CITY OF KANKAKEE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 6, 2009
7:00 P.M.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Good evening. I’m going to call the meeting of the City
Council to order. I would like to ask
Rev. Ernest Rucker from Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church to lead us in
prayer this evening. Alderman Brown,
Rev. Rucker isn’t here. Would you like
to lead us in prayer?
ALDERMAN
BROWN: Shall
we bow our heads, please Our heavenly
Father, we come thanking You for this day.
We thank You for all participants of this City Council. We thank You for the brothers of the City,
and the daughters of the City. The
brotherly love and sisterly love that put this City together. We thank You for our young men that serve
this country. We thank you for their
service and for their parents. We ask
You now to bless this meeting today.
Mayor take care of the business that we designed to do. May we do it with a order of dedication to honor this City and duty
itself. These blessings, Lord, we ask in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Thank you very much. Alderman Jones, would you lead us in the
Pledge of Allegiance? Oh, do we have the
children? Are they here?
CLERK
DUMAS: No.
ALDERMAN
JONES: If
his children would like to come up and lead the Pledge? Grandchildren?
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Alderman Jones.
ALDERMAN JONES AND ALL: Pledge
of Allegiance
MAYOR EPSTEIN: I’ll
ask the Clerk to call the roll.
CLERK DUMAS:
PRESENT:
Brown, P.; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga;
Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (13)
ABSENT: Williams (1)
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: And, now the Department Heads,
please?
CLERK DUMAS:
PRESENT:
Kinkade; Young; Doyle; Bohlen; Power; Simms; Tyson; Shaw; Rodriguez;
Bertrand (10)
ABSENT: Spice; Gordon (2)
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Thank you. A motion to approve the minutes of the June
15, meeting?
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: Mayor Epstein. I move the minutes be approved as recorded
hearing no objections.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: A second?
ALDERMAN
JONES: Second.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman
Hunter, seconded by Alderman Jones. Roll
call. All those opposed. All those in favor? Opposed?
MOTION TO APPROVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE
15, 2009
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Thank you. Motion carries. With Council’s approval I would like to amend
the agenda. We have a Resolution
honoring Staff Sgt. Charles Sykes, Jr., and I would like to move that up on the
agenda because he and his family are here this evening. Alderman Jones, would you like to read the
Resolution?
ALDERMAN
JONES: The
City Clerk can do it.
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: It’s an honor to do that.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Would Staff Sgt. Charles
Sykes, Jr., and his family please step up to the podium?
CLERK
DUMAS: Resolution No.2009-23 HONORING SSG-STAFF SERGEANT CHARLES T. SYKES,
JR. WHEREAS, Charles T. Sykes Jr., the youngest of three children born to
Charles and Hazel Sykes, was born on May 5, 1980; and WHEREAS, he attended
Kankakee High School as a Freshman and a Sophomore, then transferred to Metro Basic
Education Center in Minnesota; and WHEREAS, in 2001, he made the decision to
serve his country by joining the Army.
After completing his basic training in North Carolina, he served his
first tour of duty in Korea, and ended his last three tours of duty in Iraq;
and WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Sykes has been married for four years. He and his wife Tuuaina have been blessed
with two children: a daughter, Issay, and a son, Solo. Their family is completed by their loving
dog, Boots; and WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant
Sykes joined the Army to see the world and to be a part of an organization
committed to service and betterment of the United States of America. Charles Sykes is an impressive example of
duty and loyalty to his country, and both he and his family understand the
significance of sacrifice and honor; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by Mayor Nina Epstein and the City Council of
the City of Kankakee, Illinois, do recognize and honor SSG-STAFF Sergeant
Charles Sykes, Jr. for his years of selfless service to his country. ADOPTED
this 4th day of July, 2009. Congratulations. Thank you.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Congratulations. We need a motion to approve the Resolution.
ALDERMAN
BROWN: Motion to approve.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion by Carl Brown. Seconded by........
ALDERMAN
JONES: Second.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Seconded by Alderman
Jones. All those in favor, AYE. Opposed.
RESOLUTION HONORING SSG-STAFF SERGEANT CHARLES SYKES,
JR.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion carries.
STAFF SGT. SYKES: I’d like to
thank everybody for support of the troops.
