City of West Frankfort City Council met Nov. 9.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
1. The City Attorney Called The Meeting To Order At 6:00 P.M., The Mayor Was Absent. The City Attorney Read The Agenda. Requesting A Roll Call. All Commissioners Were In Attendance Along With The Deputy City Clerk.
2. Mayor Jordan Asked For Approval Of The Minutes From The October 26th, 2021 Council Meeting. Commissioner Harkins Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Simpson. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
3. The Next Item Was Approval To Pay City Bills And Payroll In The Amount Of $155,048.46. Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Warren. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
4. The Next Item Was Discussion, With Possible Action, Regarding The Acceptance Of Bids For The Demolition Of Certain Properties.
A. 501 N. Horn -One Bid From Joplin $5800.00 Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Harkins. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
B. 604 W. Jones - One Bid From Joplin $3500.00 Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Stanley. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
C. 1104 W. St Louis -One Bid From Joplin $3500.00 Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Harkins. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
D. 206 E. 4th One Bid From Joplin $6000.00 Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Stanley. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
E. 1310 E. Clark ~One Bid From Joplin $4500.00 Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Harkins. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
F. 605 S. Odle -One Bid From Joplin $2500.00 Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Warren. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
G. 901 E. Elm -One Bid From Joplin $4250.00 Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Harkins. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
H. 712 N. Palmer -One Bid From Joplin $2750.00 Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Stanley. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
1. 1107 W. Oak-One Bid From Joplin $1800.00 Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Harkins. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
J. 207 N. Monroe -One Bid From Joplin $2500.00 Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Warren. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
K. 314 N. Horn-One Bid From Joplin $2750.00 Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Warren. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
5. The Next Item Was Approval To Advertise For Bids For The
Demolition Regarding Property Located At 712 S. Douglas. Commissioner Stanley Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Warren. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
6. The Next Item Was Discussion, With Possible Action, Regarding An Offer To Purchase Real Estate Property Which Has Been Deemed As Surplus. The City Attorney Stated We Have A Letter In Front Of Us From Ben Wyant Who Would Like To Place A Bid On Three Store Fronts Located At 200 - 202 East Main Or Parcel #12-19-311-021 With The Purchase Price Of $10,000.00. He Will Be Relocating The Main Headquarters Of B&J Construction To The 200 E. Main Street Location. At This Time, We Do Not Know What He Will Do With The Additional Space But He Will Also Be Updating The Power And The Roof In/On All Three Buildings, And Renovating The Exterior. Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Harkins. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
7. The Next Item Was Discussion, With Possible Action, Regarding A Proposal For Repairs And Painting Of The Public Safety Building. Commissioner Simpson Stated We Need To Put A Hold On That Because We Only Received One Bid On This. This Item Was Tabled As They Want To See More Bids. Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Harkins. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Table. Motion Carried
8. The Next Item Was Discussion, With Possible Action, Regarding Whether The City Should Advertise For Bids Or Hold An Auction Regarding The Surplus Property Located At The WFBI. It Was Decided By Council To Do An Auction For The Surplus Items. A Date Will Be Set And We Will Publicize When It Will Be. Commissioner Stanley Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Warren. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
9. The Next Item Was Discussion, With Possible Action, Regarding A Proposal To Furnish And Install All Materials Necessary To Remove The Old Bridge On Lawrence Road. A Proposal Was Received From Dee's Inc In The Amo $9,000.00. They Will Furnish And Install All Materials Necessary To Remove The Old Bridge Deck And Replace It With Used But In Good Condition 8" I Beams And 2" Thick Boards. Commissioner Stanley Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Simpson. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
10. Next Item Was Approval Of An IEPA Loan Application For STP Effluent Disinfection Project. Commissioner Warren Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Stanley. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
11. The Next Item Was Approval Of Contractor's Pay Estimate #7 - Final To Wiggs Excavating, Inc. In The Amount Of $26,640.85 For The Monroe Street Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project. Commissioner Warren Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Simpson. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
