Metro East Sun

City of Belleville City Council met Oct. 21

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Gregory called this meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 

City Clerk Gain Meyer called roll. Members present on roll call: Alderperson Whitaker, Alderperson Schneider, Alderperson Duco, Alderperson Randle, Alderperson Ferguson, Alderperson Anthony, Alderperson Ovian, Alderperson Dintelman, Alderperson Schaefer, Alderperson Elmore, Alderperson Weygandt, Alderperson Sullivan. 

Excused: Alderperson Eros, Alderperson Stiehl, Alderperson Rothweiler, Alderperson Osthoff. 

ROLL CALL DEPARTMENT HEADS 

City Clerk Gain Meyer called roll of Department Heads: City Attorney, Garrett Hoerner; City Treasurer, Sarah Biermann; Police Chief, Matt Eiskant; Fire Chief, Stephanie Mills; Finance Director, Jamie Maitret; Director of Public Works, Jason Poole; Library Director, Leander Spearman; Director of IT, Ty Buckner; City Engineer, Scott Saeger; Director of Health, Housing & Building, Scott Tyler; Director of Economic Development, Planning & Zoning, Clifford Cross; Director of Human Resources, William Clay; Director of Maintenance, Mike Schaefer, Asst. Director of Wastewater Management, Jay Godt. 

Excused: Director of Wastewater, Randy Smith. 

None. 

PLEDGE 

PUBLIC HEARING 

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 

Rick Brown: 624 South Pennsylvania. I want to change gears here a little bit. Maybe I can get you guys on my side. You know I think that we can all agree that racism is bad, I think we can get a show of hands from you guys up here, no? It is bad, and we got stuff going on around here that is like, it is like from the Jim Crowe south, the way that Belleville used to have the Officers you know, this was a sundown town, if you were black you couldn't come up here after dark, you know and all the facts that are out there, you didn't have a black employee until 1992. You know, there has been a Consent Decree down here, and of course, the gate at Signal Hill which technically is not in the city limits of Belleville. However, it is the premier, ritzy community in Belleville, I think we can all agree on that. But you know what, there it is guys, it is still there. A lot of people think that maybe it was taken out in 1993 when 60 Minutes was here, but it didn't, not only that but there is another one just like this built right down the way on another street going from 157 in East St. Louis into Signal Hill. Now I know you know the County Board Chairman, this is technically under his prevue, now as of this afternoon, he still hasn't said if he is going to have these removed. I have been up there three times. 

Mayor Gregory: I will tell you that he was at a homeless conference today 

Rick Brown: Oh good, we got some people who can't go down a public road and there is locks on there from the Fire Department? Are you kidding me? A lock over a public street by a subdivision that is private. How about if I put up a street in Belleville, a gate up, I would be arrested in about fifteen seconds. But I tell you what, this is the kind of crap that is going to keep coming around as long as something isn't done about it. You know, you got to do something, this city has been destroyed by racism. We have almost nothing left here, it looks like a, it is starting to look like East St. Louis with all the empty vacant lots that you have torn stuff down on, you know the population is going to keep going down, and we are going to be in this death roll, you know, just talk to Kern in the words of Ronald Regan, tear these walls down! Mayor Gregory: I would like to clarify that was not put up by our Fire Department, that would be Signal Hill Fire Department. I wanted to clarify. 

Rick Brown: Signal Hill Fire Department allows a lock on that gate, maybe if they got the key they can get through if there is a fire. It is unsafe, anyway, and there are three of them. 

Stewart Lannert: 318 South 29th Street. As far as racism, I know that Belleville Police Department are afraid to arrest black people whether that is racism or not, but I was charged with two counts of assault because some black people claimed I tried to run them down on East Washington Street a while back because they blocked the entire street, they put a bunch of little seven and eight year old kids across the street and they claimed I tried to run them down and that was 100% untrue and the Belleville Police not once come to my house to address that problem and there were two articles in the Belleville 

paper that said I got out of my truck and used the R word and threatened to shoot them, 100% false, and as far as this other thing, the Judge that used to run a gambling joint in East St. Louis who put my bond at a million dollars for a false terrorist threat which means it wasn't even true because the Belleville Police didn't even arrest me at all. My girlfriend who had a stroke about three years previously had to travel, I was in jail for thirty-three days county jail, she had to travel all the way across town to take care of my dog and my cat and there is no way that she would not do that she would walk through fire to take care of animals. It put a hardship on her because this asshole judge wouldn't reduce my bond. 

