City Council - Regular Meeting

Now [laughter] I can drive my broom over from there. You say some will go. I don't have any of them anymore. [laughter] Somebody has one between here and Hannah city cuz I saw the tracks this morning in the ditch. I had so much fun on those. These became literally just of no use. People [clears throat] parking over there at the other side are getting a little

It's like just just stop where you want to and just park here. Thank goodness they like us enough for one vehicle to get through there. There's one lane to get in. [laughter] Glad they left us now. Close. Interesting. The world we live in. Oh, when I got here, somebody just appeared to have abandoned their car in the middle of the parking lot out here. Oh, really? [laughter] I hear about they were

I figured it much. [laughter] I just kind of parked where I thought I needed to. [clears throat] The um Pearl City people are coming Thursday. They want all that. That's my That's my They're [laughter] going to come here. Oh, they're coming here. Okay.

Yeah, because I got all of it on and I don't know how many is coming. just

I just wondered if everyone was hanging out in the parking lot with Joey [laughter] probably looking for a parking spot. I know. I didn't think I was going to be able to get in the parking lot. [clears throat] They left us one spot to come through. Yeah, it was a lot of nice. Well, thank you. I knew it was a U cuz that was creative spelling. The new one.

Yeah.

Yes. I appreciate that.

[cough]

today. [laughter] Yeah, I always take the Monday after because my entire work admin Trevor went looking for

Oh, yeah. Illinois. Good. How are you, Joe? Did you get a deer? All right. I won't talk about it. [clears throat] How are you, sir? Good. Thank you.

I put them over there. That's what I have. I saw the exact session. I was like, I said, you can come back after we're done. footpipe and then

they brought the candy. So they're too [laughter] usually only how are you? Oh yeah. inspection.

He's terrible at it. I can't open your link. I can talk to you briefly after the meeting. He said, "Does this taste right?" I was like, "Oh my god, no." Open flavor. [laughter] I love I'm going to make it. So he looks up a recipe made it. He's like here. How's that taste like? No. [laughter] Not good. Typically the whiskey bases where it's at. Yeah.

It was not good. No. No. He's so well when I got here. All right. I got six o'clock. So, let's do this. Start with the pledge. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Hi. I assume hello to everybody who stayed home. Little straight to you. Yeah, I got him. [clears throat] And Bill's joined us online. Uh Christy, may we have a roll call, please? Gillis here. Bogs here. Smith

here. Fleming here. Rose here. [clears throat] [laughter] Yeah. Well, she told me she might. All right. So, everybody's had a chance to look at the minutes. This time I'll take questions, comments, concerns, or a motion to approve. Make a motion. Let me approve the minutes from last second. [laughter] I have a motion and a second. All in favor say I. I. Opposed.

Thank you. Can you hear us now, Bill? That's what happens. You turn the mic on. I do not have any correspondence this evening which leads me to paying our bills. Gave everybody a copy as well. Anybody has questions, comments, concerns, or a motion. I make a motion to pay bills. Thank you, Alex. Is that you, Dave? Yes. Second from Dave. That's a roll call, please. Gillis, yes. Bogs, yes. Smith, yes. Fleming, yes. Rose. Yes.

All right. Sorry, I was waiting for the other one. [laughter] Um, next item I have is the balance of accounts. If anybody has any questions, we are sitting at about five and a4 million dollar. It has not fluctuated any. Uh, leads us to the police department report. Officer M, since you're here, you may have the floor. So, ordinance work continues. The department provided security for two of the home playoff games. The police department provided a meal for the team, the football team and cheerleaders for playoffs. Uh, the chief took part of a tabletop exercise for Farmington Village preparing for future possibility disasters. The nursing home is well prepared to handle any issues that may arise. Um, on the second page is a list of ordinance violations of [clears throat] handling. Does anybody have any questions for officer all like to make a motion that we approve the police report?

Second. Thank you, Joey. Second by Alex to approve the Farmington Police Department monthly report for November of 2025. All in favor say I.