Thank you.
CLERK
DUMAS: Also, too. Mrs. Sykes did invite the Council to come to
the celebration and welcoming home of Staff Sgt. Sykes. And, so, on behalf of the City Council I did
take over to him the Resolution in pamphlet form as well as the City of
Kankakee flag and lapel pin, just to welcome him home.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Thank you for your
service. Moving on to Petitions. Our first Petition is PB09-05. And, we need a motion to accept the Findings
and Recommendations of the Planning Board.
Do I have a motion?
ALDERMAN
SCHWADE: I move that we accept the
Findings of the Planning Board.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Schwade,
seconded........
ALDERMAN
BARON: Second.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Second by Alderman Baron. May we have a vote, please?
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones;
Schwade; Davidson; Cox (13)
ABSENT: Williams (1)
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
PB09-05 – AN APPLICATION BY DELORIS WILLIAMS
REQUESTING A ZONING
MAP AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION OF
THE
PROPERTY COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1152-1154 EAST MAPLE STREET
FROM
R-1 SINGLE-FAMILY TO R-3 MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Because the recommendations were to deny the
Petition, we do not need on Ordinance for this particular finding. Moving on to Planning Board, PB09-07, an
Ordinance authorizing the conditional use permit to allow Verizon Wireless to
construct a 146-foot tower. Do I have a
motion to accept the Findings and Recommendations?
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: Is that the 5th
Ward?
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: It is. And, it is a replacement tower. It is not a new tower.
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: Motion to accept the
Findings and Recommendations.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman
Hunter, seconded by....
ALDERMAN
CIACCIO: Second.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Alderman Ciaccio. May we have a roll call please?
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones;
Schwade; Davidson; Cox (13)
ABSENT: Williams (1)
FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS OF PLANNING BOARD
PB09-07 – AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A CONDITIONAL USE
PERMIT TO
ALLOW VERIZON WIRELESS TO CONSTRUCT A 146 FOOT
TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWER AND FACILITY AT THE PROPERTY
COMMONLY KNOWN AS 850 WEST STATION STREET
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion passes. Now we need to Suspend the Rules to accept
the Ordinance that provides for the permit.
May I have....
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: Motion to Suspend the
Rules.
ALDERMAN
CIACCIO: Second.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Hunter,
seconded by Alderman Ciaccio to Suspend the Rules that would interfere with the
passage of the Ordinance. Roll call,
please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones;
Schwade; Davidson; Cox (13)
ABSENT: Williams (1)
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Now we must place it on its Final Passage and
Pass.
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: Motion to place this
Ordinance on its Final Passage and Pass.
ALDERMAN
CIACCIO: Second.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion by Alderman Hunter,
seconded by Alderman Ciaccio to place the motion on its Final Passage and
Pass. Roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones;
Schwade; Davidson; Cox (13)
ABSENT: Williams (1)
AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO
CONSTRUCT
A 146-FOOT TELECOMMUNICATION TOWER AND FACILITY AT THE
PROPERTY COMMONLY KNOWN AS 850 WEST STATION STREET
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Our next is a conditional use permit. Item PB09-08 to allow a high performance auto
body to establish and operate motor vehicle sales. Do I have a motion to accept the Findings of
the Planning Board?
ALDERMAN
DAVIDSON: Mayor, I make a motion that
we approve the Planning Board’s Recommendation.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman
Davidson, seconded by........
ALDERMAN
COX: Second.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Alderman Cox. Roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade;
Davidson; Cox (12)
ABSTAIN: Baron (I have a conflict of interest and
have to abstain.) (1)
ABSENT: Williams (1)
FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS OF PLANNING BOARD
PB09-08 – AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A CONDITIONAL USE
PERMIT TO
ALLOW HIGH PERFORMANCE AUTO BODY TO ESTABLISH AND
OPERATE A
USED MOTOR VEHICLE SALES AND BODY REPAIR FACILITY
(WITH PAINT SERVICES) AT THE PROPERTY COMMONLY KNOWN AS 395 NORTH
SCHUYLER AVENUE
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Now we need to Suspend the Rules for the
Ordinance allowing the conditional use permit.
