Grundy Reporter

City of Highland City Council met April 3.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Hemann called the Regular Session to order at 7:00pm at the Senior Center. Council members Sloan, Frey, Bellm, and Hipskind were present. Others in attendance were City Manager Conrad, City Attorney McGinley, Directors Gillespie, Presson, Rosen, and Vazquez, EMS Chief Wilson, Fire Chief Straub, Coordinator Hubbard, Supervisor Wilken, Treasurer Nicholaides, Deputy City Clerks Hediger and VonHatten, City Clerk Bellm, Council Candidates Blackburn, Klaus, and Napper, and 51 citizens.

MINUTES

Councilman Frey made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 20, 2023 Regular Session as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

MAYORAL RECOGNITIONS

Mayor Hemann recognized August Rottmann, 2023 IHSA Girls 170lb Wrestling State Champion. Coach Nick Belhame reported August placed third at State last year. She is great on and off the mat, with a tremendous work ethic. She is only a sophomore, so she has a few more years, and a chance to be a three-time state champion. She is a great representative for girls wrestling.

Mayor Hemann recognized Noah Allen, David and Matt Zahn, Meghan Hanna, Kody Welch, Jamie Wagner, Ty Welchlen, Stacie Black and Theresa Tucker for an outstanding performance in a life saving situation that occurred at the Korte Recreation Center on March 18, 2023. Parks & Recreation Director Mark Rosen joked that if you know Rick, you know he likes a lot of attention; I think this is just another ploy for attention. Watching the video of it all, it is amazing. Every jumped in and helped. It was as if they knew what they had to do. Rick Huchli thanked everyone for being there for him; for those that were not there, but called or sent well wishes. Gail Holthaus acknowledged Rick, as one in a very select group, because not many people survive. Our son passed away, almost ten years ago. He was alone, so no one was there. However, with an AED, all you need to know if how to turn it on and then it walks you through it.

PUBLIC FORUM

Citizens’ Requests and Comments:

HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital – Party on the Patio, Plaza Park Request – Morgan Woltering, Representative, requested approval for HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital to host Party on the Patio, and use of Plaza Park, next to Schlafly, and the public restrooms on June 3, 2023, from 6:00pm – 9:00pm. This is the same type of party that we held there last year. Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital request to host Party on the Patio, and use of Plaza Park and the public restrooms on June 3, 2023, from 6:00pm – 9:00pm as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Highland Fire Department – Highland Firefighter Picnic, Plaza Park Request – Chris Straub, Representative, stated last year was the first year for this annual fundraiser. We are planning to do this with Rusty Rodz Car Cruise again this year. Not changing many things up, other than location of a few small location changes. Councilman Frey made a motion to approve the Highland Fire Department’s request to hold the Highland Firefighters’ Picnic on Saturday, September 20, 2023 on Plaza Park and the Square as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Dave Todd, Silver Lake Road, expressed his appreciation to Director Mark Rosen for putting together the Silver Lake Report. It has been forty years in studying about what to do with the lake. My real question is when we are going to do something with it. It calls for future capital with this report. What is the city’s plan to do something to save the lake or are we going to keep kicking it down the road? I know you have a surplus of $1M in the budget. Mayor Hemann pointed out that is a drop in the bucket for what is needed. Mr. Todd acknowledged he understand it is going to be costly, but we need to do something.

Requests of Council:

Councilwoman Sloan thanked the fire department for the open house, yesterday. It was a lot of fun with the Easter Bunny there.

Staff Report:

City Manager Chris Conrad reported the week of May 8-17 will be annual citywide spring cleanup. Republic will pick up any large items on your regularly scheduled pick up date that week.

Election Day is tomorrow. Go vote.

NEW BUSINESS

Making Tentative Budget for FY 2023-2024 Available for Public Review at Public Safety Building and Setting the Public Hearing Date for 7:00 PM on Monday, April 17, 2023 - Councilman Frey made a motion to approve making tentative budget for FY 2023-2024 available for public review at the Public Safety Building and setting the public hearing date for 7:00 PM on Monday, April 17, 2023 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #23-25/RESOLUTION Authorizing Allocation of Hotel/Motel Tax Funding for Art in the Park– Highland Arts Council – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #23-25/Resolution #23-04-3018 authorizing allocation of Hotel/Motel Tax Funding for Art in the Park– Highland Arts Council in the amount of $7,000 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried. Councilwoman Bellm thanked the Highland Arts Council for recognizing that we have limited funds. We are on a tight budget because we are using reserves. I strongly suggest that all other organizations also, reduce their requests. Next year, we will know what our budget is.

