Keithsburg City Council Minutes

January 11, 2010

Meeting Opened 6:30 PM

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

Minutes of the December Meeting: Davina made a motion to accept; George seconded, and accepted by all.

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

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

Insurance: Neil asked what the status was on estimates for George Lyle's insurance. Arnold explained he did not have any information at this time and he would try to have some figures for the February meeting.

Streets and Sidewalks: Arnold explained there is a possible buyer for the house at 605 Main Street in which the new owners are going to put a mailbox and the postmaster informed them their mail box would need to be put on the north side of Main Street in which the truck parking area is going to be an issue. Arnold explained everyone should have the right to have a mailbox and therefore the council should look at the situation and report next month. Arnold has approval to spend up to $4,500 on a salt spreader for the new pickup, however all of them he has looked at is costing over $5,000, but he has located a used one in Aledo. Neil complimented George Lyle on how good the roads looked and George Lyle thanked Arnold for all his help with plowing the snow. Arnold purchased a kerosene heater for up at the city shed.

Marina Permit Extension: Steve received an email explaining Keithsburg is on the list for an extension of time and should be receiving a letter at anytime pertaining to that effect.

MSA Engineering: Steve Haring asked the council members, staff and employees all to come to a strategic meeting setup for January 30, 2010 (Saturday morning form 8:30am-12:00pm). The meeting is to get cost estimates to the issues at hand and discuss any issues the city has at this time including but not limited to zoning issues, building issues, water mains, etc. The meeting will be open to the public. The engineers have an aerial map and they are going to put the streets on the map.

Seniors Room: Maxine suggested installing a sink and a new hot water heater in the senior's room at city hall. At this time, they have to take their dishes to the kitchen off the gym to wash them because there is no sink in the senior's room and Irene has been heating water on the stove because the hot water heater has not been working correctly. George Lyle explained the hot water heater is working again and he will look to see what it will take to install a sink in their room.

Zoning: William Slatter applied for a special use permit to construct and operate storage units at 507 S. 8th St. the zoning board approved the permit after conducting a public hearing on January 7, 2010 and nobody objected. George made a motion to accept; Neil seconded, and accepted by all.

Vacate the Alley between Adams Street and Monroe Street from 7th Street - 8th Street: Both adjacent property owners (William Slatter and Terri Gibson both present) have asked the city to vacate the alley in exchange the city would not have the expense of maintaining the alley. Such alley is not being used by the public and is not necessary either to the convenience of the general public or to the use of adjoining properties, and the public interest would be served by vacating the alley. Davina made a motion to accept; Maxine seconded. Maxine-yes; Davina-yes; Neil-yes; George-yes and Arnold-yes. Motion carried.

Vacate the remaining portion of the Alley between Main Street and Washington Street from 4th Street - 5th Street: George has asked the council to vacate the remaining portion of the alley; the north 100 feet was already vacated. George contacted Frontier because they own property in the middle of the alley and they would not have access behind their buildings if the city vacated. Attorney Robert Rillie explained he was also concerned about the owners of the buildings along Main Street not having full access for repairs and/or demolition because of them not having access from the north. George explained Kenny Tharp the new owner of the south end of the block would probably issue them an easement. Neil explained the council must think about this both ways. After much discussion Maxine made motion to table this until next month, Davina seconded, and accepted by all.

Floodplain Ordinance: The State of Illinois has a new State Model Floodplain Ordinance that is similar to the current ordinance in which we have to adopt prior to April 19, 2010. If the new ordinance is not adopted prior to April 19, 2010 our community will be suspended from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Suspension from the NFIP will result in the inability to obtain flood insurance, some types of disaster assistance, as well as state and federal grants and loans. George made a motion to rescind the current ordinance and adopt the new state model ordinance; Neil seconded, and accepted by all.

Mercer County Youth Service Bureau: The council agreed there was no need for MaryAnn to come and explain the program. George made a motion to donate $475.00; Maxine seconded, and accepted by all.

National Entrepreneurship Week, February 21-28, 2010: Jenny Garner from the University of Illinois Extension is asking the council to approve this proclamation. Maxine made a motion to accept; Davina seconded, and accepted by all.

WHEEL TAX REMINDER: You can purchase your 2010 wheel tax at anytime and must be purchased prior to February 28, 2010. Car or Truck-$10.00; Seniors-$5.00; Motorcycle, engine powered scooter or engine powered bike-$5.00. Fleet rate for (3) or more vehicles per household is $25.00. If you pay by mail or drop box please remember to write the Year, Make and Model of your vehicles or if the vehicles have not changed just write SAME VEHICLES.

George made a motion to into Executive Session to discuss litigation, Davina seconded, and accepted by all.

Time: 6:56pm

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

Time: 7:32pm

Terri Gibson

City Clerk