Grundy Reporter

City of Highland City Council met Oct. 7.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Pro Tem Peg Bellm called the Regular Session to order at 7:00pm. Council members Sloan, Frey, Hipskind, and Bellm were present. Mayor Hemann was absent. Others in attendance were City Manager Conrad, City Attorney Michael McGinley, Directors Cook and Gillespie, Heimburger, Coordinator Hubbard, Police Chief Presson, Fire Chief Straub, Treasurer Nicolaides, Deputy City Clerk Von Hatten, City Clerk Bellm, 9 citizens, and 1 member of the news media.

MINUTES

Councilman Frey made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 3, 2022 Regular Session as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Hipskind, and Bellm voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

PUBLIC FORUM

Citizens’ Requests and Comments:

Augusta Estates HOA Fall Party - Special Event Application for Road Closure Request – Since no representative was present to speak on the request, City Manager Chris Conrad noted this is the same request as last year. The neighborhood blocks off part of street for neighborhood gathering. Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve street closure of Augusta from Crooked Stick to Whistling Straits on Saturday, October 22, 2022, from 12:00pm – 10:00pm as requested. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Hipskind, and Bellm voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Requests of Council:

No requests or comments presented by the council.

Staff Report:

City Manager Christ Conrad reported there had been a bit of a slip with trash service by Republic Waste, about two weeks ago, with missed stops and routes. We are working with their regional manager, now; and, we are taking the calls here at City Hall.

Ameren hosting public meetings on the Sursee Transmitter Project, of which we are working with Amern. Meetings will be held Tuesday, October 25, 6pm-8pm at Highland KC Hall; Wednesday, October 25, 11am-1pm, at Summerfield Lions Club; and, Wednesday, October 25, 6pm-8pm, at Aviston American Legion. With this line, our single-point of failure will move in from the current twelve miels out and this will provide a redundant feed line to Highland.

City Manager Conrad recognized Lana Hediger, who was named Illinois Municipal Clerks Association Member of the Year. This is a well-deserved award, given to her by her peers. Congratulations!

NEW BUSINESS

Bill #22-151/ORDINANCE Approving Rezoning of Real Estate Located at 1007 Lindenthal Avenue from “R-3” Multifamily Residential to “R-1-D” Single Family Residential – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #22-151/Ordinance #3224 approving rezoning of real estate located at 1007 Lindenthal Avenue from “R-3” Multifamily Residential to “R-1-D” Single Family Residential as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Hipskind, and Bellm voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #22-152/ORDINANCE Annexing Certain Territory to the City, Owned by Highland Community Unit School District #5, Specifically: PPN# 01-1-24-09-00-000-008 – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve Bill #22-152/Ordinance #3225 annexing certain territory to the City, owned by Highland Community Unit School District #5, specifically: PPN# 01-1-24-09-00-000-008 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Hipskind, and Bellm voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #22-153/RESOLUTION Making Separate Statement of Findings of Facts in Connection With Ordinance Granting Special Use Permit to Allow for a Public School Approximately 42.28 Acres Located at the Intersection of Poplar Street and Arkansas Road, PIN #01-1-24-09-00-000-008 – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #22-153/Resolution #22-10-2978 making Separate Statement of Findings of Facts in connection with ordinance granting Special Use Permit to allow for a public school approximately 42.28 acres located at the intersection of Poplar Street and Arkansas Road, PIN #01-1-24-09-00-000-008 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Hipskind, and Bellm voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #22-154/ORDINANCE Granting a Special Use Permit to Highland Community Unit School District #5 to allow for a Public School Approximately 42.28 Acres Located at the Intersection of Poplar Street and Arkansas Road, PIN #01-1-24-09-00-000-008 – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve Bill #22-154/Ordinance #3226 granting a Special Use Permit to Highland Community Unit School District #5 to allow for a public school approximately 42.28 acres located at the intersection of Poplar Street and Arkansas Road, PIN #01-1-24-09-00-000-008 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Hipskind, and Bellm voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #22-155/RESOLUTION Approving Letter of Understanding with Illinois Department of Transportation for Improving 6.9 Miles of US 40 – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #22- 155/Resolution #22-10-2979 approving Letter of Understanding with Illinois Department of Transportation for improving 6.9 Miles of US 40 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Hipskind, and Bellm voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #22-156/ORDINANCE Amending Chapter 78, Article VII, Section 78-732, of the Code, Entitled Schedule of FTTP Rates and Charges, Creating New Fees and Services – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve Bill #22-156/Ordinance #3227 amending Chapter 78, Article VII, Section 78- 732, of the Code, entitled Schedule of FTTP Rates and Charges, creating new fees and services as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. CC – for most people- if don’t change service – see slight decrease in data service costs. However, what is going to be added is higher service office with up to 2G service. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #22-157/RESOLUTION Accepting Cigna Healthcare for Medical Insurance and Metlife for Vision and Dental Insurance for 2022-2023 – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #22-157/Resolution #22-10-2980 accepting Cigna Healthcare for medical insurance and Metlife for vision and dental insurance for 2022-2023 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. City Manager Conrad reported this renewal with Cigna was negotiated down from 28% to 19.4%, by Cornerstone. Cigna paid out $354,000 in claims more than collected in premiums with us. We did not have other options, because of this. Our plan year runs November 1 to October 31. We have also started an aggressive education plan for pharmacy use, which was about 50% of the costs, last year. The hope is get people to utilize the mail order prescription services more, which should reduce that cost and get us closer to normal. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Hipskind and Bellm voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #22-158/ORDINANCE Amending City Personnel Policy Manual to Include Updates According to Changes to Policy and Illinois Law – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve Bill #22-158/Ordinance #3228 amending City Personnel Policy Manual to include updates according to changes to policy and Illinois law as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Hipskind and Bellm voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Councilman Frey made a motion to adjourn. Motion seconded by Councilman Hipskind. All aye, none nay. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:37pm.