CITY OF FULTON
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
AUGUST 2, 2010
5:30PM

Mayor Pro-Tem Loerop called the meeting to order and directed the clerk to call the roll.  On roll call, Mayor Pro-Tem Bill Loerop, Alderpersons Charles Dykstra, Gene Field, Margaret Crosthwaite, Charlie Letcher, Warren Juist and Wes Letcher answered present.  Mayor Larry Russell and Alderperson Ron Roels were absent.  Also in attendance were Bill Shirk - City Attorney, Randy Balk - City Administrator and Jim Rhoades - Chief of Police.

The pledge of allegiance was recited.  The invocation was given by Pastor Roy Anne Mathews of the Fulton Assembly of God Church.

Ald. Field moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to approve the July 19, 2010 regular meeting minutes.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Matt VanKampen, owner of Nave, Inc requested an extension of the special use permit for his business located at 514 23rd Avenue.  He was working with the city on a state grant to enable relocation to the city industrial park, but the land was tied up in courts and unavailable.  After the recession last year, he cannot afford to relocate his business at this time.  He was in the process of selling the business but the buyers could not obtain financing and he has taken back the operation of the business.   If he is forced to shut down, 8 employees will be out of work.  VanKampen stated that all of his employees are from Fulton and all have children and he does not want to put them out of work.

Myra and Randy Houzenga were present and stated their opposition to the extension of a special use permit for Nave, Inc.   Randy said he works third shift and cannot sleep during the day due to the noise from Nave.  He said there is banging at 6:00am and he will call the aldermen to tell them about it.  Myra said the business should never have been allowed to operate in a residential neighborhood and they were supposed to move out a long time ago.

Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Juist to allow Nave, Inc, an extension to January 1, 2011, with hours of operation limited to Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 4:00pm.  Roll call vote/Ald. W. Letcher, Juist, C. Letcher, Crosthwaite and Field vote yes/Ald. Dykstra voted no/motion carried.  Those voting yes explained they did so in order to preserve the jobs. 

Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. W. Letcher to authorize the preparation of an ordinance to recognize the bike trail stop signs in the City's Code of Ordinances.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Old Business.  Attorney Shirk said he could have the Jo-Carroll Energy agreement back from them for the August 16, 2010 meeting.

New Business.  Randy reported a recent meeting with US Fish & Wildlife and the DNR at which it was decided to re-submit a boat infrastructure grant.  There would be no match required by the city; the marina operator would cover the 35% match. 

Ald. W. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Field to approve certification of the Boat Infrastructure Grant.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

First Quarter Budget Review.   General Fund revenue was reviewed.  A proposed sales tax ordinance was reviewed.  The deadline to get the referendum on the ballot is August 16, 2010 at 4:30pm.  The next regular council meeting won't be until after that date, so the council will adjourn to Monday, August 9, 2010 at 5:30pm.

The council discussed the terminology in the ordinance, specifically "for the purposes of property tax relief and/or expenditures on public infrastructure".  The Illinois Municipal Code defines Property tax relief is defined as the action of a municipality to reduce the levy for real estate taxes or avoid an increase in the levy for real estate taxes that would otherwise have been required.

The council was concerned that citizens might think their property taxes would be reduced if the sales tax increase was implemented.  It is not likely that taxes will be decreased, but it could be possible to avoid future increases.

If they pass the ordinance on Monday, August 9th, they would like to educate the voters and explain how the increase in sales tax revenue will be used.  Much of the sales tax revenue comes from non residents so a sales tax increase will not affect residents the way an increase in municipal utility tax or property tax would.

Ald. Dykstra moved at 6:45 pm, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to adjourn to August 9, 2010 at 5:30pm.   Voice vote/all yes/motion carried. 

Minutes recorded by,
Linda Hollis
City Clerk