Grundy Reporter

City of Highland City Council met Sept. 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 Manager Conrad, City Attorney Trent Carriger, Directors Gillespie and Widman, Coordinator Hubbard, Treasurer Nicolaides, Officer Flake, Deputy City Clerk Hediger, City Clerk Bellm, and 3 citizens.

MINUTES

Councilman Frey made a motion to approve the minutes of the August 19, 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 FORUM

Citizens’ Requests and Comments:

Free Fitness at the Square – Special Event Application – Allison Brown, Representative, requested permission to host free fitness on the Square. She stated I am a certified group fitness instructor, with a Masters in health and fitness education. I would like to hold fitness sessions similar to Barre, but it does not require any equipment. Councilwoman Bellm asked when. Ms. Brown stated I would like to start as soon as possible and continue as long as possible with weather permitting on Tuesdays, unless there is any conflict with scheduling at in the Square. Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Free Fitness at the Square on Tuesdays at noon, ongoing as long as weather permits. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Treats on the Streets – Special Event Application – Mayor Hemann stated Marshall Rinderer should be here to speak on this; however, we received a text message that he is running late, due to coaching his daughter’s team. Mayor Hemann ask for a motion for approval on this, as there is not a monetary request, unless there are any questions. Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Treats on the Streets, Friday, October 25, 2024, from 1:00pm – 5:00pm as requested per the application. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Requests of Council:

No comments or requests presented.

Staff Reports:

City Manager Chris Conrad reported that since changes were made to EMS, the average calls per day has been 3.48 thru the month of August. Mayor Hemann asked if there is any data collected as to the number of mutual aid calls we utilize. Director of Public Safety Carole Widman estimated that number is in the single digits. We do also utilize aid of fire department. City Manager Conrad reported mutual aid

is roughly 6% for the month of August, as he recalls; however, he will get those exact figures to the council. Mayor Hemann reference the incident posted on social media about a child injured at Glik Park, last week. Director Widman pointed out we had those situations before when there was three ambulances staffed. Deputy City Clerk Lana Hediger pointed out, in 2017, I had the exact same thing when I called for my mother. The fire department showed up and stayed with us until Troy’s ambulance arrived. City Manager Conrad explained we have the mutual aid agreements with Troy, Breese, and Sugar Creek, in addition to RuralMed, for those instances.

NEW BUSINESS

Bill #24-89/ORDINANCE Approving and Authorizing the Execution of Intergovernmental Agreements Between City and the Highland Community Unit School District No. 5, Regarding the Allocation of TIF Funds – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #24-89/Ordinance #3347 approving and authorizing the execution of intergovernmental agreements between City and the Highland Community Unit School District No. 5, regarding the allocation of TIF Funds as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Napper. Economic Development Coordinator Mallord Hubbard explained with these agreements TIF #1 & TIF #2 are being updated to reflect newly agreed to revenue sharing for the extension years for both districts and amending for state statue. Councilman Napper asked if these will pay for expenses with the new school. Coordinator Hubbard replied it is. With the amendments made, they are free to utilize funds on any of the facilities in these areas. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #24-90/ORDINANCE Authorizing the Execution of a Commercial Real Estate Sales Contract with Highland Community Unit School District No. 5 for Right-of-Way for Roads, Sidewalks, Infrastructure, and Other Public Purposes – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #24-90/ Ordinance #3348 authorizing the execution of a commercial real estate sales contract with Highland Community Unit School District No. 5 for right-of-way for roads, sidewalks, infrastructure, and other public purposes as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. City Manager Conrad reported this is on the school’s new property along South Poplar Street. We are not buying anything, other than paying the closing costs. This will allow for gutter and curbing, sidewalk, and a turn lane for traffic flow. Councilwoman Bellm inquired we do not have a timetable for these improvements. City Manager Conrad replied no. This is an estimated $2.5M project, and we are lobbying the state for the funds. Mayor Hemann noted we hope to hear something by next summer. City Manager Conrad responded yes. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Award Bid # PW-08-24, for Water Reclamation Facility Steel Tank Painting – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to award Bid # PW-08-24, for Water Reclamation Facility Steel Tank Painting to Thomas Industrial Coatings, of Pevely, Missouri, in the amount of $37,000, as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Councilwoman Sloan asked Public Works Director Joe Gillespie can you just clarify why we do not have our own guys do the job. Why we would not have the guys use Flexseal and just do it in-house ourselves? Director Gillespie explained the tank is thirty-two feet in diameter and we do not have the resources, expertise, or the time, for a project of that magnitude. We do not have the equipment to sandblast and paint it appropriately, either. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Discussion – Grocery Tax Elimination Implications – Mayor Hemann reviewed we discussed this at length at the last meeting. I had a meeting with area mayors, this past week. Most feel they will be approaching their councils in the near future to discuss. One mayor does not have a grocery store in their town; however, they are going to bring it up as there is taxes at convenience stores, and if they should get a grocery store in the future. City Manager Conrad reported with the discussion we had, at the last meeting, a couple TV stations and newspapers that took our discussion and presented in different forms. I know there was some misinformation that this was a new tax rather than a replacement. We have until 2025 to make a decision and file; it would not go into effect until January 2026. Mayor Hemann noted the biggest misconception is that this tax is a new tax; this is just replacing the tax that is going away. City Manager

Conrad reported IML has lobbied to get the local disbursement funding back to historic level of 10% that it was prior to 2020. However, for communities that do not have grocery stores, they do not see any impact. If they have a lot of grocery retail, it does not necessarily replace it dollar for dollar. For Highland, the local disbursement fund would not see the dollar for dollar replacement impact. Mayor Hemann stated, at some point, we need to understand it and make sure the public understands it; however, we need to put it to a vote. City Manager Conrad stated it will not be a discussion item until the first meeting in October. If, at that time, council wishes, we will move forward with a vote on it.

REPORTS

Accepting Expenditures Report #1273 for August 17, 2024 through August 30, 2024 – Councilman Frey made a motion to accepting Expenditures Report #1273 for August 17, 2024 through August 30, 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 Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:55pm.

https://www.highlandil.gov/City%20Council/Minutes/2024/09-03-2024.pdf