Approve Notice of Municipal Letting for Motor Fuel Tax Maintenance Materials (MFT Section 24-00000-00-GM) – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Notice of Municipal Letting for Motor Fuel Tax Maintenance Materials (MFT Section 24-00000-00-GM) as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Mayor Hemann inquired this is pretty routine. City Manager Conrad responded it is. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Approve Notice of Municipal Letting, Bid #G-02-23, for Renovations and Alterations to the Existing Highland City Hall Building – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Notice of Municipal Letting, Bid #G-02-23, for renovations and alterations to the existing Highland City Hall Building as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Councilwoman Bellm expressed I am confused. I looked at the floor plans and they do not jive. On one, they are a mayor’s office and one is marked as a conference room; on another it is the other way around. City Manager Conrad responded it is still to be decided which room will be which. With the layout, it will allow all departments to have space in the building to provide all services in one location. Councilwoman Bellm expressed concerned about the space and trying to fit that many things in. The change to software and going digital has changed the design needs of the building. We have other locations within the city that we can store hard copies that are needed. It is a little deceiving. The offices are the same size as they are in the public safety building. Lana’s office will actually have an archives room. With this remodel, the HVAC was done through six separate heat pumps. That will change. We will close off the driveway between Public Works and City Hall, to install the air handlers. Then, if we need to expand, it will allow us to connect into Public Works’ building next door. Fire Station #1 also has some storage space that can be utilized, if needed. Mayor Hemann inquired I did not realize that there was an option in there to put a new roof on. City Manager Conrad explained that is an alternate bid. We are a few years away from having to replace the roof, so we figured we might as well look into getting it all done at one time, if it works out. Mayor Hemann noted this will be out for bid for thirty days, with hope to make a decision by the first meeting in May. City Manager Conrad replied yes. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #23-26/RESOLUTION Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Contract for Non Emergency Transport Services by City EMS – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #23-26/ Resolution #23-04-3019 approving and authorizing the execution of a contract for non-emergency transport services by City EMS as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Discussion – Silver Lake Watershed Report – Parks & Recreation Director Mark Rosen stated it was kind of hard to narrow down what we have done and what we continue to do. With the lake commission and past council members, it has been more of a “chicken or the egg” issue. We decided to start with the watershed, because we can afford to begin work there. Every lake in the Midwest silts in. You have to stop that, or slow it down. As far as dredging, it would be a lake map, and focus on certain sections. No one will give you a price on what dredging will cost. A few years ago, I went to a meeting, up in northern Illinois. When they dredged their lake, they sucked it up off the bottom. They had a bagging station and sold it to the local Home Depot as a fertilizer product. We could get creative and do that.

We did 32 projects around the lake so far, focusing on over 17 acres of grass waterways, by improving and widening them. Three ponds were created, which work as a staging, takes on the silt, and filters the clean water into the lake. Nutrient management is vital. How we have been able to cut that back, I feel, is huge. Mayor Hemann stated, at some point, future capital will have to be looked at. I was on the council in the 1990s and we talked about it then. Director Rosen acknowledge, it has been discussed for many years. The weir needs to be constructed before dredging. Michael Andreas, with Heartland, has done all the engineering so far. I think is we could contract him to engineer a weir, it would provide us with the information needed to go after grant funding for the weir. This would be the most beneficial for the lake. Councilwoman Bellm agreed it has been kicked down the road. It is our lifeblood, and we do need to take care of it. You mentioned .005-cent tax to begin gathering money. That can be a hard sell. I know we have a pipeline under that lake and it scare me to death. We need to start talking about selling people on a half-cent tax to generate funds. Director Rosen pointed out the city owns a lot of properties needed to access the lake to build this weir. Councilman Frey expressed thirty two projects is good with what we have had to work with funding. He asked have we continued to work with the local water districts on interconnecting with Bond-Madison and Tri-Township Water Districts. City Manager Conrad replied we have talked about it. We will be using ARCA funds to connect old city lake with the new city lake. It does not do any good to go in and fix the lake until you fix the silting problem first. He acknowledged the landowners and neighbors around the lake have been very generous. Councilwoman Bellm agreed, as they have contributed 20% to the cost for improvement projects.

REPORT

Accepting Expenditures Report #1239 for March 18, 2023 through March 31, 2023 – Councilman Frey made a motion to accept Expenditures Report #1239 for March 18, 2023 through March 31, 2023 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to temporarily adjourn this regular session to enter into executive session under the Illinois Open Meetings Act under the following exemption: 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11) to discuss litigation. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried. Open Meeting temporarily adjourned at 7:50pm.

Mayor Hemann reconvened the Regular Session at 8:18pm. Council members Sloan, Frey, Bellm, and Hipskind were present. Others in attendance were City Manager Conrad, City Attorney McGinley, Deputy City Clerks Hediger and Von Hatten, and City Clerk Bellm.

Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to adjourn. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Hipskind voted aye, none nay. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:18pm.

https://www.highlandil.gov/City%20Council/Minutes/2023/04-03-2023.pdf