ALDERMAN
DAVIDSON: Motion to Suspend the Rules.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman
Davidson, seconded by.......
ALDERMAN
COX: Second.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Alderman Cox to Suspend the
Rules. Roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade;
Davidson; Cox (12)
ABSTAIN: Baron (1)
ABSENT: Williams (1)
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Now we need to place the Ordinance on its
Final Passage.
ALDERMAN
DAVIDSON: Move that we place the
Ordinance on its Final Passage and Pass.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman
Davidson, seconded by.........
ALDERMAN
COX: Second.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Alderman Cox. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade;
Davidson; Cox (12)
ABSTAIN: Baron (1)
ABSENT: Williams (1)
AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO
ESTABLISH
AND OPERATE A USED MOTOR VEHICLE SALES AND BODY REPAIR
FACILITY (WITH PAINT SERVICES) AT THE PROPERTY COMMONLY KNOWN AS 395
NORTH SCHUYLER AVENUE
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion carries. We’ll move onto Communications. Items A and B are information only. Item C is a nice thank you letter from one of
our Black History Scholarship winners I thought
was important for you all to see.
Item D and E, letter of recognition for two of our detectives, Randy
Hartman and Jay Etzel. I always like to
share with the Council whenever we get good news about any of our
employees. The next items, F, G, H and I
could be combined if the Council so desires.
ALDERMAN
DAVIDSON: I make a motion we combine
them. And approve.
ALDERMAN
SCHWADE: I second it.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion to combine items F, G,
H and I. Is there a second?
ALDERMAN
SCHWADE: I second it.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Seconded by Alderman
Schwade. All those in favor, aye. Opposed.
ST. PATRICK’S CATHOLIC CHURCH IS REQUESTING A STREET
BLOCKAGE
OF THE ALLEY SHARED BY THE 300 BLOCKS OF SOUTH INDIANA
AVENUE
AND SOUTH HARRISON AVENUE ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11,
2009, FROM
5:00 P.M. UNTIL 11:00 P.M. AND ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER
12, 2009, FROM
5:00 P.M. UNTIL 11:00 P.M. TO HOST THEIR ANNUAL HALF
PADDY FESTIVAL
NEW VISION M.B. CHURCH IS REQUESTING TWO NOISE
PERMITS:
BUILDING FUND PROGRAM ON SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2009, FROM
11:00 A.M.
UNTIL 8:00 P.M. AND ON SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2009, FROM
11:00 A.M. UNTIL
8:00 P.M.; YOUTH DAY EXTRAVAGANZA ON SATURDAY, JULY
25, 2009,
FROM 11:00 A.M. UNTIL 8:00 P.M. AND ON SUNDAY, JULY
26, 2009, FROM
11:00 A.M. UNTIL 8:00 P.M.
KANKAKEE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS REQUESTING A STREET CLOSURE
OF THE
100 BLOCK OF SOUTH SCHULYER AND THE 200 BLOCK OF EAST
MERCHANT
ON SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2009 FROM 7:00 A.M. TO 12:30
P.M. TO HOST THEIR ANNUAL KANKAKEE PUBLIC LIBRARY FAMILY FUN DAY
JUDITH LOVE IS REQUESTING A NOISE PERMIT AND STREET
CLOSURE OF
WEST HAWKINS FROM SOUTH FOLEY AVENUE TO SOUTH YATES
AVENUE
ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2009, FROM 5:00 P.M. TO 8:00
P.M. WITH A RAIN
DATE OF SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2009, FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD
BLOCK
PARTY/PICNIC
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motions carry. Standing Committees. Public Works.
Alderman Brown.
ALDERMAN
BROWN: Information is contained
in the packages.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Thank you. Planning and Code. Alderman Swanson.
ALDERMAN
SWANSON: That information is in the
packet.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Thank you. Ordinance.
Alderman Swanson.
ALDERMAN
SWANSON: Ah, with the Ordinance and
the Code I did want to request everybody who’s on those two committees to keep
these minutes to bring with you to the next meetings that we have scheduled,
that way we don’t have to ask for additional minutes to be at those
meetings And, ah, I do have an action
item under the Ordinance Committee.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: All right. Would you like to make a motion?
