CITY OF KANKAKEE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 20, 2009
7:00 P.M.
MAYOR GREEN: I’d like to call the meeting to order,
please. I’d like to ask Jess Gathing if
he’d open our meeting with a prayer.
JESS GATHING: Everyone please bow their heads? Dear Heavenly Father we come tonight and we
just want to say thank You Father, thank You for everybody that’s here tonight,
dear Heavenly Father. Thank You for this
new facility, dear Heavenly Father.
Thank You for all the Aldermen and the Mayor and thank You for each and
every one that made their way out here tonight, dear Heavenly Father. Now as we go through this meeting tonight
dear Heavenly Father, we ask a special blessing for everyone that’s here and
even for the celebration that is to come after, dear Heavenly Father. We pray for the strength of each and every
one of them and we pray for the strength of our Mayor going out and we pray for
the strength of the new Mayor coming in, dear Heavenly Father. And, these blessings we ask in Your son Jesus’
name, we pray. Amen.
MAYOR GREEN: Aldermen Diersen, would you lead us in
the Pledge?
ALDERMAN DIERSEN AND ALL: Pledge of Allegiance
MAYOR GREEN: Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
PRESENT:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams (via telephone connection);
Ciaccio; Swanson; Linneman; Diersen; Jones; Coleman; Cox (12)
ABSENT: Schwade (1)
MAYOR GREEN: Department
Heads.
CLERK DUMAS:
PRESENT:
Kinkade; Young; Dear; Spice; Bohlen; Power; Leshen; Simms; Tyson; Shaw;
Nolan; Gordon; Bertrand (13)
MAYOR GREEN: Thank
you. Ah, be sure all of you have your
microphones on. If you haven’t put them
on, please. Next, you have the minutes
of the April 6, 2009, meeting. I need a
motion to approve.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor
Green, hearing no objections from my colleagues, I move they be approved as
recorded.
MAYOR GREEN: Is
there a second?
ALDERMAN BROWN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Brown to approve the minutes of the
April 6, 2009. All in favor, AYE. Opposed, same sign.
MOTION TO APPROVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF
APRIL 6, 2009
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, Petitions. The Chair has none. Are there any Petitions from the Floor? Hearing none, we’ll move to into
Communications. You have a thank you
from the young lady that was here last week, Emily Koch, about her
participating in the National Young Leadership Conference. You have a letter of resignation from the
City Plumbing Inspector, Robert Glade.
We need to accept that resignation.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Move to approve.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter. Is there a second?
ALDERMAN COLEMAN:
Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Second
by Alderman Coleman. All in favor,
AYE. Opposed, same sign.
LETTER OF RESIGNATION FROM ROBERT B. GLADE,
PLUMBING INSPECTOR, EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2009
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, you have a letter of
resignation from Fire Chief Ronald Young as a member of the Kankakee
Firefighter’s Pension Board, effective April 21, 2009. We need a motion to accept that resignation.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Motion
to accept Mayor Green.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter. Is there a second?
ALDERMAN SWANSON: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Second
by Alderman Swanson. All in favor,
AYE. Opposed, same sign.
LETTER OF RESIGNATION FROM CHIEF RONALD YOUNG, MEMBER
OF THE KANKAKEE FIREFIGHTER’S PENSION BOARD, EFFECTIVE APRIL 21, 2009
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Any other Communications from
the Floor? Hearing none, we’ll move into
Standing Committees. Public Safety,
Alderman Hunter.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor
Green, just a couple action items, ah, there was a bid of $27,022.50 from
Momentum Fitness for some equipment–workout equipment–and also a walk-through
x-ray system to be placed at the Council Chambers entryway in the amount of
$7,4220.00 and I can’t recall who the vendor was for that particular piece of
equipment, but I move to approve those purchases.
MAYOR GREEN: Is
there a second?
ALDERMAN SWANSON: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Swanson to approve those two
purchases. Questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Linneman; Diersen; Jones;
Coleman: Cox (12)
ABSENT:
Schwade (1)
MOTION TO APPROVE EXERCISE EQUIPMENT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
CENTER
AND X-RAY SYSTEM ENTRYWAY FOR CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, anything else, Alderman?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: That’s
all.
MAYOR GREEN: Next,
License and Franchise. Alderman Swanson.
ALDERMAN SWANSON: Information’s
in the packet.
MAYOR GREEN: Budget
Committee. Alderman Baron.
