City of Bushnell City Council met June 5.
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 –P
Ald. Lisa Webb – P Ald. Stacey Allen – P
Ald. Kim Havens –A Ald. Mike Burkholder –P
Ald. David Norton –P Ald. Mike Baker – P
Mayor Robin Wilt – P Police Chief Chaney Ferguson
City Clerk Teresa Ebbert - P
Utility Manager Joe Fosdyck – P
Treasurer Betsy Rench-P
Street Superintendent David Raymond –A
City Attorney Nick Tinsman-P
Guest – Joanne Hairston-Jones from Greater Federation of Women’s club spoke to council about a rural recycling operation that they are trying to get started.
IMEA Recognition of Craig Heath
After discussing a number of current electric and natural gas items to the City Council, Kevin Gaden (IMEA President and CEO) and Mike Genin (Vice President of Member and Gas Services) from the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency presented the 2023 Distinguished Service Award to Craig Heath, Bushnell Electric Plant Manager.
The comments provided by Kevin Gaden include,
“considering all of the important topics that we just covered, that is only a portion of why we are here tonight. We are here to honor someone that has dedicated a lifetime of service to his community.
Throughout the past 52 years, Craig Heath has dedicated much of his life to your community electric system reliability. I can tell you first hand, when the Presidents Day 2021 storm hit, I heard Craig answer the phone at 7 am to respond to our call to request generation, and then the next night, I also heard Craig answer the phone to arrange a time to take the generation off line for the night. When the winter storm hit this past Christmas weekend, Craig was there again running the power plant to help keep the grid stable”
“Craig has worked for multiple City Councils and Utility Managers to maintain your power plant and when the grid gets under stress, Craig has always been there to help restore the power to your community; always supporting his not-for-profit local municipal system.”
“Tonight, we honor Craig Heath for his 52 years of service to the City of Bushnell and our agencies in Springfield. We realize that Craig did not do this for the plaque and the recognition, he does it because he cares about his community and the systems that we all depend on… We all depend on Craig and many people just like him! We greatly appreciate all that Craig has done through his 52 years of service!”
Gaden then read the plaque and gave it to Craig. Craig had a few words to say to the attendees and thanked everyone for the honor.
Treasurer
*Nothing to report
Consent Agenda
Ald. Norton made a motion to approve the consent agenda, which included the following items:
1. Approval of Minutes from May 15, 2023
2. Approve April Financial Report
3. Approve and Pay May bills
Ald. Yocum seconded the motion with the results as follows:
Ald. Coates “aye” Ald. Yocum “aye”
Ald. Webb “aye” Ald. Allen “aye”
Ald. Havens absent Ald. Burkholder “aye”
Ald. Norton “aye” Ald. Baker “aye”
Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.
Ad Hoc (Mayor’s Report)
*The 1st meeting in July will be on the 5th instead of the 3rd because of the holiday.
Personnel/Finance/Budget
*Nothing to report
Public Works-Street/Sewer/Alley
*Ald. Yocum stated there are 4 water pressure valves in the budget and they would be purchased.
*Yocum stated they need to add an addendum to the Fence Ordinance.
*HVAC system at the complex is 23 years old and has to be charged every year.
Ald. Norton made a motion to purchase a new HVAC system for the complex for $7775.00. Ald. Yocum seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows:
Ald. Norton “aye” Ald. Baker “aye”
Ald. Yocum “aye” Ald. Coates “aye”
Ald. Allen “aye” Ald. Webb “aye”
Ald. Burkholder “aye” Ald. Havens absent
Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.
Police/Liquor/ESDA
*Activity report for the month of May
Ald. Norton made a motion to approve a new liquor license to Discount Liquor with Zalak Patel as new owner. Ald. Webb seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows:
Ald. Webb “aye” Ald. Allen “aye”
Ald. Havens absent Ald. Burkholder “aye”
Ald. Norton “aye” Ald. Baker “aye”
Ald. Yocum “aye” Ald. Coates “aye”
Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.
Real Estate/Parks/Recreation
*Minutes from the 5/18/23 mtg.
*Ald. Webb presented a proposal for getting the water to the Splash Park.
Ald. Webb made a motion to approve the proposal for the Splash Park with the City covering the $65,000 in materials needed. Ald. Coates seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows:
Ald. Yocum “aye” Ald. Coates “aye”
Ald. Allen “aye” Ald. Webb “aye”
Ald. Burkholder “aye” Ald. Havens absent
Ald. Baker “aye” Ald. Norton “aye”
Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.
Engineering
* Façade project – due to an oversight by Jarred Dexter at WIRC this project is scheduled to be re-bid at 2PM on June 26th. We are working out time extensions due to the grant with WIRC.
Ald. Norton made a motion to approve the Resolution for Improvement by Municipality Under the Illinois Highway Code for $113,000, which includes Estimate of Maintenance Costs, Maintenance Engineering, Equipment Rental Schedule, and Intergovernmental Agreements between City of Bushnell and Township for seal coat work. Ald. Yocum seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with the results as follows:
Ald. Norton “aye” Ald. Baker “aye”
Ald. Yocum “aye” Ald. Coates “aye”
Ald. Allen “aye” Ald. Webb “aye”
Ald. Burkholder “aye” Ald. Havens absent
Where upon Mayor Wilt declared the motion carried.
MAEDCO
*Kim Pierce with MAEDCO stated they are still working with 4 national chain stores that would like to go into the Kmart building.
*Pierce stated the CEO class of 2024 has 15 students.
Economic Development
*Nothing to report
Attorney’s Report/Ordinances & Resolutions
*Nothing to report
Ald. Allen made a motion to adjourn
Meeting was adjourned at 7:18
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rRp11tpAzgn8gUtr5yoZua0_oEb-d4Cl/edit
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