12. The Next Item Was Approval Of Change Order #3 - Final For The Monroe Street Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project. Commissioner Warren Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Simpson. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
13. The Next Item Was Approval Of DCEO Grant Administration Bill To Brown & Roberts, Inc. In The Amount Of $7,500.00 For The Monroe Street Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project. Commissioner Warren Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Stanley. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
14. The Next Item Was Approval Of Contractor's Partial Payment Estimate #1 To Samron Midwest Contractors, Inc. In The Amount Of $131,575.00 For The Il Route 149, Ken Gray Blvd, Bob Burton Way And Factory Outlet Drive, Eda Award Contract 2. Commissioner Stanley Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Simpson. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
15. The Next Item Was Approval Of Contractor's Partial Payment Estimate #1 To E.T. Simonds Construction Co. In The Amount Of $64,816.06 For The West Frankfort Mall Parking Lot Improvements Eda Award - Contract 3. Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Warren. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
16. The Next Item Was Approval Of Contractor's Partial Payment Estimate #1 To Samron Midwest Contracting, Inc. In The Amount Of $213.982.50 For The DCEO RLF Sidewalk Project. Commissioner Stanley Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Harkins. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
17. The Next Item Was Approval For Payment Of An Invoice From Brown & Roberts, Inc. In The Amount Of $19,144.52 For Construction Observation Services Regarding The DCEO RLF Sidewalk Project. Commissioner Stanley Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Simpson. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
18. The Next Item Was Approval For Payment Of An Invoice Brown & Roberts, Inc. In The Amount Of $8,580.00 For Preliminary Engineering Service Invoice #10 Regarding Il Rt 149, Ken Gray Blvd & Bob Burton Way Project, Commissioner Stanley Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Simpson. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
19. The Next Item Was Approval For Payment Of An Invoice From Brown & Roberts, Inc. In The Amount Of $16,256.40 For Professional Engineering Services Regarding Mall Infrastructure Improvements Contract 2. Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Stanley. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
20. The Next Item Was Approval For Payment Of An Invoice From Brown & Roberts, Inc. In The Amount Of $12,178.24 For Professional Engineering Services Regarding Mall Infrastructure Improvements Contract 3. Commissioner Simpson Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Harkins. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
21. The Next Item Was Approval For Payment Of An Invoice From Dynamite Road Services In The Amount Of $3,377.92 For Repairs To The International Dump Truck For The Street Department. Commissioner Stanley Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Simpson. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
22. The Next Item Was Approval For Payment Of An Invoice From Diamond Equipment In The Amount Of $2,372.27 For Repairs To The Backhoe 580sn For The Street Department. Commissioner Stanley Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Warren. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
23. The Next Item Was Approval For Payment Of An Invoice From Diamond Equipment In The Amount Of $3,378.04 For Repairs To The Backhoe 580sk For The Sewer Department. Commissioner Warren Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Stanley. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
24. The Next Item Was Approval For Hucks To Hold Their Karing For Kids' Roadblock On Friday, November 19, 2021 From 12:00 Noon To 4:00 P.M. And Saturday, November 20, 2021 From 9:00 A.M. To 3:00 P.M. At The Intersection Of Rt 149 And Highway 37. Commissioner Stanley Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Harkins. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
25. The Next Item Was Approval For Hucks To Hold Their Karing For Kids' Roadblock On Friday, December 3, 2021 From 12:00 Noon To 4:00 P.M, And Saturday, December 4, 2021 From 9:00A.M. To 3:00 P.M. At The Intersection Of Rt 149 And Highway 37. Commissioner Stanley Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Warren. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.
26. The Next Item Was Emergency Approval Allow The Candy Cane Lane Committee To Purchase Lumber To Build Storage Shelves For All The Candy Cane Lane Supplies At Stotlar Herrin Lumber In The Amount Of $500.00. Commissioner Stanley Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Simpson. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Jordan Voted To Approve. Motion Carried
27. Officer's Report ~
Fire Report For The Month Of October 2021. Captain Sailliez Reported They Had 170-Ambulance Calls, 7- Rubbish/Illegal Fires, 1- Brush/Field Fires, 1 Motor Vehicle Accidents, 8 Fire Alarms, 1 Vehicle Fires, 8 Fire Emergency; (Gas Leaks, Power Lines Down), 3 Structure Fires And 8 Mutual Aid Calls.
