City of Ottawa City Council met April 18

By Angelica Saylo Pilo

Jun 29, 2023

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Present: Wayne A. Eichelkraut Jr., Thomas G. Ganiere, Marla K. Pearson, and James J. Less.

Absent: Mayor Daniel F. Aussem.

Commissioner Less presented minutes of previous meetings.

Moved by Commissioner Less that the minutes of a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Ottawa, Illinois, held on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, and the minutes of a special meeting held on Thursday, April 13, 2023, both be approved as recorded in the permanent files of the City Clerk.

Second by Ganiere.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Wayne Valentinsen, the neighbor to 121 E. Prospect, spoke about the past uses and zoning issues related to the One River Zen business.

Tom Justice, Attorney for One River Zen, added that it’s a Buddhist place of worship and is zoned B-2. He noted that the Plan Commissioner recommended limited parking. Nancy Valentinsen, spoke about the advertising of retreat weekends on the One River Zen website. She said that there have been 10 overnight stays already in 2023.

Matthew Brockhum asked the Council for help with his social security card and getting his driver license reinstated.

Commissioner Less recognized all of the City’s telecommunicators as “Telecommunicators of the Year” due to staffing shortages and acknowledged their years of service. Each telecommunicator was presented with a keychain hand crafted by Lead Telecommunicator Ashley Verdun. Commissioner Less also read a Proclamation for Telecommunicator Week in the City of Ottawa.

Moved by Commissioner Less that a Proclamation declaring the week of April 24 through April 30 as Telecommunicators Week in the City of Ottawa, be adopted.

Second by Pearson.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut presented Biweekly Salary Payroll.

Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut that the Biweekly Salary Payroll of April 14, 2023, in the amount of $488,580.69, be approved and warrants issued.

Second by Ganiere.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut presented Bimonthly Expense Report.

Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut that the Bimonthly Expense Report dated April 18, 2023, showing expenses in the amount of $1,911,549.55, be approved and warrants issued.

Second by Pearson.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut presented Monthly Financial Report.

Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut that the Monthly Financial Report of City Clerk, Shelly L. Munks, for the month of March 2023, be received and placed on file.

Second by Ganiere.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut presented Ordinance.

Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut that an Ordinance amending the Operating Budget for the fiscal year commencing May 1, 2022, and ending April 30, 2023, be passed and approved.

Second by Pearson.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut presented Resolution.

Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut that a Resolution authorizing the execution of an engagement letter between the City of Ottawa and Lauterbach & Amen LLP, for financial reporting for the Police and Fire Pensions, be received and placed on file for public inspection.

Second by Pearson.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut presented Resolution.

Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut that a Resolution authorizing the execution of a settlement agreement between the City of Ottawa and David Hallowell, be received and placed on file for public inspection.

Second by Ganiere.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut presented Resolution.

Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut that a Resolution authorizing the execution of a vehicle purchase agreement between the City of Ottawa and Central States Bus Sales Inc., for 4 new NCAT buses, be received and placed on file for public inspection.

Second by Pearson.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Commissioner Ganiere presented Resolution.

Moved by Commissioner Ganiere that a Resolution requesting permission from the Illinois Department of Transportation to repair a sewer line, be adopted.

Second by Pearson.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Commissioner Ganiere presented Resolution.

Moved by Commissioner Ganiere that a Resolution authorizing the execution of an agreement and release with McKinley Investors for a leak adjustment, be received and placed on file for public inspection.

Second by Pearson.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Commissioner Ganiere awarded Bid.

Moved by Commissioner Ganiere that the Low Bid received from Conley Excavating Inc. in the amount of $1,546,511.00 for the 2022 Watermain Replacements, be approved and paid for from the Water Fund.

Second by Pearson.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Commissioner Pearson presented Resolution.

Moved by Commissioner Pearson that a Resolution authorizing the execution of proposals between the City of Ottawa and Quality Care Cleaning for cleaning services at City Offices, the Police and Fire Station, and the Water Department, which have been on file for public inspection since April 4, 2023, be adopted.

Second by Less.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Commissioner Pearson presented Resolution.

Moved by Commissioner Pearson that a Resolution authorizing the execution of service agreements between the City of Ottawa and Aramark Uniform Services, for rugs and mats at City Buildings, be received and placed on file for public inspection.

Second by Ganiere.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Commissioner Pearson presented Resolution.

Moved by Commissioner Pearson that a Resolution authorizing the execution of a grant agreement between the City of Ottawa and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, for an OSLAD Grant for Allen Park, be received and placed on file for public inspection.

Second by Less.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut presented Resolution.

Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut that a Resolution authorizing the execution of an addendum to the lease agreement between the City of Ottawa and Chad Lucas, which has been on file for public inspection since April 4, 2023, be adopted.

Second by Pearson.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut presented Resolution.

Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut that a Resolution authorizing the execution of a lease agreement between the City of Ottawa and Phalen Steel Construction Company, for a community garden lease, which has been on file for public inspection since April 4, 2023, be adopted.

Second by Ganiere.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut presented Resolution.

Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut that a Resolution authorizing the execution of an agreement for production services between the City of Ottawa and Floret Events LLC, for the 2023 Ottawa 2 Rivers Wine Fest, which has been on file for public inspection since April 4, 2023, be adopted.

Second by Pearson.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut presented Resolution.

Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut that a Resolution reappointing Brad Bohler and Dena Weber, terms to expire April 2025, to the Police Pension Board, be adopted.

Second by Ganiere.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut presented Resolution.

Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut that as Resolution authorizing the execution of an option to purchase agreement between the City of Ottawa and Coogee Titanium LLC, for property in the Ottawa Industrial Park, be received and placed on file for public inspection.

Second by Pearson.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut presented Report of Plan Commission.

Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut that the Report of the Plan Commission meeting held on Monday, February 27, 2023, considering a conditional use permit request from Rev. Michael Brunner for property located at 121 E. Prospect Avenue, be received and placed on file. Be it further moved, the Council concur with the recommendation of the Plan Commission and the conditional use permit for a place of formal worship be granted with the conditions that no more than 15 vehicles be parked at one time, no more than 5 vehicles parked in the street and retreat parking be accompanied onsite and the follow up Ordinance be passed and approved.

Second by Ganiere.

A discussion ensued. Commissioner Ganiere asked what date we received the minutes from Plan Commission. Christina Cantlin added February 27, 2023. Ganiere noted that they have been operating without a special use permit for some time. The business website has a whole menu of items that they are charging for. Ganiere thought that a special use may not be appropriate.

Commissioner Ganiere then moved to table the motion until the April 24, 2023, special meeting. Commissioner Pearson said she was ok with tabling it but wondered if we should return it to the Plan Commission. Ganiere said we could not return it to the Plan Commissioner per our Ordinance. Cantlin noted that the Council only has 60 days to act after they receive it from the Plan Commission and then must take formal action to deny or approve. We can’t send it back to the Plan Commission and the only option would be to table it.

Commissioner Ganiere’s motion to table it was then seconded by Pearson.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Mayor ProTem Eichelkraut presented Proclamation.

Moved by Mayor ProTem Eichelkraut that a Proclamation naming Friday, April 28, 2023, as Arbor Day, in the City of Ottawa, be adopted.

Second by Less.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.

Nays: None. Motion carried.

Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut presented motion to adjourn.

Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut that this regular meeting be adjourned.

Second by Less.

Ayes: Ganiere, Pearson, Less and Mayor Pro Tem Eichelkraut.