Macon Reporter

City of Clinton City Council met July 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 Vespasian Warner Library Revere Room, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. Acting Mayor Thomas Edmunds, presiding. On roll call, Commissioners Buchanan, Wise, and Ballenger were present.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Roger Cyrulik came before the Council to talk about the water treatment plant. The council talked in 2021 and 2022 about improvements at the water treatment plant. He asked how many improvements have been completed to date. Commissioner Wise stated new valves are in as well as a computer system that will be done next week, which was the first phase. The lime softening and tower equipment is being done now. The other parts that are being worked on are in engineer’s hands, part is done part is in the stage of being done. Cyrulik asked how much engineering has been done in ’23 and ’24 on the improvements. Wise said almost all engineering is done, it is a matter of the state freeing up money. The next is Quincy Street and the water tower which will be as the money is available, possible next year. Cyrulik asked about the low interest loan and the process. Wise said the state and federal government says the money is there and paperwork is filed. The engineers will send in the shovel ready project. Cyrulik asked if he saw the contract in 2022, that the engineers that the engineers performed for the low interest loan. Cyrulik said we spent $50,000.00 on engineering, that was a cost estimate to produce water, Wise and Edmunds signed off on the bills. Wise said as far as he knew the money had not been approved yet. Wise waits for them to tell him it’s appropriate to apply for it. Cyrulik asked if it was still Myroth with the same engineering company. Wise confirmed it was. Cyrulik asked who stopped the project. Edmunds said he would have to talk to Clint about the cycle. Clint Lichtenwalter said he believed it was February or March of every year, the engineers deal with those projects. Cyrulik asked how many breaks in a block present a problem for repair/replace. Wise said breaks are recorded and put on the cloud. Wise said the Lincoln School, down by Hardee’s kept having major breaks and a cave in on the highway. We did those first as money came available. He understands what he is saying as Quincy Street and Main Street, we are looking at each one. Cyrulik asked what the priority was. Wise said it is up to when the money is available.

Cyrulik asked who wanted to talk about the flood plain on the east side of town. Edmunds stated that’s what the flood buy out was for, when we bought all of those properties. Cyrulik said we tore down those houses and don’t have the tax base anymore. The timber on Coon Creek is blocking the water. Edmunds said until it gets blocked it will back up. Cyrulik said the timber holds the water, there is a valley for the water. We had the money once, we used it on the square. Edmunds said the square money was TIF money. Cyrulik said he wanted them to be on notice when a flood comes it’s going to be twice as worse. The water has nowhere to go, the timber has it blocked. The railroad has a bunch of ties on the tracks where the reservoir overflows. Edmunds said there is six feet coming under the railroad to a junction box and five-foot sewer with no mechanism to drain. Cyrulik said he has been flooded twice on his pasture and TKS cant get to his office because there is too much water on his road. He’s putting the council on notice, the timber needs cleaned out of the ditches. Cars are stacked up at the old liquor store, it came to the viaduct and that’s as far as it came. Ballenger asked which drainage district that was, Cyrulik stated he didn’t know and wasn’t sure if they would help out or not. Cyrulik said nothing has been done to help the community with the water problem.

Cyrulik told the council to stay on the low interest loan, they had the opportunity in 22 to present it in 23, it was missed. It cost $50,000.00, that’s good money that could have been used somewhere else. Prices to produce water has changed. Acting Mayor Edmunds thanks Cyrulik.

Seth Redington came before the council. He said he was here two meetings ago and asked Commissioner Wise and Buchanan if their hourly employees are working their normal job during normal scheduled work hours. If they jumped on an emergency if they got any extra compensation, they both stated no. Redington has repeatedly come in and asked, for instance the Apple and Pork Festival the fire department gets paid an hourly wage to go down. The answer for medica, if there are incidents – they are on hand. When Roger Cyrulik was the mayor, he FOIA’d the documents how Commissioner Ballenger can be driving the tram and being paid. There are policies and procedures that you initial, if someone initials for you that’s fraud. Redington said Council needs to look to see if they are being paid by the hour. When the storm came through last year, there were 33 calls. There’s a report from the State Police about that, 66 hours were turned in in a three-hour block. That department is funded with tax dollars, that’s how those employees are paid. There needs to be an internal investigation. Redington asked Edmunds how that many hours could have been turned in and not caught. Redington asked why it had to be suggested for it to be looked into. Redington asked if everyone is turning a blind eye to a lot of the stuff in the city. He’s asked a lot of questions and gotten wise crack answers, and personally invited to ask questions and there’s not much open dialog going. Redington said to Ballenger that in a meeting he made the policy that put him in charge of all, what a disgrace. In the next meeting he basically resigned from the department. How can you run around town with your lights on going to fires, if you’re not a fireman? Would that be being an imposter? He’s asked before, wearing a Chiefs uniform to funerals. He’s got every piece of paper saying he’s never been on the department. When talking about finances, there’s a bunch more and it will be addressed. Hundreds of thousands of dollars. Redington thanked the council for his time.

