City of Lexington City Council met Feb. 24.
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, Alderwoman Wilson and Alderman Stover with Alderman Franklin and Alderman Richard absent. Members of the staff and public present were: Luke Smuckers and Chief Belvery.
It was moved by Alderwoman Wilson and seconded by Alderman Colclasure to approve the minutes of the February 10, 2020 council meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Alderman Stover and seconded by Alderwoman Wilson to approve the Treasurer’s Report and pay bills in the amount of $191,044.49. It was noted that TIF payouts and payment to Allied Waste Services were included in that amount. Motion carried unanimously.
Public Input: None Old Business:
Discussion/Vote To Allow Bids for Construction of Douglas Drive North
We have reapproached this and are putting out bids for the road itself, have changed it to allow asphalt or blacktop and have taken out the earth work. David Leake is going to start the earth working phase of the turn lane which will be phase one.
Mayor Johansen has been in talks with Casey’s and he and Bill are meeting with the construction crew later this week or the first of next week. There is a chance they may get involved in the earth moving, instead of us working ours and them doing theirs, they may come in and do all of the work. We will figure out what is the best alternative. They have given the green light to go ahead and get started with the site. He wants to get this out for bids. He has put a date of March 31st for the bids to be in so we have an idea of what the cost for the road is going to be and have a better idea of what we are working with.
Motion was made by Alderman Colclaure and seconded by Alderman Stover to allow the bids for construction of Douglas Drive North to be put out. Motion carried unanimously.
New Business:
Discussion/Vote Resolution 2020-1: IMRF To Include Cash Payments Related to Health Insurance as IMRF Earnings
This resolution came from IMRF and pertains to employees who do not have our employee health insurance. If one of our employees doesn’t take the insurance we pay them what the premium would be so they may purchase insurance somewhere else. Realizing that this increases their salary it must be reported to IMRF as cash earnings.
Motion was made by Alderwoman Wilson and seconded by Alderman Stover to approve Resolution 2020-1: IMRF to Include Cash Payments Related to Health Insurance as IMRF Earnings. Motion carried unanimously.
Closed Session Minute Review
We have had no closed sessions since the last review. Alderman Richard and Alderman Franklin will review the closed minutes.
Committee Reports:
Mayor’s Report: Mayor Johansen reported on the following items:
Checkers opening has been postponed. The health department has approved everything and they are waiting for Checkers to come and do a final walk thru. They are scheduled for March 3rd for training and March 10th for opening.
He has been working with Casey’s and their construction crew. They are ready to get started.
There has been interest in a coffee shop. He has met with two people already and is meeting with another one later this week or the first of next week.
Police: None
Building/Insurance: None
Finance/TIF: Alderman Stover reported that the budget workshop will be next month.
Water/Sewer/Sanitation: None
Street/Alley: Alderman Colclasure reported on the following items:
Site preparation of the Douglas Road (northward) extension continues and the city council will
soon be asked to vote on rebuilding the finished pavement whether it be concrete or hot mix.
In addition, Bill Elias reported that the 12ft right turn lane on P. J. Keller and Douglas will most likely be done in two phases with the turn lane road being the second phase.
The committee discussed available options to comply with the planned annual replacement of city equipment, that being the 2001 International due to be replaced in 2021, with those options to be discussed during forthcoming budget workshops.
In addition, the committee discussed a long-held concern regarding the opportunity to a city shed with a consensus being that such a further discussion should occur during the forthcoming budget workshops.
Mayor Johansen would like everyone to think about, before the next meeting, is where the council would like to see Lexington go in the next five to 10 years. Jot some notes down as kind of a wish list or what kind of direction you would like to see us going in, to see if we are all on the same page or not.
Alderman Stover asked if everyone got the e-mails from IML? Did everyone read the one on the new tax program? He found it very interesting and it did not sound like it was good news for the city. Regardless if it goes through or doesn’t go through because they are targeting the money that comes back to us. That was in Pritzker’s budget.
Mayor Johansen thought there was not much we could do except address it with Dan Brady.
Alderman Stover thought it might be something we might want to put out to let people know. They are selling it to you that you won’t pay any taxes but, they are taking it away from us, but there will be local things you will need to pay for and you are going to end up getting hit.
Mayor Johansen is afraid it is going to get worse for the small communities.
There being no further business a motion was made by Alderwoman Wilson to adjourn at 7.15 p.m. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.
https://www.lexingtonillinois.org/images/_Minutes_February_24_2020.pdf
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