Macon Reporter

City of Clinton City Council met July 5.

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, Wednesday, July 5, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Roger Cyrulik, presiding. On roll call, Commissioners Buchanan, Wise, and Ballenger were present. Commissioner Edmunds was absent.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Seth Redington addressed the Council and stated he came to the last Council meeting, and you voted on wages. I have asked questions concerning policies, procedures, conflict of interest. When that vote happened the Commissioner over the Fire Dept. voted on that contract. That is a conflict of interest because the Assistant Fire Chief is family. Commissioner Ballenger said he is not in the union contract. Attorney Hoblit stated you did vote on the non-union wages at the last meeting. When the Fire Training Facility was built, we should have been notified. I FOIA requested the State Fire Marshal report and Commissioner Ballenger said you would have to get that yourself. I asked the City Clerk about the Volunteers getting paid for calls and also getting paid for an event. Isn’t that double dipping?

Commissioner Wise stated that we have heard about the Fire Training Facility before, and it was used for training. The City owns all the property. Why would we have to send a letter when we are just moving it to a different location on City owned property? Why do we need a permit? David Dallas brought the report to Council, and you heard it. We have answered every question you have FOIA’d. Mr. Redington stated there was a City meeting regarding the original Facility years ago. We were not happy about it, but we knew it was going to fail so we didn’t care. The fire trucks got stuck going back there. Is it a City project? Why are there no prevailing wage records on all the work done on that site? Commissioner Wise said it is funds that were donated. Everything you have FOIA’d has been answered. I don’t understand why we keep having to go over all this. Mr. Redington stated there are all kinds of fraudulent answers in your FOIA responses.

Written motion was made by Commissioner Buchanan and seconded by Commissioner Ballenger that the minutes of the regular meeting of June 20, 2023 be approved as submitted. On roll call vote, Commissioners Buchanan, Ballenger, and Mayor Cyrulik voted “Yes.” Commissioner Wise voted “Present.”

The bills and payroll were read.

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

PETITIONS

None

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Mayor Cyrulik had no report.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STREETS & PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS

Commissioner Buchanan reported the departments are working on the storm clean-up and it is going to take a while and he thanked all the departments for their help. The Yard Waste is open every day 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. this week and next week for the citizens to take their yard waste from the storm.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PROPERTY

Commissioner Wise reported with the power being out the generators did their job at the well and the water plant. The Water Tower did over-flow because we had to do everything by hand and keep an eye on it and we talked to Mr. Calvert and apologized, and he understood. We never lost water at the plant and thankful no one was hurt.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY

Commissioner Ballenger reported with the storm he thanked all the departments. The last 3 days the Fire Dept. ran one hundred calls. Volunteers put in a lot of hours at their regular jobs then they were here working during the storm. This was state-wide and the public has been considerate, and it is going to take time to get everything cleaned up. The new Fire Truck is in service and had a couple of bugs to work out of it.

Fire Chief Page thanked everybody for their help and to watch out for caution tape and to stay out of the area.

Police Chief Lowers was thankful for the rain but didn’t need the storms. He wanted to thank the American Legion and Josh Thielen for the activities on the Square. They did a good job. The fireworks are still on as of right now.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTS & FINANCES

Commissioner Edmunds was absent.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Written motion was made by Commissioner Ballenger and seconded by Commissioner Buchanan to adopt Ordinance #1578, An Ordinance Authorizing Borrowing Funds (Firetruck $565,082.00). On roll call vote, Commissioners Ballenger, Buchanan, Wise, and Mayor Cyrulik voted “Yes.”

Written motion was made by Mayor Cyrulik and seconded by Commissioner Wise to Reject the Demolition Bids for 216 E. Adams St. On roll call vote, Commissioners Buchanan, Wise, Ballenger and Mayor Cyrulik voted “Yes.”

Written motion was made by Commissioner Buchanan and seconded by Commissioner Ballenger to approve Resolution 2023-9, Resolution for Improvement Under the Illinois Highway Code (Funding for Madison St. & Washington St. Projects – ReBUILD Illinois Funds $476,155.92 and MFT Funds $400,000.00 for a total of $876,155.92). On roll call vote, Commissioners Wise, Ballenger, Buchanan, and Mayor Cyrulik voted “Yes.”

Written motion was made by Commissioner Buchanan and seconded by Commissioner Wise to adopt Ordinance #1579, An Ordinance Authorizing the Purchase of Real Estate (611 N. Quincy St.). On roll call vote, Commissioners Ballenger, Buchanan, Wise, and Mayor Cyrulik voted “Yes.”

NEW BUSINESS

Written motion was made by Commissioner Buchanan and seconded by Commissioner Ballenger to approve the Downtown Streetscape Sidewalk Improvement Proposal with Farnsworth Group, Inc. – Area 1 – not to exceed $9,300.00, Area 2 – not to exceed $7,500.00, Area 3 – not to exceed $6,000.00. On roll call vote, Commissioners Buchanan, Wise, Ballenger, and Mayor Cyrulik voted “Yes.”

Written motion was made by Mayor Cyrulik and seconded by Commissioner Ballenger to hold a closed session for Approval of Closed Session Minutes and Employment of Employee. On roll call vote, Commissioners Wise, Ballenger, Buchanan, and Mayor Cyrulik voted “Yes.”

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, Buchanan, and Mayor Cyrulik voted “Yes.”

https://www.clintonillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Minutes-2023-07-05.pdf