Macon Reporter

City of Clinton City Council met Dec. 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Minutes of the Public Hearing for the Annual Levy of the City Council of the City of Clinton, Illinois in session in the Council Chambers of City Hall at 6:45 p.m. On roll call Commissioners Wise, Ballenger, Edmunds, and Buchanan were present. Mayor Cyrulik was absent.

Acting Mayor Tom Edmunds opened the public information session and turned the hearing over to Clint Lichtenwalter, City Treasurer. He reported the levy is $1,966,274.00, which is a .22% increase in the overall levy, but a 1.26% decrease in the rate. This will be the fifth year in a row that the City has had a rate decrease. Several good items to note there are 3 Pension Funds: IMRF, Police Pension and Fire Pension. The City joined IMRF in December, 2010 as a new employer. The City has been able to catch that fund up and are 100% funded. Police Pension jumped up from an actuarial value from 89.2% to 92.8% and on a market value they jumped from 88.5% to 100% and the Fire Pension jumped up from an actuarial value from 78.3% to 89.1% and on a market value they jumped from 82.2% to 95.7%. It is amazing to be able to catch these funds up and get them almost fully funded without effecting the tax rate.

Acting Mayor Edmunds asked for any comments by the Council or by those attending the hearing. Hearing none, motion was offered by Commissioner Ballenger and seconded by Commissioner Buchanan to adjourn the hearing. On roll call vote, Commissioners Ballenger, Edmunds, Buchanan, and Wise voted “Yes.”

Minutes of the regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Clinton, Illinois in session in the Council Chambers of City Hall, at 7:00 p.m. Acting Mayor Tom Edmunds, presiding. On roll call, Commissioners Edmunds, Buchanan, Wise and Ballenger were present. Mayor Cyrulik was absent.

Written motion was made by Commissioner Wise and seconded by Commissioner Buchanan that the minutes of the regular meeting of November 15, 2021 be approved as submitted. On roll call vote, Commissioners Buchanan, Wise, Ballenger, and Edmunds voted “Yes.”

The bills and payroll were read.

Written motion was made by Commissioner Edmunds and seconded by Commissioner Ballenger that the bills and payroll be allowed as read and the Clerk be instructed to issue warrants on the Treasurer for the several amounts. On roll call vote, Commissioners Wise, Ballenger, Edmunds, and Buchanan voted “Yes.”

PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

Acting Mayor Tom Edmunds introduced the new City Administrator, Darin Girdler.

Seth Redington stated he had not received all the documents he had requested (FOIA) so he would come back when he received those documents and address the Council.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Mayor Cyrulik was absent.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STREETS & PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS

Commissioner Buchanan reported this will be the last week for the part-time workers as their last day will be on Friday. The department will make one more round on Monday with the leaf vac and then after that they will have to be put in brown paper lawn bags to be picked up or taken to the Yard Waste, which will be open all winter (weather permitting). He wanted to remind citizens that brush pick-up won’t start back up until March unless there is a storm event.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PROPERTY

Commissioner Wise reported the Lagoons have been cleaned out and the company did a good job. He also stated the Water Plant has been around a long time and the computerized automation is always an ongoing work trying to keep it updated. The department has tried to get a hold of the company in Indiana that worked on it before and

haven’t had any luck. They will try one more time and if they don’t return the phone call then they will call Greg Myroth who worked on it in the past. The department is working on the GIS mapping when time permits. They have also been working on water leaks. He appreciates all of the departments working well together.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY

Commissioner Ballenger had no report.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTS & FINANCES

Commissioner Edmunds reported the Audit was placed in the Council’s mailbox for them to read over and congratulated Clint Lichtenwalter, City Treasurer for that.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Written motion was made by Commissioner Wise and seconded by Commissioner Ballenger to approve Resolution 2021-15, A Resolution Accepting Offers for Out Lots in Illini Addition of the City of Clinton. On roll call vote, Commissioners Ballenger, Edmunds, Buchanan, and Wise voted “Yes.”

Written motion was made by Commissioner Ballenger and seconded by Commissioner Buchanan to adopt Ordinance #1539 (Black property), Ordinance #1540 (Clark property), Ordinance #1541 (Ryan property), An Ordinance Abating Taxes for Certain Territory in the City of Clinton, Illinois. On roll call vote, Commissioners Edmunds, Buchanan, Wise, and Ballenger voted “Yes.”

Written motion was made by Commissioner Buchanan and seconded by Commissioner Wise to adopt Ordinance #1542, An Ordinance Increasing Tax Rate for Street and Bridge Purposes and Ordinance #1543, An Ordinance Levying Tax for Street Lighting Purposes. On roll call vote, Commissioners Buchanan, Wise, Ballenger, and Edmunds voted “Yes.”

Written motion was made by Commissioner Edmunds and seconded by Commissioner Wise to adopt Ordinance #1544, Annual Levy Ordinance. On roll call vote, Commissioners Wise, Ballenger, Edmunds, and Buchanan voted “Yes.”

Written motion was made by Commissioner Ballenger and seconded by Commissioner Buchanan to approve the Partial Grant for Purchase of (12) Radios for the Fire Dept. from Beck Tech in the amount of $25,733.00 (Grant $17,500 & Fire Dept. $8,233). On roll call vote, Commissioners Ballenger, Edmunds, Buchanan, and Wise voted “Yes.”

Written motion was made by Commissioner Buchanan and seconded by Commissioner Ballenger to approve the Employment Agreement between the City of Clinton and Darin Girdler. On roll call vote, Commissioners Edmunds, Buchanan, Wise and Ballenger voted “Yes.”

NEW BUSINESS

On File – Police Contract

On File – Quote for New Server and Cyber Security Upgrades/City Hall – JANO Technologies, Inc. - $31,873.19

ADJOURNMENT

With no further business to come before the Council, a motion was made by Commissioner Ballenger and seconded by Commissioner Buchanan to adjourn the meeting. On roll call vote, Commissioners Buchanan, Wise, Ballenger and Edmunds voted “Yes.”