Metro East Sun

City of Lebanon City Council met Dec. 14.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

The council met in regular session by electronic means through Zoom. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Wilken.

Roll Call: Aldermen Fero, Gale, Jenkins, Johnson, Mack, Roma, Witty and Wright – present

Aldermen Mack/Fero Motioned to approve the November 23, 2020 minutes. Roll Call: Aldermen Fero, Gale, Jenkins, Johnson, Mack, Roma, Witty and Wright– Yeas MOTIONED passed 8-0

In absence of Jeff Fairlie, Chairman of the Plan Commission, the City Clerk reported that the group was having a problem meeting the last two months to decide on the new signage to be used at 229 W. St Louis St. because of a lack of obtaining a quorum.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Streets/Alleys – MEET January 4, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.

1. Aldermen Witty/Jenkins Motioned to approve the Resolution for the Motor Fuel Tax Budget. After discussion the council postponed this vote until a Special Council Meeting on December 21st at 6:45 p.m. just before the Committee Meeting on same date. City Clerk is to email council with actual budget.

2. Committee recommended not to approve at this time a request from Ma Cli Bo Shriners for street solicitations and a request for a street closure from Friends of McAllister Park. Mr. Jenkins will send letters to the organizations mentioned as to their decision.

3. Committee recommended not to proceed with the adding of streetlights on McAllister Park Property because that would fall under the jurisdiction of the Horner Park Board and/or Trustees and would at the very least take an intergovernmental agreement for reimbursement of cost.

Finance – MEET December 21, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

Ordinance – MEET January 4, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.

1. Committee recommended to approve ordinance AUTHORIZING THE OPERATION OF GOLF CARTS ON STREETS UNDER THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF LEBANON WHERE THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT IS 35 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS Effective May 1, 2021. Roll Call: Aldermen Fero, Gale, Jenkins, Johnson, Mack, Roma, Witty and Wright– Yeas MOTIONED passed 8-0

2. Committee withdrew its ordinance concerning Section 36-828 and 829 and sent it back to committee. Plan Chairman Farlie will meet with the committee on January 4th to work out details.

3. Committee will still work on ordinance concerning other vehicles (SUV and UTV).

Water/Sewer – MEET December 21, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

Cemetery – MEET January 4, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.

Health/Safety – MEET December 21, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

COVID-19 numbers are:   62254: Tested 5545   Cases 559   Up 126

                                            LCC: Cases:   82         Deaths:   12

                               Cedar Ridge: Cases: 141         Deaths:   16

                     Cedars of Lebanon: Cases:    2         Deaths:     0 

                             Daily positivity: 9.9%      10 day positivity rate: 10.7 %

Public Property – MEET January 4, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.

Personnel – MEET December 21, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

1. Chairman requested executive session to discuss the hiring of Part Time Admin. Assistant*

Clerk

1. Clerk presented bid specifications packet for the upgrade of the computer security equipment and services for the city. It was determined that sealed bids were not required. City Clerk will send out specs to recommended computer companies. When bids are gathered they will be sent to council. City Hall will present their recommendation at the December 28th council meeting. A discussion of where monies determined that some monies are already in the 2020-2021 budget and other areas will need to be presented.

Treasurer –

1. The CURES reimbursement monies were received and placed back into the correct accounts. The General Account received $ 176,527.80 for public safety and the barrier at city hall and $5,726.32 for the One Way street closure was placed into the Utility Account.

2. Aldermen Fero/Jenkins Motioned to approve AN ORDINANE PROVIDING FOR THE ANNUAL TAX LEVY OF THE CITY OF LEBANON COUNTY OF ST. CLAIR, ILLINOIS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING ON THE FIRST DAY OF MAY 2020 AND ENDING APRIL 30, 2021. Roll Call: Aldermen Fero, Gale, Jenkins, Johnson, Mack, Roma, Witty and Wright– Yeas MOTION passed 8-0

Mayor –

1. The mayor explained the lack of Christmas lights was a combination of the removal of the previous Christmas lights at the request of the Chamber, the lack of 2 employees because of Covid-19 and OSHA taking the lift truck out of commission until it is repaired. Individual businesses and the generous efforts of volunteer are all the city is able to display this year. The mayor did give kudos to the beautiful displays out at the Winter Wonderland at Horner Park.

2. The mayor reported a potential buyer of the old grain bin property questioned whether the city could or would help in the demolition of the bins at an estimate of $60,000. Although the mayor and council agreed that it would definitely get rid of the eye sore and safety problem the councils recommendation to the potential buyer was that no city funds could be used for that purpose and there in not enough TIF funds. Also, there is no benefit because there would not be any structure designed to raise taxes.

Dept. Heads –

Chief – no report                        Building/Code Enforcement – no report 

Streets/Alleys – no report          Water/Sewer – No report

Accountant – Ms. Davis stated that the upgrade of security hardware was a necessity because of the PCI compliance for credit cards which demands stricture security but also city hall recommends the upgrade so we can remote access to perform our duties.

Audience –

1. Chris DeTore placed a website for definitions of vehicles such as SUVs and UTVs 

2. Teddy Sells volunteered to fill a vacant seat on the Plan Commission.

Unfinished Business –

1. No Update on the Phase 2 and Phase 3 projects of McKendree Park and Merrill Dr. 

2. Update on the sidewalk replacement due to the trees being cut down in town.

New Business –

1. The mayor call a five minute break to go into executive session at 8:55 for the purpose of discussing the hiring of a part time administrative assistant. Chairman Gale request to go into Executive Session under 5 ILCS 120 Sec 2(c)(1) the consideration of the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity.

Executive session started at 8:55 p.m.

Returned from executive session at 9:06 p.m.

1. Aldermen Gale/Jenkins Motioned to approve the hiring of Amanda Holtgrewe as the part time Administrative Assistant.

Roll Call: Aldermen Fero, Gale, Jenkins, Johnson, Mack, Roma, Witty and Wright– Yeas 

MOTION passed 8-0

Adjournment –

With no further business to be conducted, Aldermen Wright/Jenkins moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:07 p.m. Roll Call: Aldermen Fero, Gale, Jenkins, Johnson, Mack, Roma, Witty and Wright– Yeas 

MOTION passed 8-0

https://www.lebanonil.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/4901/city_council_minutes_12-14-2020.pdf