ALDERMAN BARON: The
first item had to do with Am Audit, the consultants that we hired to review our
utility tax structure. Ah, the.....and
they found that with the deregulation of natural gas, ah, businesses and
residences that purchased natural gas from a source other than Nicor did
not.....is not subject to the utility tax according to law. And, this has been going on for a while and
they are experienced in this and they are experienced in the ways of bringing
them in. So, they made a presentation
about this. Now, there is a chance that
the total gross gain, ah, for a year from having everyone–businesses and
residences–pay the equal share according to our utility tax, our gain for a
year could be $850,000.00. Ah,
therefore, we, ah, as a committee, authorized, and we’re recommending to the
full Council that we authorize the administration to proceed with the steps
necessary to prepare an Ordinance to implement a gas use tax sufficient to
bring in all of those businesses and residences that contract with third party
natural gas providers such that they can be taxed on an equal basis with the
residents and the businesses that are currently being taxed pursuant to our
utility tax. So, I would make that
motion and try to answer any questions if you have any before that.
MAYOR GREEN: There’s
a motion by Alderman Baron. Is there a
second?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: I’ll
second it, Your Honor.
MAYOR GREEN: Second
by Alderman Hunter. Questions?
ALDERMAN BROWN: Mayor,
I have one.
MAYOR GREEN: Alderman
Brown.
ALDERMAN BROWN: I
asked this earlier and I didn’t get a chance to ask you. I just want to know if the other communities
are doing the same?
ALDERMAN BARON: Are
they doing the same in terms of the utility tax?
ALDERMAN BROWN: Yes.
ALDERMAN BARON: Does
Bradley and Bourbonnais have a utility tax?
MAYOR GREEN: Don’t
believe so. Utility taxes are in
place. Are there other communities that have
a utility tax in the State of Illinois?
Yes, there are. And, what we’re
doing here, Alderman, in all honesty, is we’re equalizing this. This tax has been on and the majority of our
residents have been paying it. We have
found some that are not. This equalizes
it so everybody is paying equally, so everybody is paying the same.
ALDERMAN BARON: We
implemented our tax in 1990–our utility tax.
Our utility tax has been in effect since then. And, because we’re a home rule
community..........
MAYOR GREEN: It
was prior to 1990 Alderman. That goes
all the way back to the Ryan administration.
ALDERMAN BARON: The
utility tax?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Yeah.
MAYOR GREEN: Yes. We can’t get blamed for that. Alderman Epstein.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: Do
I understand that this is an additional $850,000.00?
ALDERMAN BARON: Yes.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: That
we’re not capturing right now.
ALDERMAN BARON: Gross.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: Gross.
ALDERMAN BARON: Subject
to our contractual fee with the audit.........with Am Audit.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: Do
they take a percentage, or........?
ALDERMAN BARON: Yes.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: indistinguishable
MAYOR GREEN: Any
other questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Linneman; Diersen; Jones;
Coleman: Cox (12)
ABSENT:
Schwade (1)
RECOMMENDATION THAT CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZE
ADMINISTRATION
TO PROCEED WITH STEPS NECESSARY TO PREPARE AN
ORDINANCE TO
IMPLEMENT A GAS USE TAX IN THE CITY INCLUDING ALL
ANCILLARY
FACETS AND TO BRING SUCH ORDINANCE TO THE COUNCIL FOR
ITS
CONSIDERATION
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries.
ALDERMAN BARON: The
second item is.......we are.....the City of Kankakee is a member of the
National League of Cities. The National
League of Cities has a program in concert with CVS........CVS drug stores where
all residents....... all residents of the City of Kankakee are eligible to
receive a card and the card can be presented at CVS, or I believe at Walgreens–
MAYOR GREEN: That’s
correct.
ALDERMAN BARON: .......to
receive an average of 20% off the retail prices of prescription medications for
prescriptions not covered by insurance.
So, ah, National League of Cities has negotiated this deal with CVS
nationwide and we are recommending to the City Council to adopt a Resolution,
and that’s in our Resolutions at the end of the meeting. We’re recommending to the Council to adopt a
Resolution authorizing City to participate in this National League of Cities
prescription discount program. And, I
would so move.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Second
it, Your Honor.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Baron, seconded by Alderman Hunter to adopt the resolution
authorizing the City of Kankakee to participate in the National League of
Cities prescription discount card program.
Questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Linneman; Diersen; Jones;
Coleman: Cox (12)
ABSENT:
Schwade (1)
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF KANKAKEE TO
PARTICIPATE IN
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNT CARD
PROGRAM
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries.