Opposed. Thank you. Uh hey, we old business. First item I have in old business is discussion possible action and this is the ordinance for I think it got it out of order. The road agreement it's actually not an ordinance a road use agreement with Soul America with the Petersons. Um, we asked for the world. We got a pretty good pretty good Yeah. feel they're going to fix anything that's fixed. They're going to broke. One of the things we are going to do proactively is we are going to camera prior to this starting our sewers.

They're going to pay for and then no, we're going to pay for it because we have to have we've got to do it anyhow. It's just part of a maintenance program. Um but afterwards we are going to go ahead and camera again to look for any um cavens or any is there a timeline like so if we camera after and hey it's great and then two weeks later or two months later something fails. So is there any kind of grace period in terms of the cameraing afterwards? I would say a year afterwards because it might not be apparent even with the cameraing. I mean

Nathan, I'm going to lean on you a little bit, but the clay pot is I think a lot of that sewer is clay underneath there. It may not be very apparent. Yeah, it may not be apparent. If it's clay, it should be relatively easy to see the cracks and stuff like that, but if they shift anything in there, we'll want some time to make sure that it's not going to be a recurring problem. So, what's the timeline? Do you think could be not crazy long yet. You're probably looking if it hasn't shifted within six months, it's probably not going to. I think a lot of that's been replaced too when they did the road. Was that part of the lining? I don't remember.

It wasn't part of the lining, but there was they had that road open because that's where some of the new the water lines that went in when the city went still owned. That's probably not even part. No, it's plastic. I'm pretty well I mean 83 and a half percent certain that that's clay or plastic through there. I'd like to grace period afterwards that they would agree to that if something breaks after [clears throat] not just oh we're done trucking and well and and that's just that's just it. I just want to make sure that we're protecting our own infrastructure here. this this you know Bill helped write this agreement and it's um

what's the time frame for the cameraing after they're done when when are they asking for it to be done we extend that? So so we're that's on us. So I would say we waited three to six months to do the cameraing that way if there's anything that needs to settle and get broke. Bill, can we add that anywhere or add in a sixmonth time frame or is it in here that I'm just don't know how to read legal ease? I'm looking for it right now. I think it's already in there.

All right. Um, but I got app if we wanted to make an amendment here on the floor [snorts] to improve it if you didn't know that language then uh we can do that. That's not a problem. So what it amend may amended as writ or uh pass as written with a amendment of one year after for sewer failure or for road failure in general. Yes.

I make the motion. Okay. And then one more thing I would add and that is can we ask them to do the second camera and pay for that? We're paying for the first one. they come back. Can we ask them to pay for a second c for the after the fact cameraing? I mean, just to make sure that it's all good.

Yeah. The two the two costs that you know the the good folks in Springfield and their wisdom provided that you guys can ask for in here are um engineering costs um relative to the road damage to the road and God bless. So, but yeah, you can you can do what what's described and I think reasonable time periods uh for that following inspection are certainly contemplated even though they're not expressly in statute.

Okay. So, the engineering fees plus your fees for doing this are are covered by them. All right, that's fair. As long as it's we shouldn't really be having to pay for much of anything concerned. Yeah. And that's exactly it. I mean, I I get that camera. That's fine. If we So, so the camera that's going to be done is part of the normal sewer system, nor sewer uh like proactive thing. From what I understand, we we need a camera to check for leaks and whatnot. He's got the town split into quarters to keep it low enough that he doesn't have to bring it to the bucket. So, he does a section at a time.

Exactly. And it it saves so that we're not doing the entire town all at once and killing our budget, too. So, and that I mean that's fine. We're going to do that anyways. That's that's not a problem. We'll see it. So I I think I would like to make a motion to approve the road use agreement with Solar America given the amendment that we allow up to one year for us to camera and make sure that our infrastructure is not damaged by their trucks or equipment. Second.

