Grundy Reporter

City of Highland City Council met Oct. 2.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Hemann called the Regular Session to order at 6:30pm at the Highland Area Senior Center. Council members Sloan, Frey, Bellm, and Napper were present. Others in attendance were City Manager Conrad, City Attorney John Hackett, Directors Gillespie, Heimburger, and Presson, Treasurer Nicolaides, Deputy City Clerks Hediger and Von Hatten, City Clerk Bellm, 2 Representatives of Republic Waste, and 6 citizens.

MINUTES

Councilman Frey made a motion to approve the minutes of the September 18, 2023 Regular Session as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve the minutes of the September 21, 2023 Special Session as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

PUBLIC FORUM

Citizens’ Requests and Comments:

Highland Primary Halloween Parade – Special Event Application – Amanda Mullaney, Assistant Principal, stated that each year, the primary students dress in their costume and do a walk around Four Diamonds, for Halloween. It maybe last about thirty minutes; however, we are asking for 1:00pm 2:00pm. Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve the Highland Primary’s request for road closure on October 31, 2023, 1:00pm-2:00pm, as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

2023 Art in the Park Sign Placement Request for Highland Arts Council – David Todd, representing the Highland Arts Council, stated I hope you all had a chance to look at the map showing the requested placement of signs. We would like to put them up on Thursday, October 12, and then take them down on Monday, October 16. Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve the request for Art in the Park sign placements as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Jerome “Blackie” Kuhl stated about a month ago, I walk back and forth here, at a meeting. They told me to come over there, because I was making the City Manager and City Attorney nervous walking around back them there. Sorry. They just got done with the Firemen’s Picnic. There was no fire trucks or smoke house. I thought it was supposed to be things for the kids. Mayor Hemann responded, Blackie, you and I talked about that at the picnic. I spoke with Chief Straub about that. He said they had the fire engines out there last year. Hardly anyone went over to look at them. Also, it makes them more accessible and ready to roll, if they are housed, should they get a fire call during the event. Councilwoman Sloan added they had a really nice bounce house that was donated by Mosaic and there was other games sponsored by Lisa Sauer’s State Farm. Mayor Hemann noted we went to a firemen’s meeting to present awards, a while back, and they all got called out. It is important that the trucks are accessible to get out quickly. Blackie stated I am tired of hearing sad stories. When in the hospital with my dad, feeding him. Your worry is getting the truck up to the scene. I just feel that gambling is more important than fire trucks.

John Kapp stated all the band concerts on the square were great. Then there was a band at the KC Hall. There were the PB&J festivals and car cruise. It has been a great summer with a lot going on. This past week, John Geismann passed away. It served on the city council for many years. Mr. Kapp asked everyone for a moment of silence to remember John.

Requests of Council:

Councilwoman Sloan thanked everyone that helped with the Leaps of Love Laps. The EMS staff was there. It raised over $100,000. Great event.

Councilman Napper stated he had two people talked to me about signs in the roundabout. They are distracting. I was also asked about discounts for senior garbage rates and when the ATT antenna is going up.

Staff Reports:

City Manager Chris Conrad thanked John Kapp for bringing up that John Geismann had passed away. He served the city for many years.

Last week, with all the garage sales, we got slammed with sign violations. Staff picked up more than thirty signs. First off, they should never be within the roundabout. If people want to put signs up in the right-of-way, they need to come to the council. Officer Straub suggested a social media post on the sign ordinance.

ATT started today onsite with installing the antenna. Coincidentally, they totally had a network error, which had nothing to do with the antenna. The permanent tower is expected to be completed by the end of the week.

City Manager Conrad provided an update on the ordinance cases. We added some new cases into the 29 active. We cleared 14 cases, but have new ones added.

City Manager Conrad noted John also mentioned Parks & Recreation Department had a fantastic summer. All events on the square have had a desired effect of bringing people into town and downtown. We have not had any public safety events. One concert we did shut down Main Street due to the size of the crowd. Thank you to Mark and his staff.

City Manager Conrad reported our staff received acknowledgment, this past week. The hospital suffered a cyber-attack, a few weeks ago. While not an HCS customer, we were able to get several offices up and gong with our phone service in the interim. Jordan came in on a Sunday to get them up and going.

This week is Electric Lineman Week. A few weeks ago, we had three participate in the Safety Rodeo, where they were judged on performing various tasks in a safe and efficient manner.

NEW BUSINESS

Bill #23-97/RESOLUTION Accepting Cigna Healthcare for Medical Insurance and Lincoln for Vision and Dental Insurance for 2023-2024 – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #23-97/ Resolution #23-10-3055 accepting Cigna Healthcare for medical insurance and Lincoln for vision and dental insurance for 2023-2024 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Councilwoman Bellm thanked staff for looking at all of the options. City Manager Conrad reported Jackie and Reanna received multiple proposals this year, so that was a positive. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #23-98/RESOLUTION Approving Contract with Republic Services for Solid Waste Services – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #23-98/Resolution #23-10-3056 approving contract with Republic Services for Solid Waste Services as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Joelle, with Republic Waste, introduced Rhonda, the municipal rep from their Edwardsville office. She will be your lead contact. City Manager Conrad pointed out this will the first time Highland will be going to containerized services. Joelle reported not 100% will be curbside. 60% will placed containers at the curb. Both customers will have 95-gallon trash containers and 95-gallon recycle containers. This proposal was written very loose, because we know it will be a very big change.

