South West Illinois News

Murphysboro City Council met Nov. 9.

Here is the minutes as provided by the Council:

The Murphysboro, Illinois, City Council met in regular session, pursuant to its ordinances, on the 9th day of November 2016. Mayor Stephens called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. and Pastor Waterman led the council in prayer. Following the invocation, Mayor Stephens led the council in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Mayor Stephens then directed City Clerk Cottonaro to call the roll. The roll was called with the following

Present: Linda Porter-Smith, Herb Voss, Bill Pierson, Danny Bratton, John

Erbes, Gloria Campos

Absent: Barb Hughes, Russell Brown, Gary McComb, Tom Ridings

Motion: To approve the minutes of the October 25, 2016 council meeting. All aldermen received a copy of the minutes, for their review, prior to the meeting. Motion by Alderman Pierson Second by Alderman Erbes Mayor called for a voice vote. All were in favor. Motion Carried

Motion: To approve the accounts payable, register #661 through November 9, 2016, accounts receivable through November 9, 2016 and payroll through November 9, 2016. All aldermen received a copy of the accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll for their review, prior to the meeting. Motion by Alderman Bratton Second by Alderman Porter-Smith Mayor called for a voice vote. All were in favor. Motion Carried

COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS

Alderman Bratton opened Budget & Finance Meeting.

The line of credit at First Bank & Trust Company at a rate of 4.9% needs to be renewed.

Motion: To approve a line of credit at First Bank & Trust Company up to a maximum of one half million dollars. Motion by Alderman Erbes Second by Alderman Campos Mayor Stephens called for a voice vote. All were in favor. Motion carried.

Scott Evans presented the following budget reports: Schedule of Sales/HR Tax Receipts, Schedule of State Income Tax Receipts.

No public comment.

Mayor Stephens opened the Building and Grounds Meeting.

Attorney Blake informed the council that Ameren stated they needed additional time with their attornies to review the revisions we made to the pole attachment franchise agreement.

Mayor Stephens, Scott, Sandra and several council members reviewed the general liability policy and the best price is Ozburn Insurance. This is a local vendor and the policy offered more coverage than our prior insurer.

Motion: To approve the general liability policy with Ozburn Insurance Agency. Motion by Alderman Bratton Second by Alderman Pierson Mayor Stephens called for a voice vote. All were in favor. Motion carried.

No public comment.

Alderman Bratton opened the Community Relations Committee Meeting.

Alderman Bratton commended the new Chief of Police for going around to the local merchants and introducing himself. Chief Roberts stated that the officers are making a unified effort to go out into the community more.

Alderman Campos commended the police on being out at Halloween in full force and patrolling around the school, this reassures safety. However, the traffic is so heavy she would like to shut down the roads. Chief Roberts said he will perfect the new routing and put officers at the intersections so we do not need to shut down the roads as he thinks this would be detrimental.

No public comment.

Mayor Stephens opened the Public Improvement Committee Meeting.

Improvements to the road leading to the WWTP were discussed. We will look at the project as a whole after E. T. Simmonds cuts into the asphalt, which is slated for next week.

Harold Sheffer gave an update on the Roberta Drive project. The contractor said he would have something for us today but no information yet. Mayor Stephens wants to see if we cannot do better on getting information than we are doing.

Mayor Stephens stated there is a person interested in purchasing the property at 108 Lee Lane; however, this person does not have the funds to purchase the property and tear down the home. Mayor wants to purchase 108 Lee Lane from the Jackson County Tax Sale for $638.00, tear down the home and the make it available for sale. Right now there is a speed boat on the property filled with old tires. The current owner brought in a truck load full of tires and is dumping them on the property. Chief Roberts stated he has a field camera he can put up and get a video of the owner dumping them and we can then forward the video to the EPA, which locally would be the Jackson County Health Department.

Motion: To approve the purchase of 108 Lee Lane from the Jackson County Tax Sale for $638. Motion by Alderman Erbes Second by Alderman Voss Yeas: Alderman Porter-Smith, Alderman Voss, Alderman Erbes, Alderman Campos Nays: Alderman Pierson, Alderman Bratton Motion Carried

No public comment.

