HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 01/04/2016 - City CouncilREGULAR MEETING
January 4, 2016
Mayor Low called the regularly scheduled January 4, 2016 meeting of the McHenry City Council
to order at 7:00 p.m. In attendance were the following Aldermen: Santi, Glab, Schaefer, Curry,
Wimmer, Peterson and Condon. Absent: None. Also in attendance: City Administrator
Morefield, Deputy City Administrator Hobson, Director of Economic Development Martin,
Director of Finance Lynch, Director of Public Works Schmitt, Chief of Police Jones, City Engineer
Pieper, City Attorney McArdle and City Clerk Jones. Absent: None.
CITY OF MCHENRY MISSION STATEMENT
Mayor Low read aloud the Mission Statement of the City of McHenry.
PRESENTATION OF CHARACTER COUNTS! RECOGNITION AWARD
Mayor Low turned the floor over to Alderman Condon, Chairman of the Character
Counts! Coalition.
Chairman Alderman Condon introduced Mr. Nick Palus, a resident of Plano, Illinois and
Ms. Sharon Hunt, manager of Windhill Restaurant. Chairman Alderman Condon explained that
Or. Palus was nominated for the Character Counts! Recognition Award by Ms. Hunt because
while driving his truck along State Route 31, near Applebee's, in October 2015, Mr. Palus saw a
young boy walking barefoot in pajamas on a cold day early in the morning. He recognized a
crisis situation, stopped and called the police who immediately assisted the child. Chairman
Alderman Condon thanked Mr. Palus for his willingness to assist the child.
Ms. Hunt thanked Council for the recognition and thanked them for doing a great job for
the City of McHenry.
PUBLIC INPUT SESSION
Mr. Craig Wilcox, 5908 Whiting Drive, addressed Council regarding the property tax
abatement.
Mr. Wilcox stated that he is a candidate for the office of County Board District 4. He
complimented Council for passing the Ordinance regarding the tax abatement for Fabrik as an
inducement to keep the business in the City of McHenry. He challenged Council to make 2016
even better, stating that property taxes in McHenry County must be reduced. Mr. Wilcox
encouraged Council to make every effort to reduce the property tax levy on the residents in
2016.
CONSENT AGENDA
A. Authorization for Staff to seek competitive bids for the McHenry Sanitary System Improvements Forcemain Extension
Project;
B. Maintenance and repair of Water Tower #3, as per Option #2 (a two color approach), as recommended by the Public
Works Committee on December 7, 2015;
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January 4, 2016
C. An Inducement Resolution regarding Industrial Development Revenue Bond Financing to benefit K&L Equity, LLC and
Fabrik Industries, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $10,000,000;;
D. A request to advertise for proposals for Janitorial Services for the McHenry Recreation Center; and
E. Approval of List of Bills, in the amount of $148,582.34.
Alderman Curry requested that Item Abe pulled from the Consent Agenda for
discussion and voted on as a separate item.
Alderman Peterson inquired about why it is necessary that the Water Tower #3 be
painted on three sides, as he seems to recall it always being painted on only two sides.
Alderman Peterson opined he would like to see the fox on Water Tower #3 stand out more,
rather than appear as a watermark. Mayor Low concurred with Alderman Peterson, stating she
would also like to see the fox more prominently displayed. Director of Public Works Schmitt
informed Council that Water Tower #3 is being painted on three sides to make the "Heart of
the Fox" visible from all directions, as he has received several complaints that the logo is hard
to see. He assured Council he would look into making the picture of the fox appear bolder than
previously.
Motion by Curry, second by Wimmer, approving the Consent Agenda, Items B through E,
as amended.
Voting Aye:
Absent:
Motion carried.
Santi, Glab, Curry, Schaefer, Wimmer, Peterson, Condon.
Alderman Glab inquired why the original 24" pipe is being reduced to a 20" pipe and
whether the 20" pipe will be sufficient. City Engineer Pieper addressed Council stating that
when the plans were originally drawn the 24" piping was the way to go, because the fusible
PVC piping was a relatively new product at the time. Now, however, the new fusible 20" PVC
piping has been determined to be sufficient and less costly than the 24" piping.
Director of Public Works Schmitt informed Council that following the rejected bid for the
McHenry Sanitary Sewer System Improvements Forcemain Extension Project at the August 17,
2015 City Council meeting, in which the sole bid was over three times the Engineer's Opinion of
Probable Costs (EOPQ HR Green contacted several of the contractors in an attempt to
determine reasons for them not submitting a bid. The main response from the contractors were
all related to the contractors being extremely busy and not having sufficient time to focus on
this scale of project.
HR Green then revised the bid specifications, lengthening the time frame in which the
contractor has to complete the work; flexibility of the location the drill rig may set up; changing
the pipe diameter from 24" to 20" on the southern portion of the project; and allowing the use
of fusible piping in addition to high -density polyethylene pipe. As a result of the modifications
to the scope of the project, the EOPC has been revised to $2,241,804.
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January 4, 2016
Director Schmitt informed Council that the project would be funded from the
Water/Sewer Fund, which currently has a fund balance of $4,368,273.
Motion by Wimmer, second by Curry, approving Consent Agenda, Items A, as presented.
Voting Aye: Santi, Glab, Curry, Schaefer, Wimmer, Peterson, Condon.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Motion carried.
MAYOR'S STATEMENT AND REPORT
Mayor Low wished everyone a Happy New Year. Mayor Low thanked Council and Staff
for their efforts in 2015 and stated that she is looking forward to working with everyone during
a busy 2016.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Chairman Alderman Wimmer of the Finance and Personnel Committee, announced that
on Monday, January 11, 2016 at 5:30 pm a meeting of the Finance and Personnel Committee
would be held in the Alderman Conference Room.
Chairman Alderman Condon of the Community Development Committee, informed
Council that the Chairman's Report for the meeting of the Community Development Committee
held on November 30, 2015, has been executed and the Report would be distributed to Council
members shortly.
STAFF REPORTS
There were no Staff Reports.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
There were no Future Agenda Items.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Wimmer, seconded by Curry, to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 pm.
Voting Aye: Santi, Glab, Schaefer, Curry, Wimmer, Peterson, Condon.
Voting Nay: None.
Absent: None.
Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 pm.
Lam_
Mav'or