Lincoln, Illinois
City Council Committee's Meeting
February 10, 2009
Minutes of the City of Lincoln City Council Committees' Meeting held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, February 10, 2009.
Those present were Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Prather, Alderman Rohlfs, and Alderman Tibbs. Also present were Police Chief Erlenbush, City Engineer Mr. Mathon, EMC Manager Mr. Kitzmiller, Street Superintendent Mr. Jackson, Safety and Building Officer Mr. Last, and Fire Chief Hulett. Also present were City Attorney Mr. Bates, Mayor Davis-Kavelman and Acting City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach.
Mayor Davis-Kavelman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. There were ten Aldermen present (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Busby, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Prather, Alderman Rohlfs, and Alderman Tibbs), and none absent.
The Mayor asked for the Committees' Issues to be Presented:
Grounds, Buildings and Local Improvements:
Chairman Alderman Tibbs said I have Mr. Shattuck here tonight he is our Architect and he’s going to bring us up to date here we’re ready to go out for bids for our new roof and he’s going to explain to you.
Mr. Shattuck said good evening. Obviously many of you have heard the stories of the roof problems we have. This roof was installed back in 1994 and it wasn’t built or constructed really in the way that it should have been built for to last 50 years or more. That is what we’re after with the roof. You want to do it once for 35-40 years and revisit this again like we are now 15 years later. Through the previous construction they used a rubber membrane which a lot of use on smaller roofs single slope and the way those are adhered is just with glue and some nail strips. They lined the gutters the built in gutters around this building are prominent and I mean they say a lot about the structure itself, historically. They lined those gutters with rubber and every ten feet there is a seam so over the years the pushing and pulling on those seams they popped and what has happened there is the water has migrated in and entered right into the building and Chief Hulett can tell you that there are problems in his fire house over there where water has migrated in and other issues have arisen from that. First we want to tackle this roof and get it weather tight and then take care of clean up the other issues that are going on down in his end of the building. What I’ve shown here this is basically your roofing system here. It’s got a shingled roof which you can all see right at the very top there is a membrane roof that is single ply glued down that system seems to be in fairly good shape. A lot of the seams are still intact and there are many penetrations through there we’ll check all of those and call for those to be remediated if need be. What we’re proposing for the shingle roof area is a 300 pound asphalt shingle which is typical on roofing in houses you’ll get it 225 or 240 that is the weight of the shingle per square.
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Mr. Shattuck said the 300 pound is a lot more durable thicker. It is going to take the abuse of saying hey which is what has caused of lot of this issue with the system now. 300 pound shingle system the built in gutter system itself needs to be relined. Now when they did it in the old days you know it was done right. They used copper gutter that was soldered and paper underneath it so that it could move a little bit. You don’t want these things stuck and rigid because then the seams will fail. We’re proposing a metal gutter system all the way around it is called a turn plate. It’s a lead coated copper system which is malleable it can be banged and pushed and formed into shape to meet that gutter profile. The life expectancy on something like that is 50 years or more because of the way that it is going to be installed and the properties of those (couldn’t hear). I have detailed it in pretty good shape so the contractors will understand it’s what drives situations like this obviously it’s 35 feet in the air. It’s already way up so its going to take lifts and whatever else to somehow get around and hit that gutter system so the wage rates will be different cost wise than what you see typically in regular commercial project. The lower roof is over in the ancient days they were rolled roofing and they would coat it and the Fire Chief there hasn’t been any leaks over there in that part of the building has there. We are going to provide that area as an alternate to have that re-roofed so you’ll at least have an idea of cost. It will just be a membrane roof because that is a single slope you wouldn’t want to put a ballast rock or anything up there you would want that to flow smoothly. There are some leaking that is happening around our famous phone booth so we will reflash that or reconnect that so that it doesn’t move around so much that is a sail up there with those winds. It is moving and shaking so we will tighten that up. Is there anything else Alderman Tibbs that I have missed.
Alderman Tibbs said I think you’ve just like you’ve said we want something now that we can put up there that is going to last for several years. We’re spending a lot of money otherwise you know with our repairs, possible mold issues, etc. etc. that goes along with a bad roof.
Alderman Neitzel asked how many square feet there are we talking about. Mr. Shattuck said its 71 squares of shingles and there is approximately 1,700 square feet of flat area roof on top. Alderman Neitzel said how many lineal feet of guttering.
Mr. Shattuck said 370 lineal feet and also there is probably 230 lineal feet of ballast and edge flashing (couldn’t hear). I’d like to make those out of the same material so one type of metal on that roof we could get the life span out of it that we are all looking for.
