South West Illinois News

City of Pinckneyville City Council met Dec. 27.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

ROLL CALL

Mayor Spencer called the regular meeting of the Pinckneyville City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall. Members present: Commissioners Kevin B. Hicks, Joshua L. Kuhnert, William B. Stotlar, and Mayor Robert L. Spencer. Absent: Commissioner Sammy D. Peradotta. Mayor Spencer declared a quorum present. Mayor Spencer announced the agenda was set. Administrative staff present: City Clerk Melissa Kellerman, City Attorney Tyson Tanner, Fire Chief Jim Gielow, and Utility Superintendent Brad Boulton. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner Kuhnert.

PREVIOUS MINUTES

Commissioner Hicks made a motion to approve the minutes of the December 11, 2023, regular council meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kuhnert. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Stotlar, and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Commissioner Stotlar reviewed the treasurer’s report and stated that the ending balance total for the period ending November 2023 was $10,051,567.82, and unrestricted balance total was $2,571,243.97, both up from last year, but down from last month due to payment of the sanitary sewer rehab project. Commissioner Stotlar made a motion to approve the treasurer’s report. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hicks. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Stotlar, and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Commissioner Stotlar made a motion to approve the accounts payable with five additional invoices: Companion Life Insurance in the amount of $274.18; Quill in the amount of $119.99; Lappin Stables in the amount of $1,000.00; Sparklight in the amount of $121.93; and AEP Energy in the amount of $237.90; for a total added of $1,754.00. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kuhnert. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Stotlar, and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

CORRESPONDENCE

Commissioner Hicks announced the Duster Thomas Hoops Classic tournament is going on today through Friday night at the Pinckneyville High School gym. Sixteen teams from sixteen towns will be here and local vendors should be ready.

QUOTE FROM WRIGHT’S COLLISION CENTER TO REPAIR 2018 FORD F-150 FOR UTILITY DEPARTMENT

Commissioner Kuhnert presented a quote from Wright’s Collision Center to repair a 2018 Ford F-150 at a total cost of $2,742.85 to be split between water and gas funds. Commissioner Kuhnert made a motion to approve the quote, which was seconded by Commissioner Stotlar. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Stotlar, and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

TAMARA FARMER REQUESTS TO DISCUSS A GAS LEAK ON TREASURE LANE

Tamara Farmer stated her address is 318 Treasure Lane, and she has had a gaping hole with a gas leak in her front yard for over a year. She said in December 2022, she was told it would be fixed in February 2023, but in March 2023, she was told it would be fixed in May 2023, and in June 2023, she was told to be patient with no ETA. She stated this summer she saw work at individual houses, but not at her location. She said the other day the gas smell was so strong, and with five small children in her house, she called the City Utility Department and the Fire Department about the odor. Both told her the amount of gas in the air was too small to warrant an issue, but she questions over a year’s time, if breathing in these small amounts can hurt someone. She’s also concerned about the size of the hole in her yard with small children playing in the yard. She called about it again the other day and was told they were waiting on the snowbirds to return. Commissioner Kuhnert responded the pipe to fix the gas main is on backorder due to its size, but will contact the gas supervisor again to see if there is anything else they can do. Utility Superintendent Brad Boulton stated that back in February 2023 there was no part to stop the leak, so the Council approved to replace all the lines in that area. He ordered parts in February and received them in July, but in order to shut off the line, he must shut off all 28 houses. Some residents have been notified and some have been out of town and unreachable. Shutting off the gas requires someone to be present when it’s turned it back on, so they want to do it all at the same time. He said they are down to the last five houses and has appointments with them January 3, 2024. He said the hole in her yard is there for safety. He said the gas escaping is not flammable, but the dampness lately has allowed the odor to linger more than usual. He said if they were to cover the hole, there is a possibility that gas could leak into some of the homes’ basements.

