North Egypt News

City of West Frankfort City Council met Jan. 23.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

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

2. Mayor Arview Asked For Approval Of The Minutes From The January 9, 2024 Regular Council Meeting. Commissioner Harkins Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Stanely. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

3. The Next Item Was Approval To Go Into Executive Session ToDiscuss For Discussions Pursuant To 5 Ilcs 120/2 (C) (2), 5 Ilc 120/2 (C) (5/6) And 5 Ilcs 120/2 (C) (11). The Mayor Stated We Have A Few Things We Need To Discuss Before We Get Into The Rest Of The Meeting, Because It Is Concerning Some Of The Things We Will Be Voting On Later At 6:06 P.M. Commissioner Harkins Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Warren. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

4. The Next Item Was Approval Of A Motion To Return To Open Session. The Mayor Stated Thank You For Your Paitence At 7:06 P.M. Commissioner Harkins Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Howard. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

5. The Next Item Was Approval Of A Proposed New Collective Bargaining Agreement Between The City And Illinois Fop Labor Council/ Sworn Police Officers To Cover The Period Of March 1, 2023 Through February 28, 2027. The Mayor Stated We All Have Had A Chance To Review This, I Know It Has Been A Long Time Coming A Lot Of Negotiations, And Back And Forth. But I Think We Are Ready To Vote On It Now. Commissioner Harkins Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Warren. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

6. The Next Item Was Approval Of A Proposed New Collective Bargaining Agreement Between The City And Illinois Fop Labor Council/ Captains To Cover The Period Of March 1, 2023 Through February 28, 2027. Commissioner Harkins Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Howard. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

7. The Next Item Was Approval Of A Resolution To Promote Aj Willmore To The Rank Of Captain In The West Frankfort Police Department. Chief Prudent Stated We Had A Vacancy In The Captains Position When Jeff Tharp Retired. We Went Through The Merit Board Process Of Testing. Aj Was The Only One Who Tested At This Time Due To The Qualifications That We Had Set. He Scored A Ninty Four Percent On The Written Test. He Has Been Filling In Since Jeff Has Retired, He Has Taken On The Supervisor Role In The Department. It Is With The Merit Boards Recommendation We Appoint Aj To This Position. Commissioner Harkins Made A Motion To Approve. Seconded By Commissioner Stanley. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

8. The Next Item Was Approval Of An Ordinance Declaring Certain Real Estate Located In The City Of West Frankfort Il As Surplus Public Real Estate. The Mayor Stated, These Properties Are 1309 E. 8th St., 205 N. Douglas St., 312 E. Garland St., And 1507 E. 4th St. Commissioner Stanley Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Warren. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

9. The Next Item Was Approval Of A Resolution By The CityCouncil Of West Frankfort To Recommend The Proposal Of The Board Of The Frankfort Community Park District To Place A Referendum Before The Voters Of The Frankfort Community Park District On The March 19, 2024 General Election Ballot Regarding A Question Requesting That TheConstituents Approve A Base Tax Increase To TheFrankfort Community Park District's Annual Assessment Toward Maintenance And Operation Of The City Park. The Mayor Stated We Are Going To Table This Item. This Is AProposal By The Park Board To Put A Referendum On The Ballot For A Tax Levy. We Need Some Clarification On This. I Have Decided To Table This, And Come Back To That At A Later Time. This Item Was Tabled.

10. The Next Item Was Approval To Accept Bids For Demolition. The Mayor Stated The Properties Are 1309 E. 8th St.,312 E. Garland St., 205 N. Douglas St., And 1507 E. 4th St.1309 E. 8th St.: Joplin Salvage Bid Was $3,500.00, Middle Fork Creek Excavating Bid Was $4,450.00, Burbank Transport & Excavating Bid Was $3,900.00. The Lowest Bid Accepted Was From Joplin Salvage At $3,500.00.

312 E. Garland St.: Joplin Salvage Bid Was $1,150.00, Middle Fork Creek Excavating Did Not Place A Bid. Burbank Transport & Excavating Bid Was $375.00. The Lowest Bid Accepted Was From Burbank Transport & Excavating At $375.00.

205 N. Douglas St.: Joplin Salvage Bid Was $4,500.00, Middle Fork Creek Excavating Bid Was $7,950.00, Burbank Transport & Excavating Bid Was $5,400.00. The Lowest Bid Accepted Was From Joplin Salvage At $4,500.00.

