McLean County Times

City of Chenoa City Council met May 14,.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Chenoa City Council met in regular session on May 14, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Mayor Shane, Commissioners Pickett, Myers, Lopeman, Hernandez, Attorney Mann, Treasurer Rowold and City Clerk Rhoades were in attendance.

#5672 Commissioners Lopeman and Hernandez moved and seconded the Motion that the Minutes of the Regular Meeting April 23, 2024 be approved with correction of Commissioner Comment that Chenoa Locker Concreted the culvert not Union Roofing. That the bills and payrolls be allowed, and orders on the Treasurer be drawn in payment of same. The roll call vote was affirmative.

#5673 Commissioners Lopeman and Hernandez moved and seconded the Motion to Approve an Ordinance Appropriating Funds for the Purpose of Defraying the Necessary Expenses and Liabilities of the City of Chenoa for the Fiscal Year May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2025. Ordinance #870. The roll call vote was affirmative.

#5674 Commissioners Lopeman and Hernandez 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.

#5675 Commissioners Myers and Pickett moved and seconded the Motion to Approve to Return to open Session. The roll call vote was affirmative.

#5676 Commissioners Pickett 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:

Shop-N-Go Discussing Upcoming Event

Melissa Cooper said the event is getting larger than they anticipated and are needing to close down Owsley Street from the curve where they pull into, down to Second and Second to the parking lot by the parsonage. Commissioner Lopeman suggested closing Owsley starting at Division so they do not have people drive down there to find themselves at a dead end. He said they could let the vendors know they are allowed to drive around the barricade as needed by leaving some place for them to get through. She asked for barricades for those locations. The council had no concerns with allowing this.

Alcohol vendor at Fourth of July Association vendor fair

Melissa Cooper said the lady reached out to her to sell her Alcoholic slushies at the vendor fair for the 4th of July. She sent the vendor to Zack Lopeman with the 4th of July Committee as it is their event as she just does the vendor part of it. She has the proper licenses and insurance. She recently did an event in Lexington and went very well. She was unable to attend the meeting due to something coming up. They council agreed to table this until the next meeting hoping she is able to attend and bring her trailer with her.

Contract for Police Services for Village of Gridley

Mayor Shane said they have been paying us $69,000 and $5,000 restricted for a car a year. After speaking with Chief Cornwall and some thought he is asking $85,000 a year with a 2% increase each year and the $5,000 for a car. He spoke with the Gridley Mayor who asked to lower it to $80,000. Mayor Shane strongly believes they should stick with $85,000. The council agreed to keep the amount at $85,000.

Ordinance Appropriating Funds for the Purpose of Defraying the Necessary Expenses and Liabilities of the City of Chenoa for the Fiscal Year May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2025 After two long nights of going over each line the council had no concerns. Treasurer Rowold went over how much they budgeted for each account in regards to being a profit or deficit. Mayor Shane said he still feels moving the ARPA and County Money through the numbers off in the 2023 budget. Treasurer Rowold explained government accounting has to show income and expenses and as the General Fund and Water and Sewer Fund are separate you have to show expense to one and income to the other when moving money from account to account. After some conversation Mayor Shane and Treasurer Rowold agreed that it is in the way it is presented.

Comments from the Floor

Melvin Kindelberg asked when the alleys will be worked on. Commissioner Lopeman said they have been working on some equipment and are waiting on another part to show up. They have been working on storm tiles so it stops flooding people's basements.

Sarah Micheals said she feels they had a successful Red Carpet Corridor and Melissa Cooper did a nice job on getting vendors and food trucks for the travelers. Next year they would like to have it out by the pool. Mayor Shane, Commissioner Hernandez and herself went to the McLean County Area Convention and Visitors Bureau launch of the importance of Route 66 in the State of Illinois. It was pressed on the communities that sit on Route 66 the importance of the Mother Road coming up on the centennial celebration. Commissioner Hernandez and John Cerda have worked with her in creating a QR code and artwork to put up at the Corner of Route 66 and 24. The QR code goes to the Business Directory on the website for the City of Chenoa. She said Marcia Wahls is working with Alicia to get the directory and website fine tuned and updated for the QR code. She also would like a QR code for rack cards and have them for people to take with them as well which will show them what to do and where to go while they are in Chenoa. She said she will be asking for funding for electrical work at Red Bird Park next. They did get permission from the owner of the old car at Goodin’s to do what they needed to to make it look nice for a photo op and place it back on Old Route 66 where it sat before.

Carmen Herndadez asked permission to paint the pump house out by the dog park. They would like to paint it and put the dog park logo on it. Paint is cheaper than a sign and the structure is already there and does not look that pretty how it is. The council agreed to allow them to paint it.

Tim Jolly said he saw in the Chenoa paper that a wind mill company had presented to the council but was not on the agenda. He voiced his concerns with the wind mills. He said there is a perimeter around town for a reason. He said they are only 30% efficient as well as killing birds and bats. There is crop damage from them, they take away farm ground which is the best in the world. If the company sells off or goes bankrupt you are stuck with a windmill that just sits there as an eye sore. He also asked the council to discuss and draft a letter to the school board about how important it is to have that school in this town. Sarah Micheals also voiced her concerns which are close to the same as Tims.

Sally Decker asked for an update with the Grants. Commissioner Myers said we are waiting for a pack of data from the County. Once they get the comprehensive plan done we can move forward with getting the grants.

Andy Jolly said there is a school board meeting this Thursday for anyone that would want to go and voice their concerns.

Attorney's Comments

None

Treasurer’s Comments

Treasurer Rowold went over the final numbers from the previous fiscal year as surplus and deficits.

Commissioner’s Comments

Commissioner Myers

Commissioner Pickett said they had to call an employee out to turn on water after hours. Her and Mayor Shane feel they should set something in the code that the person needing water on or off will have to pay a fee.

Commissioner Hernandez said the pool is getting ready and has water in it. There were some issues with the liner and may need a new one next year.

Commissioner Lopeman said they have been working on storm tiles. They had some concerns with water in basements. They had some tiles with blockage and roots growing through them so they cleaned and made repairs. He would like a reliable tracing system to be able to start finding the storm tiles. They will be getting to the alleys as they have to wait for the proper equipment to do the correct way.

Mayor Shane said he has talked to some people about a billboard by the interstate. The current one is too low to see from the interstate.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

https://www.chenoail.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif6431/f/minutes/5_14_24.pdf