North Egypt News

City of West Frankfort City Council met Aug. 27.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

1. Mayor Jordan Called The Meeting To Order At 6:00 P.M. Requesting A Roll Call. All Commissioners Were In Attendance, Along With The City Attorney And City Clerk,

2. Mayor Jordan Asked For Approval Of The Minutes From The August 13, 2019 Council Meeting. Commissioner Harkins Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Chambers. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Jordan Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

3. Mayor Jordan Next Asked For Approval To Pay City Bills And Payroll In The Amount Of $289,057.16. Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Warren. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Jordan Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

4. The Next Item Was Discussion, With Possible Action, Regarding A Façade Improvement Grant Application. There Were No Façade Improvement Grants Submitted To Be Voted On

5. The Next Item Was Approval Of A Proposed New Collective Bargaining Agreement Between The City And Laborers Local 773/Dispatchers To Cover The Period Of March 1, 2019 Through February 28, 2023. The Mayor Stated We Had Already Previously Approved An Agreement, But There Was Some Things That Other Departments Received During Negotiations That We Felt Compelled To Give To The Dispatchers So Everybody Has The Same Agreement, Commissioner Harkins Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Simpson. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Jordan Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

6. The Next Item Was Approval Of The Emergency Purchase Of A Used 2009 Pierce Pumper Engine For The West Frankfort Fire Department. Fire Chief, Jody Allen Stated For The Past Month Or Longer I Have Been Going Around And Looking On The Internet Trying To Find A Good Used Engine. This One Is Actually A 2008 When We Went Down There To Look At This They Had Just Got It In And It Is A Very Nice Truck. Jody Continued To Explain The Details On This Engine. The Mayor Asked If The Radios Will Be Removed Before We Get This? Jody Stated Yes. Commissioner Simpson Stated Will The Radios That We Have Work With This Truck? Jody Stated Yes, We May Have To Get Some Things, But All Of Our Equipment Will Pretty Much Go Right Onto This Apparatus. The Mayor Stated It Is Jody's Recommendation That We Buy This Truck. Commissioner Simpson Stated Cate Is Going To Talk With The Bank About Financing On This. Commissioner Warren Stated What Are You Going To Do With The Truck That You Are Putting Out Of Service? Jody Stated We Talked About Maybe Using It As A Blocker On The Interstate Instead Of Using Our Quint Which Is Our Newest And Most Expensive Piece Of Equipment. We Will Keep The Lights On It And Maybe Puta Big Arrow On The Back Of It So When We Do Go Out On The Interstate It's The First One To Get Hit, Commissioner Harkins Stated I Would Like To Make A Recommendation To Buy It. Jody Stated I Think It Will Make A Good Apparatus For Us. The Mayor Stated Mike And I Have Talked To Jody About How This Truck Here Can Get Us Down The Road Far Enough That Maybe By The End Of This Administration We Can Buy A New One. Then We Will Have A Brand New Truck, A Truck About Ten Years Old, Another Truck That Is Twenty Years Old And Then Maybe A Reserve If We Keep The Other One. That Is Something You Agree That Will Fill Out Our Department? Jody Stated For The Time Being Until We Get A New One, Yes. The Mayor Stated If We Do Approve This Engine I Want It To Come Home On A Trailer, Not Driven. Jody Stated I Did Price That With A Company The Prefer And Use And The Cost Was $3,468.00 To Have It Delivered By Flatbed. If We Can Get This All Rolling What Is The Time Frame To Get This Truck A Month? Jody Stated I Think It Will Be Sooner Than That Hopefully About Two Weeks. Commissioner Warren Stated We Need Fire Trucks And I Appreciate All That. How Are Our Police Cars Doing? They Have Run Their Tires Off Too. I Know We Need To Keep The Fires Down I Just Want To Say I Think The Police Department Needs To Be Looked At Too. | Don't Know What Kind Of Shape They Are In I Just Want To Make Sure There Is Enough Funding And To Make A Note Of It. Commissioner Simpson Stated We Purchase The Cars As Needed In The Past. The Mayor Stated That Is Why We Are At On This Fire Truck Is Because The Newest Truck We Have Right Now Is A 1991 It's Not Working And We Are Getting It Fixed. The Truck Behind It Is A 1986 And Behind That Is A 1983. We Have Gotten Into The Same Situation With The Fire Trucks We Don't Want To Fall Behind With The Squad Cars. Commissioner Warren Stated I Just Want To Make Sure There Is Enough Funding For Everything. It's Not My Department, But That's My Concern. The Mayor Stated That Is Noted And I Agree. Commissioner Harkins Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Simpson. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Jordan Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