Alderman Tibbs said 12 12 pitch. Mr. Shattuck said it is 12 12 so it’s going to be tucked. Alderman Tibbs said Mr. Mathon has a question. Mr. Mathon said could you mention what we have as an alternate to the metal gutter lining if we are frightened by the price tag.
Mr. Shattuck said my whole point of this and I want to stress it to you that I would like to do this the proper way but yeah there will be an alternate roof Galva loom type and what I’m going to do with that built in gutter. The tinners will start out with a piece of metal that’s 32 inches wide and they are going to break that to form the gutter so it’s all going to be continuous.
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Mr. Shattuck said it will go up the roofing 8 inches so I’ve got that whole pan covered but Galva loom when you use a product like that it’s something that’s got to be painted because it will come out a tin color and it is a maintenance item down the road that you’re going to have to get up there and paint it white again just for that visible area that you’ll see but you’ll only see it from two blocks away.
Alderman Neitzel said do you know how much we’ve gotten from the insurance company. Alderman Tibbs said yes I do. Alderman Neitzel said how much. Alderman Tibbs said $24,000.00. Alderman Anderson said on this Galva loom I am thinking of maintenance is this something that will rust.
Mr. Shattuck so no it does not rust all the fasteners that are used with it will be gasketed and will be hemmed so everything is tied together so that it is one unit for certain sections but it like I said a maintenance item that periodically will have to be painted. I’ve gotten an idea from some painters here in town that have previously painted the coronus work all the metal work the dental work that you see underneath that built in gutter. Ron Hall said he painted that back in ’88 and I think maybe Simonson painting did it again a few years ago. I don’t know how recently but once they get up there and see the condition of that you know there may be areas that need to be replaced or repaired. What you see is not wood it is a metal panel and you know through the years it moves and breaks apart so then they use kind of like a bondo product to fix it back in so its got the shape that it had originally and repaint it. I am going to include that as an alternate that is aesthetics it has nothing to do with keeping the water out of the building.
Alderman Armbrust said a couple of questions are you talking about on this galvanized product using what screws or nails basically gasketed. Mr. Shattuck said yes. Alderman Armbrust said that’s not down in the channel is it.
Mr. Shattuck said no, no that will be up on the leading edges of it. It has to be seen we can’t come out with.
Alderman Armbrust said true, what I am questioning having a little bit of tin roofing and watching the gaskets dissolve in the snow. Mr. Shattuck said what they will do they will lock that together and seam together and the seams will be so that they will move a little bit but not completely come apart.
Alderman Armbrust said the next question was on our phone booth up there that’s moving around I always understood that was moving on the roof structure below that. That the phone booth puts enough torque on that.
Mr. Shattuck said what it is currently there is some all thread that runs through the top of that roof all the way down through the curb that it sits on. It doesn’t sit quiet on the roof it has been mounted up a few feet we’re going to have to structurally tie that down a little tighter.
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Mr. Shattuck said at least heavier materials to hold that in place and you’re right we’re probably going to have to look at the structure underneath and make sure that’s steady enough. Alderman Armbrust said I, was understanding that the phone booth was moving the surface under the shingles. Alderman Neitzel said in using the copper are we talking under $50,000.00 or over $50,000.00. Mr. Shattuck said I am pulling together prices now. Alderman Tibbs said we’re going to go out for bids. Alderman Neitzel said I know that I am just saying we’ve got $24,000.00 in insurance ok. Mr. Shattuck said all work here will have to obviously go through historic preservation since this building is on the register so Mike Jackson and Ann Hacker will be consulted to make sure that everything we do here is acceptable to historic preservation.
Alderman Tibbs said she would like to put this on the agenda to go out for bids.
Mayor Davis-Kavelman said anything further with your committee. Alderman Tibbs said yes we had a discussion about the land lease and that was put on the agenda and that is all I have.
Ordinance and Zoning:
Chairman Alderman Rohlfs said Dave Lockenour would you come to microphone please.