ALDERMAN BARON: The
third and final request from the committee.....recommendation from the
committee concerns TIF 4–the Eastgate TIF and Electron Beam, one of the
businesses that recently completed a 9,000 square foot expansion. They’re asking to receive the, ah, the
benefit that we have given to other TIF participants. TIF 4 only has one year left, so the benefit
they would get would only involve one year and we have a standard incentive
that we’ve been working with others.
MAYOR GREEN: Alderman,
I believe it would be two years. It
expires in ‘10, so they’re asking for 2009 and 2010. Is that correct...........isn’t that correct
Jim?
JAMES SPICE: Yes. Yes.
ALDERMAN BARON: Ignore
your minutes that said one year and, ah, it’s two years that end at the end of
2010?
MAYOR GREEN: That’s
correct.
ALDERMAN BARON: Okay. So, two years worth of benefits this year and
next year. It’s an incentive as
described in the minutes up to 70% TIF increment which can include up to 30% of
the financing costs related to the project.
That’s the same deal–that’s the same benefit that we’ve offered to
others in TIFs. I would recommend–I
would move that we authorize the Mayor
and City Clerk to sign an agreement, ah, providing for this TIF incentive for
Electron Beam.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Second
that, Your Honor.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Baron, seconded by Alderman Hunter to allow the administration to
create a contract between the City of Kankakee and Electron Beam for their
facility located in Eastgate Industrial Park.
Questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Linneman; Diersen; Jones;
Coleman: Cox (12)
ABSENT:
Schwade (1)
MOTION FOR CITY COUNCIL TO AUTHORIZE MAYOR AND CITY
CLERK
TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT PROVIDING FOR A TIF INCENTIVE FOR
THE
EXPANSION OF THE ELECTRON BEAM PLANT UNDER THE TERMS
OF THE EXISTING MASTER AGREEMENT
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries.
ALDERMAN BARON: Thank
you.
MAYOR GREEN: Thank
you. We’ll move onto Report of Officers
and approval of bills. Is there a
motion?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor
Green, I move to approve the reports of officers, the bills be allowed, the
money to be placed in the proper accounts and the reports placed on file.
MAYOR GREEN: Is
there a second?
ALDERMAN CIACCIO: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Ciaccio to approve the report of
officers, place the money in the proper accounts, pay the bills in the amount
of $774,930.56. Any questions on any
specific bill? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Linneman; Diersen; Jones;
Coleman: Cox (12)
ABSENT:
Schwade (1)
REPORTS OF OFFICERS APPROVAL OF BILLS - $774,930.56
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. There is no Unfinished
Business. We’ll move onto New Business. We have an Ordinance, first of all, declaring
certain property surplus in the City of Kankakee for the Kankakee Fire
Department and authorizing the sale thereof.
I need a motion to Suspend the Rules that would interfere with the
passage of this Ordinance.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor
Green, I move to Suspend the Rules that would interfere consideration of
passage of this Ordinance at this time.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Brown to Suspend the Rules that would
interfere with the passage of this Ordinance.
Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Linneman; Diersen; Jones;
Coleman: Cox (12)
ABSENT:
Schwade (1)
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Is there a motion to put this
Ordinance on its Final Passage and Pass?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor
Green, I move this Ordinance be placed on its Final Passage and Pass.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Brown to place this Ordinance on its
Final Passage and Pass. Any
questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Linneman; Diersen; Jones;
Coleman: Cox (12)
ABSENT:
Schwade (1)
ORDINANCE DECLARING CERTAIN PROPERTY SURPLUS OF THE
CITY OF
KANKAKEE – KANKAKEE FIRE DEPARTMENT - AND AUTHORIZING
THE
SALE THEREOF
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next is a request from the
Village of St. Anne. They’re......as we
go into this Surplus Ordinance of this property that we had in this facility
prior to moving back here, they would like the ability to look at some of those
office furniture and acquire them for the Village and I’m requesting permission
from the City Council to do that.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Move
to approve.
ALDERMAN COLEMAN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter, second by–I’m sorry–by Alderman Coleman. Any questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Linneman; Diersen; Jones;
Coleman: Cox (12)
ABSENT:
Schwade (1)
REQUEST FROM THE VILLAGE OF ST. ANNE FOR SURPLUS
FURNITURE
AND FIXTURES FROM THE CITY OF KANKAKEE
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. At the next meeting we will
also have another Surplus Ordinance for the furniture and fixtures that were in
the Police Department and then, subsequent to passing that, then the City will
have a public auction for all of those materials. So, just to let you know that’s coming. Next action item is the City of Kankakee 2008
MFT Street and Maintenance Program Group 1 - 8.
