CITY OF KANKAKEE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 7, 2008
7:02 P.M.
MAYOR GREEN: I’d
like to call the meeting to order. I’d
like to ask Ken Leshen from Temple Beth Israel to come forward and open the
meeting with a prayer.
KEN LESHEN: In
this time of renewal, in this time of the celebration of the Passover holiday,
the exodus of Israel from the clutches of the oppressors in Egypt, I would like
to say this prayer of peace. Grant us
peace, Your most precious gift, oh eternal source of peace. And give us the will to proclaim this message
to all the peoples of the earth. Bless
our City and our nation that they may always be strongholds of peace and
its advocate among the nations. May
contentment reign within its borders, health and happiness within its
homes. Strengthen the bonds of friendship
among the inhabitants of all lands. And,
may the love of Your name hallow every home and every heart. Teach us, Oh God, to labor for our
righteousness and inscribe us in the book of life, blessing and peace. Blessed is the eternal God, the source of
peace and let us say, Amen. And, I add
a particular, personal prayer that we all move rapidly tonight so that by a
quarter after eight I’m in front of the tv set.
MAYOR GREEN: Now
I’d like to ask Cub Scout Troop #307 to come forward and lead us in the
Pledge. Why don’t you come all the way
up front? Come on up here. The flag is over there.
SCOUT LEADER: Please
join us in the Pledge and remove all non patriotic hats.
CUB SCOUT TROOP 307 AND ALL: Pledge of Allegiance
MAYOR GREEN: Thank
you very much. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
PRESENT:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams Ciaccio; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones;
Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
MAYOR GREEN: Department
Heads.
CLERK DUMAS:
PRESENT:
Regnier; Young; Doyle; Spice; Bohlen; Power; Leshen; Simms; Tyson; Shaw;
Nolan; Fuerst (12)
ABSENT: Gordon (1)
MAYOR GREEN: Thank
you. You have the minutes of the March
17, 2008, meeting. I need a motion to
approve.
ALDERMAN HEARN: Hearing
no comments or, ah, corrections from my colleagues, I’ll make a motion that we
approve the minutes as they are written.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hearn, seconded by Alderman Hunter to approve the minutes of March
17, 2008. All in favor, AYE. Opposed, same sign.
MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES OF MARCH 17, 2008, CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. You almost threw me, changing
that around like that. Petitions. The Chair has none. Are there any Petitions from the Floor? Hearing none, we’ll move into
Communications. We have three
Communications. One from the Trost
family, another from Comcast and the third is from the March of Dimes
requesting permission to hold the March for Babies on Sunday, May 4, from 8:00
A.M. ‘til 1:00 P.M. and we need a motion to approve.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Motion
to approve.
ALDERMAN GRANT: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Brown, seconded by Alderman Grant to approve the request of the
March of Dimes. All in favor, AYE. Opposed, same sign.
MARCH OF DIMES IS REQUESTING PERMISSION TO HOLD THE
MARCH FOR
BABIES ON SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2008, FROM 8:00 A.M. UNTIL
1:00 P.M.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, is Standing
Committees. Alderman Brown, Public
Works.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Just
general information, however, just for the record, there’s a portion in here
that really wasn’t part of our minutes and we need to remove it.
MAYOR GREEN: Pardon.
ALDERMAN BROWN: The
last part on page two, the back page.
MAYOR GREEN: Okay.
ALDERMAN BROWN: The
last part of the minutes indistinguishable
MAYOR GREEN: Okay. Next, Alderman, would you like to go ahead
and deal with the issue of the stump grinder now?
ALDERMAN BROWN: Yes. Yes.
We, ah, went out for bid for a stump grinder for the City of Kankakee
and the bid was opened this morning.
And, the bid was opened this morning and we had three bids. Vermeer of Wisconsin, Vermeer of Great Plaines
and Vermeer Sales and Services of Central Illinois. And, I think that’s in indistinguishable
Illinois. And, the Illinois company came
in as the low bid for $29,350.00. So, I
would make a motion that we approve that bid.
ALDERMAN GRANT: I’ll
second it.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Brown, seconded by Alderman Grant to approve the low bid for the
stump grinder. Any questions?
ALDERMAN HEARN: What
account is this from? What account is
this taken out of?
MAYOR GREEN: Mr.
