Keithsburg City Council Minutes

August 11, 2008

Mayor Jim Stewart opened the meeting at 7:00 PM

Alderman Present: Linda O'Brien, Neil Nylin, George Askew, and Maxine Henry. Arnold Askew and Davina Logsdon were absent.

Minutes of July Meeting: Linda made a motion to accept; Neil seconded, accepted by all.

Cash Receipts: Neil made a motion to accept; George seconded, accepted by all.

Cash Disbursements: Maxine made a motion to accept; George seconded, accepted by all.

Liquor License Ordinance: Amend the Class A license to include an outdoor area and create two additional classes of licenses, which are as follows: CLASS A-2 Special Event Retailer's License (not for profit) $10.00 for each day or portion of a day CLASS A-3 Special Use Permit License $50.00 for one day or less or $100.00 for two days or more The ordinance will allow a permanent area such as a beer garden, and has an option to purchase a special use permit for a temporary license as long as it is on private property. Attorney Robert Rillie explained it is not legal to take opened alcohol outside the property. Maxine made a motion to accept; Linda seconded, accepted by all.

Bikini's Sand Bar: Frannie Schmidt was present and asked the council if she could have a tent in their beer garden at Bikini's Sand Bar on September 12, 2008. Frannie also mentioned Dwyer & Michaels will hopefully be at their bar in the future. The liquor commissioner and the city council agreed a snow fence needs to go up around the parking lot to create a designated area for the events; however, no permit would be necessary because alcohol would be purchased and consumed on private property.

New Water Tower: The city applied for a public facilities grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a new 100,000-gallon water tower. The project was not funded grant due to lack of funds. They received $75 million in applications and it exceeded the $20 million they had available for distribution.

Campground: Repairs are complete with the exception of some gravel and planting grass seed, however the campground opened August 1, 2008. Labor Day Weekend: 4th Annual Catfish Contest and Fireworks on Saturday, August 30, 2008.

Fire Department: Maxine asked Fire Chief Charlie Brown if she could depend on a fire truck Labor Day Weekend for the fireworks. Charlie explained he would not be available however, he would ask someone to be there.

Police Department: Maxine suggests advertising that we are taking applications for a part-time police officer. Maxine made a motion to accept; Linda seconded, accepted by all.

Handicap Door Estimate: Jim has had someone look at this project twice and now George is meeting with a person from 1st Glass out of Galesburg tomorrow.

Jackson Disposal Contract expires December 30, 2008: Jimmie & Carole Jackson presented the council with a 5-year bid including the $1.00 monthly for the toter's 1st yr.- $14.79; 2nd yr.-$15.52; 3rd yr.-$16.29; 4th yr.-$17.10; 5yr.-$17.95. Linda made a motion to only accept the bid for (2) years due to gas prices being out of control, Maxine seconded, accepted by all.

Partnership Agreement with Mercer County: A Resolution allowing the City of Keithsburg to enter into a Partnership Agreement with Mercer County pertaining to a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program planning process. Maxine made a motion to accept; Neil seconded, accepted by all.

FEMA Temporary Housing (trailers) Resolutions: Accept the resolution allowing the mayor to sign an 18 month lease with FEMA allowing trailers in Keith's Landing Addition Lots 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43 (95' X 112') and at 702, 704, 706 Washington Street as temporary housing for flood victims. Linda made a motion to accept; Maxine seconded. Linda-yes; Maxine-yes; Neil-yes; George-yes and Jim-yes. Motion carried.

FEMA Buyout: Linda made a motion to authorize Terri Gibson to proceed with the application for an acquisition (buyout) program, Neil seconded, accepted by all. Linda made a motion to include properties with 40% or more structure damage and reevaluate some of the properties that are close, George seconded, accepted by all. The application also requires estimated demolition costs therefore; Terri and Maxine met with Roy Pritchett and John Gayewski who is a contractor from Burlington to get an estimated dollar amount for the demolition costs. Roy explained in 1993 the contractor had to tear out the top 2 feet of the foundations and break up the floor to allow the water to drain then filled the basement with sand and topped with 1 foot of top soil. Roy questioned whether we would need to go by Davis Beacon or Prevailing Wage Rates. Terri will call tomorrow.

