West Central Reporter

City of Jacksonville City Council met Aug. 24.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

The Jacksonville City Council Meeting was called to order at 7:15 p.m. by Mayor Andy Ezard. The meeting was publicly announced by posting and by written notice to the local newspaper and radio stations.

ROLL CALL: The following answered present: Aldermen Brandon Adams, Mike Bartlett, Don Cook, Jeff Lonergan, Lori Large Oldenettel, Mike Wankel, Steve Warmowski, Eren Williams; Mayor Andy Ezard; City Attorney Dan Beard; City Clerk Skip Bradshaw. Absent from the meeting were Aldermen Jeff Hopkins and Aaron Scott. A quorum was declared.

MINUTES: Motion was made by Cook, seconded by Adams, to approve the August 10, 2020 Minutes as presented in advance. By voice vote, motion carried.

PETITIONS: No discussion.

COMMUNICATIONS: CC Bradshaw advised he has one communication to discuss. This item was approved.

 Due to the impact COVID-19 has had on the community, JHS has had to re-work their cross country meet schedules because they can only compete against schools in their conference or COVID region. As a result, Breck VanBebber is seeking permission to use Community Park on Saturday, September 5, Saturday, September 12, Saturday September 26, and Saturday, October 10 from 7:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. each day. Additionally, he will no longer need to use the park Saturday, October 3. Supt. Adam Fletcher has given his approval on this request.

CLAIMS: No discussion.

MAYOR’S REPORT: No discussion.

CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT:

1. Resolution for MacMurray College Archival Collection loaned to the Jacksonville Heritage Cultural Center. This item was pulled from the agenda during the Workshop Meeting.

2. Resolution authorizing funding for an engineering study by Benton & Associates for the development of the Jacksonville Area Museum as governed by the Jacksonville Heritage Cultural Center Board, to be located at the Old Post Office, 301 East State Street. Motion was made by Oldenettel, seconded by Adams, to accept the resolution. CA Beard read the resolution as proposed.

2020-R-088

Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, that a Resolution AUTHORIZING FUNDING FOR AN ENGINEERING STUDY BY BENTON & ASSOCIATES, INC. FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE JACKSONVILLE AREA MUSEUM AS GOVERNED BY THE HERITAGE CULTURAL CENTER BOARD – (Not to exceed $4,500), is hereby approved.

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion. Ald. Warmowski asked what line item the $4,500 was going to be pulled from. He also suggested supporting other local businesses such as this with the Hotel/Motel tax revenue, which currently only goes to support the Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. CA Beard advised that there are certain restrictions associated with tax revenue, but he will look into the matter and advise. He also noted that the funding for this request will most likely be pulled from the Engineering line item.

ROLL CALL: 8 Yeas; 0 Nays; 2 Absent (Hopkins, Scott) 

Motion carried 8-0-2.

3. Resolution accepting gift of real estate from Howe Electric Supply Inc. Motion was made by Cook, seconded by Wankel, to accept the resolution. CA Beard read the resolution as proposed and noted that the City expresses its thanks to Chris and Harry Howe for this gift.

2020-R-089 Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, that a Resolution ACCEPTING GIFT OF REAL ESTATE FROM HOWE ELECTRIC SUPPLY, INC. – (A small tract of unimproved land located south of the West Morgan Depot and adjoining a public alley), is hereby approved.

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion and there was none.

ROLL CALL: 8 Yeas; 0 Nays; 2 Absent (Hopkins, Scott) 

Motion carried 8-0-2.

CITY CLERK’S REPORT: No discussion. 

PUBLIC COMMENT: No discussion.

CONSENT AGENDA

CONSENT AGENDA: (Items addressed under the Consent Agenda are routine or are brought forward at the direction of the Council and are enacted with one motion. If discussions were desired, that item would be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately under the Committee Reports.)

