City of Peru City Council met Oct. 28.
Here is the minutes provided by the Council:
A regular meeting of the Peru City Council was called to order by Mayor Scott J. Harl in the Peru City Council Chambers on Monday, Oct. 28, 2019 at 7:04 p.m.
City Clerk Dave Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Ferrari, Waldorf, Lukosus, Radtke, Sapienza, Payton, Ballard and Buffo present; Mayor Harl present.
All joined in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
Public Comment
Resident Sherry Mayszak addressed the council regarding the pool feasibility study agenda item at a cost of $22,000.
“I can tell you the result of the study right now – no, it’s not feasible at this time. Knowing there are upcoming expenditures for the North Peoria Street project, the new police station; and repair or replacement of the substation on Water Street, which in total could reach a price tag of $20 to $25 million, there is no way the city can afford a swimming pool any time soon. I think a better way to fund building a swimming pool is to put that $22,000 into the pool fund and keep doing that every year. Back in 2011 when I first got on the council, I begged for money to be put aside for a future pool. Had we banked $22,000 each year since 2011, there would be an additional $198,000 in the pool account today. Still a far cry from what is needed to build a pool, but much better than what is in the account right now. Somehow $2.5 million was found and spent building the splash pad, all because of a private $100,000 donation. Well we have over $100,000 in the Friends for Peru Pool account, so why no pool? Why was so much money spent on a splash pad instead of a pool? The splash pad is very nice, no doubt about it, but excessive in my opinion when we could have had a pool. Where would we have gotten $22,000 each year to put in the pool building fund? One easy way would be to eliminate the lobbyist cost at $24,000 to $25,000 each year. If we had transferred that expense into a pool fund, we would have added $216,000 to the pool building fund by now. Mayor Harl has repeatedly said there will never be a swimming pool in Peru as long as he is mayor, so the timing of this feasibility study with an upcoming election and a strong mayoral contender, Ken Kolowski who is pro-pool, is suspect and makes me wonder “why now”? It certainly seems to be a political maneuver instead of a genuine interest in the community. During the last election, Alderman Payton was quoted in the newspaper as saying the pool is a money pit, so my guess is he will be voting no for this study. For the aldermen to vote in favor of this feasibility study would be irresponsible and a waste of taxpayer money. Instead aldermen, I ask that you consider putting the $22,000 in the Friends for Peru Pool account and continue to build that account for the future”
Presentation
Minutes
Mayor Harl presented the minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 14, 2019. Alderman Ferrari made a motion that the minutes be received and placed on file. Alderman Waldorf seconded the motion; motion carried.
Financial Reports
Mayor Harl presented the Annual Statement of the City Treasurer for Fiscal Year Ending April 30, 2019, Treasurer’s Report for September 2019, Sales, Home Rule, Use and Telecommunication Tax Receipts for July 2019 and City Clerk’s Report of Cash Received for September 2019. Alderman Radtke made a motion the reports be received and placed on file. Alderman Buffo seconded the motion; motion carried.
Activity Reports
Mayor Harl presented the Building Permit-Third Quarter Report 2019; Peru Police Department Report for September 2019 and Peru Volunteer Ambulance Service Inc. Activity Summary for September 2019. Alderman Buffo made a motion the reports be received and placed on file. Alderman Ballard seconded the motion; motion carried.
Finance and Safety Committee
Alderman Buffo presented the following disbursements for payment on October 30, 2019:
Fund Name Total Expenses
General Fund $901,805.26
Insurance Fund 29,441.74
Utility Fund 295,485.74
Airport Fund 1,274.11
Total $2,198,783.42
Alderman Buffo made a motion that the report be received, placed on file and the bills be paid in the usual manner. Alderman Ferrari seconded the motion. City Clerk Dave Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Ferrari, Waldorf, Lukosus, Radtke, Sapienza, Payton, Ballard and Buffo voting aye; motion carried.
Alderman Buffo made a motion to receive and place on file the independent audit report for the year ending 04-30-2019 from Mack and Associates. Alderman Payton seconded the motion. Finance Officer Justin Miller reported on the audit presentation at the October 9th Finance and Safety Services meeting and noted the strong net position and strong internal controls. City Clerk Dave Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Ferrari, Waldorf, Lukosus, Radtke, Sapienza, Payton, Ballard and Buffo voting aye; motion carried.
Alderman Radtke made a motion to receive and place on file the Statement of Opinion on the Consolidated Yearend Financial Report from Mack and Associates. Alderman Payton seconded the motion. Finance Officer Justin Miller reported on the state requirement of the city that Mack and Associates concurred with the position. City Clerk Dave Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Ferrari, Waldorf, Lukosus, Radtke, Sapienza, Payton, Ballard and Buffo voting aye; motion carried.
Alderman Sapienza made a motion to approve a proposal from Connecting Point for 27 Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit Operating System Upgrades, in the amount of $2290.00 for the Peru Police Department. Alderman Buffo seconded the motion. City Clerk Dave Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Ferrari, Waldorf, Lukosus, Radtke, Sapienza, Payton, Ballard and Buffo voting aye; motion carried.
Alderman Sapienza made a motion to approve a proposal from Connecting Point to replace 6 desktop computers (too old to upgrade) with Windows 10, in the amount of $9097.50 for the Peru Police Department. Alderman Buffo seconded the motion. City Clerk Dave Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Ferrari, Waldorf, Lukosus, Radtke, Sapienza, Payton, Ballard and Buffo voting aye; motion carried.