1507 E. 4th St.: Joplin Salvage Bid Was $3,500.00, Middle Fork Creek Excavating Bid Was $4,995.00, Burbank Transport & Excavating Bid Was $ 4,100.00. The Lowest Bid Accepted Was From Joplin Salvage At $3,500.00.

Commissioner Stanley Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Warren. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

11. The Next Item Was Approval Of An Ordinance Setting TheRates For Water, Sewer, And Sanitation (Trash Pick-Up) Service Charges For The 2024 Year. The Mayor Stated We Have Actually Already Seen This. The City Attorney Stated You Had The Rates At The Last Meeting, This Is The Ordinance. The Mayor Stated Yes This Is The Ordinance Setting The Rates We Have Already Discussed.Commissioner Warren Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Stanley. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

12. The Next Item Was Discussion, With Possible Action, Regarding An Ordinance Agreement With Frontier For Residential Installation Of Fiber Optic Cable For The City Of West Frankfort. The Mayor Stated Frontier Came Back With Some Changes That Are Not Agreeable With The City Right Now. We Want To Have An Opportunity To Be Able To Negotiate Further With Them Before We Vote On A Contract With Them. This Item Was Tabled.

13. The Next Item Was Discussion, With Possible Action, Regarding The Purchase Of 2024 Honda Trx420fm From Bill Glodich Honda In The Amount Of $7,899.00 For The Street Department. The Mayor Stated Someone Had Sent Him A Facebook Message Asking Why The Street Department Needed This? Commissioner Stanley Stated We Will Be Using This Four-Wheeler To Plow Snow Off Of The Sidewalks, And Salt The Side Walks, In The Summer Time We Hook Up The Sprayer, Spray The Ditches, And Places The Weeds Need Killed. The One They Are Using Now Is About Worn Out, It Is Smoking, Does Not Have Enough Power When Pushing Snow. Chief Prudent Stated These Are The Four-Wheelers We Seized Back Ten To Fifteen Years Ago. Commissioner Stanley Stated They Are Good For Riding Around The Park, The Old King Coal Or Something Like That. But They Are Not Good For Putting A Plow Behind Plus A One Hundred And Fifty To Two Hundred Pound Guy On It, There Is Not Enough Power To Go. Whoever Questioned That, Tell Them If They Don't Like It Tell Them To Get A Shovel And Shovel Main Street Side Walks Off. The Mayor Stated If This Will Be Another Ten Year Thing, That Makes It $800.00 A Year That Is Not Too Bad For A Four-Wheeler. Commissioner Stanley

Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Howard. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

14. The Next Item Was Discussion, With Possible Action, On Renewing A Lease Contract With Konica Minolta Or To Purchase Equipment Outright. Commissioner Howard Stated They Can Also Purchase The Current Ones That We Have, If They Are Not Worn Out. I Would Defer To The Ladies And Gentlemen Who Work In The Office All Of The Time.

Codes Officer Snell And Treasurer Veteto Stated They Jam Up Quite A Bit, And We Have Them Come Service It Constantly. Commissioner Howard Stated We Have The Option To Lease Or Purchase, I Have Done Some Calculations And The Purchase Vs The Lease Is More Money Up Front, But In The Long Run Will Save Us $15,000.00 To $16,000.00. I Would Recommend We Purchase Instead Of Lease. Mr. Snell Asked Have We Looked At Any Other Brands? Commissioner Howard Stated Im Not Familiar WithAnything Other Than The Main One Myself. Mr. Veteto Stated Our Konica Rep Was Just In Here Talking To Nancy, Our Contract Is About It Expire. Commissioner Howard Stated If You Want To Hold Off On This And Get Some Other Quotes. Mr. Snell Stated I Just Know Certain Brands Work Better With Other Brands Of Products. A Lot Of People Have Apple Products And Those Do Not Communicate With Konica Minolta Stuff. If There Are Other Options, I Think That Will Be A Good Idea. Chief Sailliez Asked Does This Include Ours As Well? Mr. Veteto Stated Yes. Commissioner Howard Stated Im Not Opposed To Looking Further Before We Make A Decision. When Is Our Current One Up? Mr. VetetoStated End Of Feburary. This Item Was Tabled.

