CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MARCH 3, 2008
7:00 P.M.
MAYOR GREEN: I’d
like to call the meeting to order, please.
I’d like to ask Pastor Chad Dalton, that’s John Trost’s stepson, if he’d
come forward and lead us in the prayer.
I think the rest of the family’s going to join us, too, because they’re
going to lead us in the Pledge. So, come
on up now. Before we start the prayer
and the Pledge, though, I would like to ask for a moment of silence in
remembrance of John, please. Thank you.
PASTOR DALTON: Our
Father, we thank You for this time when we come together in prayer. God, we thank You for Your organization of
this world, the government officials that are here today, and, God, we thank
You for them. I pray for wisdom for
them. I pray for people to be patient
with them. I pray, God, that You give
them much insight in their job. I pray,
God, right now for the City of Kankakee.
As I grew up in this town, then moved away, I miss it and I still love
it. So, God, I pray for it. I pray for its prosperity, not only
financially, but socially with people.
Help neighbor to love neighbor as they already love themselves. God, I realize that indistinguishable
talks about a name. And, I realize that
John had a great name. And, it is to be
desired more than silver. So, God, I
just pray that each of us will be considerate of his name. And, each of us remember our names and the
legacy that we leave behind. And, God, I
thank You, that he’s a man who cared for people. Thank You that he was a man who cared for his
family, for this town. And, God, I just
pray that each person in this town has as much love for it as he did. God, I just pray for the future of Kankakee
as it’s in Your hands and these officials today and the people who elected
them. May we all work together and be
unified with one voice to make a difference, not only in Kankakee, but in the
State of Illinois. In Jesus’ name I
pray. Amen.
MAYOR GREEN: Now
I’d like to ask the Trost family to lead us in the Pledge.
JOHN TROST FAMILY AND
ALL: Pledge of Allegiance
MAYOR GREEN: Thank
you very much. Thank you. I do want to thank the Trost family for being
here tonight. They’ve certainly had some
difficult times to go through. The one
thing I can tell their family, those of us that are here, we’ve certainly got
some big shoes to fill. And, big, kind,
gentle hands that took care of the 3rd Ward in Kankakee and also
took care of the City of Kankakee. John
is going to be sorely missed by us and he’s going to be missed by his clients
and his customers in the barber shop where John kept his pulse on what was
happening in the City of Kankakee. But,
most of all, I know he’s really missed by his family. So, our thoughts and prayers are with your
family and I hope and pray that everything goes well for all of you. So, thank you very much for being here. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
PRESENT:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones;
Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
MAYOR GREEN: Department
Heads.
CLERK DUMAS:
PRESENT:
Kinkade; Young; Doyle; Spice; Bohlen; Power; Leshen; Simms; Tyson; Shaw; Nolan;
Gordon; Fuerst (13)
MAYOR GREEN: Thank
you. One thing I would like to mention
to all the Aldermen tonight. Please when
you’re speaking, if you would be sure to speak into the microphone. They’re voice activated. This room is not as conducive as the City
Council Chamber was, so if you do that it certainly makes it easier for Nancy
to do the minutes. So, if you’d just
remember to do that we’d appreciate it.
Ah, you have the minutes of the February 19, 2008, meeting. We need a motion to approve.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor
Green, I believe Alderman Diersen has a change on page 11 in the minutes.
MAYOR GREEN: Is
there a change Alderman?
ALDERMAN DIERSEN: I
checked with Attorney Bohlen on this matter and in his comments there, he
refers to it says, Pursuant to a lawsuit that was filed by the Police
Pension Fund Board and that should be the Fire Pension Board and he
has indicated that that’s what he did say.
So I would suggest that we make that change.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: With
that correction, hearing no other comments, concerns, I move they be approved
with the correction.
ALDERMAN HEARN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Hearn to approve the minutes as
corrected. All in favor, AYE. Opposed, same sign.
MOTION TO APPROVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF
FEBRUARY 19, 2008, AS CORRECTED
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Before we move to Petitions, I
think Alderman Hunter and Alderman Baron have a presentation they’d like to
make. You can talk loud enough. They’ll hear you.
ALDERMAN BARON: We
can talk loud enough. Okay. We have a check here from the City of
Kankakee Community Development Fund for the Windy City Soldiers. And, Barry Bradford who is here would like to
come up. I’ll try to speak loudly. Mr. Bradford made a presentation just several
weeks ago about his bringing his team here to the City of Kankakee, the
semi-pro team, semi-pro basketball team playing right here. He’s going to make improvements in the
Armory. And has indicated his
willingness to work with the youth of the community. So, this sounds like a win-win-win
proposition. And, we’re thrilled to have
you here speaking on behalf of the City.
