The March 19, 2007 regular scheduled City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Gary W. Manier in the Training Room at Fire Station No.1.

Those answering present for Roll Call were Aldermen Todd Clanin, Dave Dingledine, Al Howerter, Jim Gee, Dennis Landry, Bob Brucks, Jim Newman and Don Brubaker.

Also present was City Attorney Kenneth L. Black, City Administrator Bob Morris, City Treasurer Bob Gordon, Controller Joanie Baxter, City Engineer Ken Newman, Chief of Police Jim Kuchenbecker, P&D Director Jon Oliphant and City Clerk Carol Moss, Kirk Hines Superintendent of Central Grade School, Ellen Dingledine, President of the Central Grade School Board, Gavin Dingledine, Dave Knight, Amanda Shipp and members of the press.

Gavin Dingledine was asked to come forward to lead the meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Agenda was reviewed and City Administrator Morris stated that Joe Roberts, Grimm Bros. Trucking, will not be present this evening but will be at the first meeting in April. Remainder of the agenda stood as presented.

Alderman Gee moved and Alderman Brubaker seconded to approve the Consent Agenda of March 19, 2007. Items on the Consent Agenda included minutes of the regular Council meeting of March 5, 2007. minutes of the special Council meeting of March 12, 2007, Bills & Payroll in the amount of $1,007,409.91, bid award of FY07-08 water and sewage treatment chemicals to Ulrich Chemical, bid award of FY07-08 Bituminous Surface Course, Class I, to Tazewell County Asphalt at a unit price of $52.00 per ton; bid award of FY07-08 Class X Ready Mix Concrete to Construction Materials Company at a unit price of $72.45 per cubic yard; bid award of FY07-08 Industrial Grade Coarse Water Softener Salt to Morton International, Inc.-Morton Salt Division at a unit price of $59.90 per ton; Pay Request from Koener Electric, Inc., in the amount of $13,900 for street light installation on North Cummings Lane and WACC Pay Request in the amount of $126,371.94. 
On roll call on the motion to approve the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Howerter, Newman, Dingledine, Brucks, Landry, Clanin, Brubaker, Gee 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

Kirk Hines, Superintendent of Central Grade School gave a presentation pertaining to the upcoming referendums that will be on the April 17, 2007 General Election ballot. He explained that the district plans to construct a separate kindergarten through second grade building on the current ground, renovate the existing facility and adequately staff and operate the facilities. The building bond proposition will ask for the issuance of bonds in the amount of $11,800,000 to construct the Kindergarten through second grade building on the present campus, renovate the Holford Gymnasium by replacing existing bleachers, expand locker rooms to accommodate larger student PE population and add seating and storage. A second entrance/exit will be created on Newcastle Road and enhance parking and access to both buildings. Air conditioning of the existing Central building will also be done. The second proposition to increase the limiting rate 25 cents per $100 of assessed valuation is for an increase in operating dollars to allow for the staffing and maintenance of the new building and enhanced campus. Superintendent Hines pointed out that Central has the lowest tax rate right now and with the increase will still have one of the lower tax rates of all Tazewell County elementary districts. The increase would not take effect until the 2008 tax date. He pointed out that the taxes from the referendum stay local and directly benefit the community. Benefits are a new kindergarten through second grade building, all students housed on a campus setting while allowing for more separation of early primary and upper grade students, scheduling and programming opportunities, ability to keep class size down; allow for growth; air conditioned facilities; improved academic setting; quality schools lead to increased property values and improved traffic flow on school campus and in the neighborhood. Superintendent Hines noted that Central Grade used to be the smallest grade school feeding into the high school, but is now the largest. The school currently has an enrollment of 824 students, within four years the enrollment will be over 1000 and by 2015 the enrollment is expected to be over 1500. He went on to say that 91% of Central students meet or exceed state levels. Expansion is required because every classroom is currently utilized, more classrooms are needed to accommodate the growth, common spaces for PE, music, computer, cafeteria and library are stressed and availability is limited, there are not enough PE lockers for students to change, seating needs to be expanded in Holford Gym in order to accommodate athletic event competitions and more space for their music programs; traffic flow improvement is needed to decrease congestion, improve access and increase safety; and the facility will not continue to support the educational expectations of the community. Construction would begin in 2008 and the building would be occupied in August, 2009. Mr. Hines invited anyone who is interested out to the school for a tour of what the district now has and what is planned, if the referendum is successful.

