West Central Reporter

City of Bushnell City Council met March 2.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Wilt called the meeting to order.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was given.

Roll Call

Ald. Donna Coates - P         Ald. Greg Yocum -A         Mayor Robin Wilt – P                  Public Works Director Justin Griffith -P

Ald. Chuck Howell – P         Ald. Stacey Allen – P        City Clerk Teresa Ebbert - P       Police Chief Joe Fosdyck - P

Ald. David Norton –P            Ald. Brent Glisan – P       City Attorney Chuck Laegeler-P

Guest- Christen Osborne of Wildest Dreams Boutique asked the council for permission to close the 400

Block of East Main on Friday July 24th. She is planning another Christmas in July car show. She stated last year she had 45 cars. She would like to have some music and maybe a craft show to go along with it. It was talked about closing the 300 & 400 block of East Main, depending on how many cars she has entered. The council passed the request with a general consensus.

Treasurer

*City Treasurer Dan Cortelyou stated that he was almost finished with the budget. He is going to try and finish it within the next week or two.

*Cortelyou also talked about doing ACH for the payroll checks. He was going to look into it and see if we are able to do it.

Consent Agenda

Ald. Lorton made a motion to approve the consent agenda, which included the following items:

1. Approval of Minutes from February 17, 2020

2. Approve January 2020 Financial Report

2. Accept & Approve February 2020 bills.

Ald. Howell seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows:

Ald. Coates“aye”

Ald. C Howell“aye”        Ald. Allen“aye”

Ald. M Howell“aye”       Ald. Lorton“aye

Ald. Norton“aye”           Ald. Glisan“aye”

Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.

Ad Hoc (Mayor’s Report)

1. Mayor Wilt informed the council that she went to the Elementary school and read to three kindergarten classes for National Read out Loud day.

2. Mayor Wilt went to the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs conference in Springfield last week. She said it was a really great conference.

3. Mayor Wilt thanked Greg Fulkerson for the Test dinner last week.

4. Chamber meeting scheduled for this week has been cancelled.

Personnel/Finance/Budget

*Ald. Norton stated that over the last 2 weeks they have been meeting with FOP on contract negotiations that come up on May 1, 2020.

Public Works-Street/Sewer/Alley

*Justin Griffith Director of Public Works stated that the panhandle that controls our gas has placed a tariff on it. They are increasing our gas by 102% over what we are paying now.

With that said it is increasing the amount of money spent by the city to over $300,000. Griffith stated that we have joined a group of 27 other towns along with Blue Planet Energy Law to take the case to FERC to fight the increase.

With that being said they have started charging the city these new rates starting March 1, 2020. The utility board has recommended a 10% increase to the customers. Griffith estimated the increase will be about $8.00 per customer per month.

Ald. Norton made a motion to raise the gas rates 10%. Ald. Howell seconded the motion. A roll call Vote was taken with the results as follows:

Ald. C Howell“aye”        Ald. Lorton“aye”

Ald. M Howell“aye”       Ald. Glisan“aye”

Ald. Norton“aye”           Ald. Coates“aye”

Ald. Allen“aye”

Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.

*Griffith stated we had a commerce commission audit last week. Rob Rhodes explained that the audit didn’t go well, our records were not good. They said that we were not 3rd party qualified on anything. The commerce commission came in and told them they Had to have a 3rd party come in and train them after they take their test. So we have been out of compliance. Rhodes said they have now all taken their tests and are good to go on some of things. May possibly be fines handed out. Rhodes stated that we are back on track

And they will meet with the engineer next week.

*Public Works meeting Tues, March 10, 2020 at 3:00 at City Hall.

Police/Liquor/ESDA

*Next meeting will be Monday, March 9, 2020, 4:00 at the Police Complex.

*ESDA director Jeff Rench state there would be storm spotter training March 12, 6:30 At the 4-H center in Macomb.

Real Estate/Parks/Recreation

*Ald. Coates stated the Historical Society had called her and they are going to move the Display case into the rec. center.

*Ald. Coates mentioned that she had not heard anything on grants.

Engineering

*Nothing to report

Contracts

*Ald. Glisan stated they were going to start having meetings with Area Disposal to Get things all worked out with them.

Attorney’s Report/Ordinances & Resolutions

*City Attorney Chuck Laegeler stated that he is working with another Attorney, trying To find some other options in the Patty Sullivan property.

*Laegeler stated he has redone the paper work for Winget Subdivision, and it should be filed today.

*Laegeler informed the council he is working with McMillian, Hennefent on the Donny Brush property.

*Laegeler stated that he has added some language to the Electric Ordinance to include the

Metering services and the interconnect services.

Ald. Glisan made a motion to waive the second reading of the Ordinance 13.2 Electric Utility. Ald. Lorton seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows:

Ald. M Howell“aye”      Ald. Glisan“aye”

Ald. Norton“aye”          Ald. Coates“aye”

Ald. Allen“aye”             Ald. C Howell“aye”

Ald. Lorton“aye”

Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.

Ald. Glisan made a motion to adopt 13.2 Electric Utility Ordinance. Ald. C Howell seconded the motion.

A roll call vote was taken. With the results as follows:

Ald. Norton“aye”       Ald. Coates“aye”

Ald. Allen“aye”          Ald. C Howell“aye”

Ald. Lorton“aye”       Ald. M Howell“aye”

Ald. Glisan“aye”

Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.

*Laegeler stated he received the option agreement from American Tower, they are only wanting to purchase an easement. Meaning the land would still belong to the city. 2nd option was to just simply let them have the land. His recommendation was to get back with American Tower and put together a deed to give them the land. The dollar amount would be the same.

The council agreed by general consensus to sell the property and get a deed drawn up.

Ald. Allen made a motion to adjourn.

Meeting was adjourned at 6:22

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