Macon Reporter

City of Decatur City Council met Feb. 3.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

On Monday, February 3, 2025, 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 Pat McDaniel, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, Lisa Gregory 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: Bryan Smith, Lloyd Holman, Amy Rueff, Mike Debouck, Ayn Owens, Anthony Chapple, Bret Robertson and Pastor Ken White.

Council members responded to citizens’ comments.

The minutes of January 21, 2025, 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 Pat McDaniel, David Horn, Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, Lisa Gregory and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Councilman Chuck Kuhle voted present. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

There being no Unfinished Business, Mayor Moore Wolfe called for New Business.

R2025-119 Resolution Authorizing the City of Decatur to Affect a Funds Transfer from the Capital Fund to the Community Revitalization Fund, 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 concerning overspending and measures taken to ensure that the budget is adhered to.

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

2025-02 Budget Reconciliation Ordinance Appropriating Additional Monies for the Purpose of Defraying the Expenses for Certain Funds of the City of Decatur, Illinois for the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2024, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Ordinance do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

Ms. Ruby James, Director of Finance, answered questions from Council members concerning the connection between the water fund, Old Town TIF and debt payment.

Mr. Anthony Cooling, Budget and Revenue Officer, spoke about the streetscape project involving these funds.

Ms. James, Director of Finance, continued answering questions concerning the band fund, fire pension fund and police pension fund.

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

2025-120 Resolution Authorizing a Professional Engineering Services Agreement with Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company, Inc., to Provide Engineering Services for Disinfection Byproduct Reduction, City Project 2025-04, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

Mr. Robert Weil, Water Production Manager, gave an overview of the Resolution and answered questions from Council members regarding the scope of services proposed by Burns & McDonnell.

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

R2025-121 Resolution Authorizing Intergovernmental Agreement for Rural Public Transportation Services, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

City Manager Gleason gave an overview of the following three Resolutions as they related to transportation services.

Ms. Lacie Elzy, Director of Transportation Services, spoke about the collaboration between Macon County, Village of Mt. Zion and Village of Forsyth to provide affordable and reliable transportation services.

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

R2025-122 Resolution Authorizing Intergovernmental Agreement Incorporating Village of Mt. Zion into the City of Decatur's Urban Transit Network, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

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

R2025-123 Resolution Authorizing Intergovernmental Agreement Incorporating Village of Forsyth into the City of Decatur's Urban Transit Network, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

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

City Manager Gleason provided the City Manager Update. New hire: Cody Hiser, Neighborhood Service Officer in Economic and Community Development. Retirement: Rex Dummermuth, Supervisor of Technical Services in Public Works. The City of Decatur was awarded a $3 million site readiness grant from Illinois DCEO to help with a watermain extension north of I-72 and to study supplying ground water to this area.

Mayor Moore Wolfe called for Consent Agenda Calendar Items A. through M. and asked if any Council member wished to remove an item from the Consent Agenda Calendar. Councilman Horn requested to remove Item G. from the Consent Agenda Calendar. The Clerk read Items A. through F. and H. through M.:

Item A. 2025-03 Ordinance Annexing Territory 3047 Lakeland Road

Item B. 2025-04 Ordinance Annexing Territory 2965 South Wheatland Road

Item C. R2025-124 Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of a Sourcewell Contract for the Purchase of One (1) Stump Grinder from Vermeer Sales & Service

Item D. R2025-125 Resolution Authorizing a Sourcewell Contract for the Purchase of One (1) Backhoe

Item E. R2025-126 Resolution Accepting the State of Illinois Joint Purchasing Contract Holder Bid Price of Sutton Ford Inc. for the Purchase of Six (6) 2025 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Vehicles

Item F. R2025-127 Resolution Accepting the Bid Price of CDS Office Technologies for the Purchase of Computer Equipment for Six (6) 2025 Ford Police Interceptor Vehicles

Item H. R2025-128 Resolution Authorizing a Professional Services Agreement with Lisa Bonnett

Item I. R2025-129 Resolution Accepting the Bid and Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with Bodine Electric of Decatur and Appropriating Motor Fuel Tax Funds for the 2024 Traffic Signal Improvements Project, Section Number 24-00437-00-TL City Project 2024-37

Item J. 2025-05 Ordinance Authorizing Exceptions to the Zoning Ordinance - No Frontage on a Public Street - No Direct Access to a Public Street - 2600 Block of South Taylor Road

Item K. R2025-130 Resolution Authorizing Professional Service Agreement with Milliman Inc. for Actuarial Services Regarding City of Decatur Retiree Health Care Benefits

Item L. R2025-131 Resolution Authorizing Professional Service Agreement with Milliman Inc. for Actuarial Services Regarding Police and Firefighters' Pension Plans

Item M. R2025-132 Resolution Authorizing Annual Payment to the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County (EDC) for Administration of the Decatur Macon County Enterprise Zone

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

R2025-133 Resolution Authorizing a Professional Services Agreement with MunicipalH2O to Prepare Compliance Documents for the American Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, was presented. Councilwoman Gregory moved the Resolution do pass, seconded by Councilman Kuhle.

Mr. Robert Weil, Water Production Manager, answered questions from Councilman Horn about CO2 leaks in Lake Decatur being included in the assessment and plan.

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

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

Ms. Lacie Elzy, Transportation Services Director, was commended for her work with the public transit system. There was a moment of silence to remember those who passed away in the community recently.

Ms. Wendy Morthland, Corporation Counsel, answered questions concerning the YWCA demolition.

Councilman Horn spoke about the injunction filed between St. Teresa High School and Heritage Behavioral Health Center.

There being no Other Business, Mayor Moore Wolfe called for Adjournment.

Councilwoman Gregory moved the regular City Council meeting be adjourned, seconded by Councilman Kuhle and upon call of the roll, Council members Pat McDaniel, David Horn, Chuck Kuhle, Ed Culp, Dennis Cooper, Lisa Gregory and Mayor Moore Wolfe voted aye. Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the motion carried.

Mayor Moore Wolfe declared the regular Council meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

https://www.decaturil.gov/539/Agendas-Video-Archive