Mr. Lockenour said I am here I represent AFSME Local 501 which the union for Lincoln prison. I have a handout here that I would like to pass around I am going to read some stuff here that you guys can look at. I am here this evening to share some information about current situation of the prison that includes Lincoln and Logan. John Black is also here and he is President of the prison at Logan, Roger Griffiths is the staff rep, Jeff Bigelow is the district manager, and Bill Ridgeway is one of our members. Like many prisons across the state we’re having difficulty a crisis situation due to understaffing and inmate over population because of this we feel that it’s our responsibility to make the public aware of this information as well as the subsequent dangers that represent to our community. Lincoln Correctional center was opened in 1984 as a male institution in October of 2000 it was transitioned into a female institution. Our original capacity was intended to house 500 inmates. Our present inmate population at Lincoln is about 950. Our current staff is approximately 200 and of that 200 124 are correctional officers of that 124 we only have about 112 that are available due to medical, maternity and military leave. In 2002 we had approximately 270 employees 180 of which were correctional officers and we are down over 50 officers while maintaining the same inmate population. This translates into an excessive amount of overtime. This overtime has been somewhat lessened in the past 9 weeks we’ve had 25 officers detailed here from Thompson Correctional Center which is located up in the Northwest corner of Illinois. They are here while AFSME continues to battle to keep Pontiac Prison open which is something that both of the locals here are in complete support of. Before the Thompson officers arrived we were (at Lincoln Correctional Center) we were averaging about 225 hours of overtime a day that translates into about 30 shifts of overtime a day. Over the past six months there were some officers that were mandated as many as 50 times. This is our mandate list from the 11-7 shift and we only have 31 people assigned to that shift and these people get mandated regularly.
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Mr. Lockenour said they are working a double shift almost half of the 120 days they were scheduled to work in a six month period. This is all while running the facility at what we call holiday staffing levels which is considered minimum staffing. Many of those posts have been closed for months and currently only the mandatory posts are open. In 2002 Department of Corrections offered an early retirement package because of that we lost a large number of employees through normal retirements we’ve continued to lose employees in 2002 unfortunately we have not replaced these employees and our inmate population has remained steady because of this we probably have reached a desperate situation. I know I have given you a lot of information here to absorb but here are just a few statistics. In 2006 Lincoln Correctional Center paid approximately $400,000.00 in overtime. In 2007 we had approximately $500,000.00 in overtime and then last year 2008 we paid right at $1.6M in overtime. In 2009 we’ve been budgeted $2.1M now since the Thompson people are there we’re probably not going to hit that number because they have alleviated some of the overtime. As I said I have given you a lot of information to absorb this evening but I hope that in all these facts and figures you’ve heard the bottom line which is our prison is operating on a dangerous level. They are over populated and under staffed our staff are working an extraordinary amount of overtime and this translates into a dangerous situation not only to our officers but to our community. Whether as an officer driving home after 16 hour shifts or an institution that is operating at a bare minimum level all these things increase our chances for error that could lead to an unfortunate situation. Last year alone we had seven staff assaults as well as one attempted escape. Please don’t misunderstand our message we want this council and the citizens of Lincoln to know in this trying economy that we are very grateful to have a job however we believe this situation that our prison has gone beyond a safe environment for our employees and community. That’s why we are asking for your support tonight please join us in continuing in making our legislators aware of the situation and ask for their assistance. Thank you for your time this evening and continued support.
Alderman Rohlfs asked Mr. Lockenour if he had time for any questions. Mr. Lockenour said yes I will do my best to answer as many as I can.
Alderman Rohlfs said definitely I think most of the people who have had a relative that works at one of the prisons or knows someone close they are aware of the fact that this has become a major problem with the overtime that you have to have and the amount of safety issues that could occur from that. What is it that you feel would be beneficial for you as far getting our support do you think it’s for our support but what kind of support is it that you are looking for?
Mr. Lockenour said I think what we’re looking for is to I think we’re looking for this Council to send something to maybe our legislators which would be Bomke and Poe and Brauer and let them know that the city is concerned about the staffing and staffing levels out there you know for this community. I think that’s what we’re really looking for. We continue to make phone calls on a daily basis trying to you know and they are aware of it but we’re trying to drum up a new direction to get some support from them.
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Alderman Rohlfs said as I look at this information and you talk about the economy and you’re talking about that kind of money into overtime could you not have jobs that would be less than maybe what is going out in overtime.
Mr. Lockenour said $1.6M will hire 26 officers. You know I know that’s not going to eliminate all of the overtime but it would help but they are well aware of that. That’s a lot of officers.
Alderman Horn said when was the last time they had anybody down at the academy to train. Mr. Lockenour said I think three years ago we hired ten people and there was only one of those people they bleed through the job but we’ve only got one person left out of that class I think it was around three years ago that we hired somebody.
Alderman Tibbs said something very, very scary that I found out, either I live in a closet or something I didn’t realize that they had a key to their own cell.
Mr. Lockenour said yes that’s not I don’t know that that should be much of a concern I mean they are locked on the building so you know the buildings are secure but that does happen at Logan and Lincoln we don’t have. At Lincoln we have dorm style and we have 20 inmates in a dorm and don’t have and at Logan they have individual cells and the inmates do have. You have to understand that each wing is locked up.
Mr. Black said we have145 guys on a building with one officer. We have another building that I don’t know if the people are familiar with it but Mr. Jackson is the new building out are x house there are three officers on duty shift assigned to 442 inmates. On midnights they run with two ok regularly on midnight shift they run with 30 staff watching 1900 inmates.
