Kankakee Times

City of Watseka City Council met Aug. 24.

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, Garfield, & Alderwoman Ulfers and Musk. Absent was Alderman Rushbrook.

Motion was made by Barragree, seconded by Ulfers to approve the City Council meeting minutes of July 27th 2021. Motion passed 7-0.

Public Comment: None

Ordinances, Resolutions, Agreements & Proclamations

• Ordinance #2617-Authorizing the Acceptance of a Donation Real Property Located at 109 W Sheridan St., Watseka, Illinois

• Ordinance #2618-Authorizing the Acceptance of a Donation Real Property Located at 209-211 west Maple Ave, Watseka, Illinois

Consent Agenda

• Ordinance #2617-Authorizing the Acceptance of a Donation Real Property Located at 109 W Sheridan St., Watseka, Illinois

• Ordinance #2618-Authorizing the Acceptance of a Donation Real Property Located at 209-211 west Maple Ave, Watseka, Illinois

No action was taken on either Ordinance.

Standing Committee Reports

• Finance, Legal and Audit

A Motion was made by Ulfers, seconded by Cahoe to pay claims in the amount $230,805.56. Motion passed 7-0.

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

A Motion was made by Garfield, seconded by Miller Transfer $50,000 from 45-10-9000 into 1-10-9045. Motion passed 7-0.

A Motion was made by Cahoe, seconded by Barragree Increase Code Enforcement Bill Stanley Hourly rate to $24 effective 8/31/2021. Motion passed 7-0.

A Motion was made by Cahoe, seconded by Marcier Purchase 217 E. Walnut St (Vacant Lot) for $3000 pay from promotions or Capital equipment line. Mr. Cainkar needs to do an Ordinance for this. Motion passed 7-0.

• Public Works

A Motion was made by Ulfers, seconded by Marcier IPC Resurfacing of Library alley 3rd St. to 4th St. $18,100.00 Alderman Miller asked what line item this would come out of Capital Improvements line item. Motion passed 5-2 with Alderwoman Musk and Alderman Garfield voting no, Alderman Garfield stated there are worse alleys and streets this money could be used for.

A Motion was made by Barragree, seconded by Marcier IPC Resurfacing of Church alley 5th St. to 3rd St. $25,660.00. This will also come out of line item Capital Improvement. Motion passed 4-2 with one abstaining. Alderwoman Musk and Alderman Garfield voting no, Alderman Miller abstaining with the Mayor voting yes the motion passed 5-2 with 1 abstaining. Alderman Garfield stated there are worse alleys and streets this money could be used for.

• Public Safety

A Motion was made by Ulfers, seconded by Marcier Purchase 26 Kenwood Radios for $24,908.00 from Communications Direct for $958 each pay from Capital Purchase. Motion passed 7-0.

• Code Enforcement

A Motion was made by Garfield, seconded by Barragree Lee Farms aggregate bid of $20,650.00 for 131 Brown St & 204 W Park Ave. Motion passed 7-0.

A Motion was made by Garfield, seconded by Ulfers Lee Farms bid of $11,800.00 to demolish 125 brown St. Motion passed 7-0.

135 E. Walnut, 100 W Walnut & 1121 N Jefferson-get warrant to enter and have a structural engineer inspect the properties, Eric needs to let Joe know to proceed, no action taken tonight. A Motion was made by Garfield, seconded by Miller Façade grant application from Traditions for $4250.00. Motion passed 7-0.

A Motion was made by Garfield, seconded by Ulfers Coffee Hut for $5,000.00. Motion passed 7- 0.

A Motion was made by Garfield, seconded by Miller Exposed Tanning for $2658.00. Motion passed 7-0.

• Water/Wastewater Report

U.S.I.G. quote- No action was taken

A Motion was made by Marcier, seconded by Barragree Purchase a Kubota RTV from McCullough Implement for $34,955.00 Pay from shared equipment water/wastewater, streets/alley and park fund.. Alderman Miller said didn’t we tell them to go ahead with this purchase last week, should we have done that before it was voted on at a full council meeting, going forward this will be resolved some discussion was had as to why they need a Kubota ATV. Motion passed 6-1 with Alderwoman Musk voting no and Alderman Garfield voting present.

• Miscellaneous Business

Vacant lot on Walnut St. (Hear Hear Lot) this was tabled.

A Motion was made by Cahoe, seconded by Marcier Phone Upgrade City Hall/Police Dept/Water Dept/Public Works Dept Ruder Technologies $14,443.20 take out of the Building fund. Motion passed 7-0.

A Motion was made by Marcier, seconded by Ulfers Library Board Appointments: Crissy Sabol, Sarah Chaney, Jeannie Elliott. Motion passed 7-0. Mayor Allhands shared that the current Librarian has resigned taking a teaching job closer to home the Library will be interviewing for a new one.

Reports from Officers- None

Open Discussion- Alderman Cahoe mentioned removing the Ordinance for liquor sales before noon on Sunday he feels we are losing sales tax money, no action can be taken tonight he asked that we open it up to 24/7 and put this on the agenda for the Finance meeting. Alderman Cahoe also mentioned the council should give some serious consideration to remove the phone lines in the Council area as they do not work properly, some discussion was had on this if this was legal or not, and discussion was had that they do not work properly the council would like to have Ruder Technologies come look at the system and obtain a quote to fix.

A Motion was made by Cahoe, seconded by Barragree to Adjourn at 7:25pm. Motion passed

http://www.watsekacity.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Council-meeting-8-24-21.pdf