ASSUMPTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Wednesday, SEPTEMBER 1st, 2021
Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Bromwell Lodge by Mayor Roger Cox who led the Pledge of Allegiance and was livestreamed via Facebook.
Roll call was answered by Alderperson Sue Burgess, Joe Cochran, Derek Page, Selena Reed, and Melody Stuart. Also present were Mayor Roger Cox, Attorney Jordan Klein, Officer Zeitler, Employee Dana Owens, and City Clerk Janet Waller.
Present in the audience were Mark Bingham from Chastain & Associates, Ricky Bradshaw, Marty & Jennifer Hall, Marilyn Ashinhurst, Bob Bantner, Felicia King, Joann Stringer, Joe & Jody Mink, John & Judy Stewart, Kandy Smith, Joyce Throneburg, Debbie Stoddard, Owner of Locust Street apartments and Jake Leonard from the Golden Prairie News.
Absent was Alderperson Barb Coughlin.
Council Member Page, seconded by Council Member Cochran, made a motion to approve the minutes of the August 4, 2021 Council Meeting. Motion carried with Alderperson Burgess, Cochran, Page, Reed and Stuart. Alderperson Coughlin was absent.
Council Member Page, seconded by Council Member Stuart, made a motion to approve the payment of bills on the Warrant Sheets. Motion did not carry as Alderperson Reed and Page voting aye and Cochran, Stuart and Burgess voting nay. Alderperson Coughlin was absent.
Public Comments on Agenda Items:
The public questioned on what is the cost to make a new ordinance or update an ordinance.
Mayor’s Comments:
Mayor informed the council that the housekeeper will be cleaning the bathrooms twice a week at the park.
Mayor Cox thanked the Assumption Festival for all their hard working putting on a great festival. A special thanks to Reverend Banning for his words to start off the Assumption Festival.
Mayor Cox updated the council on the status of the land for the new water plant. A special thanks to the Corzine family for their help.
City Attorney:
Attorney Klein will go over items as on the agenda.
Under New Business:
The council discussed the new business at 201 S Chestnut will need a liquor license. Council Member Page, seconded by Council Member Reed, made a motion to approve the liquor license for 201 S Chestnut. Motion carried with Alderpersons Cochran, Burgess, Page, Stuart and Reed voting aye and 0 nays. Alderperson Coughlin was absent.
Joyce Throneburg thanked the council for the liquor license. Tom Zuber will be leasing the building for a restaurant called D.J.’s on Chestnut, LLC.
Joyce gave a history on the background of the Illinois Street Park.
Joann Stringer presented to the council Phase I of the park renovation.
The parking at the Locust Street Apartments were discussed. The owner would like the City to consider putting in a curb. Alderperson Burgess also noted it could be an issue with the emergency vehicles. The council would like to discuss later at a Committee Meeting.
The council decided to table the sidewalk replacement on the agenda until more information is available.
A price for the tornado siren is $25,912.25. The council discussed possibly using TIF money to purchase a new siren or if the American Rescue money could fund the siren. The council agreed to set a goal for a final decision by the end of the year with installation by spring 2022. It was questioned if a sealed bid is needed and Attorney Klein will look into the requirements.
An ordinance for remote meetings was presented by Attorney Klein. The ordinance would allow an alderperson to give a 24 hour notice of their absence. They would need to give their reason for their absence. The reason would be illness, employment purpose or family or other emergency. The alderman would need a majority vote at the beginning of the meeting. It should be noted in the minutes and put on a roll call vote. Council Member Cochran, seconded by Council Member Page, made a motion to approve Ordinance 767 for electronic attending for meetings. Motion carried with Alderpersons Burgess, Page, Cochran, Reed and Stuart voting aye and 0 nays. Alderperson Coughlin was absent.
The ordinance on FOIA was discussed by the council. The City’s current FOIA ordinance is outdated and needs to be brought up to date with the state laws. The council discussed on whether or not to add a revision to allow records to be obtained electronically. The council agreed on Attorney Klein amending the FOIA ordinance and will place it on the agenda for October council.
The resolution for public comments was also tabled until October council.
The council would like an ordinance on the spending limit’s of the Mayor which is $1,000.00 a day. Mayor Cox noted there is certain things that do come up and there hasn’t been an issue before. Attorney Klein had drafted an ordinance and the council would like to send it to committee and put on the agenda in October.
Public Comments:
Council Member Page, seconded by Council Member Burgess, made a motion to adjourn the council meeting at 8:22 pm. Motion carried with Alderman Page, Cochran, Burgess, Reed and Stuart voting aye and 0 nays. Alderman Coughlin was absent.