So, we have a check here to start you out. It can go some distance in helping with
defraying some expenses. So, I’d like to
present this to you.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Just
a few final comments here. We’re really
happy and elated about your venture here to Kankakee County. It’s my understanding, though last Saturday I
was out of town, that they had a tremendous affair and I heard just some of the
comments that you made to one of the radio personalities this morning on WKAN
and we’re hoping that many and positive things will transpire with the Windy
City Soldiers here in Kankakee County.
Congratulations.
BARRY BRADFORD: Thank
you.
MAYOR GREEN: Thanks,
Barry. Okay, if we can, let’s move to
Petitions. Ah, before you tonight you
have a Petition by JMR Management to rezone property known as 330 S.
Third. First of all, we do not have the
minutes tonight, so I think the proper action here this evening would be to
accept the findings of the Planning Commission, put the Ordinance on its First
Reading, then when you have the minutes which certainly will be in your next
packet, then you can take final action, either up or down, on that
ordinance. So, the first order of
business is to accept the findings of the Planning Commission.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: I
so move.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter. Is there a second?
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Second
by Alderman Epstein. Any questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
PB08-01: AN APPLICATION BY JMR MANAGEMENT REQUESTING A
MAP AMENDMENT TO REZONE THE PROPERTY COMMONLY KNOWN
AS 330 S. THIRD AVENUE FROM R-1 SINGLE-FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL
TO R-3 MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO ACCOMMODATE A
FOUR-UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, ah, I’d appreciate
putting the Ordinance on First Reading only.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: I
so move.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter. Is there a second?
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: I’ll
second.
MAYOR GREEN: Second
by Alderman Epstein. Any questions? Alderman Diersen.
ALDERMAN DIERSEN: Who
is JMR?
MAYOR GREEN: I
think it’s John Tamblyn–is his name.
Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones;
Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
FIRST READING
AN ORDINANCE FOR A MAP AMENDMENT TO REZONE THE
PROPERTY
COMMONLY KNOWN AS 330 S. THIRD AVENUE FROM R-1
SINGLE-FAMILY
TO R-3 MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Are there any Petitions from
the Floor? Hearing none, we’ll move to
Communications. Ah, you’ve got
the.........just two. One from Comcast
and one from HUD. Those are information
only. Standing Committees. Public Works.
I’m sorry, Alderman Hunter.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor
Green, just an oral communication. I
just wanted to get some feedback from you and maybe you can speak for the
administration on the calamity regarding the Metro bus service. Ah, I’m not sure if you planned to say
anything about that, but it kind of concerns me inasmuch that all of the
Aldermen seated here have been quite affirmative and quite positive in terms of
supporting the Riverstone development as well as Exit 308. We have, as a Council, and as administration,
have worked with a couple administrations, former Governor Ryan and Blagojevich
in terms of getting monies to upgrade that interchange there. And, as a consequence of that, has attracted
businesses.
Notwithstanding
that there will be additional development out there. One of the generating sales tax magnets,
WalMart, will be opening this week I understand.
MAYOR GREEN: Friday
morning.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Ah,
and it’s my understanding that there is some brain freeze or something about
the Metro bus system not being able to run the buses out to the 308 Exit,
specifically at WalMart. Has there been
any change with respect to that situation?
MAYOR GREEN: I’ll
speak to it and Bill Yohnka is here and Bill is my representative on the
transit board. I did call, when I found
out about that last week, I called to speak to Rob Hoffman. I did speak with him this morning. The issue is that particular route, which is
the southern end of Kankakee, deals with Kankakee Community College, Del Monte,
that route is full. And, usually that
bus is standing room only. What they
need to do on this particular route is they need to add an additional bus. Am I saying this correctly, Bill? They need to add another bus to handle the
traffic that’s going to occur there.
They were supposedly in line for funding through the Illinois Department
of Transportation. Of course, the State
hasn’t come forward with the funding yet.
So, now they’ve got to scramble to find funds to make this work so we
can have a bus that services that area.
I did speak to Hoffman today. He
was going to Chicago to meet with IDOT.
I have not, ah, spoken with him since his meeting. That was earlier this afternoon. I also did speak with Representative Dugan’s
office because I asked her for help last week to do what she could to get IDOT
off of dead center so this bus could be added to this particular route. ‘Cause it’s........you’re absolutely right. It’s very important to the City. It’s very important to the citizens that want
to use those facilities out there. Just
as it’s important for them to get to the college and to get to Del Monte so
they can get to work. So, Bill, is there
anything you want to add?
