City of Oglesby City Council met July 5.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
A REGULAR MEETING OF THE OGLESBY CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD AT CITY HALL. THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.
PRESENT: COMMISSIONERS ARGUBRIGHT, CULLINAN. CURRAN, EUTIS, MAYOR RIVARA, ATTORNEY BARRY AND CITY CLERK AMY EITUTIS.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY ARGUBRIGHT, SECONDED BY CURRAN to approve the regular meeting minutes from June 20, 2022. AYES: ARGUBRIGHT, CULLINAN, CURRAN, EUTIS, RIVARA.
Public comments on agenda items only: Alan Thompson address the council in regards to the proposed parking lot on East Walnut Street. Mr. Thompson states he is not opposed to a parking lot being put, but is opposed to allowing a north exit into the alley. Mr. Thompson has safety concerns and feels there is a risk to his property as well. Mr. Thompson states he spoke with the Mayor previously about purchasing the property to build a garage. Mr. Thompson feels there is a way to come up with a solution to this matter. Greg Stein addresses the council in regards to the proposed parking lot and states that he believes the Mayor is also opposed to a north exit to the parking lot. Mr. Stein show the council a picture of the property and also states he has measured the property. Mr. Stein gives details about the measurements and gives a “presentation” about how the parking lot would work without having to exit to the North. The City Clerk asks City Engineer what his thoughts are on this “presentation”? Jim Clinard disagrees with Mr. Stein. Mr. Stein and Mr. Clinard disagree over the issue. Mr. Stein also suggest have Commissioner Argubright stripe the parking lot. The City Clerk takes the photo presented by Mr. Stein. John Lopatic addresses the council about his concerns for the proposed lot and is also against having an exit to the North. Mr. Lopatic voices his concerns about safety.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY ARGUBRIGHT, SECONDED BY EUTIS to approve bills as presented for payment. AYES: ARGUBRIGHT, CULLINAN, CURRAN, EUTIS, RIVARA.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY CURRAN, SECONDED BY ARGUBRIGHT to approve bid for various street projects submitted from Advanced Asphalt in the amount of $210,835.00 to be paid using Motor Fuel Tax funds. AYES: ARGUBRIGHT, CULLINAN, CURRAN, EUTIS, RIVARA. Commissioner Curran explains the bid was 2% over the estimate and his happy with the figure submitted.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY CURRAN, SECONDED BY ARGUBRIGHT to approve placing on files quotes for upgrades at the iron plant and EZ valves. AYES: ARGUBRIGHT, CULLINAN, CURRAN, EUTIS, RIVARA. Commissioner Curran states there are 2 main tanks and 1 is currently leaking now and the best quote was $33,268.00 and a second quote of $ 38,395.00. Quotes are for materials and sand blasting Commissioner Curran states. Commissioner Curran states there is no cost reduction in getting both tanks done and asks the council how they want to proceed? Mayor Rivara asks what the best option is. Commissioner Argubright asks when the second one would/should be done? Commissioner Curran states 1989 was the last time upgrades were done. Commissioner Eutis and the City Clerk suggest using the ARP (American Rescue Plan) funds to fund this project. Commissioner Eutis wants to reevaluate the matter is ARP funds cannot be used. Commissioner Curran states the amounts from Putnam County Painting would be $ 66,537.20. A MOTION IS MADE BY CURRAN, SECONDED BY EUTIS to place the second quote on file from Putnam County Painting which includes sandblasting and power coating in the amount of $ 76,790.00 AYES: ARGUBRIGHT, CULLINAN, CURRAN, EUTIS, RIVARA. Commissioner Curran discusses the EZ valves and the costs to the City. Commissioner Curran said Chamlin & Associates and TEST, Inc. came up with a better and cheaper solution. Mayor Rivara questions replacing the pipe with a reducer and is told by Commissioner Curran it cannot be done. Commissioner Eutis has concerns with going with a smaller pipe and how that could affect water pressure/flow if there was a fire? Commissioner Argubright asks about the costs of replacing the pipe and is told it would cost around $800,000.00. Commissioner Eutis questions using a 16’ valve? Lance Greathouse responds (cannot hear his response). Commissioner Curran states that for approximately $125,000.00 the repairs can be made. Attorney Barry suggests seeing if ARP funds can be used. Commissioner Curran suggests placing the matter on file. A MOTION IS MADE BY CURRAN, SECONDED BY ARGUBRIGHT to place on file quote from Core & Main the costs for EZ valves at a cost of $ 45,409.00. AYES: ARGUBRIGHT, CULLINAN, CURRAN, EUTIS, RIVARA. A MOTION IS MADE BY CURRAN, SECONDED BY EUTIS to place on file the quote from UECO for the 14” EZ valves at a cost of $ 86,000.00. AYES: ARGUBRIGHT, CULLINAN, CURRAN, EUTIS, RIVARA,
Mayor Rivara suggests placing the discussion for a future parking lot located at 246 East Walnut Street on hold. Commissioner Curran mentions the option of a turnaround (with angle parking) in the proposed lot. Commissioner Curran states an additional 8 feet of land to the West would need to be purchased.
