The Eureka City Council convened in regular session at the City Building on April 16, 2007, at 7:30 p.m. Mayor Scott Punke called the meeting to order and led The Pledge of Allegiance and then directed the City Clerk to call the roll. Present were Aldermen Meares, Hangartner, Weidner, Hinnen, V. Punke, Eckert, Chambliss, and Waters. Also in attendance were Lynn Hinnen, Treasurer; Marilyn Walter, City Clerk; Anne Sandvik, Acting City Administrator; Jim Lehman, Director of Public Works; and Chief Al Misener.
Moved by Hinnen, second by Meares, to approve the minutes of the April 2, 2007, regular meeting of the City Council. Passed on roll call vote with Hinnen, Meares, Hangartner, Weidner, V. Punke, Eckert, Chambliss, and Waters all voting Aye.
The Mayor asked for public comments on any action to be taken on Agenda items. There were none.
Moved by Weidner, second by V. Punke, to approve and pay the bills as the City’s obligation in the amount of $235,625.14. Passed on roll call vote with Weidner, V. Punke, Meares, Hangartner, Hinnen, Eckert, Chambliss, and Waters all voting Aye.
Moved by Meares, second by Hangartner, to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented for the month ending March 31, 2007. Passed on roll call vote with Meares, Hangartner, Weidner, Hinnen, V. Punke, Eckert, Chambliss, and Waters all voting Aye.
Moved by Waters, second by Meares, to approve the recommendation from the Administration Committee of the Mayor’s appointment of Al Misener as Chief of Police for Fiscal Year 07-08 effective May 1, 2007. Passed on roll call vote with Waters, Meares, Hangartner, Weidner, Hinnen, V. Punke, Eckert, and Chambliss all voting Aye.
Moved by Weidner, second by Hangartner, to approve the recommendation from the Administration Committee of the Mayor’s appointment of Jim Lehman as Director of Public Works for Fiscal Year 07-08 effective May 1, 2007. Passed on roll call vote with Weidner, Hangartner, Meares, Hinnen, V. Punke, Eckert, Chambliss, and Waters all voting Aye.
Moved by Meares, second by V. Punke, to approve the recommendation from the Administration Committee of the Mayor’s appointment of Anne Sandvik as Acting City Administrator for Fiscal Year 07-08 effective May 1, 2007. The Mayor at this time has no plans to fill this position permanently. Passed on roll call vote with Meares, V. Punke, Hangartner, Weidner, Hinnen, Eckert, Chambliss, and Waters all voting Aye.
Moved by Meares, second by Hinnen, to approve the recommendation from the Administration Committee of the Agreement for Zoning Administrator Services with Mark Maloney effective May 1, 2007, through April 30, 2008. Passed on roll call vote with Meares, Hinnen, Hangartner, Weidner, V. Punke, Eckert, Chambliss, and Waters all voting Aye.
Moved by Waters, second by Meares, to approve Resolution R-07-04 requesting the closure of a State Highway for the Memorial Day parade on May 28, 2007. Passed on roll call vote with Waters, Meares, Hangartner, Weidner, Hinnen, V. Punke, Eckert, and Chambliss all voting Aye.
Moved by Waters, second by Meares, to approve Resolution R-07-05 requesting the closure of a State Highway for the 4th of July parade. Passed on roll call vote with Waters, Meares, Hangartner, Weidner, Hinnen, V. Punke, Eckert, and Chambliss all voting Aye.
Moved by Weidner, second by Meares, to approve the water and sewer write-off list for Fiscal Year 06-07. The water write-off is $396.85; the sewer is $242.07; totaling $638.94. This write-off is less than .000501 percent of the total sales for the 06-07 year. This is only possible because of the work of JJ Davis in the office and the employees who hang the shut-off signs on the doors of those who have not paid their bills. We appreciate their persistence. Passed on roll call vote with Weidner, Meares, Hangartner, Hinnen, V. Punke, Eckert, Chambliss, and Waters all voting Aye.
