Metro East Sun

City of Highland City Council met Jan. 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

City Clerk Bellm called the Regular Session to order at 7:00pm. Council members Sloan, Frey, Bellm, and Hipskind were present. Mayor Hemann was absent. Others in attendance were City Manager Conrad, City Attorney Michael McGinley, Directors Cook, Gillespie and Rosen, Police Chief Presson, Fire Chief Federer, Treasurer Nicolaides, Deputy City Clerks Hediger and VonHatten, City Clerk Bellm, and 6 citizens.

ELECTION OF MAYOR PRO TEM

City Clerk Barbara Bellm asked for a motion to elect one councilperson to serve as mayor pro tem for the meeting, in Mayor Hemann’s absence tonight. Councilman Frey made a motion to elect Councilwoman Bellm as mayor pro tem. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

MINUTES

Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve the minutes of the January 4, 2022 Regular Session as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

PUBLIC FORUM

Citizens’ Requests and Comments:

Kay Ahaus, 200 Rinderer Road, Trenton, IL 62293, a customer of Highland Electric stated, there are laws increasing access to and encouraging solar energy for electric customers in municipal and rural cooperatives. A new Illinois law, Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, allows electric customers the right to self-generate. It encourages cities, individuals, schools, businesses, and churches to use solar and renewable energy. Why? Solar and renewable energy is cheaper and cleaner sources for electricity than coal. Coal is the dirtiest and most expensive way to generate electricity. Highland’s electricity comes through the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA). IMEA buys so much of its electricity from Prairie State Coal. Prairie State is the dirties emitter in Illinois. It has operated for ten years without a IEPA air permit. It recently applied for a water permit to increase its water pollution into the Kaskasia River. This river supplies some of the water I drink, so I have a skin in the game. There are many examples of utilities turning away from coal for electricity, because it is so expensive. Carbon sequestration for coal pollution is dangerous and has never proved feasible, when trying to use it to clean up coal.

Mrs. Ahaus stated that previous public requests of Prairie State Coal and IMEA to provide financial statements of expenditures and incomes and their planning documents have been denied, saying is proprietary information. You, as officers of our city, members of IMEA and a decision maker, you should be able to obtain that information. I urge to turn away to turn away from IMEA. Do not signor renew contracts with IMEA nor Prairie State Coal. Look to renewal energy for all our future sources of electricity. The new legislation allows us to self-generate our electricity. Maybe we don’t need IMEA and Prairie State. In the information provided there is a summary. I have the full analysis if you would like to see it. What could this mean for Highland? Maybe we don’t need IMEA or Prairie State Coal. Certainly the study shows we’d be better off without Prairie State Coal. We can attract new new busines8 ses more easily with offers of cheaper cleaner electric. If want to be competitive, we need to look at solar and renewable energy. I hope you will attend the February 8 Zoom forum. The link came in late this evening, so I added to the front page of the information provided. Councilwoman Bellm noted it appears the link provided is for register, then one will receive a link and code to the actual meeting, by using the address provided. Mrs. Ahaus stated that is how I believe it works.

Requests & Comments of Council:

Councilman Hipskind stated he spoke with City Manager Conrad and City Attorney McGinley before the meeting and has asked for an update on the outdoor pool planning. What peaked my interest is, that I am a member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers. Another lawyer has a case against a park district, and in the case they provided a description of the situation which reminded me our situation here. However, we have a report on the condition of our pool already in hand. I feel we need to address the issues and look at. We owe it to the stakeholders to let them know where things are at. City Manager Conrad stated they recently had a meeting with the consultants. An update will be provided in the coming meetings.

Staff Reports:

City Manager Conrad reported, regarding the recent legislation that Mrs. Ahaus spoke about, Director Cook, Director Korte and myself have been receiving training on the what all the new legislation on electricity and power means, with reference to renewal energy.

There will be a discussion on the proposed video gaming terminals at the second meeting in February. I spoke with Ken Weis, owner of Korner Keg and Madison County Liquor Association Board Member, so he is aware of our intentions. We will not act on anything at that meeting, it will be for discussion only.

NEW BUSINESS

Bill #22-07/ORDINANCE Declaring Personal Property of the City Light & Power Department Surplus and Authorizing its Sale and/or Disposal, Specifically Transformers and Other Miscellaneous Field Devices – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #22-07/Ordinance #3157 declaring personal property of the City Light & Power Department surplus and authorizing its sale and/or disposal, specifically transformers and other miscellaneous field devices as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Councilwoman Bellm voted aye. Motion carried.

Bill #22-08/RESOLUTION Authorizing the Sole Source Purchase from Motorola for Police Body Cameras, In-Car Camera Systems, Storage, and other Equipment, and Waiving Customary Bidding Procedures – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #22-08/Resolution #22-01-2903 authorizing the sole source purchase from Motorola for police body cameras, in-car camera systems, storage, and other equipment, and waiving customary bidding procedures as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Councilwoman Bellm voted aye. Motion carried.

Bill #22-09/RESOLUTION Authorizing the City to Enter a Contract with Target Solutions Learning, LLC for Emergency Services Training and Document Management – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #22-09/Resolution #22-01-2904 authorizing the city to enter a contract with Target Solutions Learning, LLC for emergency services training and document management as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Councilwoman Bellm voted aye. Motion carried.

Bill #22-10/RESOLUTION Authorizing Contract with Marine Community Fire Protection District for Ambulance Services – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #22-10/Resolution #22- 01-2905 authorizing contract with Marine Community Fire Protection District for ambulance services as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Councilwoman Bellm voted aye. Motion carried.

Bill #22-11/ORDINANCE Authorizing the City to Surplus Personal Property, Including Personal Property from the Water Reclamation Facility – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #22-11/ Ordinance #3158 authorizing the City to surplus personal property, including personal property from the Water Reclamation Facility as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Councilwoman Bellm voted aye. Motion carried.

Bill #22-12/ORDINANCE Creating Chapter 46 – Parks and Recreation, Article VII. – Korte Recreation Center, and Setting Rates for use of the Korte Recreation Center – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #22-12/Ordinance #3159 creating Chapter 46 – Parks and Recreation, Article VII. – Korte Recreation Center and setting rates for use of the Korte Recreation Center as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Councilwoman Bellm asked why are we establishing this now. Is it not in there already? Director Rosen reported City Attorney McGinley recently pointed out that it is not in the Code of Ordinances and suggested putting it in there. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Councilwoman Bellm voted aye. Motion carried.

Bill #22-13/RESOLUTION Authorizing the City to Apply for the Madison County, Illinois Resource Management Program Grant – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #22-13/Resolution #21-01- 2906 authorizing the City to apply for the Madison County, Illinois Resource Management Program Grant as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Councilwoman Bellm voted aye. Motion carried.

REPORT

Accepting Expenditures Report #1211 for January 1, 2022 through January 14, 2022 – Councilman Frey made a motion to accepting Expenditures Report #1211 for January 1, 2022 through January 14, 2022 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Councilwoman Bellm voted aye. Motion carried.

Councilman Frey made a motion to adjourn. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. All aye, none nay. Motion carried and meeting adjourned at 7:21pm.

https://www.highlandil.gov/City%20Council/Minutes/2022/01-18-2022.pdf