15. The Next Item Was Discussion, With Possible Action,Regarding Idnr Stocking The New West Frankfort Lake With Saugeye In June 2024. The Mayor Stated I Hope I Pronounced That Correctly, I Am Not Familiar With This Fish. This Fish Is A Hybrid Cross Of Walleye And A Sauger. Commissioner Warren Stated This Would Be At No Cost For Us, The Illinois Department Of Natural Resources Would Take Care Of That. We Just Have To Put A Sign Out Saying You Can Have Six Of Those Fish. Evidently, They Are Desirable To Fish For, And They Taste Good I Guess, That Is What The Form Says. They Will Eat The Little Problem Fish That Is In The Lake. Commissioner Warren Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Stanley. Roll Call Vote: AllCommissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

16. The Next Item Was Discussion, With Possible Action, Regarding Approvement Of Sponsorship With Wggh "To The Maxx" Radio Station For Coverage Of Redbird Sporting Events. John Odle Spoke And Stated He Has Been With Wggh For The Last Five Years, Working On Play By Play And Being An Account Executive. About Six Months Ago We Heard That West Frankfort Did Not Have Any Sports Coverage For The Fall. I Was Under Contract With Wggh Covering Marion Sports, Where Myself And Family Lives. Being A Resident In West Frankfort For So Many Years I Knew I Couldn't StandBy And Say We Are Not Going To Come To West Frankfort. InNovember We Came On Down And Have Been Broad Casting Ball Games Ever Since. I Didn't Think That Was Enough, I Do Have A Podcast That Is On Wggh On Station 98.1 That Was APolitical Based Podcast But I Have Now Changed It On January 1st, 2024 To Put West Frankfort On The Radio On Tuesday And Thurdays From 4:00 P.M.To 5:30 P.M. Broad Casting All The Games And What They Have Going On. I Would Appreciate All Your Considerations On This. West Frankfort Is My Home, I Have A Lot Of People I Love Here. My Dad Has Been A Contributor Many Years He Owns Gandy's Body Shop. If You Have Not Heard Of Us Before, Go Ahead And Take A Listen To Us We Are On Wggh, In Fact Right Now They Are Broadcasting Out At Max Morris Gym, And They Are In Benton. Last Thing I Will Add Is, About A Year Ago I Was Given A $15,000.00 Grant For My Self Not The Station. The Equipment We Are Using Is Mine, The Reason We Are Here Is Not Because Anybody Else Wanted To Come Down Here I Wanted To Be Here To Cover The Birds The Best As I Can. I Want To Help One Or Two Of Them Get Out And Go Somewhere And Do Something.

Commissioner Warren Asked The Total Cost You Have Down Here, Is That For A Full Season? And Want Sports Does It Cover? You Probably Will Not Cover Track. Mr. Odle Stated Yes, We Are Going To Do Track, We Are The First Group In The Entire State To Cover Wrestling In A Consistant Manor.

We Are Also Planning On Being Out At The Field. I Have Been Watching A Lot Of The Olympic Games Trying To See How These People Put Together A Broadcast Because There Are Nineteen Different Cameras. I Have Hired Six Individuals ToCome Work With Us. We Are Also Looking To Expand When We Cover More, I Plan On Using Local Kids. We Have Plans For The Summer Time, I Plan On Being Out At The Park On Memorial Day We Want To Showcase West Frankfort To The World. The Mayor Stated This Just Wouldn't Be On The Radio? Mr. Odle Stated It Is Streamed, And On The Radio, Tuesdays And Thursdays We Are Doing Replays OnProminent Games Because They Do Not Get A Lot Of Radio Time. Commissioner Stanley Asked Is This The Same ARedbirds Live? Mr. Odle Stated We Are Not Associated With Redbirds Live. Commissioner Warren Asked This Is Basically A Donation? Mr. Odle Stated Yes Kind Of Like A Donation, Its Advertising, We Have Already Got You Guys Advertising With Us. When We Came Into Town, We Wanted To Come Up With A Place Called The Birds Nest, At One Of The Guys Who Works With Us Its At His House. Our Goal Is To Bring A Radio Station To West Frankfort. The Mayor Stated I Recommend We Give A Donation/ Sponsorship Of $1,000.00 To The Birds Nest "To The Maxx" Radio Show. Commissioner Stanley Asked We Will Be Sponsoring Two Radio Stations, Redbirds Live, And Wggh? Commissioner Warren Stated We Gave Donation To Redbirds Live, And We Will Be Donating To Wggh. Commissioner Warren Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Harkins. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

17. The Next Item Was Discussion, With Possible Action, Regarding Bids Received To Repair A Gas Roof Top Unit At The West Frankfort Business Incubator. We Have Two Bids, The First One From Fowler Heating And Cooling For $2,754.46, Second Bid Was From Bailey's Heating And Cooling For $3,200.00. The Mayor Stated Fowler Is The Lowest Bid. Commissioner Stanley Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Howard. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

18. The Next Item Was Discussion, With Possible Action, Regarding Bids Received For Pumps In The Backup Storm Water System At The Sewer Plant. Commissioner Stanley Stated This Will Be Back Up To The Two Pumps That We HaveIssues With Constantly. They Are Both Back In Working Order, This Will Help Keep Them From Using Them So Much, And Saving A Lot Of Time And Money.