ALDERMAN
SWANSON: Yes, I would like to make a
motion that we Suspend the Rules that would interfere with the consideration of
passage of the Ordinance which would amend Ordinance Section 4-47B regarding
Class B liquor to allow licenses to be issued to retail merchants with
buildings of 17,000 square feet or more.
ALDERMAN
JONES: Second
it.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion to allow 17,000 square
feet or more. Was that the motion? Motion made by Alderman Swanson, seconded by
Alderman Jones. Is there any discussion?
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: There’s no discussion, but
clarification. All we do know now is it’s
suspended. Correct?
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: That’s correct. You’re Suspending the Rules. Roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones;
Schwade; Davidson; Cox (13)
ABSENT: Williams (1)
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries. Now, we’d like to place this
Ordinance on its Final Passage.
ALDERMAN
SWANSON: I so move.
ALDERMAN
JONES: Second.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman
Swanson, seconded by Alderman Jones.
Discussion?
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: Yeah, Chris explain
this. It’s always been 15,000.
ATTORNEY
BOHLEN: Currently, the Ordinance
requires a minimum of 20,000 square feet.
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: For–what kind of license
is this?
ATTORNEY
BOHLEN: Retail sales,
supermarkets. It’s the packaged liquor
license and we’re trying to accommodate new construction.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: What we’re finding is that we
have smaller footprints being constructed because of the economy and so we
wanted to change–amend–the Ordinance to 17,000 square feet or more from 20,000.
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: Do me an illustrative
example of what 17,000 feet would be.
ATTORNEY
BOHLEN: That would be 170 indistinguishable I can’t think of–I don’t know what the
building..............Dave, are you.
DAVID
TYSON: Probably it’d be like a
half a block going from the alley to here which would be 145 feet, then you’d
have to go, I believe, 125 feet down this way which would be into the parking
lot south of here.
RICHARD
SIMMS: One floor of City Hall is 8,500
square feet.
ATTORNEY
BOHLEN: One floor of this
building?
DAVID
TYSON: Yeah, so it would be twice
as big.
RICHARD SIMMS: Double the size
of this building would be close.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Any other discussion?
ATTORNEY
BOHLEN: That was a much better
illustration than 170 times.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Next time, we’ll bring a scale
model.
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: By the foot.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Any other discussion? Roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones;
Schwade; Davidson; Cox (13)
ABSENT: Williams (1)
ORDINANCE WOULD AMEND ORDINANCE 4-47B REGARDING CLASS
B
LIQUOR TO ALLOW LICENSES TO BE ISSUED TO RETAIL
MERCHANTS
WITH BUILDINGS OF 17,000 SQUARE FEET OR MORE
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Approval of the Report of Officers.
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: Mayor Epstein, move we
approve the bills in the amount of $265,793.86.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman
Hunter, seconded by.......
ALDERMAN
CIACCIO: Second.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Alderman Ciaccio. Roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones;
Schwade; Davidson; Cox (13)
ABSENT: Williams (1)
REPORT OF OFFICERS
APPROVAL OF BILLS $265,793.86
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Moving onto New Business. Item A, an Ordinance amending Chapter 32,
Section 231. We’re establishing a
handicapped parking sign at 683 N. Chicago.
I need a motion to Suspend the Rules.
ALDERMAN
DAVIDSON: Motion to Suspend the Rules
of passage.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman
Davidson, seconded by..........
ALDERMAN
COX: Second.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: By Alderman Cox. Roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones;
Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
ABSENT: Williams (1)
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Motion to put this Ordinance on its Final
Passage and Pass.
ALDERMAN
DAVIDSON: Make a motion to put the
Ordinance on Final Passage.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman
Davidson, seconded by.......
ALDERMAN
COX: Second.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Alderman Cox. Roll call, please. Oops.
Discussion? Roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones;
Schwade; Davidson; Cox (13)
ABSENT: Williams (1)
ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 32, SECTION 231
ESTABLISHING
A HANDICAPPED PARKING SIGN AT 683 NORTH CHICAGO AVENUE
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Next item of New Business is the City of
Kankakee Municipal Utility–the Exempt Employee Benefit Handbook. There were two changes to the handbook that I
will ask Mr. Simms to discuss with the Aldermen.
