City of Peru Public Services Committee met March 28.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
ROLL CALL: Aldermen Waldorf, Lukosus, Ballard and Edgcomb present.
OTHER PERSONS PRESENT: Deputy Clerk Stephanie Piscia, Mayor Kolowski, Treasurer Jackson Powell, Alderman Sapienza, Alderman Payton, Alderman Edgcomb, Alderman Tieman, Police Chief Bob Pyszka, PSM/Fire Chief Jeff King, Director of Engineering and Zoning Eric Carls, Human Resource Director Kim Reese, IT Director Stephen Rounds, Adam Thorson, Director of Parks, Recreation and Special Events, Mike Perry of Chamlin and Associates and Chris Perra of T.E.S.T.
MINUTES
Alderman Waldorf made a motion to approve the Public Services Meeting minutes of March 14, 2022. Alderman Lukosus seconded the motion; motion carried.
PRESENTATION
None
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
WATER & SEWER
None
T.E.S.T.
None
STREETS & ALLEY
Committee discussed and recommended the bid for the 2022 RBI/MFT Street Program to universal asphalt & excavating in the amount of $984,901.61. Eric Carls, Director of Engineering and Zoning reported this is the annual street program using Rebuilding Illinois Funds and MFT funds. Mr. Carls reported the city received two bids, both under engineers estimate and recommended awarding the project to the lowest responsible bidder.
ELECTRIC
None
LANDFILL
None
AIRPORT
Alderman Lukosus reported projects at the airport are progressing nicely.
Alderman Lukosus reminded the committee of the TBM Avenger/Salute to Veterans airshow May 20th and 21st. Alderman Lukosus reported on new attractions and the probability of starting the show on Thursday (May 19th). Alderman Lukosus reported people will be able to ride in TBM’s, T’6, B-17 bomber, Yankee clipper, PBY, Vietnam aircraft etc. Alderman Lukosus stated the event is a good time and the committee is looking for volunteers. Alderman Lukosus stated the committee will meet on April 9th and 13th should anyone be interested in volunteering.
CEMETERY
PSM/Fire Chief Jeff King reported spring cleanup went well and stated that anything worth saving was put behind fence. PSM/Fire Chief King stated items will be kept for a month then be thrown away.
CODE ENFORCEMENT/BUILDING & ZONING
None
ENGINEERING
Eric Carls, Director of Engineering and Zoning provided the following updates:
• Area 5 Phase 1
o Ongoing and to end this season
• NE Water Main
o Half of the work will be done this year; half next year
• General Fund Street Program (RBI/MFT funds)
o Start this month
• Wenzel Road Improvements
o Project has started
o Materials have been moved
• Pohar Crossing
o Progressing
o Working on drainage to Baker Lake
• St. John’s Addition Phase 2
o Permitting has begun
• IVRA Taxiway
o Waiting on contracts
• Water Street Improvements
o Final contracts in couple weeks
Police Chief Bob Pyszka reported on the increased traffic on Marquette Road due to Wenzel Road being closed. Chief Pyszka stated the police department has increased patrolling and performing stop sign details. Eric Carls, Director of Engineering and Zoning suggested adding additional traffic signage further out from the construction area to detour traveling on Marquette Road.
BUILDING & GROUNDS
None
OLD BUSINESS
PSM/Fire Chief Jeff King initiated a discussion regarding grass cutting contract. PSM/Fire Chief King reported the current contract states a 3% increase per year for 3 years and proposed contract would be for 5 years with 7% increase per year. Alderman Waldorf asked to discuss further at the next regular council meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
CLOSED SESSION
None
PARKS & RECREATION
Mayor Kolowski initiated a discussion regarding new pool. Mayor Kolowski started off by saying putting a pool strategy together is important to him and thinks it could be an asset to our community. Mayor Kolowski apologized for putting the issue on aldermen’s laps without many one-on-one talks, but stated he wanted to start the dialogue on the topic, because he remains passionate about bringing a pool to the city.
Mayor Kolowski listed some talking points about the strategy to build a new pool:
• Improves community bonds with the public
• Adds to recreational and property values
• Encourages family fun and fitness
• Improves public safety
• Location
o Same location as former pool; put the history back where it came from
o Solid area, busiest park we have
o Next to splash pad
• Project funding
o Two original plans failed
o Hotel/motel tax
Mayor Kolowski believes the city can pay for a new municipal swimming pool at Washington Park from hotel/motel taxes. Mayor Kolowski stated hotel/motels are taxed at 5.6% and stated if the tax was increased $5 to $8, the city may be able to pay off a new facility in 10 years or the city could pay off a pool in 20 years if the tax remained the same. Mayor Kolowski stated he favors the idea of using hotel/motel taxes because it would not be a tax increase to the citizens; outsiders would be indirectly paying for the pool. With that said, we would be increasing an expense to the city because we use the hotel/motel tax for other things such as the $1.5 million we used for the splash pad, noting the splash pad is a very unique, seasonal thing. Mayor Kolowski stated he wanted to use the same revenue source to pay for the pool. Mayor Kolowski stated he was told using hotel/motel tax can be risking because the tax goes up and down, not a guaranteed amount each year. Mayor Kolowski stated the city averaged $418,000 per year for three years and two of those years were in the Covid-19 pandemic. Mayor Kolowski stated Finance Director Justin Miller has a conservative budget $385,000 projected to go into the fund this year. Mayor Kolowski noted the previous administration brought up that the pool should be addressed again; noting the pool study in 2020. Mayor Kolowski reported that former Mayor Scott Harl stated the city needed to identify a revenue source and that is what he has done. Mayor Kolowski stated he believes using hotel/motel taxes is the only way to get this project done. Mayor Kolowski stated that after talking to Finance Director Justin Miller, nothing should suffer by using this plan. Mayor Kolowski noted there are a few revenue sources coming off the books in the next couple of years to help offset this. Mayor Kolowski stated when the pool was taken out 12 years ago, there was no discussion that it would never be replaced and implied it would be explored again in the future. Mayor Kolowski stated he believes the time is now, with the rising cost of supplies, if we don’t build the pool now, it will not be feasible in the future. Mayor Kolowski stated this is more about exploring the idea, figuring out what questions exist and deciding if the idea is worth pursuing.
Mayor Kolowski opened the floor up for questions.
Alderman Waldorf said he was against the idea and is concerned a pool could cost in the vicinity of $8 million and the cost of maintaining and staffing it could be expensive.
Alderman Lukosus also said he was against the pool, noting there are pitfalls, such as staffing shortages with opening a public pool. He believes the project doesn’t make sense given it’s open 60 to 66 days per year, saying he’d rather see a sports complex.
Alderman Ballard stated he was ok with the project but said funding was his biggest issue, saying a sports complex suggested by his colleagues would need private investment to get off the ground.
Alderman Waldorf requested the pool discussion be continued at the Finance Committee Meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Alderman Waldorf made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Alderman Ballard seconded the motion; motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 6:35 P.M.
https://www.peru.il.us/city-government/forms-and-documents/minutes/public-services-minutes/2022-ps-1/5646-public-services-minutes-03-28-22/file
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