Kankakee Times

The Kankakee City Council met Aug. 1 to award a construction contract.

Here are the meeting's minute, as provided by the council:

CITY OF KANKAKEE

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

AUGUST 1, 2016 7:00 P.M.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Good evening. I’d like to call this meeting to order. At this time I would ask Reverend Brandon Hird from Limestone Community Church of the Nazarene to come forward and lead us in prayer.

REVEREND HIRD: Let us pray. Father God, I thank You for all the many blessings that You have given to each of us. Too often we fail to realize what You have done, and too many times we take credit for all Your wonderful blessings that You give us. But, help us to consider all the many wonders that You have done and to give You praise for them. This evening we invite Your presence among us. We recognize our utter dependence on You, Sovereign Lord, and ask for Your guidance as we discuss the future of this great place. Be with each and every City Council member who was voted into their positions to uphold their responsibilities with honor and dignity and to always consider Your wisdom. And, be with the people of Kankakee. You know each and every person by name and by heart; I pray they, too, would seek Your wisdom. Father, as we invite You into this meeting room, may we also invite You into our discussion. We trust that You know what is best for each and every one of Your people. After all, we are Your prized possession, the apple of Your eye. We thank You again for all You have done, for what You are doing and what You will continue to do. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank you.

REVEREND HIRD: Thank you.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Council will lead the Pledge.

CITY COUNCIL AND ALL: Pledge of Allegiance

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank you. Ah, at this time I would do roll call, please.

CLERK DUMAS:

PRESENT: Tetter; Brown; Baron; Wells-Armstrong; Tall; Crawford; Osenga; O’Brien; Kennedy; Davidson (10)

ABSENT: Curtis; Faford; Swanson; Gall (4)

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Department Heads.

CLERK DUMAS:

PRESENT: Regnier; Young; Kubal; Bohlen; Power; Dear; Tyson; Bertrand; Yohnka; Schmitz (10)

ABSENT: Cross (1)

MAYOR EPSTEIN: At this time, I will entertain a motion to approve the minutes of the July 18, 2016, meeting.

ALDERMAN OSENGA: Motion to approve, Mayor Epstein.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Osenga.

ALDERMAN CRAWFORD: I’ll second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded by Alderman Crawford to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Are there any additions or corrections to the minutes? Hearing none, all those in favor, aye. Opposed, same sign.

MOTION TO APPROVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JULY 18, 2016

MAYOR EPSTEIN: The minutes are approved. There are no Petitions. Under Communications, we have three requests that I would like to do in total. So, may I have a motion to approve Communications items A, B and C?

ALDERMAN BARON: So moved.

ALDERMAN O’BRIEN: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Baron, seconded by Alderman O’Brien. Are there any questions? All those in favor, aye. Opposed, same sign.

THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ST. VIATEUR’S COUNCIL #745 OF KANKAKEE IS REQUESTING PERMISSION TO HOST A TAG DAY ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2016

RIVERSIDE HEALTHCARE AT 350 NORTH WALL STREET IS REQUESTING

PERMISSION TO HOST THE RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY 5K FAMILY RUN ON

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016, FROM 9:00 A.M. UNTIL 12:00 P.M., FROM THE

AREA OF THE RIVERSIDE HOSPITAL PARKING LOT TO RIVERSIDE BUTTERFIELD PROPERTY

COMMUNITY CHURCH OF HOLINESS IS REQUESTING A NOISE PERMIT

AND STREET BLOCKAGE OF THE ALLEYWAYS BEHIND THE CHURCH ON

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2016 FROM 4:00 P.M. UNTIL 10:00 P.M. AND SUNDAY,

AUGUST 14, 2016 FROM 12:00 P.M. UNTIL 10:00 P.M. FOR THEIR 2016 GOSPEL FEST

AT 481 NORTH HARRISON AVENUE

MAYOR EPSTEIN: The Communications are approved. Building and Code. Alderman Tall.

ALDERMAN TALL: Yes, Mayor. The minutes are self-explanatory.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank you. Oh, Report of Officers. Alderman Faford is gone, so do I have a motion? Can we pay the bills? Ah, do I have a motion to approve payment of the bills?

ALDERMAN OSENGA: So moved, Mayor.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay, who said that?

ALDERMAN BROWN: I’ll second it.

UNKNOWN: We’re all out of order here.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman Osenga I believe made the motion. Alderman Baron seconded the motion.

ATTORNEY BOHLEN: Actually it was Alderman Brown.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Was it Alderman Brown?

ALDERMAN BROWN: Yes.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: My apologies. Alderman Brown seconded the motion. Are there any questions on any of the bills?

ALDERMAN BARON: Did the motion include to put the money in the proper accounts?

MAYOR EPSTEIN: We’ll make sure that the Comptroller does that. Questions? Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Tetter; Brown; Baron; Wells-Armstrong; Tall; Crawford; Osenga; O’Brien (Although I abstain on three items: 70563, 70536 and 70538.); Kennedy; Davidson (10)

ABSENT: Curtis; Faford; Swanson; Gall (4)

REPORT OF OFFICERS APPROVAL OF BILLS - $ 442,527.70

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Moving onto New Business. The item on the agenda this evening is the awarding of the contract to Kankakee Valley Construction. This is for our maintenance program, the overlay program for each of the seven wards. This money is coming out of the Motor Fuel Tax fund. So, at this time, I would like a motion to approve the contract.

ALDERMAN TETTER: So moved.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Tetter.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded by Alderman Brown. Are there any questions?

ALDERWOMAN KENNEDY: I have one question.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman Kennedy.

ALDERWOMAN KENNEDY: Who got the bid last year? I couldn’t remember. Anyone remember?

DAVID TYSON: KVCC did.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: The same company Alderman. Are there any other questions?

