Macon Reporter

City of Decatur City Council met Nov. 4.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

On Monday, November 4, 2024, the City Council of the City of Decatur, Illinois, met in Regular Meeting at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber, One Gary K. Anderson Plaza, Decatur, Illinois.

Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe presided, together with her being Council members Lisa Gregory, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, Pat McDaniel and Mayor Moore Wolfe. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared a quorum present.

City Manager Tim Gleason attended the meeting as well.

Mayor Moore Wolfe led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Moore Wolfe called for Appearance of Citizens.

The following citizens provided comments to the Council: Amanda Crystal, Christine Price, Troy Zientara, Shawn Crystal, Debbie Dice and Ayn Owens.

Council members responded to citizens’ comments.

The minutes of October 14, 2024, City Council Study Session were presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the minutes be approved as written; seconded by Councilman Kuhle and on call of the roll, Council members Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Ed Culp, and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Councilman Dennis Cooper abstained from the vote. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

The minutes of October 21, 2024, City Council Meeting were presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the minutes be approved as written; seconded by Councilman Kuhle and on call of the roll, Council members Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

Mayor Moore Wolfe called for Unfinished Business.

Motion to Take from the Table the Ordinance Creating City Code Chapter 51.6 - Municipal Gas Use Tax, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved to take the Ordinance from the table, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

Upon call of the roll, Council members Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

2024-161 Ordinance Creating City Code Chapter 51.6 - Municipal Gas Use Tax, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Ordinance do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

City Manager Gleason gave an overview of the Ordinance.

Council members held a discussion regarding the municipal gas use tax and thanked staff for gathering additional input from the companies affected by the tax.

Upon call of the roll, Council members Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

Ordinance Creating City Code Chapter 51.6 - Municipal Gas Use Tax Bifurcated Rate was pulled from the Council agenda with the concurrence of Council members David Horn, Ed Culp, Pat McDaniel and Dennis Cooper.

Mayor Moore Wolfe called for New Business.

R2024-341 Resolution Estimating Necessary to be Raised by the 2024 Tax Levy, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

City Manager Gleason gave an overview of the Resolution.

Council members held a discussion on the 2024 property tax levy. The consensus of Council members was in favor of a 7% tax levy increase instead of the proposed 9% tax levy increase in Exhibit A.

Councilwoman Gregory moved to amend the motion by substituting Exhibit A with a 7% tax levy increase, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

Upon call of the roll, Council members Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, Chuck Kuhle, Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Councilman David Horn voted nay. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

R2024-342 Resolution Authorizing Agreement and Amendment with BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois for Administration of the City Group Health Benefit Plan for Calendar Year 2025, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

City Manager Gleason gave an overview of the Resolution.

Ms. Ruby James, Director of Finance, spoke about higher claims resulting in an increase.

Upon call of the roll, Council members Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

R2024-343 Resolution Authorizing an Amendment to the Redevelopment Agreement between the City of Decatur and Tillamook Illinois, LLC, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

City Manager Gleason gave an overview of the Resolution.

Mr. Jon Kindseth, Deputy City Manager, spoke about Tillamook’s additional investment in the community and answered questions from Council members about capping permit fees.

Upon call of the roll, Council members Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

R2024-344 Resolution Accepting the Bid and Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with Burdick Plumbing and Heating Company, Inc. for the Vulcan Watermine Pipeline, City Project 2022-22, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

City Manager Gleason gave an overview of the Resolution.

Mr. Matt Newell, Public Works Director, spoke about efforts to increase water capacity and answered questions from Council members.

Council members expressed their views regarding the pipeline.

City Manager Gleason answered questions from Council members about funding.

Upon call of the roll, Council members Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, Chuck Kuhle, Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Councilman Horn voted nay. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

City Manager Gleason provided the City Manager Update and spoke about staffing. Travis Deibert is a new employee in Public Works; Alex Deerwester, Conner Davis, Kearon Cole, Brett Jackson, Justin Forrester, Hayden Faulkner and Cole Heuring are new firefighters; Craig Stevens and Matthew Jones were promoted to Fire Inspector; Jeff Snyder and Thomas Scheu were promoted to Fire Captain; Christopher Bright and Emile Joyner were promoted to Fire Lieutenant; Julia Chapman was promoted to Water Services Project Coordinator and Dereon Bond was promoted to Equipment Operator.

Mayor Moore Wolfe called for Consent Agenda Calendar Items A. through E. and asked if any Council member wished to remove an item from the Consent Agenda Calendar. Mayor Moore Wolfe requested to remove Item D. from the Consent Agenda Calendar. The Clerk read Items A., B., C., and E.:

Item A. 2024-162 Ordinance Annexing Territory 2223 Thunderbird Drive

Item B. 2024-163 Ordinance Annexing Territory 2961 Lakeland Road

Item C. 2024-164 Ordinance Annexing Territory 2417 Wilcox Lane

Item E. R2024-346 Resolution to Appropriate Motor Fuel Tax Funds for the Replacement of the Jasper Street Underpass Lighting by Municipality under the Illinois Highway Code, City Project 2024-19, Section 24-00419-00-LT

Councilwoman Gregory moved Items A., B., C., and E. be approved by Omnibus Vote; seconded by Councilman Kuhle, and on call of the roll, Council members Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

R2024-345 Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement with the Norfolk Southern Railway Company for the Replacement of the Jasper Street Underpass Lighting as Part of City Project 2024-19, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

Mr. Matt Newell, Public Works Director, answered questions from Council members about the scope of the project.

Upon call of the roll, Council members Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, Chuck Kuhle, Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, Dennis Cooper and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Councilman Horn voted nay. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

With no other New Business, Mayor Moore Wolfe called for Other Business.

Councilman Horn spoke about the Vulcan watermine pipeline and funding sources for projects.

There being no Other Business, Mayor Moore Wolfe called for adjournment. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Regular Council meeting be adjourned, seconded by Councilman Kuhle and on call of the roll, Council members Lisa Gregory, Pat McDaniel, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the regular Council meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m.

https://decaturil.gov/389/Agendas-Minutes