for the proposed road cut and trail. This resolution allows for a permanent easement to be purchased for the amount of $100,000, and includes a 20’ wide trail between the waste water treatment plant and Appletree Subdivision, and an ingress/egress into Appletree Subdivision from Route 47. City Attorney Tracy advised that he and Heartland Pathways Attorney Robert Dodd, will be attending a meeting on Friday with representatives from both parties. Mr. Tracy stated that if there is nothing of substance changed, the agreement could be signed on the spot. If there is something he feels the Council should approve before signing, he would suggest Heartland Pathways sign the agreement and it would be returned to the Council for approval and signatures. Alderman Kuetemeyer stated that if this agreement is not signed, there will be no further discussion on the subject and the City will proceed with eminent domain. Because procedures have begun to designate the area of the proposed road cut as a Natural Preserve, the City or developer would have to follow a consultation process with anything that is to be done with that area. A structural engineer did deem the railroad trestle and bridge safe for a bike/hike trail, and the City would be responsible for any maintenance.
There was no public participation.
Mayor Mitze wished everyone a blessed Christmas, and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. With no further business, a motion was made by Alderman Hayes, seconded by Alderman Corrie to adjourn at 8:02 P.M.
Respectfully submitted by,
Callie Jo McFarland, Deputy City Clerk
For the City of Monticello, Illinois
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