Dave, do you want to tell them what that is?
DAVID TYSON: Yes,
that’s a supplemental resolution and what it’s for, Groups 1- 8 last year were
hot patch, cold patch, salt, maintenance of the roads. And, what this is, is we ran over with a lot
of salt that we had to buy last year, so the $2,500.00 is basically just to
balance the books. Our Resolution
matches the amount of the Motor Fuel Tax that was spent.
MAYOR GREEN: Need
a motion to approve.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Motion
to approve, Mayor Green.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter. Is there a second?
ALDERMAN JONES:
Second it.
MAYOR GREEN: Second
by Alderman Jones to approve this MFT Street Maintenance Program. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Linneman; Diersen; Jones;
Coleman: Cox (12)
ABSENT:
Schwade (1)
CITY OF KANKAKEE 2008 MFT STREET MAINTENANCE PROGRAM,
SECTION 08-00000-00-GM, GROUP 1 - 8
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, is an Ordinance for
Handicapped Parking at 348 S. Osborn Avenue.
Is there a motion to Suspend the Rules?
ALDERMAN JONES:
Motion to Suspend the
Rules.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Jones to Suspend the Rules that would interfere with the passage of
this Ordinance. Is there a second?
ALDERMAN BARON: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: I’m
sorry. Who seconded it?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Ah,
Baron.
MAYOR GREEN: Seconded
by Alderman Baron. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Linneman; Diersen; Jones;
Coleman: Cox (12)
ABSENT:
Schwade (1)
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Is there a motion to put this
Ordinance on its Final Passage and Pass?
ALDERMAN JONES:
So moved.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Jones. Is there a second?
ALDERMAN BARON: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Second
by Alderman Baron. Any questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Linneman; Diersen; Jones;
Coleman: Cox (12)
ABSENT:
Schwade (1)
ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 32, SECTION 231 ENTITLED
"HANDICAPPED PARKING" OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF KANKAKEE
HANDI-
CAPPED PARKING SIGN(S) ESTABLISHED AT 348 SOUTH OSBORN
AVENUE
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, is a recommendation to
award the bid of $14,745.00 to Ruben Smith Construction and R&R for the
alleyway improvements between Indiana Avenue and Harrison Avenue on the south
side of Station Street. Is there a
motion?
ALDERMAN JONES:
Motion.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Jones. Is there a second?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Second,
Your Honor.
MAYOR GREEN: Second
by Alderman Hunter. Any questions? Alderman Diersen.
ALDERMAN DIERSEN: I
would just like to know why there is that big difference between the low bid
and what the engineer’s estimate was?
Are we missing something that he had in his estimate?
MAYOR GREEN: We’ll
have to ask the engineer. I don’t know,
Alderman.
DAVID TYSON: Besides
getting lucky one time, the difference was basically, we thought since this was going to be a small project, we gave
an alternative being able to bid it with concrete or with asphalt. And, it came in with a very reasonable
asphalt bid and that’s, basically, took the whole difference in what the cost
of this job is, so we’re actually benefitting from lack of work
indistinguishable.
MAYOR GREEN: Any
other questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Linneman; Diersen; Jones;
Coleman: Cox (12)
ABSENT:
Schwade (1)
RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD THE BID OF $14,745.00 TO RUBEN
E. SMITH CONSTRUCTION AND R & R, INC. FOR THE ALLEYWAY IMPROVEMENTS
BETWEEN INDIANA AVENUE AND HARRISON AVENUE SOUTH SIDE
OF
STATION STREET TEI JOB #E08099
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, is the Intergovernmental
Agreement between the City of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College, Kankakee
County, Kankakee River Valley Forest Preserve District and the Kankakee Valley
Park District. And, this is for the
Riverfront Trail Initiative. We have
already budgeted the money over the last two years for this. This is just the official intergovernmental
agreement. We’re asking for your
approval giving the administration the authority to sign the agreement.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: So
moved.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Epstein. Is there a second?
ALDERMAN JONES:
Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Second
by Alderman Jones. Any questions?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Good
job.
MAYOR GREEN: Roll
call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Linneman; Diersen; Jones;
Coleman: Cox (12)
ABSENT:
Schwade (1)
GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR THE RIVERFRONT TRAIL
INITIATIVE
PHASE I
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, is, you took some action
earlier in the meeting accepting Fire Chief Ron Young’s resignation from the
Firefighter’s Pension Board. I’m now
asking you to appoint Assistant Chief David Harmon in that position to be our
representative on the Firefighter’s Pension Board.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Move
to approve your appointment.
