Kankakee Times

City of Gilman City Council met Aug. 14.

Here are 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:  Fancher aye, Eimen aye, McGehee aye, Kraft aye, Bachman aye, and Elliott aye. Clerk Kraft and Treasurer Morris, and Martin Hahn were also present.

        Moved by McGehee        Seconded by Bachman

to approve the minutes from the regular meeting held on July 10, 2023.  All aye.

        Moved by McGehee        Seconded by Bachman

to approve the transfer of $17,000.00 from the general fund to the road and bridge fund. All aye.

Mayor Theesfeld addressed the council regarding using excess funds to pay off a loan from Prospect Bank instead of putting funds into a certificate of deposit as discussed at the July 10, 2023 meeting. The loan is at a rate 3.75% and pay off would be August 15, 2023.

        Moved by Elliott        Seconded by Bachman

To approve the payoff of a loan the city has with Prospect Bank with a remaining balance of $294,847.03 plus the interest to date of payment on August 15, 2023. All aye.

Mayor Theesfeld explained the need to approve an ordinance changing the sewer rate from $5.50 to $7.00. The city is being forced by the EPA to make these changes in sewer rates to qualify for the loan and 30% loan forgiveness from the EPA for the 5th St and Maple St project. It is a $2,000,000.00 project with a 20-year loan at a fixed rate of .093%. By the EPA calculations the sewer rate must be increased, however Mayor Theesfeld stated that it does not mean the rate cannot be lowered in the future. 

        Moved by McGehee        Seconded by Bachman

to approve Ordinance No. 23-24-07 Amending Title 13, Water and Sewers.  All aye.

Mayor Theesfeld addressed the council regarding the Queen of Hearts Raffle the Gilman Fire Department is wanting to hold and that Frank Simutis has an ordinance ready for the council to review. The ordinance is also for other types of raffles that may want to be held in the future. There is an application process and the council will need approval before a raffle can be held.

Alderman Fancher, who is also on the Gilman Fire Department introduced Martin Hahn, a local businessman, who explained the process of getting the necessary paperwork filed to hold a Queen of Hearts raffle. It must be sponsored by a tax-exempt organization, so Mr. Hahn is helping the fire department get the proper paperwork filed with the State of Illinois. Gilman Fire Dept. must form an Illinois not-for-profit corporation and then apply for a tax-exempt status from the IRS in order to become a 501 c3 tax-exempt organization. The Queen of Hearts drawing is held each week at a local bar and is a combination raffle. The purchase of a numbered ticket(s) is then drawn as is a card from a deck of cards. The jackpot is won when the Queen of hearts card matches the numbered ticket.  It is Mr. Hahns understanding that a person must be present to win the jackpot. If there is not a winner in that week’s drawing the raffle and prize money roll over to create a bigger jackpot. The owners of local bars that hold a valid gaming license cannot manage the raffle, but host the Queen of Hearts raffle in their establishment. The purpose of the raffle is to raise funds for new equipment for the fire trucks, gear for the firemen, and extra batteries for the jaws of life. 

Aldermen Fancher explained that the Gilman Fire Department Board has come up with bylaws to submit to the Secretary of State and to then file with the Iroquois County Clerk. They will seek approval from the IRS and then obtain the required insurance and bonding policies needed to fill out the City of Gilman Queen of Hearts Raffle application.

Alderman Eimen stated that he supports the Gilman Fire Department 100%, but wanted to voice his concerns regarding a raffle being held in Gilman. If these drawings grow bigger and bigger and bring in more and more people to town, is the fire department prepared to handle traffic control around these taverns when it gets too crowded? Will the EMS and/or Fire Department vehicles be able to navigate through town if they get called out?  How will they compete with a busy visitation at the funeral home the night of a raffle? If the raffle grows and needs to be moved to a bigger facility, where will it be held, and who is getting the liquor license? Aldermen Eimen wanted the Gilman Fire Department to give forethought to his questions, and consider how they would respond if an event sponsored by them were to get in the way of emergency vehicles because the streets are congested. 