__________________
Janet Waller City Clerk
Wednesday, SEPTEMBER 1st, 2021
Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Bromwell Lodge by Mayor Roger Cox who led the Pledge of Allegiance and was livestreamed via Facebook.
Roll call was answered by Alderperson Sue Burgess, Joe Cochran, Derek Page, Selena Reed, and Melody Stuart. Also present were Mayor Roger Cox, Attorney Jordan Klein, Officer Zeitler, Employee Dana Owens, and City Clerk Janet Waller.
Present in the audience were Mark Bingham from Chastain & Associates, Ricky Bradshaw, Marty & Jennifer Hall, Marilyn Ashinhurst, Bob Bantner, Felicia King, Joann Stringer, Joe & Jody Mink, John & Judy Stewart, Kandy Smith, Joyce Throneburg, Debbie Stoddard, Owner of Locust Street apartments and Jake Leonard from the Golden Prairie News.
Absent was Alderperson Barb Coughlin.
Council Member Page, seconded by Council Member Cochran, made a motion to approve the minutes of the August 4, 2021 Council Meeting. Motion carried with Alderperson Burgess, Cochran, Page, Reed and Stuart. Alderperson Coughlin was absent.
Council Member Page, seconded by Council Member Stuart, made a motion to approve the payment of bills on the Warrant Sheets. Motion did not carry as Alderperson Reed and Page voting aye and Cochran, Stuart and Burgess voting nay. Alderperson Coughlin was absent.
Public Comments on Agenda Items:
The public questioned on what is the cost to make a new ordinance or update an ordinance.
Mayor’s Comments:
Mayor informed the council that the housekeeper will be cleaning the bathrooms twice a week at the park.
Mayor Cox thanked the Assumption Festival for all their hard working putting on a great festival. A special thanks to Reverend Banning for his words to start off the Assumption Festival.
Mayor Cox updated the council on the status of the land for the new water plant. A special thanks to the Corzine family for their help.
City Attorney:
Attorney Klein will go over items as on the agenda.
Under New Business:
The council discussed the new business at 201 S Chestnut will need a liquor license. Council Member Page, seconded by Council Member Reed, made a motion to approve the liquor license for 201 S Chestnut. Motion carried with Alderpersons Cochran, Burgess, Page, Stuart and Reed voting aye and 0 nays. Alderperson Coughlin was absent.
Joyce Throneburg thanked the council for the liquor license. Tom Zuber will be leasing the building for a restaurant called D.J.’s on Chestnut, LLC.
Joyce gave a history on the background of the Illinois Street Park.
Joann Stringer presented to the council Phase I of the park renovation.
The parking at the Locust Street Apartments were discussed. The owner would like the City to consider putting in a curb. Alderperson Burgess also noted it could be an issue with the emergency vehicles. The council would like to discuss later at a Committee Meeting.
The council decided to table the sidewalk replacement on the agenda until more information is available.
A price for the tornado siren is $25,912.25. The council discussed possibly using TIF money to purchase a new siren or if the American Rescue money could fund the siren. The council agreed to set a goal for a final decision by the end of the year with installation by spring 2022. It was questioned if a sealed bid is needed and Attorney Klein will look into the requirements.
An ordinance for remote meetings was presented by Attorney Klein. The ordinance would allow an alderperson to give a 24 hour notice of their absence. They would need to give their reason for their absence. The reason would be illness, employment purpose or family or other emergency. The alderman would need a majority vote at the beginning of the meeting. It should be noted in the minutes and put on a roll call vote. Council Member Cochran, seconded by Council Member Page, made a motion to approve Ordinance 767 for electronic attending for meetings. Motion carried with Alderpersons Burgess, Page, Cochran, Reed and Stuart voting aye and 0 nays. Alderperson Coughlin was absent.
The ordinance on FOIA was discussed by the council. The City’s current FOIA ordinance is outdated and needs to be brought up to date with the state laws. The council discussed on whether or not to add a revision to allow records to be obtained electronically. The council agreed on Attorney Klein amending the FOIA ordinance and will place it on the agenda for October council.
The resolution for public comments was also tabled until October council.
The council would like an ordinance on the spending limit’s of the Mayor which is $1,000.00 a day. Mayor Cox noted there is certain things that do come up and there hasn’t been an issue before. Attorney Klein had drafted an ordinance and the council would like to send it to committee and put on the agenda in October.
Public Comments:
Council Member Page, seconded by Council Member Burgess, made a motion to adjourn the council meeting at 8:22 pm. Motion carried with Alderman Page, Cochran, Burgess, Reed and Stuart voting aye and 0 nays. Alderman Coughlin was absent.
__________________
Janet Waller City Clerk