CITY OF KANKAKEE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 2, 2008
7:00 P.M.
MAYOR GREEN: I’m ready to call the meeting to order,
please. And, I’d like to ask Pastor
Daniel Morris from the First Church of God to come up and open our meeting with
a prayer.
PASTOR MORRIS: Let us pray.
Sovereign God, we thank You that You have had Your hand upon this nation
from its inception to this very day.
And, we pray for continued blessings upon every aspect of government and
upon every level–national, state and local.
But, we are here this night to pray for Your guidance and wisdom to be
poured out upon the leaders who are gathered in this room–our Mayor, Aldermen
and others who have been given the privilege and responsibility by the people
of Kankakee to deliberate and to make wise decisions that are right and good
for this community. Even in the midst of
diverse thoughts and ideas, may a spirit of unity prevail. In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ, we pray. Amen.
MAYOR GREEN: Now, I’d like to ask the Youth Group from
the First Church of God to come forward and lead us in the Pledge of
Allegiance. Why don’t you come on right
up here, up front, and here’s the flag over here?
FIRST CHURCH OF GOD YOUTH
GROUP AND ALL: Pledge of Allegiance.
MAYOR GREEN: Thank you very much. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
PRESENT: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Hearn; Linneman; Diersen;
Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (14)
MAYOR GREEN: Department
Heads.
CLERK DUMAS:
PRESENT: Regnier; Harmon; Doyle; Spice; Bohlen; Power;
Simms; Tyson; Shaw; Nolan; Gordon; Fuerst (12)
ABSENT:
Leshen (1)
MAYOR GREEN: Thank
you. You have the minutes of the August
18, 2008, meeting. I need a motion to
approve.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Hearing
no objections from my colleagues, I move they be approved as recorded.
ALDERMAN HEARN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Hearn to approve the minutes of the
August 18, 2008, meeting. All in favor,
AYE. Opposed, same sign.
MOTION TO APPROVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF
AUGUST 18, 2008
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, there are no.........the
Chair has no Petitions. Are there any
from the Floor? Hearing none, we’ll move
into Communications. We have a Communication
from Comcast which is self-explanatory.
Aqua Illinois. We have C which is
a letter of intent from Collision Revision which is going to occupy the old
Taylor-Chrysler-Plymouth dealership on the east side. Alderman Hunter, Alderman Brown and myself
met with them not too long ago and I think they’re shooting for a target date,
I believe, of what?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: October
1.
MAYOR GREEN: October
1. And, that’s great to see that
facility will be viable once again on the east side of Kankakee. Ah, St. Pat’s is requesting a street
closing. St. Paul’s Lutheran and Bishop
McNamara’s requesting their annual Homecoming parade. The Riverside Colts are requesting permission
to hold a tag day and parade and also there’s one that I think Alderman Brown
brought up tonight which is the Kankakee Eastside Junior Football League which
is requesting permission to hold a parade at 2:00 P.M. on that same day. What’s happening here is the Eastside Colts
are playing the Riverside Colts on that day so they’re each trying to get their
fans together.
ALDERMAN BROWN: We’re
the Eastside Bulldogs.
MAYOR GREEN: Bulldogs. Excuse me.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor
Green, I move that we approve items 7 D, E, F, G, H, I and Alderman Brown has a
Communication from Eastside Junior Football as well, too. I move we approve those requests and let me
just say, ah, also, ah, I’d like to commend you and Alderman Brown for your due
diligence in working with the Collision Revision folks in terms of the car dealership. You guys may be well aware of the fact that
we don’t have a new car dealership in the City of Kankakee. Initially, they’re going to try to bring
upscale used cars in with hopes of bringing in a new car dealership. So, we’re pleased and honored to interface
with them and we’ve also been told–and correct me if I’m wrong Alderman–that
they’re initially talking about 35 jobs that will be created.
MAYOR GREEN: Right.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: So,
it’s a pleasure to work with you guys in that regard in terms of bringing jobs
that you can hopefully raise families on, send kids to school, pay a mortgage,
for those jobs, some of which will be generated out at the Taylor, Chrysler,
Plymouth location. I move we approve the
request.
