Mayor Gary W. Manier called a regular scheduled meeting of the City Council to order at 6:30 p.m. in the meeting room at Washington District Library, 380 N. Wilmor Road. Present for Roll Call were Aldermen Al Howerter, Dave Dingledine, Jim Newman, Don Brubaker, Amanda Shipp, Bob Brucks and Jim Gee. Alderman Todd Clanin was absent. Also present was City Administrator Bob Morris, 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, members of the City of Washington Police Department and family and friends of those individuals.

All present stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. The Agenda was reviewed and stood as presented.

Alderman Gee moved and Alderman Brucks seconded to approve the Consent Agenda of January 22, 2008, as presented. The Consent Agenda consisted of minutes of the January 7, 2008 Council meeting, Bills & Payroll in the amount of $900,877.31 and a Raffle Permit Application for the Riverview Baseball Association. 
On roll call on the motion to approve the vote was: 
Ayes: 7 Newman, Brubaker, Dingledine, Shipp, Howerter, Brucks, Gee 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

Chief of Police Kuchenbecker reported that on January 14, 2008 the Washington Police Department received two very special awards from Illinois Special Olympics at the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Winter Training Conference in Collinsville, Illinois. The first award was the Gold Medal Award, which is annually given to law enforcement agencies in the state for their efforts in raising money to support the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. To qualify an agency must raise at least $15,000. This is the third year that the Washington Police Department has received this award, and in 2007 the Washington Police Department raised $50,716.00. The Department not only received the Gold Medal Award but was the number one department in the state beating out agencies such as the Chicago Police Department, Illinois State Police and many other larger agencies. Officer James Fussner accepted this award at the Special Olympics Awards Breakfast on behalf of the Washington Police Department. Officer Fussner is a driving force behind the Department's fund raising. Officer Fussner was recognized by the Mayor and Council and those present for his efforts on behalf of Special Olympics.

The second award received was the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Illinois Flame of Hope Award. Chief Kuchenbecker presented the traveling award, and stated that a smaller permanent award will be forwarded to the department for permanent display. This award is given based on ingenuity, drive, commitment and dedication to the Law Enforcement Torch Run, and once again Chief Kuchenbecker pointed out that the time and effort that Officer Fussner puts into Illinois Special Olympics is amazing. He asked that Officer Fussner be recognized and thanked for his dedication and time to this effort.

Mayor Manier and Chief Kuchenbecker presented a twenty year service award to Officer James Fussner, a twenty year service award to Auxiliary Officer Tony Maggio and a twenty-five year service award to Officer David Densberger. Officer Densberger is the City's Field Training Officer.

There were no Audience Comments or Standing Committee Reports.

City Attorney Black read by title only a Resolution confirming special City Attorney appointments and establishing special attorneys' fees. Alderman Dingledine moved and Alderman Brubaker seconded to adopt the Resolution as read. If adopted this will employ the law firm of Howard, Habecker & Morris as hearing officers for vehicle seizure hearings, and the appointment of Edward T. Habecker and Kathy Chamberlain as special City Attorneys for the purpose of acting as hearing officers for the City's vehicle seizure hearings. Hourly rate will be $125.00 and each round trip shall be billed at one half hour. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 7 Shipp, Brucks, Gee, Howerter, Newman, Brubaker, Dingledine 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Attorney Black read, by title only, a Resolution authorizing the execution of a sanitary sewer easement agreement with Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church. City Administrator Morris explained that this easement is necessary in order to proceed with the School Street Sewer Improvement project planned for construction this coming year. Alderman Howerter moved and Alderman Brucks seconded to adopt the resolution as presented. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 7 Gee, Brubaker, Newman, Shipp, Dingledine, Brucks, Howerter 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Attorney Black provided second reading, by title only, of an ordinance amending Chapter 152 entitled "Subdivision Code" of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Washington. Alderman Dingledine moved and Alderman Newman seconded to adopt the ordinance as read. If adopted this will amend 152.022 pertaining to sidewalks. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 7 Howerter, Brubaker, Shipp, Brucks, Gee, Newman, Dingledine 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Attorney Black read, by title only, second reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 154 entitled "Zoning Code" of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Washington. If adopted this will amend definitions pertaining to open play systems and permitted uses. Alderman Dingledine moved and Alderman Gee seconded to adopt the ordinance as read. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 7 Brucks, Newman, Shipp, Brubaker, Howerter, Gee, Dingledine 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Attorney Black read, by title only, first reading of an ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Washington, Illinois, by amending §75.10A entitled "90-day load limit on certain city streets. The ordinance will remove the recently reconstructed section of Cruger Road between Main and Dallas from the 90-day load limit regulations. The ordinance will be placed on the February 4 agenda as second reading and for Council action.

Mayor Manier asked for Council approval of his appointment of Roland Walwer, Dan Phillips, Dan Bagley, Jim Newman, Don Gronewold, Ken Prater and Walter Ruppman to the City of Washington Historic Preservation Commission. Alderman Brubaker moved and Alderman Shipp seconded to concur with the Mayor's appointment of members to the Historic Preservation Commission, as stated. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 7 Dingledine, Howerter, Gee, Brucks, Newman, Shipp, Brubaker 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

Planning & Development Director Oliphant requested Council authorization for staff to enter into an agreement with Sanborn, Inc., to update the City's aerial photography, and to utilize an employee of Tri-County Regional Planning Commission to update and maintain the City's GIS system. Sanborn's cost would be $14,000 and Tri-County cost would be a not to exceed amount of $10,000 through April. Services with Tri-County would be reevaluated after April. Broken down Sanborn's costs would be $2000 for aerial photography flown in late March or early April, $3000 survey control, $3000 digital elevation model, and $6000 for orthophoto images, for a total of $14,000. Alderman Howerter moved and Alderman Brubaker seconded to authorize entering into the agreement with Sanborn Inc. and Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, as requested. Alderman Gee asked if an employee at Tri County is available, and Oliphant replied an employee is available. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 7 Newman, Brucks, Gee, Dingledine, Shipp, Brubaker, Howerter 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

There was no additional business and at 6:50 p.m. Alderman Brubaker moved and Alderman Howerter seconded to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.