Mayor Gregory: Point of order - there is to be no profanity. Mr. Whitaker. 

Alderperson Whitaker: Mayor I would like to make a motion to amend the agenda and move items 11- C (1) and C (2) to the current next item. 

Alderperson Schneider: I will second it. 

All members present voted aye. 

Motion carries. 

Alderperson Schaefer made a motion second by Alderperson Schneider to approve the hire of Joshua Willis as a Probationary Police Officer (lateral hire) effective Tuesday, October 22, 2024,12:01am 

Members voting aye on roll call: Whitaker, Schneider, Duco, Randle, Ferguson, Anthony, Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer, Elmore, Weygandt, Sullivan. (12) 

Motion carries. 

Alderperson Ferguson made a motion second by Alderperson Schneider to approve the promotions of MSgt. Beau Barfield to Lieutenant, Detective Keaton Wright, and Officer Dusty Kallal to Sergeant effective October 22, 2024, 12:01am 

Members voting aye on roll call: Schneider, Duco, Randle, Ferguson, Anthony, Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer, Elmore, Weygandt, Sullivan, Whitaker. (12) 

Motion carries. 

PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS & APPOINTMENTS 

Mayor Gregory read a proclamation recognizing "Red Ribbon Week." 

Mayor Gregory read a proclamation recognizing "Extra Mile Day." 

ADA Transition Plan Announcement for Public Comment October 22, 2024 through November 22, 2024 

Mayor Gregory recommended the reappointment of Katie Dawson to serve a 2-year term on the Human Relations Commission 

Mayor Gregory recommended the appointment of Steve Mathews to serve the remainder of a 4-year term on the Downtown Belleville Development Commission ending 05/02/2026. 

Mayor Gregory recommended the appointment of Lacie Loose to serve the remainder of a 4-year term on the Downtown Belleville Development Commission ending on 05/17/2025. 

Alderperson Schaefer made a motion second by Alderperson Ferguson to approve the recommendations by Mayor Gregory as read. 

All members present voted aye. 

Motion carries. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES 

Alderperson Schaefer made a motion second by Alderperson Ferguson to approve the City Council Meeting Minutes of October 7, 2024. And Special City Council Minutes of September 24, 2024. 

All members voted aye. 

Motion carries. 

CLAIMS, PAYROLL AND DISBURSEMENTS 

Alderperson Ferguson made a motion second by Alderperson Schaefer to approve claims and disbursements in the amount of $1,132,572.84 and payroll in the amount of $1,020,901.35. 

Members voting aye on roll call: Duco, Randle, Ferguson, Anthony, Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer, Elmore, Weygandt, Sullivan, Whitaker, Schneider. (12) 

Motion carries. 

None. 

REPORTS 

ORAL REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES, SPECIAL COMMITTEES AND ANY OTHER ORAL REPORTS FROM THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OR STAFF PARKS BOARD 

Motion to approve Gonzales Companies, LLC for design services associated with Laderman Park Improvements in the amount of $22,700 (TIF 3 Funds) 

Motion to approve Gonzales Companies, LLC for design services associated with Pleasant Hill Park Improvements in the amount of $15,600 (TIF 3 Funds) 

Motion to Quit Claim Deed Parcel 08-28.0-232-023 back to Thomas & Joy Tribout 

Motion to approve Oates Associates (utilizing the hourly rates as presented in exhibit A of their proposal with a not to exceed value of $19,700.00) for the Courthouse Monument project at Centreville Ave and W Main St (TIF 3 Funds) 

Alderperson Dintelman made a motion second by Alderperson Randle to approve the motions as read. 

Members voting aye on roll call: Randle, Ferguson, Anthony, Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer, Elmore, Weygandt, Sullivan, Whitaker, Schneider, Duco. (12) 

Motion carries. 

FINANCE 

Motion to waive formal bidding procedures and purchase one (1) new 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe from Illinois State bid vendor Miles Chevrolet in the amount of $56,728.00 (Fire Department) 

Motion to waive formal bidding procedures and utilize Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing to approve Master Software Services Agreement with Wastech Corporation for SmartCity Driver software with total cost of $127,092.00 over five years (Sanitation Department) 

Motion to waive formal bidding procedures and utilize the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing to purchase one (1) new 2025 Freightliner M2 31 cu yd side load automated Sanitation truck for $353,500.00, and one (1) new 2025 Freightliner M2 25 cu yd rear load Sanitation truck for $258,000.00 from Elliott Equipment Co 

Motion to accept and file FY24 audit reports. 

