CITY OF FULTON

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

JULY 16, 2007

Mayor Van Zuiden called the meeting to order and directed the clerk to call the roll.  On roll call vote, 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 Bill Shirk - City Attorney, Randy Balk - City Administrator, Heather Bennett - Tourism Director, Clarence Kettler - Zoning Officer and James Rhoades - Chief of Police.

The pledge of allegiance was recited.  There was no invocation.

Motion made by Ald. C. Letcher and seconded by Ald. Sterenberg;

The city council has conducted such investigation as it deems necessary and does not deem it necessary to conduct any hearing and therefore upholds the findings and decision of termination of employment by the Chief of Police and City Administrator regarding the appeal of Sergeant Hochbaum.  Roll call vote/Ald. Dykstra, Field, Sterenberg, C. Letcher, W. Letcher, Loerop and Roels voted yes/Ald. Juist voted no/motion carried.

Communication from visitors.  Jean Roeder reported that Lottie Schipper had a response from ComEd regarding her sewer back up claim.  ComEd stated that they would have an answer within 27 days on whether or not they will assume any liability for the power outage that caused the City lift station to shut down.

Theresa Walerius, owner of Red Dog Saloon asked the council to allow them to have a fund raiser and a street dance for the Fulton Fire Protection District's new building.   Mrs. Walerius was not aware that she needed to fill out the appropriate paperwork and submit it to the council prior to the meeting.  This will be on the next meeting agenda.

Ald. Sterenberg moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to approve the regular council meeting minutes of July 2, 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. Juist moved, seconded by Ald. Loerop to approve the Treasurer's Report as presented.   Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Barbara Mask asked Attorney Tom Senneff to give his opinion on the intent of Maxine Martin's will since only a few of the current Aldermen were on the council at the time the will was read.   Mr. Senneff said his opinion is that Mrs. Martin hoped that her house be maintained with the money she left, but that the money could be used on a museum or community center other than the Martin House.

Barbara Mask asked for a continuation of dialog between the Historical Society and the City.  The Society would like to have a new written agreement and would like a committee of 2 aldermen and 2 society members to work on that agreement.  She also stated that the previous agreement, which has been terminated, did not state that the society was expected to have programs at the museum. 

Ald. Sterenberg moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to pass Ordinance No. 1351 Amendment to an Ordinance Establishing an Enterprise Zone within the Illinois Counties of Whiteside and Carroll.   Roll call vote/Ald. Dykstra, Field, Sterenberg, C. Letcher, Juist, W. Letcher and Loerop voted yes/Ald. Roels voted no/motion carried.  This expansion of the enterprise zone is due to the proposed project of Carroll County Ethanol Facility to construct a 100 million gallon per year dry mill ethanol and a combined heat and power plant in Thomson, IL.

Ald. Field moved, seconded by Ald. Roels to personally and financially support a staff party to be held sometime in August.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to pass Ordinance No. 1352 Vacating a Portion of 5th Street in the City of Fulton.  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Ald. Field moved, seconded by Ald. C. Letcher to waive the building permit fee for the Fulton Fire Protection District (for their new building).  Roll call vote/all yes/motion carried.

Old Business.  Ald. Dykstra moved, seconded by Ald. Roels; the city council agrees to reimburse Lottie Schipper for unreimbursed expenses not covered by her homeowners' policy and by ComEd for her most recent problem with our sewage lift system.   Roll call vote/Ald. Dykstra and Roels voted yes/Ald. Field, Sterenberg, C. Letcher, Juist, W. Letcher and Loerop voted no/motion failed.

Ald. Roels moved, seconded by Ald. Field to adjourn.  The meeting adjourned at 6:15 pm.

Minutes recorded by,

Linda Hollis

City Clerk