BILL YOHNKA: I
would just say that part of it is like you said the issue of that bus being
fairly full. But, also, to the issue of
getting that bus back to the transfer center here on Oak Street downtown on
time to meet all the other buses. So,
there’s a timing issue that’s involved, too.
But, I think what needs to happen and I think what we’ve kind of started the dialogue here in the City of
Kankakee with some other leaders and, I’m sure, Mr. Hoffman is well aware of
it, that we may indistinguishable some creative problem solving. And, that we need to be looking at some
solutions and, ah, doing more than just waiting for the State funding. Let’s try to figure out a way to solve this
problem and, ah, it is an issue where I think there is a need to reevaluate
where our priorities should be. I
frankly think and I’m sure a lot of other people, that this is a pretty big
deal. We need..........to have this
developed on the south side of Kankakee and not have people able to get
there. It isn’t the right thing to
happen. Any other questions about
it?
MAYOR GREEN: I
would encourage any of you to pick up the phone and call River Valley Metro and
express your opinion, express your concern because I don’t care where anyone
lives in the City, they all use the bus system.
I don’t think it’s germane to any Ward in the City. Everybody uses it. And, it’s a.......it is absolutely
necessary. I think some of you on this
Council know my feelings that I thought there were additional services that
were put on that I–at that time–I didn’t think should be done. I thought they should do more to shorten the
routes within the City. And, I’ll say
it. That’s namely the route to
University Park. I felt that money
should have been spent in shortening the route times on those within the
City. That’s a personal opinion. I’m not speaking for any member of this
Council. But, I think you have to look
at all those issues that are out there.
Now there are those that use it to go to University Park who are going
to be mad as heck at me. But, that’s too
bad. I still think we have to watch out
for our constituents here within this community and I think it’s absolutely
necessary that a bus is.......that transportation is provided so those people
can use the areas where they can shop best in our community. It’s been proven that that bus is absolutely
necessary for someone for education because KCC is a tremendous stop. It’s been proven that people in this
community need the bus to get to the various retail outlets. The Meadowview Shopping Center is also a big
retail stop, you know, for the buses in the community as I’m sure it is for
Northfield Mall. There’s no question
about it. But, I think that’s what we’ve
got to provide. And, I think that’s what
Bill is trying to say here and that’s what we’re tying to say. Solve the problem.
BILL YOHNKA: I
guess I would urge people, I know they’ve gotten a lot of phone calls and I
think, ah, they’re pretty motivated.
They’ve heard from City leaders as well as citizens who use the bus
every day. But, I would urge people when
they call to be incredibly respectful and to encourage them to consider lodging
complaints, urge them to be looking for a solution. I indistinguishable I want the voice
from Kankakee to be one thing and we want to help solve a problem. indistinguishable
MAYOR GREEN: Yes. And, I left it this way with Mr. Hoffman this
morning. I said, you let me know if
there’s something you want me to do. I’ll
be happy to do it. I mean, I’ll work in any way shape or form. If it means working with our State officials
to try and get that done, if there’s a solution that the board can come up with
as Bill has said, then they should do that for the short-term solution. Alderman Jones.
ALDERMAN JONES: How
many times does the bus go out to KCC and to down south? Is it once every hour, is it every half hour?
BILL YOHNKA: Once
an hour.
ALDERMAN JONES:
Okay, they should have
it every half hour. If they’ve got a
full bus, they got the need out there, do it every half hour. And, run two different buses.
BILL YOHNKA: With
the funding that they have coming in, they have promised to provide that and
that is something KCC has asked for for a long time because they realize it’s a
big deal with their enrollment. So, ah,
that’s something indistinguishable needs to happen as far as the funding
goes. This issue with WalMart, you know,
that’s something tied to the funding as well.
I guess indistinguishable other people urging to figure out some
way to get this. indistinguishable
from just an outsiders perspective, not representing the City of Kankakee, it
would be better just for Metra, I think, to serve both of them.
ALDERMAN JONES:
And, have you come any
closer to getting a bus stop by the library as of yet?
BILL YOHNKA: We’ve
talked about the bus stop somewhere near the library. We’re looking at some different options
there, but hopefully.....
ALDERMAN HUNTER: What’s
the different.....not to cut you off.
MAYOR GREEN: Use
your microphone Alderman would you please?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Not
to differentiate, is there any difference between the proposed Bradley WalMart
versus the Kankakee WalMart? It’s not
about demographics is it?
BILL YOHNKA: No.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Okay. Just making sure.
