CITY OF FULTON

PUBLIC HEARING

Mayor Russell opened the budget public hearing at 5:30pm.  There were no comments from the public on the proposed 2012/2013 budget.  Ald. Boonstra offered a few comments. The public hearing was closed at 5:36pm.

Mayor Russell called the council meeting to order and directed the clerk to call the roll.   On roll call Mayor Larry Russell, Alderpersons Charles Dykstra, Gene Field, Margaret Crosthwaite, Warren Juist, Wes Letcher, Howard Van Zuiden and Randy Boonstra answered present.  Alderperson Dan Nederhoff was absent.   Also in attendance were Bill Shirk – City Attorney, Randy Balk – City Administrator, Dan Clark – Public Works Director, Garry Medema – Treasurer and Jim Rhoades – Chief of Police.

Ald. Dykstra moved, seconded by Ald. Letcher to approve the Dutch Days street closures as requested by Barbara Mask.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. Van Zuiden moved, seconded by Ald. Letcher to approve the April 2, 2012 council meeting minutes.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Crosthwaite to authorize the bill list.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. Boonstra moved, seconded by Ald. Van Zuiden to approve the Treasurer’s Report.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. Field moved to pass an ordinance amending the rates, charges and fees for water service with the increase to be effective in July instead of October as per a suggestion from Randy Balk.  Motion failed for lack of a second.

Ald. Boonstra moved, seconded by Ald. Letcher to pass Ordinance No. 1449 Amending the Rates, Charges and Fees for Water Service in Section 51.065.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.  The new rates will be in effect after October 1, 2012.

Ald. Dykstra moved, seconded by Ald. Letcher to approve the FOP 3 year contract.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried. 

Ald. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Crosthwaite to pass Ordinance No. 1450 Adopting the Annual Budget of the City Pursuant to Section 8-2-9.4 of the Illinois Municipal Code.  Roll call vote/Ald. Van Zuiden, Letcher, Juist, Field, Dykstra and Crosthwaite voted yes/Ald. Boonstra voted no/motion carried.  Ald. Boonstra reiterated his opinion that due to the increase in health insurance costs, the employees should have started paying part of the premiums this year.  Several employees have contributed a portion of the premium for their spouses since 2004.

Ald. Boonstra moved, seconded by Ald. Van Zuiden to approve the street (including Pronger Hill) and water/sewer jobs (as specified in the Capital Improvement Projects Binder each council member received) at a cost of $603,000.  The 20 year bond was voted on at a previous meeting. The bond payments will be made from the ¾% sales tax receipts.

Matt Hansen, Willett Hofmann and Associates Engineer, reviewed the bid results for Contract No. 1 (Well #4 dedicated water main) and Contract No. 2 ( Well #4 Water Treatment Plant and Well #5).

Ald. Dykstra moved, seconded by Ald. Boonstra to award Contract No. 1 and Contract No. 2 base and additive alternate bid, to Brown Construction Company, 200 N. Washington Street, Milledgeville, Illinois.

Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Juist to approve the Revolving Fund Board’s recommendation to amend the Fulton Lodging, LLC loan agreement, refinancing at 2% interest rate.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. Boonstra moved, seconded by Ald. Letcher to allow Randy Balk the power to act on an $8,500 engineering contract with Wendler Engineering for the 22^nd Avenue area.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried. 

Ald. Boonstra moved, seconded by Ald. Van Zuiden to hold a public hearing at 5:30pm on May 7, 2012 prior to the regular council meeting to receive public comment on the DCEO flex grant for downtown.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.  This is required for the grant closeout.

Mayor Russell drafted a letter of support to the Illinois Department of Transportation objecting to the potential stoppage of design work on U.S.  30 in Whiteside County.  The Highway 30 Coalition met last week. The next Highway 30 Citizens Advisory group meets on May 8, 2012 in Morrison. The next intergovernmental meeting will be held April 19, 2012 in Camanche.

Old Business. Ald Boonstra asked how the city can keep the soccer field by Kiwanis Park dry.  The Flood Protection District controls the water level in the ditch that runs through the area.  It was suggested that the Mayor draft a letter asking the district to keep the water in the ditch so the field remains dry.

Ald. Boonstra moved, seconded by Ald. Letcher to adjourn.  Voice vote/all yes/motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 7:20pm.

Minutes recorded by,

Linda Hollis

City Clerk