City of Lexington City Council met Aug. 26.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
The regular meeting of the Lexington City Council was called to order at 7:00 P. M. by Mayor Spencer Johansen in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.
Mayor Johansen led the council in the pledge of allegiance.
Roll call was taken to find the following physically present: Mayor Johansen, Alderman Schreiber, Alderman Colclasure, Alderman Richard, Alderman Franklin, Alderwoman Wilson and Alderman Stover. Members of the staff and public present were: Chief David Belvery, Don Cavallini and Paul Deters.
It was moved by Alderman Colclasure and seconded by Alderwoman Wilson to approve the minutes of the August 12, 2019 meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Alderman Stover and seconded by Alderman Franklin to approve the treasurer’s report and pay bills in the amount of $83,408.80. It was noted that this included the purchase of a 2019 Chevy Silverado truck. Motion carried unanimously.
Public Input: None Old Business:
Discussion only Allowing Chickens Within the City Limits
The discussion on allowing chickens within the city limits was brought up again. Alderman Stover felt that some of the aldermen had changed their thought process since it had been brought before the council in the spring and it was decided to look at the process again.
It was felt that there were two options that could be followed. We would need to change the old ordnance removing chickens from the section and then adopt a new ordinance with the guidelines for allowing chickens. Then we would need to figure out how we would issue the permits. Mayor Johansen is not against chickens but he is against rewriting the ordinance and adopting a new ordinance for one person. She is the only resident who expressed an interest in it. He has had more people against it than he has had for it. What about zoning? That will need to be changed as well. If we did a permit, that would get into a zoning board meeting to allow them to do it and those need to be posted and published in the paper, adding an expense to the city.
Alderwoman Wilson would only vote for it if each request was approved by the council and the neighbors.That process would need to go through the zoning board will need to approve and make a recommendation to the council.
Alderman Schreiber wanted to know why the Zoning Board needed to be involved? The ordinance is based on zoning regulations to have livestock.
Mayor Johansen reminded them that if we do this we will need to change the wording in the current ordinance and write a new ordinance with regulations in place to allow the chickens.
Alderwoman Wilson says she has had only one person say they didn’t care and several against, so if she were voting, she would vote no. Alderman Richard has heard from a lot of people who have said no. As for the resident who wants chickens, Alderwoman Wilson understands her need. Alderman Franklin has not had much input but agrees there are a lot of health risks. Alderman Colclasure knows there are a lot of health risks. The one resident did come to the council meeting and plead her case as to why she did not want chickens in town.
Do we even want to move forward? We can leave it as it is for now and if we want to do something in the future we can.
Alderman Schreiber thought we should come up with an ordinance and vote on it. Something similar to Chenoa, Gridley or Bloomington altho it was noted that Bloomington’s ordinance the people did not live in town. It was decided that there would be something patterned after the City of Chenoa and be ready for a vote at the next meeting. The question was also asked how we are going to enforce the ordinance? This will be ready for a vote at the next meeting on September 9, 2019.
Discussion/Vote on Ordinance 2019-5: Approving the City of Lexington as Per Final Plat Attached hereto and Made a Part hereof Including the Specific Legal Description of Tracts 1 and 2 Contained Therein
Mayor Johansen explained that this is the final plat for Casey’s. It has already been approved but we needed to approve the ordinance for it.
Motion was made by Alderwoman Wilson and seconded by Alderman Stover to approve Ordinance 2019-5: Approving the City of Lexington as Per Final Plat Attached hereto and Made a Part hereof Including the specific Legal Description of Tracts 1 and 2 Contained Therein. Motion carried unanimously.
Discussion/Vote on Ordinance 2019-6: Surplus Property(Truck)
Mayor Johansen explained that Billy Dubois’s new water truck was in and they needed to declare his old truck surplus property so it could be sold.
Motion was made by Alderwoman Wilson and seconded by Alderman Franklin to approve Ordinance 2019-6: Surplus Property (Truck). Motion carried unanimously.
Discussion only Cannabis Act
Mayor Johansen asked if anyone had any additional information or insights?
The question was asked if we were going to hold a public forum? That most people the alderman had talked with knew nothing about the new law. Mayor Johansen responded by stating that it has been in the paper and on the website. Chief Belvery responded that there is a wide range of internet sites with information. Chief Belvery also commented that he and Officer Lorsbach will be taking enforcement training in October.
The Illinois Cannabis Law is 468 pages. There is a lot to discuss around this law. Tonight’s discussion was mainly around the legal limits that can be carried and how much can be used before you would be considered impaired and how long it stays in the blood. Chief Belvery is very knowledgeable on the subject.
Alderman Richard is in the process of contacting someone that he knows who has a cannabis dispensary.
We will continue to keep this discussion on the agenda.
New Business:
Discussion/Vote on Proceeding with Hiring of Additional Part-time Officer
Alderman Richard reminded the council that a year ago they agreed to hire two more part time officers. One of those officers went full time. We now have someone who is interested in the other part time position and he would like to start the process. That part time position was approved and they would like to fill it now. Right now Chief Belvery has six part timers and two full timers. He has two that work vacations and special events. He would like to get one other person that can be put into the roster and work on a more regular basis. It gives him more flexibility.
Alderwoman Wilson wants to put something in the contract that if we hire them and send them to school that they are required to give us so much time in return. Chief Belvery agreed that while we could do that if she wanted they could not make it stick. They are covered by the union contract and we have to honor that. The reason that is so hard to enforce is: we do get the use of them while they are in training. We do not pay for their training. The state pays for their 560 hours of training and their uniform expenses which their cost is prorated, so the longer they are with us the cost is prorated down.
It would not be a bad idea to put the word out and build the list up, we got two out of the list the last time.
He did put a restriction that they could not go to work for another department for two years.
Mayor Johansen would like to see the Police Committee meet and make a recommendation to the council.
The question was asked about how often they are to go onto Interstate 55. Lexington Police are not to be on Interstate 55 after 9 P.M. unless called out for mutual aid or following someone off of P. J. Keller Highway..
Motion was made by Alderman Richard and seconded by Alderwoman Wilson to proceed with the hiring of an additional part time officer. Motion carried unanimously.
Mayor’s Report: Ameren will begin installing the street lighting on P. J. Keller Highway by Wednesday.
The new electronic sign at the end of Main Street is up and running.
Work has started on Checkers. They are repairing the roof and they anticipate being open before Thanksgiving.
Douglas Drive North Road design has been completed by Farnsworth and should be ready to go to the county for approval later this week. Once it is approved by the county we will bring it to the council and put it out for bids. Then we will know what it is going to cost us.
At the last council meeting we approved Terry Brown for a building permit for a garage based on the property being free from any utility easements underground. It is not. Right now there is a hold on the permit. I told him today that if he got written permission from Ameren and the phone company that we would agree.
He has had another meeting with the apartment complex and the residential subdivision and things are looking good.
The fitness center will open the first of November, which is a month earlier than first anticipated.
Police: None
Building/Insurance: Alderman Franklin reported that he had spoken with City attorney Shields about separating the parcels around the Park. He had gotten a surveyor quote of $1,500 for the property. He has asked City Attorney Shields for suggestions as to the best way to sell the property, to sell or post out for bids or with a real estate agent.
Finance/TIF: None
Water/Sewer/Sanitation: None
Street/Alley: Alderman Colclasure reported that the lights on P. J. Keller Highway will soon be going up and they have been marking areas for hot mix.
There being no further business a motion was made by Alderman Franklin to adjourn at 7:48 p.m. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.
https://www.lexingtonillinois.org/images/August_26_2019_minutes.pdf
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