City of Lexington City Council met Aug. 9.
Here are 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 Franklin, Alderman Little, Alderman Richard, Alderman Mattingly and Alderwoman Wilson. Members of the staff and public present were: Ken Sours.
It was moved by Alderwoman Wilson and seconded by Alderman Mattingly to approve the minutes of the July 26, 2021 City Council meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Alderman Stover and seconded by Alderman Franklin to approve the Treasurer’s Report and paying of the bills in the amount of $26,153.52. Motion carried unanimously.
Public Input: None
Old Business:
DISCUSSION GOLF CART UPDATE
Alderman Richard led this discussion and passed out copies of the old ordinance from 2010 and copies of what his suggested changes would be.
He had made changes to several categories including definitions of All-terrain Vehicle, Golf Cart and Neighborhood Vehicle. He wanted to remove vehicles with straddle seating which would include John Deere “gators”.
He also made changes to Section C: Limitations on Operation which refers to where the vehicles may be operated. Discussion centered around which streets and County roads they may drive on and whether they would be allowed on P. J. Keller Hwy. to go to Casey’s or Dollar General and on highways with a posted speed limit of over 35 miles per hour.
A list of safety equipment was also included. It was noted that the prior ordinance had not required them to have a windshield but Chief Belvery felt we should require them to have either a windshield or protective eyewear.
During the discussion it was decided to omit the wording of Neighborhood Vehicle.
Each vehicle should be registered with the city and pass an inspection with the list of safety features, current insurance registration and purchase a license plate for a one time registration fee of $25. The owner of the vehicle shall pay an annual inspection and license plate sticker fee of $15 on or before the end of every April. The owner of the vehicle shall pay any and all costs for replacement of lost, stolen or damaged license plates and stickers. The fee shall be $20 for license plates and $5 for license plate stickers, or the cost to the City of Lexington, whichever is greater. Alderman Mattingly felt that in case of an owner transferring ownership to someone else they should register that ownership with the city right away rather than allowing them 30 days.
Alderman Richard will do more research on the rules for farmers and vehicles on roads with speed limits for 55 miles per hour.
Mayor Johansen felt that after a set number of violations and fines their registration should be revoked. The council also thought that at the time of registration they should be given a copy of the ordinance and be required to sign something saying they had read it.
DISCUSSION/VOTE - PINE STREET PROJECT
Mayor Johansen started the discussion. There were some issues with the bidding process and the fact that it had to be run through the Motor Fuel Revenue Fund. Eppel was lower on almost every line item. When we were talking with McLean County they gave us one price and when we mentioned using the Motor Fuel fund the price of doing the work went up significantly.
Alderman Mattingly continued the discussion. He stated that the Street Committee had met regarding the bids. We were going to use McLean County Asphalt to do the work but they could not get it done until fall when we would be in the midst of harvest and school starting. The committee decided to go with the lowest bid of H. J. Eppel and Co. Inc. at $93,658.35 who could do the work immediately.
Mayor Johansen commented that he had brought this up at the Mayor’s Association meeting that they should contact Dan Brady to try to get the $25,000 that is the threshold to put it out for bids raised to $50,000. It was $20,000 at one time and was raised to $25,000 and he feels it is time to raise it to $50,000. That would help to keep the costs down on these projects.
Motion was made by Alderwoman Wilson and seconded by Alderman Mattingly to award a contract for a Motor Fuel Tax/Rebuild Illinois funded hot mix asphalt overlay of two blocks of North Pine Street in Lexington to H. J. Eppel and Co., Inc. of Pontiac, Illinois. The award is based upon Eppel’s low bid of $93,658.35, with the final cost to be determined by unit prices as bid and actual quantities of materials utilized. Motion carried unanimously.
DISCUSSION/VOTE - PLANNING COMMISSION’S RECOMMENDATION REZONING OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES
This item was removed from the agenda.
New Business:
DISCUSSION/VOTE - LICENSE AGREEMENT ANALYTICAL BREWERY
The title deed for this property has been ordered but there has been so much real estate changing hands that the title company is getting behind and it may be a couple of weeks before they get the deed for that property. They are wanting to get started. They have a masonry contractor getting started this week. Mayor Johansen has had our attorney draw this agreement up. When we sign it and agree to it, they can start work. It will expire when they get the deed.
Motion was made by Alderman Franklin and seconded by Alderman Richard to approve the Early Entry License Agreement for Analytical Brewery. Motion carried unanimously.
Committee Reports:
Mayor’s Report: Mayor Johansen reported on the following items: He is still in talks with Dollface Desserts.
He, Alderman Stover and Alderman Mattingly have met with Ameren concerning what the Fire Department would like to do. The Fire Department is having their property surveyed so we know exactly where the property line is. Ameren does not really want to move anything out of that alley. They were willing to remove one transformer. Our concern is that on the north end is the drainage from the Fire Department which will increase if the Coffee Hound would put in a new building and the Fire Department adds on. He does not want to give that up. He would consider giving half of it up toward the south side. Most of that area is zero lot line so they could build right up to the other buildings. Usually what happens when you vacate an alley is you split between the two properties. We will get together again after the survey comes in and then bring it before the council.
He has seen no activity of Brandt’s moving out. He will try to get an update on that.
Slagel will be here this week to put the roof on the quonset hut. There are still no springs for the garage door.
He has been in talks with the president of Commerce Bank. They have set a price of $300,000 on the building. He told him we were not interested in buying it. He has been working with a couple of other banks and businesses to see what we can put in there. The property taxes are almost $11,000 a year. He cannot expect him to try to bring a business in or try to sell the building for $300,000-$350,000 and then they have to pay property taxes of $11,000 a year.
There was a major water leak over the weekend on Chatham Street. The guys did a good job of repairing. Billy DuBois had to do the repair underwater.
He has heard nothing from the carnival. The attorney was to send them a letter. Police: None
Building/Insurance Alderman Franklin commented that he is sending out insurance letters.
Finance /TIF None
Water/Sewer/Sanitation Alderwoman Wilson reported that Billy Dubois has gotten one bid back on cleaning the water tower and is waiting on another.
Street/Alley: None
There being no further business, motion was made by Alderman Mattingly to adjourn at 7:46 P.M. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.
https://www.lexingtonillinois.org/images/Minutes_August_9_2021.pdf
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