Alderman Tibbs said my neighbor is a family man and he was just beat up on. Alderman Neitzel said is this possibility for the stimulus package coming to Illinois through the state government use some of that money for this or is that all infrastructure and that type of thing.
Mr. Lockenour said I’m not sure I don’t know that any of that money is going to be. Back to new hires Logan Correctional Center has not had a new (couldn’t hear) since 2003 and at that time in 2001 and 2003 we had roughly 275 officers not including your command staff which are your lieutenants, sergeants and majors, wardens, etc. We now currently have 194 officers and we still have Springfield working at details that we send down to Springfield so we have all of their work on top of that.
Alderman Neitzel said is this all the correctional agencies or just Logan County. Mr. Lockenour said throughout the state is a drain system that is just it’s virtually I don’t know if you say we cry wolf all the time but this is it somebody needs to do something because what is going to happen that call tomorrow its not going to be whose injured we’re going to be setting up a funeral for him.
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Alderman Rohlfs said is there some particular reason why they are more willing to pay for overtime than hire new hires.
Mr. Black said their answer is that it is cheaper to pay overtime that it is to pay benefits for a new employee. Do more with less.
Mayor Davis-Kavelman said I want to interject here we are very sympathetic about I know I worked out there too but I think we’re getting into union issues a little bit that should not be discussed. We understand where you’re coming from I think the Council would probably be very eager to send a Resolution too but I think union issues are being discussed here and I don’t think this is the agenda or arena for it. We want to hear but I don’t know.
Alderman Prather said their contract period is over I don’t think you like to debate a contract through the media or through the Council but as far as the safety conditions. Mayor Davis-Kavelman said we understand that. Alderman Prather said that is absolutely something that can be discussed up here in the Council. Mayor Davis-Kavelman said we are all behind I don’t know if we get into specifics we better not be discussing that here.
A gentleman said I appreciate your concern on that and the reality is that I think and the conscientiousness’ of this body is much higher than it is in many places around the state but I’ll bet still even in this community there are people that drive by Lincoln and Logan County and think all is safe and all is well when in fact the people in Pontiac thought that last week when an inmate beat up, attempted an escape and beat up a correctional officer, stole his clothes and put those clothes on and tried to escape and was only caught at the last minute. I’ll bet the people in Dixon Springs down in Polk County who last week thought everything was ok until those two inmates escaped and were at large for about a week and so it is very clear to us that this is just not a union issue but it’s also a community issue at the safety of this community is at stake. More staff equals a safer community, more staff as the point has been made means safer, environment for people to work in and the people who are working there are friends, neighbors and our family member and more staff will also mean safer environment for the people on the inside inmate by inmate violence will decrease. To answer this question of what can we do I think that a lot of City Council’s would say well this is a state issue why are we going to get our nose in this particularly in a political environment like this even though the political environment now was lifted a little bit the last couple of weeks. I think that the answer is this and it goes really back to what we were talking about everyone here some people on this board have worked there and other people and everyone here knows someone who works there this is a family and neighborhood issue. We want our family members to be safe we want our community members to be safe and we want to send a message to the Governor not just to the representatives Poe and Bomke who are well aware of the situation but to the Governor and doesn’t have to be hostile and confrontational but in the play that is going on in the state right now with the tight, tight budget the $9M deficit everybody is looking to get something and looking to the federal government for a lift up there.
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The gentleman said there is money there for corrections but there was money in the house version for state and local governments but it is not really there in the Senate so in this mix where the Governor is trying to figure out what am I going to do with all this and how can we intervene in a way that is friendly and supportive and say we care about the safety let’s keep our staffing, increase in staffing and safety high on the priority list so the Resolution that you just talked about would be very helpful.
Mayor Davis-Kavelman said I think everyone is very empathetic to what’s going on here. Alderman Rohlfs said can we do a Resolution or would you prefer a letter. Mayor Davis-Kavelman said whatever the Council wants to do. Alderman Hoinacki said yes, I think the representatives and also the Governor.
Finance, Policy and Procedure:
Chairman Alderman Anderson said with the budget coming up and budget talks I would like all not only my committee but all Alderman and anyone else that has any worthwhile suggestions I mean I have had some input on fees to be considered. One thing that was brought to my attention which I had mentioned to some of you was we’ve had a number of conversations over the year in the past with regards to the Mayoral position and I have asked Mr. Bates if he would double check on time frame for us but it is my understanding that specifically with the Mayoral salary that any changes to that had to be done 180 days prior to the election. It is my understanding that benefits would also be applied in that respect. We’re not sure.
