City of Fairview Heights Operations Committee met July 12.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
Committee Members in attendance - Aldermen Anthony LeFlore, Brenda Wagner, Harry Zimmerman, Bill Poletti, Mayor Mark Kupsky, Ex-officio
Committee Members absent - Alderman Josh Frawley
Other Aldermen and Elected Officials in attendance - City Clerk Karen Kaufhold - video/teleconference, Aldermen Frank Menn, Ryan Vickers (arrived at 7:06 p.m.) Barb Brumfield, Pat Peck
Staff in attendance - City Attorney Andrew Hoerner, Finance Director Gina Rader, IT Manager Chris Elliott - video/teleconference, Police Chief Steve Johnson, Public Works Director John Harty
Recorder - Jill Huffman
Public Participation
None
Approval of Minutes, June 14, 2023
Motion and second to approve minutes were made by Aldermen LeFlore/Wagner. Roll call vote: Aldermen Frawley - absent, LeFlore - yes, Wagner - yes, Zimmerman - yes, Poletti - yes. Motion carried.
Law Enforcement Committee
Alderman Anthony LeFlore, Chairman
STATEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT
The Chief of Police presented his written report to the elected officials for their review.
Alderman Peck questioned the Chief for a Day and if this is a result from the Holy Trinity auction to which the Chief confirmed. The Mayor discussed that there is also a Mayor for a Day.
Alderman Peck stated that two months ago soliciting permits were discussed and was to be brought back for discussion. The Chief relayed that a procedure is now in place which stream lined permitting between the Clerk's office and the Police Department. Solicitors now go to one place and money is now deposited. The Chief stated he made a decision not to advertise soliciting being allowed in the City. The Chief stated that solicitors are required to wear a picture identification, made by the police department, on a lanyard around their neck. Identification is inserted into a bright red holder. Alderman Wagner requested that a copy of this be emailed to City Council. The Chief stated that when a solicitor requests a permit, a fingerprint is made which is paid by the solicitor. A result is received in two to four weeks. The Chief stated the Police Department has a data base of Fairview Heights residents who do not want solicitors at their homes. The solicitor must review the list prior to solicitation. The Chief confirmed there is a form on the Police Department's website that residents can submit to request for no solicitation. The Chief stated he will email all this information and links to City Council.
DISPOSAL OF OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS
The Chief relayed that St. Clair County received a grant to replace the outdoor warning sirens of which the City's sirens are included. Four of the City's sirens are no longer needed and Monroe County is interested in obtaining them for their use. The Chief is requesting permission from Committee to sell the City's four sirens to Monroe County for the cost of one dollar.
Motion and second to forward to City Council with the recommendation of approval to sell the City's four Whelen Sirens to Monroe County for one dollar by Aldermen Wagner/Poletti. Roll call vote showed Aldermen Frawley - absent, LeFlore - yes, Wagner - yes, Zimmerman - yes, Poletti - yes. Motion carried.
The Chief requested to discuss the new Emergency Vehicle Preemption System (EVPS) and that the administrative, detective, and K-9 vehicles were not included for the installation of the GPS, only the marked police vehicles. The Chief relayed that when an emergency occurs, every detective and every administrator respond to the call. Because these vehicles are unmarked, they do not have as many lights as the marked vehicles which makes its dangerous traveling through intersections.
The Chief is requesting to add 12 vehicles for the installation of the GPS at $4,750 per vehicle, including installation, or a total of $57,000. He stated that in working with the Director of Finance and the Mayor, money is available in the Capital Improvements Plan and requests that funds are transferred to make this purchase. The Mayor supports this action and this item will be on the agenda for Tuesday's City Council meeting. This will require a budget adjustment.
Motion and second to forward to City Council with the recommendation of approval to make budget adjustments to allocate funds for all police vehicles to be equipped with the GPS for a total of approximately $57,000 by Aldermen Wagner/Poletti. Discussion: Alderman Peck relayed that by protocol, this item was not presented in the Agenda. The Mayor stated this action would be that the Committee supports the idea and to have an alderman sponsor a budget adjustment on Tuesday's City Council Agenda. Alderman Wagner stated she will sponsor the budget adjustment at City Council. The Mayor and Chief stated that this purchase is time sensitive to order the GPS equipment.
Motion and second was withdrawn by Aldermen Wagner/Poletti.
The Mayor stated that this will be on the City Council Agenda as a motion sponsored by Alderman Wagner.
Public Works Committee
Alderman Bill Poletti, Chairman
MARKET PLACE STREETSCAPE - LANDSCAPE & LIGHTING PROJECT
The Director of Public Works relayed that on June 20, 2:00 p.m., the City received a bid from one contractor for the Landscape & Lighting project, which was $1.972 million, $700,000 over the landscape architect's estimate. Public Works' staff budgeted $1.5 million. The contractor, through the advice of the Landscape Architect, was contacted to negotiate to reduce the cost to resemble the landscape architect's estimate. It is hoped to scope the project back to the confines of the Roundabout, Phase II, project. Currently, there is no landscape, irrigation, or lighting in the roundabout area. When the project was bid, it was stipulated that the roundabout could not be closed in order to accomplish this work. A couple of ideas have been discussed to facilitate traffic and keep it safe to work in this area. The Director is asking that this item be tabled and brought forward at next week's Community Committee meeting, as this is a TIF expenditure.
Motion and second to move this agenda item, Market Place Streetscape Landscape & Lighting Project, to the Community Committee Meeting Agenda scheduled for July 19 by Aldermen Wagner/LeFlore. Discussion: Alderman Peck stated that the weeds in the roundabout are tall. The Director replied that he will have the street crew maintain the area. Roll call vote showed Aldermen Frawley - absent, LeFlore - yes, Wagner - yes, Zimmerman - yes, Poletti - yes. Motion carried.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT/PROJECT UPDATES
The Director of Public Works presented his written report to the elected officials for their review.
• Market Place Phase 3 - The Director stated that Market Place, Phase 3, the hardscape funded by the Surface Transportation program, was let by the State on June 16. Three bids were received with the low bid being substantially higher, $90,000, than that of the engineer's estimate. The State is not in a position to award, and has requested a decision by the City with three reasons on why this contract needs to be awarded. It is the Director's recommendation not to award the contract and let the project again in January, 2024, when it is hoped that bids will come down.
The Mayor stated that he has talked with several contractors and that there are two things happening the lack of workers and the State is letting large projects for the Rebuild Illinois State work. The Mayor supported the Director's decision to rebid next year when, hopefully, the work force starts to stabilize.
The Director stated that if negotiations are successful on the Landscape & Lighting project, the Roundabout, Phase II, project, the Phase III portion of the Landscape & Lighting would be bid at the same time of the Phase III hardscape project.
• Mark and Cari Drive - The contractor is making good progress; essentially completed curb and gutter, tie ins and driveway pavement on the east side of the project. When weather allows, curb and gutter will be poured on the west side, and after that is completed, the contractor will grade and apply asphalt. The Director anticipates the project to be complete in six to eight weeks.
Alderman Peck questioned the status of the vacation of the alley at Creative Landscape. It was determined the Ordinance was passed by City Council last month and should be recorded at the County.
Alderman Vickers questioned the timeline of the overlay of South Point to the north of Laurel, to which the Director relayed that milling and overlaying usually takes two days.
Adjournment 7:26 p.m.
https://www.cofh.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_07122023-1656
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