Members of the Gillespie City Council on Wednesday night gave Mayor John Hicks power to act on accepting a contractor’s bid to re-line sewer mains in downtown Gillespie as a first step toward an extensive streetscape project to improve the appearance of the business district and stimulate economic growth. The council also approved new contracts to provide police protection to the villages of East Gillespie and Mt. Clare and voted to send a second candidate to Police Academy training, but tabled action on a proposed ordinance to govern residential fencing in the city.

The meeting was rescheduled from Monday night, the council’s regular meeting date, due to the Columbus Day holiday.

The meeting also featured a heated exchange between Ald. Bill Hayes and resident Randy Link, who announced his intention to run for an aldermanic seat next spring.

While city engineers Curry and Associates recommended accepting the low bid, the council ultimately opted to give Mayor Hicks power to act after discussing two bids received for a project to re-line sewer mains in downtown Gillespie. Hicks opened two bids for the project—one from Insituform Technologies, Inc., Chesterfield, Mo., in the amount of $529,435.60, and one from Visu-Sewer, Bridgeport, in the amount of $319,833. The project is the first phase of the city’s ambitious downtown streetscape project.

Ald. Landon Pettit, however, urged Hicks to consult with the engineers to ensure the bids are comparable before taking final action to accept either contract. Citing issues the city experienced with Haier Plumbing and Heating, Inc., on the recently completed water infrastructure project, Landon asked Hicks to check into any “overages” included in the bids.

“If the high bidder has an overage of three percent and the low bidder has an overage of five percent, the high bid may actually be lower,” Pettit said. “You see what I’m saying? I just don’t want to run into with what we had with Haier.”

Ultimately, the council voted unanimously to give Hicks power to act on a motion by Ald. Wendy Rolando, seconded by Dona Rauzi.

PUBLIC COMMENT

During a public comment segment, a discussion about residents parking vehicles on the sidewalk became heated when resident Dave Link accused Ald. Hayes of targeting him for alleged ordinance violations. Link has frequently appeared before the council to complain about residents parking on the sidewalk in some areas of the city, particularly on South Macoupin Street. During previous council meetings, Link alleged the city dealt with the problem by removing the sidewalks, and he has frequently accused city officials of failing to issue citations for the offense.

Advertisement

“We have an ordinance that prohibits parking on the sidewalk,” City Attorney Rick Verticchio told Link. “The police can’t be everywhere. If you see one parked on the sidewalk, I would suggest you call the police to issue a citation.”

“I’d hate to say anything,” Link commented. “If I call someone, they take the sidewalk out. Now they’re parking on the street.”

Link said Ald. Hayes had sent him a letter alleging Link had an unlicensed vehicle on the property at 111 Spruce Street in retaliation against Link apparently for his frequent appearances before the council. Link said he has no unlicensed vehicle at 111 Spruce.

Verticchio asked Link if he owned property at 114 Spruce. Link acknowledged he owned the property and that he had an unlicensed vehicle there. It was unclear whether Link received a citation or if Hayes’ letter was simply a notification of a violation. Still, Verticchio advised that if the case were in court, citing a mistaken address would not be a defense.

“That would be like saying, “Judge, I wasn’t driving 78 miles-per-hour, I was only going 75,” Verticchio said. “The judge is still going to find you guilty.”

Link insisted Hayes wrote to him as part of a long-term animosity against him. Meanwhile, Link cited numerous alleged ordination violations in Hayes’ ward, including some he claimed were on Hayes’ property.

“You’ve had a vendetta against Bill,” Ald. Pettit retorted, citing Link’s frequent criticism of Hayes. 

“I’m just saying he needs to take care of his ward,” Link said. “If he can write me a letter, he needs to write a letter to some of his neighbors.”

Advertisement

“You can’t get out of an ordinance violation by saying there are other ordinance violations around,” said Verticchio.

Link said he wasn’t trying to “get out of” anything, but wanted to point out the disparity in Hayes calling him out for an ordinance violation while allegedly ignoring violations in his ward. He said he planned to correct the violation at 114 Spruce by covering the vehicle in compliance with the city code.

“Maybe you should run for city council,” Mayor Hicks said as he gaveled an end to the discussion.

“I’m going to,” said Link, apparently indicating he will be a candidate for the consolidated election.

POLICE PROTECTION CONTRACTS

Council members unanimously approved resolutions to provide police protection services to the villages of East Gillespie and Mt. Clare. Both contracts are for three-year terms. East Gillespie will pay a new rate of $600 per month, while Mt. Clare will pay $2,000 monthly. Both contracts have provisions for increasing rates mid-term if the city’s costs increase.