ALDERMAN DAVIDSON: I have a question.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman Davidson.

ALDERMAN DAVIDSON: So, the.the lowest bid was actually $18,000.00 over what the Engineer’s estimate was?

MAYOR EPSTEIN: That’s correct. Dave, do you want to speak to that? The item that was over.

DAVID TYSON: Yeah, what it actually was, we had.I think.I believe it was the estimate that we had for the asphalt and they just came in slightly higher with the tonnage we had. It made the difference. It’s within acceptable amount that the state will allow us to award with the, you know, as long as you’re within 10% of the estimate. So there’s no problem with awarding it. We do have the money in the Motor Fuel Tax account so there won’t be a shortage as far as being able to pay for it.

ALDERMAN DAVIDSON: Thank you.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Any other questions? Roll call.

CLERK DUMAS:

AYE: Tetter; Brown; Baron; Wells-Armstrong; Tall; Crawford; Osenga; O’Brien; Kennedy; Davidson (10)

ABSENT: Curtis; Faford; Swanson; Gall (4)

RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD THE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $692,954.61

TO KANKAKEE VALLEY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC., FOR THE 2016 MFT STREET MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, SECTION 16-00000-00-GM-GROUP 7 – STREET OVERLAY

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion carries. There are no Motions or Resolutions. We will not need an Executive Session this evening. Moving onto Public Comments. We have one person who has signed in, Kristin Banks.

KRISTIN BANKS: Good evening everyone. How are you?

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Good evening.

KRISTIN BANKS: I just, ah, came by to inform everyone of a new program that is out in Kankakee County. Ah, Childcare Resource and Referral which I am the Early Headstart Director of, just recently received a Federal Grant to service 104 children from six weeks to three years old out in Kankakee County. Right now we have two locations. Ah, we have partnered with Garden of Prayer over on 4th Street where we have 16 children. We have also partnered with Lorenzo Smith where we have four classrooms of 32 children and we will also be in Aroma Park where we have four class.five classrooms–I’m sorry–of 40 children. Ah, and what we are now currently doing are enrolling those children, ah, they are for low income families 100% below the Federal poverty guideline automatically makes them eligible, but we do take 10% over income. Ah, we are looking for children. We are available. I have placed flyers back on the table for everyone to have. Ah, within two weeks–I think it’s on August 10–we have an open house at Lorenzo Smith, ah, and if anybody knows any childcare centers in the area, we are still looking for partners, ah, in the area to partner with to cover early childhood within their centers with Federal money and grants.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Have you checked with the YWCA?

KRISTIN BANKS: Yes we have. With Sandra Knight?

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Yes.

KRISTIN BANKS: Yes, we have. We’ve also checked with Play Pals. Play Pals is interested, but Sandy Knight wasn’t sure if she had room exactly for us.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay. So the flyers are on the back table ‘cause we’ll make sure the Aldermen each take one on the way out.

KRISTIN BANKS: Yes. Thank you.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay. Thank you. Okay, there is no one else that has, ah, signed up to speak. Before we go to Aldermen’s Comments I want to just make one comment. Ah, we were fortunate this weekend to have another extraordinary event in downtown Kankakee. Merchant Street Music Fest. I think this one was probably one of our best even though we had a couple of spots of rain. Ah, it didn’t dampen the crowd. Ah, we had no issues. I think that’s really very important to emphasize even though we had really tens of thousands of people who came through the gates on both nights. Ah, this is a group effort. There are literally hundreds of volunteers led by Bill Yohnka, Peggy Mayer, Steve Bertrand and Allison Beasley. But, we have a manager system. No one gets paid to work Merchant Street Music Fest. It’s done strictly by volunteers and I don’t think you could pay people to do the type of job that they did on those two nights. So, again, ah, congratulations to everyone who participated. Ah, it makes me very proud to walk around those two nights and see, really, an incredible cross section of our community having a great time in downtown Kankakee. The music–there was something for everyone and, again, I think it’s a perfect example of when people work together, great things can be accomplished. So, it’s a lot of hard work. I’m surprised Bill and Steve are here tonight. But, ah, you know, I know many of you were there ‘cause I saw many of you. So, it was a great weekend and just again my thank you to everyone who was involved. Okay, moving onto Aldermen Comments. Any comments, please? Alderman O’Brien.

ALDERMAN O’BRIEN: Mayor, I just have one scheduling note. We are.the normal schedule for the Housing Task Force is the third Tuesday, however, in the month of August, it will be the fourth Tuesday, so it’ll be August 23.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay.

ALDERMAN O’BRIEN: At, ah, 5:30 P.M., either here in the Council Chambers or next door in the Committee Room. But, here in this building.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay, thank you. Any other comments? Alderwoman Kennedy.

ALDERWOMAN KENNEDY: I would like to make a comment in reference to, ah, some type of barrier down at the river, but I talked to Mr. Tyson already. I’d just like to ask that he keep us informed of whatever ideas he come up with.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: We spoke with him today, Alderwoman, and Dave is going to do some research on what would be an appropriate barrier to place there that would still give us the view of the river, but still try to, ah, prevent something like this from happening again. So, we will keep you informed when he comes up with his ideas.

ALDERWOMAN KENNEDY: Thank you.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: And how much they’ll cost. Any other comments? Well this was quick. It wasn’t worth gettin’ dressed up for. So, ah, a motion to adjourn.

ALDERMAN BROWN: Motion to adjourn.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman Brown.

ALDERWOMAN KENNEDY: Second.

MAYOR EPSTEIN: Second by Alderwoman Kennedy. All those in favor, aye. Opposed, same sign.

MOTION TO ADJOURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MAYOR EPSTEIN: We are adjourned.

7:12 P.M.