BILL YOHNKA: That’s
what is, you know, kind of a touchy situation.
That is just a route that has
more time on it. So, they have time to
go into that other shopping center to go to WalMart and pick people up and
bring them around. And, get back to
where they need to be. The route on the
south side of town, I’ve ridden that route and it’s very tight on time. They’ve got to come up with some kind of
shifting their way of thinking to make that work. It’s not as simple as going out to WalMart
once you’re already there.
MAYOR GREEN: Tell
‘em your experience last Friday. You
rode the bus.
BILL YOHNKA: I
rode the bus Thursday and Friday. I rode
the bus on that route specifically and one time with very young constituents
and once with Rob Hoffman and Pam Debono.
MAYOR GREEN: I
think Bill’s approach is absolutely correct.
I think we need to work with them to try and find a solution. You know, pointing the finger’s not going to
solve it sometimes. We’ve got to get it
done. Thank you. Ah, no other Communications. We’ll move then to Standing Committees. Alderman Brown, DPW.
ALDERMAN BROWN: The
information is contained in the packets.
MAYOR GREEN: Okay. Planning and Code. Alderman Epstein.
UNKNOWN: He’s
the Chair?
MAYOR GREEN: He’s
temporarily.........he’s the Vice-Chair so........Alderman Epstein.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: I’m
sorry. The information is contained in
the packet.
MAYOR GREEN: And,
Alderman Diersen.
ALDERMAN DIERSEN: Nothing
further than what’s in the package.
MAYOR GREEN: Okay. Report of Officers.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Move
to approve the Report of Officers, place the money in the proper accounts and
pay the bills in the amount of $2,114,269.79.
MAYOR GREEN: Is
there a second?
ALDERMAN CIACCIO: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Williams, seconded by Alderman Ciaccio to approve the Report of
Officers, place the money in the proper accounts, pay the bills in the amount
of $2,114,269.79. Any questions on any
specific bill? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
REPORT OF OFFICERS APPROVAL OF BILLS $2,114,269.79
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, we’re moving into
Unfinished Business. This is the second
reading on the Ordinance for the increase in the garbage fee. Ah, I’ve asked Mr. Simms if he would step up
to the microphone and walk through this issue again one more time. I mean for the last year and a half, we’ve
been talking about this issue and knowing at some point, ah, we were going to
have to make some decisions. So,
Richard, if you’d go ahead, please.
RICHARD SIMMS: Okay,
just to, ah, go back a ways. About four
years ago, the City transferred the solid waste function into the Municipal
Utility which established it as a Utility operation meaning that the user fees
are to support the cost of the service.
And, one year ago, we brought the matter to the Utility Board’s
attention that we didn’t believe that the fees were going to be adequate in
this present year to meet our
needs. And, the Utility Board, at that
time, urged us to consider holding off for one more year and see how we
finished and then we’ll adjust the issue this year. The work sheets that I presented to the
Utility Board I think on two occasions and to the Budget Committee on two
occasions, essentially the same information was presented. Now when we analyzed this if you take a look
at the total revenue and, ah, since we have a fixed fee of $15.50 a month, we
divide the total revenues for the prior year by that fee and 12 months and
that, ah, determined the fact that we had 7,688 paying units which generated
the $1,430,000.00 number that we’re using this current year. And, then, ah, a couple of other
variables. One is the fact that the contractor
who is now beginning the second year of his four-year contract, he has a small
allowance for labor increases. The net
effect is his contract goes up about 1% a year, which we thought was very
reasonable at the time we awarded that contract. The two variables that we aren’t able to
control are the variables that are in his contract which allows him to recover
for actual increases associated with number one, transportation. And, the issue there was, when the landfill
in Kankakee County was closed, the haul distance went from about eight miles on
a typical load to the closest alternative which is the transfer station in
Momence, which we calculated about eighteen miles on the average. So, we recognized the fact that that’s going
to take more time, more trucks and more fuel.
So we were allowed to calculate the actual cost associated with
that. The second cost associated with
the transportation is fuel cost.
Obviously, the contractor was not able to predict the cost of gasoline
for four years moving forward. And, so,
we basically had him state in his bid and the other party that bid at that
time, what is your fuel cost bid? We
then take that bid and then we compare that to the actual average cost of fuel
for the year and we make an adjustment as soon as we have the fact. We, of course, we’ve had to.........we’ve had
to increase that number two years in a row.
