Grundy Reporter

City of Highland City Council met April 15.

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 Cook, Gillespie, Ohren, and Rosen, Coordinator Hubbard, Officer Flake, Deputy City Clerk Hediger, City Clerk Bellm, and 12 citizens.

MINUTES

Councilman Frey made a motion to approve the minutes of the April 1, 2024 Regular Session as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

PUBLIC HEARING

Mayor Hemann opened the public hearing to receive comments on final adoption of the Budget for the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year at 6:31pm. With no comments brought forward, Mayor Hemann closed the public hearing at 6:32pm.

PROCLAMATION

Mayor Hemann read a document proclaiming that May 2, 2024 be recognized as the National Day of Prayer.

PUBLIC FORUM

Citizens’ Requests and Comments:

Drive Electric Highland Car Show – Special Event Application – Kevin McKee, organizer of Drive Electric Highland Car Show, stated this show is for electric and hybrid cars. As I began preparation, I realized we are late in getting this to the council. Mayor Hemann stated it is fine. Mr. McKee pointed out this not a sales event. It is simply information only share and show. This would happen on the library parking lot, on Sunday, April 21. I anticipate about 25-50 people for the event. We are requesting a waiver on insurance certificate, since this is a low impact event with a small turnout. Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve the Drive Electric Highland Car Show on April 21, 2024, 12:00pm – 3:00pm at the Louis Latzer Memorial Library, as requested and attached. Seconded by Councilman Napper. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Kate Broadhurst commended the mayor and the council for making May 2, a National Day of Prayer. She noted May 27 is Memorial Day. I know everything has been approved already for the Memorial Day Parade; however, I want to invite the council, mayor and city manager to participate in the parade. The Corvette Club has offered use of their vehicles or you can walk or use your own vehicle. If you need a ride, let us know. On Sunday, May 26, we will be at Rinderer Park at 2:30pm, to hold a small ceremony to honor the veterans, as well.

Larry Goodwin stated I would like to address the new ambulance policy. In talking to people, it seems Highland is going to one ambulance. Presently, they have one ambulance that runs on average 3-4 runs from assisted living to the hospital. With this change, the ambulance, if you do get one, will only take you to Highland. If Highland hospital tells you they cannot treat you here in Highland, what happens then? City Manager Conrad responded he will address in staff reports.

Requests of Council:

No comments or requests.

Staff Reports:

City Manager Conrad reported all city hall functions will be closed tomorrow for training.

People are going to see some activity at the Poplar Street substation, which is just south of the roundabout at Poplar and Broadway. This substation is in much need of a rebuild. We do not anticipate any type of service interference.

The city has received a grant for about fifty percent of the cost to sealcoat for the Frank Watson Parkway Multi-Use Trail.

City Manager Conrad reported Highland provided two full-time ambulances, which serviced five fire districts, as well as the city. Those five fire districts have decided to go with a private service. They will provide an ambulance for the fire districts. As a result, of that our EMS department will see half the call volume and half the revenue for service fees. We did notify the hospital that we would not be doing transfers from the hospital. The hospital is seeing this with their other locations as well, and they are contracting with different services for those transports. Mr. Goodwin asked, in an emergency, how long is it going to be for one to arrive? City Manager Conrad responded I do not know. The hospital will be administering that. They were not concerned by this change, as they are seeing this with a lot of their hospitals and ambulance services. It is my understanding they have worked out call parameters. Mr. Goodwin summarized so I need to go to the hospital and find out those answers. I am not going to spend $60,000 to go from Highland to O’Fallon.

NEW BUSINESS

Bill #24-51/ORDINANCE Amending Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #24-51/Ordinance #3333 amending Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Mayor Hemann noted this is pretty common occurrence this time of the year. City Manager Conrad stated this is when Reanna takes what we thought it would be to what really happened. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #24-52/ORDINANCE Adopting the Financial Budget of the City for the Fiscal Year Beginning May 1, 2024, and Ending April 30, 2025, and Authorizing the Expenditures Therein Contained Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #24-52/Ordinance #3334 adopting the financial budget of the City for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2024, and ending April 30, 2025, and authorizing the expenditures therein contained as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #24-53/ORDINANCE Approving Renewal “Business District A” Commercial Building Façade Improvement Program for May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2025 – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #24-53/Ordinance #3335 approving renewal “Business District A” Commercial Building Façade Improvement Program for May 1, 2024 through April 30, 2025 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #24-54/RESOLUTION Authorizing Termination of Agreement with Monitor Productions and Approval of Agreement with Gateway Digital Media Group for Monitor Advertising at the Korte Recreation Center – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #24-54/Resolution #24-04-3104 authorizing termination of agreement with Monitor Productions and approval of agreement with Gateway Digital Media Group for monitor advertising at the Korte Recreation Center as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #24-55/ORDINANCE Declaring Personal Property of the City Surplus and Authorizing Its Sale and/or Disposal – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #24-55/Ordinance #3336 declaring personal property of the city surplus and authorizing its sale and/or disposal as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Councilwoman Sloan asked what the deal with all the costumes is. Director Mark Rosen explained those are what have accumulated over past twenty-plus years when we had Super Hero Days, Mother/Father’s Day events, etc. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Award Bid #PW-02-24, for the Street Resurfacing 2024 project – Councilman Frey made a motion to award Bid #PW-02-24 for Street Resurfacing 2024 Project to Rooters American Maintenance d/b/a Rooters Asphalt, in the amount of $432,289.10 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Approve Notice of Municipal Letting, Bid #E-03-24 for Purchase of 3-Phase Pad-Mount Transformers – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Notice of Municipal Letting, Bid #E-03- 24 for Purchase of 3-Phase Pad-Mount Transformers as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey.

Director Dan Cook reported we had some request for upcoming projects. St. Paul School and for other businesses that we may be coming. Councilman Napper asked any idea when these transformers will come in. Director Cook responded in about 1.5 – 2 years. We are hopeful that sometime between November and January we will get the ones in that we ordered about a year and half ago. I did pick up some rebuilds with three-year warranties, but they have about a 28-week lead-time. Councilman Frey suggested placing another order. Director Cook reported we have two orders out there already. They tell you on the quote that if the price changes between now and delivery, by more 5%, the cost will be passed along. As to why the shortage and such pricing issues, there is no real answer. Some say it is the materials that go into making them, which are also used in the car battery industry. That industry is willing to pay more. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

REPORTS

Accepting Expenditures Report #1264 for March 29, 2024 through April 12, 2024 – Councilman Frey made a motion to accepting Expenditures Report #1264 for March 29, 2024 through April 12, 2024 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. All aye, none nay. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:01pm.

https://www.highlandil.gov/City%20Council/Minutes/2024/04-15-2024.pdf