With two dissenting votes, the Gillespie City Council approved a $2.52 increase in the minimum fee for water users within the city limits on Wednesday, October 14 during the city’s regular monthly meeting. The council also rescinded a yard sale ordinance originally intended to limit the number of yard sales residents could host in a year, approved the purchase of a snow plow and salt spreader, and gave the Public Works Committee power to act on a project to replace a deteriorating culvert on Cedar Street.

The water rate ordinance, presented by City Attorney Kevin Polo, increases the minimum charge for up to 1,000 gallons of monthly usage to $16.70 for water users who live within the city. City water users who live outside the city limits, however, are required to pay the base rate plus 50 percent of the rate, according to Polo – effectively increasing the base rate for those users by $3.78. Exempt from the rate hike are water users who live in East Gillespie and are billed by East Gillespie using rates established by contract with the City of Gillespie.

Aldermen Jim Alderson and Roger Diveley both voted against the measure which is set to go into effect immediately.

Council rescinds yard sale ordinance

On a motion by Alderman Frank Barrett, seconded by Diveley, the council voted unanimously to rescind a yard sale ordinance enacted four years ago, ostensibly to limit the number of yard sales homeowners could host on their property in a year. The ordinance was enacted originally in response to a resident who hosted an ongoing yard sale at his home – essentially operating a home-based business and creating a traffic hazard from cars parking at the side of the street. Ald. Steve Kluthe reported on a review of the old ordinance, and recommended reducing the fee for registering a yard sale from $10 to $5 and increasing to five the number of yard sales a resident could host. The alternative, he said, would be to rescind the ordinance entirely.

“I was against this when it was first brought up,” said Barrett. “I thought it was silly and I thought it penalized the whole town for what one person was doing.” He and Kluthe said other ordinances are in effect to prevent residents from operating an ongoing yard sale as a home business.

In a related matter, Kluthe addressed the issue of addressing residents who operate home-based businesses in violation of the city’s zoning ordinance. He said he had spoken with a resident who was operating a wood carving business out of his home and he believed the situation would be resolved. He urged other council members to talk to residents who appear to be operating unsanctioned home-based businesses. “Find out what their story is,” he said. “Don’t just go to them and say, ‘you can’t do that.’” Sometimes, he suggested, an alderman can help resolve the situation. “Half of our main street is empty,” he noted, suggesting that some home-based businesses could be encouraged to move into vacancies in the Gillespie business district.

Deteriorating culvert on Cedar Street

Council members referred to the Public Works Committee the issue of authorizing a project to replace a culvert on Cedar Street. Mayor John Hicks read bids from five contractors for a project to replace deteriorating culverts on Cedar Street and Wilson Street. Baxmeyer Construction of Waterloo was the low bidder with a price of $169,799.25.

“The biggest problem we have,” Hicks said, “is we only have $85,000 left” in Illinois Department of Transportation grant funds for the project. He added that Baxmeyer’s bid for the Cedar Street culvert alone amounted to $50,369 and could be covered with the remaining funds. Additionally, he said, the Cedar Street culvert was the worst of the two culverts slated for repair. Based upon that information, Ald. Dave Tucker, with a second from Ald. Jerry Dolliger, moved to authorize the Cedar Street project.

Treasurer Dan Fisher, however, noted there could be hidden costs associated with the Cedar Street repair.

“There are other factors on Cedar Street that we need to be aware of,” Fisher said. The culvert is located close to a water line and sewer main, both of which will have to be moved as part of the project. Citing a letter from a letter from Roger Mensing of Curry and Associates Engineers, Fisher said it was unclear whether moving the water and sewer lines was part of Baxmeyer’s bid. “We could be talking about a fair amount of money,” Fisher noted.

Additionally, Hicks said, a residential driveway near the culvert also could be affected by the project and would have to be repaired.

“Let’s get Roger back in here and find out how much it’s going to cost,” Hicks said.

Following the discussion, Tucker revised his motion to give the Public Works Committee power to act on the contract when the committee meets in two weeks. Mensing is expected to attend that meeting to confirm the scope of work covered by Baxmeyer’s bid. Fisher said the bid itself should be good for 60 days.

Miscellaneous Items

In other action, the council unanimously approved the purchase of a snow plow and salt spreader from Carlinville Trucking Equipment for $12,782, the lower of two bids submitted for the equipment.

