City of Chenoa City Council met Feb. 28.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The Chenoa City Council met in regular session on February 28, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Mayor Wilder, Commissioners Myers, Price, Moreland, Attorney Mann and City Clerk Rhoades were in attendance.
#5495 Commissioners Myers and Price moved and seconded the Motion that the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 14, 2023 be approved. That the bills and payrolls be allowed, and orders on the Treasurer be drawn in payment of same. The roll call vote was affirmative.
#5496 Commissioners Price and Myers moved and seconded the Motion that the council do now adjourn. The roll call vote was affirmative.
IN OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE COUNCIL:
LexiPol Regarding Police Policy and Manuals
Chief Cornwal said he has been wanting to do this for the last 8 years. He does not know of any major expenses next year. It is a company that handles police and fire policy. They will help update the police manual and update it. This would be mobile friendly instead of just a binder in the office. This keeps them up to date with the state laws. This would lower the liability on the police department. We have control over what we adopt. They will work one on one for tier 1 and 2. Tiers 3, 4, and 5 they will give their recommendations on. It tracks all training on officers to help show what officers have been up to date with policies. IML told him they do not do this but does recommend the City use it. He knows El Paso and Farmer City use this company and both are very happy with it. The first year is $ it includes the revamp of what we have. It costs $3,500 annually for 5 officers or less. The part-time officers do not count for pricing but will also be trained. He does not feel there is anything wrong with the manual but he does not have the law degree to know. Commissioner Myers asked if we could update the web base of this. Chief Cornwall said he will be the one that approves it as the updates happen. He said we decide how strict the policies will be. He said the training is about 2 minutes daily which they will access from their email. He said when a department gets sued the first thing that is asked is what the policies are and the training on them, so this would help with that. Dave Shane said there's money in the training that could be used and feels there is money that could be used in this budget year. Chief Cornwall said there is no rush and they can just budget it for next year.
Comments from the Floor
Kim and Amanda are teachers at PC High School. They run the ACES program, which is the special ed program at the high school for the special needs students. They are looking to get a therapy dog for their classroom. They have all the approvals they need. They are working on funding for it. They shared a video on the benefits of a therapy dog. They hope to help the kids with socialtion and fine motor skills. They need a hypoallergenic dog as they are both allergic to them. They want this dog to come in and sit with the students to help with the emotional aspects. They also hope to help teach them the responsibility of owning a dog. A service dog is trained to help one person, where a therapy dog is trained for an entire group to help calm the situation. The dog would help soothe and calm the nervous system and release stress to help with the focus of what they are working on. It allows them the practice of their reading without the worry of being corrected by an adult which causes stress. The physical benefits would be by encouraging them to get their therapy by walking or throwing a ball. Atkins just donated a goldendoodle to them which they named Ace. They now have to get the dog trained and certified which takes about a year. They will have to be recertified every year. They will carry insurance on the dog while at school. They estimated $4,000 for the cost for the first year and $1,000 for each year after. They will be sending a letter at the beginning of the year to the student’s parents to notify them of the dog and that he is trained and insured. Their goal is to have the dog in the classroom by next January. Commissioner Myers said he has worked with Kim as perapro and sees how this can really benefit. Mayor Wilder said the City has a Silliman Trust that they can talk about putting in the budget to donate some money. Sarah Micheals asked what the personality of the dog is that makes it good for a therapy dog. Kim said the dog was very calm from birth.
Sarah Micheals passed out the new Red Carpet COrridor brochures for this year. SHe said there is huge national attention in the next three years leading up to the Sentinel. She feels we need to do something with the Hotel especially during the Red Carpet Corridor to get people to stay in Chenoa in the hotel. She will be meeting with Ameren tomorrow at the pool and report back to the City. Pontiac has a classic car tour starting in Chicago going to St. Louis in June. They will be stopping for about 30 minutes. She would like to have a little snack bag that they can take along with them. This year the Shop-N-Go will be uptown. They need the standing water issues to be taken care of first.
Dave Shane if anyone has contacted the person who wants to put this apartment building in town. He feels if he wants to better the town to talk to him about other options for a location in case it does not get approved for that location. Mayor Wilder said when he spoke with him about a year ago and gave him several names of properties in town. He reached out to the owners and none of them were willing to sell. Attorney Mann asked if he is wanting the City to act as a broker or what he is asking. Dave said he thinks the City should reach out to help show other locations it could go that are already zoned properly for that. He just does not want to make someone mad that wants to invest in the town. Commissioner Myers feels they can talk to him about options if it does not pass the zoning board. Attorney Mann suggested they wait to see what happens at the hearing next week.
Attorney's Comments
None
Treasurer’s Comments
None
Commissioner’s Comments
Commissioner Moreland said the bid for the clear tank
Commissioner Price said they have some projects coming up with the pot holes, alleys, and streets as soon as the weather breaks.
Commissioner Myers said he called McLean County Fair and found out they don’t own a tent but gave the company they rent from in Champaign. They do sell used tents to towns. Buying new would cost about $3,000 to $5,000. They can buy a used one from this company for about $1,000. Commissioner Moreland asked if anyone uses it other than the 4th of July Committee. Mayor Wilder said some groups do but the City itself does not. Commissioner Myers has been talking with a couple people who write grants.
Mayor Wilder said they are going to finalize the bid proposal for Sillman Pond next week. He is going to ask Farnsworth and Chamlin if they can get it out on their sites. They did receive the Sillman money.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
https://www.chenoail.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif6431/f/minutes/2_28_23.pdf
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