City of Sycamore City Council met May 16

By Angelica Saylo Pilo

Aug 12, 2022

City of Sycamore City Council met May 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

ROLL CALL

Mayor Braser called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and City Clerk Mary Kalk called the roll. Those Alderpersons present were: Alan Bauer, Jeff Fischer, Josh Huseman, Pete Paulsen, Virginia Sherrod, David Stouffer, and Chuck Stowe. Alderperson Nancy Copple was absent. City Attorney Kevin Buick was also present.

INVOCATION Led by Alderperson Virginia Sherrod

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Public Works Director Matt Anderson

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOTION

Alderperson Sherrod motioned to approve the agenda and Alderperson Stouffer seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 7-0. AUDIENCE TO VISITORS

Kylie Ryder, 1792 Joseph Sixbury Street, said that she is finishing up her year as 2021 Miss Illinois’ Outstanding Teen and thanked the Council and the City of Sycamore. She thanked everyone and said that she so proud to call Sycamore her home.

Mike Villalta, 1830 Truman Street, representing Sycamore Creek HOA, asked for the Council’s support and invited them to a meeting facilitated by DeKalb County Highway Engineer Nathan Schwartz regarding getting a stop light at the intersection of Plank Road and Lindgren Road. He said they should be receiving their invitations.

CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of the Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of May 2, 2022.

B. Payment of the Bills for May 16, 2022 in the amount of $554,907.04

MOTION

Alderperson Bauer motioned to approve the Consent Agenda and Alderperson Stowe seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Bauer, Fischer, Huseman, Paulsen, Sherrod, Stouffer, and Stowe voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND BILLS

A. A Proclamation Declaring May 15th through May 21st, 2022 as National Emergency Medical Services Week in the City of Sycamore, Illinois.

B. A Proclamation Declaring May 15th through May 21st, 2022 as National Police Week in the City of Sycamore, Illinois.

C. A Proclamation Declaring May 15th through May 21st, 2022 as National Public Works Week in the City of Sycamore, Illinois.

Alderperson Alan Bauer recognized City Engineer Mark Bushnell for perfectly answering a resident’s question on construction plans and scheduling. He appreciates such an outstanding answer.

REPORT OF OFFICERS

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES

Finance – Alan Bauer said no report

Public Safety – Pete Paulsen – no report

Public Works – Chuck Stowe – no report

PUBLIC HEARINGS

ORDINANCES

A. Ordinance No. 2022.01 – An Ordinance Amending Title 1, “Administration,” Chapter 10, “Personnel Rules,” Section 3, “Residency Requirements,” of the City Code of the City of Sycamore, Illinois. Second Reading.

City Manager Michael Hall said this is changing the ordinance to say that the rule for residency requirement will now be placed into policy in the handbook as “except where enforced by contract, all critical municipal employees (first responders) shall live within twenty miles from the intersection of State and Main Streets in the City of Sycamore. All other municipal employees, not under contract, shall live within thirty miles from the intersection of State and Main Streets in the City of Sycamore”. He said that critical municipal employees are sworn Police Officers, sworn Firefighters, and non-clerical Public Works employees. With a 20 mile radius, the population is 241,473 and by expanding it to 30 miles, the population 1,431,125. This is a sizable population to draw from and allows bringing in more diversity. The policy also sets that if there are changes in the future, it would be brought back to the Council for approval.

MOTION

Alderperson Fischer motioned to adopt Ordinance 2022.01 and Alderperson Stowe seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Bauer, Fischer, Huseman, Paulsen, Sherrod, Stouffer, and Stowe voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

RESOLUTIONS

A. Resolution No. 916 – A Resolution Requesting a Permit from the Illinois Department of Transportation to Allow for the Completion of Water Service Improvements within the IL Route 64 Right-of-Way.

City Manager Michael Hall said that this is straight forward in that IDOT needs this to allow them to work in the right-of-way.

MOTION

Alderperson Stowe motioned to approve Resolution 916 and Alderperson Stouffer seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Bauer, Fischer, Huseman, Paulsen, Sherrod, Stouffer, and Stowe voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

CONSIDERATIONS

A. Consideration of the Fire Department’s Recommendation to Purchase a Cardiac Monitor/Defibrillator in the Amount of $34,490.17.

City Manager Michael Hall said that this part of the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) for Fire to buy an additional apparatus.

Chief Polarek added that they have actually have five. They have four ALS (Advanced Life Support) ambulances and two ALS engines so this is the second purchase for the second engine. They were previously running with AED devices, but IDPH forced them to upgrade to ALS engines.

MOTION

Alderperson Paulsen motioned to approve the Consideration for $34,490.17 and Alderperson Fischer seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Bauer, Fischer, Huseman, Paulsen, Sherrod, Stouffer, and Stowe voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

B. Consideration of the Police Department’s Recommendation to Purchase a 2022 Ford Explorer Base 4-Door through the Suburban Purchasing Cooperative Bid Contract #191 from Kunes Country Ford of Antioch in the Amount of $25,955.

City Manager Michael Hall said that this is also a CIP purchase. This is a long process so they are starting it now as it could be nine months or more because of the backorder of new vehicles. This will replace one of the 2013 or 2014 Ford depending when it comes in.

MOTION

Alderperson Paulsen motioned to approve the Consideration for $25,955 to Kunes Country Ford and Alderperson Fischer seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Bauer, Fischer, Huseman, Paulsen, Sherrod, Stouffer, and Stowe voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

C. Consideration an Administrative Recommendation to Award a Contract in the Amount of $41,770 to N-Trak Construction for Water Service Replacements within Illinois Route 64.

City Manager Michael Hall said N-Trak is currently doing our construction work and this is an add-on to bore under Route 64.

City Engineer Mark Bushnell said that this work was outside the scope of the watermain project. Rather than pay the consultant to design this work it was completed in-house and permitted in-house as well. N-Trak construction is completing the lead water service project and the bid that they proposed uses the same unit prices as that project.

MOTION

Alderperson Fischer motioned to approve the Consideration for $41,770 to N-Trak Construction and Alderperson Sherrod seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a roll call vote to approve the motion. Alderpersons Bauer, Fischer, Huseman, Paulsen, Sherrod, Stouffer, and Stowe voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

OTHER NEW BUSINESS

APPOINTMENTS

Mayor Braser appointed Austin Hofer to the Library Board.

MOTION

Alderperson Huseman motioned to confirm the appointment and Alderperson Bauer seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION

Alderperson Stowe motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:18 p.m. and Alderperson Paulsen seconded the motion.

VOICE VOTE

Mayor Braser called for a voice vote to approve the motion. All Alderpersons voted aye. Motion carried 7-0.