Mr. Bates said I did find the statute it’s in the State Statute and it says the salaries are fixed by ordinance for those officers who hold elective office for a definite term shall neither be increased or diminished during that term and shall be fixed at least 180 days before the beginning of the terms of officers whose compensation is to be fixed. The statute says salary and then it says whose compensation. I don’t know if you can change the benefit package either having not done so within 180 days an unclear question for which I cannot give a definite answer.
Alderman Andersons said can we get a definite answer, no, so we just roll the dice and decide what we want to do. With all of that being said we know it’s a two fold thing one we have an opportunity now with the change in mayor’s position to leave benefits as they are, eliminate benefits. Benefits right now are about $8,000.00 a year that’s just the benefit not the salary. If we were to eliminate those do we want to consider at some point increasing the mayoral salary. If we change benefits and eliminate them now for incoming mayor we obviously can’t adjust their salary at this point so you need to give this some thought and we need to be addressing this relatively quickly with budget talks coming up but now is the time before the next administration is to how we’re going to do this moving forward and quit dragging it out. We talk about it we drop it. We talk about it we drop it now is the time to deal with it so be thinking about how you want to address this.
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Mr. Bates said Alderman Anderson the state statute refers to salary as fixed by ordinance and the only thing our ordinance says is the $12,000.00 annual. (tape changed).
Alderman Anderson said my personal thought is that the benefit package should be eliminated and at some point the salary should be increased obviously that can’t happen right now but we’ve got to start somewhere. The way I look at it if someone is running for the mayoral position for benefits it’s the wrong reason to be in that job.
Alderman Neitzel said its part time anyway.
Alderman Anderson said it is part time pay they spend more than part time that's neither here nor there and they should know that taking that position. Whether we want to have this put on the agenda to vote or if you want to have a further meeting to discuss this it's something that I don't think can be postponed indefinitely. Do I have any input from anyone?
Alderman Prather said put it on the agenda I agree get it done. Alderman Rohlfs said we really do not have a record of when the $8,000.00 was put into a package. Mr. Bates said I think it's health insurance. Mayor Davis-Kavelman said it is health and dental is what it is. Mr. Bates said health, dental and life.
Alderman Prather said it has been on there as long as I can remember. I don’t know which mayor it started with but it was there when Guzzardo was here.
Mayor Davis-Kavelman said it's been here for a long time. Alderman Anderson said it doesn't make it right. Mr. Bates asked if any other part time employees have benefits. Alderman Anderson said theoretically under most insurance contracts its usually a minimum of 30 hours to be considered for benefits. Mayor Davis-Kavelman said it's a salary position so I don't know if that makes. Alderman Prather said I don't think. Alderman Anderson said it’s an elected position we're all elected officials and you don't get any benefits. Alderman Neitzel said no.
Alderman Anderson said that's neither here nor there but that's what I'm saying at this point. We're looking at a tough budget and folks it's going to be tough this year I'm warning you right now for lots of reasons. This is an $8,000.00 budget item that nobody even knows how it got here, why it got here and personally I think it needs to be gone.
Alderman Prather said I agree we all agree with it. Alderman Rohlfs said my question was basically do we need to follow the same procedure to get it out of off the records or as we got it on the records. Alderman Prather said we don't know how it got on there. Mr. Bates said the procedure would be at this point to make a motion that the incoming mayor will not receive health, dental and life insurance. Alderman Anderson said I would ask then that this be put on the agenda for the next meeting. Mr. Bates said your motion will need to say effective as of. Alderman Prather said I would say May 1 that is the beginning of our fiscal year.
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Mr. Bates said you can say May 1 or April 30 I guess it would be May 1 at 12:01 a.m. Alderman Anderson said that is all that I have at this moment. Mr. Bates said to Mayor Davis-Kavelman that she did not leave office until the successor is sworn in. Mayor Davis-Kavelman said are you sure then could we make it to May 4. Alderman Prather said I think we can buy her four days of insurance.
Mayor Davis-Kavelman said are you sure I think I'm done April 30 and I was counting on April 30. Can we make it until I walk out the door please?
Alderman Anderson said this is so that the new incoming.
Alderman Prather said we better check into the insurance part of that. What's four days into a new period?
Alderman Anderson said we have a certain period of time to take them off. Mr. Bates said the mayor shall hold office for four years and until his successor is sworn in, elected and qualified.
Fire/Water & ESDA:
Vice Chairman Alderman Armbrust said he did not have a report.
Fire Chief Hulett said two quick items are Engine 2 was in the Courier Monday for the bids. There is no minimum bid and that is due February 24 for the sale of Engine 2. The new engine will be in service this Saturday barring any last minute glitches. We are finishing up their training this week and I would like to thank the Council for me it is a significant improvement in our apparatus and the way we are going to fight fires. It was an expensive fire truck but I look forward to it serving this community for many years.
