The Eureka City Council convened in regular session at the City Building on March 20, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. Mayor Punke called the meeting to order and led The Pledge of Allegiance and then directed the City Clerk to call the roll.  Present were, Waters, Meares, Hangartner, Weidner, Hinnen V. Punke, Eckert, and Chambliss. Also in attendance were Lynn Hinnen, Treasurer; Marilyn Walter, City Clerk; Anne Sandvik, Acting City Administrator; and Chief Misener.

Moved by Meares, second by Hinnen, to approve the minutes of the March 6, 2006, regular meeting of the City Council.  Passed on roll call vote with Meares, Hinnen, Waters, Hangartner, Weidner, V. Punke, and Eckert voting Aye and Chambliss voting Present.

The Mayor asked for public comments on any action to be taken on Agenda Items. There were none.

Moved by Weidner, second by Hangartner, to approve and pay the bills as the City’s obligation in the amount of $51,218.15.  Passed on roll call vote with Weidner, Hangartner, Waters, Meares, Hinnen, V. Punke, Eckert, and Chambliss all voting Aye.

Moved by Eckert, second by Meares, to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented for the month ending February 28, 2006. Passed on roll call vote Eckert, Meares, Waters, Hangartner, Weidner, Hinnen, V. Punke, and Chambliss all voting Aye.

Moved by Chambliss, second by Meares, to consider Mayor Punke’s recommendation from the Liquor Commission to approve a Class B liquor license to sell alcoholic liquor in original packages for consumption off the premises for Casey’s General Store with the license to expire April 30, 2007.  Waters expressed concern that at the beginning of this process the council said they would take a conservative approach on these licenses and that wasn’t done. Mayor Punke stated that the application is in order, the background check was favorable, a check for one-half of the $750 fee has been received, and Chief Misener recommends approval. The motion passed on roll call vote with Chambliss, Meares, Hangartner, Weidner, Hinnen, V. Punke, and Eckert all voting Aye. Waters voted Nay.

Moved by Meares, second by Eckert, to consider Mayor Punke’s recommendation from the Liquor Commission to approve a Class B liquor license to sell alcoholic liquor in original packages for consumption off the premises for Huck’s Convenience Store with the license to expire April 30, 2007. Mayor Punke stated that the application is in order, the background check was favorable, a check for the $750 fee has been received, and Chief Misener recommends approval. The motion passed on roll call vote with Meares, Eckert, Hangartner, Weidner, Hinnen, V. Punke, and Chambliss all voting Aye. Waters voted Nay.

Moved by Eckert, second by Hangartner, to consider Mayor Punke’s recommendation from the Liquor Commission to approve a Class E liquor license to sell alcoholic liquor for consumption on the premises of a restaurant for Rosie’s Tex-Mex & Italian Restaurant with the license to expire April 30, 2007.  Mayor Punke stated that the application is in order, the background check was favorable, a check for the $500 fee has been received, and Chief Misener recommends approval. The motion passed on roll call vote with Eckert, Hangartner, Waters, Meares, Weidner, Hinnen, V. Punke, and Chambliss all voting Aye. The Class E liquor license requires that sales receipts must be over 50 percent for food. In order to monitor this, the receipts or tax documents will be checked each quarter.

Moved by Eckert, second by Hinnen, that, considering the delay in receiving the background information from the Illinois State Police, the possession date of the liquor licenses be from March 30, 2006 through April 30, 2007 and that the City pay the $5 for the extra fingerprint check that had to be done. Passed on roll call vote Eckert, Hinnen, Waters, Meares, Hangartner, Weidner, V. Punke, and Chambliss all voting Aye.

Moved by Waters, second by Weidner, to consider Resolution R-06-02 to support the opposition of the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) account for police officers and firefighters. Passed on roll call vote with Waters, Weidner, Meares, Hangartner, Hinnen, V. Punke, Eckert, and Chambliss all voting Aye.

Committee Reports:

Chairman Chambliss of the Budget Committee: The next meeting will be on Thursday, March 23, at 6 p.m.

Chairman Meares of the Administration & Personnel Committee: The next meeting will be on Wednesday, March 22, at 4:30 p.m.

Chairman Weidner of the Enterprise Committee: Weidner reported that he attended the water quality lecture at Eureka College last week.

Chairman Eckert of the Park and Recreation Committee: The School District #140 is paying for one-half of the construction cost of a storage building at the Lower Park.

Chairman Mayor Punke of the Liquor Committee: Mayor Punke requested and received a CD from the Illinois Liquor Control on how to apply for special event licenses through the State.

New Business: Chief Misener received a $1,100 grant for tobacco and alcohol stings. Sixty applications for the police officer vacancy have been given out; 22 have been returned. These applications are due on March 31. Interviews will be April 8, 9, and 10.

Public Comments: None

There being no further business to come before the Council the meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.    

Respectfully Submitted,

____________________________

Marilyn Walter

City Clerk