Grundy Reporter

City of Highland City Council met June 3.

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 Attorneys Kathryn Warren and John Hacket, Directors Gillespie, Rosen, and Widman, Coordinator Hubbard, Patrolman Flake, Easton Rosen, Deputy City Clerk Hediger, City Clerk Bellm, and 4 citizens.

MINUTES

Councilman Frey made a motion to approve the May 20, 2024 Special Session Minutes 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 May 20, 2024 Regular 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 Speedway (MCFA) – Special Event Application for Extension of End Time for Certain 2024 Races – Chief Widman stated Sue Zobrist filed this application at my request. Currently, they cannot start a race after 11:00pm. Two weeks ago, they were after midnight running. One of the people that was running the track stopped the races. Sue was upset about it. I talked with Sue about it and suggested putting in an application to request an extension of time for those large races. This way we are following the rules. The big series races that are coming on June 29, July 20 & 24, August 3 & 14, and September 7 & 14, 2024. These large races bring a lot of people to town. The reason they were running late, that particular evening, was due to weather. Councilman Frey inquired if that was the MARS Race. Chief Widman replied yes. Councilman Frey explained when doing the large races, like MARS, their officials run the track and ceremonies. Chief Widman pointed out that particular race; the racing was stopped at the start, because of issues with the conditions of the track. There were some heated arguments over the race being stopped. Councilman Napper acknowledged those races bring a lot of people into town. Councilman Frey noted the Outlaws Race will draw from fifteen different states. Mayor Hemann pointed out this will be for the special races only; not every night. Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Highland Speedway’s special event application for an extension of the end time for certain 2024 Races as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Highland Chamber of Commerce – Special Event Application for 2024 Street Art Festival – Hillarie Holzinger, Executive Director stated that this year’s event will be Saturday, September 21. We are requesting closure of Washington, Main, and Laurel Streets, around the square, on the evening of September 20, at 10:00pm, and re-opening for traffic on Monday morning. This will allow for the rain date of Sunday, September 22 and allow the public time to enjoy the artwork. Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Highland Chamber of Commerce’s request for use Square and road closures for the Street Art Festival on September 21, 2024, with a rain date of September 22, 2024, as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Sherry Stanley propose a speed limit change on Hill Road, decreasing it to 30mph from Route 40 to Daiber Road. There are many people walking, jogging, and cycling, and even cutting their yards and the ditches along the roadway, especially this time of the year. Mayor Hemann stated we would need to look at who controls those. Director Gillespie reported the city has maintenance of Hill and Daiber Road. Councilman Napper noted that 2-3 years ago, we had a gentleman that died of a traffic accident in that area. Ms. Stanley added there is a low valley in that area, which hides views as well.

Requests of Council:

Mayor Hemann recognized City Attorney John Hacket who is moving on to be a judge. Attorney Hacket stated he would be appointed on August 2. Attorney Katie Warren will be taking my place. He thanked the council, clerks and mayor for serving with us. Judge Hacket will be covering family dockets and juvenile delinquency. City Attorney Kathryn Warren reported she joined the firm April 1, 2024, after fifteen years in the State’s attorney’s office as a prosecutor, where she got a lot of good trial experience and understanding how county government works. She lives in Troy.

Councilwoman Bellm reported Don and I drove out to Silver Lake Park this past week. She expressed Silver Lake Park is absolutely beautiful. It is perfectly manicured and beautiful.

Councilwoman Sloan suggest the city look at a way to put something out on Highland Happenings App with regards to street closures and the parade route, etc. for Schweizerfest. Director Widman stated they will be doing a media push this next week on several of those items.

Staff Reports:

Public Works Director Joe Gillespie stated you may have noticed some construction at the corners of all state routes. The State of Illinois is updating their crosswalks for handicap accessibility, which requires replacement of the devices and concrete. They are aware of Schweizerfest this weekend; however, they control the work. They hope to have the ones by the Square done in time, weather permitting.

NEW BUSINESS

Bid Award, Bid #PR-04-24. Korte Recreation Center Parking Lot Repaving – Councilman Frey made a motion to award Bid #PR-04-24 Korte Recreation Center Parking Lot Repaving to Christ Brothers, in the amount of $402,198.00 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Napper. Mayor Hemann noted this was in our budget. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #24-67/ORDINANCE Removing Certain Properties from the Tax Increment Redevelopment Project Area No. 1 – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #24-67/Ordinance #3339 removing certain properties from the Tax Increment Redevelopment Project Area No. 1 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Councilwoman Bellm asked which properties and why. Economic Development Coordinator Mallord Hubbard stated as part of proposed TIF #3, the goal was to reach to Hunsche’s development project along Frank Watson Parkway, near Highway 40. By moving to TIF #3, it extends the time that property is eligible for economic development incentives. This moves that property from TIF #1 to TIF #3. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #24-68/ORDINANCE Approving the Highland Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Plan and Redevelopment Project No. 3 – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #24-68/ Ordinance #3340 approving the Highland Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Plan and Redevelopment Project No. 3 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Mayor Hemann inquire there really has not been any changes since the last meeting. Coordinator Hubbard replied no changes since the public hearing meeting. I have received several calls and we have addressed those concerns. Councilwoman Bellm expressed it is good to have those public presentations. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #24-69/ORDINANCE Designating the Highland Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Project Area No. 3 – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #24-69/Ordinance #3341 designating the Highland Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Project Area No. 3 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #24-70/ORDINANCE Adopting Tax Increment Financing No. 3 – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #24-70/Ordinance #3342 adopting Tax Increment Financing No. 3 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 for Motor Fuel Tax Maintenance Materials (MFT Section 25-00000-00-GM) – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Notice of Municipal Letting for Motor Fuel Tax Maintenance Materials (MFT Section 25-00000-00-GM) as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Director Gillespie explained these are the materials we use for oil and chip, rock for backfilling, and the salt we use during the winter months. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

REPORTS

Accepting Expenditures Report #1267 for May 18, 2024 through May 31, 2024 – Councilman Frey made a motion to accepting Expenditures Report #1267 for May 18, 2024 through May 31, 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. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:52pm.

https://www.highlandil.gov/City%20Council/Minutes/2024/06-03-2024.pdf