For A Total Of 207 Calls During The Month. The Department Used Approximately 80,500 Gallons Of Water. The Department Collected $43,375.64 For Ambulance Calls.
Police Report For The Month Of October 2021. Chief Prudent Reported Officers Answered A Total Of 1006 Calls For Service.
Of Those Calls 11 Were Traffic Accidents, 1 With Injury. Officers Responded To 40 Domestic Disputes, 5 Fights In Progress, 10 Alarms, 1 Intoxicated Persons, 13 Burglaries, 7 Reports Of Criminal Damage To Property, 14 Complaints Of Juvenile Problems, 32 Reported Thefts, And 89 Complaints Of Disorderly Conduct/Disturbances And Made 38 Street Contacts.
Officers Conducted 95 Traffic Stops, Issued 25 Citations, 80 Warnings, And 1 Lw-27's.
There Were 44 Adult Arrests Made And 6 Juvenile Arrests, Resulting In 72 Criminal Charges Filed.
Dispatchers Answered 1,353 Calls.
Of Those, 675 Were 9-1-1 Calls, 107 Were Walk In Requests. 1006 Were For Police, 207 Were For West Frankfort Fire, 9 Were For Thompsonville Fire/Ems, And 12 Were For Abbott Ems, And 1 For United Ambulance. For The Month Of October, We Collected $350.00 In Fines And Fees.
Codes Report For The Month Of October-
Permits: 0-Building Permits, 3~Sign Permits.
Rental Properties: 3-New Rental Properties Registered,14-Rental Inspections Performed.
Nuisance Complaints: 23-Nuisance Complaints Taken, 15-Nuisance Complaints Resolved By Property Owners, 7-Nuisance Complaints Resolved By The City, 10-Active Nuisance Complaints. Dangerous/Abandoned Buildings: 6-Dangerous Buildings Posted, 5-Dangerous/Nuisance Buildings Started With Attorney For Demo, 6-Occupancy Prohibited Signs Posted. Vehicles: 31-Inoperable/Unlicensed Vehicles Tagged, 15-Inoperable/Unlicensed Vehicles Resolved By Owner, 4-Inoperable/Unlicensed Vehicles Towed By City Ordinance. Citations: 3-Citations Issued; 0 Citations Paid.
28. Building And Sign Permits ~ No Permits
29. Mayor's Report – Absent
30. Commissioner Comments:
Commissioner Harkins Stated That When The Chiefs Give Their Reports Its Amazing How Busy We Do Stay In Both Departments. The Guys Are Taking Care Of Everything And The Town Is In Good Hands.
Commissioner Simpson Stated That She Did Not Have Anything To Add At This Time.
Commissioner Stanley Stated That Our Guys Got Rid Of All Of The Flowers Last Week, And This Week We Are Working On The Christmas Trees, Decorations And Lights. Plus, All The Concrete Work And Ditch Work We Have To Finish Up. The Guys Are Staying Really Busy.
Commissioner Warren Stated That Water And Sewer Is Running And Everyone Is Working Hard.
31. Audience Questions Or Comments:
Alan Rich Stated He Had A Question About The Vehicles That Are Being Tagged. He Stated He Is Restoring A Truck In His Driveway. My Neighbor Has A Garage That Looks Like Sanford And Sons But Yet My Vehicle Got Tagged And His Did Not. Then All Around Our Neighborhood People Can Have Ten Junk Cars And They Do Not Get Tagged Either. Why Was Mine Tagged If Everyone Else Gets To Leave Their Yard Looking That Way? The Codes Officer Stated That He Tagged 31 Vehicles This Month And That's A Lot To Keep Track Of, With His Work Load; He Has To Manage, Can Keep Track Of One Vehicle Compared To Another Person Who Has 20 Vehicles To Be Moved. He Stated As He Gets Through Some Of These, He Will Be Addressing The Other Vehicles In That Area.