There were no Audience Comments or Standing Committee Reports.

City Attorney Black read, by title only, a Resolution accepting a Sanitary Sewer Easement from Gallery Land Group, L.L.C - Hunter's Glen Series and A & M Properties of Illinois, L.L.C. Alderman Dingledine moved and Alderman Howerter seconded to adopt the resolution, as read. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Brucks, Brubaker, Gee, Newman, Clanin, Landry, Howerter, Dingledine 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Attorney Black provided second reading, by title only, of an ordinance authorizing the sale of certain personal property designated as "surplus property. Alderman Brucks moved and Alderman Newman seconded to adopt the ordinance as read. 
There was no discussion and on roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Clanin, Landry, Brubaker, Dingledine, Howerter, Gee, Newman, Brucks 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Attorney Black read, by title only, second reading of an ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Washington, Illinois by amending §154.175 entitled "Building Design Guidelines". Alderman Howerter moved and Alderman Brubaker seconded to adopt the ordinance as read. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Landry, Brucks, Gee, Clanin, Newman, Dingledine, Brubaker, Howerter 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Attorney Black read, by title only, first reading of an ordinance adopting City of Washington Official Map of zoning districts for 2007. P&D Director Oliphant requested that second reading on this ordinance be waived and Alderman Newman moved and Alderman Brubaker seconded to waive second reading and proceed with adoption of the ordinance as read. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Gee, Howerter, Landry, Dingledine, Brucks, Clanin, Brubaker, Newman 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

Alderman Dingledine moved and Alderman Gee seconded to adopt the ordinance adopting the official zoning map for the City of Washington for 2007. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Newman, Brubaker, Brucks, Landry, Clanin, Howerter, Gee, Dingledine 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Attorney Black provided first reading of an ordinance authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into a Communications Site License Agreement with T-Mobile for the operation of a radio communication facility on real estate owned by the City of Washington. The ordinance will come before the Council at the April 2, 2007 meeting as a second reading and for action.

City Administrator Morris asked for Council ratification of the Public Services Committee's action on Wednesday to award the electrical energy supply bid to Integrys Energy at a cost of $0.0603 per kwh for a term ending May, 2008 without bandwidth restrictions. Alderman Dingledine moved and Alderman Brubaker seconded to ratify action taken by the Public Services Committee on Wednesday, March 14, 2007. Administrator Morris pointed out that this action is only for city government facilities and not for the city as a whole. This will not affect residential or other business rates. Staff estimates that this will lower the city's annual energy costs by about $49,000. 
On roll call on the motion to ratify the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Clanin, Newman, Howerter, Gee, Landry, Brucks, Brubaker, Dingledine 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Engineer Newman requested Council authorization to enter into an agreement with Austin Engineering for the construction engineering services for Cruger Road reconstruction phase III not to exceed $145,000. Construction contract allows for 122 working days to complete the project and Austin has assumed that two full time inspectors will be needed to complete required inspections and documentation during normal working hours and one inspector during overtime hours. Assumption is that the contractor will work 10-hour days during 75% of the working days. It is also assumed that the contractor will work at least eight Saturdays. Working time will not be charged during that time, but two inspectors will be required. Alderman Howerter moved and Alderman Brucks seconded to authorize entering into the Construction Engineering Services Agreement with Austin Engineering for Phase III reconstruction, as requested. Alderman Landry asked if Cruger Road will be closed during the reconstruction period, and City Engineer Newman replied the road will be partially closed during the reconstruction period. The west half will be closed first from the driveway on Devonshire. Once the west half is complete the east half will be closed. Alderman Howerter noted that certifications will keep one inspector busy so the second inspector will very likely be necessary. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Brubaker, Gee, Landry, Clanin, Newman, Dingledine, Brucks, Howerter 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Engineer Newman asked Council authorization to hire Smeltz Excavating, Ltd., to do necessary work to stub an 8-inch sanitary sewer line across Cruger Road from an existing manhole at an amount of $10,937.00. Alderman Gee moved and Alderman Clanin seconded to authorize as requested. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Dingledine, Newman, Brucks, Brubaker, Howerter, Landry, Clanin, Gee 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

