City of Pittsfield City Council met Nov. 1.
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 on Tuesday, November 01, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was held in the Council Room at the Pittsfield City all 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, Robert Wilson, and Kevin Wombles.
Mayor Mendenhall presided.
Alderman Ketchum moved to approve October 18, 2022 city council minutes.
Alderman Wombles seconded the motion.
Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Lennon, Little, Ritchart, White, Wilson (7)
Nay: NONE (0)
Present: Ketchum (1)
The motion carried.
Alderman Ketchum moved to approve October 24, 2022 city council minutes.
Alderman Wombles seconded the motion.
Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Ketchum, Lennon,
Little, Wilson (5)
Nay: NONE (0)
Present: Ritchart, Grimsley, White (3)
The motion carried.
Mayor’s Announcements:
Pittsfield was presented with a Smart Community Award from Cass Communications. Several meetings have occurred in reference to the Fayette Street work, which has begun today.
There was a TIPS meeting held with IDOT and Hanson Engineering about Airport projects. Also held the bid opening for Tree Removal at the Airport.
Mayor and City Clerk met with the Library board Chairman, Treasurer and Director in reference to board appointments.
Mayor Mendenhall attended the Park Board meeting.
Mayor and many alderman participated in the Golf Cart Halloween Parade, mayor was also part of the costume judging panel.
Employee evaluation forms and 2023 pay scales have been completed.
Alderwoman White moved to approve the property and liability insurance and worker’s compensation plan with ICRMT as presented for plan year December 1, 2022 – November 30, 2023 for a total cost of $158,381.
Alderman Ritchart seconded the motion.
Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Ketchum, Lennon, Little, Ritchart, White, Wilson, Wombles (8)
Nay: NONE (0)
Present: NONE (0)
The motion carried.
Alderman Wombles moved to accept the Mayor’s appointment of John Schultz as part-time airport manager beginning November 4, 2022 with an annual salary of $16,900.00.
Alderwoman White seconded the motion.
Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Ketchum, Lennon, Little, Ritchart, White, Wilson, Wombles (8)
Nay: NONE (0)
Present: NONE (0)
The motion carried.
Alderwoman White moved to approve Ordinance No. 1707 – 2022/2023 Annual Tax Levy, on its first reading, by title only.
Alderman Little seconded the motion.
Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Ketchum, Lennon, Little, Ritchart, White, Wilson, Wombles (8)
Nay: NONE (0)
Present: NONE (0)
The motion carried.
Alderwoman White moved to suspend the rules and have the second reading of Ordinance No. 1707 – 2022/2023 Annual Tax Levy, by title only.
Alderman Ritchart seconded the motion.
Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Ketchum, Lennon, Little, Ritchart, White, Wilson, Wombles (8)
Nay: NONE (0)
Present: NONE (0)
The motion carried.
Alderwoman White moved to approve Ordinance No. 1707 – 2022/2023 Annual Tax Levy, by title only, on its second reading.
Alderman Ketchum seconded the motion.
Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Ketchum, Lennon, Little, Ritchart, White, Wilson, Wombles (8)
Nay: NONE (0)
Present: NONE (0)
The motion carried.
Alderman Wombles moved to direct Attorney Hollahan to file, with the County Recorder, the Deed of Dedication for the extension of Oak Hill Drive.
Alderman Ketchum seconded the motion
Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Ketchum, Lennon, Little, Ritchart, White, Wilson, Wombles (8)
Nay: NONE (0)
Present: NONE (0)
The motion carried.
Tom Reinhart has been questioned about a few things that ordinances are not clear on and would like the Ordinance Committee to meet to discuss them.
Kevin Ketchum called an Ordinance Committee meeting for November 15, 2022 at 5:15 to discuss short term rentals, park model trailers, camping spots, portable alcohol sales, and dumpster and trash receptacles.
Alderman Ketchum moved to approve the Employee Performance Evaluations as presented and implement the same on an annual calendar basis.
Alderman Little seconded the motion.
Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Ketchum, Lennon, Little, Ritchart, White, Wilson, Wombles (8)
Nay: NONE (0)
Present: NONE (0)
The motion carried.
Alderman Wombles moved to approve the 2023 Employee Pay Scale.
Alderwoman White seconded the motion.
Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Ketchum, Lennon, Little, Ritchart, White, Wilson, Wombles (8)
Nay: NONE (0)
Present: NONE (0)
The motion carried.
Alderman Ritchart moved to pay bills as stated by City Clerk.
Alderman White seconded the motion.
Roll Call: Yea: Grimsley, Ketchum, Lennon, Little, Ritchart, White, Wilson, Wombles (8)
Nay: NONE (0)
Present: NONE (0)
The motion carried.
New Business:
Mayor stated that Girls Night Out will be held this Thursday and the City will have a tent on our vacant lot on the North side of the square.
Mayor stated that there have been many projects, such as tree removal and water line repairs happening in preparation for the road work that began today and the Street and Alley and Gas and Water employees have been working very well on these projects.
Alderman Ritchart asked that employee bonus be placed on the agenda for the next council meeting. Alderman Ritchart also commended Public Works Director Tom Reinhardt and the entire Public Works Department for working well into the night to prepare the manholes for the street project.
Alderman Grimsley asked about the lot by Casey’s and asked if the lot will be cleaned. Tom Reinhardt stated that the plans are to fence the building.
Alderman Grimsley asked if there were ordinances in reference to blowing leaves in the street. No one has knowledge of one. Mayor will look into this.
Alderman Lennon has concerns about trash cans and dumpsters being left in the street. Chief Starman has research and finds nothing that prevents this. It was decided to place the issue on the Ordinance Committee Agenda.
Alderwoman White reminded everyone that the Annual Fire Department fundraiser is Saturday at the Riverbank. There will be a shuttle that leaves every 30 minutes from the Water Tower parking lot.
Alderman Wombles updated that Fayette Street milling is finished on the mainline portion and will be primed and asphalt laid Wednesday and Thursday.
Alderman Little asked about the Water tower update. Maguire Iron stated that work will begin in the spring.
Tom Reinhardt reminded everyone to submit requests for Street or Alley repairs in their wards as soon as possible so that the IDOT request for funding can be completed in a timely manner.
Mr. Reinhardt stated that the Disc Golf Tournament had 77 participants with one coming from as far away as Michigan.
Ed Knight announced the low bidder for the roof job for the City Hall Expansion was Joe Petty Construction with a bid of $47,000.00 Originally the work was required to be completed in November, however due to temperature requirements for the material that will be used it may have to be scheduled in the spring.
Max Middendorf stated that IDOT has approved our Maysville Bridge project.
Jim Filbert stated he has been asked if there is any review process on commercial façade changes in and around the square. Mayor has reviewed this with members of the Historical Preservation Committee and there is no specific guidelines that can be enforced. The Committee is advisory only and sent letters to business owners in 2019 to request a Historical District be formed and no enough response was received to proceed. Mayor Mendenhall has considered looking into a permit process for a commercial property changes. Attorney Hollahan advised the council that this is a matter that they will need to be diligent in creating and implementing policies on this matter. In years past there was no council follow through on matters such as this.
City Clerk Ann Moffit stated that the utility billing software update and conversion has been completed. Alderwoman White moved to adjourn this meeting at 7:50 p.m.
https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3374/Pittsfield/2635459/Minutes-Council_meeting_11-01-22.pdf
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