Spice. That’s out of the........which
account are we taking that out of?
JAMES SPICE: I
think we were planning on Capital.
MAYOR GREEN: It’s
Capital, Alderman. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones;
Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
RECOMMENDATION TO ACCEPT THE BID FOR THE STUMP GRINDER
FOR
THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Planning and Code Committee.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: The
information is in the packet.
MAYOR GREEN: Okay. Ordinance Committee. Alderman Diersen.
ALDERMAN DIERSEN: Nothing
further.
MAYOR GREEN: Okay,
thank you. We have the Report of
Officers.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: I
move to approve the Report of Officers, place the money into the proper
accounts and pay the bills in the amount of $2,098,467.53.
ALDERMAN CIACCIO: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Williams, seconded by Alderman Ciaccio to approve the Report of
Officers, place the money in the proper accounts, pay the bills in the amount
of $2,098,467.53. Any questions on any
individual bill? Any question on any individual
bill? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
REPORT OF OFFICERS APPROVAL OF BILLS $2,098,467.53
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, Unfinished Business. There is none. Ah, we’ll move into New Business. The first item under New Business is an
Ordinance declaring surplus property in the Code Department. We need a motion to Suspend the Rules that
would interfere with the passage of this Ordinance.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: I’d
like to make a motion to Suspend the Rules, please.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Epstein. Is there a second?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Second
by Alderman Hunter to Suspend the Rules that would interfere with the passage
of this Ordinance. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Is there a motion to put this
Ordinance on its Final Passage and Pass?
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: So
moved.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Epstein, seconded by Alderman Hunter to put this Ordinance on its
Final Passage and Pass. Any
questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
ORDINANCE DECLARING CERTAIN PROPERTY SURPLUS OF THE
CITY OF
KANKAKEE – BUILDING AND CODE DEPARTMENT – AND
AUTHORIZING
THE SALE THEREOF
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, is the Budget and Annual
Appropriations Ordinance for the Municipal Utility. We’re asking this be put on its First Reading
only.
ALDERMAN BARON: I
would so move.
ALDERMAN HEARN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Baron, seconded by Alderman Hearn to put the Ordinance on First
Reading for the Kankakee Municipal Utility for the year 2008-2009. Questions?
Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
FIRST READING
BUDGET AND ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE FOR THE
KANKAKEE MUNICIPAL UTILITY, KANKAKEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS,
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2008 – 2009
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Again, if anyone has any
questions on this, we handed this out at last month’s meeting. If you have any questions, please contact Mr.
Simms or myself. We’ll be happy to go
over it because we will ask for final approval two weeks from tonight because
we need to have that budget in place because it’s a requirement of our Bond
Ordinance. Next, is the recommendation
to go out for bid for a new vehicle for the Building Inspector and the Code
Enforcement Department. That’s in the
current year’s budget and we’re asking permission to go out to bid.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: I’ll
make a motion to go out for bid for a new vehicle.
ALDERMAN COLEMAN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Epstein, seconded by Alderman Coleman. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
RECOMMENDATION TO GO OUT FOR BID FOR NEW
VEHICLE FOR BUILDING INSPECTOR AND CODE ENFORCEMENT
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, is the recommendation to
accept the Fire Department Grant award.
Chief Young, you want to just give them a quick narrative of this?
CHIEF RONALD YOUNG: This
is for the Assistance and Firefighter Grant Award for two pumpers. The total amount of the grant is $550,000.00
of which the federal share is $495,000.00.
The........what this does, it’ll bring the Fire Department up to mark on
the apparatus replacement schedule.
Probably the first time that I’ve ever seen it on my 24 years on the
fire department that the apparatus replacement schedule is up to date and I
think that that’s a tribute to the hard work.
MAYOR GREEN: For
your own information, as you’ll recall, the first go-around on this, we thought
it was almost too good to be true. We
were.........on the first round we were awarded $975,000.00. On the final cut, we ended up at $550,000.00. But, we do have some money in the equipment
replacement fund. That’s what we’ll use
to buy these two vehicles. As you’re
aware, we’re looking at some bond refinancing of some current bonds and we’ll
be talking with you in the not too distant future about that. And, that would be a part.........those
dollars, again, of course, are used to replenish the equipment fund that we use
to buy major pieces of equipment. So,
all we’re asking for is to give us permission to accept this grant.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: I
so move, Mayor Green.