MAYOR GREEN: Is
there a second?
ALDERMAN BROWN: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Brown.
All in favor, AYE. Opposed, same
sign.
ST. PATRICK CHURCH IS REQUESTING STREET CLOSURE OF
SOUTH INDIANA AVENUE FROM MERCHANT STREET TO HICKORY STREET ON SATURDAY,
SEPTEMBER 13, 2008, FROM 3:30 P.M. UNTIL 4:00 P.M. FOR THE ANNUAL HALF PADDY
FESTIVAL BLUE MASS PROCESSION
ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN SCHOOL IS REQUESTING STREET
CLOSURE OF BUTTERFIELD TRAIL FROM THE SCHOOL’S EASTSIDE DRIVEWAY TO THE STOP
SIGN AT THE CORNER OF MAIN AVENUE AND BUTTERFIELD TRAIL ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER
25, 2008, FROM 9:30 A.M. UNTIL 10:30 A.M., FOR THE
SECOND ANNUAL REFORMATION RUN
BISHOP MCNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL IS
REQUESTING PERMISSION TO HOST THEIR ANNUAL HOMECOMING PARADE ON FRIDAY,
SEPTEMBER 26, 2008, BEGINNING AT 12:00 P.M.
RIVERSIDE COLTS FOOTBALL LEAGUE IS REQUESTING
PERMISSION TO
HOLD A TAG DAY ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2008
RIVERSIDE COLTS FOOTBALL LEAGUE IS REQUESTING PERMISSION
TO
HOST A HOMECOMING PARADE ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20,
2008,
BEGINNING AT 1:00 P.M. AT KING MIDDLE GRADE CENTER
KANKAKEE EASTSIDE BULLDOG JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE IS
REQUESTING PERMISSION TO HOST A HOMECOMING PARADE ON
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2008, BEGINNING AT 1:00 P.M.
AT KING
MIDDLE GRADE CENTER
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, under Standing
Committees, you have the report from the Public Works meeting. Anything additional, Alderman Brown?
ALDERMAN BROWN: As
submitted.
MAYOR GREEN: Thank
you.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Just
wanted to mention, Mayor Green, we don’t have a special notice like Budget did
in terms of changing the meeting, but on your calendars you will see that the
Public Safety meeting maZana, tomorrow, 5:15 in these Chambers.
MAYOR GREEN: Thank
you. Ah, next, we’ve got the Report of
Officers.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Mayor,
I move to approve the Report of Officers, place the money into the proper
accounts and pay the bills in the amount of $2,237,883.10.
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 $2,237,883.10. Any specific question
on any of the bills as listed? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Hearn; Linneman; Diersen;
Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
ABSTAIN:
Jones (1)
REPORTS OF OFFICER APPROVAL OF BILLS - $2,237,883.10
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Unfinished Business. There is none. New Business.
The very first item is an Ordinance declaring surplus property. This is six utility poles and I can tell you
why this is on the agenda. I had a
request from the Village of Aroma Park.
They would like to have these poles as they need them in their
community. I had contacted Pete Schiel
to ask him if we had any extras because of all of those we’re taking down from
Harrison Avenue as we move back to the east.
He said we’ve got more than enough and so what I’d like to do is to have
you approve this Ordinance and then we can donate these to the Village of Aroma
Park and they’ll take care of coming and picking them up and hauling them to
their facility.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Can
we do both items. 11 A and B.
MAYOR GREEN: Yes,
you can.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Move
to Suspend the Rules that would interfere with consideration of the passage of
these Ordinances at this time.
MAYOR GREEN: Is
there a second?
ALDERMAN BARON: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Baron to Suspend the Rules that would
interfere with the passage of the Ordinances declaring certain property
surplus. 11A and 11B. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Hearn; Linneman; Diersen;
Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (14)
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Is there a motion to put these
Ordinances on their Final Passage and Pass?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Move
these Ordinances be placed on their Final Passage and Pass.