RESOLUTION NO. R-2023-39 - 2024 MOTOR FUEL TAX MAINTENANCE PROGRAM

In Commissioner Peradotta’s absence, Commissioner Stotlar presented Resolution No. R-2023-39, a resolution placed on file at the December 11, 2023, regular council meeting, for the 2024 Motor Fuel Tax Maintenance Program. Commissioner Stotlar made a motion to approve Resolution No. R-2023-39, which was seconded by Commissioner Kuhnert. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Stotlar, and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

RESOLUTION NO. R-2023-40 TO ACCEPT A BID PROPOSAL AND APPROVE THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT FROM K.R.B. EXCAVATING, INC. FOR REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO MANN DRIVE

In Commissioner Peradotta’s absence, Commissioner Stotlar presented Resolution No. R-2023-40, a resolution placed on file at the December 11, 2023, regular council meeting, to accept a bid proposal from K.R.B. Excavating, Inc. to furnish labor and materials for repairs and improvements to Mann Drive and to approve the award of a contract. Commissioner Stotlar made a motion to approve the request, which was seconded by Commissioner Hicks. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Stotlar, and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

ORDINANCE NO. R-2023-23 TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE CREDIT PURCHASE AND SALES AGREEMENT WITH NEXAMP SOLAR, LLC

Mayor Spencer presented Ordinance No. O-2023-23, an ordinance placed on file at the December 11, 2023, regular council meeting, to approve and authorize Credit Purchase and Sales Agreement with Nexamp Solar, LLC. Commissioner Hicks made a motion to approve Ordinance No. O-2023-23, which was seconded by Commissioner Stotlar. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Stotlar, and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

APPOINT DUSTIN WINTER TO THE ZONING BOARD

Mayor Spencer requested to appoint Dustin Winter to the Zoning Board. Commissioner Stotlar made a motion to approve the request. Commissioner Hicks seconded the motion. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Stotlar, and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mike Kovic, spoke as a member of an organization who delivers food baskets to the needy. He stated he recently delivered food baskets to Victory Addition and Diamond Terrace, which are both in the city limits. He stated both locations show lack of maintenance, rusted metal doors and frames, missing siding, gutters full of leaves, missing storm doors and mold growing on the walls of the homes. Mr. Kovic requested the City Council open a dialogue with the Perry County Housing Authority to address the issues with these properties within our community. Commissioner Hicks stated he should contact the Perry County Housing Authority. Commissioner Kuhnert stated HUD should inspect these properties as they are government housing. Mr. Kovic stated these properties are important to our community because they are affordable housing, and the City should open a dialogue to hold the Perry County Housing Authority accountable for the upkeep of their properties. Fire Chief Jim Gielow stated a lot of renters don’t care about the properties they rent and won’t help take care of them. Mayor Spencer said he would personally work to set up a dialogue with the Perry County Housing Authority and said he didn’t think they’d have to get HUD involved.

Mr. Kovic then turned the topic to zoning, suggesting Pinckneyville start inspecting rental properties. He stated many rental properties have wooden porches and cinder blocks at their entrances. He said entry should be safe for renters and first responders. He stated if first responders had to enter, it could possibly lead to unnecessary work comp cases. Mayor Spencer requested City Attorney Tyson Tanner respond based on the city’s ordinance. Mr. Tanner stated properties are reviewed regularly to entice owners to improve their properties. He stated there is an obvious economic hardship in southern Illinois. He stated he and his wife buy and fix up homes in other communities and the other communities have an inspection process, some every time a water bill is transferred. Mr. Kovic suggested an occupancy permit to rent property, which must pass inspection. Mr. Tanner stated there is a process of condemning vs. a proactive permit process, which is better and faster to address. He stated Fire Chief Jim Gielow inspects those properties to be condemned on the outside, but has no way to get inside.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Commissioner Hicks, seconded by Commissioner Kuhnert to adjourn the meeting at 6:26 p.m. On roll call: Commissioners Hicks, Kuhnert, Stotlar, and Mayor Spencer voted YEA. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.

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