But, for the purpose of projecting into the future, we’re doing the same
thing. Not knowing if fuel will go up or
down or stay the same. We’re basically
taking indistinguishable moving forward. And, the biggest area of cost that we haven’t
been able to control is what we call the tipping fee. The tipping fee’s associated whether you have
a landfill or a transfer station, we will pay a fee for unloading into their
facility. And, that fee really is their
cost to compact, transport to a landfill or alternative option if they have
one, and dispose of the waste. And,
tipping fees have, in the last five years, increased from $27.50 a ton to $42.50
a ton. And, so what we did to project
forward, we took the average increases that we’ve seen over the last five years
and simply projected this. It’s the best we could do to anticipate that
those costs are going to continue to increase.
They have every year. We have no
control over that. The only options that
we would have and our hauler would have, is to go to another approved site. Cannot go to Joliet. Joliet’s landfill is restricted to Will
County waste. Cannot go to the transfer
station in Bradley. That transfer
station is restricted to the Village of Bradley waste. Our alternative is to haul it to Pontiac
landfill. And, of course, that’s.........we
figured that about 58 miles. So, we
would then have to pay for additional transportation and fuel costs associated
with that. So, the Momence station is
our preferred choice. We feel it’s the
least cost and we encourage our hauler to take it there at this time. If that station were to close, then we would
have to find the closest available and we would have to pay the cost. That’s the way the contract’s written and it’s
fair because we don’t provide an alternative to the contractor. Had we had a landfill in Kankakee County we
could have very easily have said, it must go there and we control our costs
through that. That’s not the case. So, those variables are the ones that have
driven our projections. The current year
we projected and we’re still projecting ‘cause the year’s not over, that we’re
going to have a shortfall of about $136,000.00.
That’s in the current year. In
the proposal we incorporated that $136,000.00 loss for the current year be
recovered in the next year. So, we added
our projected cost associated with the haulers built-in contract increase, the
estimate for tipping fees, the estimate for transportation and gas costs and
the recovery of the $136,000.00 projection.
Now, obviously, that number will be a firm number when we reach the end
of the fiscal year, but at this time we believe that’s it. If we add those numbers together, we divide
by the 7,688 units and that’s how we came up with the suggested rate of $23.50
per month per indistinguishable.
I’d be happy to answer any other questions.
MAYOR GREEN: Alderman
Williams. Go ahead.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Did
we, ah, probably consider, or maybe, ah, Chris couldn’t be a better–from a
legal standpoint–can this go to a public hearing?
MAYOR GREEN: I
don’t see any reason to. One of the
suggestions...........I do want to mention something. One of the suggestions that
the..............prior to this public meeting was that we have a transfer
station in Kankakee. Now, you understand
if you have a transfer station, we’ve got to go through a siting hearing. I mean, it doesn’t..........it’s not going to
happen overnight. And, ah, depending on
where you do that, it will depend on who comes out for it or against it. The Pollution Control Board is still going to
rule on that issue also. In answer to
your question, Alderman Williams, this is a public.......this is a public body
and this is our hearing process.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: But,
I think in.......in view of the questions that was raised earlier, I think the
public need to know where we’re going, ah, with this fee hike and what options
we have explored or what exploration we still have to make on the different
various, ah, ways to manage waste.
MAYOR GREEN: Well,
you know, and again, you know, we can continue to talk about it forever. This isn’t something that we just came up
with in the last sixty days to talk about.
We’ve been talking about it for almost a year and a half. Are there solutions to it? Yeah, we’ve talked about it. We can stop Public Works from picking up the
rubbish in the alleyways. I don’t think there’s
an Alderman sitting around this table that would want that to happen. Ah, we have bid out the contract. I mean, and we got the most responsible
bidder that came back on that contract.
Richard just walked through how we’ve come up with our rates and since
it is a user-pay business, that’s the rate we have come up with. I mean, I don’t know what else we can
do. Alderman Jones. Excuse me, let me see if Alderman
Williams..........are you done?
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: No,
I’ll pass.
MAYOR GREEN: Alderman
Jones.
ALDERMAN JONES:
Okay. This morning I was on the phone. I called ABC Disposal, got no answer. I called Code Department to find out how many
units are in the City of Kankakee, ‘cause as an Alderman I don’t know how many
houses we have that we service for our trash.
Ah, I got an answer to them to call Sherree Gessner at the Aqua
Illinois. I called Sherree. From Sherree, she told me to call Laura Brady
at Utility ‘cause Sherree at Aqua Illinois had no idea how many people are
being charged. When I called Laura Brady
at the Utility Department, she came back to me and told me there is 8,302 units
in the City of Kankakee billed monthly for their trash pickup. You do the math as Aldermen. 8,302 units at $1.22 will cover the
$10,000.00 tipping fee. Now, if we’re
doing fuel, which you talked about, Mr. Simms, I have asked and asked why
Metro, we’re providing them with fuel.
