City of Macomb Committee of the Whole met Nov. 9.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
The Committee of the Whole, of the Macomb City Council, met in the City Council Chambers on Monday, November 9, 2020 at 5:15 p.m. located in City Hall at 232 East Jackson Street, Macomb, IL.
Mayor Inman called the meeting to order.
Roll call was taken and the following were present: Aldermen Mike Wayland, John Vigezzi, Tom Koch, Gayle Carper, Tammie Leigh Brown-Edwards, and Dennis Moon.
In addition to the Mayor, Deputy City Clerk Renee Lotz and Aldermen, others present were: City Attorney Lisa Scalf and City Administrator Scott Coker. Also, in attendance, CDC John Bannon and Public Works Director Alice Ohrtmann.
Public Comment: Sent by E-mail and read by the Clerk.
Sara Schoper, One Human Family
Locals Organize to Form a One Human Family Macomb chapter
MACOMB, IL—A group of interested community members is bringing a chapter of the One Human Family (OHF) Quad Cities Area organization to Macomb.
In Fall 2019 a series of Racial Justice workshops were held at First Presbyterian Church, and a list of action items for moving our community toward greater racial equity was created. One action item was to invite One Human Family Quad Cities Area to Macomb for a presentation.
The mission of One Human Family is to welcome and protect the life, dignity, and human rights of all people in all places in our community. Racial justice will be a specific focus of the Macomb chapter in accordance with the organization’s mission. More information about the chapter and organization can be found at: OneHumanFamilyQCA.org. Additionally, anyone interested in being part of this group can join our Facebook page (One Human Family-Macomb), or email: ohfmacomb@gmail.com All are welcome.
Our community’s attention turned toward racism in 2019 after a local event with racist overtones became national news. Our focus on racism intensified when it became evident that wrongful deaths were occurring in greater numbers in the Black communities, and protests against police brutality were widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic this past summer. All this provided the initiative to kick off the official creation of the One Human Family Macomb chapter through the Body Worn Cameras (BWCs) campaign. The organizers of the One Human Family Macomb (OHF-Macomb) chapter thank our community members and businesses for contributing money to support the BWCs campaign. That initiative united our community in an effort to take a step forward to bettering the environment for everyone—citizens and police officers—by furthering transparency and accountability. Our aim, OHF-Macomb chapter members, is to continue such forward progress in order to strengthen our community.
In that same spirit of unity, we invite you, as community members, to come together after a strongly divisive national election by displaying a Love Unites yard sign on your lawn. Our hope is to have the 125 signs spread out across Macomb, so that we may all have a visual reminder of the kind of community we know we can be. The signs are one way to demonstrate, during a time of social distance, that we will go forward together as a community. If you would like a Love Unites sign for your lawn, you can pick one up at: City Hall, east entrance (232 E. Jackson St.), or Hy-Vee, customer service (1600 E. Jackson St.) for free. Let’s end 2020 united as a community!
Kairo Scott,
As I watched these meetings continuously for the last six months, it has become clear that members of this council are not adequately informed about the concept of oppression. The fact remains that there is indeed complicity in complacency, especially as elected officials. Racism is not just found in the hearts and minds of individuals; it is woven into the fabric of all constructed systems of government and law within this country.
It is essential that those in positions of authority recognize that the struggle of racism is not between groups with similar, but conflicting ideals. One ideal has been a part of our society for the majority of our history and has every level within the system working to uphold it. The other is advocating for the recognition of individuals very right to exist as living breathing human beings. In systems of oppression, the oppressor benefits from the silence of others. By staying silent to prioritize your own comfort, the oppressor gains the unhindered ability to target those most vulnerable in our society. By staying silent about the racist system from which every white person benefit, we are sending the message that our feelings are more important that the lives of those historically pushed to the margins of society.
Several members have remain stoically silent throughout, and others vocal on issues that needed addressed. Unfortunately, I have witnessed members of this council react to several activists with unwarranted offense to outright disdain. Nevertheless, if you truly believe that Black Lives Matter, it is imperative that you take time to choose the message that you wish to give carefully and thoughtfully. I would also challenge each of you to look beyond the messenger and instead consider the message. The fact that our system perpetuates racism and white supremacy had historically been dismissed, but recent data has demonstrated the truth of such principles leading many elected leaders to inform themselves about strategies to combat inequities. I hope that each of you would commit to doing the same. Thank you.
Emiliano Vera,
I would like the following letter from the Illinois Commerce Commission read today at the public comment.
The letter from the Illinois Commerce Commission was read by the Clerk, see attached letter.
The following public comments were made in person:
A.J. Rocca,
On November 3rd, election day, me and my girlfriend Katya, volunteered to be a part of an organization called Election Protection, as a non-partisan organization. The purpose of which was to just make sure everything at the polls were operating smoothly. Just making sure there’s no problems with lines, or infrastructure or anything like that. Things went smoothly overall, but we had one event that was worrying with the County Clerk. At about 10:15 a.m. a young black woman came in to cast her vote. She came out of the courthouse visibly upset. We asked her what the problem was, she stated the County Clerk wasn’t letting her vote. The situation was; she was a former WIU student graduated in the summer. She left an apartment here in March, graduated, went back to her home in Chicago; and came back in July. She’s been staying with a friend, but not on any official rental agreement. This caused her trouble went she tried to cast her vote. She has no documentation of residence.
