City of Bushnell Council met March 16.
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. Mike Howell –P Ald. Bruce Lorton –P Treasurer Dan Cortelyou - A Street Superintendent David Raymond –P
Ald. David Norton –A Ald. Brent Glisan – P City Attorney Chuck Laegeler-P
Public Works
*Jarred Dexter from WIRC explained the process for obtaining our next round of GBDG grants.
Due to the qualifications needed to be eligible for a grant for the NW sewer project, the city will not be pursuing the grant.
*Ald. C Howell stated that Chris Adams from the McDonough County Water Committee contacted him about putting caution labels on the water grates.
*Preconstruction meeting on SW sewer project will be Thursday March 19th at the City Hall.
*Public Works Director Justin Griffith stated that the cleaning person at the rec. center would be off until April 5th.
*Griffith stated that the commerce commission had asked the governor to not do any Turn offs or charge penalties. The council agreed by general consensus to not do any Turn offs until May 1.
*Griffith also stated that he would like to shut down the lobby in the utility office.
Business can be done thru the drive- thru or by phone or online. The council agreed with a general consensus.
Consent Agenda
Ald. Lorton made a motion to approve the consent agenda, which included the following items:
1. Approval of Minutes from March 2, 2020
2. Accept February Financial Report.
Ald. Coates seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows:
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.
Ad Hoc (Mayor’s Report)
1. Tri-Oaks is having a lunch & tour renovation celebration on April 3, 2020
2. Mayor Wilt urged everyone to be diligent and lead by example in these hard time. And to please not panic. The gaming machines have been turned off, and The bars and restaurants shut down. Some of the places will be serving takeout’s Thru curb-side service or drive up. Mayor Wilt urges everyone to take advantage of This and help out our local businesses.
3. The Christian cupboard are extending their hours they will be having pickup on Tues. night from 6:00 to 7:00 and on Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30. They are in Need of additional food. Please donate if you can. You can drop things off at the City Hall if the CCC is not open.
Personnel/Finance/Budget
*Ald. Glisan stated that the FOP contract was not back in yet.
*Glisan also stated that he thinks we ought to look at the budget and maybe do an amendment to put some extra funds in the ESDA budget to help With any emergencies that come up.
Police/Liquor/ESDA
*Minutes from the March 9, 2020 meeting.
Ald. Lorton made a motion to block off Hurst St. at the RR crossing at 5:00 p.m. Friday July 24th As well as the 400 block of East Main St. and re-opened after 9:00 p.m. for the show and shine.
Ald. C Howell“aye” Ald. Lorton“aye”
Ald. M Howell“aye” Ald. Glisan“aye”
Ald. Allen“aye”Ald. Coates“aye”
Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.
*Jeff Rench ESDA director stated that four of them went to a meeting this morning at the McDonough County Health Dept to learn the course of action we need to take. They have dropped the gathering limit to 50 people. Mayor Wilt stated that the CCC has Suspended rentals. He encouraged people to go to the CDC website, it has lots of Information and updates. The main symptoms are cough, fever, shortness of breath.
Please promote self-quarantine. The Rec. Center will be canceling rentals through the 6th of April at this time. And will be re-evaluated at the next council meeting.
*Rench stated they would be doing teleconferencing instead of having meetings.
Real Estate/Parks/Recreation
Ald. Coates reported that she had not heard anything on any grants.
MAEDCO
*Kim Pierce MAEDCO Director stated that the department of Commerce has been Sending out emails trying to figure out what they can do to help small businesses.
They want to offer low interest loans through the EDL.
*Pierce urges people not to believe everything they see on social media and to go to the CDC website for information. And if you have questions call the City Hall.
*Pierce stated that restaurants in Macomb are offering free meals for kids.
*Starbuck’s are going ahead with their opening – drive up only.
*CEO program is online moving forward with zoom doing business plans.
*Pierce stated the wind farm had complaints of the red lights, they are investing a ½ million dollars to put in sonar that will light up when aircrafts are in the area.
Engineering
*Nothing to report
Contracts
*Nothing to report
Attorney’s Report/Ordinances & Resolutions
*City attorney Chuck Laegeler stated on the Patty Sullivan case there is a statue that we Could put it out for bids and then send her a notice and she has 15 days after the date of that notice to state that she is going to take care of that property. Or we can go ahead and tear That property down and then go back through the courts to get that money back.
*Laegeler stated that IML has suspended the rule for open meetings act and we can do Meetings over telecommunication.
*On the American Tower contract their corporate council said they wanted to do the fee
Simple sale but it would take them 6 months.
Ald. Lorton made a motion to go into Executive Session at 6:35 for a)Appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of an employee of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, pursuant to Sec. 2 (c) (1) of the Open Meetings Act. d) The setting of a price for sale or lease of property for the use of the public body, pursuant to Sec. 2 (c) (6) of the Open Meetings Act
Ald. C Howell seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows:
Ald. M Howell“aye” Ald. Glisan“aye”
Ald. Allen“aye” Ald. Coates“aye”
Ald. Lorton“aye” Ald. C Howell“aye”
Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.
Ald. C Howell made a motion at 6:55 to return to regular session. Ald. Lorton seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows:
Ald. Allen“aye” Ald. Coates“aye”
Ald. Lorton“aye” Ald. C Howell“aye”
Ald. Glisan“aye” Ald. M Howell“aye”
Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.
Ald. Lorton made a motion to give Justin Griffith the power to act on the USDI compliance agreement. Ald. C Howell seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows:
Ald. Allen“aye” Ald. Coates“aye”
Ald. Lorton“aye” Ald. C Howell“aye”
Ald. Glisan“aye” Ald. M Howell“aye”
Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.
Ald. Allen made a motion to Adjourn.
Meeting Adjourned at 6:58
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vyHr2IprZpNJS9tLjEs420RJan4px87W
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