West Central Reporter

City of Jacksonville City Council met Jan. 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Jacksonville City Council Meeting was called to order at 6:24 p.m. by Mayor Andy Ezard in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building. The meeting was publicly announced by posting and by written notice to the local newspaper and radio stations.

ROLL CALL: The following answered present: Aldermen Don Cook, Kent Hannant, Brett Henry, Joe Lockman, Lori Large Oldenettel, Alison Rubin de Celis, Darcella Speed, Mary Watts; Mayor Andy Ezard; City Attorney Dan Beard; City Clerk Skip Bradshaw. Absent from the meeting were Aldermen Aaron Scott and Eren Williams. A quorum was declared.

MINUTES: Motion was made by Watts, seconded by Henry, to approve the December 11, 2023 Minutes as presented in advance. By voice vote, motion carried.

PETITIONS: No discussion.

COMMUNICATIONS: No discussion.

CLAIMS: Motion was made by Cook, seconded by Hannant, to pay claims when funds are available. By voice vote, motion carried.

MAYOR’S REPORT:

1. Reappointment of Gerald Scott to the Cemetery Board, Term expires, January 1, 2029.

2. Reappointment of Rebecca Houston to the Jacksonville Area Museum/Heritage Cultural Center Board, Term expires January 1, 2028.

3. Reappointment of David Blanchette to the Jacksonville Area Museum/Heritage Cultural Center Board, Term expires January 1, 2028.

4. Reappointment of James Pisell to the Jacksonville Area Museum/Heritage Cultural Center Board, Term expires January 1, 2028.

Motion was made by Watts, seconded by Lockman, to accept the Mayor’s reappointments. By voice vote, motion carried.

5. Resolution hiring Taylor Law Office, P. C. to prepare a right-of-way ordinance.

Motion was made by Rubin de Celis, seconded by Henry, to accept the resolution. CA Beard read the resolution as proposed.

2024-R-001 Be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, that a Resolution HIRING TAYLOR LAW OFFICE, P.C. TO PREPARE A RIGHT-OF-WAY ORDINANCE – (For the purpose of regulating companies doing work on City right-of-ways, is hereby approved.

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion and there was none.

ROLL CALL: 8 Yeas; 0 Nays; 2 Absent (Scott, Williams)

Motion carried 8-0-2.

CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT: No discussion.

CITY CLERK’S REPORT:

1. Community Development Department Report – December 31, 2023

2. City Clerk’s Cash Receipts Report – December 31, 2023

3. City Clerk’s General Fund – Budget Report – December 31, 2023

4. City Clerk’s General Fund – Revenue Analysis Report – December 31, 2023 PUBLIC COMMENT: No discussion.

CONSENT AGENDA

CONSENT AGENDA: (Items addressed under the Consent Agenda are routine or are brought forward at the direction of the Council and are enacted with one motion. If discussions were desired, that item would be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately under the Committee Reports.)

FINANCE/IT/PERSONNEL:

1. City Treasurer’s Report – November 30, 2023. City Treasurer Beth Hopkins’ report for November 31, 2023, in which totals for cash receipts, cash disbursements, investments, and balances for all City bank and investment accounts were given.

2024-R-002 Resolution AUTHORIZING VARIOUS PAYMENTS FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS – $138,562

(Hutchison Engineering - $3,040; Rouland Trucking & Construction - $135,522) 2024-R-003 Resolution AUTHORIZING PAYMENTS FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR SERVICES RENDERED - $3,802.90

(Bellatti, Fay, Bellatti & Beard, LLP - $2,415 (City Attorney); Bellatti, Fay, Bellatti & Beard, LLP - $1,387.90 (Administrative Adjudication – Asst. City Attorney)

PARKS & LAKES: No discussion.

PLANNING & PUBLIC WORKS:

2024-R-004 Resolution AUTHORIZING ASSIGNMENT OF LIENS TO TWO RIVERS LAND BANK – (630 Hardin Avenue, 840 North Main Street and 133 East Wolcott Street)

PUBLIC PROTECTION: No discussion.

SPECIAL STUDIES: No discussion.

UTILITY:

2024-R-005 Resolution AUTHORIZING ENGINEERING PROPOSAL WITH BENTON AND ASSOCIATES, INC. RE: JACKSONVILLE WATER SYSTEM

IMPROVEMENTS – (Tasks 1, 2 and 3 – Not to exceed $196,000)

2024-R-006 Resolution APPROVING AMENDMENT #1 FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH BENTON AND ASSOCIATES, INC. RE: MYRTLE STREET, FROM EAST LAFAYETTE TO EAST INDEPENDENCE, RICHARDS STREET FROM SOUTH WEST STREET TO SOUTH CHURCH STREET, SOUTH WEST STREET AT TOWN BROOK CROSSING, AND SOUTH DIAMOND STREET AT TOWN BROOK CROSSING WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT PROJECTS – (To reflect a net increase in the cost not to exceed $28,500)

2024-R-007 Resolution AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO PLOCHER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. RE: CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT PHASE 1 IMPROVEMENTS-HEADWORKS PROJECT FROM THE WATERWORKS & SEWERAGE PROJECTS FUND – (Partial Pay Estimate No. 5 for construction services rendered from December 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023 – Not to exceed $437,355.90)

2024-R-008 Resolution AUTHORIZING VARIOUS PAYMENTS FROM THE WATERWORKS & SEWERAGE PROJECTS FUND FOR CERTAIN

IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS - $24,246.59

(Benton & Associates, Inc. - $4,005.75; Benton & Associates, Inc. - $11,946.82; Benton & Associates, Inc. - $4,004.02; Benton & Associates, Inc. - $3,000; Benton & Associates, Inc. - $1,290)

Motion was made by Watts, seconded by Lockman, to accept the Consent Agenda. Mayor Ezard asked for discussion or if there were any additional items to be pulled from the Consent Agenda for further discussion and there were none.