ALDERMAN COLEMAN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter, seconded by........I’m sorry, who? Alderman Coleman. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones;
Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
RECOMMENDATION TO ACCEPT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GRANT
AWARD
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Ah, next, Alderman........not
Alderman, Attorney Power, if you want to address the issue. We need to set some dates for the Code of
Conduct hearing.
ATTORNEY POWER: Ah,
yes, our hearing officer has given me a series of........or some dates here
that, ah, he is available. April 8, 9,
15, 16, 17, 21 and 22.
ALDERMAN COX: Mayor
Green.
MAYOR GREEN: Yes,
Alderman.
ALDERMAN COX: There’s
some things that came up that I’m not ready.
MAYOR GREEN: Okay,
then we’ll just delay it. Okay? That’s okay, Alderman. We’ll do it in May. Thank you, Mr. Power. Ah, next, ah, is an Ordinance amending
Chapter 8 of Building and Building
Regulations of the Kankakee Municipal Code as amended. Mr. Shaw, Alderman Brown asked me earlier
what.......what this does and I’d appreciate it if you’d give the Council a
brief explanation.
ERIC SHAW: What I did is, I’ve reviewed the
Codes to bring up the amendments of the 2003, 4 and 5 areas that we have here,
to bring some of them from the State Codes so that we’d be compliant and we can
enforce them properly. Ah, tighten up
some of the grey areas, ah, in the building code that we reviewed in our Safety
Committee about a month ago. We were
talking indistinguishable they needed.
MAYOR GREEN: I
think the Alderman has some questions and what he suggested to me and the
Chair, really, has no problem with it, is to put this on First Reading only
which will give everybody the opportunity to look at it and come back to you or
to the Committee with any questions.
Does that address your issues Alderman Brown?
ALDERMAN BROWN: Absolutely,
because I have not had the chance to read through this thoroughly. There were some things in here that I had
some problem with–some issues that have come up in the past. And, certainly, I would like to discuss
those.
MAYOR GREEN: Okay. So, are you willing, then, to make a motion
to put it on its First Reading?
ALDERMAN BROWN: I’ll
make a motion that we put it on First Reading only.
MAYOR GREEN: Is
there a second?
ALDERMAN HEARN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Brown, seconded by Alderman Hearn to put this Ordinance on its
First Reading only. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
FIRST READING
ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER EIGHT (BUILDING AND
BUILDING
REGULATIONS) OF THE KANKAKEE MUNICIPAL CODE, AS
AMENDED
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Ah, we’ve already dealt with
the stump grinder. The next is the
health insurance for the City. As you
are aware, we had come back to you and had talked to you that Personal Care was
looking at us and we were looking at an 18% increase in premium. Ah, we decided that since we were, that we
really should look at the marketplace and see what was out there. Ah, we did bid out the insurance, went out
into the marketplace. Comptroller Spice
worked with our consultant, Jim Kennedy with HUB International, and worked with
our broker who manages it for us. We did
bid it out. We actually got three bids
back. One from Personal Care. One from United Healthcare and the other from
Aetna. Aetna ended up being the best of
all of them. And, it was an exact
duplicate of the Personal Care coverage ‘cause that’s been a problem of the
past where there’s differences in coverage and differences in physicians, etc.,
and it mirrors that contract exactly.
And, what they came back to us with was the first year, this year, there
will be no increase. The premium will
remain the same as it is and our worst case scenario is next year it could be
anywhere from 7-10%, which we felt we really could live with because over a
two-year period, that’s a pretty small increase to face in the health
industry. So, the administration and Mr.
Spice’s office, we’re recommending that we accept the bid from Aetna and
proceed with that effective May 1. Jim,
did I...........is that a good synopsis?
JAMES SPICE: Yes,
it is.
MAYOR GREEN: Alderman
Epstein.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: So,
it’s a two-year contract?
MAYOR GREEN: Yes.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: And,
does the City offer an HMO and a PPO?
MAYOR GREEN: Yes. Yes. A
good share of our employees are in the HMO.
Dennis.....
Alderman
Baron.
ALDERMAN BARON: Is
there a problem with pre-existing conditions?
