Kankakee Times

City of Watseka City Council met Nov. 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Meeting was called to order at 6:30pm by Mayor John Allhands. Present were Aldermen Cahoe, Marcier, Miller, Garfield, Barragree, and Alderwoman Musk.

Appointment of Yamei Rohlfs 4th ward Alderman to fill vacancy created by resignation of Darrin Rushbrook. The Mayor shared that Yamei would be a good fit and gave a few examples and wanted the councils approval to appoint her. All the council was in favor of this appointment.

A Motion was made by Barragree, seconded by Miller to Approve City Council Meeting minutes from October 24th & October 25th 2022. Motion passed 6-0.

Public Comment- Bill Nutter was in attendance again about the cell phone tax, he asked the council if the number generates with the 815 prefixes will it be billed and taxed here. Mr. Nutter’s concern is the council passed this tax however they cannot answer questions about it that concerns him. Alderwoman Musk shared that she had an email from legal council that she will share with him after the meeting. Mr. Nutter asked how much the city has collected since passing this tax, landlines make sense but not cell phone to him, he feels the tax needs to be fair and that all cellphones should be taxed not just 815. The Mayor asked Mr. Nutter to put something together so it is asked how he wants it and they will pass it along to the City Attorney, Mr. Nutter just reminded everyone of the principal and it needs to be fair.

Ricky Grosvenor was in attendance the mayor of Woodland he gave the council a handout, the sheet was the attorney fees for the alcohol ballet, he had asked the city to split the cost of this with 5 other people, our cost would be $140.00 payable to Belmont Twp. Everyone was in favor of this.

Ordinances, Resolutions, Agreements & Proclamations

• Ordinance #2667-Amending Title 6, Public Safety, Chapter 4, Fire Prevention and Protection, Section 6-4-8, Emergency Response and Recovery Fee, of the Watseka City Code.

• Resolution #2022-Improvement under the Illinois Highway code (S 8th St to Walnut St to 10th St.) Keith shared this is federal money. Alderman Miller inquired about 8th St again and its condition Keith will have a look at it again.

Consent Agenda

• Ordinance #2667-Amending Title 6, Public Safety, Chapter 4, Fire Prevention and Protection, Section 6-4-8, Emergency Response and Recovery Fee, of the Watseka City Code.

• Resolution #2022-Improvement under the Illinois Highway code (S 8th St to Walnut St to 10th St.)

A Motion was made by Cahoe, seconded by Barragree to Set The Consent Agenda. Motion passed 6-0.

A Motion was made by Marcier, seconded by Miller to Accept The Consent Agenda. Motion passed 6-0.

Whitey Davis showed up it was not at Public Comment, but Mayor allowed him to speak, Mr. Davis asked the city if they like skimming people as he is being charged for more water then what he is using he is being charged for 1000 gallons he feels this is totally unfair, he should be charged for what he uses not a commercial water rate, he feels this needs looked at again the water/sewer rates are unbelievable. He feels he pays 2-3 times more, if you are trying to draw people to town this is not the way to do it. The minimum for residential is 2000 gallons he realizes this is more money for the water dept. Alderman Marcier asked this has been this way for 35-40 years why are you just now asking about it. This will be put on the Public Works Committee meeting agenda for discussion.

Finance, Legal and Audit

A Motion was made by Cahoe, seconded by Marcier Claims in the amount of $1,122,140.60. Motion passed 6-0.

A Motion was made by Garfield, seconded by Musk Accept and place on the file the October Treasurers report. Motion passed 6-0.

A Motion was made by Miller, seconded by Garfield TIF 3 disbursement to Heritage Woods for $54,089.96. Motion passed 6-0.

Public Works/Water Wastewater

A Motion was made by Cahoe, seconded by Marcier Design Engineering Agreement for S 8th St to Walnut to 10th St. Motion passed 6-0.

Public Safety

A Motion was made by Garfield seconded by Cahoe Purchase $50 gift cards for employees from berkot’s for Christmas $2950.00. Motion passed 6-0.

Code Enforcement

A Motion was made by Miller, seconded by Cahoe Write off bad debit at 508 N 2nd St. $502.73 Alderman Miller shared these are old water bills, Alderwoman Musk asked why we have let these amounts get so high, Alderman Miller shared these are condemned properties and they are the city’s properties now the assume the debit. she is going to inquire with Cathy. Motion passed 6-0.

A Motion was made by Miller, seconded by Barragree Write off bad debit at 207 W Maple St $239.02. Motion passed 6-0.

A Motion was made by Miller, seconded by Musk Write off bad debit at 327 W Park Ave. $724.76. Motion passed 6-0.

Personnel Committee-none

Liquor Committee-Discussion and Possible action for Liquor License for Family Inn-Mayor shared everyone should have gotten an email from Joe in their boxes on gaming, Mayor shared that right now we have to issue this liquor license, if we decide to set limits, we need to make our intentions known now, the council is voicing their intent on the grounds to not issue one and eliminate the remaining. The Council gave permission for the city attorney to prepare this for going forward.

Miscellaneous Business-Alderman Garfield asked about having a children at play slow down sign added to the Public Works committee meeting agenda for 11th and Oak St.

Mayor shared ICSC (Innovating Commerce Serving Communities) is still putting the city’s name out there. Illinois Housing study they are wrapping that up more info on daycares is needed. Ambulance Twp 6 ambulance is up and ready to serve all pick up will have to go to IMH. Mr. Strickler who is from here is trying to help his hometown of Watseka he is trying to get things going in Watseka. There is an upcoming meeting with a few citizens in town on this. Phil Goija of center Street Productions did a nice video on the progress work around Watseka Mayor hopes to show this next month and IPC paid for the video.

Alderman Cahoe shared the meetings for next month are bumped up a week. He then asked Keith if there are any strings to pull on the stoplights last night, we had 4 trains and traffic was a mess. Keith shared that the state approved the price for the cameras, but it could still be 5-6 months or longer. Ousten Electric adjusted the time on the lights to help improve them but no change really. Keith also shared for Martin Ave. HUD grant has been submitted for 2.3 million just waiting to hear back once it’s reviewed the city will get a letter that the money is being awarded.

Alderman Garfield shared the stop lights are possibly a computer issue he brought up a subject that he thought the city was told not to do and that is to replace the stop lights with stop signs, if thought thou if the city did this then they assume all liability not the state. The City attorney is looking into the liability for the city on this.

Reports from Officers-None

A Motion was made by Barragree, seconded by Cahoe to Adjourn at 7:22pm. Motion passed 6-0.

http://www.watsekacity.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/council-Meeting-11-22-2022.pdf