Jimmy Sloan Stated That He Has A Lot Of Problems. He Has Had $14,000 Worth Of Windows Knocked Out Of His Wife's Insurance Building. He Just Had Another One Knocked Out They Stole Our Cameras. He Is Red Headed With A Red Beard He Is Crazy. He Is Going To Hurt Someone. Mr. Sloan Is Sick Of It. Today Two Of Them Decided They Were Going To Steal A Golf Cart. What Would You Like Me To Do He Asked The Council? Let Them Steal It Or Knock Them Out? I Want To Know Something I'm Sick Of This. His Neighbor Has A Trailer Load Of Tires That He Should Not Be Able To Have And Also Has 12 Semi Tires That Are Not His And He Is Not Cleaning Them Up. There Are Syringes In His Tires, He Has Called He Has Talked He Has Done Everything He Can Do. He Doesn't Know What Else He Can Do That's Why We Elected You All.
We Have To Get Something Done About These People. We Have To Get This Stuff Stopped. You Have Nothing To Be Proud Of. I Want Some Help, Last Week They Stole Over $40,000 Worth Of Tools From Me. They Went Right In The Back Door And Wiped Me Out. I'm Going In The Hole, I've Had It. Commissioner Stanley Stated We Are Trying To Clean Up This Town, But Unfortunately Things Take Time. The People You Are Talking About, Its Just Tough To Get Rid Of Them. Mr. Sloan Stated We Have Elected You All To Help With Issues That Arrive, And If You Can't Help Or Figure Out A System Of What To Do. We Used To Have A Curfew To Help Contain Some Of This Stuff. He Asked Chief Prudent If There Was No Curfew Anymore? Chief Prudent Stated Not If They Are Over 18, Its Not Illegal To Be On A Bicycle With A Backpack. We Had 38 Street Contacts Stated Chief Prudent We Are Stopping These People And Checking Them Out We Are Trying. We Are Working 2 Guys A Shift In A Town Of 8,000 People With Over 1000 Calls In One Month. We Are Trying. Isabelle Heyder Asked Are They All Local People? Chief Prudent Said No. Mr. Sloan Stated That Casey's Won't Even Pick Up The Garbage That Blows Around From Their Parking Lot, He Has To Clean Up The Mess Left By People Visiting There. He Apologized But He Loves This Town, I'm Frustrated And I Realize You All Have A Lot On Your Plate, But There Is Not Going To Be 300 People Left In This Town If We Don't Start Doing Something. There Are Enough People In The Town Like Me That Are Tired Of This Stuff, And Will Get Behind Me That We Can Work On This With You All. We Just Have To Get On These People And Stay On Them And They Will Leave.
Isabelle Heyder Stated I Know Where This Is All Starting From. Its Right Down There At The Old City Hall Where They Are Giving People Stuff And There Is A Network Of These People That Call Each Other And Show Up Here. Therefore We Are Stuck With Them In This Town Because We Are Giving Them All This Free Stuff. The City Owns That Property And Needs To Stop It. Are They A 501c3? Who Is Liable If Something Happens Down There And Someone Gets Hurt? The Taxpayers. Until You Stop This, Our Police Officers Are Never Going To Get A Break. They Can't Keep Up With All These People Coming Into Town From Other Towns. You're Not Helping These People You Are Enabling Them. Commissioner Simpson Stated But There Are A Lot Of People In This Town That Support That Project. Mrs. Heyder Stated That She Supports The Needy Too, I'm Assuming It Is The Same People Over And Over. As Far As The Police Department Goes, They Are Always Doing Their Job; I See Them When I Go To Work In The Early Morning Spotlighting Businesses, In The Alleyways They Are Always On Patrol Making Sure Things Are Secure, Commissioner Simpson Stated We Do Not Want To Keep Bringing Them Into Town. Its An Issue That Is Talked About With The City Council A Lot. If We Could Get The Whole Community To Feel The Way You Do Mr. Sloan, It's A Problem, We Know It's A Problem But There Are A Lot Of People That Support That Too. It's A Hard Issue To Solve When You Don't Have The Support Of The Whole Town. There Is No Easy Solution To It. Mrs. Heyder Stated I Bet If You Asked Your Police Officers That They Would 100% Want You To Get Rid Of It. Those Are The People That You Need To Listen To. Let's Take A Photo Of Everyone That Walks In There And Find Out Who They Are. Commissioner Simpson Stated We Have Checked Because We Had Complaints People Were Coming In From Out Of Town And The People That Work Down There Said No They Are From West Frankfort, We Know There Are People That Come From Out Of Town, Its A Problem, Its Talked About Regularly We Are Very Concerned About It. Mrs. Heyder Stated I Would Think It Would Be A Safety Concern For The Ones Down There The Workers. Id Be Scared To Death To Be Around Some Of Those People. Commissioner Simpson Stated That They Are Not Scared Of Them. Commissioner Stanley Stated This Isn't Just Our Town Everyone Has This Issue Benton, Herrin And Marion.