One Bid From Xylem For $118,317.59. Second Bid From C And C Pumps And Supply For 134,845.86. The Mayor Stated Xylem Is The Lowest Bid We Will Go With. Superintendent Mr. Bonner Stated This Is Not A Back Up Pump, The Idea Is We Will Use This To Control Our Water Levels, And Turn On The Flygt Pumps In An Emergency Situation. Chief Sailliez Asked Is This For One Of The Portable Pumps? Mr. Bonner Stated No It's An Electric Pump, And This Is Not Going To Be The Cure All For Out There We May Still Need To Rent Pumps Depending On How Big Of A Rain We Get. Commissioner Stanley Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Howard.

Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted

To Approve. Motion Carried.

19. The Next Item Was Approval To Pay An Invoice From

Macqueen Emergency In The Amount Of $22,912.17 To Fix The Front End On The Engine #3 Pierce Impel For The Wffd. Chief Sailliez Stated This Is Our Newest Apparatus, Its Costing More To Maintain Stuff Than It Is To Purchase New, So Be Aware Of That. This Is A 2008 Impel Pumper Bought Used Five Years Ago. This Is To Fix The Front End And Cab Lift

Cylinders It Honestly Sounds Like Its Going To Fall Apart Driving Down The Road. We Had Them Come In And Inspect It, All But The Ball Joints Were Within Specs, They Highly Recommended We Replace Everything On The Front End; Ball Joints, U Joints, A Arms, And Rear Brakes. They Tried To Park It Out On The Ramp To Look At Some Of These Things, And It Just Started Rolling Down The Ramp. They Got In It And Tightened Up The Out Of Adjustment For The Rear Brakes So That Has To Be Done To Keep It On The Road. The Front End Is Within Thousands Of An Ich Of Not Passing Specs. Commissioner Harkins Asked Where Do We Have To Take This To Get Done? Chief Sailliez Stated The Lowest Bid Was From Mcqueen And It's The Metro East Area. Commissioner Stanley Asked Do You Have To Tow It? Chief Stated We Will Be Driving It. Commissioner Harkins Made A

Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Howard. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

20. The Next Item Was Approval To Pay An Invoice From U.S.Department Of Treasury Bureau Of Health & Human Services Hrsa Cares Provider Relief Fund In The Amount Of $25,951.64. The Mayor Stated This Is Money We Apparently Owe Them. I Was Able To Talk To The Commissioners About This Before Hand, This Was Something That Came Up, And Was Unexpected. Someone Dropped The Ball Somewhere Along The Line And We Got The Bill For It. I Will Clarify If We Do Not Pay This, We Do Not Get Any Federal Money. I Recommend We Pay This. Commissioner Stanley Asked Did We Figure Out The Issue? Mr. Veteto Stated It Was Around Year 2020 Time Frame It Was Never Paid And We Got A Bill For It. Commissioner Howard Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Stanley. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

21. The Next Item Was Approval Of West Frankfort - Stp Effluent Disinfection Project – Reviewal Of Bids And Notice Of Intent To Award. Matt Tosh Stated The City Opened Bids On January 9th, 2024, There Was Two Bids, The Low Bidder Was From Haier Plumbing & Heating Out Of Oakwville, Il In The Amount Of $1,007.590.00. That Is Close To The Estimate, The Total Project Budget Is About $23,000.00 Over The Estimate.

The City Has $550,000.00 Dco Grant, And Then You Have An Epa Grant Loan, Which Is Forty Five Percent Grant Fifty Five Percent Loan On The Balance Which Is A One Percent Loan Over The Term. This Is Mandated By The Epa, And There Is A Compliance Schedule That The City Is Under To Meet Without This Project You Will Not Meet Limits Out Their, That Could Lead To Fines. It Would Be Issue A Notice Of Intent To Approval To The Low Bidder Haier Plumbing & Heating Would Be A Vote And That Is Basically Contengent Upon Epa Issuing The Loan Grant (Which Funds Are Secured) Its Just A Process So Its Called Notice To Intent To Award.