Old Business: none
Public Comments Mayor Rivara gives a statement about flooding on Oakwood Avenue. In 2021 Chamlin & Associates were hired by the City of Oglesby to come up with a plan to resolve the issue. Mayor Rivara gives details on the matter and those that are affected by the flooding and drainage issues. Mayor Rivara states there has to be a common-sense practical way to resolves the matter. Commissioner Eutis asks to hear the City attorney’s opinion on the matter. Attorney Barry believes the City is not liable and that the issue lies with the developer when the property was developed years ago. Attorney Barry states the City could take a different moral approach. Commissioner Eutis asks if it could set up the City for future litigation to which Attorney Barry, not necessarily and states the city did not create this problem and also does not legally have to fixe the problem either. Mayor Rivara discusses a holding pond that was once located in the area and believes that when McPhedran Lake was built that it was supposed to take care of the flooding/drainage and it has not done so. Mayor Rivara feels there has to be an ethical way to resolve this. Commissioner Curran states that the city did not have to pay for engineering to come in and take a look at the issue, but they did and it is Commissioner Curran’s understanding that the developer should have “done something different”. Commissioner Curran has concerns that if the city were to fix this particular issue it would set the city up for future problems. Commissioner Curran discusses the events where a city employee did go to the area and pump some water out which did help and Commissioner Curran has/had concerns about sending a city employee out to help with something that wasn’t the city’s responsibility.
Greg Stein addresses the council about how high McPhedran Lake rose. Greg Stein states the pipe under Clark Street overflowed as a result.
MaryAnn Stefanelli (Redshaw) addresses the council as a representative for those that live on Oakwood Avenue and asks that the residents be placed on the agenda for the July 18, 2022 meeting and asks that members meet with the residents prior to the next council meeting also. Ms. Redshaw gives the reasons as to why having the flooding/drainage issues fixed would benefit both the residents and the City of Oglesby.
Scott Stavrakas addresses the council about the flooding and gives details about the flooding and how the water flows during rainfall. Mr. Stavrakas states every person in his neighborhood wants this issue fixed. Mr. Stavrakas believes the water is coming in from the swell in the easement. Mr. Stavrakas states there is a drain 100 feet away the water would then have somewhere to go to. Commissioner Cullinan asks about the water flow. Commissioner Eutis asks if a drainage tile being installed would help? Commissioner Curran asks City Engineer Jim Clinard what the engineer’s recommendation was? (inaudible response from Jim Clinard). Jim Clinard gives explanation of the findings (to which the Clerk cannot hear on the audio). Mayor Rivara asks Jim Clinard what size pipe would be needed to relieve the flooding? Jim Clinard gives information (hard to hear) about the steps needed to correct the flooding issue. Mayor Rivara questions Jim Clinard about homes built. Mary Ann Redshaw questions the building of the homes and feels that a city representative should have been able to identify the problems when the homes were being built. Mayor Rivara states he is aware there is a problem and hopes to find a solution to the matter. Greg Stein questions natural springs, water tables and old wells. Mayor Rivara states that is not his area of expertise. Jim Clinard addresses Greg Steins comments/questions.
Mayor Rivara states he would like to set up a meeting with those involved. Jim Clinard questions members in the audience and asks who is having problems? Mayor Rivara asks for names and phones numbers of residents.
Commissioner Reports:
Argubright: A $21,694.09 profit from FunFest. Commissioner Argubright states expenses were up and donations were down.
Eutis: none
Cullinan: none.
Curran: a great meeting was had with IDOT in regards to the Safe Route to Schools program. Addresses the large amount of rain that happened on 07/0/4/2022 and some of the issues that happened as a result of that rainfall. Commissioner Curran states there is a plan to address issues. Reminds residents to call the non-emergency number when trying to get help within the City.
Mayor’s report: Republic Service will pick up some extra garbage due to the flooding. The city is looking at sites for EV charging stations and grants. Mayor Rivara discusses copper lines and AT&T. IVCC is looking to build a new ag center at the college ($350,000.00). Thanks those that attended the council meeting for their cooperation and professionalism.
A MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE BY ARGUBRIGHT SECONDED BY CURRAN. AYES: ARGUBRIGHT, CULLINAN, CURRAN, EUTIS, RIVARA.
http://www.oglesby.il.us/newsite/regular-meeting-minutes-july-5-2022/
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