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The Eureka City Council convened in regular session at the City Building on February 18, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. Mayor Scott Punke called the meeting to order and led The Pledge of Allegiance and then directed the Deputy City Clerk to call the roll. Present were Aldermen Kupfer, Zeltwanger, Hinnen, Meares, Hinthorne, Prather, Waters, and V. Punke. Also in attendance were Lynn Hinnen, Treasurer; J.J. Davis, Deputy City Clerk; Anne Sandvik, City Administrator; Jim Lehman, Public Works Director; and Chief Al Misener.
Moved by Hinnen, second by Meares, to approve the amended minutes of the February 4, 2008 regular meeting of the City Council. In the second to last paragraph on the first page it needs to state 2008 Ford Ranger instead of Explorer. Passed on roll call vote with Hinnen, Meares, Kupfer, Zeltwanger, Hinthorne, Prather, Waters, and V. Punke all voting Aye.
The Mayor asked for public comments on any action to be taken on Agenda items. There were none.
Moved by Waters, second by Meares, to approve and pay the bills as the City’s obligation in the amount of $59,252.70. Passed on roll call vote with Waters, Meares, Kupfer, Zeltwanger, Hinnen, Hinthorne, Prather, and V. Punke all voting Aye.
Moved by Waters, second by V. Punke, to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented for the month ending January 31, 2008. Passed on roll call vote with Waters, V. Punke, Kupfer, Zeltwanger, Hinnen, Meares, Hinthorne, and Prather all voting Aye.
Moved by Waters, second by Hinthorne, to approve the recommendation from the Eureka Planning Commission and the Economic Development Committee to vacate a portion of Eureka Avenue from Major Street going east one-half block to the alley to allow for the Eureka Community Hospital to expand. Discussion was held and
Mayor Punke read the minutes from the Eureka Planning Commission and the Economic Development Committee for those that were not present at the public hearing. The minutes are as follows:
“The Eureka Community Hospital presented plans for an expansion south across a portion of Eureka Avenue which would require closing a portion of Eureka Avenue. The Eureka Planning Commission and the Economic Development Committee met jointly to hear plans for a Hospital expansion. The Hospital was represented by Barbara Meek BLDD Architects, Steve Holman BroMenn Health Care Vice President for Planning and Systems Services, Dwight Hill Director of Facilities Management, Gary Tolwer, Practice Manager, Chris Hughes, Physician, and Sonja Reece, BroMenn Director of Government Affairs. Roger Miller and Jerry Riley were also present as they would be the closest neighbors to the new addition. Mr. Holman expressed the Hospitals desire to be good neighbors and wanted to work in a collaborative partnership with the City on the expansion. The need for Health Care is growing with the addition of two new physicians to the Town and Country Health Care which brought in 500 new patients this past year. The Hospital looked at locating the expansion to the east into their current parking lot behind the Hospital, but there is a sewer main which runs through the alley and the cost to move this would be considerable. They looked at expansion West across Major Street but the expansion would not have been large enough to meet their needs. Another option was to move the hospital outside the City corporate limits. The option to expand the hospital south to the existing parking lot was the most viable option. This was an ideal location with access to the hospital and the space they needed for the Town and Country Health Care expansion. The building next to Town and Country would be torn down to make room for the expansion. The parking for the staff would be moved to the hospital parking lot on the north side of Route 24 to free up parking spaces for the additional influx of patients to the new physicians building. The current building housing the physicians will be utilized for the outpatient care. Roger Miller and Jerry Riley did not have a problem with the expansion but did want the sidewalk to remain. The Hospital agreed they would provide a walkway. The hospital is also going to contact the school and the fire department for their input. Diane Hinthorne made a motion to make a recommendation from the Economic Development Committee and the Planning Commission the council for their consideration of vacating a portion of Eureka Avenue to allow for the Hospital expansion with BroMenn Health care covering all cost associated with the legal requirements for vacating the street and relocation of any utilities necessary to a location to be determined by the City, second by Kupfer. Diane Hinthorne, Steve Kupfer, Mick Simenc, Stan Wertz, Jim Cuffe, Al Hinnen, Ken Knepp and Rich Waters voted yes. The Hospital will submit plans for further consideration but needed to know if this was going to be a viable option for their expansion before moving forward.”
Also letters from the Eureka – Goodfield Fire Protection District and the Community Unit School District No. 140 in support of the expansion were read. See attached letters.
Mayor Punke addressed Greg Hollenberg of 407 S. Henry Street. Mr. Hollenberg expressed his concern for the street closure. He travels Eureka Street four or more times a day and this would cause him to travel longer more complicated routes and cause additional travel expense. Also, he was concerned that it would restrict travel from the east to downtown. With the restricted travel, there might be potential problems on Conover at Route 117 and Route 24 at Darst St. Furthermore, he heard that the hospital wanted to close the alley and expand to the East. He felt that they should do that now and it would save money in the long run. Mayor Punke asked if there was anyone else who would like to speak on this item. There were none. Passed on roll call vote with Waters, Hinthorne, Kupfer, Zeltwanger, Hinnen, Meares, Prather, and V. Punke all voting Aye
Moved by V. Punke, second by Hinnen, to approve the recommendation to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement with Unit District #140 Resolution R-07-09 for the continuation of the School Resource Officer for the period August 2008 through May of 2010. Passed on roll call vote with V. Punke, Hinnen, Kupfer, Zeltwanger, Meares, Hinthorne, Prather, and Waters all voting Aye.
Moved by Meares, second by V. Punke, to approve the recommendation from the Administration Committee to approve the Resolution R-07-12 to authorize the transfer of a parcel of land owned by the City of Eureka to the Congerville, Eureka, Goodfield Unit #140 School District and to file a Quit-Claim Deed transferring the property. Passed on roll call vote with Meares, V. Punke, Kupfer, Zeltwanger, Hinnen, Hinthorne, Prather, and Waters all voting Aye.
Moved by Hinnen, second by Punke, to approve the contract with Lakeview Builders in the amount of $34,227.00 to construct the sewer extension from Reagan Drive south to connect to the Parkview estates sewer to allow the Eureka College Subdivision construction. Passed on roll call vote with Zeltwanger, Hinnen, Meares, Hinthorne, Prather, Waters, and V. Punke all voting Aye. Kupfer voted no.
Committee Reports:
Chairman Waters of the Budget Committee: There is a Budget Committee meeting scheduled for February 25th at 6:45 p.m.
Chairman Meares of the Administration and Personnel Committee: No Report
Chairman Hinnen of the Enterprise Committee: Meeting scheduled on February 23rd at 7:30 a.m.
Chairman Waters of the Maintenance Committee: Meeting scheduled for February 25th at 6:00 p.m.
Chairman V. Punke of the Public Safety Committee: No Report
Chairman Hinnen of the Park and Recreation Committee: No Report
Chairman Kupfer of the Economic Development Committee: Meeting scheduled for February 23rd at 8:00 a.m. Mayor Punke wanted to announce the tug of war and the town wide garage sale for the 4th of July and for the Sesquicentennial.
Chairman Mayor Punke of the Liquor Committee: No Report
Chair Hinthorne of the Communications Committee: Planning a joint meeting with Economic Development Committee on February 23rd.
Alderman Zeltwanger wanted to announce that the committee he is on for the CEGYRA has hired a park director. He will start March 1st.
New Business: None
Public Comments: None
There being no further business to come before the Council the meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
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Jennifer Davis, Deputy City Clerk
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