Kankakee Times

City of Watseka City Council Met July 27.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor John Allhands at 7:00pm. Present were Aldermen Barragree, Marcier, Cahoe, Miller, Rushbrook, & Alderwoman Ulfers and Musk. Absent was Alderman Garfield.

Motion was made by Barragree, seconded by Ulfers to approve the City Council meeting minutes of June 22nd 2021. Motion passed 7-0.

Public Comment: Merrill Crowley- Mr. Crowley was in attendance he approached the council with a proposition to do away with all this BS why don’t you write an ordinance so that citizens of Watseka can burn whenever they want since health issues don’t seem to matter, he said the pile is burning now and will for weeks the council could care less. Mr. Crowley said that he has heard from no one on the Council regarding this issue, Alderwoman Musk asked Mr. Crowley didn’t you speak with Alderman Rushbrook, he said yes but never heard back from him, Alderman Rushbrook stated he did call Mr. Crowley back but he did not answer so he passed the info along to Alderwoman Musk so she was aware. Mr. Crowley was very worked up and said he is done with this BS and walked out.

Ordinances, Resolutions, Agreements & Proclamations

• Ordinance #2615- Authorizing the Sale of Real Property Commonly Known as 326 W Victory St. in the City of Watseka, Iroquois County, Illinois

• Ordinance #2616-Authorizing the Sale of Real Property Commonly Known as 424 West North St. In the City of Watseka, Iroquois County, Illinois

• Freehill Asphalt Crack Sealing Quotes- Watseka Park/Peters Park $19,912.00 Crack Sealing on Elm St. from 8th St. to Veteran’s Parkway & 8th St. from Elm St. to Oak St. $19,900.00 Crack Sealing Oak St. Cherry St. & Mulberry St. from 2nd St. to 5th St. $19,900.00

• 2021 MFT Improvements-Various Roadway Improvements-accept IPC bid of $341,809.34 Consent Agenda

• Ordinance #2615- Authorizing the Sale of Real Property Commonly Known as 326 W Victory St. in the City of Watseka, Iroquois County, Illinois

• Ordinance #2616-Authorizing the Sale of Real Property Commonly Known as 424 West North St. In the City of Watseka, Iroquois County, Illinois

• Freehill Asphalt Crack Sealing Quotes- Watseka Park/Peters Park $19,912.00 Crack Sealing on Elm St. from 8th St. to Veteran’s Parkway & 8th St. from Elm St. to Oak St. $19,900.00 Crack Sealing Oak St. Cherry St. & Mulberry St. from 2nd St. to 5th St. $19,900.00

• 2021 MFT Improvements-Various Roadway Improvements-accept IPC bid of $341,809.34

A Motion was made Marcier, seconded by Barragree to set the Consent Agenda. Motion passed 7-0. A Motion was made by Ulfers, seconded by Miller to accept the Consent Agenda. Motion passed 7-0. Standing Committee Reports

• Finance, Legal and Audit

A Motion was made by Rushbrook, seconded by Cahoe to pay claims in the amount $546,292.37 Motion passed 7-0.

A Motion was made by Ulfers, seconded by Cahoe to Accept and Place on file the June Treasurer Report. Motion passed 7-0.

• Public Works

A Motion was made by Cahoe, seconded by Marcier IPC Quote for storm sewer work behind Kingdon’s $240,000.00 to $245,000.00pay from water and sewer funds with City Attorney Cainkar approving the contract and signing off on it. Motion passed 7-0.

• Public Safety-None

• Code Enforcement

A Motion was made by Rushbrook, seconded by Cahoe Lee Farms aggregate bid $33,500.00 for 515 E. Ash, 315 N. 6th, 214 W. Elm & 421 W Park Ave. Motion passed 7-0.

A Motion was made by Rushbrook, seconded by Barragree Lee farms bid of $9475.00 to demolish 303 S Yount Ave. Motion passed 7-0.

A Motion was made by Marcier, seconded by Cahoe Façade grant application from Plumb Mart for $4,888.00. Motion passed 7-0.

• Water/Wastewater Report

A Motion was made by Cahoe, seconded by Marcier Wessler Engineering $40,800.00 GIS Program with annual fees to be determined depending on number of licenses and classifications. Motion passed 7-0.

Alderman Cahoe did share Alley prices no action can be taken it was not on the agenda 3rd to 4th $18,100 and 5th to 3rd $25,660 he will put this on the agenda for Public Works for next month.

• Miscellaneous Business

A Motion was made by Rushbrook, seconded by Ulfers Appoint Bob Harwood to the Police Pension Board. Motion passed 7-0.

Discussion and possible Appointment of Public Works Director Dustin Standish. A Motion was made by Ulfers, seconded by Cahoe for a 6 month interim basis with the Ad-Hoc Committee discussing & reviewing his performance effective date 7-28-2021 ending January 31st 2022 no salary was discussed. Motion passed 6-1 with Alderwoman Musk voting no. Some discussion was had amongst the council regarding the Ad-Hoc Committee who can attend and who cannot,

City Attorney Cainkar explained how these meetings work due to some questions that were asked. Alderwoman Musk questioned why she was not allowed to sit in on the Executive Session meeting this past week Mr. Cainkar explained that since she is not a member of the committee that yes she could attend the meeting as a private citizen but not as an elected official, if this committee goes into Executive Session the general public cannot attend that part of the meeting. Alderwoman Musk shared concerns that she did not approve of this as she is an elected official and she has ideas she would like to share, she was upset that she heard from no one on the Ad-Hoc committee regarding her ideas, Alderwoman Musk did email the some ideas to the Mayor to share with that committee as the council is welcome to share ideas or thoughts with this committee, Mayor Allhands told Alderwoman Musk he did pass her ideas along to that committee. Alderman Rushbrook would like the Ad-Hoc committee to open up their search for a new Public Works Director look at everybody.

Reports from Officers- None

Open Discussion- Alderman Miller asked about allowing residents to have an extra time to burn due to the recent storm we had several residents have trees and limbs down, the council all agree to allow 2 more weeks of getting brush to the road and allowing them to burn to clean things up. Alderman Miller will let Public Works know and let Public Works decide the cut- off date for brush and limbs everyone was agreeable to this and they will post something on the City’s Facebook page so that citizens are aware. Alderwoman Ulfers gave a brief update on the Watseka Family Festival they are finalizing things and they are still in need of volunteers to help at the event if anyone can help.

A Motion was made by Cahoe, seconded by Barragree to Adjourn at 7:24pm. Motion passed 7-0.

http://www.watsekacity.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Council-meeting-7-27-21.pdf