Insurance:
Chairman Alderman Prather said he did not have a report.
Police:
Chairman Alderman Horn said she did not have a report.
Alderman Tibbs said I talked with Mr. Geriets the other day. I received a real strange call at home and I think this is kind of the time of year when these scumbugs get out and try to its magazines its door to door stuff you know. That's exactly what I would call this individual that called me who called me to lower my Visa card interest. I asked him his contact number oh I'm new on the job today and didn't have a contact number. I got the name of his business and by the time I finished with my questions he hung up. I'm just saying that I know that last year we had a little bit of this in our community of going door to door and offering different scams.
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Police Chief Erlenbush said they are supposed to register at City Hall and if they don't and we found out that they haven't we run them off. Mayor Davis-Kavelman said if you see them and they are out walking around trying to sell you something then ask them if they have gone to see the City Clerk and if they say yes say well show me your certificate.
Sanitation:
Chairman Alderman Henrichsmeyer said I would like to bring something to the attention of the Council. Last week I handed out a handout to most of you. This has to do with the Logan County Joint Solid Waste Agency. We had a meeting a couple of weeks ago in which it was pretty interesting. Most of the time it is uneventful but that time it was not. It turns out that commodity prices for recycled goods have fell to the floor. For example February of last year the price for cardboard was $115.00 per ton and as of January of this year it was $30.00 a ton that's just an example and that's why for example that the Good Sam's Ministry that had the recycling and all that that closed down. It's to the point now where one of the vendors that we distribute, sell or recycle things to is now charging us to take them to the point where it is adding an additional $12,000.00 a year expense to the agency who operates on a minimal budget anyway so they don't have the money. I spoke with several municipalities, Bloomington, Springfield other talking with their public works people and asking them what they are doing. They are saying basically that we are in the same boat. The public works supervisor in Bloomington I spoke to said I am just going in to a budget meeting now to figure out what we're going to do but I did get some information of suppliers that they use that do pay more than ours do so I gave that information to the coordinator and she is doing some research. I just wanted to bring it to your attention because it is definitely a either get creative or it's going to be a serious problem. One of the sheets that I handed out last week and I have a copy if somebody needs it they broke out the costs per capita for each of the municipalities that participate and the Logan County Joint Solid Waste Management Agency. Our cost for the additional cost would be $6,147.60 and that is over the amount that we have budgeted. It's something to think about I don't have what's exactly going to happen yet I am still waiting to hear back from the coordinator to see if she's been able to come up with any alternatives. It's something to think about. He asked if there were questions.
Alderman Anderson said we would expect to have an idea of what direction this going prior to our budget. Alderman Henrichsmeyer said correct.
Alderman Prather said you've got to do it because it is mandated state and federal and now we're having to pay for them to take it away. I do think they mandated that several years back where each community had to do so much percentage. I don't know if the state is willing to get involved in this and help out or not since it is mandated by law we might want to check out with that department.
Mayor Davis-Kavelman said add that to the stimulus package.
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Alderman Henrichsmeyer said there are municipalities that don't offer it it's only done through their waste management like Area Disposal.
Mayor Davis-Kavelman said is there enough to maybe do every other month collection or is it going to stack up. Could that help with costs?
Alderman Henrichsmeyer said basically we would pay so we have those bins out there and we pulled them 50 times in the year and the problem is we're getting charged like basically $245.00 every time we pull a bin now so no doing it less isn't going to help us we have to store the stuff somewhere and we get charged the same amount if we waited two months or we didn't. The only thing that might be a problem is like for example Bloomington's vendors they are way far North so for us having transportation costs we don't have infrastructure to haul the recycle goods we pay somebody to do that so you know whether it's going to save anything to drive that far its and you know they are not looking for the commodity prices to improve that much this year.
Alderman Prather said I just didn't know if it was going to be worthwhile to contact Illinois Municipal League and see if there is any kind of program to help with this. They usually have sessions on those types of things up in Chicago.
Alderman Henrichsmeyer said we talked and looked about grants too the problem with grants is you have to have a specified project to get the grant. It can't be something that is already in progress so paying for operating costs you can't do with a grant.
Alderman Tibbs said I use those bins and very seldom do I go over there that they are not full. There are a lot of people recycling.
Alderman Henrichsmeyer said we are definitely recycling more than we ever have and it's kind of being a victim of your success but it's a good thing really.
Sewer Treatment Plant, Sewers and Drainage:
Chairman Alderman Neitzel said she did not have anything else to report.
