Mayor Gary Manier called the regular City Council meeting of September 17, 2007 to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Training Room at Fire Station No.1.

Those present for Roll Call were Aldermen Bob Brucks, Al Howerter, Jim Newman, Amanda Shipp, Jim Gee and Todd Clanin. Aldermen Don Brubaker and Dave Dingledine were absent.

Also present was City Attorney Kenneth L. Black, City Engineer Ken Newman, City Treasurer Bob Gordon, Chief of Police Jim Kuchenbecker, P&D Director Jon Oliphant and City Clerk Carol Moss, Walter Ruppman, Tom Gross, Don Gronewold, Mrs. Merkle, Loyal Gifford, Bob Linsley and Tom Brecklin.

Following Roll Call all present stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

The agenda was reviewed and City Engineer Newman asked that Item V, D be deleted from the agenda as well as Item XII, C. Mayor Manier indicated that the Executive Session will be deferred until the next meeting because of the absence of City Administrator Morris. Alderman Clanin moved and Alderman Howerter seconded to accept the revised agenda and the motion carried by voice vote.

Alderman Brucks moved and Alderman Shipp seconded to approve the Consent Agenda of Monday, September 17, 2007, as amended. The Consent Agenda included minutes of the September 4, 2007 Council meeting, Bills & Payroll in the amount of $753,999.76, purchase/ payment authorization for office furniture/furnishings for the Five Points Washington facility in the amount of $7986.26, pay request from R A Cullinan & Son in the amount of $327,865.00 for 2007 street maintenance (seal coat work), final acceptance of infrastructure improvements and authorization to reduce principal amount of letter of credit to $8792.00 for Deer Haven Subdivision, conditional approval of completed infrastructure improvements for Bristol Park, Section 3 and authorize reduction of principal amount of letter of credit to $211,212.27l, and conditional approval of the completed infrastructure improvements for Hunters Glen, Section 3 and authorize reduction of the principal amount of the letter of credit to $180,340.56. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 6 Clanin, Gee, Howerter, Newman, Shipp, Brucks 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

Mayor Manier requested Chief of Police Kuchenbecker to step forward and then publicly recognized the Chief for averting what could have been a very disastrous outcome of a situation over the weekend. The Chief had been at a training session that evening and was out on the street with other officers and observed a vehicle being driven eratically. When he pulled the vehicle over there was a loaded weapon in the seat and the driver was intent on doing bodily harm to individuals at a local establishment. Mayor Manier thanked Chief Kuchenbecker for doing his job and doing it well. Chief Kuchenbecker responded that this was a team effort because there were other men and women present from the department who helped out with the situation.

Audience Comments - Walter Ruppman, 212 S. Main spoke regarding the upcoming reading of the City of Washington Historic Preservation Ordinance, saying that this ordinance has come forth from the Committee of the Whole discussion a while back and from the committee appointed by the Mayor to oversee this issue. He thanked the committee for their hard work on the historic preservation matter and thanked the Council for their support. He thanked everyone on behalf of the Historical Society also. He stated that Washington has some very unique qualities and that adoption of this ordinance will insure that uniqueness. Mayor Manier thanked P&D Director Oliphant for his work on the ordinance and for heading up the committee, and he thanked the members of the committee for their hard work.

City Attorney Black read, by title only, first readings of the following ordinances: 1) Historic Preservation Ordinance of Washington, Illinois; 2) an ordinance authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Washington and County of Tazewell for a county approved recycling collection program; and 3)an ordinance ratifying the reservation volume cap in connection with private activity bond issues, and related matters. All three ordinances will come before the Council at the October 1, 2007 meeting as second readings and for action.

Mayor Manier requested Council approval of his appointment of Bob Linsley as a member of the Washington Fire Department Board of Directors. Alderman Clanin moved and Alderman Brucks seconded to concur with the appointment as stated. Mayor Manier said that he is very excited about the restructuring of the Fire Department Board of Directors. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 6 Newman, Howerter, Shipp, Gee, Brucks, Clanin 
Nays: 0  
Motion declared carried,

City Engineer Newman requested Council approval to enter into a contract with Austin Engineering, Inc., to complete necessary design engineering work for the North Cummings Lane reconstruction in an amount of $35,000. Alderman Howerter moved and Alderman Newman seconded to approve as requested. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 7 Brucks, Clanin, Shipp, Gee, Newman, Howerter 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Engineer Newman requested Council approval to enter into a contract with Austin Engineering, Inc, for the necessary preliminary design engineering work for the Dallas Road reconstruction project in an amount of $55,000.00. Alderman Brucks moved and Alderman Gee seconded to approve as requested. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 7 Howerter, Clanin, Shipp, Newman, Gee, Brucks 
Nays: 0 
Motion carried by voice vote.

Mayor Manier commented about a letter to the editor regarding Route 8 and Sunnyland Plaza. He stated that traffic reports have been done as well as accident reports and City of Washington representatives had a meeting scheduled with the Governor in Springfield, however the Governor did not show up. All of this information was provided to the Governor's representatives who did attend the meeting. City officials were promised that as the capital budget moved forward so would Route 8. Individuals continue to work on Sunnyland Plaza. Meetings have been held with the owner but it is obvious that the Plaza needs a new owner. Mayor Manier stated that he had given the owner three names of businesses interested in moving into the Plaza and she did not contact any of them. The Plaza is becoming an eyesore but we continue to work on the matter. He said it might be a good idea for the press to publish the name and phone number of the owner of the Plaza and let concerned individuals contact her directly.

Chief Kuchenbecker stated that at the Route 8 meeting in Springfield the situation with Route 8 was put into terms that anyone could understand as far as how the road narrows down from four lanes to two lanes, etc. Traffic counts have almost tripled and this information was supplied. This situation is not because of a lack of effort on the part of city officials, but state officials keep telling us that they are working on the matter. The state has been informed that the Route 8 situation needs to be remedied, not only from a public safety standpoint but also from the standpoint that it will open up the area and help Sunnyland Plaza.

At 6:56 p.m. Alderman Howerter moved and Alderman Clanin seconded to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.