City of Bushnell City Council met Aug. 16.
Here are 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 Utility Manager Joe Fosdyck - P
Ald. Chuck Howell – P Ald. Stacey Allen –P City Clerk Teresa Ebbert - P Interim Police Chief Chaney Ferguson-A
Ald. Kim Havens –P Ald. Bruce Lorton –P Treasurer Betsy Rench –P Street Superintendent David Raymond –P
Ald. David Norton -A Ald. Mike Baker -P City Attorney Chuck Laegeler-P
Treasurer
*City Treasurer Betsy Rench reported the results of the census for Bushnell was 2718, McDonough County is down 9%.
*Rench also stated that the city has hired Cindy Chambers to clean up the parks and the Flower gardens up town.
Consent Agenda
Ald. Lorton made a motion to approve the consent agenda which includes.
1. Approval of Minutes from August 2, 2021
2. Accept July Financial/Treasurers Report.
Ald. Coates seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows:
Ald. Coates“aye” Ald. Lorton“aye”
Ald. Howell“aye” Ald. Baker“aye”
Ald. Havens“aye”
Ald. Allen“aye”
Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried
Ad hoc (Mayor’s Report)
*Mayor Wilt has contacted the sheriff’s department and they are sending inmates to do some weeding and painting of the curbs. They will be coming in every morning of the fall festival to empty trash and clean up. They also will do flooring and painting.
*The Bushnell Arts Foundation is going to start maintaining the entrances into the city.
*Mayor Wilt asked the council members if they would like to ride on a float in the parade.
*The bridge west of town is now open.
Personnel/Finance/Budget
*Nothing to report
Public Works
*Minutes from the august 5th Public Works meeting
*The committee discussed street repairs caused by property owners utility repairs. There was some confusion on who would be responsible for the street repairs. The repair was to their sanitary sewer, and our ordinance state’s; the customer is responsible for all repairs up to the tap into the main line. So, the owner would be responsible for the street repairs.
*The committee also discussed the allotment the city will be receiving through the American Rescue Plan Act. The street department would like to do some point repairs, purchase some new fire hydrants, and replace some water main isolation valves.
Ald. Howell made a motion to let TEST spend $2500.00 from the American Rescue Plan Act to sonar the west lagoon. Ald. Lorton seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows:
Ald. Havens“aye” Ald. Coates“aye”
Ald. Allen“aye” Ald. Howell “aye”
Ald. Lorton“aye”
Ald. Baker“aye”
Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.
Ald. Howell made a motion to let TEST spend $2500.00 from the American Rescue Plan Act to sonar the east lagoon. Ald. Lorton seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows:
Ald. Norton“aye” Ald. Coates“aye”
Ald. Allen“aye” Ald. Howell “aye”
Ald. Lorton“aye”
Ald. Baker“aye”
Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.
*Ald. Lorton stated the golf course was having trouble with the sewer, the issue is the lateral going out to the main. When the city put in a light pole some 20 years ago, they trenched through the lateral.
Police/Liquor/ESDA
*Minutes from the 8/09/2021 meeting
Ald. Lorton made a motion to give the Park District a one-day liquor license for Saturday, September 25 and be allowed to borrow enough snow fence and posts to enclose the beer area. Ald. Coates seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows:
Ald. Allen“aye” Ald. Howell“aye”
Ald. Lorton“aye” Ald. Havens “aye”
Ald. Baker“aye”
Ald. Coates“aye”
Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.
*Jeff Rench with ESDA reported the citywide gas drills would be moved to September.
Real Estate/Parks/Recreation
*Next meeting Tuesday, August 24, 2021 4:00 @ City Hall
Engineering
*Megan Crook from IMEG stated that Laverdiere placed the low bid on the Davis Street Project.
Ald. Howell made a motion to accept Laverdiere’s bid of $744,822.50 for the Davis Street reconstruction. Ald. Havens seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows:
Ald. Allen“aye” Ald. Howell“aye”
Ald. Lorton“aye” Ald. Havens “aye”
Ald. Baker“aye”
Ald. Coates“aye”
Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.
Ald. Howell made a motion to agree to a construction services agreement for the engineering from IMEG for the Davis Street project for $60,000. Ald. Allen seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows:
Ald. Allen“aye” Ald. Howell“aye”
Ald. Lorton“aye” Ald. Havens “aye”
Ald. Baker“aye”
Ald. Coates“aye”
*Crook stated that Albrecht Well drilling will need an time extension to finish the deep well Project. They are waiting on parts.
Ald. Lorton made a motion to give Albrecht Well drilling a 60-day extension to finish the deep well. Ald. Howell seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows:
Ald. Lorton“aye” Ald. Havens“aye”
Ald. Baker“aye” Ald. Allen “aye”
Ald. Coates“aye”
Ald. Howell“aye”
Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.
MAEDCO
*Kim Pierce director of MAEDCO thanked the council for joining MAEDCO again this year.
*Pierce stated the McDonough County CEO program has a new facilitator, Alison Jefferson.
The program has 13 students representing all 3 school districts, one home school student and one charter school student. The City of Bushnell will renew its membership for the CEO Program.
*Pierce also stated there is a new Back to Business grant for businesses that are recreation, hair Salons, etc. You can apply for this online, MAEDCO will be offering technical assistance and advice. Priority will be for the hardest hit businesses.
Economic Development
*Minutes from Tuesday, August 3, 2021 meeting.
*Next meeting Monday, September 23, 2021 4:00 @ City Hall.
Attorney’s Report/Ordinances & Resolutions
*City Attorney Chuck Laegeler stated the Patty Sullivan property has been demolished.
Ald. Lorton made a motion to go into Executive session at 6:05 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. Ald. Coates seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows:
Ald. Baker“aye” Ald. Allen“aye”
Ald. Coates“aye” Ald. Lorton “aye”
Ald. Howell“aye”
Ald. Havens“aye”
Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.
Ald. Lorton made a motion to return to regular session at 6:24. Ald. Howell seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows:
Ald. Coates“aye” Ald. Lorton“aye”
Ald. Howell“aye” Ald. Baker “aye”
Ald. Havens“aye”
Ald. Allen“aye”
Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.
Ald. Allen made a motion to adjourn .
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SEgJmqx3FvBPiRLT6hhdOys7bkRQFjNP/edit#
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