City of Lexington City Council met June 12.
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 Johsnsen, Alderman Mattingly, Alderman Richard, Alderman Stover, Alderwoman Wilson and Alderman Little with Alderman Franklin absent. Members of the staff and public present were: Peg Reynolds with the Lexingtonian, Tom Kinsella, Chief Edmiaston and Ken Sours.
It was moved by Alderwoman Wilson and seconded by Alderman Mattingly to approve the minutes of the May 8, 2023 regular session City Council meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Alderman Stover and seconded by Alderman Little to approve the Treasurer’s Report and paying of the bills in the amount of $39,806.33. Motion carried unanimously.
Public Input: None
Old Business:
Discussion Ring Camera Program
There had been a good presentation of this program in the past and the feedback has been to go ahead and do it. Mayor Johansen thought we should give a business voucher of $50 and limit it to an amount put in the budget this year, maybe $2,000. Homeowners must present their receipt for the purchase of the ring camera to receive the voucher. He will get with Chief Edmiaston and talk numbers as far as turnout. He feels it is a good program and would like to have it ready for a vote at the next meeting.
The question was asked if the homeowner did not want a voucher for a business could we give them a credit on their water bill? Mayor Johansen thought that would make it more confusing and the voucher was a cleaner way to do it and the auditors would be able to track it. But they could take another look at it.
Alderwoman Wilson thought that $50 was too high. Mayor Johansen thought with the cost of the doorbells and the fact that $50 doesn’t go very far today that it was a fair amount. We can take a look at it again next year.
Discussion Status Sewer Superintendent Position
Alderwoman Wilson reported that the initial candidate didn’t work out and it was felt that the insurance was the reason why. His current employer currently provides his insurance for his family of four.
They are currently interviewing the last candidate next week. If they do not choose one of the candidates they will repost the position. The second candidate is from Lexington and has not been offered the position.
Mayor Johansen would hate to repost the position. Mike Beard is not leaving until April or May but there is the training period and he will have to get his license. He would like to get the position filled and it helps Alderman Stover with the budget.
Discussion Kinsella Property
Alderman Richard, Alderman Franklin and Mayor Johansen met with Dave Kinsella and his sister by phone. They are still worried about liability on the parking lot if someone comes from the brewery and causes a car crash even though the lease states we are liable.
Our original offer was to exchange what is on the map K 1-2- and 3 in exchange for L-1 and 2. After they talked Dave did not want to give up L-2 and we needed that space. He recommends that we just rescind our offer.
We have had this on the agenda for a year and nothing is resolved. We are going to give up our offer. We are saying enough is enough, nothing is resolved and leave it as it is. Our attorney assured us we have no obligation to give up anything.
New Business:
Discussion Budget
This discussion needs to be postponed. Alderman Stover reported that the numbers are looking good but there are a few issues from when we moved to the new accounting software that need to be resolved. He is also working on some numbers from the new subdivision.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Mayor’s Report: Mayor Johansen reported on the following items: He thanked everyone for covering for him while he was gone in April and May.
He passed out a drawing of the plans for Lexington Travel Center and their 53 truck parking area. This is BP’s proposal for their addition. He told them he did not think the council would approve 53 truck parking spaces but would a smaller number, maybe 35. There is to be a paved parking area with entry and exit gates and a vinyl type fence. He felt a concrete block fence would be better. They have yet to work out the detention basin area. There is no formal plan yet, maybe by July. He has mixed emotions about the additional diesel lanes going in with the subdivision going in right behind this area. He reminded the council that we will get no additional property tax off this property, only additional motor fuel tax revenue. They will also be open 24/7 with someone to monitor the area. Farnsworth is working on the detention basin plans.
Five years ago Dr. Khokhar wanted to finance an indoor sports complex, a 60,000-80,000 square feet dome. He has investors lined up. Last week he and Carey Davis went to Saint Louis to where they make those domes. They are going to lease 14 acres from BP to construct the dome. There will also be a Holiday Inn Express going up in the same area. Indoor sports complexes are packed full all the time and he thinks he has investors to pull it off. We are going to see a lot of activity out there. We are still in the talking and planning stages but would like to have the dome up by next year. The city would run the water and sewer and we are seeing what IDOT would require from us for the road work. Dr. Khokhar hired a grant writer and it is going to be run through the City of Lexington. He will match whatever the grant is for. They also want to put soccer fields out there but that will be phase two.
At the subdivision things are going as planned. They are waiting on Farnsworth and hope to start moving dirt and laying sewer in August. Houses should start being built in the fall. Streets are roughed in. Tentac is on board with apartments and is working out the details.
He and Alderman Stover met with someone wanting to open a hardware store behind the brewery parking lot. They are working on details.
Thursday is Donnie B’s and Serendipity’s first day of business. That adds two more businesses to Main Street.
He is at his wits end with the fiber optic companies. He is ready to start writing ordinance violations. He has someone he is going to call tomorrow and will follow up with a letter. They have torn up peoples yards and disturbed the city streets. We are going to need to fix these problems as he does not want to hear any more complaints from city residents. We will bill the fiber optic companies. We will give them two weeks to fix the problems or we will asphalt over their boxes. The next company that comes in and wants to do something like this will need to pay a hefty fee to come in.
Police: Alderman Richard reported that he has heard a lot of good comments about the new police chief.
Chief Edmiaston presented a new police report showing the activity for the month: 1 Misdemeanor Arrest, 30 Traffic Stops, 6 UTT’s, 24 Warnings, 7 Reports Taken, 3 Investigations Conducted, 60 Calls from the Public, 16 School Patrols (walk through/meetings/teaching /programs), 78 Business Checks and 39 Extra Patrols/Foot Patrols.
He has changed a couple of things and is getting out in the community. The school program went great.
Building/Insurance None
Finance /TIF Alderman Stover continues to work on the budget. Water/Sewer/Sanitation None
Street/Alley Alderman Mattingly reported that someone fell in front of the Art Gallery on Main Street during the Red Carpet Corridor. There is raised concrete there that is a trip hazard. He is checking on anyone who does slabjacking or raising concrete to see if the problem can be corrected to get a cost estimate.
Bill Ellias has been putting up new street signs and is just about finished with this project.
Route 66 block letters are to be put up this month and we are going to put lights on it. We will be reimbursed for the concrete that we used to set them in.
Mayor Johansen would like to compliment our summer help, Judson Stover and Jaxson Goodrich, on the excellent job they have done on Main Street and Patton Park.
There being no further business, a motion was made by Alderman Mattingly to adjourn at 7:42 P.M. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote.
https://www.lexingtonillinois.org/images/Minutes_June_12_2023.pdf
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