CITY OF OLNEY
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MARCH 8, 2010


AGENDA #1 “CALL TO ORDER” The March 8, 2010 meeting of the Olney City Council was called to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Olney City Hall located at 300 S. Whittle Avenue, Olney, Illinois, with Mayor Mark Lambird presiding.

AGENDA #2 “PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG-PRAYER” Council members and visitors joined in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Jerry Bush led the group in a prayer.

AGENDA #3 “ROLL CALL” The following Council members were present: Gary Foster, Brad Brown, Pete Weber, Bob Ferguson and Mark Lambird. Also present were City Manager Randy Bukas, City Attorney Larry Taylor, City Engineer Roger Charleston and City Clerk Belinda Henton.

AGENDA #4 “PRESENTATION OF CONSENT AGENDA”
4-A Approve Minutes of Council Meeting on January 25, 2010

4-B Approve and Authorize Payment of Accounts Payable February 9, 2010-Pooled Cash $75,163.61, Pooled Cash Manual Checks $169,078.80, Water Deposit Refunds $1,546.71, Tourism $500.00 and Motor Fuel Tax $4,238.88.

AGENDA #5 “REMOVAL OF ITEMS FROM CONSENT AGENDA” No items were requested for removal.

AGENDA #6 “CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT AGENDA” Councilman Weber moved to approve the consent agenda, seconded by Councilman Foster. A unanimous voice vote was received.

AGENDA #7 “CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA” No consideration was necessary because nothing was removed from the consent agenda.

AGENDA #8 “STAFF REPORTS”

8-A “City Manager - Status Report” Al Zellmer advised the Council that the White Squirrel Saddle Club has received a $10,000 grant from the Illinois Equine Industry Research and Promotion Board. This money has been earmarked for bleachers, announcer’s stand, announcer’s equipment and arena lighting. Mr. Zellmer has been working with Mr. Bukas on things that are important for next year’s budget. Mr. Zellmer thanked the Council for everything they have done. Mr. Bukas has been provided with a copy of the grant.

Mr. Bukas reported that the November Use Tax receipts received in February were $7,000 which is approximately $2,400 less than the same period last year. November was the 13th month in a row where the tax was lower than the same period last year. The year to date receipts for this tax has decreased 18.6% from last year.

Mr. Bukas has approved expenditures for electrical work at the firing range.

There have been rumors that the house the City purchased at 300 E. Vine contains asbestos. An inspection has been completed, and no asbestos was found. A bid opening for the demolition of this property is scheduled for March 17.

Ameren is in the process of replacing utility poles on E. Butler. The water and sewer lines are progressing on Butler Street.

Mr. Bukas requested verbal approval on the E. Butler Street reconstruction bid which was opened by IDOT on March 5. The low bid was received from A. J. Walker from Mattoon, Illinois in the amount of $647,882.54. The estimate for this project was $615,343. The State wants to know if the City is willing to accept the bid price. The City will be responsible for 20%. Four sets of plans were sent out, but only two bids received. The City used A. J. Walker for the Silver Street improvements several years ago.

The Council was agreeable to allow the overage on the bid and accept the low bid. A formal resolution will be presented at the next Council meeting.

Bid specifications are available for the variable frequency drive motors for the Water Plant. Bids will be opened on March 16.

Work has begun on the clarifier sealing project at the Water Plant and should be completed by April 15. The Park Lift Station project was also started today. Hopefully, this project will be completed by September 17, 2010.

AGENDA #9 “OLD BUSINESS” There was no old business to discuss.

AGENDA #10 “NEW BUSINESS”

10-A “Ordinance: Special Use Permit for Placement of Manufactured Home” The Plan Commission recently met and consideration was given to an application for a Special Use Permit submitted by Belinda Foster to place a manufactured home at 1019 E. Chestnut. The Council was provided with minutes from the Plan Commission meeting, a finding of facts letter and a proposed ordinance recommending approval for a Special Use Permit.

Councilman Ferguson moved to pass Ordinance 2010-08, seconded by Councilman Brown. Councilmen Brown, Weber, Ferguson, Mayor Lambird and Councilman Foster voted yes. There were no opposing votes. The motion carried.

10-B “Resolution: Accept Bid for Carpeting at City Hall” Three bids were recently received to carpet the City Clerk’s office, Administrative Assistant’s office and hallway and a portion of the copy room where a new office is being constructed. The low bid was received from Hahn’s Carpet in Olney in the amount of $2,935. Mr. Bukas recommended accepting the low bid. The budget includes $4,000 for this project.

Councilman Foster moved to approved Resolution 2010-R-19, seconded by Councilman Weber. Councilmen Weber, Ferguson, Mayor Lambird, Councilmen Foster and Brown voted yes. There were no opposing votes. The motion carried.

10-C “Resolution: Boring Contract on E. Butler Street” Resolution 2010-R-20 has been drafted to authorize a contract with Illinois Gas Company in an amount not to exceed $6,200 to bore laterals under E. Butler Street. Mr. Bukas requested that the Council also approve to waive the bidding procedures. The City saved more than $8,000 by cutting down a couple of trees instead of boring under them. It was estimated that between $6,000 and $8,000 will be saved in fill materials by having Illinois Gas bore the laterals. The Council was polled on their opinion of this proposal several days prior to the meeting, and Mr. Bukas authorized the work to keep the project moving forward. Sixteen water laterals were bored in three days at a cost of $5,200. This portion of the project has been completed.

Councilman Weber was glad to see the City working with Illinois Gas.

Councilman Foster moved to approve Resolution 2010-R-20, seconded by Councilman Brown. Councilman Ferguson abstained. Mayor Lambird, Councilmen Foster, Brown and Weber voted yes. There were no opposing votes. The motion carried.

AGENDA #11 “PUBLIC COMMENTS/PRESENTATIONS” There were no comments heard from the public.

AGENDA #12 “REPORT FROM THE MAYOR” Mayor Lambird congratulated the volunteers from Good Samaritan who were recently named as Citizens of the Year at the Chamber Banquet and Wal-Mart DC as business of the year.

AGENDA #13 “REPORTS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS” Councilman Brown asked Mr. Bukas to explain the agenda for reviewing the budget. Mr. Bukas reported at the March 22 meeting Water, Sewer and MFT budgets will be reviewed, March 29 General Corporate and special funds, a public hearing will be held on April 12 and the budget will be adopted on April 26.

Councilman Foster asked Mr. Bukas or Mr. Taylor that the next time they meet with the County concerning 911 they request the County to provide the City with a graph, similar to the graph that was prepared by the Police Department, detailing the dispatch schedule with the amount of sick leave, vacation and holidays that the County dispatchers have. He would like to see how they can provide coverage with nine dispatchers.

AGENDA #14 “ADJOURN” Councilman Foster moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Weber. A unanimous voice vote was received.

The meeting of the City Council adjourned at 7:48 p.m.


Belinda C. Henton
City Clerk