Macon Reporter

City of Clinton City Council met March 21.

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, Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Roger Cyrulik, presiding. On roll call, Commissioners Wise, Ballenger, Edmunds, and Buchanan were present.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Ty Eshleman, Engineer with Chamlin & Associates, Inc. addressed the Council and the audience with their concerns after the Planning Commission meeting regarding traffic and drainage with the building of the new Dollar General. They have gotten permission from IDOT to put the entrance into the store off of Route 54 and have changed the drawing to rotate the building and the layout. There will be more detention on the east side of the property. It has been designed to hold more water than is necessary in hopes that it will slow down what drains on North St. The plans (digital) will be at City Hall tomorrow and the hard copies will be as soon as we can get them here.

Tracy Karr addressed the Council and stated the Engineer had a lot of what ifs and hopefully’s that the Engineer stated, and my concern is the drainage will be taken care of, but my family has lived in this area for many years and there are water issues. There is going to be concrete, and a building built in a field and what if the drainage doesn’t work and my basement floods do I have to sue someone. They started working without any permits. No one talked to anyone about this project and our property values. There is going to be a lot of foot traffic. I want a guarantee I won’t be flooded. Why didn’t they pick another spot to build? I appreciate the Mayor coming and checking things.

Kendra Hunt addressed the Council and stated she can’t park in the back of her house because the alley is high, so she parks in the front. We do get a lot of water. The revenue if Dollar General brings in food items it will affect our grocery stores. It is a residential area, and the property value will go down. I am worried about crime, sewer issues, accidents, there are no sidewalks to walk on, so safety is an issue, the noise, bright lights. Disrespect of the contractors in parking their trucks and she couldn’t get out of her driveway. They were working with no permits being issued. My biggest concern is the decrease of my home value. I am very upset, and I hope the City considers another option for Dollar General to build in another location.

Dwayne Sessions addressed the Council and stated he was not worried about his property value but was worried about the items he has in his shed. There are water issues and wanted to know what size pipe will go from the detention pond to the drain on Lisenby St. The shed is valuable to me for what is in the shed and I don’t want it flooded. He would like a print of the drawing of Dollar General.

Marc Rogers addressed the Council and stated he has lived on E. Washington St. for 47 years and the water gets deep around my house. The house has flooded three times since we have lived there. New drainage has helped quite a bit but still have water standing in my yard. There needs to be better infrastructure on the City’s side. The traffic has increased more in the last few days I guess because people have heard that Dollar General is being built. I don’t want my house flooded again. There is a City ordinance that states if they build that up, they have to prove it won’t flood. They have to build a berm. Trucks with rock came down Washington St. and drove down Lisenby St. which is not built for heavy truck traffic. They don’t seem to care. I can’t afford to have my house flooded again. My house is on a slab. I have had twenty-five loads of dirt hauled in and leveled out. I am asking the City to think about this.

Tina Gregory addressed the Council and stated they own three lots and have seen lots of flooding in the last ten years. I am happy Dollar General is coming but I am scared. I am glad they changed the plans. She asked if they could put up a fence to keep the trash from blowing in her yard. Their property value has gone down and she is disappointed. Every town has a Dollar General when you drive into town because they want to be seen. I am glad Dollar General is building, I just don’t want it on my street.

Written motion was made by Commissioner Ballenger and seconded by Commissioner Buchanan that the minutes of the regular meeting of March 7, 2023 be approved as submitted. On roll call vote, Commissioners Ballenger, Edmunds, Buchanan, Wise 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 Edmunds, Buchanan, Wise, Ballenger and Mayor Cyrulik voted “Yes.”

PETITIONS

None

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS Mayor Cyrulik had no report.

Written motion was made by Commissioner Edmunds and seconded by Commissioner Ballenger to reappoint Clint Lichtenwalter to the Fire Pension Board – said term to expire April 1, 2025. On roll call vote, Commissioners Buchanan, Wise, Ballenger, Edmunds, and Mayor Cyrulik voted “Yes.”

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STREETS & PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS

Commissioner Buchanan reported brush pick-up started this week and the next pick-up will be the week of April 17th.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PROPERTY

Commissioner Wise reported the Lime Silos motors were out and has now been fixed and have a spare one in case this happens again.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY

Commissioner Ballenger reported the brakes on Engine 2 went out and it will be $14,000.00 to have them fixed and the new firetruck will be picked up near the end of July. He also stated On File is the Intergovernmental Agreement for Participation in the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System for the Fire Dept. We have had this agreement since the 1980’s. We have only used their resources and equipment (fans during the gas leak). John Hoblit, City Attorney stated they are asking all the states using MABAS to consolidate and do one agreement with everybody they work with.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTS & FINANCES

Commissioner Edmunds reported the City Treasurer, Clint Lichtenwalter will be placing the Budget in your mailbox so look it over and ask any questions. It will be placed On File at the April 4th Council meeting.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

On File – Intergovernmental Agreement for Participation in the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System/Fire Dept.

On File - 2023 MFT Summer Maintenance - $100,000.00

On File – Garbage Bids (1 Year Contract) – GFL Environmental - $3,165.00 and J & S Disposal - $4,239.00

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 Wise, Ballenger, Edmunds, Buchanan, and Mayor Cyrulik voted “Yes.”

http://www.clintonillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Minutes-2023-03-21.pdf