7. The Next Item Was Approval To Accept Bids And Award Projects For Demolition. The Mayor Stated We Have Received The Bids And Only One Contractor Submitted Bids, Jolplin Salvage. The First Bid Is For 2012 E. Elm For $2,950.00, Caretaker's $2,400.00, 1709 E. Poplar $3,450.00, 1108 E. Lindell $2,950.00. Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Chambers. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Jordan Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

8. The Next Item Was Approval To Advertise For Bids For Demolition Regarding The Following Properties: 1403 E. Clark St, 1104 E. Elm St, 206 N Parkhill, 303 & 305 W. Main St, 510 N. Van Buren.

The First Property Is 1403 E. Clark Street, The Mayor Stated This Is An Abandoned Building And The Roof Is Falling Down. We Talked To The Owner And She Has Signed A Quick Claim Deed To Give This To Us. This Will Come Up On The Tax Sale Next Year. Commissioner Chambers Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Warren. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Jordan Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

The Next Property Is 1104 E. Elm Street. The City Clerk Stated We Have An Order On This Property. Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Chambers. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Jordan Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

The Next Property Is 206 N. Parkhill. The Mayor Stated This Is About Halfway Down Already. Commissioner Chambers Stated Do We Have An Order On This One As Well? The City Clerk Stated No, The Owners Came In And Gave Permission. Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Harkins. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Jordan Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

The Next Property Is 303 & 305 W. Main Street. The Mayor Stated These Were In The Possession Of Morthland College They Have A Lot Of Liens On Them And We Waited Through That With The Irs. We Have Permission From All Parties Involved That We Can Take These Buildings Down. Commissioner Chambers Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Warren. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Jordan Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

The Next Property Is 510 N Vanburen. The Mayor Stated This Is A Burned Out House. We Have Permission To Remove This. Commissioner Chambers Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Harkins. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Jordan Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

9. The Next Item Was Approval To Fast Track The Demolition Of The Following Properties: 1505 E. Oak, 212 Kennedy Dr, 701 N. Madison, 804 S. Mcclelland.

The Mayor Stated I Want To Talk About 1505 E. Oak First. I Want To Get Our Attorney's Opinion. The Problem I Have With This House Is It Is Full Of Stuff. My Recommendation Would Be To Remove This One From Fast Track And Look At It. I Know If This Was My House And Someone Demolished It I Wouldn't Be Happy. Commissioner Chambers Stated Are We In Contact With The Owners? The Mayor Stated We Looked Into It And Basically What This Guy Has Done Is He Has Walked Away From This Property And Was Done Paying Taxes On It. I Would Like To Pull This Back. Commissioner Chambers Stated That Sounds Like A Good Idea.

The Next Property Is 212 Kennedy Drive. The Mayor Stated This Is A Burnout Modular Home And It Is Just A Pile Of Rubble. Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Harkins. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Jordan Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

The Next Property Is 701 N. Madison. The Mayor Stated Even Though It Looks Like A Decent Structure The Windows Are Boarded Up And I Think The Lady Passed Away. The Family Doesn't Want Anything To Do With It. Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Chambers. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Jordan Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

The Next Property Is 804 S. Mcclelland. The Mayor Stated There Is No House There It Is Just The Roof. The Only Question I Have Is 806 Is What I Think The Address Is. We Have 804 On The Agenda But When I Drove By There

The House Next Door Says 804? I Believe It Is 806 So We Need To Make Sure We Have The Correct Address. Commissioner Chambers Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Warren. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Jordan Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