Can we not sell them our fuel?
Could that not be an option if that’s the fuel that we’re going to
judge? Why not sell them our fuel like
we do to Metro? Another thing.
MAYOR GREEN: Can
I........
ALDERMAN JONES:
I got a hold of
Bourbonnais. Bourbonnais’ trash is
picked up by the same trash company, ABC.
They are locked into a contract where they are paying $14.25 per unit
for the next four years. We are paying
$15.50 as citizens of Kankakee. I will
not agree to an $8.00 increase for the citizens of Kankakee. I will not insult the citizens of
Kankakee. We have enough boarded up
houses. I hate to see another home lost
due to this and I don’t think it’s right. $8.00 is way too much to put on the
citizens of Kankakee. When you can live
in Bourbonnais and pay less for your trash to be picked up.
MAYOR GREEN: I’ll
answer a couple of your questions. We
can’t sell fuel to a private hauler.
ALDERMAN JONES:
Okay.
MAYOR GREEN: That’s
number one. Number two, you sat on the
Utility Board for the last two years and you’ve not come up with one single
suggestion. And, you’ve sat on this
board and we’ve gone through it every single time and we talked about.......
ALDERMAN JONES: But,
I also sit on Ordinance and it never came to Ordinance for an $8.00
increase.
MAYOR GREEN: No.
ALDERMAN JONES:
It never came to
Ordinance.
MAYOR GREEN: I’m
going through it. I’m saying.........
ALDERMAN JONES:
And, when I asked last
month.....
MAYOR GREEN: Alderman.
ALDERMAN JONES:
Last meeting, where did
you come up with $8.00 increase........
MAYOR GREEN: We.........I
don’t know how many times we’ve explained it.
You sat in the Utility Board meeting when we came up with it. And, that’s what we have proposed so it’s
nothing..........shouldn’t be anything new to you.
ALDERMAN JONES:
It’s not right.
MAYOR GREEN: Maybe
you missed the meeting. I don’t
know. Any other questions? Ah, is there a motion to put this on its
Final Passage and Pass?
ALDERMAN BARON: I
so move.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Baron. Is there a second?
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: I’ll
second.
MAYOR GREEN: Second
by Alderman Epstein. Questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Schwade; Coleman (9)
NAY: Ciaccio;
Williams; Jones; Cox (4)
SECOND READING
ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 34 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF
THE
CITY OF KANKAKEE (KANKAKEE MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
UTILITY)
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, New Business. We have five handicapped parking places on
Jeffery Street from Schuyler to East Avenue.
Is there a motion to Suspend the Rules?
ALDERMAN HEARN: Make
a motion to Suspend the Rules that would interfere with the passage of this
Ordinance at this time.
ALDERMAN GRANT: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hearn, seconded by Alderman Grant to Suspend the Rules that would
interfere with the passage of this Ordinance.
Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Is there a motion to put this
Ordinance on its Final Passage and Pass?
ALDERMAN HEARN: I
so move.
ALDERMAN GRANT: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hearn, seconded by Alderman Grant.
Any questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 32, SECTION 231
ESTABLISHING
FIVE (5) HANDICAPPED PARKING SIGNS ON THE NORTH SIDE
OF
JEFFERY STREET FROM SCHUYLER AVENUE TO EAST AVENUE
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Mayor
Green.
MAYOR GREEN: Yes,
Alderman Williams.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: I’d
like to make a motion from the Floor to rescind an Ordinance that just came my
way today.
MAYOR GREEN: Which
one?
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: I’d
like to make a motion to rescind handicapped parking sign located at 306 W. Stone Street in Kankakee.
MAYOR GREEN: Is
this..........you’re just bringing it from the Floor?
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Yeah. From the Floor.
MAYOR GREEN: Okay. You want to Suspend the Rules?
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Yeah. I’ll make a motion to Suspend the Rules that
would interfere with the passage of this Ordinance.
MAYOR GREEN: Is
there a second?
ALDERMAN CIACCIO: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Williams, seconded by Alderman Ciaccio to Suspend the Rules that
would........you want to rescind the handicapped parking at 306
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: West
Sone Street.
MAYOR GREEN: West
Stone Street. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones;
Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Is there a motion to put this
Ordinance on its Final Passage?
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: I
so move.
