McLean County Times

City of Lexington City Council Met April 12.

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 Stover, Alderman Richard, Alderwoman Wilson, Alderman Franklin and Alderman Colclasure. Alderman Schreiber was attending remotely. Members of the staff and public present were: Kenneth Sours, Vern Owens, Luke Schmucker and Bill Elias.

It was moved by Alderman Colclasure and seconded by Alderwoman Wilson to approve the minutes of the March 8, 2021 regular City Council meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

It was moved by Alderman Stover and seconded by Alderman Richard to approve the Treasurer’s Report and paying of the bills in the amount of $88,195.45. It was noted that this was for two time periods, March 22, 2021 and April 12, 2021. Motion carried unanimously.

Public Input: Vern Owens returned to the council to again ask for assistance with an issue concerning a water line that he had brought before the council in November 2020.

On December 14, 2020 he was advised that the City was going to move the water line and wanted to do it at the same time the gas company moved the gas line. In March 2021 he received an email from Nicor that they were ready to move the line and tried to schedule an appointment. On March 11, 2021 he received an email from Nicor that they had spoken with Bill Jr and they were willing to work with our schedule to replace the line. On April 12, 2021 he called Nicor about the scheduling and nothing has been scheduled. I have had no success reaching Bill Jr.

Alderwoman Wilson replied that she had had an email that stated that they had reached Bill Jr. and that they are in the process of scheduling. Now we are waiting on NiCor to schedule the work. As far as the water, she did say that if NiCor was going to put in a line we would wait and do it when they did it but we have not voted as a council to approve that. We would not do it on our own. First it was winter and we really couldn’t. She says it is up to NiCor.

Mr. Owens feels Nicor has attempted several calls and cannot get any response. Alderwoman Wilson commented that she cannot call NiCor and tell them to schedule it. Mr. Owens stated there is a number on the email to schedule it and it needs to be the property owner or the city.

There was some discussion as to the best way to handle the water line, leave it, shut it off, remove it or run it down the property line.

Mayor Johansen needs to see what the cost is going to be. The question on the whole thing was there a verbal agreement? Is it the city’s fault if there was a verbal agreement 40 years ago when that line was put in? Now it seems to be an issue. It could have been made years ago that Mr. Owens was not aware of. We need to look a little further into that before we spend any money on that.

There was a letter signed by Mr. Owens’ dad but no one can find it. Mr.Owens feels sure if it were found it would clear this issue up.

Mr. Owens feels it should be removed as he may want to build on that lot in the future and the water line is right where the footing would be.

This will be put on the agenda for the next meeting for further discussion. Old Business: None

New Business:

Discussion/Vote Motor Fuel Tax Resolution Number 2021-2

Bill Elias led this discussion regarding Resolution 2021-2 which we pass each year.

The only thing this year with a major increase is the salt for the snow and ice. There is a budget number to go in the budget but we won’t know the increase until August.

It was noted that we would not see an impact from Casey's until next year as Motor Fuel was based on per capita. The more the state gets the more we will get.

Motion was made by Alderman Franklin and seconded by Alderwoman Wilson to approve Resolution 2021-2 Motor Fuel Tax. Motion carried unanimously.

Discussion/Vote Building Improvements

Alderman Franklin led this discussion around the quonset hut and the police garage.

Mayor Johansen reported that the city has been getting calls from the individuals that have bought the property around the park. They would like to close on those properties. Alderman Franklin has also had some calls on the brick building next to the Shake Shack which would be available after June 1st.

Alderman Franklin has gotten some quotes for fixing up the quonset hut and fixing up the garage. The quonset hut is available anytime. He, Alderman Colclasure and Alderman Scheiber have talked with Mike Beard and feel the need to get the overhead doors in place to get it ready for immediate use. Heating and insulation can wait until October or November. He proposes that we spend not more than $30,000 on that building.

To make the building in the back useful not to exceed $10,000. We did well on selling the properties.

Motion was made by Alderman Franklin and seconded by Alderman Colclasure to spend up to $30,000 for improvements on the quonset hut and up to $10,000 for improvements to the police garage. Motion carried unanimously.