10. The Next Item Was Discussion, With Possible Action, Regarding The Transfer Of Property To Frankfort Township. The Mayor Stated I Had A Discussion With John Gardner And We Have A Piece Of Property That Is The Polling Place On Adams Street And If You Remember The Election In April We Did Some Voting At The Park. The Township Has A Lot Of Expenses And They Have Decided To Get Rid Of Two Places And Have Everybody Vote At The Park. They Are Going To Sell The Building On Adams And Lindell And In Their Research They Found Out That The City Owns The Property. What I Would Say Happened Was We Probably Had A Vacant Lot And They Built The Building On It. I Told Him It Was Up To The Council, My Recommendation Is That We Give Them The Lot And Let Them Sell The Building And Use That Money To Put Back Into The Township Funds. Commissioner Simpson Stated So We Need To Make A Motion To Transfer This Property To Frankfort Township, Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Chambers. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Jordan Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

11. The Next Item Was Approval For The Elk's Club To Hold A Roadblock For The Children Care Corporation Fundraiser On Friday, September 6, 2019 From 9:00 A.M. To 1:00 P.M. And Saturday September 7, 2019 From 9:00 A.M. To 1:00 P.M. At The Intersection Of Route 149 And Highway 37. Commissioner Chambers Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Simpson. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Jordan Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

12. The Next Item Was Approval To Pay Invoice From Beussink, Hickam & Kochel, P.C. In The Amount Of $13,000.00 Regarding The 1st Installment Of The Financial Statement Audit For The City Of West Frankfort. Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Harkins. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Jordan Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

13. The Next Item Was Approval To Pay An Invoice From Fb Mcafoos & Co. In The Amount Of $2,150.00 Regarding Rental Of A Boomarm Mower For The Street Department. Commissioner Chambers Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Warren. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Jordan Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

14.Building And Sign Permits:

N/A

15.Mayors Comments:

N/A

16.Commissioner Comments:

Commissioner Harkins Stated I Am Getting A Fire Truck That Is Very Badly Needed.

Commissioner Simpson Stated I Am Glad We Are Getting A Newer Fire Truck So We Can Handle All The Fires.

Commissioner Chambers Stated The Girls And I Would Appreciate It If We Could Vote On The Halloween Hours. We Are All Getting Calls About This. If We Can Vote On

This Next Meeting That Would Be Great.

Commissioner Warren Stated The Water And Sewer Departments Are Doing Well. We Had A Lake Meeting And The Next Meeting Is September 19h At 6:00 Here At City Hall.

17. Audience Questions Or Comments:

John Gardner From The Township Talked About Their Meeting And Consolidating To Vote At The Park.