ALDERMAN CIACCIO: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Williams, seconded by Alderman Ciaccio. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
MOTION TO RESCIND HANDICAPPED PARKING AT 306 W. STONE
STREET
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, is an Ordinance for the
sale of municipally-owned real estate at 504, 512, and 518 N. Dearborn
Avenue. This is the Ordinance that will
allow us to donate these particular lots to Habitat for Humanity. We need a motion, if you so desire, to
Suspend the Rules.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: What........oh,
yeah, we had talked about that.
ALDERMAN COX: I
make a motion we Suspend the Rules, Mayor.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Cox to Suspend the Rules.
ALDERMAN COLEMAN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Second
by Alderman Coleman. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Is there a motion to put this
Ordinance on its Final Passage and Pass?
ALDERMAN COX: So
moved.
ALDERMAN COLEMAN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Cox, seconded by Alderman Coleman.
Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones;
Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF MUNICIPALLY-OWNED
REAL
ESTATE (504, 512, AND 518 NORTH DEARBORN AVENUE)
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Since this Ordinance passed by
a ¾ majority, we can go ahead and donate the lots, then, to Habitat for
Humanity without further action of the Council.
Next, ah, in front of you we have a lease agreement. That’s Schuyler Avenue Properties. That’s the Graham Building. We’re renting some space in there to store
property from the Police Department, from the rest of the departments in the
City until we can get it back into our new location down on Indiana Avenue and
into City Hall. So, we’re asking to
enter into that lease and that’s what this particular document is.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: I
so move.
ALDERMAN COLEMAN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Who
seconded it, I’m sorry. Motion by
Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Coleman to authorize us to enter into the
lease. Questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones;
Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN SCHUYLER AVENUE PROPERTIES,
LLC
AND THE CITY OF KANKAKEE FOR THE DEARBORN COMMUNITY
CENTER
LOCATED AT 202 NORTH SCHUYLER AVENUE
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, is the document for the
street maintenance for 2008 allowing us to buy rock salt, cold mix materials,
hot mix materials and equipment rental and traffic markings. Is there a motion to approve?
ALDERMAN BROWN: Motion
to approve.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Brown, seconded by Alderman Hunter.
Any questions?
ALDERMAN BROWN: Mayor.
MAYOR GREEN: Yes,
Alderman.
ALDERMAN BROWN: I
would like, I mean I know that the price of salt is really going up and that’s
like just this past year. I would like
Dave Tyson to speak on the price for this coming year of salt so we can
properly prepare because I think everybody run out of salt this year and it was
a problem for us here. If Dave is
willing.
MAYOR GREEN: Dave. Do you want to speak to that issue?
DAVID TYSON: Alderman,
if I understood, you’re asking where I think prices are going to go or why they’ve
gone up so high?
ALDERMAN BROWN: Right.
DAVID TYSON: The
reason they’ve gone up so high is, ah, we’ve had a bad winter, there’s been a
very large demand on it. A lot of the
companies that supply salt have not been able to get their salt. A lot of it was stuck on barges that were
stuck by ice jams on the rivers and couldn’t get them to supply stations up in
the northern part of the states up in here.
That escalated the prices. The
state has– we buy our salt from the state through a state bid. State bid only allows us to go 30% over what
we anticipate our salt usage is going to be in any year. After we go over that, we’re not allowed to
buy from the state bid. So, then we have
to go out to the public or the private companies to buy it. We’ve seen salt go from $40-50.00 a ton up to
$80.00 a ton to the last time we were buying it was around $150.00. I really expect it will go back down again
next year. Part of what we were doing with the indistinguishable what you’re passing today is it will allow
us, if salt prices go back down, and we don’t need anymore, we can stockpile or
replenish what we had before we get into next season, get into the next
year. But, I also needed to have this
passed with the Resolution that if we have another, for example, if we have
three inches of snow again tomorrow, as was predicted at one time, and they
need to buy salt, we have to have the ability to be able to buy it with motor
fuel tax. If not, it’s gotta’ come out
of your General Fund. So, what we’re
trying to do is protect the City, so that any expenditures Public Works has to
make is covered by motor fuel tax.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Thank
you.
MAYOR GREEN: Alderman
Williams.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: If
we were to purchase salt during the spring and summer months, wouldn’t it be
much cheaper since we have to go out privately to get it?
DAVID TYSON: Ah,
not necessarily. Most of the time, the
cheapest salt that we have bought, or been able to buy in the last fifteen
years that we have been putting programs together, is actually through the
state contract because the state will buy such a large tonnage amount that they’re
able to get it delivered at a cheaper price.
Most of the time, if you go out privately and try to buy it, even in the
summer, it’s hard to get in the summer to start with and the prices don’t seem
to match what the state bids are.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: But,
if I’m correct, the salt that we recently got from the state was mixed with
cinders. It wasn’t straight salt.