Ald. Dona Rauzi said city officials will meet with officials from Eagarville next month to negotiate terms for continuing to provide police protection in that community.

On the recommendation of Police Chief Jared DePoppe, the council voted to give DePoppe permission to send a second candidate to the Southwest Illinois Police Academy for training starting in January. DePoppe said he has identified the candidate for employment and plans to hire the individual when background checks and other formalities are completed.

Later in the meeting, Elijah Dannenbrink of Bunker Hill introduced himself to the council as a new hire for the Police Department, filling one of two full-time vacancies on the force. Council members previously approved Police Academy enrollment for one candidate for a full-time assignment.

Advertisement

DePoppe also arrived at the meeting with a certificate of appreciation to be presented to the individual who reported a suspicious vehicle in Benld which led to the arrest of a double-homicide suspect from Sangamon County. DePoppe announced, however, that the individual chose to remain anonymous and would receive the certificate privately.

DePoppe said he is continuing to collect information on a program to lease police patrol vehicles in lieu of purchasing them. Among the information he is awaiting is financial information to be provided by City Treasurer Dan Fisher, who did not attend Wednesday’s meeting. DePoppe said he expects to present the issue to the council next month.

“Again, I believe it is a very good program for the city,” he said. He said the program will allow the city to replace aging vehicles in a more timely manner while saving money.

The council took no formal action on a request from Officer Justin Klopmeier seeking permission for the department’s dispatchers to join the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents police in contract negotiations and labor disputes. Klopmeier said union representatives, local police and the dispatchers are in agreement in regard to switching unions. Dispatchers are expected to start negotiating a new contract in January.

While expressing no objection to the measure, the council took no formal action on advice of the City Attorney.

“I think it’s a good idea and it would make everything easier,” said Verticchio. “I don’t know that the city is in a position to approve anything tonight. Until they (dispatchers) come away from the other union, I don’t want the council to approve anything.” A premature approval, he said, may prompt the current union to sue the city for union interference.

WATER ISSUES

Water Operator Dave Pickett briefly reported to the council on improvements being made at the water treatment plant. He said plumping work is complete and work is progressing on upgrading electronic controls. Other changes, he said, should result in him being able to virtually eliminate overtime expenses at the plant.

Pickett also said he is experimenting with a new chemical which, if it proves successful, will reduce the cost of operation. The city spends about $73,000 annually for alum, lime and polymers. 

Advertisement

“With the new product, rather than $73,000, you’re looking at $32,000,” he said. “It’s really looking good at this point.”

“We’re not getting any complaints and that’s the big thing,” Ald. Rick Fulton commented.

On a motion by Ald. Rauzi, the council agreed to send Zach Besserman to night classes to become certified as a water operator.

Ald. Rauzi said the city is continuing to collect phone numbers for residents who want to be added to a call system to receive phone messages advising of water main breaks, boil orders and other emergencies. At this point, she said the city has only 60 phone numbers out of 1,700 water customer households. She said water bills are going out with a message asking for Gillespie residents to submit their phone numbers, or customers may call city hall.

“We’re looking for everyone in Gillespie who would like to be added to the system,” she said.

POTENTIAL SKIDSTER PURCHASE

Mayor Hicks asked the Public Works Committee to return to the council next month with a proposal for the possible purchase of a new skidster. The directive followed a brief discussion led by Ald. Rauzi, who noted the council went on record last March that it would consider selling the city’s current skidster in the fall when prices would be up.

Pettit said the discussion last spring was about either selling the machine or using it as a trade-in for a new machine. He said the intent is still to use the machine as a trade-in.

“They’re thinking of going with Caterpillar,” he said. “It’s a little better machine, a little more durable.”

Advertisement

OTHER ACTION

No action followed a 15-minute executive session to discuss real estate and litigation. 

In other action, the council:

• Accepted bids from Ringwood Motors, Ringwood, to sell two surplus police vehicles. The successful bidder agreed to buy a 2012 Chevrolet with no engine for $408 and a 2015 SUV for $1,080. The only other bids came from local bidders who bid $100 for each of the vehicles.
• Tabled action on a fencing ordinance after Ald. Rauzi raised questions about whether or not the ordinance should require a survey before allowing neighbors to erect fencing on the property line between neighboring properties.
• Agreed to extend a lake lot lease for permanent lake resident Dan Corbin for another eight years.

Comments

comments