Kankakee Times

City of Gilman City Council met Dec. 10.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

The regular meeting of the city council was called to order by Mayor Theesfeld. Council responding to roll call were: McGehee aye, Elliott aye, Eimen aye, Voigt eye, and Fancher aye. City Clerk Morris and Treasurer Johnson were also present. Alderman Kraft was absent.

Moved by McGeheeSeconded by Voigt to approve the minutes from the regular meeting held on November 12, 2018. All aye.

Moved by ElliottSeconded by McGehee to transfer $6,000.00 from the General Fund to the Road and Bridge Fund, and to transfer $120,000.00 from the TIF 1 Fund to the General Fund to repay the loans. All aye.

Neil Piggush of Piggush Engineering was present and spoke to the council about the proposed North Central Street streetscaping project, which will cover Central Street from Route 24 to Third Street. If the City applies for the Federal grant administered by IDOT, the Phase I engineering will need to be finalized prior to making the application. If the Phase II engineering is done as well, that would be to the City’s advantage. The grant would be an 80% grant with a maximum of $2,000,000.00, and the application will probably be due by the end of November 2019. The grant may include street lighting. Mayor Theesfeld mentioned that the City’s portion of the project may be paid from the TIF 1 Fund. It was

Moved by Eimen Seconded by Voigt to approve the proposal of Piggush Engineering Inc. dated October 29, 2018 as follows:

Boundary & Topographic Survey$9,600.00

Soil Borings & Geotechnical Report9,350.00

Phase I Site Engineering Design54,110.00

Phase II Site Engineering Design77,000.00

Total$150,060.00.

All aye. The engineering services will be billed on a percentage basis as the work progresses, as Piggush Engineering has done in the past. If the grant is denied, the engineering services should still be good for a couple of years if the City wants to apply for a different grant in the future, although the engineering may need to be updated slightly if the requirements have changed.

Mr. Piggush also updated the council on the status of the North Thomas & East Second Streets road improvement project. Bids will probably be taken in February 2019, and that project will probably start in May 2019 before school is out. The project will include angled parking around the Iroquois West Grade School. Mayor Theesfeld advised that the project may be paid for with a six-year loan/bonds. He is checking on interest rates.

Moved by McGehee Seconded by Voigt to approve the issuance of a second Special Use Permit to Novel Energy Solutions, LLC for an approximately 20-acre Community Solar Garden, with Ordinance No. 18-19-11, upon recommendation of the Zoning Board of Appeals whose hearing was held on November 26, 2018. All aye.

Mayor Theesfeld advised that the Gilman Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on January 7, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss an amendment to the City’s zoning ordinances to prohibit residential uses within the front 50 feet of the ground floor of all buildings on Central Street between U.S. Highway 24 and Third Street. Mayor Theesfeld is working with the City Attorney to ensure that the language of the amendment includes the addresses that the City wishes to include. The council will need to make a determination about whether to include the house at 160 N. Central Street (Scudder).

Moved by EimenSeconded by Fancher to approve a video gaming license to C-I Golden Eagles, LLC, d/b/a Crossroads Cantina, conditioned up the company obtaining its license from the State of Illinois. All aye.

The City was advised that there were approximately 160 extra candy and snack bags left over from the Santa’s Elf Patrol event held on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at The Garage Community Center. Since the City had donated money for those treats, Carrie Miller on behalf of the Iroquois West National Honor Society asked the City if it is acceptable to give those bags to the local food pantry and if the City has any other suggestions for their use. The council suggested giving some to the children at Head Start or to local churches for their Sunday School programs, in addition to the local food pantry. Mayor Theesfeld will call Mrs. Miller to advise her of the same.

Alderman Voigt had nothing to discuss.

Alderman Elliott had nothing to discuss.

Alderman Fancher had nothing to discuss.

Alderman Eimen had nothing to discuss.

Alderman McGehee asked about a tree on the George Harvick property, and Mayor Theesfeld advised that Matt Price will look at it. Alderman McGehee had nothing further to discuss.

Mayor Theesfeld advised that he has checked on current interest rates for certificates of deposit at Prospect Bank, and that the City can deposit some of its funds into 90-day certificates at 2.35%. He proposed the following deposits:

From the general fund$400,000.00

From the MFT fund100,000.00

From the Water & Storm fund within the general fund100,000.00 Total$600,000.00

Moved by EimenSeconded by Fancher to deposit the funds in 90-day certificates of deposit as set forth above. All aye.

Moved by FancherSeconded by Elliott to approve the bills as they were presented, and to approve the Balance Sheet, and Profit and Loss Statement dated December 10, 2018 as presented. All aye.

Moved by McGeheeSeconded by Voigt to adjourn the regular meeting at 8:04 p.m. All aye.

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1RTNA4hS7P_4xHt_5AlSBWLgSWu-EtOE4