MAYOR GREEN: No. Pre-existing conditions can’t be written out.
ALDERMAN BARON: So,
it’s identical to what we have right now?
MAYOR GREEN: Yes.
ALDERMAN BARON: At
zero percent?
MAYOR GREEN: Yes. And, actually, there are some hospitals that
are added to it that we didn’t have before.
University of Chicago, Mayo, Kettering, Cancer Institute. Orthopedic
Associates was not on the other. It’s on
this one. So, it’s a.......... it really
is a much better........it’s a better contract and to be very frank with you,
it’s an easier way for us to manage and control our costs.
ALDERMAN BARON: I
would, ah.
MAYOR GREEN: Questions
from anybody?
ALDERMAN HEARN: Are
the doctors networks about the same as Personal Care?
MAYOR GREEN: They
are the same. If not, better. You know, that was always the concern,
Alderman, because any time we made a switch, there was always a problem because
there was always someone’s physician that was left out. There are none that are left out in this
changeover. That’s what makes it, ah,
makes it probably the smoothest transition we have and if no one makes a
change, they don’t even have to..........don’t even have to fill out a new
application. It rolls over.
ALDERMAN BARON: I
would move that we accept the proposal of Aetna along the terms...... along the
lines of what you’ve just described–0% increase the first year and they’re
limiting themselves to a maximum of 10%.
MAYOR GREEN: Yes.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: I’ll
second, Your Honor.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Baron and a second by Alderman Hunter, to.........this is effective
May 1, by the way, to change our coverage as of May 1.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Is
there a sign up period?
MAYOR GREEN: Jim.
JAMES SPICE: I
didn’t hear the question.
MAYOR GREEN: Sign
up. If you don’t want to make any
changes, Alderman, there is no sign up.
It just rolls automatically into what you had into the Aetna
contract. If you want to make changes,
if you want to make changes in your plan, then you have........then
JAMES SPICE: I
guess I can address that. We have an
open enrollment period that starts the middle of April and will go into the end
of April–April 30–where you can come in.
If you haven’t had insurance before, you can sign up with our
program. That’s an annual event. If you have one of the products now, all of
the enrollment is supposed to be transparent to the person having the
insurance. So, they’re going to take
care of all that. The only time you
would have to see them and sign up is if you’re changing from an HMO to a PPO
or vice versa. Otherwise, all the
enrollment’s taken care of and, indistinguishable Yes, sir.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Jim,
are we still going to keep the CompDent for dental?
JAMES SPICE: We’re........we’re
exploring the dental right now. Right
now we use MetLife and, ah, we haven’t used CompDent for a couple years now.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Oh,
MetLife, okay.
JAMES SPICE: And, ah, we are looking at what Aetna
provides for dental. We’re looking at
what they provide the insurance and by the end of the month we should have a
recommendation there to either continue with MetLife or make a change. So we’re expecting the rates any day now.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Okay.
MAYOR GREEN: Any
other questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
UPCOMING CHANGES FOR 2008/2009 HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY
FOR THE CITY OF KANKAKEE
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, I’m asking for your
concurrence in the reappointment of Nancy Spice as our member of the Kankakee
County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
ALDERMAN BARON: I
so move.
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: I
second it.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Baron, seconded by Alderman Schwade. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
REAPPOINTMENTS
NANCY SPICE – KANKAKEE COUNTY CONVENTION AND VISITORS
BUREAU
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, under Motions and
Resolutions, if you so desire, we can do A, B and C together. C Alderman Coleman is going to.........excuse
me, go ahead.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Mr.
Mayor on C, on the Resolution, I would like to make a motion that we accept it
and that Resolution be given to the Junior Usher Board which is the committee
which is here tonight, Carolyn Rice, and for that Resolution be read this
coming Sunday at Morning Star Missionary Church.
MAYOR GREEN: Okay. We have it ready, so we can do that at the
end of the meeting. So, I need a motion
to pass those three Resolutions.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Motion
to approve.
MAYOR GREEN: And,
second by........
ALDERMAN COLEMAN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Brown, seconded by Alderman Coleman. All in favor, AYE. Opposed, same sign.
ARBOR DAY PROCLAMATION
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY 5, THROUGH MAY 11, 2008,
AS BUILDING SAFETY WEEK
RESOLUTION HONORING REVEREND WILLIAM H. AND LEOLA COPELAND, JR.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Can
I give that Resolution to her?