Captain Prak Stated I Have Something Prepared Here. My Water Was Turned Off On August 26, 2019 The City Of West Frankfort Shut It Off For Non Payment And Assessed Me A $75.00 Fee. Yesterday Afternoon I Went To The City To Make A Payment To Get Services Turned Back On And Was Told That They Will Not Turn My Water Back On Even If I Paid It They Weren't Going To Turn It On And I Talked To The City Codes Officer And Asked What Violation. I Was Told I Will Have To Allow The City Codes Officer Into The Building To Inspect And Determine Which Codes Are Violated. I Informed To Tell Her Those Codes Only Apply To Rental Houses. She Asked Me If It Was A Rental And I Informed Her That It Was Not. She Seeked Council From The City Clerk Who Stated The Same Until It Was Proven That No One Who Is In The Building Is Charged Rent, I Pay All Cost Out Of Pocket. After Realizing She Was In The Wrong She Then Shifted Her Argument To Codes That Only Apply To Abandon Buildings. I Then Requested To Speak With The Mayor Who Refused To Speak To Me. I Was Then Referred To Commissioner Warren By The City Clerk. I Called Her And She Was Gracious Enough To Come In City Hall To Talk With Me With Addressing The Issue At Hand. I Called Commissioner Harkins And Was Told By Him That He Refuses To Meet With Me And Refuses To Get In The Way Of The Codes Officer Who Would Not Help Me. So I Sat And Waiting For The Meeting With Commissioner Warren. I Was Then Approached By The Mayor Who Had Already Refused To Speak To Me And Informed Me In Front Of All Of The Workers Present In City Hall And Officer Yunker Who Recorded The Incident On His Body Camera That He Is Refusing To Allow Commissioner Warren To Speak To Me. Not Only Did He Trample The Rights Of Commissioner Warren To The Freedom Of Speech And Force Her To Submit To His Will Which Is Also In Direct Conflict With Her Elected Position, But He Has Also Trampled My Right To Petition An Elected Official Who Graciously Took The Time To Meet With Me For Redressing Grievances. Not Only Will You See This Interaction On The Body Camera, But You Will Also See In It How The Mayor Walked Around The Knee Wall And Threatening Got Into My Face To Cause Fear Of Reprisal If I Continue To My Request. Today I Was Informed By The Codes Officer During A Live Face Book Feed That The Specific Ordinance Violation He Is Using To Keep Our Water Off Is A City Ordinance Violation Of 13.04.190 Which In It's Body States That The City Has A Right To Enter A Home After A Plumbing Code Violation Has Been Detected. No Plumbing Code Violation Was Ever Detected In There. To Inspect The Condition Of The Pipes, Fixtures & Pertinences He Does Not Have The Authority Nor Does Anyone In The City Have The Licensing Required To Inspect The Premises For Plumbing Code Violations Nor Has Anyone Ever Approached Me, Written Me Or Requested It Of Me An Inspection Of The Plumbing System. I Was Also Informed That I Am The Only Resident In The City That Has Been Forced To Have An Inspection Of Their Premises Before Occupancy After A Fire And The Only Buildings That Have To Be Inspected Are Public Buildings. We Have Codes Set In Forth For Rental Properties That A Licensed Inspector And We Don't Have Anybody Who Is A Licensed Inspector Who Can Even Inspect These. In These Where This Is Laid Out It Is Only For Rental Properties And My Property Isn't A Rental At All. Requesting An Inspection Is A Witch Hunt Designed For The Tom Jordan's Agenda In Which He Laid Out To Holley Key With Benton News On The Front Page Article Dated August 29, 2018 Where He Was Quoted "We Are Going To Make It Financially Impossible For This To Exist" Which Is My Ministry Helping People Get Their Lives Together. This Is An Owner Occupied Home That Provides A Living Area For Those Needing Spiritual Council, It Is Not A Rental, It Is Not Abandoned And It Is Not Open To The Public. It Is Occupied By Men Getting Their Lives Together So They Can Be Productive Members Of Society. It Has Been The Same Since The Purchase Of It. In Fact Over The Last Nine Months We Have Had Thirty Five Men Come Through The Home And Approximately Thirty Of Which Have Been Saved And Baptized. In Addition To This Property I Run The Wildflower House As Well And Since It Started Last Year Has Had Forty Eight Women Come Through With Approximately Thirty Seven Saved And Baptized. We Are Not The Only Ones. My Efforts Have Encouraged Four More Homes In This City To Open Their Doors To Aide In Doing The Same. We Are Making A Difference In The City Because We Have Been Called To This City To Do This Very Thing. You Can't Stop Us. We Will House Those In Need To Get Them The Help They Need In The Time They Need It. We Have A Common Goal And That Is To Bring Healing To The Broken Hearted And To Ignite The People In This City. Regardless Of Any Misuse Ordinance You Try There Is None That Apply To Us. It Is Time For This Council To Act On Our Behalf And To Reign In This Mayor. We Need You United For The People Not United Against Us. Don't Allow His Personal Vendetta To Cause The Tax Payers Any More Money Like He Did Trying To Stop Me From Getting A Building Permit That Cost The City What I Have Heard $200,000.00. In Closing I Am Verbally Making The Request For My Water To Be Turned Back On And For Police Commissioner Harkins To View The Body Camera Video Of Officer Yunker Who Acted Really Good The Other Day He Was Very Admirable He Stood Back And Observed Everything That Was Going On And He Could Have Came In Any Other Way, Very Good Officer Right There. And Take The Actions Used To Protect Myself And The Occupants Of The City. Along With My Request I Am Formally Requesting In Writing With This Document A Copy Of The Video Myself. It Is A Foia Request.

Isabelle Stated I Want To Make A Comment. You Could Have Remedied All Of This If You Would Have Just Paid Your Water Bill. I Don't Want To Hear Any Excuse. You Don't Pay Your Bills And That Your Problem Not Mine.

Commissioner Chambers Stated Are You Living In That House? Captain Prak Stated I Have A Room In The House Yes. Commissioner Chambers Stated But Are You Living There. Captain Prak Stated I Live A Few Different Places, Yes.

18. With No Further Business To Be Discussed, The Meeting Was Adjourned On A Motion By Commissioner Harkins At 7:24 P.M.

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