Macon Reporter

City of Maroa City Council met Dec. 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

ROLL CALL done by Clerk Walters at 6:32 p.m. Alderman Wilkey, Grider, West, Harper, Alderwoman Bogle, Administrator Agee, Clerk Walters, Treasurer Modro-Peters, and Mayor McCullough were all present.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Clerk Walters.

Mayor McCullough had Clerk Walters swear in Matt Riley has new Alderman.

CITIZENS COMMENTS: John Leach Jr. had a question for Chief Gaddy. John wanted to know if he had time to talk to the guy on the complaint that was made. Chief stated no not yet. Gaddy stated he had not seen him there. John asked who animal control was and Gaddy stated P.D.

John Leach wanted to know if the rumor he heard about Main Street being turned into a one-way was correct or not. The Mayor McCullough told him he has heard about the rumor also and it is not correct.

OLD BUSINESS:

• Jerry Fyke-Northwood Mobile Park-stated he has been making progress. He has cleaned up the bricks. He is working on the debris. He is in contact with one person that is an owner of one of the trailers that he would like to get removed. He would like to still get three removed which are owned by other individuals and is working on getting in touch with them. Which includes the one he is in contact with. Alderman Harper asked him to get a list to Clerk Walters of the trailers he wants to get out and it’s the ones that have other owners. Alderman Wilkey stated that at this time he does not need to report every month. Alderman Wilkey stated that it will just be a watching situation if it gets to the same way again there will not be any leniency the next time. Jerry stated he understood that fully.

NEW BUSINESS:

• Ordinance 2021/12/6/1 Abatement ordinance for 2016 General Obligation Refunding (Alternate Source Revenue) Bonds.- Alderman Wilkey made a motion to approve Ordinance 2021/12/6-1 and Alderman Grider second the motion. All was in favor. Motion was passed.

• Ordinance 2021/12/6/2 Abatement ordinance for 2016 General Obligation (Alternate Source Revenue) Bonds.- Alderman Wilkey made a motion to approve ordinance 2021/12/6-2 and Alderman Grider second the motion. All was in favor. Motion was passed.

• Ordinance 2021/12/6/3 Tax Levy- Alderman Wilkey made a motion to approve ordinance 2021/12/6-3 and Alderman Grider second the motion. All was in favor. Motion was passed.

• Credit Limit- Alderman Harper made a motion to permantely raise Mike Hoffman

(Superintendent of Streets and Alleys), Ted Agee (City Administrator), and Scott Gaddy (Chief of Police) Visa credit cards limit to $5000.00. Alderman Wilkey second the motion. All was in favor. Motion was passed.

• Employee Insurance Benefits and Compensation- Alderman Wilkey stated that the insurance has to benefit our employees. He is asking the city council if the city would absorb all the cost. Alderman Wilkey stated that we already do employee and do part of spouse and we could do the rest and include family. Wilkey stated he sent out an email to all the council members today and wanted to read a section that was important. “As a city we are fighting other communities our size, police department wise with salary and compensation wise. People choosing other places because of salary and benefits.” What we would like to do- I do not know how competitive we can be on the dollar and cent side of it, but I am trying to be competitive on the insurance side of it. So, with that being said. Alderman Wilkey thinks we should move forward and offer to pay for the entire portion of actual employee, spouse, and family insurance.

Attorney Wise asked if we had checked with other municipalities on combine with them and getting better rates. Administrator Agee stated that we had tried this one time before and they do not do it on a municipal level. Attorney Wise stated she would investigate for next year.

Alderman Wilkey made a motion for 2022 year pay 100% Insurance (health, dental, vision) for Spouse and family for all eligible employees. Alderman Harper second the motion. All was in favor. Motion was passed.

Alderman Wilkey made a motion for the 3% cost of living increase for eligible employees starting January 2022 minus Chief of Police, City Administrator and Superintendent of Streets and Alleys will be eligible again in 2023. Alderman Grider second the motion. All was in favor. Motion was passed.

• Christmas Bonuses- Alderman Wilkey mad a motion to give all Full-time employees $100.00 and all Part-time employees $100.00 Christmas Bonus and Alderman Grider second the motion. All was in favor. Motion was passed.

• 312 W. Jackson- Meter- Clerk Walters stated that this is the old Harvest Church and the people that were living here and moved out and were not happy about having to pay the minimum and wanted to know about pulling the meter out. The gentleman stated he would remove the meter. Clerk Walters stated that he could not do that because the meter was our property. They stated no one would buy the property because it is an old church. Clerk Walters wanted to know if the meter could be removed or if he needed to pay the minimum. Alderman West stated that it is in an ordinance that states that until the house has been sold or a realtor takes it over, they need to pay the minimum amount for the meter. Administrator Agee stated that the only time we have pulled a meter is when they have torn down a building.

• City Clerk (letter)- Clerk Walters read a letter that Angie and Bob Sarver brought to her to read here tonight to the mayor and the city council. The letter is to thank the city crew (Mike, Jeff, and Ronnie) for all there work they do for the city. Also, to thank the Chief of Police and his officers for keeping our town safe and orderly. (Letter is attached.)

• City Clerk (payment arrangements)-Clerk Walters wanted to get clarification on payment arrangements for shut-offs due to two were made on the day of shut-offs when Clerk Walters was always told they had to be made a week before shutoffs. Also, if there can be a limit on how many payment arrangements can be made in a years’ time like leak adjustments. Alderman Wilkey stated that then when someone calls for a payment adjustment if its passed the seven day window it’s a simple no.

POLICE REPORT: Gaddy stated that the monthly report and the ordinance violation list were in everyone’s mailbox. Wilkey asked Gaddy how the one way is working on Cedar. Gaddy stated he had three warnings today. He stated averaging five to six a week. They have been allowing a few of the construction trucks to by pass it but they have been there while they are doing so.

ATTORNEY REPORT: (418 S. Wood Street) Court on January 5, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. Lindsey stated having trouble getting Josh and Laura Miller served. It is hard finding them, so the extra time has been ok because going to have to get a private processor server. Everyone is backed up due to COVID they do not allow that many in the court rooms. Sherriff to serve the farther they have to go sometimes can be up to forty dollars max, but the private processor server can be closer to a hundred because they will keep going. Council members are ok with the amount.

ENGINEER REPORT: No engineer report.

ADMINISTRATOR REPORT: Nothing else to report other than what he had for the ordinances in new business. COMMITTEE REPORT: No committee reports.

APPROVE MINUTES:

• November Minutes- Alderman Wilkey made a motion to approve the November meeting minutes and Alderman Grider second the motion. Alderman West, Harper, Grider, Wilkey, Alderwoman Bogle were all aye, Alderman Riley was abstained. Motion was passed.

APPROVE BILLS: Alderman Wilkey made a motion to pay the November/December bills and Alderman Harper second the motion. All was in favor. Motion was passed.

CLOSED SESSION: Nothing for closed session.

ADJOURN: Alderman Grider made a motion to adjourn at 8:00 p.m. and Alderman Wilkey second the motion. All was in favor. Motion was passed.

https://maroaillinois.gov/file/800/CouncilMeetingMinutes12-6-21.pdf