FINANCE/IT/PERSONNEL:

1. City Treasurer’s Report – July 31, 2020. City Treasurer Ron Smiljanich’s report for July 31, 2020, in which totals for cash receipts, cash disbursements, investments, and balances for all City bank and investment accounts were given.

PARKS & LAKES: No discussion.

PLANNING & PUBLIC WORKS: No discussion.

PUBLIC PROTECTION:

2020-R-090 Resolution DECLARING FIRE DEPARTMENT VEHICLE AS SURPLUS PROPERTY AND AUTHORIZING THE MANNER OF SALE

SPECIAL STUDIES: No discussion.

UTILITY:

2020-R-091

Resolution AUTHORIZING VARIOUS PAYMENTS FROM THE WATERWORKS & SEWERAGE PROJECTS FUND FOR CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS – $12,618.50 (Vandevanter Engineering - $12,618.50)

2020-R-092

Resolution AUTHORIZING WAIVER OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS; AND ACCEPTANCE OF PROPOSAL FROM ALTORFER, INC. FOR THE PURCHASE OF NEW BACKHOE LOADER - $76,491 ($106,491 minus $30,000 trade in allowance)

Motion was made by Wankel, seconded by Lonergan, to accept the Consent Agenda. Mayor Ezard asked for discussion or if there were any items to be pulled from the Consent Agenda for further discussion and there were none.

ROLL CALL: 8 Yeas; 0 Nays; 2 Absent (Hopkins, Scott) 

Motion carried 8-0-2.

COMMITTEE REPORTS FINANCE/IT/PERSONNEL: No discussion.

PARKS & LAKES: No discussion.

PLANNING & PUBLIC WORKS:

1. Second reading of an ordinance amending the Jacksonville Zoning Map for property located at 600 North Clay Avenue from B-1 to B-3. Motion was made by Oldenettel, seconded by Williams, to accept the second reading of the ordinance. CA Beard read the ordinance as proposed.

2020-O-006 

Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, that an Ordinance AMENDING THE JACKSONVILLE ZONING MAP FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 600 NORTH CLAY AVENUE FROM B-1 (Neighborhood Business District) to B-3 (Limited Business District), is hereby approved.

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion and there was none.

ROLL CALL: 8 Yeas; 0 Nays; 2 Absent (Hopkins, Scott) 

Motion carried 8-0-2.

PUBLIC PROTECTION:

1. Resolution authorizing the waiver of advertisement for bids and accepting proposal for the installation of audio and video equipment for the City Council Chamber. Motion was made by Oldenettel, seconded by Wankel, to accept the resolution. CA Beard read the resolution as proposed.

2020-R-093

Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, that a Resolution AUTHORIZING WAIVER OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS; AND ACCEPTANCE OF PROPOSAL FROM AUDIO TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR THE PURCHASE OF AUDIO AND VIDEO EQUIPMENT FOR THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS – (Not to exceed $10,787.33), is hereby approved.

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion. Ald. Warmowski asked about the method of broadcasting. Emergency Services Director Phil McCarty explained that there will be a link on the City’s website for public access. Ald. Adams asked why the City chose to go with no-bid proposals. Dir. McCarty explained that the City solicited for local contractors and did not find any because it is very specialized work and is under the bid limit of $10,000. CA Beard confirmed that this request requires a 2/3 approval vote by the Council. Ald. Adams asked if this was something that the City’s IT consultant asked the City to consider and was advised that yes, the City has worked with the IT consultant through this entire project. CA Beard reviewed the proposal for the Council. Ald. Warmowski is in support of this project but suggested postponing the vote until the next meeting in order to give the public time to review the resolution, but made no motion to table. General discussion ensued.

ROLL CALL: 8 Yeas; 0 Nays; 2 Absent (Hopkins, Scott) 

Motion carried 8-0-2.

