City of Pittsfield City Council met May 17

By Philip Gonzales

Jul 15, 2022

City of Pittsfield City Council met May 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Pittsfield, Pike County, Illinois, was held at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was held in the Council Room at the Pittsfield City Hall at 215 N Monroe Street. The following officers were present: Mayor Gary Mendenhall, City Clerk Ann Moffit, and Alderman Bill Grimsley, Kevin Ketchum, Paul Lennon, Chris Little, Robert Ritchart, Beth White, and Alderman Kevin Wombles. Alderman Robert Wilson was absent

Mayor Mendenhall presided.

Alderwoman Ketchum moved to approve May 03, 2022 city council minutes.

Alderman Wilson seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Lennon, Little, Ketchum Ritchart, White, Wombles (7)

Nay: NONE (0)

Present: None (0)

The motion carried.

Mayor’s Announcements:

Mayor visited Liberty Village to read a proclamation proclaiming Skilled Nursing Week. Chief Starman and Deputy Chief Thompson have been working to address several complaints in reference to junk, trash, and weeds.

Mayor Mendenhall met with Park Board President in reference to park curfew, trash, and signs. Mayor Mendenhall requested each Alderman that represents a board be prepared to give a monthly report at the first council meeting of the month.

Mayor has been researching an easement for the City owned property that was formerly the race track. Mayor Street and Alley Superintendent Jeff Griggs and Tom Reinhardt have been working with the property owner and Damon Plumbing on a sewer project on Madison Street.

Mayor and Economic Development Director have met with several potential business that are interested in opening in Pittsfield.

An appraisal is being prepared for the Zoe Theater Property, due to interest in the property being expressed.

We have received Notice of Award for the USDA Community Facility Grant in the amount of $119,400 for the expansion remodel of City Hall.

Kenna’s Closet, a new Children’s Boutique on the west side of the square, will have its grand opening on June 1, at 4pm.

Alderman Wombles moved to accept the Zoning Committee’s recommendation to approve the variance request of Jeff Hannel, owner of 107 S Illinois Street, to place an accessory building, which will have a side yard, to the north, of two feet (2’) instead of the required six feet (6’) and a distance between an accessory building to a main building of six feet (6’) instead of the required ten feet (10’). Alderman Little seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Lennon, Little, Ketchum, Ritchart, White, Wombles (7)

Nay: NONE (0)

Present: NONE (0)

The motion carried.

Alderman Ketchum moved to accept the Zoning Committee’s recommendation to approve the variance request of Chris & Sonya Little, owners of 1253-1277 West Washington Street, to construct a building which will leave a front yard of twelve feet (12’) instead of the required ten feet (10’). Alderman Wombles seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Lennon, Ketchum, Ritchart, White, Wombles (6)

Nay: NONE (0)

Abstain: Little (1)

The motion carried.

Alderman Ritchart moved to approve Ordinance No. 1696 – An Ordinance Adopting the Illinois Vehicle Code on its second reading.

Alderman Wombles seconded the motion

Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Lennon, Little, Ketchum, Ritchart, White, Wombles (7)

Nay: NONE (0)

Present: NONE (0)

The motion carried.

Alderman Little moved to approve Ordinance No. 1697 – An Ordinance Adopting the Illinois Criminal Code, on its second reading.

Alderman Lennon seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Lennon, Little, Ketchum, Ritchart, White, Wombles (7)

Nay: NONE (0)

Present: NONE (0)

The motion carried.

Alderman Wombles moved to approve Ordinance No. 1698 – An Ordinance Relating to the Annual Appropriation for Fiscal Year 2022 of the City of Pittsfield.

Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Lennon, Little, Ketchum, Ritchart, White, Wombles (7)

Nay: NONE (0)

Present: NONE (0)

The motion carried.

Alderman Ritchart moved to suspend the rules and have the second reading of Ordinance 1698, by title only.

Alderwoman White seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Lennon, Little, Ketchum, Ritchart, White, Wombles (7)

Nay: NONE (0)

Present: NONE (0)

The motion carried.

Alderman Ritchart moved to approve Ordinance No. 1698, by title only, on its second reading. Alderman Ketchum seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Lennon, Little, Ketchum, Ritchart, White, Wombles (7)

Nay: NONE (0)

Present: NONE (0)

The motion carried.

Alderman Ritchart moved to pay bills as stated by City Clerk.

Alderwoman Grimsley seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Lennon, Little, Ketchum Ritchart, White, Wombles (7)

Nay: NONE (0)

Present: NONE (0)

The motion carried.

New Business:

Economic Development director Ed Knight is working on updating the City Lake brochure. Mr. Knight indicated we received a letter denying our Safe Routs to School Grant Application.

Alderman Ritchart asked the status of the donated mats for the merry go round at Lowry Park. Mayor stated that it will be prioritized, the Street and Alley Department currently have City Wide Clean Up.

Alderman Grimsley thanked the Street and Alley Department for beginning the street patching project.

Alderwoman White thanked Ed Knight and Ann Moffit for their work on the USDA grant, and the Street and Alley Department for City Wide Clean Up and asked if allowable items could be listed on Face Book and the Simplicity App.

Alderman Ketchum advised that the Park Board met with new members and determined that they will meet once per month.

Alderman Ketchum asked the status of the road closure by the old grain elevator. Mayor Mendenhall will discuss with the property owner.

Alderman Ketchum called an Ordinance Committee meeting for June 7 at 5:30 pm.

Alderman Wombles stated that he has not yet received a bid for the ditch work on 365th Avenue. Alderman Wombles will be calling an Airport Committee Meeting.

Alderman Wombles questioned the Reachout Building repairs. There was discussion about contacting the contractor completing the work. Mr. Hollahan recommended contacting the property owner.

Alderman Little stated patching still needs to be completed on Perry and Mortimer and Grove Street. Alderwoman White questioned if concrete would be a better choice on Grove Street, everyone agreed that it would be, however, funding for the project would need to be secured.

Alderman Ketchum indicated that he spoke with Brenton Douglas about parking at his shop. Mr. Douglas stated that he will work on keeping cars from parking where view obstruction would be the result.

Max Middendorf stated that Water and Sewer permits were awarded from IEPA for the Industrial Park Expansion.

Tom Reinhardt stated that the summer helper will start soon and mowing and repairing the boat dock will be a priority.

Alderwoman White moved to enter into closed session at 6:35 pm to discuss personnel. Alderman Little seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Lennon, Little, Ketchum, Ritchart, White, Wombles (7)

Nay: NONE (0)

Present: NONE (0)

The motion carried.

Alderman Wombles moved to enter into open session at 6:42 pm.

Alderwoman White seconded the motion.

Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Lennon, Little, Ketchum, Ritchart, White, Wombles (7)

Nay: NONE (0)

Present: NONE (0)