Macon Reporter

City of Decatur City Council met Nov. 1.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The City Council of the City of Decatur, Illinois, met in Regular Meeting at 5:30 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, One Gary K. Anderson Plaza, Decatur, Illinois.

Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe presided, together with her being Council members Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, Lisa Gregory, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle and Bill Faber. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared a quorum present.

City Manager Scot Wrighton attended the meeting as well.

Mayor Moore Wolfe led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Moore Wolfe called for Appearance of Citizens and the following citizens provided comments to the Council: Patricia Groves, David Burton, Sheila Jackson and Abeer Motan.

With no other Appearance of Citizens, Council responded to citizens’ comments. Mayor Moore Wolfe called for Approval of the Minutes.

The minutes of the October 8, 2021, Goal Setting Session were presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the minutes be approved as written; seconded by Councilman Kuhle and on call of the roll, Council members Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, Lisa Gregory, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Bill Faber and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

The minutes of the October 18, 2021, Regular City Council Meeting were presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the minutes be approved as written; seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

Councilman Faber made a motion to amend the section of the City Council minutes “Other Business” by listing the individual votes of Council members regarding their position on whether to reconsider recreational cannabis sales at an upcoming meeting, seconded by Councilman Horn.

Upon call of the roll, Council members Dennis Cooper, David Horn and Bill Faber voted aye. Council members Ed Culp, Lisa Gregory, Chuck Kuhle and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted nay. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion failed.

On the original motion, upon call of the roll, Council members Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, Lisa Gregory, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Councilman Bill Faber voted nay. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

With no Unfinished Business, Mayor Moore Wolfe called for New Business.

R2021-197 Resolution Authorizing Agreement with BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois for Administration of the City Group Health Benefit Plan for Calendar Year 2022, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

City Manager Wrighton gave a brief overview of the Resolution.

Upon call of the roll, Council members Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, Lisa Gregory, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Bill Faber and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

R2021-198 Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or Designee to Purchase Traffic Control Materials or Services for Detoured Traffic During the Improvement of Brush College Road Over Fairies Parkway and the Norfolk Southern Railroad Tracks City Project 2009-33, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

City Manager Wrighton gave a brief overview of the Resolution and answered questions from Council regarding funding sources.

Upon call of the roll, Council members Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, Lisa Gregory, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Bill Faber and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

R2021-199 Resolution to Appropriate Rebuild Illinois Funds for the Replacement of the Meadowlark Bridge over the Caterpillar Ditch by the Municipality Under the Illinois Highway Code Section No. 20-00002-00-BR City Project 2020-02, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

City Manager Wrighton gave a brief overview of the Resolution.

Upon call of the roll, Council members Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, Lisa Gregory, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Bill Faber and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

R2021-200 Resolution Authorizing Amendment No. 2 for Professional Engineering Services Agreement with Northwater Consulting for Lake Decatur Watershed Management Plan City Project 2019-38, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

Mr. Jeff Beckler with Northwater Consulting gave an update on tasks that were accomplished by Northwater Consulting over the past year.

Councilwoman Gregory exited the Council Chambers at 6:34 p.m. and returned at 6:38 p.m.

Mr. Beckler answered questions from Council concerning project costs and spoke about the next phases of the project.

Mr. Keith Alexander, Water Productions Manager, spoke in favor of Northwater Consulting and recommended that Northwater Consulting continue with the project.

Upon call of the roll, Council members Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, Lisa Gregory, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Bill Faber and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

R2021-201 Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement for the Workforce Development Systems Assessment, Strategy and Implementation Project, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

Mr. Cordaryl “Pat” Patrick, Community and Economic Development Director gave a brief overview of the Resolution and answered questions from Council regarding the scope of work that the consultant will perform.

Upon call of the roll, Council members Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, Lisa Gregory, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Bill Faber and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

Councilman Faber exited the Council Chambers at 7:08 p.m.

R2021-202 Resolution Authorizing the Execution of Agreements for Demolition of Four (4) Vacant Buildings with Parkland Environmental Group, Inc. for 1449 N. Church, 239 N. East, 1228 E. Leafland and 1768 E. Main, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

City Manager Wrighton gave a brief overview of the Resolution.

Upon call of the roll, Council members Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, Lisa Gregory, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Councilman Bill Faber was absent. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

R2021-203 Resolution Authorizing Action Regarding Unsafe Structures, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

City Manager Wrighton gave a brief overview of the Resolution.

Upon call of the roll, Council members Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, Lisa Gregory, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Councilman Bill Faber was absent. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

R2021-204 Resolution Authorizing City Manager to Enter into a Professional Services Agreement with Blank, Wesselink, Cook & Associates, Inc. for Design and Construction Oversight Services for Transit Facilities HVAC Replacement Project, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

Councilman Faber returned to the City Council Chambers at 7:12 p.m.

City Manager Wrighton gave a brief overview of the Resolution.

Upon call of the roll, Council members Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, Lisa Gregory, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Bill Faber and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

R2021-205 Resolution Authorizing the Expenditure of Funds to Purchase and Expand Data Storage for the Police Department Body Worn Camera Project from Presidio Networked Solutions Group, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

City Manager Wrighton gave a brief overview of the Resolution.

Upon call of the roll, Council members Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, Lisa Gregory, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Bill Faber and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

R2021-206 Resolution Approving Appointment - Police Pension Fund Board of Trustees, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

Upon call of the roll, Council members Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, Lisa Gregory, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Bill Faber and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

With no other New Business, Mayor Moore Wolfe called for Other Business.

City Council Study Sessions relating to the 2022 proposed budget have been scheduled for November 8th and November 17th. The Public Works Department was thanked for their efforts in helping the Village of Forsyth with their water issues. Discussion ensued over the wall collapse at the building located at Wabash Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. and the deteriorating conditions of Wabash Crossing.

With no other Business, Mayor Moore Wolfe called for Recess to Closed Executive Session at 7:20 p.m. under Open Meetings Act Section 2 (c) (2) collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representative and Section 2 (c) (11) litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent.

Councilwoman Gregory moved to Recess to Closed Executive Session, seconded by Councilman Kuhle and on call of the roll, Council members Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, Lisa Gregory, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Bill Faber and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the regular Council meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

https://decaturil.gov/mayor-and-council/council-meetings/