CITY OF FULTON

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

JUNE 18, 2007

5:30 PM

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, Warren Juist, Wes Letcher, Bill Loerop and Ron Roels answered present.  Also present were Randy Balk - City Administrator, Heather Bennett - Tourism Director, Bill Shirk - City Attorney and Donnie Pridemore - Sergeant at Arms.

The pledge of allegiance was recited and the invocation was given by Russell Holesinger, representing Bethel Christian Reformed Church.

Communication from visitors.  Lottie Schipper, who resides at 203 N. 12th Street in Fulton, addressed the council regarding a sewer back up at her home on May 9, 2007, when the City's sewer lift station went down.  She stated that this was the 6th back up into her home since 1978 when she moved in and she was asking for a permit to install a septic system to avoid any other back ups into her home.  Her insurance company covered $2,500.00 of the $3,622.58 clean up costs.  A claim was submitted to the City's insurance company which was denied due to the fact that a ComEd electrical failure caused the lift station to stop working on May 9, 2007.

The council asked the City Administrator, along with the Public Works Director to look into options to prevent future problems at the lift station and to help Mrs. Schipper to file a claim with ComEd. 

Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. W. Letcher to approve the regular council meeting minutes of June 4, 2007.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Sterenberg to approve the bill list as presented.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. Dykstra to approve the request for a road closure on 13th Street between 10th Avenue and 11th Avenue on July 7, 2007 from 4-8pm for a neighborhood block party.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. Field moved, seconded by Ald. Sterenberg to pass No. 1349 Prevailing Wage Ordinance.   Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.  This is an ordinance passed each year to adopt the prevailing wage guidelines provided by the Illinois Department of Labor.

Ald. Loerop moved, seconded by Ald. Roels to move forward with the new meter program.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.  The new meters when installed will be read electronically, thereby increasing accuracy and efficiency.  The new meters will be replacing existing meters at no cost to the resident.  The goal is to get the program completed in 3 to 5 years. 

Ald. C. Letcher moved, seconded by Ald. Sterenberg to pass Resolution No. 201 Authorizing and Directing and Amending the Abatement of a Portion of Taxes Levied on Certain Property located in the Whiteside County Enterprise Zone.  Roll call vote/Ald. Loerop, W. Letcher, Juist, C. Letcher, Sterenberg, Field and Dykstra voted yes/Ald. Roels and Juist voted no/motion carried.  This resolution will extend the tax abatement for the Ethanol Plant (and any other certified projects in the zone costing $25 million or more) from 5 years to 10 years.

Heather Bennett reviewed her Tourism Director and Chamber of Commerce quarterly report which was included in the council packets. Some Chamber highlights included; a Bridal and Anniversary Walk on June 28, 2007, the completion of a chamber policy manual and updating the by-laws.   

The new city website will be up and running, by late August or early September and will be managed in house.  Other topics:  the new city brochures have been printed and distributed, there is an international wooden shoe exhibit on display at the windmill through October and the 2nd quarterly city newsletter is ready for approval. 

Bennett also told the council that the grant application for the windmill museum and tax house project is nearly completed.  The grant manager in Springfield told her that if city representatives can travel to Springfield to make a presentation, it would improve the chances of getting a grant.

Ald. Loerop moved, seconded by Ald. Sterenberg to move forward with the windmill area development grant and budget as presented.     The total project cost is $566,500.  With a grant award of $283,250, the City would need to provide 50% matching funds of $283,250.  The budget for the City's matching funds will be as follows: $140,000 City loan, $56,000 contribution from the Friends of the Windmill and Millers, $30,000 current pledges by the Friends of the Windmill, $30,000 future pledges by the Friends of the Windmill, and $27,250 from hotel/motel tax revenues and in-kind labor.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. Loerop moved, seconded by Ald. Dykstra to hold a Fulton Forum on July 12, 2007 at 7:00PM at the Fire Station.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.  The purpose of the forum will be to enlist ideas for use of the Fire Station building from the public.

New Business.  Ald. Loerop asked if the tourism committee meetings are open to the public as the minutes of the last meeting were printed in the paper and members of the committee did not think it was an open meeting.   After some discussion and input from the City Attorney, it was decided the tourism committees meetings are not considered open meetings and a presentation resulting from those meetings will be subsequently presented to the council in an open meeting.

Ald. Loerop said he had some questions about the last meeting after reading the newspaper article on the meeting and requested clarification on several points regarding the Fulton Historical Society. His concerns were that the article did not mention points made by the city council during that meeting.  

Clarification was also needed  pertaining to the Society's request to the council at the last council meeting to extend the termination of the articles of agreement between the city and the Society for one month.  It was determined that the council did not wish to grant an extension.  The city will maintain the Martin House and property and the Society will be able to focus on programming and events held at the house.

Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. Field to enter executive session to discuss personnel and the purchase, lease or sale of property.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

The council entered executive session at 6:50PM.  Executive session minutes are recorded elsewhere. 

The council returned to regular session at 7:20PM and immediately adjourned.

Minutes recorded by,

Linda Hollis

City Clerk