DAVID TYSON: I,
ah, Superintendent Dear mentioned that at Department Head and he said it was, I
think, mixed with sand, is what he had told us at Department Head. I really haven’t talked with Bert since that
time to find out why that was or what happened with that. Ah, so, I really can’t comment on that until
I get a chance to talk to Bert about it.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Alderman,
I don’t believe that was ordered from the State. That was not purchased through the State.
DAVID TYSON: I
think that was from a private.
MAYOR GREEN: Let
me ask a question. How many tons can we
put in storage without effectively losing it, you know?
DAVID TYSON: How
many can we put in storage?
MAYOR GREEN: How
many tons can we put in storage?
DENNIS DOYLE: Four
or five hundred tons.
DAVID TYSON: Five
hundred.
MAYOR GREEN: Okay. Any other questions. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
REVISED DOCUMENTS FOR CITY OF KANKAKEE 2008 STREET
MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, SECTION 08-00000-00-GM, GROUPS 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, AND 8
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, is the Ordinance
establishing rules of procedure for hearings conducted pursuant to the Code of
Conduct. Mr. Power, you want to deal
with that issue, please? I’ll ask you to
go up to this microphone. Okay, just use
that one at your desk.
ATTORNEY POWER: This
is about the third redraft of this Ordinance.
It’s one that was put together originally by me in reference, based upon
some other similar Ordinances. We’ve had
some input from our proposed hearing officer and even after that there’s been a
few other minor amendments. But, this is
the final draft and this, again, has been run by the hearing officer with his
suggestions and input also.
MAYOR GREEN: I
need a motion to Suspend the Rules.
ALDERMAN GRANT: I
so move.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Grant to Suspend the Rules that would interfere with the passage of
this Ordinace. Is there a second?
ALDERMAN COLEMAN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Second
by Alderman Coleman. Roll call.
ALDERMAN CIACCIO: Is
this aye or no?
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Schwade;
Coleman (10)
NAY: Williams;
Jones; Cox (3)
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Is there a motion to put this
Ordinance on its Final Passage and Pass?
ALDERMAN GRANT: So
moved.
ALDERMAN COLEMAN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Grant, seconded by Alderman Coleman to put this Ordinance on its
Final Passage and Pass. Any
questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Schwade; Coleman (9)
NAY: Ciaccio;
Williams; Jones; Cox (4)
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING RULES OF PROCEDURES FOR
HEARINGS
CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO THE CODE OF CONDUCT
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, I’m asking you to appoint
Donald Flett as the City Inspector. You
have his resumé in front of you.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: I
so move.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter. Is there a second?
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Second
by Alderman Williams. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones;
Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
APPOINTMENT
POLICE DEPARTMENT CITY INSPECTOR
DONALD C. FLETT
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, is Motions and Resolutions. We’ve got the 2008 Motor Fuel Tax Street
Maintenance Program. We just talked
about it earlier. We need a motion on
the Resolution.
ALDERMAN BROWN: So
moved.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Brown, seconded by Alderman Hunter.
Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Williams; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOLUTION FOR 2008 MOTOR FUEL TAX STREET
MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. There is no Executive Session
tonight. Is there any Alderman’s
comments or questions? Alderman
Williams.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Yes,
ah, in reference to, ah, the Gold Star Gym, the boxing gym for John Gerard?
MAYOR GREEN: Yes.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Is
there any way we could, as a Council, or the City can help him out with some
finances for that program?
MAYOR GREEN: Ah,
we did already.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS:
I don’t know.
MAYOR GREEN: We
did.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: What
was the question?
UNKNOWN: Gold
Star Gym.
MAYOR GREEN: Gold
Star Gym–John Gerard. Yeah, we did that.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: We
did help him out?
MAYOR GREEN: Yeah,
we did that.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Okay.
MAYOR GREEN: We
did it about a month ago, Alderman.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Okay
then.
MAYOR GREEN: Yes. Alderman Schwade.
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: I
just wanted to thank the members of the Council for contributing to a fish that
will be something that John Trost always sponsored every year for the Kankakee
River Fishing Derby. And, so, this year,
then the Council has decided that we will be sponsoring a fish for John. Thank you very much everybody for your
generosity.
MAYOR GREEN: Any
other? If not, I’ll entertain a motion
to adjourn.
ALDERMAN HEARN: So
moved.
ALDERMAN COLEMAN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hearn, seconded by Alderman Coleman. All in favor, AYE. Opposed, same sign.
MOTION TO ADJOURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING
7:57 P.M.