City of Highland City Council met Jan. 4.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Mayor Hemann called the Regular Session to order at 7:00pm. Council members Sloan, Frey, Bellm, and Hipskind were present. Others in attendance were City Manager Conrad, City Attorney Michael McGinley, Directors Gillespie, Imming, and Rosen, Asst. Police Chief Becherer, Interim Fire Chief Federer, Treasurer Nicolaides, Deputy City Clerks Hediger and VonHatten, City Clerk Bellm, 21 members of Highland Fire Department and 8 citizens.
MINUTES
Councilman Frey made a motion to approve the minutes of the December 20, 2021 Regular Session as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.
SWEARING IN
Mayor Hemann swore in Kerry Federer as Interim Chief of Highland Fire Department.
PUBLIC FORUM
Citizens’ Requests and Comments:
No requests or comments presented.
Requests & Comments of Council:
No comments or requests from council.
Staff Reports:
City Manager Conrad reported on the reference to the gaming statue law change discussed briefly at the last meeting. There are 82 terminals registered in City of Highland. If the council enacted tehe $250 maximum fee allowed, the city would receive an estimated $20,750 annually. That fee is split fifty fifty between the terminal operator and the establishment owner. City Manager Conrad noted he was incorrect in stating that there is a difference in the amounts of liquor licenses for those with and those without gaming. We do not have a difference in the liquor license amount. We only have only different classifications. Councilwoman Sloan stated if this would go towards funding the cost of body cameras, then she feels it is a good way to do that. Councilwoman Bellm clarified this is an annual fee of $250 per terminal, split between the terminal owner and bar owner. City Manager Conrad replied that is correct. Councilwoman Bellm expresses, since there is no difference in the liquor license fees between those with gaming and those without, she agrees. Councilman Frey stated I am just trying to think what the establishments are going to say. They already charged a liquor license fee. City Manager Conrad reported, in Illinois, the taxation of gaming revenue is 15-20% lower than that of other states. This was part of the discussion in the legislative process of this change. The compromised was this fixed fee to go to local governments. City Attorney Mike McGinley pointed out this will close the tax loophole that exist. Some home-rule communities have in place a “push tax” of up to one cent for each turn on the terminal. If you did not have that “push-tax” in place before this, you cannot then enact it. Mayor Hemann pointed out the city gets 5% presently; that will probably never go up. Attorney McGinley responded you can never say never; however, I do not see the 5% going up, so this ability to allow a flat fee is being put into place. At least that is what was taken from the legislative discussions. City Manager Conrad pointed out that body cameras will be required. The start-up costs will be significant; however, there will be annual fees for software per user and replacement costs of the equipment over time. While grants may be available to assist with the start-up costs, there will not be any grants to maintain these other associated costs. Councilwoman Sloan asked can we say and direct those funds with this ordinance to the cost of the body cameras. Attorney McGinley replied yes, if that is how the ordinance is written. Mayor Hemann asked do we know if any business establishments are aware we are having this discussion. City Manager Conrad stated he did not know for sure. He did talk to one of the owners that has the ear of many of them and I did tell him that we were looking at this. Mayor Hemann noted he will not be at the next meeting, so he would like to forego discussion of this and the vote on such an ordinance until February. City Manager Conrad stated there is no hurry on this. I do not envision this going into effect until July 1. Councilwoman Sloan asked that in any discussion with these establishment owners, that City Manager Conrad make it known that we would put this fee towards the body cameras. Mayor Hemann expressed the cost of the fee on business establishments where gaming is a marginal part of business, I think, could be a concern. I am not concerned with those businesses where gaming is the primary source of revenue. He admitted he had not reviewed the state’s gaming revenue reports recently. Councilwoman Sloan stated there are one or two that bank on those are their primary revenue. One is supposed to be a restaurant; the other, is primarily a gaming establishment. She added, however, if this is a concern, as far as revenue, they should up their game and open back up more as a restaurant.