MAYOR GREEN: Yes,
if you want it, it’s up here. Do you
want to give that to Alderman Brown?
Next, is, you’ve got D, E and F which we did not–we apologize, that’s
not in your packet. D and E and F are
all the same. We’re asking you to pass
those three Resolutions. We are
intervening on all of those on their property tax appeal. We do that, as you’ll recall, with the City
of Kankakee and the School District. So,
I need a motion to approve all three of those Resolutions.
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: I
so move.
ALDERMAN GRANT: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Schwade, seconded by Alderman Grant to approve D, E and F. Any questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF A REQUEST TO
INTERVENE
WITH THE STATE OF ILLINOIS PROPERTY TAX APPEAL BOARD
RELATING
TO PROPERTY OWNED BY AIMCO
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF A REQUEST TO
INTERVENE
WITH THE STATE
OF ILLINOIS PROPERTY TAX APPEAL BOARD RELATING
TO PROPERTY OWNED BY ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF A REQUEST TO
INTERVENE WITH
THE STATE OF ILLINOIS PROPERTY TAX APPEAL BOARD
RELATING TO
PROPERTY OWNED BY COGNIS CORPORATION
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, is a Resolution
authorizing the expenditure of City funds consistent with the year
2007-2008. We’re asking for that tonight
as we will not have a budget completed by May 1 of this year,
so we’re asking for this Resolution allowing the administration to spend funds
at the same rate next year as we are this year.
ALDERMAN BARON: I
move that we adopt this Continuing Spending Resolution.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Second,
Your Honor.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Baron, seconded by Alderman Hunter to approve the Continuing
Spending Resolution. Any questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURE OF CITY FUNDS
CONSISTENT
WITH FISCAL YEAR 2007/2008
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. We have no reason for an
Executive Session tonight. Are there any
comments from the Aldermen? Alderman
Epstein.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN:
There’s a memo in the packet
on the computer system. Do we have to
take any action on that?
MAYOR GREEN: Oh,
it wasn’t on the agenda. Did I miss it?
JAMES SPICE: It
was on the original agenda. It
inadvertently got dropped off the final agenda.
MAYOR GREEN: Yes,
we do. Jim, why don’t you address that
issue and tell ‘em what we’re looking for here.
JAMES SPICE: Okay. The City’s financial system operates on an
IBM AS400. We had purchased a new system
about five years ago and upgraded indistinguishable for several years,
but as it turns out, the computer technology is changing so much, the programs
are so much more robust, they do so much more.
They can interface with spread sheets, word documents and all those
types of things. So, now the current
machine that we have is outdated and the software vendor is continuing to
upgrade his program to take advances in technology as well to make our system
more robust. So, we need to replace that
system. It seems like an opportune time
because if we get it now, we can have it set up for our new facility and have
that ready when we walk in and it’ll be ready to go and we won’t see any change
in our operations or anything. We’re
ready to go and we’ll be able to go from there.
So, it seems like an opportune time to that. indistinguishable to replace and I
talked with the software provider and this is the machine that they’re telling
me.........he told me the last eight to ten years indistinguishable size
for the future and the way the programs currently run. The replacement would be an IBM.......if
think it Model i550.
MAYOR GREEN: We
did not go out to bid so it’ll take a ¾ majority to do it. Three quarters.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: I’ll
make a motion that we purchase the IBM computer for the cost of $28,873.00.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Epstein, seconded by Alderman Hunter to approve the request of the
Comptroller’s officer for the new IBM hardware.
Questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE:
Brown; Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Grant; Hearn; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
MOTION TO APPROVE REQUEST OF COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE
FOR NEW IBM HARDWARE
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Alderman Hunter, you had a
question, also?
ALDERMAN HUNTER:
Real quick and, I, too, want
to see the game. Some people say Kansas,
some people say Memphis. Let me just ask
you this. I don’t see Bill Yohnka here
tonight. But, could you give us an
update on the Metro Bus system/Walmart situation?