2. Resolution authorizing the waiver of advertisement for bids and accepting proposal for an upgrade of the IT infrastructure. Dir. McCarty noted that this is for a number of small projects that have been requested by the City’s IT consultant Scott Roberts with the Khamma Group. Upgrades to the firewall and VPN will be made for security purposes, an upgrade to the Windows operating system will be made, and laptops will be purchased for various departments. Motion was made by Oldenettel, seconded by Cook, to accept the resolution. CA Beard read the resolution as proposed.

2020-R-094 

Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, that a Resolution AUTHORIZING WAIVER OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS; AND ACCEPTANCE OF PROPOSAL FROM CDS OFFICE TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE UPGRADE OF THE IT INFRASTRUCTURE – (Not to exceed $4,789), is hereby approved.

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion and there was none.

ROLL CALL: 8 Yeas; 0 Nays; 2 Absent (Hopkins, Scott) 

Motion carried 8-0-2.

3. Resolution authorizing waiver of advertisement for bids and acceptance of proposal through the HGAC Joint Purchase Program for a testing site trailer. Motion was made by Oldenettel, seconded by Williams, to accept the resolution. CA Beard read the resolution as proposed.

2020-R-095

Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, that a Resolution AUTHORIZING WAIVER OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS; AND ACCEPTANCE OF PROPOSAL THROUGH THE HGAC JOINT PURCHASE PROGRAM FOR A TESTING SITE TRAILER – (LDV Custom Specialty Vehicles – not to exceed $137,049), is hereby approved.

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion. Ald. Cook pointed out that Morgan County will be sharing in the cost of this trailer. Dir. McCarty advised that this is the same agreement that the two fire trucks were purchased under and that LDV is well known for providing this type of equipment. Dir. McCarty searched for a local vendor who could meet bid specifications but was unsuccessful.

ROLL CALL: 8 Yeas; 0 Nays; 2 Absent (Hopkins, Scott) 

Motion carried 8-0-2.

4. Resolution authorizing the waiver of advertisement for bids and accepting proposal for the installation of doors on the Hardin Avenue building. Motion was made by Oldenettel, seconded by Wankel, to accept this resolution. CA Beard read the resolution as proposed.

2020-R-096

Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, that a Resolution AUTHORIZING WAIVER OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS; AND ACCEPTANCE OF PROPOSAL FROM NEFF-COLVIN FOR THE PURCHASE OF TWO (2) OVERHEAD DOORS FOR THE ESDA STORAGE BUILDING – (Not to exceed $25,500), is hereby approved.

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion. Dir McCarty explained that this is where his department is storing all their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE’s), so ease of access/entry is important. This purchase is also included in the COVID funding. He noted that the building was acquired many years ago from K. E. Vas and has the original doors still in place.

ROLL CALL: 8 Yeas; 0 Nays; 2 Absent (Hopkins, Scott) 

Motion carried 8-0-2.

SPECIAL STUDIES: No discussion. 

UTILITY: No discussion.

OLD BUSINESS: Ald. Warmowski asked about the status of the 3 19 IL EPA Grant for the Lake Mauvaisterre watershed project. No new information has been received but Mayor Ezard will contact consultant Jeff Boeckler to see if he can get an update. Ald. Warmowski suggested contacting Congressman LaHood for assistance as well. General discussion ensued on the logistics of the project. Ald. Wankel asked the Council to keep in mind upcoming water and sewer projects resulting from the expansion of the industrial park west of town.

NEW BUSINESS: Ald. Adams thanked the Jacksonville School District #117 for supplying free chrome books and wi-fi hot spots for its students. He also thanked the Morgan County Housing Authority and Royell Communications for establishing a free wi-fi system to Beecher High Rise, with more locations to come. The City should consider replicating these programs to include Jacksonville citizens that lack those vital services.

Ald. Adams feels that Jacksonville should follow Springfield’s example by establishing an anti- racism/anti-violence/anti-hate resolution. He will forward the information to CA Beard to follow up on.

ADJOURNMENT: With no further discussion motion was made by Cook, seconded by Lonergan, to adjourn the meeting at 7:47 p.m.

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