Grundy Reporter

City of Highland City Council met Nov. 4.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Kevin 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 Michael McGinley, Directors Cook, Gillespie, Ohren, and Widman, Manager Pinsker, Fire Chief Straub, Deputy City Clerks Hediger and Flake, City Clerk Bellm, and 4 citizens.

MINUTES

Councilman Frey made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 21, 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 NOTICE

The location of the remainder of the 2024 regular session, City of Highland City Council meetings will be changed. Beginning December 2, 2024, the meetings will be held at City Hall, located at 1115 Broadway, Highland. The meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. and agendas for these meetings will be posted according to the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

PUBLIC FORUM

Citizens’ Requests and Comments:

Highland Quarterback Club – Special Event Application – Tim Warnecke, representative for Highland Quarterback Club, requested permission to set some fireworks off on Sunday at the football games. We are hosting four playoff games and are trying to make it more of a memorable experience for the kids by shooting off fireworks. Mayor Hemann asked Chief Widman if there would be any concerns. Chief Widman responded, Fire Chief Straub has been working with them to coordinate where the fireworks would be fired off. We do not foresee any issues though. Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to allow them to fire off fireworks this coming Sunday, November 10, as requested. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Mayor Hemann asked if this would be for only the games that Highland is playing in. Coach Warnecke stated Highland is represented in all four games we are hosting and three more Highland teams are playing in Jerseyville. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Nathan Kampwerth, representing Grantfork United Church of Christ, requested permission to place a sign at the intersection of Poplar Street and Sycamore, advertising their church’s Sausage Supper. Mr. Kampwerth stated we use this event to donate to HACSM and other groups, and make improvements to our 93-yr old church. It is the fastest and most awesome-est Sausage Supper. Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to allow Grantfork UCC to put up their sign as requested for the event. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Requests of Council:

Councilman Napper asked when the 6th Street project would be finished. Public Works Director Joe Gillespie replied we plan to open it up next week. City Manager Conrad added they are going to have everything completely done with grading and seeding before we open it up.

Staff Reports:

Angela Imming explained the new options that will be available in the Highland Happenings app. We are continually looking for ways to increase connectivity with our citizens. She instructed after opening up the Highland Happenings app, select the blue button at the top. It gives a list of topics. For example, let us look at ‘trash in the yard’. This explains the city’s ordinance on this topic. At the bottom, it says ‘Make a Request’. They can even take a photo with this request. There is geospatial recognition of the photo, so if the citizen fails to tell us where it is at, the app will recognize it. The work order goes to the City of Highland to look into the request. It also allows city staff to respond back to the citizen that filed the issue. We have been testing it for a few weeks, in the background. A few citizens have found it and utilized it already. We are ready to launch it publicly. Councilwoman Bellm asked if the “Comment for Council” goes to the council members directly or where does it go. Deputy City Clerk Lana Hediger stated those would come to me. We will forward if needed or take care of it in office, if we can. Director Imming reported this will go live with full launch next Tuesday.

NEW BUSINESS

Bill #24-106/RESOLUTION Transferring the “A2” Liquor License of Old Time Pub, LLC, to New Member Himang Patel Pursuant to Chapter 6, of the Code of Ordinances, City of Highland, Entitled Alcoholic Liquor – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #24-106/Resolution #24-11- 3136 transferring the “A2” Liquor License of Old Time Pub, LLC, to New Member Himang Patel pursuant to Chapter 6, of the Code of Ordinances, City of Highland, entitled Alcoholic Liquor as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #24-107/RESOLUTION Authorizing Approval of Amended Site Agreement With Sprint Spectrum Realty Company, LLC for the Premises Located at 1117 13th Street Highland, Illinois – Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #24-107/Resolution #24-11-3137 authorizing approval of amended site agreement with Sprint Spectrum Realty Company, LLC for the premises located at 1117 13th Street Highland, Illinois as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Councilwoman Bellm asked if this is the Tot Lot. City Manager Conrad replied yes. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #24-108/RESOLUTION Approving the Estimated Tax Levy – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #24-108/Resolution #24-11-3138 approving the estimated tax levy as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Mayor Hemann expressed, I do appreciate how Director Reanna Ohren spelled this out. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #24-109/RESOLUTION To Approve Certain Rate Increases for Refuse Collection Services Effective December 1, 2024 - Councilman Frey made a motion to approve Bill #24-109/ Resolution #24-11-3139 to approve certain rate increases for refuse collection services effective December 1, 2024 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Bellm. Councilman Napper inquired these rates were approved last year. City Manager Conrad replied yes, these rates were built into the contract for the years of the contract. Councilman Napper asked will we be raising residential rates next year. City Manager Conrad stated he would have to look at our contract with Republic and see what is all scheduled in there. Councilman Napper expressed I am sure the businesses were aware of the rate increases coming up. City Manager Conrad reported there have been a lot of changes with the size of dumpsters or scheduling of the number of pickups, by various businesses. Mayor Hemann stated I know several businesses made changes to their services after having conversations with Republic about what they were paying and their options. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #24-110/ORDINANCE Authorizing Consumer Firework Displays – Councilwoman Bellm made a motion to approve Bill #24-110/Ordinance #3356 authorizing Consumer Firework Displays as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Frey. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Sloan, Frey, Bellm and Napper voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

REPORTS

Accepting Expenditures Report #1277 for Oct 19, 2024 through Nov. 1, 2024 – Councilman Frey made a motion to accept Expenditures Report #1277 for October 19, 2024 through November 1, 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 6:51pm.

https://www.highlandil.gov/City%20Council/Minutes/2024/11-04-2024.pdf