ALDERMAN SWANSON: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Swanson. Any questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Linneman; Diersen; Jones;
Coleman: Cox (12)
ABSENT:
Schwade (1)
ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF DAVID HARMON – FIREFIGHTER’S PENSION BOARD
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. One that is not on the
agenda. I put it on your desks tonight,
ah, Rev. John Thompson has been this administration’s appointment to the Police
and Fire Commission for the last sixteen years.
Actually, Rev. Thompson was appointed eight years prior to that by Mayor
Johnson, so he served 24 years on the Police and Fire Pension Board. You know, Rev. Thompson’s not in real good
shape right now. He’s fighting some
illnesses and I talked to him this weekend and he really cannot complete those duties
of staying on that board. I really hate
to see him go. I think he’s done–as far
as I’m concerned for this administration–he’s done a wonderful job and been a
great representative on that commission, but he can no longer do that. So, I’ve accepted his resignation for that
and I’m asking you tonight, and you’ve got a biography in front of you, to
appoint Willie Ames to that position to fill John’s unexpired term.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor
Green, I move to concur with your appointment.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: I
second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Epstein. Roll call please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Linneman; Diersen; Jones;
Coleman: Cox (12)
ABSENT:
Schwade (1)
APPOINTMENT OF WILLIE AMES TO POLICE AND FIRE
COMMISSION
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. And, you know, I will recommend
to the next administration that they do note John’s service and honor him at a
future City Council meeting. And, please
keep him in your prayers ‘cause John, I think, is having a real, real difficult
time of it right now.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Can
Willie stand up?
MAYOR GREEN: Willie,
I know you’re here somewhere. Would you
stand please? Ah, next, is a........we
need to have a Resolution authorizing the acceptance and execution of a grant
agreement between the Illinois Department of Human Services for the
Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
ALDERMAN BARON: I’d
so move.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: I’ll
second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Baron, seconded by Alderman Epstein. All in favor, AYE. Opposed, same sign.
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE APPLICATION, ACCEPTANCE AND
EXECUTION
OF A GRANT AGREEMENT FROM THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN
SERVICES FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Just as an aside to that. An issue that was brought up at our last
Budget Committee meeting and I talked with City Council two weeks ago. I’ve received a letter from KCC regarding the
Summer Youth Employment Program. It’s in
place and I got a letter from Margaret Cooper, the Director of that program,
and she will be contacting us and that’s going to begin the week of June 15, so
that keeps the Council abreast of what’s going on there. Ah, next, we’ve got a Resolution honoring
Alderman Paul Kinkade. I’m going to ask
Alderman Hunter to read it, but I think there’s a couple Kinkades here
tonight. Maybe they’d like to come up
and come up to the front row, ah, if you would please and I’m gonna’ ask the Alderman
to read this Resolution and then the City Council will take action on it.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: I
see he did a lot of work over there in the 5th Ward, didn’t he?
MAYOR GREEN: You
let the Chief up there by a microphone.
He’ll want to talk, too.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: It’s
indeed an honor and a pleasure to read this Resolution having known Paul for
many years. I kind of operated under his
tutelage and he had a hell of a sense of humor and, ah, I always remember going
to some of the conferences up in Chicago.
He kind of taught me the ropes and who to meet and who to talk to and
who could make decisions and the different workshops to attend. And he always had a lot of jokes. He always added a little levity. Sometimes, this work can be real serious and
cantankerous sometimes as far as what we do, but Paul always had everybody in
stitches. And, he always kept me
laughing and kept everybody else laughing, and, always made work we did fun. And, I appreciate his legacy. I appreciate his friendship and his kinship
in many ways. And, he’d always say, when
you come to the 5th, bring a fifth.
And, I was just talkin’ to Mike about that. When you come to the 5th, bring a
fifth. And, he’s always say, I’m Paul
Kinkade, Alderman from the fightin’ 5th.