Moved by Eckert, second by Waters, to approve the recommendation from the Park Committee for the fireworks agreement with Melrose Pyrotechnics, Inc. for an amount not to exceed the budgeted amount of $10,000. Passed on roll call vote with Eckert, Waters, Meares, Hangartner, Weidner, Hinnen, V. Punke, and Chambliss all voting Aye.
Moved by Weidner, second by Chambliss, to approve the request of the City Treasurer Lynn Hinnen to open a certificate of deposit account with the Goodfield State Bank branch in Eureka for the Police Pension reserve funds. Passed on roll call vote with Weidner, Chambliss, Meares, Hangartner, Hinnen, V. Punke, Eckert, and Waters all voting Aye.
Moved by Meares, second by Hangartner, to move into Executive Session pursuant to 5 ILCS 20/2(c)(1) to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of an employee of the City and 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(21) to semi-annually review closed session minutes . Passed on roll call vote with Meares, Hangartner, Weidner, Hinnen, V. Punke, Eckert, Chambliss, and Waters all voting Aye.
Moved by V. Punke, second by Meares, to reconvene from Executive Session pursuant to 5 ILCS 20/2(c)(1) to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of an employee of the City and 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(21) to semi-annually review closed session minutes . Passed on roll call vote with V. Punke, Meares, Hangartner, Weidner, Hinnen, Eckert, Chambliss, and Waters all voting Aye.
Let the record show that the semiannual review of executive session minutes and action to be taken in regard to an employment issue was discussed in Executive Session.
Moved by Meares, second by Weidner to release the five minutes of executive session meetings (committees and Council) to the public. Passed on roll call vote with Meares, Weidner, Hangartner, Hinnen, V. Punke, Eckert, Chambliss, and Waters all voting Aye.
Moved by Waters, second by V. Punke, to table action in regard to the employment issue indefinitely or until all information is available. Passed on roll call vote with Waters, V. Punke, Meares, Hangartner, Weidner, Hinnen, Eckert, and Chambliss all voting Aye.
Moved by Meares, second by V. Punke, to approve the recommendation from the Administration Committee to change the wage compensation for the Wastewater Plant Superintendent Doug Eastman and the Water Plant Superintendent Al Jacobsgaard from an hourly rate of pay to salaried personnel. Mayor Punke noted that the Administration and Personnel Committee met with these employees to discuss this change. Their salary includes their yearly increase and the pay for the number of overtime hours worked last year. This was his recommendation because these two work a total of 800 overtime hours per year. He hopes to regulate overtime and save money for the City. This change doesn’t affect the 07-08 budget since their hourly pay and overtimes hours were just switched to salary. Passed on roll call vote with Meares, V. Punke, Hangartner, Weidner, Hinnen, Eckert, Chambliss, and Waters all voting Aye.
Committee Reports:
Chairman Chambliss of the Budget Committee: No report
Chairman Meares of the Administration and Personnel Committee: No report
Chairman Weidner of the Enterprise Committee: No report
Chairman Chambliss of the Maintenance Committee: The sidewalk on Vennum Street has been completed.
Chairman Waters of the Public Safety Committee: The Chief reported that the 2007 squad car that was ordered is not available now. The company is sending a 2008 car instead, and it will be here around May 14.
Chairman Eckert of the Park and Recreation Committee: No report
Chairman Hinnen of the Economic Development Committee: No report
Chairman Mayor Punke of the Liquor Committee: No report
Chairman Meares of the Communications Committee: This Saturday is the Run at the Lake for Hearthouse. A portion of Lake Road will be closed in the early morning hours. This Saturday is also Eureka Lilac Festival and Art Faire at the Eureka College campus.
New Business: The Washington District Library sent an invitation to a presentation on Identity Theft to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18. Mayor Punke welcomed the Circle K Club to Eureka. This group of college students is having their charter night tonight.
Public Comments: None
There being no further business to come before the Council the meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
____________________________
Marilyn Walter
City Clerk