Alderman Pierson opened the Public Works Committee Meeting.

Culvert on Logan Street needs to be replaced. We will send out a letter and put up signs. Darrin wants to fix now before it collapses and then we do have a problem. Cost is approximately $3,000.

Motion: To approve replacing the culvert on Logan Street. Motion by Alderman Bratton Second by Alderman Voss Mayor Stephens called for a voice vote. All were in favor. Motion carried.

Request for ordinance prohibiting the use of groundwater as a potable water supply by the installation or drilling of potable water supply wells or by any other method was discussed.

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Motion: To approve an ordinance prohibiting the use of groundwater as a potable water supply by the installation or drilling of potable water supply wells or by any other method. Motion by Alderman Bratton Second by Alderman Porter-Smith Mayor Stephens called for a voice vote. All were in favor. Motion carried.

No public comment.

Mayor Stephens opened the Public Safety Committee Meeting.

Request for a no parking sign on North 11st Street by Scott & Michelle Stevens was discussed. There had been a sign there and it was taken down so we will replace the sign. The consensus is that this is a drug house. Police Chief will put in on the radar and in the system to monitor.

Police chief submitted a request to purchase body armor for safety reasons. The cost will be partially reimbursed from the federal government. There is still dollars in the budget for this.

Motion: To approve the purchase of body armor at a cost of $780. Motion by Alderman Bratton Second by Alderman Pierson Mayor Stephens called for a voice vote. All were in favor. Motion carried.

A change to the police department policy for vehicle use for on-call and on-duty personnel was discussed. Chief Roberts stated there will be a waiver for spouse and child on file. Alderman Pierson wanted to see if the insurance covers for other departments to do the same thing. Do not know if it is allowed.

Motion: To approve adopting the amendment to the police department policy for vehicle use for on-call and on-duty personnel. Motion by Alderman Campos Second by Alderman Porter-Smith Mayor Stephens called for a voice vote. All were in favor. Motion carried.

No public Comment.

There was no Personnel Committee business for discussion.

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MAYOR’S REPORT

Motion: To go into executive session at 6:47 pm to discuss the purchase of real estate. Motion by Alderman Pierson Seconded by Alderman Erbes Yeas: Linda Porter-Smith, Herb Voss, Bill Pierson, Danny Bratton, John Erbes,

Gloria Campos Nays: None Motion carried.

Motion: To come out of executive session at 6:51 pm. Motion by Alderman Voss Seconded by Alderman Pierson Yeas: Linda Porter-Smith, Herb Voss, Bill Pierson, Danny Bratton, John Erbes,

Gloria Campos Nays: None Motion Carried

No action taken.

ALDERMEN ANNOUNCEMENTS/REQUESTS

Linda Porter-Smith Father Gary is asking about driveway markers at City

Cemetery. Darrin indicated there are posts with a chain which separates the two cemeteries.

Herb Voss Nothing

Bill Pierson Nothing.

Danny Bratton Reminder for department heads to turn in budget figures.

Sandra and Scott have set up a meeting on the 22nd to discuss budget.

John Erbes Are we having an open house for the new sewer plant?

Gloria Campos Request for sidewalk on 14th Street. Maybe we could consider

for next year’s budget. Harold Sheffer said IDOT doesn’t care about sidewalk, it is ours. This is Olive and Maple Streets.

DEPARTMENT HEAD ANNOUNCEMENTS/REQUESTS

Richard Blake Nothing

Sandra Ripley Nothing

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Harold Sheffer In regard to an open house, we should get the road done first

and they are working on finishing up the building.

Steve Swafford Nothing

Chad Roberts Nothing

Scott Evans Nothing

Eric Kennedy Nothing

Tim Lee Nothing

Brain Manwaring Nothing

Darrin Mills Nothing

Jim Stewart Mayor thanked Jim for work done on Welcome to Murphysboro

sign.

Motion: To adjourn Motion by Alderman Bratton Second by Alderman Campos Mayor Stephens called for a voice vote. All were in favor. Motion Carried

Meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.

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