So, I’d like to read this Resolution to you. RESOLUTION NO. 2009-14 HONORING ALDERMAN PAUL
E. KINKADE WHEREAS, Paul E. Kinkade
was a longtime Kankakee City Alderman of the Fifth Ward who served on the City
Council for over twenty-one years; and
WHEREAS, during his Aldermancy, he was one of the driving forces behind
the construction of the only City Fire Department Station House north of the
east-west railroad tracks that bisect the City of Kankakee. This Fire Department Station House, located
at Washington Avenue and Mertens Street, enabled firefighters and their fire
equipment to respond rapidly and more efficiently to fires and other
emergencies that occur on the City’s north side, especially when freight trains
block most of the City’s north-south thoroughfares; and WHEREAS, during
Alderman Kinkade’s tenure, the Azzarelli Senior Highrise was constructed on
North Washington Avenue and the first residents moved in. A major expansion of the City’s Wastewater
Treatment facility on Brookmont Boulevard was completed, and the first
rehabilitation and addition were added to the former City Hall at Indiana
Avenue and Oak Street; and WHEREAS,
Alderman Kinkade was proud to serve as Fifth Ward Alderman and was always a
strong and vigorous advocate for his ward and the citizens of the City of
Kankakee. His commitment and service to
the citizens of the community was accompanied by his tremendous sense of humor
and his quick wit; and WHEREAS, Paul Kinkade was the father of six children
born and raised in the City of Kankakee:
Paula (Kinkade) Hart of Danville, Illinois; Mike Kinkade of Kankakee;
Debi (Kinkade) Schultz of Kankakee; Patti (Kinkade) Pietraszewski of
Bourbonnais; Steve Kinkade of Indianapolis, Indiana; and Jeff Kinkade of
Kankakee. Alderman Kinkade’s impressive
example of duty and loyalty to his City led many of his children to follow
their father’s footsteps into public service; and WHEREAS, Alderman Kinkade was a very active
volunteer in numerous organizations and always found time to follow the
activities and sports of his grandchildren; and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by
Mayor Donald E. Green and the City Council of the City of Kankakee, Illinois,
do recognize and honor Alderman Paul E. Kinkade for his many years of selfless
labor and service to the City of Kankakee by an honorary designation of the 100
block of West Mertens Street as “Paul E. Kinkade Street.”ADOPTED this 20th
day of April 2009. Signed by the Honorable Donald E. Green, Mayor Attested to
by Anjanita Dumas, City Clerk. I move to approve.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Who
seconded it? Second by Alderman
Brown. All in favor, AYE. Opposed, same sign.
RESOLUTION HONORING ALDERMAN PAUL E. KINKADE
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Congratulations. Don’t any of the Kinkades want to talk? One other thing while we’re on Motions and
Resolutions. I do want to announce
tonight that Saturday–this Saturday–the 25th is the official ribbon
cutting and opening of this building. It
will occur at 1:00 on Saturday. It will
be 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. We will have an
open house giving everyone the opportunity to take a tour of this
building. It’s an absolutely beautiful
facility. Ah, I was here–Alderman
Epstein and I–were here at a meeting at 11:00 A.M. this morning and there were
a number of retired policemen who had come back in to vote for their member of
the Pension Board, I believe it was, and they all came back and said, gee,
maybe we’ll sign up again. They really
appreciated the facility and I think it’s.........I think it’s absolutely
outstanding and I think it says a lot about this City Council putting this
project together to make a great facility for our Police and Fire Departments
to operate out of and, of course, it brings us into the next century. One other thing I want to say ‘cause this is
really about my last meeting here. I
will Chair the beginning of the next meeting and not but, you know, this is
about my 1,660 meeting to Chair as the Mayor of this City over 16 years and it’s
been a pleasure. It’s been a pleasure
working with this City Council. I don’t
think a Mayor could ask for a better City Council than I’ve had. I’ve lost some very good friends who sat on
this City Council and I miss them. I was
talking to Alderman Ciaccio tonight and I was reminiscing about his brother,
Joe. I said sometimes Joe and I would
argue back and forth, but we really were good friends and we really got a lot
of things done. And, I miss John
Trost. I miss Ken Hearn. Ah, all of those things, but just being able
to be here and be a part of this City government is outstanding. And, ah, I really appreciate it. And, I really appreciate the citizens of this
City allowing me the opportunity to serve as Mayor of this community ‘cause it’s
a great community. So, thank you very
much. Standing Ovation Are there any questions or comments from
the Aldermen?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: I
want to make mention of, ah, what’s sitting outside on the street.
MAYOR GREEN: Oh,
those are Chief Young’s new toys. Ah,
there’s two brand-new fire trucks sitting out there and it was with the Chief’s
effort, or course, and everybody else in his department that were able to
secure a grant and with the help of our consultants in Washington, to get that
money. Those two vehicles out there
represent close to a $1,000,000.00 investment this City has made in our Fire
Department. Of course, we were able to
get 50% funding so any time you can buy something for 50¢ on the dollar, that’s
a pretty good buy. So, ah, I thank Chief
Young and, ah, I just thank every Department Head I’ve had the ability to work
with here. It’s just been really, really
great. So. Any other comments or questions from the
Aldermen? Alderman Baron.