NEW BUSINESS
Bill #22-01/RESOLUTION Supporting Fair Housing – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #22-01/Resolution #22-01-2897 supporting the Fair Housing Act as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.
Bill #22-02/RESOLUTION Approving Vivicast System Participation Agreement and Letter of Acknowledgement Regarding Bloomberg Television and Highland Communications Services – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #22-02/Resolution #22-01-2898 approving Vivicast System Participation Agreement and Letter of Acknowledgement regarding Bloomberg Television and Highland Communications Services as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.
Bill #22-03/RESOLUTION Authorizing the City to Enter a Contract with Pontem Software for Cemetery Records Management – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #22-03/Resolution #22- 01-2899 authorizing the city to enter a contract with Pontem Software for cemetery records management as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.
Bill #22-04/ RESOLUTION Authorizing the City to enter a Contract with Doc U Sign for Electronic Signature Services – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #22-04/ Resolution #22-01-2900 authorizing the city to enter a contract with Doc U Sign for electronic signature services as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Mayor Hemann inquired we had been using Doc U Sign before. Director Angela Imming replied yes; however, we have never been an owner user of Doc U Sign. We have been on the receiving end of documents and files sent by licensed users. Mayor Hemann asked can you explain the advantage of it. Director Imming stated, specifically, with COVID, it is difficult for people to signoff, submit timesheets, and purchase request. It also creates a lot of paperwork. Doc U Sign is a well know software service, so it is acceptable. With services, it will save time in getting hardcopy documents to others for signatures. If accepted, we will write new processes to make it usable, and we will go through a major search for document storage software. Councilwoman Bellm inquired only 500 envelopes. Director Imming explained you can put 200 documents into an envelope. For example, every two weeks, we have a council meeting. That paperwork and associated documents for this one meeting can be put into one envelope. Once it is sealed, that envelope is used. Councilwoman Bellm asked is the 500 envelopes annual or does the remaining roll over into the next year. Director Imming replied it is an annual purchase. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.
Bill #22-05/ RESOLUTION Approving Contract for Shared Space at the Korte Recreation Center with Personnel Trainer Stephanie Boyce and Bodz by Boyce, LLC – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #22-05/Resolution #22-01-2901 approving contract for shared space at the Korte Recreation Center with Personnel Trainer Stephanie Boyce and Bodz by Boyce, LLC as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Councilwoman Bellm asked Director Rosen to explain. Parks & Recreations Director Mark Rosen stated this is similar to the contract we did with Ryan Poss for the infant swimming lessons, except this is on dry land. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.
Approve Notice of Municipal Letting for Purchase of Two Dump Trucks for Public Works Department – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Notice of Municipal Letting for purchase of two dump trucks for Public Works Department as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.
Bill #22-06/RESOLUTION Authorizing Contract with St. Jacob Fire Protection District for Ambulance Services – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #22-06/Resolution #21-01-2902 authorizing contract with St. Jacob Fire Protection District for Ambulance Services as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.
REPORT
Accepting Expenditures Report #1210 for December 18, 2021 through December 31, 2021 – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to accept Expenditures Report #1210 for December 18, 2021 through December 31, 2021 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.
Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to temporarily adjourn this regular session to enter into executive session under the Illinois Open Meetings Act under the following exemption: 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21) to discuss the approval of executive session minutes. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried. Open Meeting temporarily adjourned at 7:28pm.
Mayor Hemann reconvened the Regular Session at 7:31pm. Council members Sloan, Bellm, Frey and Hipskind were present. Others in attendance were City Manager Conrad, City Attorney McGinley, Deputy City Clerks Hediger and VonHatten, and City Clerk Bellm.
Mayor Hemann stated no action would be taken on anything discussed in Executive Session tonight.
Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Councilman Frey. All aye, none nay. Motion carried and meeting adjourned at 7:31pm.
https://www.highlandil.gov/City%20Council/Minutes/2022/01-04-2022.pdf
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