City of Highland City Council met Aug. 15.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Mayor Hemann called the Regular Session to order at 7:00pm. Council members Sloan, Frey, and Hipskind were present. Councilwoman Bellm absent. Others in attendance were City Manager Conrad, City Attorney Michael McGinley, Directors Cook, Gillespie, Imming and Vazquez, Police Chief Presson, EMS Chief Wilson, Fire Chief Federer, Treasurer Nicolaides, Deputy City Clerks Hediger and Von Hatten, City Clerk Bellm, 4 citizens and 1 member of the news media.
MINUTES
Councilman Frey made a motion to approve the minutes of the August 1, 2022 Regular Session as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.
PUBLIC FORUM
Citizens’ Requests and Comments:
No requests or comment presented.
Requests of Council:
Councilman Frey referenced the concerns expressed by the community over VTV and the reliability of it. Is the reliability going to get any better? Director Angela Imming explained almost all services are contracted out to MobiTV. All services go into Sacramento and then come into us, to save $400,000-$700,000, by sharing services through Tevo. For issues with our server, a redundant server would cost $65,000 per year just for the software. We are under their priority schedule and maintenance schedule. Councilwoman Sloan asked how long our service contract is. Director Imming reported our circuit is a five-year contract with Telli. Mayor Hemann asked is the issue with the number of users. Director Imming replied no, it technology. Charter also has similar issues. They were out last week for about two days. A dirty strand of fiber caused the last issue. The fact is we have to shift from manning technology to managing vendors.
Mayor Hemann stated he knew of one person that switched to Charter, that is now switching back, because of the same issues and other reasons. Director Imming reported we have gotten about eight customers back. She explained it is a new model and something all are going to have to embrace. Longtime soap opera, “Days of Our Lives”, announced, last week, they are moving to Paramount Streaming service only. With HCS, people get two benefits: If you have to learn this technology, we are there to help you with providing the Fire Sticks. If we did not have our own service, you would be paying more with Charter, because there would be no competition. Director Imming explained rather than going to a head end, we have to talk to vendors about addressing the issues and fixing them.
Staff Report:
City Manager Conrad reported the races were cancelled during the fair week, with the monsoon rains. They have asked to reschedule to this Thursday. They understand that school is back in session and will do a shorter night.
City Manager Conrad reported we will be shifting our after-hours call service to a cooperative resource center. It is a company used by Clinton County Co-op and Southwestern Electric Co-op, as well as other utilities. This Wednesday at 9am, we are switching 9-1-1 over to Madison County.
Effective August 1, the transition from Sanders Waste to Republic Services occurred. Due to different employment policies, shifts, etc., some of Sanders Waste employees quit. It is a different culture. Very few communities does Republic pick up in alleys, nor do they pick up yard waste They also work shorter days, so not all the pickups got done. It just kept rolling to the next day. Staff has taken 400-500 calls from very angry people. I spoke to Republic’s management again this morning. They are going to do daily driver meetings. They have asked that citizens call them directly, versus calling City Hall. That phone number is 618-465-8461. We have pushed that information out via social media and our website. A lot of the issues are unforeseen management issues.
Councilman Hipskind reported, earlier this week, Mayor Hemann, City Manager Conrad, Chief Presson, SRO Feeney and Officer Flake met with me, to make sure that all is prepared for any active shooter situations. He expressed the thought and planning that this team has put into place, is tremendous and very well prepared. Chief Presson stated Chris Flake has done a lot of work on those plans. Mayor Hemann concurred, adding it is so detailed, and there is a different plan for each building and they are all well established.
NEW BUSINESS
Approve Mayor’s Reappointment of Shirley Lodes to the Combined Planning and Zoning Board – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve the mayor’s re-appointment of Shirley Lodes to the Combined Planning and Zoning Board for an additional five-year term, to expire August 31, 2027 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.
Award Bids #23-00000-00-GM, for 2023 MFT Maintenance Materials - Councilman Frey made a motion to award Bids #23-00000-00-GM for MFT Maintenance Materials as follows: CA-6 Aggregate, to Mike A. Maedge Trucking, Inc., in the amount of $11,750.00; CA-7 Aggregate, to Mike A. Maedge Trucking, Inc., in the amount of $6,380.00; Grit (CM-13 Slag), Beelman Logistics, LLC, $396.25; Seal Coat Furnished & Delivered to Beelman Logistics, LLC, $34,930.00; MC-800 Prime, Furnished & Applied, Don Anderson Co., Inc., $49,223.60; HFRS-2 – Emulsion, Furnished & Applied, Illini Road Oil, LLC, $79,518.06; and, Seal Coat Aggregate Hauled and Spread awarded to DeLaurent Construction Co., Inc., $34,650.00, as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.
Award Bid #PW-07-22, for the Clean Sludge Lagoon #2 Project – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to award Bid #PW-07-22 for the Clean Sludge Lagoon #2 Project to Metro Ag Waste Injection Systems, Inc., in Breese, IL, for the amount of $78,000.00 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.
Bill #22-131/ORDINANCE Authorizing Real Property of the City of Highland to be Sold Pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/11-76-2, Specifically, 1808 Olive Street (to correct Bid Opening Date) – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #22-131/Ordinance #3214 authorizing real property of the City of Highland to be sold pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/11-76-2, specifically, 1808 Olive Street, to correct bid opening date as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Mayor Hemann voted aye. Motion carried.
Bill #22-132/RESOLUTION Making Separate Statement of Findings of Fact in Connection with an Ordinance Granting a Special Use Permit to Allow Operation of a Bar/Tavern Within the Industrial Zoning District, Specifically at 12258 Highland Road – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve Bill #22- 132/Resolution #22-08-2968 making separate Statement of Findings of Fact in connection with an ordinance granting a Special Use Permit to allow operation of a bar/tavern within the Industrial Zoning District, specifically at 12258 Highland Road as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.
Bill #22-133/ORDINANCE Granting a Special Use Permit to Joshua Hetley, on Behalf of Old Time Pub, LLC, to Allow the Operation of a Bar/Tavern Within the Industrial Zoning District, Specifically at 12258 Highland Road – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #22-133/Ordinance #3215 granting a Special Use Permit to Joshua Hetley, on behalf of Old Time Pub, LLC, to allow the operation of a bar/tavern within the Industrial Zoning District, specifically at 12258 Highland Road as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.
Bill #22-134/RESOLUTION Issuing an “A2” Liquor License to Joshua Hetley, on Behalf of Old Time Pub, LLC, Pursuant to Chapter 6, of the Code of Ordinances, City of Highland, Entitled Alcoholic Liquor – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve Bill #22-134/Resolution #22-08-2969 issuing an “A2” Liquor License to Joshua Hetley, on behalf of Old Time Pub, LLC, pursuant to Chapter 6, of the Code of Ordinances, City of Highland, entitled Alcoholic Liquor as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.
REPORT
Accepting Expenditures Report #1225 for July 30, 2022 through August 12, 2022 – Councilman Frey made a motion to accept Expenditures Report #1225 for July 30, 2022 through August 12, 2022 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.
Councilman Frey made a motion to adjourn. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:22pm.
https://www.highlandil.gov/City%20Council/Minutes/2022/08-15-2022.pdf
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