ALDERMAN BARON: Mayor,
I just have a couple comments, but I hate to see this moment go by without at
least recognizing and stopping and realizing the changes that are occurring
tonight. I, ah, and, I understand that
anything that I say here is going to be totally inadequate to recognize 16 years
worth of what Don has done here. Ah,
when I’ve had the opportunity to introduce Don at various functions before, ah,
I think the most meaningful thing for me has been to say, Don Green is a
fantastic Mayor because he loves what he does.
Ah, and you can tell by every day that he’s been sitting in that chair
and as the Mayor, he loves what he’s doing.
When Michael Jordan played basketball, he had a contract–part of his
contract was that he could go off and play–play basketball outside of the
parameters of his contract. It was
called for the love of the game clause.
And, I just........when I think of that, I think of Don Green. And, I
think of the fact that Don like spent 16 years operating under for the love of
the City clause. Because he didn’t do it
for money. I mean I.........as you probably
know, Don Green, our Mayor, has not been paid a whole lot of money for 16
years. He didn’t do it because he was
making any money at all. Any criticism
of increase in wages for the Mayor has been totally misplaced. You can’t even begin to go through the things
that he’s done in his 16 years. Sales
tax–well, we’re sitting in one of them–the sales tax sharing agreements that’s
just basically been the financial
salvation of the City. And, if you don’t
know that, it’s true. We
sometimes.........sometime in the last campaign we’re heard criticism of the
fact that the City Council has acted in unison.
Well, let me tell you, ah, that’s a credit to our Mayor. It hasn’t always been that way. I was on this City Council before the Mayor
was Mayor and we had meetings until midnight and don’t know what we
accomplished.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: They
weren’t done indistinguishable.
ALDERMAN BARON: I
tell you, this is a diverse City. We are
diverse ethnically, economically, politically, but you wouldn’t know it from
the way that we operate as a City Council and that’s because of our Mayor. And, that has been.......that’s the absolute
truth and all of you that haven’t been participating in this ought to know
that. These things come and go and we
don’t realize it all the time. So, I
would like.......there’s nothing I can say that can begin to express what I’ve
seen since I’ve been sitting here and he’s been sitting there. All I can do is, on behalf of the City
Council, I’d like to stand and give him another standing ovation. Standing Ovation
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: Now
I can interrupt. Technically, the next
item on the agenda is an Executive Session so that I can deliver my Corporation
Counsel report of the pending litigation.
With the permission of the Council, I’d like to postpone that to the
next meeting.........
ALDERMAN BARON: I
so move
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: ..........unless
somebody objects. But, I would like
permission to do that.
MAYOR GREEN: There’s
a motion by Alderman Baron. Is there a
second?
ALDERMAN SWANSON: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Second
by Alderman Swanson. All in favor,
AYE. Opposed, same sign.
MOTION TO POSTPONE EXECUTIVE SESSION UNTIL
MAY 4, 2009 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: Now,
you have spoken, Alderman Baron, on behalf of the City Council It’s fallen to
me to speak on behalf of those people who have participated as appointed members of the administration. And, I only did that because I’m sitting up
here and all of you guys could do it just as well. But, I remember 16 years and 2 months–or 2
weeks– ago when we came in after the adjournment of the original City Council
meeting and then the new City Council took over. And, I sat up here with Don and we started
and my thought was, oh, my god, what have we gotten ourselves into? But, it has been one heck of a nice
ride. There have been lots of bumps in
the road, but there have been a heck of a lot of mountain top experiences where
we’ve come to the top and seen how good this City can be. And, if nothing else, what Don Green has
brought us is, we can be that good. And,
beyond all else that he’s accomplished, and this is only one more stop on the
Don Green farewell tour. There will be more.
So, I’ll reserve some of my other comments. But, as a Department Head, and those of you
who have worked under him, know that all of us had the privilege of running our
departments. There was no
micro-management. There was no calling
us and saying, you gotta’ do this or you gotta’ do that. There was sometimes a look in the eye when
sitting in the office and saying, what the hell did you do that for? But, there was no telling us how to do our
jobs. The expectation was we all were
required to do our jobs because we all had the same best interests of the City
at heart and had to put our own egos and our own agendas–sometimes–in the back
pocket and move ahead with what we knew was the Don Green agenda. So, like I say, we have many times seen how
good the people in this community are, the City government can be, and what a
good Mayor can do in a City that now runs.........probably runs better than our
friends to the north that say that City works.