Chief of Police Kuchenbecker requested Council approval of awarding of a bid for the installation of six overhead garage doors and two entry doors at 101-103 W. Jefferson Street (old Fire Station) to Doors & More in an amount of $7,573.00. Three bids were received and Chief Kuchenbecker noted that the Doors & More bid met all of the bid requirements and was $2,707 less than the next lowest bid. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Newman, Gee, Dingledine, Landry, Clanin, Brucks, Howerter, Brubaker 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

P&D Director Oliphant requested Council approval of a two year extension of the Preliminary Plat of Roberts Commercial Subdivision reporting that John Roberts has expressed an interest in submitting a final plat for the subdivision on Independence Court. The City's Subdivision Code specifies that a Preliminary Plat is only in effect for five years and Mr. Roberts' preliminary plat was approved in February, 2001. Alderman Dingledine moved and Alderman Howerter seconded to authorize the extension of the Preliminary Plat of Roberts Commercial Park for up to two years. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 8 Clanin, Landry, Brubaker, Brucks, Gee, Newman, Howerter, Dingledine 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

Mayor Manier announced the birth of his grandson, Cash Brian Wisher, on March 14, 2007.

Mayor Manier also announced Community Clean-Up Day is scheduled for April 21. Anyone interested in participating should meet at the Chamber. He encouraged everyone who can to participate.

Aldermen's Comments - Alderman Clanin said that he has had complaints about loose rocks in peoples yards that came off the roads when snow was plowed. He asked if there is anything that can be done this year with the seal coat process to alleviate this problem next year.

Administrator Morris replied that the rocks are definitely a nuisance. The streets were swept prior to the snow fall and plowing, but plowing frees up the chips. He noted that the sweeper is out in the Knolls this week and other areas of the city will be swept. He said that this particular problem cannot be solved, it is a by product of this type of resurfacing. Seal coating, however, is the best hope that the city has to preserve streets for 5-6 years. He reiterated that we will continue to have the problem.

Alderman Gee asked if there is any possibility of steel blades on plows rather than rubber, which may not knock as many chips loose. Administrator Morris stated that there has already been discussion about that possibility.

Alderman Dingledine pointed out that consideration has to be given to the fact that we have just experienced one of the worst winters we have had in a long time and people need to bear with us. This is the best alternative we have as far as repairing a lot of road for the associated costs.

Alderman Clanin asked if it would be possible to sweep more aggressively and asked if a broom sweeper would do a better job. City Engineer Newman replied that in the beginning there were problems with the subcontractors sweeper. The City did a lot of sweeping and were reimbursed for that work, but said he does not believe that problem had an affect on the problem we are having with the loose rock.

Administrator Morris stated that the south east quadrant of the City does not have loose chips and those roads have been done a year.

Mayor Manier asked if getting work done earlier in the year would make any difference and City Engineer Newman replied the application window is June 15 through September 1 and work cannot be started earlier because of the need to get spray patching done. Completion in August should allow things to cure out.

Alderman Howerter noted that the southeast quadrant looks really good, and went on to say that this is the best repair for the money.

City Engineer Newman noted that we had similar problems last year, but once past the initial period there usually is not a recurring problem.

There was no additional business to discuss and at 7:32 p.m. Alderman Brubaker moved and Alderman Newman seconded to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.