Kankakee Times

City of Gilman City Council met Feb. 13.

Here is the agenda provided by the council:

The regular meeting of the city council was called to order by Mayor Theesfeld. Council responding to roll call were: Fancher aye, Eimen aye, McGehee aye, Kraft aye, Bachman aye and Elliott aye. Clerk Kraft, Treasurer Morris and Karin Sailor were also present.

Moved by McGehee Seconded by Bachman

to approve the minutes from the regular meeting held on January 9, 2023. All aye.

Moved by McGehee Seconded by Kraft

to approve the transfer of $16,000.00 from the general fund to the road & bridge fund. All aye.

Karin Sailor addressed the council regarding the lack of parking spaces in front of her building at 104 S. Central Street which is rented to a hair salon. She is asking the city to look at the downtown area to consider increased parking at a later time and also to talk with the chamber of commerce to discuss ideas for more parking. Mayor Theesfeld made a suggestion that customers park across the street and in the two open spaces in front of the building south of the railroad tracks. Customers could also be dropped off at the sidewalk on Central St near the alley entrance.

Moved by Kraft Seconded by Fancher

to adopt Ordinance No 22-23-06 Amending Title 10, Vehicles and Traffic for a stop sign on W. Second St. All aye.

Mayor Theesfeld explained that the need for an Intergovernmental Agreement with the City and Fire Protection District is to store the new snow removal equipment at the old fire house.

Moved by Eimen seconded by McGehee

to adopt Ordinance No. 22-23-07 Approving the Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Gilman and the Gilman Fire Protection District. All aye.

Moved by McGehee Seconded by Elliott

to approve and adopt Resolution No. 22-23-R8 Authorizing Payment of $2,017.89 from the TIF Fund to Gilman Auto Parts. All aye except Alderman Kraft who abstained.

Mayor Theesfeld addressed the council on a letter received from the Iroquois County Board Chairman, John Shure regarding a Communication Services Agreement and payment of $1,272.06 per year. It refers to the funding of salaries and expenses of 911 Joint Dispatch Employees in Iroquois County. More information will be needed from the County Board before the agreement can be signed. Randy Eimen spoke on the number of taxing bodies that would be taxed for 911 such as Douglas Township, City of Gilman, Gilman Fire Department and for each phone that taxpayers are paying for. Randy is questioning who has the statutory authority to send the bills out.

Mayor Theesfeld advised the council that the ditch running from Hartwell Street to the Gilman city limits is needing trees and brush cut out and the ditch sprayed. Greg Ikins from M & L Lawn Care, Inc. sent a letter with several recommendations on cleaning and maintaining the ditch area. There are three sections that will need to be cleared. Part of the cleanup project could be done with the help from our summertime employees.

Moved by Eimen Seconded by Bachmann

to approve M & L Lawn Care owner Greg Ikins to spray the ditch with a cost of no more than $2,000.00. All aye.

Moved by Kraft Seconded by Elliott

to approve a donation of $250.00 to the Iroquois West Post Prom Committee. All aye.

Mayor Theesfeld updated the council on projects being done or proposed.

The bid results for the Third St. project from Thomas St. to Maple St. and from Second St. to Third St. will be ready for the March council meeting.

The bid results for the 5th St. sewer project should be ready for the April meeting.

Mayor Theesfeld spoke with the TIF Consultant and he stated the need to expand the new TIF district. It would need to include the 5th St. sanitary sewer job for which the EPA loan is for. Water mains behind 4th St. to 6th St. and Maple St. to Hartwell St. and the three blocks heading north will need to be done. Adding those areas to the TIF boundaries will help to establish a new TIF District.

IPC will be starting this week on the Rt 24-45 Water Main Replacement Project.

Mayor Theesfeld is unsure if the city will get the loan forgiveness this year for the 5th St Sewer Main Project.

Mayor Theesfeld advised that payment needs to be made to IPC for $25,110.00 pending approval by the EPA for pay request #1 on the Rt. 24-45 Water Main Replacement Project.

Moved by Eimen Seconded McGhee

to approve payment of $25,110.00 to Iroquois Paving Corporation pending the approval by the EPA for the pay request #1 for the Rt. 24-45 Water Main Replacement Project. All aye.

Alderman Bachman had nothing to discuss.

Alderman Elliott spoke about the new building at the high school that will house a weight room and restrooms. The need for a new building is that the old gym where the school currently has the weight facility is having plumbing problems. Per Mayor Theesfeld the City does not require a building permit on school property.

Alderman Eimen addressed the council for the need of a television and a stand for businesses to make presentations at meetings. Neil Piggush and Incobrasa currently use these devices for presentations on projects for the city at their facilities. He also talked about getting a small refrigerator for the police office at city hall.

Alderman McGehee had nothing to discuss.

Alderman Kraft had stated the semi-trucks that are unloading at Hometown Grocery Store are driving over the curbing and into the dirt areas in the new street scaping project. Solutions would be to stop at the end of the alley and use a forklift to unload the pallets. Mayor Theesfeld stated he would talk with Neil Piggush to come up with possible solutions to the issue.

Moved by Fancher Seconded by Elliott

to approve the bills as they were presented. All aye.

Moved by Bachman Seconded by McGehee

to adjourn the regular meeting at 7:50 p.m. All aye.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xRcYgwpOr-IGRiOh-v6qFsjrpByNWel4/edit