Sidewalks, Forestry and Lighting:
Chairman Alderman Hoinacki said he did not have a report.
Streets and Alleys:
Chairman Alderman Armbrust said he did not have a report.
Mr. Jackson said the Logan County Fairgrounds approached us again wanting to know if we will seal coat their hard pavement surfaces out there. We’ve done it in the past and it has been about 8 years now since we've done it so I just wanted to check with the Council.
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Mr. Jackson said I know in the past we've had some problems with some of the Council members because we've gone out and swept during the fair each year. We have done it in the past and they pay for all the materials, man hours and equipment.
Alderman Rohlfs said how many man hours is involved in that, do you know? Mr. Jackson said it takes 8 guys a day and a fourth so it would be 82 hours give or take. Alderman Rohlfs said when would you be looking at doing that.
Mr. Jackson said we will do it when we do our seal coat program when we work our way to that part of town we'll swing in and get theirs while we're there so we're not making a special trip or anything else. It's actually in July and August.
Mayor Davis-Kavelman said is that something feasible that you can do with your department you think. Mr. Jackson said yeah we don't take vacations during the seal coat season and that is the one time the six weeks that they can't take their vacation. Alderman Rohlfs said what would the city possibly be lacking because I think that everybody here in the Council get calls all the time about streets not being in the best of shape and would we be sacrificing some of the city streets. Mr. Jackson said no, it is something that we would order on top of what we're planning on doing. Alderman Rohlfs said no I meant as far as time because it seems time is a big problem. Mr. Jackson said it would be a day and a quarter that we could have been somewhere else yes. Alderman Henrichsmeyer said the county does not have the ability to do this.
Mr. Jackson said that is private and it is not county it's the fair association. It is just something we've done in the past they approached me and I told them I would bring it before the Council.
Mayor Davis-Kavelman said it is kind of a courtesy. Alderman Hoinacki said I think what Alderman Henrichsmeyer is asking is have we approached the county highway department. Mr. Jackson said I don't know.
Alderman Anderson said so if I understand correctly you allocate x amount of days out of your working schedule for your men to do the city streets. Do you add a day then to do theirs or are we losing a day.
Mr. Jackson said when I pick the number of weeks we do it I put extra in because of weather and so actually it's not a lost day. As far as the county doing it they don’t have an oil truck they use a private company to do their oil so I imagine that's why they are approaching us.
Alderman Henrichsmeyer said is it reasonable to charge them something for our service or no. Mayor Davis-Kavelman said we've just done it as a courtesy in the past. Alderman Henrichsmeyer said I don't know the arrangement or anything so I am just asking. Alderman Prather said they've always done it as a courtesy. Alderman Tibbs said she would like to have that on agenda.
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Alderman Tibbs said Mr. Jackson how long have we been doing this. Mr. Jackson said I have been here 20 years and we have been out there twice. Alderman Tibbs said were we out there last year.
Mr. Jackson said it would be 8 years ago but sweeping we have done that every year for the 20 that I have been here. The seal coating we have only done twice and it is done about every 8 years.
Alderman Tibbs said it is more or less a wash I mean you're out there and you go through and on around so there. Mr. Jackson said we don't make a special trip.
Mayor Davis-Kavelman said the one thing I need to do is accept the former City Clerk's resignation. We have moved our Deputy Clerk is currently our Acting City Clerk and it is with regret that I do accept the resignation.
Mr. Bates said I think that is the only thing required. If you want it on the agenda to vote on it that is fine but all that is required is your acceptance.
Mayor Davis-Kavelman said we don't have to put it on the agenda then. Mr. Bates said I looked it up today and it is a little bit of a strange question there has been a lot that I have looked up in the last couple of days. As I read the statute you have the ability to accept the resignation. Mayor Davis-Kavelman said it does not have to be discussed well I have accepted the resignation.
Alderman Anderson said I move to go into Executive Session under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(3) to discuss the selection of a person to fill a public office pursuant to section 2(c)(3) under the open meetings act and Alderman Prather seconded it. Acting City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the roll call. There were nine yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Prather, Alderman Rohlfs, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and one absent (Alderman Busby); motion carried. The meeting adjourned to Executive Session at 7:58 p.m.
The meeting returned to regular Session at 8:20 p.m. Acting City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach called the Roll. There were nine yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Prather, Alderman Rohlfs, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and one absent (Alderman Busby); motion carried. Also present were Police Chief Erlenbush, City Attorney Mr. Bates, Mayor Davis-Kavelman, and Acting City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach.
Mayor Davis-Kavelman said just wanted to tell you last night the Chief and I were still here and Acting City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach and it was about quarter to seven we finally left the office last night and we had all city offices locked had been changed even getting into the building.
