City of Pittsfield City Council met July 3.
Here is the minutes as provided by the council:
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Pittsfield, Pike County, Illinois, was held on Tuesday, July 3, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was held at the City Council room at 215 North Monroe Street. The purpose of the meeting was to transact any business legally brought before it. 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 Ritchart seconded the motion.
Roll Call:Yea:Knight, Lennon, Ritchart,
Scheiwe, Wilson, Wood (6)
Nay:None (0)
Present:Wombles (1)
The motion carried.
Alderman Wood moved to accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission to permanently rezone the property at 303 West Jefferson Street in Pittsfield from R-3, Multiple Family Dwelling District to B-2, Central Business District as requested by Nikki Rumple, owner of Nikki’s Dance Academy, and direct City Attorney Hollahan to draft an ordinance for the zoning change.
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 reject all bids for the tennis court cleanup and rebuild, due to the excessive cost.
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 approve Ordinance No. 1606, An Ordinance Abating the Tax Heretofore Levied for the year 2018 to Pay the Debt Service on $600,000 General Obligation Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source), Series 2016, of the City of Pittsfield, Pike County, Illinois, on its second ready, by title only.
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 approve Ordinance No. 1607, An Ordinance Abating the Tax Heretofore Levied for the Year 2018 to Pay the Debt Service on $260,000 General Obligation Bonds (Sewerage System Alternate Revenue Source), Series 1999, of the City of Pittsfield, Pike County, Illinois, on its second reading, by title only.
Alderman Wombles 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. 1608, An Ordinance Regulating the General Prevailing Rate of Wages Under Contract for Public Works, 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 Wombles moved to suspend the rules and have the second reading of Ordinance No. 1608 (described above).
Alderman Ritchart 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. 1608 (described above) on its second reading.
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 Water Committee to approve maintenance of the water wells by Rocky Pump and Well.
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 approve the request of Chris Reel from the Nazarene Church in Pittsfield to temporarily close Mississippi Street from Washington Street to Fayette Street on Sunday, July 15, 2018, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Alderman Lennon seconded the motion.
Roll Call:Yea:Knight, Lennon, Ritchart, Scheiwe,
Wilson, Wombles, Wood (7)
Nay:None (0)
The motion carried.
Frank and Sue Quattrocchi and Justin Cobb were present to air complaints about LSSD Trucking. The first complaint is regarding the noise when the trucks are being washed out and the doors aren’t closed. They allege the noise keeps them awake at night. The second complaint was that LSSD semis are using the gravel road that does not have access to the highway. Quattrocchis contend the road ends at their driveway and the trucks are trespassing on their property by using their driveway that connects the road to the highway. Mrs. Quattrocchi states there used to be a fence on the section line that was taken down years ago and she has papers stating they have the right to erect the fence at any time, which will block off access to the road. She also asked why the trucks use that road anyway when the City spent $400,000.00 to make a nice road down by the State Police building for them to use. She further stated that the State has not given a permit for access for traffic from that road to enter or exit the highway. Mr. Quattrocchi suggested putting a 5-ton limit on the road, which will prevent the trucks from being able to use the road. Chief of Police Kenny Yelliott stated the law says that any truck can use any road they want if they are picking up or delivering commerce, so the 5-ton limit would not apply to them anyway.
In response to the road complaint, Mayor Hayden suggested a meeting be held with the Department of Transportation District Engineer, Quattrocchis and the City so the matter could be solved. In response to the noise complaint, Alderman Wood said he loaded an application onto his cell phone that registers the noise decibels. He went to LSSD and at 2:00 p.m. got a reading of 80 decibels, which is the equivalent of noise from an alarm clock. He then went to the fire hydrant on Knapp Lane and registered a reading of 40-50 decibels, which is equivalent to the noise in an office setting. The final reading was taken on the north side of the storage buildings and recorded 35-40 decibels, which is equivalent to noise at a library. At the time of the reading, an end loader was making concrete so there was noise present at the time he was taking the readings. He returned at 10:00 p.m. and got the same level of readings, with road traffic registering 50-60 decibels.
Alderman Wood said there is a turbo head on the washer at LSSD which contributes to the noise. However; the noise from the fans at United Feeds on North Madison Street in Pittsfield is more excessive than the noise coming from LSSD. Hog production is different today than it has been in the past. Quattrocchis state if the employees would close the north door while they are cleaning their trucks the noise level would be diminished. Dwight Dunham of LSSD stated they cannot close those doors in the summertime due to the extreme temperature of the water required to clean out the trucks.
Mrs. Quattrocchi contends the noise is an ordinance violation; however, City Attorney Hollahan stated it is a private nuisance action and Quattrocchis would need to hire a lawyer.
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.
Mayor Hayden said there will be a Lunch and Learn program presented July 12, 2018 regarding solar energy and RSVP’s are requested.
Mayor Hayden said the Animal Warden has reported that the dogs that were running loose and killing cats have been caught. He has also received numerous complaints that people are taking their dogs on the walking track at Lowry Park and not cleaning up when their dogs defecate on or near the track, making it a nuisance for others using the track.
The ditch in front of the King Park pool building keeps getting deeper. Moms have been walking down the street with their children because the ditch is too deep, creating a hazard with the amount of traffic in the area. Mayor Hayden would like to fix the ditch and make a handicap accessible sidewalk if a solution can be found to handle the water that runs along it. Patty McIntosh said the project should qualify for a $7,500 grant through the Pike County Health and Wellness Foundation.
Mayor Hayden told Gas and Water Foreman Bruce McKee the City will be flushing hydrants this year.
Chief of Police Kenny Yelliott reported that new Police Officer Mackenzie Carsey has her third week of training completed and she is doing fine.
City Attorney Hollahan addressed the Council about a handicap ramp project at Speckhart and White’s dental office on Fayette Street. Although the project is too close to their property line, a variance was not requested and put before the Council because according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we must reasonably accommodate handicapped people. Originally the ramp would have partially been on the neighboring property, but the owner of that property sold them enough property to allow the ramp to be entirely on Speckhart and White’s property. Attorney Hollahan said he was not trying to get around the variance process, but the request cannot be denied anyway due to ADA regulations. They would not have been able to complete the project if the adjacent section of property had not been sold to them, even with an easement from the owner of the section of property.
Alderman Knight moved to adjourn this meeting at 6:38 p.m.
http://www.pittsfieldil.org/government/agenda-minutes/minutes-council-meeting-07-03-18
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