City of Macomb Committee of the Whole met Feb. 26.
Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:
The Committee of the Whole of the Macomb City Council met on Monday, February 26, 2018 at 5:15 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of City Hall at 232 East Jackson Street, Macomb, IL.
Mayor Pro-Tem Dennis Moon called the meeting to order.
Roll call was taken and the following were present: Mike Wayland, John Vigezzi, Mellie Gilbert Tom Koch, Gayle Carper, Don Wynn and Dennis Moon. Others present: Deputy Clerk Renee Lotz, City Administrator Dean Torreson, and City Attorney Kristen Petrie. Also in attendance were PW Director Scott Coker, CDC Ray Heitner, Office Manager Kerry Rhoads and Intern John Bannon. Mayor Inman was absent.
Public Comment: None
The first item on the agenda for discussion was to consider awarding the McDonough County Public Transportation Bus Stop Shelters to Otto Baum in the amount of $139,156.09. POWER TO ACT. Transportation Director Nathan Cobb explained that this had been approved prior to the budget crisis with the State of Illinois. He stated the shelters were 100% funded by a grant received in 2014. He stated there were five bids submitted and Otto Baum was the low bidder. The base bid includes 8 different shelter locations $139,156.09 with the budget of $172,000, allowing the Alternate A-3 to be added. He was requesting Council approval in order to forward onto IDOT.
Alderman Vigezzi moved, seconded by Alderman Koch to award the bid for the Bus Stop Shelters to Otto Baum in the amount of $139,156.09 on question being put, Aldermen Wayland, Vigezzi, Gilbert, Koch, Carper, Wynn and Moon being all Aldermen voting “Aye” on roll call and no “Nay” votes, Mayor Pro-Tem Moon declared the motion carried.
Transportation Director Cobb reminded Council of the approved Alternate A-3 that was added to the Base Bid.
Alderman Vigezzi moved, seconded by Alderman Koch to amend the award total to include the Base Bid plus the Alternate A-3, totaling $156,722.23 to Otto Baum for the McDonough County Public Transportation Bus Stop Shelters, on question being put, Aldermen Vigezzi, Gilbert, Koch, Carper, Wynn, Moon and Wayland being all Aldermen voting “Aye” on roll call and no “Nay” votes, Mayor Pro-Tem Moon declared the motion carried.
The second item on the agenda for discussion was on the updates of the Zoning Maps A and B. CDC Heitner explained it had been three years since the last update had been done. He stated there weren’t many major changes since the last update. He and his staff have seen some issues in City Zoning Map A and the Mile and a half buffer, known as Zoning Map B. He named the approved changes through planning commission such as; zoning changes, special use permits, variances and annexations. (11) Variances, and (31) Zoning changes, Special Use.
There are some inconsistencies he would like to address concerning what the map shows and the comprehensive plan moving forward. The Comprehensive Plan is now 11 years old and he feels it’s a good time to review it to see if it makes sense. One thing he would like more clarity on are the two large M-2 areas that have been set aside for heavier manufacturing use, but the comprehensive plan calls for one of those to be used largely for single family use. He stated there were typically buffers of intensity that digress in stages near a residential area near an M-2.
He stated the other issue was the areas throughout that have split zoning where there are two zones within one parcel, presenting complications. He stated there were approximately eight to twelve that he would like to look at amending.
He stated another area around the high school was split zoned three different ways and it made more sense for it to be Office Industrial use, (OI). Overall these issues were in the minority and the zoning map conforms to the comp plan and land use that we have or plan to have in place.
He presented the Council with handout maps of the Downtown and Spring Lake areas. He stated there was a good B-2 buffer around the B-2 area the traditional downtown area. There is a decline in R-3 two family in that area. Overall the downtown zoning hasn’t changed and the same could be said for the Spring Lake area zoning as well.
He explained split zoning as combined parcels with different zones. His target for completion is within the next two years; however some issues are more easily addressed than others.
There was no further discussion.
The third item on the agenda for discussion was a proposed policy for regulation adjustments in Macomb’s utility bill as a result of water leaks. CA Torreson reviewed the hand out he presented to Council. He stated it was common to have these types of leaks resulting in large bills. Examples would be broken water pipes, running toilets while the customer is away. Pipes can break within the house due to heat loss or between the house and the meter pit outside. He stated that all future homes would be metered by outside pits.
He stated there was currently no policy for adjustments for the water portion of the bill, there is for the sewer portion if it can be proven it didn’t run through the sewer system. He stated that bills can be a thousand dollars and more and people can’t pay, there needs to be some kind of upper limit.
He stated this was discussed at Public Works Committee on February 20th where a proposed policy was handed out, since then there have been changes which he handed out tonight. He stated this was meant to be inserted into an existing policy that has been around for years. He stated the comments in “italics” pertain to the water portion of billing and the second page pertains to the sewer adjustments “clarification” only. (Please see attached).
He believes this policy would address all issues.
Alderman Carper asked how it was proven that water doesn’t pass through the sewer system.
CA Torreson stated that broken water lines in basements at times were not connected to the sanitary sewer line and outside water line breaks between the pit and the house don’t drain into the sanitary sewer. He stated each occurrence was considered case by case.
CA Torreson recommended that some current customers paying large bills on the payment plan be considered under the new policy should it be adopted, including them in the (10) times limit.
There was no other business.
There being no further business to come before the Council, Alderman Vigezzi moved, seconded by Alderman Wynn to adjourn the meeting, all Aldermen voted “Aye” by Viva Voca vote, Mayor Pro-Tem Moon declared the motion carried and they adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m.
https://cityofmacomb.com/02-26-2018-committee-whole-minutes/
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