DeKalb Times

City of Sandwich Committee of the Whole Council met July 20.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Robinson called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

Roll call was taken:

Present: Mayor Robinson, City Clerk Ii, City Attorney Harrill, Aldermen Chmielewski, Dell, Killey, Kreinbrink, Redden & Surratt

Absent: Alderman Kelleher

Also Present: Department of Public Works Horak, Chief Bianchi, EMA Director Ciciora & Building Official Steffens

Mayor Robinson

Commonwealth Edison Annual Report: Handouts were provided as George Gaulrapp, External Affairs Manager for ComEd, presented the annual franchise report. The report included customer service, electrical system improvements including electrical system performance and reliability. Residents are now able to access an outage map on ComEd’s website reducing the need to call for outage status.

Alderman Kreinbrink broached the subject of ‘reject poles’ that has been questioned in the past. ComEd had given the impression in the past that some poles within the City would be replaced, and this has not happened. Mr. Gualrapp explained that ‘reject poles’ is an internal phrase but assured that the poles were in no danger of falling. Poles are noted as such due to additional equipment being added to the pole creating an overload situation, such as Metronet fiber optic. Given that scenario, the pole would need reinforcement or replacement.

Council Committees: Mayor Robinson advised the Council that he would like to eliminate some committees, as outlined in the City’s Municipal Code, specifically naming Tourism, Opera House / Chamber of Commerce liaison, Public Safety, and Personnel. Because the Council meets as a Committee-of-the-Whole on the first and third Mondays of each month, Mayor Robinson found no need for separate committees to bring back reports for further discussion by the Council. Alderman Kreinbrink expressed desire to retain the Personnel Committee. The Mayor requested Council to consider the elimination of some of the committees prior to an Ordinance being drafted eliminating said committees from the Municipal Code.

Foster, Buick, Conklin & Lundgren Law Group: No report 

City Clerk Ii: No report

Director of Public Works / City Engineer Horak

Casey’s Subdivision – Proposed release of Subdivision Bond IL-61700 by Casey’s Retail Company, as Principal, and Merchants Bonding Company (Mutual), as Surety, in the amount of $41,000.00 for Church Street Improvements in exchange for a cash contribution of $61,057.25 for the future construction of the Casey’s Subdivision Church Street improvements. Engineer Horak explained that in the 2012, Casey’s agreed to pay a portion of upgrades stemming from the widening of Route 34. That project was cancelled, and a portion of the bond was released by the Council in February, 2020. Casey’s has requested that in exchange for the bond, they pay the City a cash contribution. Council questioned if that is enough money to cover expenses for the roadway improvements. The 2012 agreement between the City and Casey’s was that Casey’s would provide a bond for capital improvements in said amount of $41,000.00, and said agreement was not updated.

2020 Gletty Road Cleanup Project - Phase 1: Bid results for the separating of materials only was held on Friday, July 17th as noted:

Thom Gravel & Excavating Inc. of Aurora, IL - $39,500.00

S&K Excavating & Trucking Inc. of Newark, IL - $44,000.00

H. Linden & Sons Sewer and Water Inc. of Plano, IL - $44,400.00 

Alpine Demolition Services, LLC of St. Charles, IL - $242,000.00

Discussion of Ordinance 2020-11 entitled “An Ordinance Providing for Declaration of Surplus Property and the Public Sale Thereof,” designating the 1999 John Deere 310SE wheel loader backhoe as surplus property. By Ordinance, private entitles can make an offer or the equipment can be applied for trade-in value. This matter will be placed on next week’s agenda for passage.

Chief Bianchi: No report

EMA Director Ciciora: No report Aldermen Reports:

Alderman Redden announced that he will be resigning his position as Ward 1 alderman by the end of August. He will be relocating to Arizona. Alderman Redden said the position quickly became a passion trying to make Sandwich a better place to live, and he will continue servicing citizens until he relocates.

Alderman Robinson reported that Officer Travis Kurtz has requested 80 unused vacation hours to be rolled over and a payout of 44 unused vacation hours. No action required by the Council.

Announcements: The Finance Committee Meeting will meet immediately following the Committee- of-the-Whole Meeting on July 6th.

Audience Comments: Audience member, Doug Grief, said the City should not eliminate the sewer and water committees adding that 2-3 committee members would help tremendously. He also stated that the Council is lax in communication noting there has been no further discussion on the smoke testing of the City’s sewer and storm drainage.

WSPY correspondent, Jim Wyman, inquired if the land swap was still an option for the City and how long it will take to clean up the Gletty Road dump site.

Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the Council, motion made by Alderman Redden and seconded by Alderman Surratt to adjourn the Committee-of-the-Whole Council meeting at 8:07 PM. Motion carried unanimously via voice vote.

http://www.sandwich.il.us/MINUTES/cw072020.pdf