The County Clerk seemed to do everything in her power to keep this woman from voting. We believe she was given false information. The County Clerk demanded documentation on residency, rental agreement, mail; all this other stuff the woman didn’t have. We talked to our organization later and found out; all she needed was a signed statement from the person she was living with that she was living with this person, since this time, signed and dated by the man. The County Clerk never told the woman this. She just demanded that she be on a rental agreement or bring her some kind of mail. We believe this directly contradicts what the 2013 Bill of Rights for the Homeless Act says, the woman should have been able to vote regardless of her residential status. After repeated insistence and talking to our organization we were able to convince the County Clerk to allow her to cast her vote. The Clerk the entire time seemed to be very obstructionist and very rude.
Our main issues are, one the County Clerk seemed to be ignorant of, or purposely obstructing. The 2013 Illinois Bill of Rights, she did not give her the information, and she should have known that all the woman needed was a signed affidavit from the man she was living with.
Regardless of what the law dictates, the County Clerks’ behavior was completely inappropriate. She was rude to us and the voter, she kept recycling what we felt were unbased conspiracy theories. She seemed to be convinced the woman was trying to cast two votes, one here and one in Chicago.
Finally, I don’t know what more to say than she was just very rude and very inappropriate. The woman left the courthouse with me, in tears because of how jarring the situation was. This was a shame for the community, this woman was trying to do her civic duty and cast her vote. She was shamed and made to feel she wasn’t a part of this community. She has deep ties to and should be made to feel accepted and a part of.
Ms. Heather McMeekan,
Dear City Leaders and City of Macomb Community,
COVID-19 is no hoax, it’s not the flu. Some who get it, will die. Some will have lifelong complications; and others will suffer no ill effects, yet pass it to those who will. These are facts that too many of our community members are ignoring as they recklessly refuse to comply with shut down, distancing orders.
Uncontrolled COVID spreading threatens to destroy our local state and national economy. Managing the case load is not easy for our greatly stressed Health Department professionals, as well as medical staffers at MDH and our nursing homes.
Prior to last weeks Council Meeting, our Council Member had given local restaurant and bar business owners the mistaken impression that an emotional appeal to the Mayor and Council for permission, might lead the city to bypass pandemic containment orders from our public health experts. These directives are in place to stem the spread of this virus and save lives, but also to allow healthcare professionals to keep up with the patient load. We feel for the suffering of bar and restaurant owners and employees. The directives harming their businesses are necessary because of those not adhering to COVID prevention practices. COVID economic hardships are not caused by our public health professionals doing their jobs. Governmental officials must remind communities of this as we go through this.
Allowing some businesses to flout the order further erodes faith in our health experts and the offices they hold, threatens to help contain this virus; and is greatly unfair to all those doing their part to stop the spread. The cost for caring for patients threatens the economic viability of our healthcare facilities. We face long term damage to our healthcare systems. We’re already losing healthcare professionals to COVID as patients and humans, who cannot reconcile why people refuse to perform the easy prevention actions. Even as they labor long 12 hour shifts in hot, full body isolation gear, day after day, trying to save lives, even as more patients are brought in the front doors.
We must stem the spread and save lives, businesses refusing to adhere to the orders are putting people at risk, and harming the coordination of our local, regional and state pandemic response. We must
Support enforcement of this shut down order to protect human life and healthcare resources and we certainly hope our local government officials will support our Health Departments directive visibly, vocally and without reservation. They deserve our support too.
Marcial,
First, I want to co-sign on everything these public commenters have said, I’m here to support them. I would add the caveat that I’m not too familiar with the One Human Family, so I would have to do my research on them before I give my support to that one. From listening to the last meeting, I wanted to remind us all that, while we are all human, it is hard, it is hard, to get up and do what we think we need to do. I commend everyone for doing that. What I will say is that for those of us that have the power to change things, I encourage you to use that power to the best of your ability. OR, if you just don’t feel like you have the strength in you to do that for whatever reason, there’s nothing wrong with letting somebody else take that lead role.
I want to pick up on something Emiliano said in his comment; when he essentially asked, what I interpreted him to say; that while the city council may not have the power to tell the energy coop’s what they can and cannot do, you can still use your voice and say “I think you should do this”. That is a point I try to drive home when I first talked about how the Public Library should be open, the same way the Malpass Library is, when I was talking to Mayor Inman. I’m not saying anything about what power you have, like a legal thing, I’m saying you can put your voice out there and say something, just like the rest of us who have less power than you can. I just recently graduated, I don’t hold that much weight in the community, but you’re the Mayor, you do have more weight in the community than I do. And so like, you can use it, and the same goes for everybody else. That’s not a criticism, so we don’t spin that that way. I’m saying that like, you can do it, if you put yourself to it you can actually do it. Go for it, and listen to your constituents. We’re telling you ways that you can help. You’ve got the power, we’re telling you how you can do some things, you can do it, go for it.