This one really works. On behalf
of the Department Heads, Don, first of all, after this occurs and there’s an
adjournment, you’re all invited downstairs to the Training Room which is
downstairs, obviously, and back down the stairs again. When you go down to the first floor, go down
the stairs and that’s the new Training Room where the Fire Department and
Police Department will do training.
Tonight, it’s got special things in there that probably aren’t typical
of the Police and Fire Training.
Although, Chief, maybe they are.
I’m more inclined to say..........never mind. Anyway, on behalf of the Department Heads....
NANCY SMITHBERG: All
employees.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: The
City employees.
NANCY SMITHBERG: Oh,
all employees, yes.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: You
know, she wanted me to interrupt your speech.
She did interrupt mine. On behalf
of the Department Heads and all City employees that worked in your
administration, we give you this as a very small token of our appreciation for
the opportunity to work for you and, more importantly, for the residents of the
City of Kankakee.
MAYOR GREEN: Thank
you. What does..........I don’t know what one says
really. I’ll get emotional here, so I’ll
sort of be quiet. But, you know, I
honestly want to thank everybody that’s here tonight. I want to thank everybody who lives in this
City. I don’t think anybody understands
what a privilege it is to serve your fellow community and I’ve had the
opportunity to do that. Ah, Alderman
Baron was talking about it. I served on
the City Council with Alderman Baron and, ah, to me, sometimes those things
were an embarrassment because, you know, I think we should conduct our business
in an open fashion. I think we should
conduct our business in a very professional way. And, there are Aldermen sitting around this
room tonight, that I’ve had disagreements with and we’ve argued about a lots of
things, but I guess the thing that I like the best is when it’s all said and
done, and the vote’s taken, that’s what we do.
And, I don’t think this group of elected officials that we’ve had or who’ve
passed through here in the last 16 years have not felt the very same way. And, I’ve had the absolute privilege of
working with the finest Department Heads, the finest people to run the City and
the finest employees. And, have we had
disagreements with Department Heads?
Yes, we have. Have I had
disagreements with employees? Yes, I
have. But, overall, I don’t think
anybody could ask for a better community and a better bunch of people to work
with. So, from the bottom of my heart
and my family. Now, I know why my son
came home. I couldn’t figure out why he
was coming home and, you know, my wife is here, my son, my daughter and my
son-in-law. And, without your family
support, none of these things can happen, ladies and gentlemen. And, that’s very true. Standing ovation. I
need a motion to adjourn.
NANCY SMITHBERG: You
have to open that.
MAYOR GREEN: Why
do I have to open it?
NANCY SMITHBERG: You
have to open that.
MAYOR GREEN: Why
do I have to?
NANCY SMITHBERG: Because.
MAYOR GREEN: You
know, boy oh boy. Mayor-elect, you got a
real problem here. I guess I’ll will
that to you. She wants me to open the
card.
NANCY SMITHBERG: No,
the gift.
MAYOR GREEN: Well,
you open the card first.
NANCY SMITHBERG: Okay.
MAYOR GREEN: Oh,
my, take us along. The card says, Before
you leave, can we ask you to do one more little thing? Take us along. Congratulations on your retirement. And, actually there’s some........there’s
money in here guys.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: They
want to go. It’s transparent.
MAYOR GREEN: Nancy,
I can’t open this.
NANCY SMITHBERG: I’ll
help you.
MAYOR GREEN: How
did I know that? Now, if my
mother-in-law was here–still living–she’d say take that apart carefully. You can reuse that paper. How do I open this Nancy?
NANCY SMITHBERG: There’s
a zipper on the side.
MAYOR GREEN: She’s
taped it again?
NANCY SMITHBERG: No. There’s a zipper on the side.
MAYOR GREEN: Oh,
it’s a black box.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: It’s
a Kindle®.
MAYOR GREEN: It’s
a what?
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: You
can download books on it.
MAYOR GREEN: You
can download books on this. They know I
don’t read.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: Is
Pete Schiel still here? We can use your
help on the Kindle®.
MAYOR GREEN: You’ll
have to help me. Pete. Thank you
everybody. Thank you very much. Now, I will entertain a motion to
adjourn.
ALDERMAN SWANSON: So
moved.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Swanson. Is there a second?
ALDERMAN COLEMAN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Second
by Alderman Coleman. All in favor,
AYE. Opposed, same sign.
MOTION TO ADJOURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Thank you. We’ll be downstairs.
7:50
P.M.