RICHARD
SIMMS: The Utility Board was presented
this information. To refresh your
memory, the Utility has, up until September of last year, we had twelve
employees that are not represented by a bargaining unit. And, consequently, we always had the Employee
Handbook. These are considered our
professional and technical positions.
And, four of those employees.........four of those jobs have been relocated. An election was held and they now, or will
be, represented by Operating Engineers and they’re currently in
negotiations. That was the Laboratory
Analysts. So, we’re down to eight
employees that are covered by this Employee Handbook which outlines the working
conditions and basic benefits associated with their employment. It is adopted every year by City Council
generally following the budget. The one
item I mentioned already and that is we’ve eliminated the position of
laboratory analyst from the positions covered.
At the Utility Board meeting there was some discussion about a section,
Section 1.500 which is called Employee Residency. It has always been a condition of employment
for these jobs to be a resident in the City.
Several of the employees have asked, as a result of, apparently, negotiations with other
bargaining units, the residency requirement has been relaxed or modified and
they asked if that was still going to be a requirement of this handbook. I brought that up at the Utility Board and
there were two sides to that and some discussion and basically they recommended
this onto the full Council for approval and for you to resolve the question of
will residency remain for new employees or will it be eliminated.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Because the Utility Board asks
that it comes to the full Council, we’re here to act upon the Employee
Handbook. Are there any questions or
discussion? Alderman Baron.
ALDERMAN
BARON: I’d speak in favor of
approving the exempt Employee Benefit Handbook as it appears with the employee
residency requirement, with Section 1.500.
That’s.....that’s.....this is the language that is in the handbook now,
right?
RICHARD
SIMMS: Correct.
ALDERMAN
BARON: I.......I would suggest
that we keep that. Ah, there are
obviously.... there’s been movement on the union front in terms of residency
requirement. And, it hasn’t been
something that’s been entirely voluntary from the City’s perspective. These are not union positions. They’re....they’re good solid poisitions. On one hand I look at what we’re doing and on
one hand, we’re offering homeowners $2,500.00 to move into the City of Kankakee
to be part of our community. I think in
order to be consistent with that, we have a perfectly good City to live
in. There’s a lot of benefits to live
here. I don’t see why we should, on one
hand, encourage with our money, people to move in and, on the other hand, ah,
throw away the residency requirement that has been in existence for as long as
we’ve been approving this contract.
There are other positions within the City of Kankakee, other
non-unionized positions in the City of Kankakee, that still have a residency
requirement. And, I think it is where we
have some input and we do have input, we decide this. I believe that we should keep it the way it
is and, ah, I think that we should require these non-exempt employees to live
within the City of Kankakee. So, I would
move that we adopt the Exempt Employee Benefit Handbook as it appears with the
residency requirement intact.
ALDERMAN
JONES: Second
it.
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: Unanimous second.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Who was the second, I’m sorry?
CLERK
DUMAS: Alderman
Jones.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman Baron,
seconded by Alderman Jones. Any other
discussion? Any other discussion?
ALDERMAN
BROWN: Well........
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Alderman Brown.
ALDERMAN
BROWN: I will make a
statement. See.......I’m kind of tossed
in the middle here because I believe that, ah, union employees get all the
benefits, I mean and that’s good, don’t get me wrong. I mean, but, when it comes to residency, they
can live where they want and we dictate to other people where to live,
I don’t think that’s absolutely right.
Ah, I know there’s benefits to living in Kankakee. We set that pace. We made the City what it is by passing an
Ordinance and sticking to it. However,
there are segments in this City who decide to live outside of this City
regardless of what we pay ‘em. So, ah,
and what we provide in this City. So I’m kind of tossed in the middle about
making people that we........the last people that we have any control over,
just making them live just because we can versus people that we pay probably
more than these people, and, there’s only eight of them. Ah, and they can live anywhere outside the
City. I don’t know if that’s absolutely
fair. I don’t know.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Thank you for your comments,
Alderman Brown. Any other comments? Roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Hunter,
Browne, R.; Baron; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade;
Davidson; Cox (12)
ABSTAIN: Brown (I’ll abstain from that one.)