All right. So, I have a motion by Alex, a second by Dave Rose to approve the [snorts] solar road use agreement as written and with amendment of a camera the sewer after the fact and a one-year warranty on the road and sewer. That's a roll call. [clears throat] Excuse me. Gillis, yes. Bogs, yes. Smith, yes. Fleming. Yes. Rose. Yes.

All right. Thank you. That ends. Thus concludes [clears throat] new or old business. Um, new business. First order of new business is exact session. The appointments. Oh, Bill. I forgot the what? What? It's ILCS. [clears throat] [snorts]

from the open meeting. Yeah. So under open meetings act Illinois 2C1 the appointment employment compensation discipline performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its ability. And I would need a motion for that. Please make a motion. We go to that session and second [clears throat] motion by Alex, a second by Dave Rose. That's a roll call, please. Gillis, yes. Bogs,

yes. Smith, yes. Fleming, yes. Rose, yes. All right, we're not going to be very long. We're going to take Bill with us. Hope he doesn't get caught. [laughter] Owls on beh. Oh yeah, I left the owl on her. How are you, sir? Good. Colleen, he come down to your driveway, but he had it almost done by the time I [clears throat] Well, he ended up showing up. Did he? That's good. Right. [laughter]

That's new. I was just I go to like five of these government meetings and this is the first one where they went to executive session and the council went out of the room and not everybody else. It's because of the owl. That makes sense. [clears throat] most. [clears throat]

Yeah. probably 520. Madison, Jessica M. thing was the actual on the tried to look into it once and it was somebody else Somebody told me I mean I think Yeah. Yeah. sense having

a couple of still. Yeah.

I mean, yeah, we're in that process. Yeah. We are ready. 13 days. All of a sudden, You nights

you're on nights. I am on power or I'm on swings. So I do two days on days, one day on second, two days on the short. It's just where I am. [laughter] So Saturday, Sundays I'm on days, Mondays I'm on second, and then Tuesday, Wednesday I go to third. Wow, that's a tough shift, buddy.

Yeah, makes a whole man. That's all I'm saying. 367 southwest. This is very [clears throat] well. told this is their option until in my secret.

Yeah. Southside.

Yeah. Yeah. function chamber chamber in my book.

Holy This one. Look at that. Um, it is 6:20. We are turning to regular session. May we have a roll call, please? Gillis here. Bogs here. Smith here. Fleming here. Rose here.

All right. Um, can I have a motion resulting from exec session, please? Yes. I'd like to make a motion that we use $9,000 at the mayor's discretion for employee bonuses, city employee bonuses. I have a motion from Alex, a second from Dave Rose to use $9,000 at the mayor's discretion for city employee bonuses. That is a roll call, please. Gillis, yes. Fox, yes. Smith, yes. Fleming, yes. Rose, yes.

All right. [clears throat] Thank you. Uh, next item I have in new business is discussion, possible action. This is ordinance 2025-33. This is our 202526 levy ordinance. I make the motion that we read that second and a second by Alex. That is a roll call, please. Yellis, yes. Bogs, yes. Smith, yes. Fleming, yes. Rose, yes.

All right. This is City of Farmington Ordinance number 2025-33, the 202526 tax levy ordinance. an ordinance levying and assessing taxes for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2025 and ending April 30, 2026 of the city of Farmington, Poria County, Pulton County, and state of Illinois. That is your first reading. Make a motion we wave the second reading of ordinance number 2025-33. Second. Have a motion by Alex, a second by Dave Rose to wave the second reading. That's a roll call. Gillis, yes. Bogs, yes. Smith, yes. Slimming. Yes. Rose. Yes.

All right. Make a motion we pass ordinance number 2025-33. Second. A motion by Alex. A second by Dave Rose to adopt ordinance 2025-33. That's a roll call, please. Yes. Bogs? Yes. Smith? Yes. Fleming? Yes. Just hallucinating.

Bug just bugged me. All right. Thank you. Uh, next item I have discussion possible action for ordinance 2025-34. [laughter] This is an ordinance that we've put together and part of it was at the request of our public works superintendent. What it is is it's an ordinance that when we have a contractor come to town to do water and or um sewer work and more sewer work because Illinois American does a really good job taking care of it. But what it is is they have to come register with us. They have to give us a bond and put everything back the way that they took [laughter] it. like to make a motion to read ordinance number 2025-34 by title only.