We will be having commercial containers moved from rear-load containers to front-load. For residents, moving to those containers is great, because it means. Councilwoman Bellm asked will they be automated in the alleys. Joelle replied yes. It will be a different style from the curbside. There will be a 10% discount for seniors at age 65. Councilwoman Sloan asked does yard waste go out each week. Joelle reported trash will be one-time a week; yard waste, one-time per week, with maximum of five containers per week; and, every other week recycle container on the schedule. Bulk will be an on demand service. Four times per year, they can put up to four items out. If they have more, we can charge a fee. Councilwoman Sloan inquired about holding a clean-up bulk pick-up week. Joelle explained the bulk clean up would change to a one-time per year with five twenty-yard locations. The curbside city cleanup is so labor intensive. Drivers want to stay on automated routes, and work comp claims are significant during those bulk clean-up weeks. We offer 10, 20 & 30 yard roll-offs.

Councilman Napper expressed concerned that older people will have trouble moving these large containers. Joelle addressed it, as a loose discussion, explaining that if someone has a medical condition, they can call customer service, then that address is coded as a medical issue location. Containers must be visible in those instances, for the driver to see them and they will move them.

Joelle noted that billing services is a big deal. If the city wants to continue what they are doing with billing that is fine. City Manager Conrad stated staff talked about that we would handle residential and containerized commercial. If someone needs a dumpster, they would contact Republic direct and coordinate that.

Back to the carts, Joelle explained, if anyone produces waste more than one container, we will provide them with another container, which they can lease. It is our desire to start the five-year term on November 1. What we want is to be a fully automated service by October 31, 2024. Rhonda explained one reason for the length of time is that we need to order the carts and then figure out how to distribute them. Joelle reported the proposal is for Years 2, 3 & 4 at 4% increase. Small containers, 2-, 4- & 6-yard are available, which we will offer to residents until we have the automated trucks in place. At that time, it will change to 10-yard containers.

City Manager Conrad pointed out the yard waste is weekly, all year around. No containers are provided. It will be a maximum of five containers, which acceptable containers are: brown bags, 32- gallon containers marked with red “x”, and you can bundle 4ft x 2ft. Deputy City Clerk Lana Hediger asked what about in the fall when a lot of leaves. Joelle stated, right now, we have no other solutions in place. Councilwoman Sloan asked do organizations coordinate trash services with your office for special events. Rhonda replied yes. Joelle added we put a certain number in each contract. How the city allocates them is up to them. City Manager Conrad stated we were going to put a section in the application that provides contact info for Republic Waste. Councilman Frey asked how far they are coming with these containers. Rhonda replied Edwardsville or Cahokia. Councilman Frey suggested we let these organizations know they need to contact Republic Waste thirty days in advance. Rhonda requested a list of the city sites that need to be in the contract for containers.

City Manager Conrad reported there was an option in the contract for the purchase of our old dumpsters. Republic proposed $75,000 to purchase our current dumpsters. We will provide staging area for their containers as they swap out from our containers to theirs. Councilman Napper asked the containers will be Republic’s. Joelle acknowledged those will be our containers. If a wheel falls off or our trucks crush the container, then we will replace.

The next step will be to draft the contract and we will negotiate from there. Deputy City Clerk Hediger asked do you come in and talk to community groups. Joelle responded, yes, Rhonda does it; however, just give her plenty of advanced notice. Councilwoman Bellm stated no one likes change, but I think it will work out fine. City Manager Conrad explained if there are any money changes, then we will come back to council for another vote; otherwise, everything to work out is just operational. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Award Bid #PW-04-23, for Roof Replacement Water Treatment Plant – Councilman Frey made a motion to award Bid #PW-04-23, for roof replacement for Water Treatment Plant to Joiner Sheet Metal and Roofing, in the amount of $129,000.00 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #23-99/ORDINANCE Authorizing the Execution of a Commercial Real Estate Option Contract and Commercial Real Estate Sales Contract with Ernst Iberg Farm, LLC for Right-of-Way for Roads, Infrastructure, and Other Public Purposes – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #23-99/Ordinance #3296 authorizing the execution of a commercial real estate option contract and commercial real estate sales contract with Ernst Iberg Farm, LLC for right-of-way for roads, infrastructure, and other public purposes as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. City Manager Conrad explained the property is directly around the sewer plant, which will provide for expansion for decades. The next item on agenda is for roadway that back to the sewer plant and for needed for right of way. Councilman Frey inquired is the twenty acres being farmed or is it bottom ground. City Manager Conrad reported some farmed; some is timber. Councilman Frey asked will they keep farming it. City Manager Conrad stated until we need it for use they will continue to farm it. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #23-100/ORDINANCE Authorizing the Execution of A Commercial Real Estate Sales Contract with Ernst Iberg Farm, LLC for Right-of-Way for Roads, Expansion of the Sewer Plant, Infrastructure, and Other Public Purposes – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #23-100/ Ordinance #3297 authorizing the execution of a commercial real estate sales contract with Ernst Iberg Farm, LLC for right-of-way for roads, expansion of the sewer plant, infrastructure, and other public purposes as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #23-101/ORDINANCE Authorizing the Execution of a Commercial Real Estate Sales Contract with First Baptist Church of Highland For Right-of-Way for Roads, Sidewalks, Infrastructure, and Other Public Purposes – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #23-101/Ordinance #3298 authorizing the execution of a commercial real estate sales contract with First Baptist Church of Highland For right-of-way for roads, sidewalks, infrastructure, and other public purposes as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Napper. City Manager Conrad stated this is the last of the private right of way needed for what we are looking to do for the school. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

REPORT

Accepting Expenditures Report #1251 for September 16, 2023 through September 29, 2023 – Councilman Frey made a motion to accept Expenditures Report #1251 for September 16, 2023 through September 29, 2023 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to adjourn. Motion seconded by Councilman Napper. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:32pm.

https://www.highlandil.gov/City%20Council/Minutes/2023/10-02-2023.pdf