COMMITTEE:          Water/Sewer/Street & Alleys

 

DATE:                        May 10 2006

 

TIME:                        5:30 p.m.

 

MEMBERS

PRESENT:                 Johnston, Hermes (left at 7 p.m.), Strong, Orr

 

ABSENT:                   Gilmour                      

 

NON-MEMBERS

PRESENT:                 City Administrator John McIntyre, Water & Sewer Superintendent Ken Jeffries, Public Works Superintendent Gary Van Duyne, Executive Secretary Puracchio, Reporter Monson

 

DISCUSSION:           Minutes

 

ACTION:                   Alderman Orr made a motion and Alderman Hermes seconded to open the meeting at 5:32 p.m. All yes. Motion passed.

 

                                    Alderman Orr made a motion and Alderman Johnston seconded to approve the minutes as presented and have them placed on file. All yes.  Motion passed.

                                   

DISCUSSION:           Cherveny-Chesson Ct. Drainage Ditch Issue

 

ACTION:                   Committee directed McIntyre to write a letter to Cherveny informing him that if he wants to change the drainage he will have to get it professionally engineered and constructed at his own cost.

 

                                    Peters, in the middle of the block, has plugged the catch basin.  He has been sent a letter instructing him to call Van Duyne.  He did not respond and was sent another letter.  If he does not respond in two weeks the Committee directed Van Duyne to inform Peters that the City will clean it out at his expense.

 

                                    The Committee will write up a work order for Van Duyne to cap the basin off

 

DISCUSSION:           Additional Employee

 

ACTION:                   The Committee directed Jeffries to put an additional employee into his budget.  With the sewer plant coming on line it would be best to have this person trained now.

 

DISCUSSION:           Water/Sewer Fees

                                                           

ACTION:                   Jeffries and Puracchio have been working on water/sewer fees for the industrial/commercial properties.  The city’s fees are below what they should be. Puracchio will e-mail formulas to the Committee for comments and it will then be given to the attorney to be put into ordinance form.

 

DISCUSSION:           Miscellaneous – Water/Sewer

 

ACTION:                   Van Duyne stated he has been having a lot of problems on North Washington Street and asked that when the slip lining project starts to make sure this area is included.

 

                                    The area on Kankakee River Drive that was part of the new water main project still has some issue that need to be rectified.  Van Duyne stated he will look at the ditch by the tracks.  He believes it needs further dredging to restore it back to its original state.  There are also some homes that need grass seeding. Van Duyne stated to have them call him and he will take care of it.

 

                                    The Committee instructed Van Duyne to tell Habing he needs to make a formal request to the City if his daughter can tap on to his existing 2 inch water line.

                                   

                                    Puracchio will ask the City Engineer to draw up a plat of easement for the electrical line for the lift station on Kahler.

 

DISCUSSION:           Jackson Street Signs

 

ACTION:                   Van Duyne asked for direction.  The Committee agreed to put no parking during school hours on the south side of street.  This would have to be done in ordinance form.

 

DISCUSSION:           T-Mobile Antenna Agreement

 

ACTION:                   McIntyre stated the attorney was looking this over.

 

DISCUSSION:           Sidewalk Program

 

ACTION:                   Van Duyne said several sidewalks have been ripped out in anticipation of the contractor pouring the concrete.  The contractor has a small crew.  They are doing a nice job, just a little slow going.

 

DISCUSSION:           Intersection by Angelo’s

 

ACTION:                   Van Duyne stated that he had received a call from a concerned resident stating he was almost hit from someone going into Angelo’s side entrance off of RT 53.  The Committee stated this was not a city street.  McIntyre offered to write a letter to IDOT/County relaying the resident’s concerns.

 

DISCUSSION:           Seasonal Help for Public Works Department

 

ACTION:                   The Committee directed Van Duyne to begin the hiring process and that they don’t need names to hire.  At the next Council meeting they will request council approval to hire two seasonal employees.

 

DISCUSSION:           Deer Ridge

 

ACTION:                   Aldermen were contacted by a resident association member stating the roads are in bad conditions and they would like to address the committee.  They will be at the next Committee meeting.

 

DISCUSSION:           Ryan Street

 

ACTION:                   In order for this street to become a two way street it would have an approximate cost of $36,000 without curb, gutter, storm sewers.  The Committee directed Van Duyne to get some quotes on blacktopping it.

 

DISCUSSION:           Miscellaneous – Public Works

 

ACTION:                   Mr. LuPage has requested that his situation on East Buchanan Street be addressed.  He would like to have the street vacated to him and to have it tarred and chipped.  The city cannot vacate it because there are two other properties that are involved.

 

DISCUSSION:           Downtown Lighting

 

ACTION:                   Orr stated that Monson had received a quote for 26 lights at $35,000.  There are 8 organizations that have committed to a donation and Grundy Bank also stated they would be interested in donating for their two lights.

 

                                    At this time conduit exists from Jackson to Jefferson and Jackson to Van Buren.  When the original conduit was run they ran into issues with coal chutes located under the sidewalks. Van Duyne stated that he will create a map showing where the conduit has been run.  IDOT will have to be contacted about the 7 lights running on RT 53.  These lights are classified as decorative lighting. Van Duyne stated that these lights were already mapped out for RT 53 when the original lights were put in and believes they do not have to go through any process.  McIntyre will check on this.  Orr also asked McIntyre to check with the attorney about the bidding process.

 

DISCUSSION:           Miscellaneous

 

ACTION:                   Stop Sign at Kirstin & Kerry – The Committee directed Van Duyne to get an opinion from the Police Chief and it would have to be put in ordinance form for approval of placement.

 

                                    Trailer Park – There are three trailers on the island that are abandoned along with the trailer at the sewer plant.  The Committee directed Van Duyne to contact Clark’s Recycling to get a quote on removal.

                                   

DISCUSSION:           Adjournment

 

ACTION:                   Alderman Orr made a motion and Alderman Johnston seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:20 p.m. All yes. Motion passed.