Relocation and/or Elevation: Anyone interested in relocating your home and/or elevating must contact Terri Gibson at City Hall immediately. (309) 374-2311

George made motion to adjourn, Maxine seconded. Accepted by all.

Terri Gibson City Clerk

Keithsburg City Council Minutes

 July 14, 2008

Mayor Jim Stewart Opened the meeting at 7:00 PM

Alderpersons Present: Davina Logsdon, Linda O'Brien, Maxine Henry, Neil Nylin, George Askew and Arnold Askew.

Minutes of June Meeting: Linda made a motion to accept; Neil seconded, accepted by all.

Cash Receipts: Arnold made a motion to accept; Davina seconded, accepted by all.

Cash Disbursements: Maxine made a motion to accept; Linda seconded, accepted by all.

Partnership Job Training Placement: Cathy Bizarri was present and explained a flood relief program for people who lost their jobs due to the flood, dislocated due to the flood; this includes farmers, and self-employed individuals. The program would help individuals receive wages for working to clean-up the flood damages. Some of the projects they are looking at are cleaning culverts, streets, campground, and the gazebo park. The projects must be on public property. Please contact the flood project at 309/736-9621 Ext. 101 or 800/379-9439 Ext. 101 and ask for an appointment. Maxine made a motion to accept; Neil seconded, accepted by all.

Mosquito Spraying: Keith Garrett was present and suggested adding $1.00-$2.00 to the utility billing to help with the costs of spraying for mosquitoes. Keith mentioned the health department has free pills to put in stagnant water and Jim informed him George has already been putting the pills in the water. Henderson County has a fogger that we can borrow to fog the town.

FEMA/IEMA Disaster Recovery Center: The unit will be at City Hall on July14-16 and July 23-26, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. All flood victims can visit the recovery center to check the status of their application, get answers to questions about disaster assistance, meet with SBA representatives for low-interest disaster loan assistance, and learn cost-effective ways to reduce future disaster damages.

Water/Sewer: Steve Nylin reported the water system is operating normal again and he had the water boil order lifted at 1:00p.m.on July 3, 2008. The sewer system and lift stations are up and running. As discussed a couple of months ago the sewer plant needs some repair work due to the excess material getting into the digester and clogging up the sludge pumping capabilities. Steve will submit the costs to FEMA.

Streets and Sidewalks: Maxine explained the shrubs and cars at the intersection of 10th & Washington are a hazard because they create a blind spot. Jim will handle this situation.

Flood Victims and the Subdivision Lots: Judy Brown mentioned that after the flood of 1993, lots in the subdivision were free to flood victims and she wondered if that will be the case now. Jim explained we have suspended selling lots in the subdivision to anyone except flood victims. Maxine made a motion to give a lot to flood victims with the following reverter clause construction must be started within (1) one year and finished in (2) two years or it reverts back to the City of Keithsburg; Neil seconded. Davina-yes; Linda-yes; Maxine-yes; George-yes; Arnold-yes; Neil-yes; and Jim-yes. Motion carried.

Police Department: Part-Time Police Officer. Tabled till next month. Jim suggested parking the squad car back in the shed rather than it sitting outside in the weather. Maxine and Davina suggested leaving parked at the police officer's home because he could respond to calls within 10 minutes rather than 15. Arnold mentioned this subject has its good and bad points. Neil explained the heat is hard on the equipment. The council agreed he could park it at home on the weekends when he would be working back to back. Arnold explained he installed a new light bar on the squad car and he feels we need to install new modules for the power source. The council agreed this was a maintenance issue and Arnold agreed to take care of it.

Terri Gibson

 City Clerk