(1)
ABSENT: Williams (1)
CITY OF KANKAKEE MUNICIPAL UTILITY EXEMPT EMPLOYEE
BENEFIT HANDBOOK
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion carries. Moving onto...........we have a bid to award
tonight to Kankakee Valley Construction for our 2009 Curb and Sidewalk
improvements. We have not done curbs and
sidewalks for probably four or five years.
We bonded for money earlier this spring and this is part of the money
that we have set aside for capital improvements. Mr. Tyson had an engineer’s estimate for
$695,444.00. The low bid came in at
$666,024.90. I’m going to ask Mr. Tyson
to answer any questions. I asked him
prior to the meeting, because the bids came in lower, could we increase our
scope of work by that extra $30,000.00 and his answer to me was, yes we
can. Ah, so I think as long as we’re
doing this, we might as well spend the extra money that we had allocated and
just get that many more sidewalks done.
Are there any questions for Mr. Tyson?
DAVID
TYSON: Thank you, Mayor. On the bids, what we did is we did go out to
get the bids. As you can see from the
results, there was a wide array of where the prices came from. What I intend to do now is I’m going to make
phone calls to the Aldermen, or call me, and then I’ll show you what we
designated in each Ward. If there’s
changes, now’s the time that we want to look at if you want to substitute X
number of feet of sidewalk for this X number of feet to sidewalk in your Ward
of the bids tonight I’d like it to be contingent that after–if there are
changes or location changes made–that I get a chance to go back and make sure
the contractor will hold his price and then if he holds his price, we’ll go
ahead and award the contract. And, I’d
like to do this in the next two weeks, if possible.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Thank you, I
would.......Alderman Browne.
ALDERMAN
BROWNE: Mr. Tyson, I’m just curious
as, you know, one of these bids is almost double and I’m just wondering what
the difference is in the work or why would one bid be almost double the other?
DAVID TYSON: You know, I can’t answer it totally other
than the fact that certain contractors are very hungry right now and really
need the work. Ah, this is not the only
job. I’ve let quite a few sewer jobs,
not only in Kankakee, but in other areas that I’ve had the same gamut–or
spread–of bids in every job so I’m getting a bunch.........I’m getting some lower
and then some that are twice as what the bids are. So, this isn’t unusual for what the climate
is that we have right now.
ALDERMAN
BROWNE: And, these will be
solid. These won’t be a........they won’t
be coming back asking for more money later?
DAVID
TYSON: Absolutely not. No.
You know, if there’s a legitimate extra, then you always have to pay a
legitimate extra and by that I mean, if there’s an unforeseen that could run
into, ah, drain tiles, something that we had, you know, no idea that was there
and have to repair them, then we’d pay extra for that. But, no, they cannot come back and ask for
anything else. That’s why after I
talk to you, I want to go back to them and have it agreed before we sign the
contracts. We are just awarding tonight,
we’re authorizing Mayor and the Clerk to sign the contracts after we’ve done
all the rest of our work.
ALDERMAN
BROWNE: Thank you.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion to approve the
contract.
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: I so move.
ALDERMAN
SCHWADE: I second.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman
Hunter, seconded by Alderman Schwade to approve the contract for Kankakee
Valley Construction with the stipulation that after our Engineer has spoken to
the Aldermen, that he will go back and verify the contract with the
vendor. Roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter (Local bidder, local bidder.), Browne, R.; Baron; Ciaccio;
Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (13)
ABSENT: Williams (1)
RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD THE BID OF $666,024.90 TO
KANKAKEE
VALLEY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOR THE 2009 CURB AND
SIDEWALK
IMPROVEMENTS TEI JOB NO. E08050
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion carries. I would encourage you to contact Mr. Tyson as
quickly as you can so we can, ah, Dave do you see that we’ll still get this
project started and completed before the end of the year?
DAVID
TYSON: Yes.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: So we can get the project
started. Moving on to Appointments. I have three appointments this evening. I’m appointing Mr. Bohlen to act as our Freedom
of Information Officer. I’ve
been........I spoke with Mr. Bertrand, our Director of the library and we have
researched our Library Board appointees and have put them now on their proper
cycles of appointment, so I spoke with Sheila Kramer and Ron Jackson and they
both have agreed to continue serving on the Library Board. So, they are being appointed to three-year
terms. Do I have a motion to approve the
appointments?