Council members took no definitive action on dealing with a privately owned water line on the southeast side of the city. The line reportedly was installed about 40 years ago by the late George Krainz and apparently runs the length of Clark Street to Macoupin Street. Russell Fredericks, who has since purchased the Krainz property, appeared before the council to ask the city to take over responsibility for the line. Two other homes between the Krainz property and Macoupin Street have taps onto the water line, and Fredericks said he has no interest in maintaining the line since he has torn down the house the water line once served.

“If something happens to it,” Fredericks said, “I am not going to do anything with it.” In that event, the only option for the city might be to disconnect the line at its Macoupin Street terminal, leaving the two other homeowners without water service.

Alderman Janice Weidner told Fredericks the city could not assume responsibility for the water line because it doesn’t meet EPA standards. If the city were to take over the line, she said, it would have to replace it with a new line and there currently is no money available for such a project.

“It needs to be redone,” Mayor Hicks agreed.

“It’s been good enough for you collect water bills off of for 40 years, but it’s not good enough for you to take over?” Fredericks asked.

“It’s below the minimum size required by EPA,” Fisher told Fredericks. EPA mandates a minimum four-inch main, which the water line in question is only one and one-half inches. If and when the city secures grant funding to replace water lines, Fisher noted, the two remaining homeowners could tap onto a new loop proposed to pass their residences. But a water line replacement project is a year or more in the future.

“If it breaks, somebody will have to fix it and I guess that will have to be us,” Hicks acknowledged. But after further discussion, he suggested that Fredericks sign over ownership of the line to the other two homeowners and let them assume responsibility until a project can be launched to replace water lines citywide.

“It’s not our water line,” Fisher said. “We didn’t put it in and we can’t take it over.”

A visit from State Rep. Avery Bourne earlier in the meeting sparked a brief sparring match between her and Fisher, who questioned the state’s withholding of motor fuel tax funds allocated to municipalities. Bourne said she was visiting all municipal government bodies in her district. “With the budget situation,” I think it’s important for you to know how to reach me regarding grants and so forth. I don’t foresee motor fuel tax funds being released anytime soon.”

Fisher noted that a percentage of motor fuel tax funds are collected for distribution to Illinois municipalities and cannot be used for other purposes. “Other people are getting paid,” he said. “Why are you guys monkeying with that money?”

Bourne, who was appointed to replace Wayne Rosenthal in the House of Representatives in February after Rosenthal was appointed as director of the Natural Resources Department, laid the blame at the feet of legislative leaders. “No money is being appropriated until all the money can be appropriated,” she said. While the Senate approved a bill to release motor fuel tax funds, she said, Gov. Bruce Rauner made it clear he would veto the legislation if the House sent it on to him. Some entities are being paid, she noted, because they went to court to get a court order. In the meantime, other funding, such as funding for 911 emergency phone systems, remain in limbo.

“Aren’t you in favor of 911 getting money?” Fisher asked.

“Of course, I’m for 911 getting money, but I’m also for responsible budgeting,” she said.

“It seems like a haphazard way of doing things,” Fisher continued.

“Absolutely,” said Bourne. “I think it is completely irresponsible for the leaders to not sit down and come up with a budget. You’re right. You’re completely right.”

“Being right doesn’t solve the problem,” Fisher countered.

“We have a spending problem,” Bourne asserted. “We have to fix our spending problem so that we are not spending more than our revenues. We have to do that before we can have a secure financial future.”

In other action, the council:

• Voted to revise the employee handbook to include a revised section on sexual harassment. The change was required for the city to continue to be eligible to apply for some federal grant funds.
• Revised the rental agreement for the Gillespie Civic Center to require renters who plan to sell alcohol during their event to secure a temporary license from the Illinois Liquor Commission. The change does not affect persons who rent the center for wedding receptions and other events where alcohol may be served but not sold. Those renters will still be required to be covered under the city’s Dram Shop insurance policy.
• Voted to start automatically paying routine utility bills–Ameren, Frontier, Flowers Sanitation–rather than waiting for approval from the full council in order to avoid the possibility of incurring late fees.

NEXT MEETING: The Gillespie City Council will meet again on November 9, 2015, at 6:00 p.m.

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