Discussion/Vote Ordinance 2021-4 Surplus Property

Mayor Johansen reported that this is the property at 301 E. Wall that was the Lockenvitz property that the city acquired through the court system. In order for us to sell it we need to pass an ordinance and then put it out in the paper for bids.

Motion was made by Alderwoman Wilson and seconded by Alderman Franklin to approve Ordinance 2021-4: Surplus Property. Motion carried unanimously.

Review/Discussion Project Plans Coffee Hound

Mayor Johansen met with them last week.

They are planning to re-side the building blue with wood cedar trim on the outside. There will be a drive thru window on the side where the scale used to be. You will pick up your order in the back. The block building next to the office is going to be the roasting place. There will be a garden area behind the building and the lot and they would like to put up a bar type of outdoor facility to rent out for events. They would like to get started with that block building as soon as possible.

He will hand off to Mike Beard for approval.

Committee Reports:

Mayors Report: Mayor Johansen reported on the following items:

He has a meeting tomorrow with the McLean County Health Department to inspect the Community Center for a possible vaccine site.

He is also meeting with the School, Park District and Bill Cheney on the rec center idea. He has had a call from a doctor who wants an indoor practice football field. That would help the hotel.

He met with another potential business that is interested in coming to Lexington and is meeting with them again.

He will be gone for the next Council meeting. There will need to be an election of Mayor Pro Tem.

He wanted to thank Alderman Colclasure and Alderman Schreiber for their four years of service. He feels we have gotten a lot done and wished them the best of luck in the future.

He will appoint someone to take Alderman Schreiber’s position. He does have someone who has expressed an interest.

He reminded Alderman Colclasure and Alderman Schreiber that they still had to fill out their Statement of Economic Interest even though they would no longer be on the council. Reminders were also given to others on the council that the statements were due at the end of April.

The question was raised again about golf carts and setting up some sort of rules and having some sort of yearly inspection where you show your insurance and you get a sticker. It is not to make money but trying to keep everything legal. Everyone needs to know the rules, read it and sign it. Alderman Richard will talk with Chief Belvery about this.

He is concerned about the properties in town that are looking bad. You can go through the Ordinance Book to see the classifications but who writes them up? He does not want to put another burden on the Police Department. Any City Council member or city employee can write an ordinance. Maybe we need a committee on the council when we get a list of these properties to go by and review them. We have houses with junk cars and all they need to do is license them and they are good. We have houses that are in bad shape. We have a couple buildings on Main Street that are in bad shape. We don’t have a code compliance officer. If the house is in your ward does the Alderman go there first? Do we want to hire a part time code enforcement officer? We need to think about how we want to handle this.

It was also brought up about the mail delivery at Timber Ridge. It still is not getting where it is supposed to be going. What is the avenue to fix this problem? Is there anything the City can do or should they be reporting every time there is a misdelivered piece of mail to the Post Office. The address on the envelope is correct but it is getting put in the wrong mailbox. It was noted that the city has a new postmaster and he will talk with her. Meanwhile they should continue to let the Post Office know every time they get the wrong mail.

When we bring in the new council, in the next four years he would like to have more committee meetings. If the committee has already met it will make the council meeting discussion go faster and they can make a recommendation on items.

Police: Alderman Richard reported that they had received three applications for police officer position. Two were not qualified and we will follow up with the other.

Our breathalyzer machine is 20 years old and has been repaired multiple times.

Our Tasers were gifts from another police department and have run their course. We have ordered new tasers. We have to have those.

Building/Insurance Alderman Franklin reported that he has been working on a grant for assistance on the infrastructure on the Orange Street project. He is getting all the layouts and documentation together.

Mayor Johohansen commented that we will be running the proposal for bids in the paper for the brick building next to the Shake Shack soon.

Finance/TIF: Alderman Stover reported that hopefully before the next meeting he will have a preliminary budget to preview.

Water/Sewer/Sanitation: None

Street/Alley: Alderman Colclasure reported that he had seen the pole was laying out for the tornado siren to be mounted on. Mayor Johansen assumes it will be set any day.

Mayor Johansen commented that they were going to put an ad in the Lexingtonian for part time summer help with weeding, etc.

There being no further business, motion was made by Alderman Franklin to adjourn at 7:56 P.M. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.