Public Services Committee
Alderman Lukosus made a motion to approve seeking bids for truckload of 35’ Class 3 poles. Alderman Ballard seconded the motion. City Clerk Dave Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Ferrari, Waldorf, Lukosus, Radtke, Sapienza, Payton, Ballard and Buffo voting aye; motion carried.
Alderman Lukosus made a motion to approve seeking bids for heavy duty bed trailer. Alderman Waldorf seconded the motion. PSM Jeff King stated the trailer would be for hauling the backhoe to the hydro plant. City Clerk Dave Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Ferrari, Waldorf, Lukosus, Radtke, Sapienza, Payton, Ballard and Buffo voting aye; motion carried.
Report of City Attorney/Ordinances and Resolutions
Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert presented a proposed ordinance entitled:
Ordinance No. 6427
An ordinance authorizing acceptance of a Utility Easement from Andrew G. Dergance, Jr. And Cindy L. Dergance
Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert reported this easement is for the looping the dead-end water main. Alderman Ferrari made a motion the ordinance be adopted as written and read. Alderman Waldorf seconded the motion. City Clerk Dave Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Ferrari, Waldorf, Lukosus, Radtke, Sapienza, Payton, Ballard and Buffo voting aye; motion carried.
Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert presented a proposed ordinance entitled:
Ordinance No. 6428
An ordinance approving and authorizing the Execution of Assignment and First Amendment to Sale and Property and Redevelopment Agreement by and between the City of Peru and Sidlyd Investments, LLC.
Alderman Ballard made a motion the ordinance be adopted as written and read. Alderman Buffo seconded the motion. City Clerk Dave Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Ferrari, Waldorf, Lukosus, Radtke, Sapienza, Payton, Ballard and Buffo voting aye; motion carried.
Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert presented a proposed ordinance entitled:
Ordinance No. 6429
An ordinance establishing attendance requirements for the City of Peru Planning/Zoning
Alderman Waldorf made a motion the ordinance be adopted as written and read. Alderman Sapienza seconded the motion. City Clerk Dave Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Ferrari, Waldorf, Lukosus, Radtke, Sapienza, Payton, Ballard and Buffo voting aye; motion carried.
Proclamations
Mayor Harl presented a proclamation proclaiming November 11-17, 2019 as “National Apprenticeship Week”. Alderman Waldorf made a motion the proclamation be received and placed on file. Alderman Sapienza seconded the motion; motion carried.
Unfinished Business
Alderman Radtke made a motion to approve an agreement with Counsilman-Hunsaker for the Peru Public Pool Feasibility Study not to exceed $22,000. Alderman Waldorf seconded the motion. City Engineer Eric Carls reviewed the proposal. Alderman Payton asserted his personal opinion that a pool is a money pit and stated that after the study he will po his constituents and vote accordingly.
Alderman Radtke reported the following:
· MFT and FAU will pay for much of the Peoria Street project.
· Utility funds will be restricted for the substation
· Asked if the pools in other communities would be evaluated
· Would the consultant recommend additions to the city that would be exclusive to Peru
City Clerk Dave Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Ferrari, Waldorf, Lukosus, Radtke, Sapienza, Payton, Ballard and Buffo voting aye; motion carried.
New Business
Alderman Lukosus made a motion to appoint Jeff Puetz to the Parks and Recreation Board for a 5-year term expiring October 2024. Alderman Buffo seconded the motion. City Clerk Dave Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Ferrari, Waldorf, Lukosus, Radtke, Sapienza, Payton, Ballard and Buffo voting aye; motion carried.
Petitions and Communications
City Clerk Dave Bartley presented a petition from Bernard and Patricia Ernat seeking rezoning, waivers, and approval of the Final Plat of the Ernat Commercial Addition to the City of Peru for property located between Plank Road and North Peoria Street, south of Midtown Road. Alderman Radtke made a motion the petition be received, placed on file and referred to the Planning/Zoning Commission for review and recommendation. Alderman Sapienza seconded the motion; motion carried.
City Clerk Dave Bartley presented a petition from Maria and Mike Sabotta requesting a special use for massage services for property located at 1628 7th Street, Peru, IL. Alderman Waldorf made a motion the petition be received, placed on file and referred to the Planning/Zoning Commission for review and recommendation. Alderman Sapienza seconded the motion; motion carried.
City Clerk Dave Bartley presented a petition from Victor and Karen Rios requesting variances for the property located at 2029 11th Street. Alderman Lukosus made a motion the petition be received, placed on file and referred to the Planning/Zoning Commission for review and recommendation. Alderman Buffo seconded the motion; motion carried.
Public Comment
Resident Gina Martin addressed the following with the council regarding the pool feasibility study:
· Commented negatively about the proposed location for a pool
· Place the pool where it was
· There are too many ball diamonds
· Dog park is too damn small
· Let the people decide and put on the ballot
City Engineer Eric Carls noted no location is or has been determined and a study like this would be necessary for any pool to be built.
Closed Session
Adjournment
Alderman Ferrari made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Alderman Sapienza seconded the motion and motion carried. Meeting adjourned 7:37 p.m.
https://www.peru.il.us/city-government/minutes/regular-council-meeting/2019-cm/october-2019-cm/4634-regular-meeting-minutes-10-28-19/file
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