DeKalb Times

City of Sandwich City Council met Nov. 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Call to Order

Treasurer Pete Dell led the pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call: Present: Rebecca Johnson, Fred Kreinbrink, Richard Robinson, Rick Whitecotton, Mayor Latham, Treasurer Dell

Absent: Clerk Ii, Bill Fritsch, Brent Holcomb, Cara Killey, Bill Littlebrant

Public Comments: Jim Wyman, WSPY, asked why past agendas were not left on the city website. Webmaster Ciciora stated there is not enough room and Legal Council Ms. Harrill responded they were not required after a meeting. Mr. Wyman asked Mayor Latham if the dump truck the City is purchasing required it to be bid out. Mayor Latham replied it was a used piece of equipment and, therefore, it did not have to be bid out. The truck was less than budgeted, and the City needed to maintain its fleet for snow plowing. New vehicles were hard to obtain.

Consent Agenda: Mayor Latham read the items on the consent agenda. Alderman Robinson asked for the approval of November bills totaling $208, 176. 72 to be removed. Alderwoman Johnson, second by Robinson, made a motion to approve the consent agenda of items a. Regular Council Minutes of November 8, 2021, and b. CotW minutes of November 1, 2021. Motioned passed 5-0.

Johnson moved with Kreinbrink seconding to approve the November bills totaling $208, 176. 72. Alderman Robinson asked why the November 15, 2021, Finance Committee Report did not include the dump truck. Alderman Kreinbrink stated it was a late Purchase Order, but it was signed, reviewed, and approved by the Finance Committee on November 15, 2021. He also noted this has happened in the past where a late purchase item did not get printed on the report but was reviewed and approved by the Committee and forwarded to Council. Mayor Latham noted the total on the agenda matched the total of the dump truck cost when added to the original November 15th finance committee report. Voting for approval: Johnson, Krienbrink, Latham. Opposed Robinson and Whitecotton. Motion failed.

Mayor’s Report:

a. A motion was made at by Alderman Whitecotton and seconded by Alderman Robinson to approve Ordinance 2021-15 entitled “An Ordinance Amending Chapter 86, Utilities, Article III, Sewers, Division 2, User Charge; Industrial Waste Cost Recovery, Section 86-187, Basic User and Sewer Rates of the City of Sandwich Municipal Code”. Voting for approval Kreinbrink, Robinson, Whitecotton, Johnson, and Latham. Motion passed.

b. Ordinance 2021-16 entitled “An Ordinance authorizing Loan Agreement and Borrowing of Funds From the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Water Pollution Control Loan Program Regarding Waste Water Treatment Facility Improvements Project in the City of Sandwich,” receiving the first reading.

c. A motion to approve the fourth contract installment payment to Harbour Contractors, Inc. for $267,073.95 drawn from account 010.0107.90.6800 was made by Alderwoman Johnson and seconded by Alderman Whitecotton. Voting for approval: Robinson, Whitecotton, Johnson, Kreinbrink, and Latham. Motion passed.

d. Motion to go into Executive Session under Section 120/2(c)1 & 2 of the Open Meetings Act under Collective Bargaining and Personnel was made by Alderman Whitecotton and seconded by Alderman Robinson at 7:36 PM. Voting for approval: Alderman Whitecotton, Kreinbrink, Robinson, Latham, and Alderwoman Johnson. Alderman Kreinbrink, seconded by Johnson, made the motion to return to regular session at 8:05 PM. Voting for approval Kreinbrink, Robinson, Johnson, Whitecotton, and Latham.

e. The Tentative Tax Levy for Tax Year 2021 payable in 2022 was presented.

f. Announcement of Surplus Property, Lot 2, Fairwind Crossing Subdivision, .86 acres, M.O.L. was announced. All offers to purchase should be sent to the City Clerk at City Hall. Council will begin considering offers at the December 6th Committee of the Whole Meeting.

Attorney Report: None

City Clerk Report: None

Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Dell reminded the Council of the IPRA Grant deadline, insurance rates for 2022, and a fund balance policy was being drafted for Council.

City Department Reports:

EMA Director Tom Ciciora: No Report

Chief Jim Bianchi: No Report

Engineering: Supt Horan and EEI worked with a contractor to restore the downtown streetlights. Alderman Reports:

Alderman Johnson: Johnson asked if in the future additional detail could be provided to the Chair and members of the Finance Committee for larger purchases such as the dump truck. Mayor Latham said we would improve the communication.

Alderman Kreinbrink: Kreinbrink commented on the downtown streetlights around the parking areas noting that he would speak with Supt. Horan with some suggestions. He also stated the Irth Locator system was being used by Brian Voelkel and other staff with success. Kreinbrink asked EMA Director Ciciora about the $30,000 in the EMA budget for a siren. He also asked Chief Bianchi when the Council might have police input on golf carts. Chief responded that he would wait until a draft ordinance was ready. Alderman Krienbrink stated he wanted to know what the Chief would like to see in the ordinance, inspection criterion, data collected, and manpower to administer. Chief said he did not see golf carts as a revenue generator. It would require an administrative process be added to the RMF system. He did not want to see out of towners drive into town, requiring more law enforcement. We need Alderman Holcomb to provide the council content for the ordinance, so we are not spending money on legal work. Latham will ask Alderman Holcomb for more input before moving forward. Alderman Whitecotton said the Alderman Holcomb is slow getting the details. Alderwoman Johnson said no one had given her feedback, and Alderman Kreinbrink stated he has listened to pro’s and con’s of golf carts.

Alderman Robinson: Robinson stated the dump truck came in late, but he’d prefer a text or e-mail as he did not know the purchase. He reminded residents that leaf pick-up is currently ongoing and leaves should be at the curb but not on the street. He also wished a Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Alderman Whitecotton: No Report

Mayor Latham polled Council and the consensus was that the City would have a Finance Committee meeting at 6:30 pm on Monday, December 20, 2021. The meeting would be followed by a CotW meeting and then a Special Meeting. This would allow the Council to pay December bills and cancel the December 27, 2021 meeting.

Announcements: The next Finance Meeting is December 6, 2021, after the Committee of the Whole meeting.

City Hall will be closed on Thursday, November 24, and Friday, November 25, in observance of Thanksgiving.

There is no city council meeting on Monday, November 29, the 5th Monday of the month. Alderman Kreinbrink added that the Budget Committee would meet on November 29 at 7 pm to begin the budget process for FY23.

Motion to adjourn was made by Alderman Robinson, seconded by Alderman Whitecotton, with the motion passing by voice vote with the time being 8:09 pm.

http://www.sandwich.il.us/MINUTES/rc112221.pdf