| City Council Minutes: March 31, 2008 (Adjourned) |
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City Council
Mayor Van Zuiden called the adjourned meeting to order and directed the clerk to call the roll. On roll call, Mayor Howard Van Zuiden, Aldermen Charles Dykstra, Gene Field, Charlie Letcher, Warren Juist, Wes Letcher, Bill Loerop and Ron Roels answered present. Alderman Merle Sterenberg was absent. Also in attendance were Randy Balk - City Administrator, Dan Clark - Public Works Director and Jim Rhoades - Chief of Police. The purpose of the meeting was to review the proposed 08/09 budget.
Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. Field to enter executive session to discuss salaries and personnel. Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.
The council entered executive session at 5:00PM. Executive session minutes are recorded elsewhere.
The council returned to regular session at 5:35PM.
Revenues were discussed first. Balk said he is conservative on the amounts for revenue. Health insurance premiums did not increase as much as expected so health insurance savings could possibly be used for the downtown streetscape if a grant doesn't come through.
Balk informed the council that due to a change in Illinois law, the City does not have to refinance loans every year. This will enable the City to get a loan for up to 10 years.
Ald. Loerop said he doesn't think the City should borrow money at a higher interest rate than the interest earned on CDs. Balk said the general fund could blend 50% general fund money with 50% hotel/motel tax money to pay off the Heritage Canyon parking lot. Ald. Loerop said the Tourism committee met last week and wants to make a presentation to the council about an idea for hotel/motel tax use for the canyon and the windmill.
The Police Department would like to hire an 8th officer, whether it is an SRO officer or just an additional officer. Chief Rhoades said studies have shown Fulton's department needs as many as 11 officers. The officers are not able to cover all they should and follow up on all the complaints received; the highest numbers of calls are on the day shift. Ald. Roels said we should not be spending the tax payers' dollars to back up the County. Mayor Van Zuiden said he would not want to put an officer's life in danger due to lack of a back up. Ald Roels asked why the proposed budget had an increase in the travel and training line item and Chief Rhoades explained they are behind on their training and need to pick it up.
Ald. Loerop said he would like to vote on the additional officer position. Ald. Dykstra said he is not in favor of adding an officer. Chief Rhoades respectfully disagreed with them. Ald. Juist added that he works at the school and every day he hears and sees what kids today talked about and it is shocking.
Ald. Roels said we increased the tax levy to add a parks position and he cannot support another position for the police department. Ald. C. Letcher stated he would be in favor of an 8th officer if we can pay for it.
Ald. Dykstra moved, seconded by Ald. Roels to keep the Police Department total number of officers at 7. Roll call vote/Ald. Dykstra, Loerop and Roels voted yes/Ald. Field, C. Letcher, Juist, and W. Letcher voted no/motion failed.
Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. W. Letcher to hire an 8th Police Officer. Roll call vote/Ald. Dykstra, Loerop and Roels voted no/Ald. Field, Juist, C. Letcher, and W. Letcher voted yes/motion carried.
Ald. Roels and Ald. Loerop questioned the increase of the salary percentage in the water and sewer fund. Ald. Roels asked if the street maintenance line item is high enough considering the bad winter and questioned why street salaries went down.
Ald. Loerop moved, seconded by Ald. Roels to return the percentages for salary breakdown to the same as it was last year. Roll call vote/Ald. Roels, Loerop and Dykstra voted yes/Ald. W. Letcher, Juist, C. Letcher and Field voted no/motion failed.
Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Juist to increase water and sewer rates by 3%. Roll call vote/Ald. Roels, Loerop, W. Letcher and Dykstra voted no/Ald. C. Letcher, Juist and Field voted yes/motion failed. The last increase was in 2005. Ald. Loerop said he couldn't go for the increase because the tax levy was increased.
Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Field to approve the preliminary budget and to hold a public hearing on April 21, 2008 prior to the council meeting, with notice going into the paper this week. Ald. Dykstra abstained/Ald. Field, C. Letcher, Juist, and W. Letcher voted yes/Ald. Loerop and Roels voted no/motion carried.
Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. Field to adjourn/voice vote/all yes/meeting adjourned at 6:37 PM.
Minutes recorded by,
Linda Hollis City Clerk
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