City of Peru City Council met Nov. 8.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
A Committee Of A Whole meeting was called to order by City Clerk Dave Bartley in the Peru City Council Chambers at 6:00 p.m.
City Clerk Dave Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Waldorf, Sapienza and Lukosus present; Alderman Buffo absent; Mayor Kolowski present.
PUBLIC COMMENT
MINUTES
City Clerk Dave Bartley presented the Committee Of A Whole Minutes of October 11, 2021. Alderman Waldorf made a motion that the minutes be received and placed on file. Alderman Payton seconded the motion; motion carried.
INFORMAL COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Alderman Payton noted the following ongoing conversations:
• Budget
• Audit
• Tax levy
• Pickleball-received letters and phone calls from promoters of the game
Justin Miller, Director of Finance recommended the tax levy with a net impact of 3.6% increase for property tax and noted all funds go to police and fire pensions. Mr. Miller noted the tax levy will be approved on November 22nd with bond abatements passed on December 7th.
Alderman Payton initiated a discussion noting that all members of the Council have received letters and emails from members of the community that have called for the city to explore its options moving forward. Alderman Payton stated the City is aware of it and we are working diligently to try and figure out where we could put more courts. City Engineer, Eric Carls reported his team is working to get the designs for Washington Park and Veterans Park finalized and to the Council for review.
Mayor Ken Kolowski reported he has been in contact with Illinois Valley Pickleball Ambassador Joe Majors. Majors indicated that his group may be interested in painting some of the new courts themselves. Alderman Waldorf stated the while the city is encouraged by the public interest, he wants to ensure that if something is going to be done, they are going through the proper channels in Director of Parks and Recreation Adam Thorson and Engineer Carls. Alderman Mike Sapienza also added those groups interested in helping with this cause are more than welcome to collect funds and provide a donation to the city earmarked for pickleball. Thorson also said he has heard from the group in the past and these ideas have also been discussed at the Parks Board level. Carls said he will still need quotes from various factors in building pickleball Courts before he could estimate an official cost to the city, he estimated a designated pickleball location could cost somewhere between $150,000 to $200,000 or more.
PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE
Alderman Waldorf reported on the following ordinances/resolutions to be passed at the regular meeting:
• Potable Water Supply
• Property Damage Release
• IBEW Contract
• RBI Resolution
• FEMA BRIC Resolution
Stated Mayor Kolowski, Alderman Waldorf and Eric Carls, Director of Engineering and Zoning will be attending a meeting in the Village of Dalzell tomorrow evening to address the City of Peru potentially providing the village water.
POLICE AND FIRE COMMITTEE
Police Chief Bob Pyszka initiated a discussion regarding recent events at the local bar that involved police interaction. Chief Pyszka reported the state police did an underage drinking sting in Peru and this bar had served a minor. Chief Pyszka stated he spoke with the mayor and Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert in reference to either go with a hearing to suspend the liquor license and/or we can write the local establishment a ticket to fine the business. Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert explained if the city elected to pursue a suspension of liquor license for up to 30 days, it would need to go through due process, this would include a hearing that would cost the city the expenses of bringing in a court reporter, a hearing officer and Schweickert as prosecuting attorney. Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert stated the accused parties would then have the opportunity to defend themselves before a final decision on length of suspension would be determined. Corporate Counsel stated the other option was for the Peru Police Department to go through its own administrative hearing where a citation is issued. The maximum fine of $750 per violation was discussed. The licensee under question also will have to go in front of La Salle County and the Illinois State Liquor Control Commission that would also result in further fines. Council expressed opinions bounced back and forth as they weighed the options that could include a nominal cost to the city and the message they wanted to send. Alderman Sapienza stated he don’t want to get the reputation of ‘Oh, don’t worry you’re just going to get a fine,’ because the city doesn’t want to spend any money as we are spending money for a policing situation and that’s the worst thing to do is get a reputation that the city will back down. Alderman Edgcomb agreed with Sapienza but added he wanted to be sure the city does what it can to deter these issues in the future. Alderman Edgcomb stated we have to walk a fine line here and I agree that if we go this route with just the fine we want to make sure that down the road, if this happens again, we are a little more tough. Alderman Edgcomb stated with our police showing up there, it could end up with one of our officers getting injured in one of these fights. Chief Pyszka agreed with Edgcomb and added officers have gotten some scrapes and bruises while interfering with the altercations, but no injuries have been deemed major. Chief Pyszka stated we sit back in the parking lots just to diffuse the situations and now it’s gotten to a point where it’s not even helping that. Alderman Pyszka stated we will go with the ADJ hearing and mark them with a fine. Mayor Kolowski stated he would be more than happy to attend the hearing and issue the city’s warning if issues continue to arise. Alderman Edgcomb told Chief Pyszka to let the officers involved in these altercations and issues know they can share their thoughts and concerns with the chief and the council moving forward.
OTHER DISCUSSION
Alderman Payton asked for an update on the Washington Park vandalism surveillance. Police Chief Bob Pyszka reported on more cameras in the park that provide notifications. Alderman Sapienza encouraged fiber connectivity.
CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Kolowski asked for a motion to go into closed session to discuss appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees, including the public body’s legal counsel, or to hear testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee to determine its validity and purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body is being considered, including meetings held for the purpose of discussion whether a particular parcel should be acquired, or where the public body is considering the setting of a price for sale or lease of its property. Alderman Payton made a motion to go into closed session. Alderman Waldorf seconded the motion. City Clerk Dave Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Waldorf, Sapienza, Lukosus and Buffo voting aye; motion carried.
Closed session began at 6:33 p.m. and ended 6:57 p.m.
Alderman Payton made a motion to re-open the meeting. Alderman Waldorf seconded the motion. City Clerk Dave Bartley called the roll with Aldermen Ballard, Tieman, Payton, Edgcomb, Waldorf, Sapienza, Lukosus and Buffo present; Mayor Kolowski present.
ADJOURNMENT
Alderman Tieman made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Alderman Ballard seconded the motion and motion carried. Meeting adjourned 6:58 P.M.
https://www.peru.il.us/city-government/forms-and-documents/minutes/committee-as-a-whole-1/2021-cow-1/5496-committee-of-a-whole-minutes-11-04-21/file
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