ALDERMAN
SCHWADE: I so move.
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: Second that.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman
Schwade, seconded by........
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: And, that’s en masse,
right?
ALDERMAN
SCHWADE: Yes. Completely.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Alderman Hunter. All those in favor? Opposed.
CHRISTOPHER BOHLEN –FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICER
SHEILA KRAMER – KANKAKEE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF
TRUSTEES
THREE-YEAR TERM
RON JACKSON – KANKAKEE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF
TRUSTEES
THREE-YEAR TERM
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: The Appointments are approved.
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: I didn’t want to vote for
Chris Bohlen publically.
ALDERMAN
SCHWADE: Right. Right.
Mayor Epstein?
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Yes?
ALDERMAN
SCHWADE: Under New Business, I was
wondering if it would be possible for the City to contribute the $250.00 that
Mr. Ryan had requested for the National Guard’s homecoming celebration?.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Yes, we can take that out of
the Mayor’s fund, so we do not need to pass the hat tonight.
ALDERMAN
SCHWADE: Okay. I would like to make that in the form of a
motion.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: No hats. The City would be
more than.......with the Council’s approval, we would be happy to do that. Alderman Schwade made the motion.
ALDERMAN
JONES: Second.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Alderman Jones seconded.
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: We’ve got two motions
here. Let’s take care of the.......
ALDERMAN
SCHWADE: Oh, we didn’t vote on the
other one? I was so excited.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: I thought we did the
Appointments..
ATTORNEY
BOHLEN: There was a voice vote.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: We did the voice vote on the
Appointments.
ATTORNEY
BOHLEN: You said you didn’t want
to vote against me publically, remember?
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: Oh. For the record, can we do that again ‘cause I
don’t think I heard indistinguishable.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: We had a motion by Alderman
Schwade, seconded by Alderman Hunter to approve all three Appointments. All those in favor? Opposed.
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: I heard it this time.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: You heard? Okay.
Now, Alderman Schawde has made a motion that we contribute $250.00
towards the National Guard homecoming. I
believe Alderman Jones made the second to that motion. We are spending money so we need a roll call
vote.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter, Browne, R.; Baron; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones;
Schwade; Davidson; Cox (13)
ABSENT: Williams (1)
MOTION TO CONTRIBUTE $250.00 TO NATIONAL GUARD
HOMECOMING
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion carries. We’ve already done Item A under Motions and
Resolutions. We have an Item B. As many of you may know, we had a sewer
collapse on Harrison and Willow Street and, ah, Mr. Tyson would like our
approval to enter an emergency repair order.
Is that correct? We’re going
after IDOT?
DAVID
TYSON: Well, this is basically an
after the fact permit. You’re supposed
to have a state permit when you do work.
The work’s already completed. But
IDOT was well aware of it. They were
present when we did the work. We did
take a lot of photographs and that when we did repair the work. We feel some of it was not properly done so I’m
intending to put a package together and have the Mayor sign it and ask IDOT to
reimburse the City for the cost of the repairs.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: It was something that happened
quite unexpectedly. We had to make the
decision to repair the sinkhole and take care of the funding of it
afterwards. Do I have a motion to
authorize the Resolution?
ALDERMAN
DAVIDSON: Make a motion that we
authorize.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Motion made by Alderman
Davidson, seconded by...........
ALDERMAN
FAFORD: Second.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Alderman Faford. Roll call.
All those in favor. Opposed.
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EMERGENCY REPAIR WORK ON
HARRISON AVENUE NORTH OF WILLOW STREET TEI NO. E09039
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Resolution carries. We’re at the end of the agenda. Are there any comments or questions by
Aldermen? We do not have an Executive
Session this evening.. Hearing
none. Our meeting stands adjourned. Oh, I’m sorry. Motion to adjourn?
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: Motion to adjourn.
ALDERMAN
SWANSON: Second.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: I’ll get it right. Made by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman
Swanson. All those in favor. Loud for Alderman Hunter
MOTION TO ADJOURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING
7:33 P.M.