ROLL CALL: 8 Yeas; 0 Nays; 2 Absent (Scott, Williams)

Motion carried 8-0-2.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

FINANCE/IT/PERSONNEL:

1. First reading of an ordinance making appropriations for corporate purposes for fiscal year 2024 for the City of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois. Motion was made by Cook, seconded by Oldenettel, to accept the first reading of the ordinance. CA Beard read the ordinance as proposed.

2024-O-001 Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, that an Ordinance MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR CORPORATE PURPOSES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 FOR THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, MORGAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS (January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 – Total of $65,730,549.27), is hereby approved.

CC Bradshaw noted that approximately $18,000,000 of the total appropriation is due to one line item in the Utility Department for the Phase 1 Construction-Headworks project. Mayor Ezard asked for discussion and there was none.

ROLL CALL: 7 Yeas; 1 Nay (Hannant); 2 Absent (Scott, Williams)

Motion carried 7-1-2.

PARKS & LAKES: No discussion.

PLANNING & PUBLIC WORKS:

1. Second reading of an Ordinance amending the Jacksonville Zoning map for property located at 620 West College Avenue from R-5 to R-5 with Special Use. Motion was made by Speed, seconded by Cook, to accept the second reading of the ordinance. CA Beard read the ordinance as proposed.

2023-O-031 Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, that an Ordinance AMENDING THE JACKSONVILLE ZONING MAP FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 620 WEST COLLEGE AVENUE FROM R-5 (Multiple Family Dwelling District) TO R-5 (Multiple Family Dwelling District) with Special Use, is hereby approved.

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion and there was none.

ROLL CALL: 8 Yeas; 0 Nays; 2 Absent (Scott, Williams)

Motion carried 8-0-2.

2. First reading of an Ordinance amending the Jacksonville Zoning map for property located at 701 North Prairie Street from B-1 to B-4. Motion was made by Speed, seconded by Oldenettel, to accept the first reading of the ordinance. CA Beard advised that the correct rezoning classification should be R-5 with Special Use. He then read the ordinance as proposed.

2024-O-002 Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, that an Ordinance AMENDING THE JACKSONVILLE ZONING MAP FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 701 NORTH PRAIRIE STREET FROM B-1 (Neighborhood Business District) to R-5 (Multiple Family Dwelling District) with Special Use, is hereby approved.

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion and there was none.

ROLL CALL: 8 Yeas; 0 Nays; 2 Absent (Scott, Williams)

Motion carried 8-0-2.

3. First reading of an Ordinance amending the Jacksonville Zoning map for property located at 733 North Clay Avenue, from Public Use to B-4 with Special Use. Motion was made by Speed, seconded by Rubin de Celis, to accept the first reading of the ordinance. CA Beard advised that the correct rezoning classification should be R-5 with Special Use. He then read the ordinance as proposed.

2024-O-003 Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, that an Ordinance AMENDING THE JACKSONVILLE ZONING MAP FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 733 NORTH CLAY AVENUE FROM PUBLIC USE TO R-5 (Multiple Family Dwelling District) with Special Use, is hereby approved.

Mayor Ezard asked for discussion. The petitioner is Mirtella Mast, President of the not-for-profit corporation that owns the old Jefferson School building. His intention is to use the building as a homeless shelter on the south end of the building, and then eventually proceed with vocational training, offices and a community center on the north end of the building. Half of the roof has been replaced, with the remaining north half to be finished as soon as the weather clears. Atty. Charles Theivagt, who was in attendance to represent this petition, explained that they are waiting to ensure that the property is rezoned before they secure financing, and that once the roof repairs are done they will focus their attention on the homeless shelter and will look to secure federal funding for assistance.

ROLL CALL: 8 Yeas; 0 Nays; 2 Absent (Scott, Williams)

Motion carried 8-0-2.

PUBLIC PROTECTION: No discussion.

SPECIAL STUDIES: No discussion.

UTILITY: No discussion.

OLD BUSINESS:

When the Council approves a donation to a certain cause and takes that money out of gaming revenue, they are essentially taking money away from themselves because that money is committed as reimbursement to the Security Investment Fund. Ald. Oldenettel asked the Council to be mindful of the fact that there are high dollar purchases coming up in the next couple of years that will need to be paid for from the Security Investment Fund. The City currently owes $544,908.12 from the General Fund back into the Security Investment Fund for the i3 Broadband project that should be paid off at the end of 2024. CC Bradshaw explained that the previous Council authorized the use of gaming revenue at the Council’s discretion. Once the Security Investment Fund has been reimbursed, gaming revenue can be used for anything the Council deems appropriate. Treasurer Hopkins has prepared an application to be used in all future requests that includes certain required criteria and thresholds. This will help the Council in determining who is eligible for a donation and who is not. Several suggestions were made as to the handling of the gaming revenue, cannabis revenue and Revolving Loan Fund loans, and general discussion ensued. At the end of discussion it was decided to put all donations from gaming or cannabis revenue on hold until the Finance Committee has had a chance to discuss the matter and until the Security Investment Fund is fully repaid.

NEW BUSINESS: No discussion.

ADJOURNMENT: With no further discussion, motion was made by Cook, seconded by Lockman, to adjourn the meeting at 7:05 p.m.

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