MAYOR GREEN: Yes,
I can. Ah, at the MPO meeting, which is
the Metropolitan Planning Organization, of which the City is a part, and so is
the Village of Bradley, Bourbonnais, Aroma Park and the County of Kankakee, the
issue came up at that meeting about ten days ago. The Director, Rob Hoffman, was at that
meeting. I asked the question again,
what the status was of providing the bus service to the constituents,
especially that go south of town, to the college and to work and to the new
retail area. That issue has still not
been resolved. The first resolution was
that the City of Kankakee split the cost with River Valley Metro of operating
that between now and the end of their fiscal year which was about–approximately–$75,000.00,
and I said no. I wasn’t interested in
doing that because the constituents that ride a bus can come from anywhere in
the whole metropolitan area so why should the City of Kankakee pay that
bill? I felt it was the responsibility
of that board to come up with the funds to provide that service. Ah, part of the issue is, the State of
Illinois has underfunded this transportation system. We were subject to receiving 55% of the funds
requested this year. We’ve only received
45% of those funds. They made a special
request to update this particular route which happens to be the busiest route
in the whole system. And, it’s the one
that travels in the southern section of our City, that goes to the college, it
goes to the businesses in that area and it happens to be a standing-room only
bus, is what it amounts to because it’s.......it is a very successful
route. My point was to them, I said,
really it is the responsibility of River Valley Metro to get that done. It’s also the responsibility of the State of
Illinois to come up with the proper funding for our bus system here. The State of Illinois has never had a problem
finding funding for the Chicago bus system or the RTA when they needed it, but
they seem to have a big problem finding the funds for the rest of us in
downstate Illinois. The need is not
going to become any less because as the cost of fuel continues to escalate,
more people are going to ride the bus and use it. And, I believe that we need to put whatever
external pressure we can on the River Valley Metro, on the State, on IDOT, ‘cause
that’s who does the funding of this, to see that the proper funds are put into
place so we can provide proper transportation for all the citizens in Kankakee,
and really, throughout the whole metropolitan area. My suggestion is that any of us should
encourage any of our constituents to attend the meetings of the River Valley
Metro and tell them how we feel because we only have one representative on that
board. We only have one vote on that
board. Ah, the.......what occurred at
the MPO meeting is we’ve decided each of us as individual communities are, of
course, going to write to IDOT, write to our State legislators and encourage
them to get it done. We also decided
that we would do it as a unified group of all of the Mayors, representing all
of the communities to the same individuals again, but I think you, as elected
officials, I think you need to consider and talk to your constituents and we
will..........there’s a calendar that’s put out. That board meets on a regular basis and we
ought to go and we ought to say, “What are you doing? And when are you going to get it done?” I think you also need to talk to our
legislators. I think you need to talk to
Rep. Dugan and to Senator Halvorson and encourage them to do whatever they
can. ‘Cause it’s really an important
function for our community. It’s an
important function for the whole metropolitan area, not just Kankakee. But, right now the problem is ours and it’s
right in our own back yard. And, as the
need becomes more......... becomes more necessary to do that, it’s going to
affect all of the communities. So, that
sort of gives you a little bit in a capsule.
Alderman Williams.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: I
was under the impression that Metra was experiencing pretty good profits with
the local bus service they have so far.
MAYOR GREEN: You
mean here in the metropolitan area?
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Right.
MAYOR GREEN: I
don’t think so. I mean, it’s truly a
subsidized unit of government because funding comes from about three sources–four
sources actually. It comes from the
federal government, the state government, the municipalities that participate
in it and from the fares. Now, the
fares, right now, to ride that bus costs you $1.00. There isn’t any way that the fares are going
to support it. We, as a City,
provide..........we pay in so much money every year based on our usage of the
system and as a City, we put in close to $100,000.00 a year, into the
system. Each of the other municipalities
puts their proportionate share in, also.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: But,
they can go up to University Park and commute there and can’t commute.........
MAYOR GREEN: Well,
Alderman, and I raised that issue at the meeting, also. I said, maybe that’s a route we need to do
away with until we take care of what we need right here in our own back yard
before we start traveling out of our area.
And, that route, of course, doesn’t pay for itself. And, the ridership is not that great. The ridership is within this metropolitan
area of Kankakee, Bradley, Bourbonnais and Aroma Park. I mean, let’s face it, that’s where it
is. Alderman.