Second. I have a motion by Joey and a second by Dave Rose to read ordinance [cough and clears throat] 2025-34 by title only. That's a roll call, please. Gillis, yes. Bogs, yes. Smith, yes. Fleming, yes. Rose, yes. All right. So, this is city of Farmington ordinance number 2025-34. an ordinance requiring requiring right-of-way opening application for any construction required. That is your first reading of 2025-34. Like to make a motion that we wave the second reading ordinance number 2025-34. I second that.

Okay. That is a motion by Joey, a second by Alex to wave the second reading. That is a roll call, please. Gillis, yes. Bogs, yes. Smith, yes. Fleming, yes. Rose, yes. Like to make a motion that we adopt ordinance number 2025-34. Second. A motion by Joey, a second by Alex to adopt ordinance 2025-34. That is a roll call, please. Gillis, yes. Bogs, yes. Smith, yes. Fleming, yes. Rose, yes.

All right. Thank you. Uh next [clears throat] item I have in new business uh discussion possible action. Um Christmas hope chest um has been a perennial fixture in this building. This is the second s 62nd annual Christmas hope chest. Um all funds will be all funds will be from voluntary contributions given by individuals, businesses and organizations. Uh expenditures will be for gifts and mailings. Um, they do a great job. They provide a lot of toys for those that maybe would not. Toys, clothes, you name it, they provide it that um maybe somebody wouldn't be getting any Christmas this year. I think in the past we have done a $250 donation.

I'd like to make a motion that we donate $250. Yes. I have a motion by Joey, a second by Dave Rose to donate $250 to the Christmas Hope Chest. Please make that a roll call. Christie Gillis, yes. Bogs, yes. Smith, yes. Fleming, yes. Rose, [snorts] yes. All right. Thank you. Um, that may be the best $250 you spend this year.

Uh, last item I have in new business discussion, possible action. Um, D Rose called me. Apparently, I don't know how to read my email. Um, we have the possibility to purchase 71,77 and 85 East Fort Street, which are the empty lots up town on the corner of Northeast and Fort. Um, there's it's a $30,000 purchase price. At this time, we have an anonymous donation of $10,000 towards the purchase of these lots. That would give us these three lots for $20,000. I don't know what we'll do with them. Um, in my mind, I don't know how many of you have been to the Levy district in East Poria by the library. There's a little permanent stage that has electricity and things to it. They, you know, they do car shows. They do, you know, little municipal band. They, you know, just have Friday night things. Um, you know, we could put some picnic tables on it. It it it would number one allow us to kind of determine what's going to be in that lot

for us own green space. Well, I I hate green space, Joey. But if we're going to own green space, let's own good green space. Yeah. The other thing is, is there any rules on restrictions on on this after after we purchase it? Can we sell it later? If we I don't know that we would I understand but we can't build on it. There's no caveat. It's going to take $100,000 remediation bill. But it is it's also something that's in our downtown. We did the core sampling on it. I know

it it was not done the bill was not done to specifications to fill to build upon it. But, you know, it can be used for I mean, if we ever get back to any sort of festivals or things like that or you want to set some food trucks up there, it could be used as overflow for Spoon River Drive. Um, or parking lot someday. No, no, no, no, no. Well, you've only put about six cars there in So, there's one caveat. There is no electricity. So, just realize that. But there's a poll right there

and there is. I just don't have that number for you what it would cost us to put some sort of a box. That's a good number. Yeah. So, I just [laughter] want to let you know, um, well, most of those food trucks have their own power anyway. Yeah, they come with their own power. But if we eventually want to do something there, you know, I I I suggested or even we talked about um putting a stage of some sort there that we literally could have people do Saturday evening entertain. We we have a ice cream shop opening up. We have a sandwich shop. We have, you know, we have restaurants downtown.

