City of Du Quoin City Council met Sept. 13.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The Minutes of the City Council of the City of Du Quoin, County of Perry was held in the Council Chambers of the Du Quoin City Hall.
Invocation:
Jane Pritchett of the Du Quoin Ministerial Alliance gave the invocation and Mayor Alongi led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Call to Order:
Mayor Alongi called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. with the following individuals attending: Commissioners Jill Kirkpatrick, Charles Genesio, Michael Ward, and Bob Karnes. City staff present included City Attorney Aaron Atkins and City Clerk Ruth.
Approval of Minutes:
The Council approved the Open Session Council minutes of the August 23rd meeting. Motion: Commissioner Karnes Second: Commissioner Ward
Ayes: All Nays: None
Approval of Bills to be Paid:
The Council approved payment of the bill list and payroll report.
Motion: Commissioner Kirkpatrick Second: Commissioner Karnes
Ayes: All Nays: None
Proclamations:
City Attorney Aaron Atkins read a proclamation in recognition of Constitution Week. Motion: Commissioner Kirkpatrick Second: Commissioner Karnes
Ayes: All Nays: None
Appointments:
The Council voted to hire Neil Humphrey as a full-time laborer in the Street Department. Motion: Commissioner Karnes Second: Commissioner Genesio
Ayes: All Nays: None
Ordinances:
A. Ordinance 2021-O08-05: An Ordinance Authorizing the City of Du Quoin to Enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (Final Approval)
Motion: Commissioner Ward Second: Commissioner Karnes
Ayes: All Nays: None
B Ordinance 2021-O09-01: An Ordinance Authorizing the Sale of Surplus Personal Property (Public Display)
Motion: Commissioner Ward Second: Commissioner Karnes Ayes:
All Nays: None
C. Ordinance 2021-O09-02: An Ordinance Modifying the Employment Contract between the City of Du Quoin and the City Clerk Contract (Public Display)
Motion: Commissioner Kirkpatrick Second: Commissioner Karnes
Ayes: All Nays: None
D. Ordinance 2021-O09-03: An Ordinance as Amended Approving the Solitude Subdivision Second Addition and Plat Mat see Appendix A (Public Display)
Motion: Commissioner Karnes Second: Commissioner Kirkpatrick
Ayes: All Nays: None
E. Ordinance 2021-O09-04: An Ordinance Approving Bidding Pursuant to Section 1-2-43 (B) of the Ordinances of the City of Du Quoin to Purchase a Backhoe Loader (Public Display)
Motion: Commissioner Genesio Second: Commissioner Karnes
Ayes: All Nays: None
Resolutions:
A. Resolution 2021-R09-01: Resolution Authorizing a Redevelopment Agreement Between the City of Du Quoin, Perry County Illinois and the Du Quoin Fraternal Order of Eagles Concerning the Redevelopment of 22 West Main Street (Public Display)
Motion: Commissioner Kirkpatrick Second: Commissioner Karnes
Ayes: All Nays: None
B. Resolution 2021-R09-02: Resolution Authorizing Entry into an Agreement for Engineering Services with Clarida & Ziegler (Public Display)
Motion: Commissioner Genesio Second: Commissioner Karnes
Ayes: All Nays: None
C. Resolution 2021-R09-03: Resolution Authorizing Closing Certain Streets to Facilitate the Du Quoin High School Homecoming Parade (Final Approval)
Motion: Commissioner Karnes Second: Commissioner Kirkpatrick
Ayes: All Nays: None
D. Resolution 2021-R09-04: Resolution Authorizing Issuance of Fund-raising Road-Block Permit for the Du Quoin Lions Club (Final Approval)
Motion: Commissioner Karnes Second: Commissioner Kirkpatrick
Ayes: All Nays: None
E. Resolution 2021-R09-05: Resolution Authorizing a Business District Redevelopment Agreement between the City of Du Quoin and General Cable Industries, Inc. (Public Display) Motion: Commissioner Karnes Second: Commissioner Kirkpatrick
Ayes: All Nays: None
F. Resolution 2021-R09-06: Resolution Authorizing a Contract between the City of Du Quoin and Illinois Codification Services for Updating of the City of Du Quoin Code of Ordinances (Public Display)
Motion: Commissioner Kirkpatrick Second: Commissioner Karnes
Ayes: All Nays: None
13.) Other Business:
Aaron Atkins spoke on behalf of Doug Toney. The council was questioned as to whether there was support for an ordinance prohibiting living in a tent or in a vehicle. Genesio asked where the individuals where supposed to go. Atkins indicated there are a number of shelters around southern Illinois with availability. It is not safe or sanitary for people to live in their vehicles or tents. Many of them are improvising for facilities rather than walk to a gas station and that is a problem. Ward then said he would rather wait until Du Quoin has something here for them to use as shelter rather than send them to another community. Kirkpatrick inquired the status of the group that was looking into creating such in Du Quoin. The Mayor said their plan for revamping the old REA Clinic had fell through and he did not know if they had a new plan. Karnes said he knows sanitation is a problem but he also knows that getting into housing is not that easy. He had helped an individual previously and it was not that simple. The Mayor stated he had the most experience with low income housing in his 27 year career at the housing authority. Most homeless want to be homeless. Sometimes there isn’t anything that can be done.
Mr. Atkins then brought up the topic of animal abuse and cruelty, also on behalf of Doug Toney. He asked if the council would be interested in passing an ordinance so an individual that had animals taken from them due to cruelty would not be allowed to own more animals. The majority of the council was in support and it was decided that Aaron would draft something for a future council meeting.
Commissioners’ Comments:
Genesio: Happy Birthday Jill
Ward: Congratulations to Mr. Humphrey and Happy Birthday to Jill
Kirkpatrick: Thank you
Karnes: Happy Birthday Jill
Hale: Happy Birthday Jill, Congratulations to Neil Humphrey, and please say a prayer for the employees battling Covid
Mayor: Happy Birthday Jill
Public Comment:
The Mayor called for public comment at 6:43 p.m. Public comment was closed at 6:43 p.m.
Executive Session:
The Council voted to enter executive session at 6:44 p.m.
Motion: Commissioner Karnes Second: Commissioner Kirkpatrick
Ayes: All Nays: None
No action resulted from the executive session and the Council voted to exit at 6:53 p.m.
Motion: Commissioner Karnes Second: Commissioner Ward
Ayes: All Nays: None
Adjournment:
The City Council adjourned at 6:56 pm.
Motion: Commissioner Genesio Second: Commissioner Kirkpatrick
Ayes: All Nays: None
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