Regular Meeting

City Council

December 19, 2006

Mayor Roy Strong, presiding

The meeting was called to order with the pledge to the flag.

The clerk called the roll finding the following Aldermen present: Mietzner, Orr, Strong, Hermes, Hoppe, Plese and Gilmour.

Public Hearing: Alderman Gilmour made a motion and Alderman Hoppe seconded to Open the Public Hearing at 7:08 p.m. All yes. Motion passed.

Accounting Supervisor Robin Theobald relayed some questions and answers regarding the 2006 tax levy and how it will help the City of Wilmington. Larry V. Hall asked a question if taxes will be going up on personal property and how much taxes will Wilmington get from the local businesses? Theobald stated the property taxes will go up but not due to the City’s tax levy. Theobald explained that every year PTELL has gone down and in order for the City to capture all the benefits from the new growth it has to ask for the maximum amount.

Alderman Gilmour made a motion and Alderman Orr seconded to Close the Public Hearing at 7:15 p.m. All yes. Motion passed.

Alderman Orr made a motion and Alderman Hoppe seconded to Approve the Minutes of the December 5, 2006 meeting as presented, and have them placed on file. All yes. Motion passed.

Mayor=s Report: Mayor Strong announced City Hall’s holiday office hours. It will be closed at noon on Friday, December 22, as well as December 25 and 26, and January 1, 2007.

Citizen=s Comments: Deanna Stewart asked the Council if they have an itemized list of the attorney fees that were accrued on her property on West River Road. She spoke briefly about the house that was to be torn down and asked why it took so long for the process to take place. City Attorney Mahoney stated that the original owner did not want the house to be torn down and therefore created a lengthy court process.

Bobby Thomas asked the Council why the street sweeper has not picked up the leaves throughout the City? Gary VanDuyne replied that the street sweeper had been broke but is now fixed. When the weather permits the sweeper will be back out to pick up the leaves.

Planning and Zoning Committee: John McIntyre spoke briefly regarding Jayson Walinski=s property. The reason for the variance request was due to the fact the city has a platted street next to his property but in fact the street does not exist nor does it look likely it ever will.

Alderman Orr made a motion and Alderman Gilmour seconded to Approve Ordinance 06-12-19-04 granting a variance to reduce the northerly setback from 30 feet to 15 feet at Vista and Debbie Lane. (PIN 17-36-310-001). All yes. Motion passed.

Next scheduled meeting is Thursday, January 4, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.

Water, Sewer, Streets & Alleys Committee: Alderman Strong made a motion and Alderman Hermes seconded to rescind and reconsider the December 5, 2006 motion to accept the bid from Water Well Solutions for the Well Capping Project not to exceed $8,293.00 All yes. Motion passed.

Alderman Strong made a motion and Alderman Gilmour seconded to Accept the bid from Layne Christensen Company for the well capping at the old city pump house site not to exceed $6,130.00 All yes. Motion passed.

Alderman Gilmour made a motion and Alderman Mietzner seconded to Approve the Agreement from Rogina and Associates for Construction Administration and Engineering Services for Wilmington=s Waste Water Treatment Plant not to exceed $360,000.00. All yes. Motion passed.

Alderman Gilmour made a motion and Alderman Mietzner seconded to Hire Nick Hansen as Public Works Crew 1 at an hourly rate of $16.46 per hour pending the passage of a drug and physical exam. All yes. Motion passed.

Next scheduled meeting is on Wednesday, January 10, 2007 at 5:30 p.m.

Police and ESDA Committee: Next scheduled meeting is Monday, January 8, 2007 at 5:30 p.m.

Finance/Administration/Land Acquisition Committee: Alderman Plese made a motion and Alderman Hermes seconded to Approve the November Payables in the amount of $133,309.93 and the November Collector=s Report in the amount of $205,665.38. All yes. Motion passed.

Alderman Plese made a motion and Alderman Gilmour seconded to Approve Ordinance # 06-12-19-03 - an Ordinance for the Levy and Collection of Taxes for the City of Wilmington, Will County, Illinois, for the Fiscal year beginning May 11, 2006 and ending May 1, 2007. All yes. Motion passed.

Alderman Plese made a motion and Alderman Hermes seconded to Reduce the Letter of Credit for the Prairie Farm Subdivision from $1,273,740.00 to $378,183.00 based on the City Engineer=s recommendation. All yes. Motion passed.

The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.

Ordinance and License Committee: The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, January 9, 2007, at 6:00 p.m.

Personnel and Insurance Committee: Alderman Mietzner made a motion and Alderman Gilmour seconded to approve Ordinance #06-12-19-01, an Ordinance Creating the Assistant City Administrator Position. Aldermen Hermes, Plese, Gilmour, Strong and Mietzner yes, Aldermen Orr and Hoppe no. Motion passed.

Alderman Orr expressed his opposition on the motion stating he feels this position is not needed for the City. He does not feel this is warranted now or in the future. He expressed that there is, in his opinion, a lack of inadequacy on part of the staff. He stated this is not personal against Puracchio and that she has performed above and beyond her current duties.

Alderwoman Hoppe also expressed her opposition on the motion stating that she feels this is not warranted by the City and this is not personal against Puracchio. She feels that when the City Administrator was hired on, he was to take over the roll as City Administrator.

Alderman Mietzner made a motion and Alderman Plese seconded to hire Sheryl Puracchio as Assistant City Administrator at a salary rate of $48,000.00 per year. Aldermen Mietzner, Plese, Hermes, Strong, Gilmour yes, Aldermen Orr and Hoppe no. Motion passed.

Alderman Mietzner stated with the industrial and residential growth that the city is experiencing, it is warranted at this time to hire an Assistant City Administrator. He stated that with the growth coming our way, it is going to take more than one administrator to handle it. He feels that Puracchio is the right person to fill the position and that this is an appropriate move for the City at this time.

Alderman Plese stated that the City will no longer have an executive secretary position and that he feels Puracchio is very competent to fill this position. He stated that with the growth of the City we can not afford to miscalculate on the incentive packages and we need to have someone in there to help with the tough decisions for growth.

JADA: Nothing to report at this time.

City Administrator Report: John McIntyre reported that Gary VanDuyne did a great job with interviewing the Public Works position and he feels that the City has decided on the best candidate for the position.

Attorney=s Report: Attorney Mahoney had nothing to report at this time.

Executive Session: Nothing at this time.

Alderman Gilmour made a motion and Alderman Hoppe seconded to Adjourn the Meeting at 7:42 p.m. All yes. Motion passed.

Sheila Long

City Clerk