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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 01/08/1992 - City CouncilREGULAR MEETING JANUARY 8, 1992 The Regular Meeting of the McHenry City Council was called to order by Mayor Busse on Wednesday, January 8, 1992 at 8:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of the McHenry Municipal Center. At roll call the following Aldermen were present: Bolger, Donahue, Lieder, Locke, Smith, Patterson, Adams. Absent: Serritella. City Staff in attendance: City Clerk Gilpin, City Attorney Narusis, City Administrator Peterson, Director of Public Works Batt, Chief of Police Joyce, Director of Parks and Recreation Merkel, Director of Building and Zoning Halik. Absent: None. During the Ten Minute Public Input Session, William Singer and Jean Stueben spoke in opposition to the Country Club Estates special assessment sewer project. Officer Mike Oliver spoke in opposition to changing insurance companies for the employee group health insurance from Blue Cross/Blue Shield to Intergovernmental Benefit Cooperative. Developer John Cunat addressed the Council and asked that the issue of crediting him for developer donation impact fees be placed on a future City Council agenda for discussion. Kurt Seiden, manager of TCI Cablevision, reported to the Council that the company had completed installation of fiber-optic cable which would enhance the signal for cable T.V. viewers. He also said his office staff had been reorganized and response to complaints would now be more timely. CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Donahue, seconded by Patterson, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented except for Item 5: (1) Approve December 16, 1991 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes; (2) Approve Tuition Reimbursement Request; Anne Rodenkirch, $148.00; (3) Approve Tuition Reimbursement Request; Thomas Jenkins, $258.00; (4) Pass IDOT Resolution for Operation and Maintenance of Roadways; Voting Aye: Bolger, Donahue, Lieder, Locke, Smith, Adams, Patterson. Voting Nay: None. Absent: Serritella. Motion carried. Consent Agenda Item 5,which was to Approve the Reduction in Letter of Credit for Oaks of McHenry from $1,063,741.00 to $214,577.00, was deferred until the next meeting so that the Director of Public Works can gather information on clean-up costs for the silting and run-off that occurred onto McCullom Lake Road from that subdivision in the past. COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES SANITARY SEWER SURVEY RESULTS The final results of the Country Club Estates Sanitary Sewer Survey were presented. All but three surveys were returned. The vote was 39 against the project, and 30 for the project. The Mayor announced that this indicated 57% voted no and 43% voted yes. It appeared that the project would not go forward. Before final action is taken by the Council, a letter will be sent to all of the residents who responded informing them of the survey results. Therefore, no formal Council action was taken at this meeting. ANNEXATION OF ANEST PROPERTY Bill Anest and his attorney, Sam Diamond, were present at the meeting to discuss annexing property at the northeast corner of Bull Valley Road and Route 31. Anest proposes to construct a gas station with a mini -mart that would also have packaged liquor sales. This same presentation was made to the City several years ago by Anest. At that time, the Council would not endorse the idea of issuing a liquor license to a gas station. Concerning utilities, City water is available to the property directly west across Route 31. City sewer mains are approximately 1500 feet from the site. The Anest's have already made application to the County for zoning changes to allow development of this site as they have proposed. Anest was present at the Council meeting to ask the Council if it was interested in considering annexation of this property into the City. Following lengthy discussion, Anest was told to pursue annexation with the City and present information to the City staff for review. January 8, 1992 Page 2 EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE City Administrator Peterson reported that due to the rising costs of providing health benefits to employees, several employee group health insurance companies were reviewed and considered. After a thorough review, Peterson recommended that the City enter into an agreement with Intergovernmental Benefit Cooperative (IBC) to provide employees with their health insurance instead of the current carrier, Blue Cross/Blue Shield. The insurance coverage was basically the same, except that Memorial Hospital in Woodstock