Just just a thought. Right now, we just don't even have the opportunity, but it could be that. So, it it it opens up a lot of possibilities. Um Dave has been doing the majority of negotiating in this. Um he has negotiated for us if we so choose. to do this on a rent to own basis. He um has to rent for $20,000. We I I can find $20,000. I'd like to make a motion that we purchase it. Okay. I have a motion by Joey. Second.

A second by Dave Rose to purchase lots 7177 and 85 Eastport Street. And they're numbered funnier than that. They actually go 718577. But [laughter] when they're right next door to each other, I don't Yeah, I don't want to. That's a roll call, please. Yes. Fox, yes. Smith, yes. Fleming, yes. Rose, yes. All right, that is all of new business. Leads us to committee reports. Jenny's not with us this evening. Let's hope that she's not working hard. Um Joey, anything further? Public safety report, Mr. Mayor.

Thank you. Nate, you have anything further? Sewer tonight, sir. Thank you, Alex. Streets, sidewalks, and garbage. Um the leave cleanup was a pretty good success. Um the leave machine is down. So residents that didn't get picked up, unfortunately, it's because of a mechanical issue. Um, I'm not sure once it's back up with the snow and everything if we will be around to get them. It may be until spring. So, unfortunately, but residents are always can still use the the city. Uh, yeah, it is open. All right. Thank you.

Leslie, anything parks and wreck wise? not on park and wreck, but I'm still in the process of um work in progress with the the digital sign. So, um so I'm going to talk to a gentleman hopefully this week and they'll bring something back to the council or have somebody come and discuss or or whatever. They're called civic digital displays. And I don't know if I get this up on my phone, probably not in here. Um, you know, Canton's got one. You've seen it. Bartonville got that real nice one by the new Aldi. Um, East Poria, Metamora, Morton, Peacin. They all have these big signs. from [clears throat] what I've kind of gathered is that they build it on, you know, the city property. Um, and it it promotes businesses and the city stuff, lead pickup, whatever, you know, all that stuff, but also they're promoting other things. So, um, so, um,

very expensive. More to follow. Yeah, more to follow. So yeah, it could be way out of our range. I have no idea. So I'm going to just ask don't cost anything to talk to him. Right. So anyway, so I'll come back hopefully maybe in a couple weeks or a month or whatever and see see come up with. Thank you. Uh leaves Dave Rose public grounds and buildings.

So nothing on public grounds, but they're um I'm still chasing down the handicap playground equipment. I'm not getting response from the people that they presented on. So I'm looking for another source. Um, I have a person here in town that thinks he can hand me with another source that can possibly get some I just need to get somebody out here and specifically say can go here. What's the final cost so I can bring it back to the group and I don't want to lose the opportunity of the donations that came about, you know, and I want to get moving, but I'm just not getting response on that.

I can tell you where this the school has purchased some a couple pieces of uh uh equipment, inclusion equipment over the last couple years. I can get you the name of that company. Perfect if you would like.

It' be helpful because I like to get something going that by the time we get into opening the parks in March, April, we can have a plan and maybe get it all scheduled to where we can put it in by then. So, but I'm I'm working that option to good. Thank you. Um, this doesn't pertain to much in here, but for the folks at home, if you call the city building, you know, we've we've got two people that work the office. Sometimes they both are busy at the same time. Today, one of them had a day off, so Shelby ran the place by herself. If you call and no one answers, please leave a message. We will return the phone calls. Um, that's all I have to say about that. audience

motion to second you guys in quick. Nice to see the with the snow up town that I saw at least one gap. They they cut Yeah. about every four feet. Okay. Maybe six. Whatever they did was a good because sure some of those people couldn't get over that. And it's over. Well, and I mean, it's just a straight shot out to the road and it froze solid. Yeah. Um, yeah, I I I agree. It was a nice It was at least thought of. So, all right, Joey. Motion to adjurnn.

Second. All in favor? Any opposed? Thank you. Hey, Dave, let me know about the parks and