ALDERMAN HEARN: Excuse
me. Ah, I did call Mr. Hoffman and
discussed the situation with him. I had
a couple of suggestions. It didn’t seem
like my suggestions were very good, but
anyway I worked for District 111 for a long time, as I told him. There was a lot of times we were on lean,
hard times and you have to make adjustments.
MAYOR GREEN: Right.
ALDERMAN HEARN: And,
I said I don’t see why that you can’t maybe combine a couple of bus routes that
are light in people and, I said, and free up a bus that you could fill this
route with. I just felt he didn’t
really want to make those kind of changes.
That’s the feeling I had from the conversation he and I had.
MAYOR GREEN: I
think you’re probably right. The
issue..........as you well know, Alderman, even with the schools, all of it is
a time route system and all of the system routes within the River Valley Metro,
they’re hour turn-around times so they’ve still got to match that. But, sometimes, you’re absolutely right, you
need to make some changes to get it done.
He didn’t care for the suggestions I was making either, but, you know
what, that’s my job and that’s all of your jobs, too. We need to watch out for our people who live
in Kankakee because they’re the ones we represent and they use...........we use
that system pretty heavily. And, it’s...........it
is going to become more.........a lot more heavily used as the cost of fuel
increases, families aren’t going to be able to afford to drive cars and the bus
system is going to be extremely important.
Alderman Ciaccio.
ALDERMAN CIACCIO: Is
there any way we can go into electric stuff?
Over in Japan, after....... I was there after the war and everything was
electric. Are we...have we got a
contract here with those people or can we go into electric buses?
MAYOR GREEN: Well,
right now, all of our buses are fossil-fueled.
That’s what we have. And, that’s
what we get. Those buses are purchased,
actually, from the State of Illinois so that’s where the system is. I’ll be very honest, the culprit here, in my
opinion, is the State of Illinois. They’re
not funding what they’re supposed to be funding. Don’t let it be so quiet, it’s the honest
truth. Like dead silence drops over the
room. But, that’s the truth. They’re not stepping up to the plate. And, I think each and every one of you, you
know, you have the opportunity. I think
you need to talk to our legislators and, again, they will..... they will lobby
the State of Illinois because they will.
Because that’s their job. Anyway,
that sort of gives you a report. And, as
Attorney Bohlen said, we do need to go to their board meetings.
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Do
you remember when they are?
MAYOR GREEN: No,
but I’ll tell you what I can do. I can
get you a list of them and I will distribute it to all of you in your mailboxes
so you’ve got them for the whole year.
The other thing I said, you really didn’t have any problem coming up
with money when you bought the building out there. But, now you have trouble coming up with the
money when it takes another bus to service our constituents. They don’t like to hear those things. Alderman Diersen.
ALDERMAN DIERSEN: How
much money do we provide for that bus service?
MAYOR GREEN: Ah,
I said to Jim approximately $100,000.00 in cash we put into it every year.
ALDERMAN DIERSEN: And,
what percentage of the total funding is that?
MAYOR GREEN: You
know, Alderman, I can’t answer that question.
I don’t know. Of the municipal
funding, I can’t answer that. But, I can
certainly find out the answer, but I cannot.
Any other comments?
ALDERMAN DIERSEN: I
have another question about something else.
MAYOR GREEN: Okay. Are we done with the bus issue? Then I’ll........okay, thank you.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: We’re
not done with it.
MAYOR GREEN: Oh,
no, we’re not done with it. I mean, done
with the comments right now.
ALDERMAN DIERSEN: These
property tax........that we are going to protest. We’ve done this in the past. What has our success been?
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: I
just received a letter and on the other four........excuse me.........three of
the four that were before the Board of Review, all of them have kept, they
rejected the appeal of the landowner in three of those four situations. The fourth is an ongoing discussion about a
possible resolution that would resolve it without any effect on our taxes. It involves a TIF issue. But, Armstrong, I’ll circulate the
letter. There’s three of the four that I
know we were involved in have been denied.
Primarily because of the School District and the City’s involvement.
MAYOR GREEN: The
big loser here, if there’s any changes, of course, is the school district. They’re the largest taxing unit. Any other questions? Any other Aldermanic comments?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Motion
to adjourn.
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: I
second.
MAYOR GREEN: Okay,
motion by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Schwade. We stand adjourned.
MOTION TO ADJOURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING
7:45 P.M.