Commissioner Warren Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Stanley. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

22. The Next Item Was Approval Of Brown & Roberts, Inc. To Complete The Necessary Iepa Forms For Renewal Of The Sewage Treatments Plant's Sludge Management Permit.

Matt Tosh Stated The City Received A Notice From Epa In December 2023, Every Four To Five Years You Have Permits For Managing Your Disposal Of The Sludge That Your Plant Generates And You Have To Renew That With Paperwork. It Costs $1,000.00 To $1,500.00 For Brown & Roberts Part To Do That. Commissioner Warren Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Stanley. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

23. The Next Item Was Approval To Transfer Lake Lot Lease #18b And #18c From Michelle & Ruby Craig (Deceased) To Todd & Michelle Taylor, And Hudson Garrison. Commissioner Warren Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Howard. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

24. The Next Item Was Approval To Transfer Lake Lot Lease #36

To Brandon Sawalich. Commissioner Warren Made A Motion To Approve, Seconded By Commissioner Stanley. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

25. The Next Item Was The Consent Agenda:

A. Approval To Pay Bills In The Amount Of $20,382.89. B. Approval To Pay Final Invoice From Target Solutions In The Amount Of $2,520.40 For Annual Membership For The Fire Department.

C. Approval To Pay An Invoice From Macqueen Emergency In The Amount Of $4,850.11 For Replacement Seat Intallation On Engine #3 Pierce Impel Fire Truck For Fire Department.

D. Approval To Pay An Invoice From Mid America Fire & Safety Llc In The Amount Of $7,389.32 For Turnout Gear For The West Frankfort Fire Department.

E. Approval To Pay An Invoice From Julie, Inc In The Amount Of $2,296.83 For Annual Transmissions For The Water/ Sewer Departments.

Commissioner Howard Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Harkins. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

Building And Sign Permits ~ Codes Officer Snell Stated I Have One Permit., It Is A Residental Solar Permit For A Roof Top Mount System At 815 W. St. Louis Street. It Meets All Of Our Requirements.

Commissioner Harkins Made A Motion For Approval, Seconded By Commissioner Howard. Roll Call Vote: All Commissioners And Mayor Arview Voted To Approve. Motion Carried.

26. Mayors Report~

Mayor Arview Stated We Do Have The Treasurer's Report For The Month Ending December 2023. If Anyone Would Like A Copy, We Will Have It Avalible Here At City Hall.

Commissioner Reports~

Commissioner Harkins Stated Everything Is Working Well

At The Police And Fire Departments.

Commissioner Howard Stated We Had To Spend A Lot Of Money Lately Everyone Knows That, But It Has All Been Necessary. If You Don't Know I'm Furgal And Do Not Like To Spend Money We Do Not Have To. I Think Everything We Have Done Has Been Because We Had To Not Because We Want To. The Other Thing I Would Like To Mention Is Nothing To Do With City Finances. A Lot Of You May Know Steve Cook, He Passed Away At 2 A.M. This Morning. He Served The City Of West Frankfort As A Police Officer, One Time He Was The Water Superintendent, And Served Ten Years As A City Commissioner, He Also For The Last Couple Of Years Up Until He Was Unable To, He Watered The Flowers Up Town. He Had Done A Lot Of Service For The City And I Just Wanted To Mention Him.

Commissioner Stanley Stated Michael And His Crew Are Cleaning Out The Ditches With All The Leaves. They Have All The Concrete Work Done For Now. They Are Just Moving Forward For The Winter; All The Trucks Are Set Up For Snow Or Ice. Commissioner Warren Stated Sewer And Water Are Working Fixing Repairs And Staying Busy.

The Mayor Stated I Just Want To Mention Because I Had The Water Department Come Visit My House Because Of Our Excessive Usage In My Case Was A Toilet That Was Running. But They Mentioned If You Had Your Faucets Dripping From Keeping Your Pipes From Freezing, Is Great You Want To Do That. But Expect That Your Water Bill Maybe Higher From Doing That, Dont Blame The Folks At The Water Departent Its Not Their Fault. I Just Wanted To Remind Everyone That Could Happen.

Chief Sailliez Stated To Go Along With What Commissioner Howard Said About Spending Money And Some People Thinks That Its Questionable. The Fire Department Has Received Feed Back In The Last Month, We Have Had Three Clinical Saves. One Of Them Was A Retired City Employee's Family Member Who Was Here During Our Process During Our Discussion About All Of This.

27. Audience Comments:

No Audience Comments

28. With No Further Business To Be Discussed, The Meeting Was Adjourned On A Motion By Commissioner Harkins At 7:51 P.M.

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