North Egypt News

City of Sesser City Council met March 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The regular meeting of the Sesser City Council was held on Thursday, March 14, 2024. It was called to order by Mayor Ashmore at 6:33 PM. Prayer was led by David Bates. The pledge of allegiance was said, and Mayor Ashmore asked for Veterans to remain standing and thanked them for their service.

Clerk Stacey called the roll--Rose Bochantin--here, Dana Laur—here, Wayne Shannon--here, Travis Zettler--here, David Bates--here, Jeff Hamburger--here.

The Sesser Girl Scouts were in attendance to have Mayor Ashmore sign the Girl Scout Week Proclamation. Clerk Stacey read the proclamation, Mayor Ashmore signed it and thanked the Girls for attending the meeting.

A motion was made by Jeff Hamburger and 2nd by David Bates to approve the minutes for the regular February meeting, a special meeting on 2-19-24, and a special meeting on 3-6-24. All those in attendance were in favor of the motion. Motion carried.

Agenda Item #2

Matt Tosh explained the Sanitary Sewer Service for Rend Lake Contractor’s pay estimate #4. A motion was made by Wayne Shannon and seconded by Travis Zettler to approve the Sanitary Sewer Service for Rend Lake Contractor’s pay estimate #4 to Wiggs Excavating in the amount of $306,090.56. All those in attendance were in favor of the motion. Motion Carried.

Agenda Item #3

Matt Tosh explained the Sanitary Sewer Service for Rend Lake construction engineering bill #4 to Brown and Roberts. A motion was made by Rose Bochantin and seconded by Jeff Hamburger to approve the Sanitary Sewer Service for Rend Lake construction engineering bill #4 to Brown and Roberts in the amount of $10,438.22. All those in attendance were in favor of the motion. Motion carried.

Agenda Item #4

Matt Tosh explained the Callie Street Watermain Railroad Crossing change order. A motion was made by David Bates and seconded by Jeff Hamburger to approve change order #1 for the Callie Street Watermain Railroad Crossing as presented with an increase of $5,500.00 and 140 calendar days. All those in attendance were in favor of the motion. Motion carried.

Agenda Item #1--TIF

Mayor Ashmore clerk Stacey to open the bids received on the property demolition at 105 N. Cockrum Street. The only bid received was from Lappin Trucking in the amount of $6,938.00. A motion was made by Wayne Shannon and seconded by Jeff Hamburger to approve the demolition of the home at 105 N. Cockrum by the low bidder Lappin Trucking for $6,938.00. All those in attendance were in favor of the motion. Motion carried.

Agenda Item #5

Mayor Ashmore explained the FCEMA contribution. A motion was made by David Bates and seconded by Rose Bochantin to approve the FCEMA contribution of $500.00. All those in attendance were in favor of the motion. Motion carried.

Agenda Item #6

Mayor Ashmore explained the Old King Coal booklet advertisement. A motion was made by David Bates and seconded by Travis Zettler to approve the purchase of a ¼ page add in the Old King Coal booklet for a cost of $120.00. All those in attendance were in favor of the motion. Motion carried.

Agenda Item #7/8

Mayor Ashmore explained the donation to both Easter egg hunts that will be held in Sesser. A motion was made by Wayne Shannon and seconded by David Bates to approve a $100.00 donation to each the Apostolic Church Easter egg hunt and the Sesser Annual Easter Egg hunt. All those in attendance were in favor of the motion. Motion carried.

Agenda Item #9

Mayor Ashmore explained the sponsoring of the 3D archery tournament as a host city. A motion was made by Travis Zettler and seconded by Jeff Hamburger to approve the sponsorship of the Rend Lake Area Tourism Council 3D archery tournament—Sesser as a Host City—for $2,000.00.

All those in attendance were in favor of the motion. Motion carried.

Agenda Item #10

Mayor Ashmore explained we needed to purchase a block of hours from Locis for training of the new treasurer and audit/accounting services—it is cheaper to buy a block of hours than to pay by the hour. A motion was made by Dana Laur and seconded by Jeff Hamburger to purchase a block of hours for accounting and treasurer training from Locis at a cost of $7.600.00. All those in attendance were in favor of the motion. Motion carried.

Agenda Item #11

Mayor Ashmore had Alderman Zettler explain the quote from Sweetwater for video equipment for the Opera House. A motion was made by Dana Laur and seconded by Jeff Hamburger to approve the quote from Sweetwater for the items for the Opera House video equipment at the cost of $1,256.96. All those in attendance were in favor of the motion expect Travis Zettler who abstained. Motion carried.

Agenda Item #12

Jeff Harramon presented on behalf of SIAP Solar. This item will be addressed later due to incorrect paperwork.

Agenda Item #13

Item 13 was tabled. A discussion was held by several citizens speaking up over the sale of the city lake. There is still some legal work to be done prior to the sale of the lake. The citizens in attendance spoke against the sale. Mayor Ashmore and the council listened and answered questions. There was no action at this time.

Agenda Item #14

Mayor Ashmore asked Josh Lewis to speak on the progress of the new bathrooms for the park. A motion was made by Travis Zettler and seconded by Wayne Shannon to approve the payment of the current work--$1,410.00 for concrete for the foundation, $5,365.27 (will be less due to subtraction of tax) for the doors, $1,592.34 for plumbing supplies and the cost of 10 yard of concrete for the flooring at approximately $150.00 per yard. All those in attendance were in favor of the motion. Motion carried.

Agenda Item #15

Mayor Ashmore explained the reallocation of the city’s volume cap. A motion was made by David Bates and seconded by Jeff Hamburger to approve/pass ordinance #1-2024 for the reallocation of the City of Sesser’s 2024 Volume Cap to the Sothern Illinois Economic Development Authority. All of those in attendance were in favor of the motion. Motion carried.

Agenda Item #16

A motion was made by Travis Zettler and seconded by Wayne Shannon to approve the mayor to have viewer only online access to all city bank accounts at the Du Quoin State Bank and the State Bank of Whittington as viewer only. All those in attendance were in favor of the motion. Motion carried.

A motion was made by David Bates and seconded by Rose Bochantin to go into executive session to discuss personnel matters at 8:24 PM. All those in attendance were in favor of the motion. Motion carried.

A motion was made by David Bates and seconded by Travis Zettler to return from executive session at 8:30 PM. All those in attendance were in favor of the motion. Motion carried.

Due to the impending weather all reports were approved and accepted as a group. The motion was made by Jeff Hamburger and seconded by Travis Zettler. All those in attendance were in favor of the motion. Motion carried.

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 8:31 PM by David Bates and 2nd by Travis Zettler. All those in attendance were in favor of the motion. Motion carried.

Adjourned at 8:31 PM.

https://www.sesser.org/city-council-meeting-minutes/