was not included as a participating hospital. Changing to the IBC plan would result in an annual savings to the City of $43,000.00. It would also reduce single coverage cost from $145.44 to $121.94, and would reduce family coverage costs from $442.45 to $372.19. This would save employees with dependent coverage about $24 per month. Employees Mike Owsley of the Public Works Department and Jeff Foerster of the McHenry Police Association addressed the Council during the discussion. After lengthy discussion it was decided not to take action at this meeting until the employees had a chance to ask their questions directly of IBC representatives. Motion by Lieder, seconded by Patterson, to authorize the City Administrator to set up meetings with representatives from the Intergovernmental Benefit Cooperative so that employees could ask questions directly of company representatives, and to bring the matter back to the Council at the January 29 regular meeting. Voting Aye: Bolger, Donahue, Lieder, Locke, Smith, Adams, Patterson. Voting Nay: None. Absent: Serritella. Motion carried. RECESS Mayor Busse called for a recess at 10:08 P.M. The meeting reconvened at 10:21 P.M. with everyone still in attendance. Alderman Donahue left the meeting at 10:21 P.M. TEST WELL DRILLING BID Motion by Bolger, seconded by Locke, to award the bid for the drilling of four test wells to the low bidder, Henry Boysen Company, in the amount of $40,182.00 as recommended by Baxter & Woodman. Voting Aye: Bolger, Lieder, Locke, Smith, Adams, Patterson. Voting Nay: None. Absent: Donahue, Serritella. Motion carried. RETAINED PERSONNEL ORDINANCE Motion by Locke, seconded by Patterson, to pass the Retained Personnel Ordinance as presented, which requires that developers pay all costs for copying of minutes and information for distribution to the general public who request it. Voting Aye: Locke, Lieder, Patterson, Adams, Busse. Voting Nay: Bolger, Smith. Absent: Donahue, Serritella. Motion carried. MAYOR'S STATEMENT AND REPORTS Mayor Busse announced his recommmended agenda for the next three months of Council Planning Meetings; January 15 - Discuss water, sewer and utility questions; February 12 - Meet with the School Districts and focus on school issues; March 11 - Discuss Ward re -districting. The Chamber of Commerce requested that the Council designate the 1992 vehicle stickers for the Chamber of Cunmerce's 40th Anniversary. The matter will be voted on at the next meeting. January 8, 1992 Page 3 Motion by Lieder, seconded by Patterson, to set a special meeting for Monday, January 27, 1992 at 7:30 P.M. to discuss the Backhaus annexation/zoning proposal. Voting Aye: Bolger, Lieder, Locke, Smith, Adams, Patterson. Voting Nay: None. Absent: Donahue, Serritella. Motion carried. Mayor Busse asked if the Council wanted to allow use of the Council Chambers for regular political party meetings. The consensus was to deny the request and to continue to judge every future request on a case by case basis. In response to a request from John Cunat, the matter of his request for a $100,000 credit on future developer donation impact fees would be placed on the January 29, 1992 meeting agenda for discussion. An Open House would be held on Thursday, January 23, 1992 in the Municipal Center Classroom from 4:00 - 8:00 P.M. concerning the proposed access road to the Bull Valley bridge from Green Street. The general public will be invited to view the proposed plans and comment. NEW BUSINESS Director of Public Works Batt was instructed to check on the two-hour parking regulations on Elm Street, between Court and Riverside Drive. EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion by Smith, seconded by Patterson, to go into Executive Session at 11:17 P.M. to discuss personnel. Voting Aye: Bolger, Lieder, Locke, Smith, Adams, Patterson. Voting Nay: None. Absent: Donahue, Serritella. Motion carried. Motion by Bolger, seconded by Locke, to go back into Open Session at 11:50 P.M. Voting Aye: Bolger, Lieder, Locke, Smith, Adams, Patterson. Voting Nay: None. Absent: Donahue, Serritella. Motion carried. Motion by Patterson, seconded by Smith, to concur with the Mayor's recommendation and hire Susan Joseph to fill the vacancy in the Water/Sewer Billing Clerk position at a salary of Grade 5, Step 1 at $20,225.00, effective January 13, 1992. Voting Aye: Voting Nay: Absent: Motion carried. Bolger, Lieder, Locke, Smith, Adams, Patterson. None. Donahue, Serritella. Motion by Smith, seconded by Adams, to adjourn. Voting Aye: Bolger, Lieder, Locke, Smith, Adams, Patterson. Voting Nay: None. Absent: Donahue, Serritella. Motion carried. The Meeting adjourned at 11:51 P.M.