Commissioner Wise and Attorney Hoblit to address a specific question, the event with the storm. Attorney Hoblit said we did our due diligence in regard to an investigation and got some answers. Hoblit stated regarding the fire calls he is the Commissioner; they have vast power and authority over their respective departments. Redington said there are state laws regarding running lights. Hoblit said he believed it was his personal vehicle and if he was wearing memorabilia, he is well within his legal rights to do as such. Redington asked about the pay being paid back to the city. Hoblit said it’s an error on the city, it’s not on the employee and it is a question for the Finance Department.

Written motion was made by Commissioner Ballenger and seconded by Commissioner Buchanan that the minutes of the regular meeting of June 18, 2024 be approved as submitted. On roll call vote, Commissioners Wise, Ballenger, Buchanan and Acting Mayor Edmunds voted “Yes.”

The bills and payroll were read.

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

PETITIONS

None

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Acting Mayor Edmunds thanked the American Legion for having festivities for the Fourth of July.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STREETS & PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS

Commissioner Buchanan reported the sidewalk project should start around the 15th of July and oil and chipping should be 4-6 weeks out.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PROPERTY

Commissioner Wise reported Kyle has been in charge and working on a water main and has been doing well. Regarding questions from Cyrulik earlier, Wise said he does not have a working budget to produce money. We are paying off loans and ended up getting money from COVID funds, to get done what we are doing now with valves and lime silo. We are trying to be good stewards. Wise wanted to reiterate he has not stopped a project. Wise stated he wants a closed session at the next meeting, regarding personnel.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY

Commissioner Ballenger had no report.

REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTS & FINANCES

Commissioner Edmunds had no report.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

A written motion was made by Commissioner Ballenger and seconded by Commissioner Wise to approve the purchase of fourteen Taser 7’s, accompanying equipment and software for the Police Department with Axon Taser not to exceed $50,000.00. On roll call vote, Commissioners Buchanan, Wise, Ballenger and Acting Mayor Edmunds voted “Yes.”

A written motion was made by Commissioner Buchanan and seconded by Commissioner Wise to approve Resolution 2024-9, a resolution approving minor subdivision – Taylor’s First Addition. On roll call vote, Commissioners Wise, Ballenger, Buchanan and Acting Mayor Edmunds voted “Yes.”

A written motion was made by Commissioner Wise and seconded by Commissioner Buchanan to approve the engineer estimate for improvements to W. Leander Street from Rosewood Dr. to Park Lane West Subdivision in the amount for $73,260.50. On roll call vote, Commissioners Ballenger, Buchanan, Wise and Acting Mayor Edmunds voted “Yes.”

A written motion was made by Commissioner Ballenger and seconded by Commissioner Wise to approve the design/build contractor services contract with CORE Construction & Farnsworth Group. On roll call vote, Commissioners Buchana, Wise, Ballenger and Acting Mayor Edmunds voted “Yes.”

A written motion was made by Commissioner Wise and seconded by Commissioner Buchanan to approve Ordinance 1601 and Ordinance Authorizing Real Estate to Go Out for Bid. On roll call vote, Commissioners Wise, Ballenger, Buchanan and Acting Mayor Edmunds voted “Yes.”

NEW BUSINESS

On File – Engineering Services Agreement- Woodlawn Cemetery Bridge – Cummins Engineering $5,798.60

On File – Resolution accepting bids for Building Lots 6,7 & 21

On File – Ordinance Authorizing Sale of Real Property – Park Lane West Addition

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

https://www.clintonillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Minutes-2024-07-02.pdf