Pittsfield City Council approves tax levy ordinance

By Lhalie Castillo

Nov 29, 2016

Pittsfield City Council met Tuesday, Nov. 1.

The council is the governing body for the city of Pittsfield. Members typically meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from May through October, and at 6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from November through April.

Here are the minutes as provided by Pittsfield:

November 1, 2016

The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Pittsfield, Pike County, Illinois, was held on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was held at the City Council room at 215 North Monroe Street. The following officers were present: Mayor John Hayden, City Clerk Cindy Prentice, and Aldermen Ed Knight, Paul Lennon, Robert Ritchart, Bill Scheiwe, Robert Wilson, Kevin Wombles and Robert Wood.

Absent: Alderman Kevin Ketchum.

Mayor Hayden presided.

Alderman Wood moved to approve the minutes of the last regular Council meeting.

Alderman Lennon seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Knight, Lennon, Ritchart, Scheiwe,

Wilson, Wombles, Wood (7)

Nay: None (0)

The motion carried.

Alderman Ritchart moved to accept the recommendation of the Zoning Committee to approve the variance for Brian E. and Angela A. Ruebush, owners of the property located at 247 North Clinton Street in Pittsfield to construct an unattached garage, which will be five feet (5’) instead of the required ten feet (10’) from a main building.

Alderman Wood seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Knight, Lennon, Ritchart,

Wilson, Wombles, Wood (6)

Nay: Scheiwe (1)

The motion carried.

Alderman Ritchart moved to approve the JBS United easement. The easement allows JBS to have their weigh scales on a portion of the City street. The scales have been in the same location for many years but due to a potential sale of the JBS property an easement was drawn to confirm approval of the location.

Alderman Wilson seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Knight, Lennon, Ritchart, Scheiwe,

Wilson, Wombles, Wood (7)

Nay: None (0)

The motion carried.

Alderman Wood moved to approve Ordinance No. 1572, An Ordinance Providing for Installation of Handicapped Parking Space within the City of Pittsfield, Pike County, Illinois, on its first reading.

Alderman Knight seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Knight, Lennon, Ritchart, Scheiwe,

Wilson, Wombles, Wood (7)

Nay: None (0)

The motion carried.

Alderman Ritchart moved to suspend the rules and have the second reading of Ordinance No. 1572, An Ordinance Providing for Installation of Handicapped Parking Space within the City of Pittsfield, Pike County, Illinois.

Alderman Wilson seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Knight, Lennon, Ritchart, Scheiwe,

Wilson, Wombles, Wood (7)

Nay: None (0)

The motion carried.

Alderman Wood moved to approve Ordinance No. 1572 (described above) on its second reading, by title only.

Alderman Ritchart seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Knight, Lennon, Ritchart, Scheiwe,

Wilson, Wombles, Wood (7)

Nay: None (0)

The motion carried.

Alderman Wombles moved to approve Ordinance No. 1573, An Ordinance Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a First Amendment to the TIF Redevelopment Agreement by and between The City of Pittsfield and Atlas Construction Supply Company, Pittsfield Tax Increment Financing District II, on its first reading.

Alderman Wood seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Knight, Lennon, Ritchart, Scheiwe,

Wilson, Wombles, Wood (7)

Nay: None (0)

The motion carried.

Alderman Wood moved to suspend the rules and have the second reading of Ordinance No. 1573 (described above).

Alderman Wilson seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Knight, Lennon, Ritchart, Scheiwe,

Wilson, Wombles, Wood (7)

Nay: None (0)

The motion carried.

Alderman Wood moved to approve Ordinance No. 1573 (described above) on its second reading, by title only.

Alderman Ritchart seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Knight, Lennon, Ritchart, Scheiwe,

Wilson, Wombles, Wood (7)

Nay: None (0)

The motion carried.

Alderman Ritchart moved to approve Ordinance No. 1574, An Ordinance Providing for the Annual Tax Levy of the City of Pittsfield, Pike County, Illinois, Commencing on the First Day of May, 2016, and Ending on the Thirtieth Day of April, 2017, on its first reading.

Alderman Knight seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Knight, Lennon, Ritchart, Scheiwe,

Wilson, Wombles, Wood (7)

Nay: None (0)

The motion carried.

Alderman Wombles moved to accept the bid from Spring Creek Hardwood for $27,500.00 for the Timber Sale Agreement, subject to them signing the agreement.

Alderman Lennon seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Knight, Lennon, Scheiwe,

Wilson, Wombles, Wood (6)

Nay: None (0)

Abstain: Ritchart (1)

The motion carried.

Alderman Lennon moved to approve Change Order No. 6 for Leander Construction Inc. in the amount of $25,066.76.

Alderman Ritchart seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Knight, Lennon, Ritchart, Scheiwe,

Wilson, Wombles, Wood (7)

Nay: None (0)

The motion carried.

Alderman Knight moved to approve Change Order No. 5 for Shortridge Construction Co. Inc. in the amount of $2,086.00.

Mayor Hayden said no decision will be made tonight on the closing of Lake Pittsfield, but will be discussed at the next regular Council meeting. The water may be turned off if weather conditions deem it necessary.

Alderman Ritchart moved to approve the Finance Committee Report and the Clerk be directed to issue the claims thereon.

Alderman Knight seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Knight, Lennon, Ritchart, Scheiwe,

Wilson, Wombles, Wood (7)

Nay: None (0)

The motion carried.

The overlay was completed yesterday. Hog Daddy BBQ will be a new restaurant opening in Pittsfield this Thursday, November 8. The new KDI road is complete but the cement trucks are coming out the upper north road. They need to be contacted to tell them to use the new road.

Mayor Hayden gave a timeline for the old Higbee School and the Environmental Protection Agency from November 15, 2015 when the first e-mail was sent to Charlie Dolbeare (with no response), to the latest submittal to the Attorney General’s office by the EPA, recommending Mr. Dolbeare be fined.

Alderman Wood thanked Police Chief Yelliott for his help with the Trunk or Treat event on the square on October 30. The event was very successful.

Alderman Wilson said the overlay on North Madison by the park looks very nice but there needs to be guardrails installed down there or something.

The grading at the new Animal Shelter is done.

Brenda Middendorf reported there will be a tire collection for municipalities at the Griggsville fairgrounds. A definite date has not been set but it should be held within three weeks. Municipalities can get involved by having a designated dumping point for the tires and then the municipality hauls them all to Griggsville. Pittsfield Township doesn’t have transportation to get them to Griggsville but could potentially have 100-200 tires per person. Alderman Lennon asked if the Boy Scouts had been asked to assist with going to get the tires. Mrs. Middendorf stated they could possibly be used as a resource. There is a possibility of vouchers for the communities who don’t have vehicles to transport the tires. Alderman Wilson asked if they had considered conducting a hazardous materials collection. Mrs. Middendorf stated they applied three years ago and have contacted the EPA since and they are still on the waiting list. The cost of a hazardous materials collection is approximately $100,000 to conduct.

The meeting for the Florence bridge project is 4:30 tomorrow. Mayor Hayden is a member of the board for the project. Mayor Hayden said the Employee Committee for the City needs to have an update meeting sometime soon. Mayor Hayden warned all men to stay off the square or be trampled this Thursday night– it’s Ladies Night Out!

Alderman Wilson moved to go into closed session at 6:31 p.m. to discuss personnel and litigation. Mayor Hayden asked that Chief of Police Kenny Yelliott stay for a portion of the closed session.

Alderman Lennon seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Knight, Lennon, Ritchart, Scheiwe,

Wilson, Wombles, Wood (7)

Nay: None (0)

The motion carried.