City of Sullivan City Council met July 31.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
1 The City Council of the City of Sullivan, Illinois, met in a special session on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, at 7 00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 216 Jefferson Street, Sullivan. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Glazebrook. A roll call was taken.
Commissioner Abbey- Sherwood present
Commissioner Mike Fowler present
Commissioner Chuck Woodworth present
Commissioner Peggy Hargis present
Mayor Richard Glazebrook present
2. Mayor Glazebrook asked if there were any comments from the public and the public comment was as follows.
Dick Isaacs spoke about his vested interest in Sullivan as a former business owner and county board member He stated that during his time on the County Board there were numerous opportunities to sell the county farm. He explained that it was in everyone' s best interest to keep the farm as it was interest producing and provided longevity He said had the farm been sold the money would have been spent and the same would happen to the City Adding that that City would not have the option to say there weren' t funds for things while being in possession of a large amount of money
Mike Kirk asked to clarify a comment that he made at the last meeting. He explained that when he said no local bank could handle the size ofthe deposit from the sale ofthe land because of promissory notes that have to be made, he was not referring to First Mid and was referring to the two local banks He added that he has been a customer of First Mid for years and doesn' t consider it to be a local bank because of its' size and not having a local board of directors or a loan committee He also stated that the ground has made money, continues to make money and has grown and will grow for the next fifty years.
Steve Wood spoke of a letter he submitted to the council sharing his belief that the City should obtain the ground. He said that once we lose the ground it's gone and we could make more money on cash renting the ground rather than on interest. He offered that if bonds would need to be acquired for a large project the cash rent could be used to pay the bonds without taxing the citizens. Mr Wood emphasized that a reduction in taxes would be a great benefit to everyone. He summarized that the City currently owns ground and there is no conflict in the ownership of that ground and the land should be kept.
Nancy Barker said that she believes if it was intended for the City to have the home and the land it would have been stated in the will. She believes it should be sold and the proceeds given to the city She said that she wouldn' t want her children to question her will and that the current situation makes the community look greedy Mrs. Barker said she thinks we need to be grateful for what is given to us and honor the will as written.
Brad Pullen the Community President of First-Mid thanked Mike Kirk for clarifying his prior comment. He said the batik is able to handle an investment of any size. He explained that they are to fact a local bank and have been located in the community for over 50 years. Mr Pullen explained that First- Mid has numerous employees from Sullivan working locally and have 50 shareholders to the Sullivan zip code. He emphasized that bank has local decision making, support community activities and are a big part of this community and will continue to be a big part of this community
Roger Tice explained that when the land is disposed of by the trustee that many fees will be accrued such as the trustee fees, auctioneer fees, appraisal fees, and surveyor fees. He said that ifthe City takes control ofthe land and accesses over time what it would like to do with the land, they would essentially have control of the sale. Mr Tice said that by doing this the City would save money by handling the transactions rather than paying fees to the trustee, making other fees negotiable as the City would be able to choose how it was to be handled.
3 Mayor Glazebrook asked for a motion for the approval ofthe claims. A motion was made by Comnnsstoner Woodworth and seconded by Commissioner Hargis that the claims be approved as presented. Upon a roll call being taken, the results were as follows
Commissioner Abbey Sherwood yea
Commissioner Mike Fowler yea
Commissioner Chuck Woodworth yea
Commissioner Peggy Hargis yea
Mayor Richard Glazebrook yea
And the motion was declared carried.
4 Commissioner Hargis made a motion that the city meet with the trustees of the Winifred Titus-Sentel trust to facilitate the purchase of the real estate held by the trust directly from the trust by private sale or by direct transfer of the real estate to the city and to facilitate and cooperate with any court action that may be necessary to authorize such a private sale or direct transfer to the city The motion died with lack of a second.
5 A motion was made by Commissioner Sherwood and seconded by Commissioner Fowler that the city attempt to purchase the real estate held by the Winifred Titus- Sentel Trust at public auction or at any other type of public sale. Commissioner Sherwood then asked to amend her previous motion to read that the city attempt to purchase some or all of the real estate held by the Winifred Titus-Sentel Trust at public auction or any other type ofpublic sale. The amended motion was seconded by Commissioner Fowler
Commissioner Abbey Sherwood yea
Commissioner Mike Fowler yea
Commissioner Chuck Woodworth yea
Commissioner Peggy Hargis nay
Mayor Richard Glazebrook yea
and the motion was declared carried.
6 A motion was made by Commissioner Sherwood and seconded by Commissioner Fowler that the city representative be the Mayor and or the City administrator be authorized to act on the City' s behalf to purchase some or all ofthe real estate of the Winifred Titus Trust at public auction or any type of public sale
Commissioner Abbey Sherwood yea
Commissioner Mike Fowler yea
Commissioner Chuck Woodworth yea
Commissioner Peggy Hargis nay
Mayor Richard Glazebrook yea
and the motion was declared carried.
7 Mayor Glazebrook declared that the meeting was adjourned. Upon roll call being taken, the results were as follows
Commissioner Abbey Sherwood yea
Commissioner Mike Fowler yea
Commissioner Chuck Woodworth yea
Commissioner Peggy Hargis yea
Mayor Richard Glazebrook yea
and the motion was declared carried and the meeting was adjourned at 7.35p.m.Attest
http://www.sullivanil.us/July%2031,%202019.pdf
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