Another Gentleman In The Audience Stated His Cameras Pick Up People All Hours Of The Night At Least 5-6 Different People Going Down The Center Of His Road Every Night On Bikes With Backpacks On Or Pulling Something Behind Them. They Are Going Down To The End Of Elm Street To Those Apartments. We Have Video And We Are Willing To Share It With The Police. It May Help Find The Items That Have Been Stolen From People Recently.
Shane Tyler Was Here A Year Ago Tomorrow And Wanted To Let Us Know That The Kids Are Still Using That Parking Lot Across The Street From His House Reving Up Their Engines, Doing Burn Outs, Running Up & Down That Street With Their Loud Exhaust And Radio's Blasting. He Stated Chief Prudent Has Been Great About Meeting With Him. I Don't Understand Why There Are No Loitering Signs Out There If They Are Not Going To Be Enforced. Mr. Tyler Stated There Are Only A Handful That Are The Problem. If We Could Just Address The Ones That I Give You Their License Plate Numbers By Contacting Their Parents That Would Help. His Big Question Is Now That We Have Candy Cane Lane Going Up Down There Is What's Going To Happen? Is He Going To Have To Deal With This All-Year Round Now? Commissioner Warren Replied There Is Nothing For These Kids To Do Activity Wise That Is Why They Are Doing This. I Have A Guy That Runs Up And Down My Road Twice A Day Like That And It Isn't Just Kids. Commissioner Stanley Stated Its Just Like The Homeless Situation We Were Talking About If We Get Rid Of Some Of Them There Will Be New Ones Come In. It Is A Constant Battle We Can Give Tickets And They Will Calm Down For A While Then It Will All Start Back Up Again. There Are Only So Many Policemen That Work A Shift. They Can't Be In All Places At All Times. Again, Where Are The Parents? The City Can Not Do It All Stated Commissioner Warren. Chief Prudent Stated Our Jobs Have Become A Lot Harder Because Of Cell Phones As Most People Are Listening To The Scanners On Their Phones And Can Alert People When We Are Heading That Way, So They Disappear Before We Get There To Address The Issue.
Kim Stubblefield Also Would Like To Let The Council Know About The Issues With Her Neighborhood At 1600 E Lindell Street. Her Neighbor Has Several Kids That Like To Torment Her Dogs, Throw Poisonous Food In The Yard For Them, Call Her And Several Other Neighbors Names, They Also Vandalize Property In The Area. She Has Installed Cameras On Her Property To Make Sure They Do Not Come In Her Yard. She Stated She Doesn't Want To Call The Police Every time These Kids Do Something But It Is Happening Every Day. She Is Starting To Not Feel Safe. With All The Drug Problems We Have In Town She Knows The Police Are Keeping Busy. Chief Prudent Stated Please Let Us Know When Something Happens, We Will Send Someone Out To Try To Keep Things Like This From Happening Over And Over. He Stated He Has Talked To Police Chiefs From All Over And We Are Not The Only Town Dealing With All These Issues. We Will Do What We Can To Help You And Your Neighborhood, You Just Need To Let Us Know When Something Happens.
32. With No Further Business To Be Discussed, The Meeting Was Adjourned On A Motion By Commissioner Harkins At 7:05 P.M.
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