The first item on the agenda for discussion was on an ordinance to authorize rezoning of 10905 E. 1200th Street in the one and one-half mile buffer of the City of Macomb, McDonough County, from R-1 One-Family Residential to AG-Agriculture. This ordinance had first reading last Monday night. CDC John Bannon stated the petitioner, Mr. David Wilson wished to have a Christmas Tree farm at the location. He stated everything was in order.
City Attorney Lisa Scalf explained that the estate was fully administered and the property has been transferred to the son-in-law and there is a deed.
There was nor further discussion and Mayor Inman stated it would be placed on the agenda for second reading and final action at Monday night meeting.
The second item on the agenda for discussion was on an ordinance to authorize the sale of certain personal property (equipment and vehicles) owned by the City of Macomb. This ordinance had first reading last Monday night. There was no discussion and Mayor Inman stated this would be placed on the agenda for second reading and final discussion at Monday night meeting.
The third item on the agenda for discussion was on implementing a Version II of the Resident Incentive for Purchases to Promote the Local Economy (RIPPLE) program. CA Coker explained the first RIPPLE program and how it worked. He’s now proposing another version. This one for “anyone” that spends $200 in local restaurants or other non-essential businesses, they would receive a $50 Chamber Gift Certificate, limited to the first 400 applicants. Outlay could be up to $20,000 for the program.
There was also an incentive for promoting Dickens on the Square, allowing anyone who spends $150 during December 4th and 5th, they too would receive $50 Chamber Gift Certificate.
Alderman G. Carper offered some verbiage changes to the application.
Alderman Vigezzi liked the idea of the $50 gift certificate.
Alderman Brown-Edwards thanked him for the program and felt this was an even broader scope for help. She questioned the start date of the 16th of November, and asked if it could be retroactive to the 4th.
City Attorney Scalf explained that typically when referring to laws and ordinances you don’t make those retroactive. She said because it’s a program, she didn’t see a legal issue with it.
Alderman Moon liked some of the parts of the program but questioned if there was real help for the restaurants, since outdoor seating is about to go away with the weather.
CA Coker stated his response would be carry out, and gift certificates for the restaurants.
There was discussion on potential economic incentive programs the city could do with certain funds. There have been discussions with MAEDCO to partner with, there are options being considered. Some similar to the PPP program.
Mayor Inman stated they would like to move forward with the RIPPLE program approval for next Monday night, but know that they’re looking at other options as well. He stated there was $50,000 initially approved for the first RIPPLE program and spent $2100, we’re asking for $20,000 to budget this one.
There was further discussion on where the funds came from.
Alderman Wayland had concerns about back dating, he felt there could be issues with that.
Alderman Brown-Edwards believed the first RIPPLE program was backdated. She also wanted the second program to continue through the suggested date of December 31st until January 3rd of next year.
CA Coker stated he did not recall backdating the first program, June 15th it began and council approved it before that date.
Alderman G. Carper liked the fact that this program allows people to feel they’re contributing something.
There was no further discussion and Mayor Inman stated this would be placed on the agenda for final action at Monday night meeting.
The fourth item on the agenda for discussion was on an ordinance to amend Chapter 15, Section 219 of the Municipal Code of Macomb, Illinois pertaining to extended parking in municipal lots located in the Downtown District. This ordinance will be presented by City Attorney for first reading and discussion.
City Attorney Scalf read the proposed ordinance. She explained that the ordinance allows for a parking permit for residents who reside in the downtown district. This was thought of to encourage living in the downtown district area. This would allow those residents who do not have on street parking, to apply for a permit exempting them from time limit restrictions in the city lots. (Exception of 9, 10,11, 12) Block 23 which is the lot around the Police Department. The amendment also adds additional lots that for some reason weren’t in this section.
Alderman Vigezzi moved, seconded by Alderman Moon to move into executive session to consider information relative to: 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 and b). Collective Bargaining matters between the public body and its employees or representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees, pursuant to Sec. 2 (c) of the Open Meetings Act, on question being put, Aldermen Wayland, Vigezzi, Koch, G. Carper, Brown-Edwards, and Moon being all Aldermen voting “Aye” on roll call and no “Nay” votes, Mayor Inman declared the motion carried and they moved into executive session at 6:04 p.m.
Alderman Vigezzi moved, seconded by Alderman Moon to move back into open session, all Aldermen voting “Aye” by voice vote, Mayor Inman declared the motion carried and they moved back into open session at 6:30 p.m.
There being no further business, Alderman Vigezzi moved, seconded by Alderman G. Carper to adjourn the meeting, all Aldermen voting “Aye” by voice vote, Mayor Inman declared the motion carried and they adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
https://cityofmacomb.com/11-09-2020-committee-of-the-whole-minutes/
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