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Mayor Davis-Kavelman said we have now done more security even this morning and we had everyone come in and sign we filled out a form and had them sign which old keys they were returning and bringing back and we had that notarized and we even scotch taped the keys (old keys) to the papers and have that in a file now somewhere and then if you've seen the notices we have put up through Alderman Anderson, Alderman Tibbs, and the City Clerk Mrs. Gehlbach and we finished letting people know that no longer were they allowed to be going back behind the desks of any place. I think that will just kind of help and enhance what you are trying to do with security and so if someone needs to pickup the mail as a department head or something you're just going to have to say I need my mail and the City Clerk will do it. The same way with me I am locked out of City Hall I mean the City Clerk's office. If I need something even I'm locked out of the lounge. I have just one key to get into the building and one key to my office and that's it. I think it's really probably a good thing to do and Alderman Anderson is moving into some real positive things and some procedures in place for some other things to enhance safety and checks and balances and things like that that were needed. You want to elaborate.
Alderman Anderson said the checks and balances that were thought to have been in place were very cleverly circumvented so we're going to deal with some of those. I didn't want to say anything in open session for a number of reasons.
Mr. Bates said you are in open session.
Alderman Anderson said we're going to be addressing some of those issues and I will keep you posted on those as we move forward. There are still some things that are probably going to be added to the list as we move through but we're making some movement.
Mayor Davis-Kavelman said one thing I just want to add to it that kind of hit me to maybe a camera. Alderman Tibbs said I have that already to go. Mayor Davis-Kavelman said I think that would be very important.
Alderman Tibbs said you know I might just look into that I was looking at the money left in buildings and grounds we just have to go into a couple of those things and get it now. If we would have had those special door locks that was down to be put in we would never have had to gone through these events of changing locks or anything like that it is all just a matter of.
Mayor Davis-Kavelman said of getting it taken care of. Alderman Tibbs said it is technology that we don’t have. Mayor Davis-Kavelman said chief do you have any more to add about this.
Police Chief Erlenbush said yes I do. There is an investigation going on but this isn’t national security folks. I will go to the State’s Attorney tomorrow and see if he will be willing to meet with the individual Council members or as a group and give you a briefing on the case. I think that’s entirely appropriate.
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Alderman Prather said I do too.
Police Chief Erlenbush said when you do investigations as you continue to do interviews more people know the details. In my mind you have every right to know the details and I think that can be accomplished. Give me a day and I will work on it.
Mr. Bates said the Chief and I both can give you a lot of details you tell me if you want it done and I’ll do it but I’m not going to do it in an open meeting unless I’m told to do it.
Alderman Anderson said I would suggest that not be the case. The individuals should contact you or the State’s Attorney if that is appropriate and deal with it that way.
Police Chief Erlenbush said the only thing I would like to do I mean like Mr. Bates said we can give you the details that you should know I want to bounce it off the State’s Attorney first because I don’t want him complaining later that information was given out that should not have been. Quite frankly I see no reason why the information should not be given to you. Let me bounce it off him first and I’ll get back to all of you by close of business tomorrow.
Alderman Prather said Chief please keep in mind when you talk to him that there’s more than one of us on the same committee and if we meet with him it has to be a public meeting. It would almost have to be one on one.
Police Chief Erlenbush said he may say tell them what’s going on.
Mayor Davis-Kavelman said I met with all of you individually except Alderman Prather yesterday and told you what had transpired up to that point. I didn’t go into a lot of detail.
Police Chief Erlenbush said just one more comment. The state police is doing the investigation and I can assure you that they will do a top notch job. The master sergeant that is in charge of it worked for me for a number of years and I taught him everything I know.
Mayor Davis-Kavelman said one more than Mrs. Gehlbach cannot get into that office until it has been released, correct even though Ms. Riggs moved out and took her things today.
Police Chief Erlenbush said let me talk to the State’s Attorney in the morning but in my mind she could get in there tomorrow. Quite frankly she needs to do that.
Mayor Davis-Kavelman said for image I thought. Police Chief Erlenbush said someone’s got to get in there and start going through paperwork so I will get to you in the morning.
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Alderman Henrichsmeyer made a motion to adjourn and Alderman Prather seconded it. There were nine yeas (Alderman Anderson, Alderman Armbrust, Alderman Henrichsmeyer, Alderman Hoinacki, Alderman Horn, Alderman Neitzel, Alderman Prather, Alderman Rohlfs, and Alderman Tibbs), zero nays, and one absent (Alderman Busby); motion carried.
The City of Lincoln Committee’s as a Whole Meeting adjourned at 8:29 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Risa Riggs
City of Lincoln