CITY OF FULTON
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 2, 2009
5:30PM

Mayor Van Zuiden called the meeting to order and directed the clerk to call the roll.  On roll call, Mayor Howard Van Zuiden, Aldermen Charles Dykstra, Gene Field, Merle Sterenberg, Charlie Letcher, Wes Letcher, Bill Loerop and Ron Roels answered present.  Ald. Warren Juist was absent.  Also in attendance were Randy Balk - City Administrator, Bill Shirk - City Attorney, Clink Kettler - Zoning Officer and Jim Rhoades - Chief of Police.

The Pledge of allegiance was recited.  Pastor R.A. Mathews from Fulton Assembly of God Church gave the invocation.

Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. Sterenberg to approve the January 19, 2009 regular council meeting minutes.   Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Michael Walton, project manager/engineer, of Volkert & Associates, Inc; Becky Marruffo, project engineer with Illinois Department of Transportation; and Jon Estrem, engineer with Howard R. Green & Associates were at the meeting to update the council on the Highway 30 four-lane project.  They had a good turn out at a public meeting in Morrison the night before and believe there is good support overall for the project.

A hand out was distributed to the council at the beginning of the meeting so they could follow along as Walton briefly reviewed the information.  The project is in Phase I (Preliminary Design and Environmental Study) which began in 2007 and could conclude in 2012.                                       

In Phase 1, a project study group made up of State and Federal agencies was formed, a Community Advisory Group was formed to represent community interests and environmental studies began.  Also in Phase I, survey work was initiated, roadway corridors were developed, the project purpose and need approved; the corridors analyzed using purpose and need, engineering and environmental issues; and corridors were identified to focus the study of alignments.          

Randy Balk informed the council that he attended an IMRF (Illinois Municipal League Retirement Fund) finance meeting today.  Although economy has not been good, IMRF is still in relatively good shape.  The employer contribution percentages will have to be increased gradually over the course of the next few years.

Chief Rhoades reviewed his yearly statistical report, which was included in the packet.

Old business - Jo Carroll agreement Shirk talked to them today and Jo Carroll is working on it and should have something soon.

Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. Field to adjourn.  Voice vote/all yes/motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 6:05PM.

Minutes recorded by,

Linda Hollis
City Clerk