Alderperson Whitaker made a motion second by Alderperson Schafer to approve the requests as read. 

Members voting aye on roll call: Ferguson, Anthony, Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer, Elmore, Weygandt, Sullivan, Whitaker, Schneider, Duco, Randle. (12) 

Motion carries. 

ECONOMIC DEVELOMENT & ANNEXATION COMMITTEE 

Alderperson Anthony made a motion second by Alderperson Whitaker to approve a Development Agreement with JLP Homes, LLC for acquisition and development of the City owned lot located at 1701 Scheel St 

Members voting aye on roll call: Anthony, Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer, Elmore, Weygandt, Sullivan, Whitaker, Schneider, Duco, Randle, Ferguson. (12) 

Motion carries. 

ADMINISTRATION 

Alderperson Schaefer made a motion second by Alderperson Anthony to approve a Minor Subdivision (Boundary Adjustment) Plat for the Fieldstone Apartment Complex 

All members present voted aye. 

Motion carries. 

COMMUNICATIONS 

LINCOLN THEATRE CONCERTS - 10/24/2024 and 12/07/2024 

Request from Lincoln Theatre to host The Boxmasters, Thursday, October 24, 2024, and Gatlin Brothers Christmas Show, Saturday, December 7, 2024, 12:00pm to 11:00pm. Additional City services: closure of up to 25 parking spaces in City parking lot at corner of North High Street and East "A" Street, barricades, and metal bike racks 

LINCOLN THEATRE CONCERT – 10/26/2024, 11/09/2024 and 11/16/2024 

Request from Lincoln Theatre to host Reel Country, Saturday, October 26, 2024, Evert Dean, Saturday, November 9, 2024, and Steve Augeri, Saturday, November 16, 2024, 12:00pm to 11:00pm. Additional City services: closure of 10 parking spaces in City parking lot at corner of North High Street and East "A" Street and barricades. 

Alderperson Schaefer made a motion second by Alderperson Duco to approve the requests as read. 

All members present voted aye. 

Motion carries. 

None. 

PETITIONS 

RESOLUTIONS 

Alderperson Elmore made a motion second by Alderperson Ferguson to read Resolution 3525 and 3526 by Title Only. 

All members present voted aye. 

Motion carries. 

RESOLUTION 3525 

A Resolution of Support for Submission of a St. Clair County Parks Grant Commission Cycle 30 Grant Application 

RESOLUTION 3526 

A Resolution of Support for the City of Belleville's Application for Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPAH) FY2025 Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities (GIGO) Grant Funding 

Alderperson Schaefer made a motion second by Alderperson Ferguson to approve the Resolutions as read. 

Members voting aye on roll call: Whitaker, Schneider, Duco, Randle, Ferguson Anthony, Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer, Elmore, Weygandt, Sullivan. (12) 

Motion carries. 

ORDINANCES 

Alderperson Ferguson made a motion second by Alderperson Schaefer to read Ordinance 9323 by title only. 

All members present voted aye. 

Motion carries. 

ORDINANCE 9323-2024 

An Ordinance Enacting and Adopting a Supplement to the Code of Ordinances for the City of Belleville, IL, and Declaring an Emergency 

Alderperson Schaefer made a motion second by Alderperson Elmore to approve Ordinance 9323 as read. 

Members voting aye on roll call: Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer, Elmore, Weygandt, Sullivan, Whitaker, Schneider, Duco, Randle, Ferguson Anthony. (12) 

Motion carries. 

None. 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS 

MISCELLANEOUS & NEW BUSINESS 

Alderperson Dintelman made a motion second by Alderperson Elmore to pay the Motor Fuel Claims in the Amount of $6,477.44. 

Members voting aye on roll call: Dintelman, Schaefer, Elmore, Weygandt, Sullivan, Whitaker, Schneider, Duco, Randle, Ferguson Anthony, Ovian. (12) 

Motion carries. 

None. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION 

ADJOURNMENT 

Alderperson Schneider made a motion second by Alderperson Randle to adjourn at 7:34 p.m. 

All members present voted aye. 

Motion carries.

https://www.belleville.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_10212024-3353