Macon Reporter

City of Clinton City Council met Aug. 2.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

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

Written motion was made by Commissioner Buchanan and seconded by Commissioner Ballenger that the minutes of the regular meeting of July 19, 2022 and the special meeting of July 26, 2022 be approved as submitted. On roll call vote, Commissioners Buchanan, Wise, Ballenger, Edmunds, and Mayor Cyrulik voted “Yes.”

The bills and payroll were read.

Written motion was made by Commissioner Edmunds and seconded by Commissioner Wise 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, Buchanan, and Mayor Cyrulik voted “Yes.”

PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

Melissa Morris addressed the Council regarding a building they have recently purchased which will house 2 businesses and she has a concern with the sidewalk on the corner of N. Center St. and E. Washington St. She read a letter to the Council with her concerns. The Mayor responded that the City had met with an Engineer on Friday and the sidewalk all the way down on the south side of Washington St. needs fixed. The City marked the sidewalk with orange paint but it takes time to get it engineered and there are a lot of downspouts that need to go underground so he asked Mrs. Morris to please be patient.

Seth Redington addressed the Council regarding the Animal Ordinance that will be voted on tonight. Over the years he has had 300 rabbits and 125 chickens that he uses to feed his family so this will directly affect him if he can only have 10 rabbits and 5 chickens, and he stated he was not moving. He stated he keeps asking questions and not getting any answers. He is the one who called the EPA on the Fire Training Facility because they are burning mattresses and furniture that causes black smoke. He challenged each Commissioner to drive by the fire training facility there has been mattresses laying for 2 months that they don’t clean up. He stated the car they used for training had the doors off, broken glass on the ground and it is on City property. If a kid gets hurt who is responsible – the City of Clinton. Several years ago, it was stated a fence would be put around the training facility but that has never happened.

Sharon Redington addressed the Council regarding the Animal Ordinance and wanted to reinforce and confirm about their pasture and properties about wanting to change issues about animals because they have rabbits and chickens, and years ago they had sheep and goats before she was ever born. They have never had a complaint about noise or smell.

They live next to the Yard Waste Facility with the noise and smell, and they will not put any kind of animals in their pasture that will create a smell.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Mayor Cyrulik had no report.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STREETS & PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS

Commissioner Buchanan reported that Baum Chevrolet’s project (new body shop) has started and no one at the City has seen the plans or was contacted about the storm sewer so the City will have an Engineer come and look at it.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PROPERTY

Commissioner Wise reported the department is running like normal and they are still waiting on one part for the lime silo. He stated that WCIA Our Town Clinton did a great job.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY

Commissioner Ballenger wanted to respond to the statement that Seth Redington made about a car left at the Fire Training Facility. The car was used on Wednesday night, and it was intended to be used again on Saturday morning that is why the car was left there, but was cleaned up when it was brought to our attention. He also stated that WCIA Our Town Clinton did an event at the Homestead on Friday night and did a great job.

Police Chief Ben Lowers addressed the Council regarding the Animal Ordinance, and he was the one who initiated the change in the Ordinance. Many people called to see how many chickens they could have and past City Administrator, Tim Followell always told people they could have 3 chickens, no roosters only for laying eggs for personal use but it was never in writing so that is why the change in the Ordinance came up. He worked with City Attorney, John Hoblit to draft this Ordinance. He checked with surrounding cities to help with this Ordinance. This will help when people ask questions, they can go to the Code Book or look on the City’s website www.clintonillinois.com and find the Ordinance. He wanted to thank Snapper’s for having a concert on the Square Saturday night. It was well attended.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTS & FINANCES

Commissioner Edmunds had no report.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Written motion was made by Commissioner Wise and seconded by Commissioner Ballenger to adopt Ordinance #1552, An Ordinance Amending Title 5 Chapter 1 of the Clinton City Code to Allow Poultry and Ban Certain Types of Non-Domesticated Animals. On roll call vote, Commissioners Ballenger, Buchanan, Wise, and Mayor Cyrulik voted “Yes.” Commissioner Edmunds voted “No.”

Written motion was made by Commissioner Edmunds and seconded by Commissioner Ballenger to adopt Ordinance #1553 and Ordinance #1554, An Ordinance Authorizing the Purchase of Real Estate (111 S. Quincy St. & 204 W. Main St.) in the amount of $85,000.00. On roll call vote, Commissioners Edmunds, Buchanan, Wise, Ballenger, and Mayor Cyrulik voted “Yes.”

NEW BUSINESS

On File – Purchase of (2) 2022-2023 Ford Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles/Police Dept. – Morrow Brothers Ford – not to exceed $95,000.00 On File – Sale of Personal Property/Police Dept. – (2) 2016 Ford Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles

ADJOURNMENT

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

http://www.clintonillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Minutes-2022-08-02.pdf