City of Chenoa City Council met Sept. 26.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The Chenoa City Council met in regular session on September 26, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Mayor Shane, Commissioners Myers, Lopeman, Attorney Mann, and City Clerk Rhoades were in attendance with Commissioner Hernandez after sworn in.
#5584 Commissioners Myers and Lopeman moved and seconded the Motion that the Minutes of the Executive Session of September 12, 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.
#5585 Commissioners Myers and Lopeman moved and seconded the Motion that to Approve to Appoint Manny Hernandez as Parks Commissioner.. The roll call vote was affirmative.
#5586 Commissioners Myers and Lopeman moved and seconded the Motion that to Approve an Ordinance authorizing and providing for the issuance of not to exceed $1,650,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source) for the purpose of refunding certain outstanding obligations of the City, providing for the terms and security and payment for said bonds, authorizing the execution of rate lock agreements or other bank documents, bond purchase agreements, and escrow agreement in connection therewith, and authorizing the sale of the bonds to the purchaser thereof. The roll call vote was affirmative with Commissioner Hernandez abstaining.
#5587 Commissioners Myers and Lopeman moved and seconded the Motion that to Approve the City Hereby Adopts the City of Chenoa Solar Energy Code and Chapter 15 Shall be Added to the Current Zoning Code (Title 10). The roll call vote was affirmative with Commissioner Hernandez abstaining.
#5588 Commissioners Myers and Lopeman moved and seconded the Motion that to Approve to Amend the City of Chenoa Employee Handbook Regarding Policies Relevant to City Employees Starting October 7. The roll call vote was affirmative with Commissioner Hernandez abstaining.
#5589 Commissioner Myers and Lopeman moved and seconded the Motion to Approve to Enter into Executive Session to Discuss the Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Discipline, Performance or Dismissal of Specific Employees of the City of Chenoa - Section 2(c)(1) and Executive Session to Discuss Litigation – Section 2(c)(11) – Pending Probable or Imminent Litigation. The roll call vote was affirmative with Commissioner Hernandez abstaining.
#5590 Commissioners Myers and Lopeman moved and seconded the Motion that to Approve to Return to Open Session. The roll call vote was affirmative.
#5591 Commissioner Myers and Lopeman moved and seconded the Motion that the council do now adjourn. The roll call vote was affirmative.
IN OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE COUNCIL:
Mayoral Appointment to Fill Vacant Commissioner Seats
Mayor Shane said Manny Hernandez is a Bloomington Police Officer and a retired Marine Sergeant. He said he would like to appoint Manny as the Parks and Health Commissioner. The council had no questions or concerns. Attorney Mann Swore in Manny Hernandez as the Parks and Health Commissioner. It was confirmed that his term will be until the next election in 2025.
Ordinance authorizing and providing for the issuance of not to exceed $1,650,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds
Mayor Shane said he would like to ask the council to pass this, which would give them 6 months to accept it depending on the interest rates. This would reissue and refinance the bond. As of now this would save the City about $50,000. This will allow them to move forward when the interest rates are good. The council had no questions or concerns.
Chapter 4 of City Code
Commissioner Lopeman said Chapter 4 is all about the brush, leaves, and yard waste pick up. When the City decided to stop doing the leaf pick up with the leaf vacuum they started providing the biodegradable bags for free. The City has ordered about 1000 bags shortly after he took office and does not have many left. The 1000 bags cost roughly $660. That is about 1000 bags during the summer when it is not leaf season. He spoke with the guys in the field and they do not feel they have picked up that many. He is unsure if people are using them for trash bags or where they are going. He has spoken with Mayor Shane on this and thought maybe allowing burning on all days of the week. Commissioner Lopeman said he could see both sides of the burning. He feels they need a little relief from brush pick up. He does not want to get rid of it completely but would like to find a way to do it where they don't have as much or compensated in some kind of way. The idea of charging for the bags or having stickers for residents to put on their own bags was discussed. Commissioner Lopeman said he also would like to reach out to the contract garbage company, Republic Services, as he has seen that they do yard waste pick up, but he does not know the cost or the details of that program. It was decided to look into surrounding communities for what they do and revisit after that and talk with Republic.
Open Meetings Act Training, FOIA Training, and Agendas and Minutes for all City Boards and Committees
Commissioner Lopeman said he believes all City Boards and Council are to complete training on the Opens Meetings Act and FOIA. Attorney Mann said he would need to look into that as those are advisory boards. Commissioner Lopeman feels they all should have the training and would like the council to ask that as a requirement for those boards even if it is not State required. Commissioner Lopeman said he would like the council to reach out to the boards and require them to get their meeting agendas to City Hall no less than 2 business days before the meeting so they can be posted in time. He said the boards type their own minutes and need to get them to City Hall so they can be posted as required. Mayor Shane will talk with the Boards to let them know of these requirements.
Zoning Board Recommendation Regarding Solar Energy Code
Attorney Mann said he proposed a starter solar code for the Zoning Board to look at for roof mounted and ground mounted solar panels. This will also include the solar farm that they are looking to annex into the City at the sewer plant. The council had no questions or concerns and agreed to adopt this as part of their zoning code.
Amend the City of Chenoa Employee Handbook Regarding Policies Relevant to City Employees Commissioner Lopeman said Joe and himself brought this to the council about a month or two ago. The draft drawn up by Attorney Mann was brought to the last council meeting with no changes being made since. He asked if the council had any questions. May Shane wanted to confirm that the supervisor for them being called in is the Water and Sewer Commissioner. Commissioner Lopeman said that is the Commissioner that called that employee in for that specific task. Mayor Shane also wanted to confirm how they will be paid as it is by hour worked not 2 hours each day for numbers on the weekends. Commissioner Lopeman said that they will be paid a $20 flat fee each day they are on call and paid for each hour worked with a minimum of 1 hour rounded to the half hour. Attorney Mann said there is a resolution to make this a policy and to put this policy into the employee handbook. Commissioner Lopeman asked when this would go into effect. Attorney Mann said whenever the council would like it to. The council agreed to have it go into effect October 7 as that starts the next payroll. The council had no further questions or concerns.
Comments from the Floor
Barry Martin said he read last week's paper and the question on why the City needs 4 squad cars was never fully answered. Commissioner Lopeman said it was answered more fully in the meeting than what was put in the paper. Chief Cornwall said with 4 cars they can run them for 5 years instead of 3 years due to the wear on them for having to drive more often. It does reduce the cost to the city because they are not buying them as often and not having to change the equipment inside of them as the manufactures change in different models. Barry also asked why we need to patrol Gridley as he said they hardly have any problems over there Commissioner Lopeman said Gridley decided they wanted to contract Chenoa and they would be the ones to ask why they want to do that. Commissioner Myer asked Barry to come in and meet with them to go over this as it could take more than 5 minutes to explain.
Attorney's Comments
None
Treasurer’s Comments
None
Commissioner’s Comments
Commissioner Lopeman said they guys have been working on brush. They are starting to work on the 24 inch tile project to get the clogs cleared out. He gave an update on his agreement with the City on the drainage at his property. He has the pipe laid and waiting for some rain to be sure it runs the correct way and then will fill in.
Commissioner Myers said he will be sending the council a link of the rundown of what he learned the 4 days in Chicago at the IML Conference. He said it was packed full of information and learned a lot.
Commissioner Hernandez
None
Mayor Shane said he will get with Commissioner Hernandez and Aaron to help get him all caught up so they can keep moving forward.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
https://www.chenoail.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif6431/f/minutes/9_26_23_1.pdf
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