Martin Hahn responded that if the raffles get too big and cannot be held in one establishment that it is possible to use multiple places and operate the raffle simultaneously.

        Moved by Eimen        Seconded by McGehee

to approve Ordinance No. 23-24-08 Title 7, Raffle Code.   All aye, except Fancher who abstained.

Mayor Theesfeld suggested to the council that a bonus of $150.00 be given to each of the summer help. He feels they deserve a bonus for all the extra work they did hauling scrap metal, moving bricks for a street project, and other clean-up projects around the city.  

        Moved by Kraft            Seconded by Bachman

To approve a $150.00 bonus for each of the summer help. All aye. 

Mayor Theesfeld stated the need for thirteen more Christmas decorations because we now have twenty-six street lights instead of thirteen. The city received a quote from Main Street Design for 13 new wreaths in the amount of $8,138.00, plus shipping fees. A sample wreath was sent and Dave Thompson fabricated a bracket to fit the new streetlights to see if the sample wreath would work. The current wreathes the city owns will be similar to the new ones.

        Moved by McGehee        Seconded by Elliott

to approve the purchase from Main Street Design, thirteen pole mount candle wreaths for a total of $8,138.00 plus shipping cost without competitive bidding. All aye.

Mayor Theesfeld advised the council that the landscaping on N Central St. can start August 15th but needs to be finished by Sept 15th according to the state guidelines. Lavicka must plant the trees and landscaping within that 30-day timeframe and then are required to maintain them for 30 days. Lavicka stated the planting could be finished by the Sept. 9th Super Saturday event.

Mayor Theesfeld reported that the 3rd St and Maple St project is not moving forward as planned as AT&T, Comcast, and Ameren need to move poles and transfer lines. The job will hopefully be completed by mid-October.

Mayor Theesfeld advised the council that the city may need to purchase a 6ft mower to keep up with the extra mowing and hire another part time person. 

Mayor Theesfeld advised that the sewer project between N. Central and N. Main St has a garage that is over the right of way. The owner of the garage at 317 N. Central St. is willing to give the garage to the city in exchange for the vacant lot adjacent to his property. Mayor Theesfeld will discuss the demolition of the garage with Iroquois Paving Corp., and said the city will need to advertise the sale of property at 311 N Central St. to start the bidding process.

        Moved by Elliott                Seconded by Bachman

to authorize advertising the sale of a city owned property at 311 N Central Street. All aye.

Mayor Theesfeld was informed that Governor Pritzker is visiting Incobrasa Industries on Sept 6, 2023 and invited the City Council Members to attend.

Aldermen Elliott had nothing to discuss.

Aldermen Fancher had nothing to discuss.

Aldermen Eimen stated an Electronics Recycling Event is being held in Watseka on Sept 9th. 

Aldermen McGehee had nothing to discuss.

Aldermen Kraft had nothing to discuss.

Aldermen Bachman asked if the parking spaces behind St. Paul Lutheran could be marked. Mayor Theesfeld advised that they could but at the church’s expense.

Mayor Theesfeld advised the council that payment needs to be approved to Tenco Excavating for the 3rd and Maple St. Project.

        Moved by Kraft        Seconded by Bachman

to approve payment to Tenco Excavating, Inc in the amount of $197,007.75 for the 3rd and Maple Roadway Improvement Project. All aye.

Mayor Theesfeld was asked by Ted Heidemen for permission to sell tacos outside of Crossroads Cantinas during the Super Saturday Event. The mayor approved his request, as other food venders will be doing the same.       

        Moved by McGehee        Seconded by Fancher

to approve the bills as they were presented, and to approve the Balance Sheet, and Profit and Loss Statement dated August 14, 2023. All aye.        

        Moved by McGehee        Seconded by Fancher

To adjourn the regular meeting at 7:41 p.m. All aye.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GvjwI19SpT5k6T7UY-o7Md47CknxD6fL/edit