West Central Reporter

Barry City Council met Feb. 4.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Rennecker called the regular monthly meeting of the Barry City Council to order at 7 p.m. He then led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance. All elected officials were present except Bruce Kendall.

Debbie Harshman made a motion to approve the January minutes and Steve Schultz seconded the motion. Motion carried with 5 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent.

Steve Schultz made a motion to approve payment of the bills and Scott Harris seconded the motion. Motion carried with 5 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent.

Pike County deputy Mike Johnson gave the police report. He said they are basically trying to keep patrol up and recommend that everyone lock garages and vehicles. There have been several theft cases in the last 6 months.

Mayor Rennecker discussed the police contract with Council from the Pike County Sheriff’s department. Deputy Steve Lowry will be the contact for Barry. This will be a two year contract beginning January 1, 2019 and ending December 31, 2020. The annual cost will be $55,620 and monthly payment will be $4635. Scott Harris made a motion to approve the new contract and Steve Schultz seconded the motion. Roll call taken:

Bob Dieker – yes 

Scott Harris – yes 

Steve Schultz – yes 

Marynel Corton – yes 

Bruce Kendall – absent 

Debbie Harshman – yes

Motion carried with 5 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent to approve the new police contract with Pike County.

Robert Snyder gave the public works director report. Robert said they kept busy with snow removal and spreading gravel. Max Middendorf asked if they had any water main breaks. Robert said they found a house with a leak and shut it off.

Jeff Hogge gave the city administrators report. Jeff said he helped with snow removal and he and the City crew spent a lot of time helping American Fresh Water Fishery prepare the old winery building for rehab. They helped move machinery and supplies into the building and helped store the excess machines and supplies in the Blue Barn for storage. The Apple Festival stage has been moved into the Blue Barn. There will be another tire collection March 18 and 19. The Health department said this is probably the last one we will see for awhile. This is done by the state on a rotational basis. The City is asking that tires be put out by road by your property and they will start picking them up on March 11.

Mayor Rennecker discussed filling the vacancy of City Treasurer. Kay Brown handed in her resignation in January because of health problems. Mayor Rennecker said he had a name for confirmation and asked council for their approval of Debbie Dell. Bob Dieker made a motion to approve Debbie Dell as the new City Treasurer and Steve Schultz seconded the approval. Roll call taken:

Scott Harris – abstained

Steve Schultz – yes

Marynel Corton – yes 

Bruce Kendall – absent 

Debbie Harshman – abstained 

Mayor Shawn Rennecker – yes

Motion carried with 3 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent and 2 abstained. Mayor Rennecker broke the tie by voting yes for Debbie Dell to be the new City Treasurer. Debbie Dell will be sworn in at the March meeting.

There will be a pool meeting Monday, February 11 at 5 p.m.

Mayor Rennecker said that MECO Engineering request to do sewer camera work on

Hamilton Street, Union Street, Rodgers Street and Decatur Street at a cost of $8700 which would come out of waste water fund. Bob Dieker made a motion to approve request and Steve Schultz seconded the motion. Motion carried with 5 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent.

Mayor Rennecker and council discussed a different truck for water department. Robert said it has manual transmission and runs but the bed is really rusty and the bed is about gone and is not taken out of town very often. The current truck is a 1995 F-250 with 150,000 miles on it. Mayor Rennecker said he talked with Eric Oitker about this time last year about the kind of truck needed and he has not found anything for us and suggested we put out advertisement for bids. He said he had found some 2011 F250’s with 20000 miles for $25,000 online. Debbie Harshman said lets do bids and Bob Dieker said go for bids. Council decided to put out bids.

Mayor Rennecker said we had donation request from Western After Prom. Last year we gave them $200. Debbie Harshman made motion to donate $200 for the after prom and Steve Schultz seconded the motion. Motion carried with 5 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent.

Mayor Rennecker discussed amending IDOT resolution. He said Max had gotten letter from IDOT approving the budget and plan was approved by the state with a change to the budget of $42, 407. Bob Dieker made motion to approve the amendment to IDOT resolution and Debbie Harshman seconded the motion. Roll call taken:

Steve Schultz – yes 

Marynel Corton – yes 

Bruce Kendall – absent 

Debbie Harshman – yes 

Bob Dieker – yes 

Scott Harris – yes

Motion with 5 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent to approve the amendment to the IDOT resolution.

Steve Schultz made motion to go into executive session at 7:32 p.m.

Council returned from executive session at 8:37 p.m. and Steve Schultz made motion to adjourn at 8:38 p.m.

https://www.barryil.org/vertical/sites/%7B5D37F131-A111-4AD1-A123-E21AEE05191D%7D/uploads/BARRY_CITY_COUNCIL-February_4_2019.pdf