ALDERMAN BARON: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Baron to put Ordinances 11A and 11B on
Final Passage and Pass. Any
questions? Roll call.
ORDINANCE DECLARING CERTAIN PROPERTY SURPLUS OF THE
CITY
OF KANKAKEE – KANKAKEE MUNICIPAL UTILITY - AND
AUTHORIZING
THE SALE THEREOF
ORDINANCE DECLARING CERTAIN PROPERTY SURPLUS OF THE
CITY OF KANKAKEE – KANKAKEE POLICE DEPARTMENT – AND
AUTHORIZING THE SALE THEREOF
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, is a request to go out
to bid for three I believe–isn’t that correct Eric?
ERIC SHAW: Yes. Three.
MAYOR GREEN: Three
light-sized pickup trucks for the Code Department. Those items were in their budget and we’re
asking permission to go out for bid.
ALDERMAN BARON: I
so move.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Baron, seconded by Alderman Williams to allow the Code Department
to go out to bid for three new pickups in the Code Department. Any questions?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor
Green, I’d like to pose my question to Eric.
Ah, did you take a look at any alternative options such as flex fuel
vehicles or electric vehicles by any chance?
Inasmuch as what we’re contending with in terms of fossil fuels.
ERIC SHAW: I
did not take an in-depth look. I did
take a scan. They have a new electrical
system comin’ out. The vehicle’s running
around $14,000.00. And, then we’d have
to get some kind of charging station.
And, I didn’t do a full analysis of what that would cost. For the people running the City it might be a
good alternative indistinguishable old fossil fuel.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Yeah,
that was my question.
ERIC SHAW: But,
I took a look at it and prices are still high and there’s still some other
obstacles to overcome, like charging and........
ALDERMAN HUNTER: But,
are you saying the fossil fuels would be more expensive than electric or the
flex fuel?
ERIC SHAW: No. Certain vehicles, depending, like I said I
have to do more research into that. That
would probably be like next year or the year after. Right now, the price of an electric car was
running like $15,000.00. As, these
vehicles I’m lookin’ at run under $12,000.00.
Plus then we’d have to get some kind of system of plugging cars in every
night. And, that might run into a
problem.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Is
that difficult, do you think?
ERIC SHAW: I
didn’t check it.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: To
plug in a car. indistinguishable
ERIC SHAW: If
you don’t have a place to plug it in, yes.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: But,
if you had researched it as you.....
ERIC SHAW: I
said I didn’t get into an in-depth analysis of, you know, what kind of charging
they might use, but it’s also the car cost.
I said there’s different options out there and I didn’t get into a full
analysis.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Might
you pursue further investigation in this regard in the future?
ERIC SHAW: Yes,
sir.
MAYOR GREEN: Any
other questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Hearn; Linneman; Diersen;
Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (14)
RECOMMENDATION TO GO OUT FOR BID TO PURCHASE THREE
NEW VEHICLES FOR THE BUILDING AND CODE DEPARTMENT
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, is item D and before we
go into that, I’m going to ask Corporation Counsel Bohlen to go through the
rationale on this Ordinance.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: In
the collection process of collecting for unpaid sewer bills, one of the items
or methods of collection is to turn off water.
That’s what we are in agreement with the water company. However, the State statute does not permit
termination of either sewer service or water service for unpaid solid waste–not
paying the portion of the bill dealing with solid waste disposal. We now have several accounts who have made
the decision that they won’t pay the solid waste disposal since there’s no
enforcement mechanism to require them to pay for solid waste disposal. What this is is an enforcement
mechanism. It says if you don’t pay for
solid waste disposal, then your service can be terminated after 60 days and if
you then don’t renew your solid waste disposal by paying what you owe, it’s in
violation–an Ordinance violation and a continuing Ordinance violation until you
do correct the situation. It’s an effort
to provide a supplementary collection mechanism to one that doesn’t exist right
now.
MAYOR GREEN: Questions? Alderman Epstein.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: Can
you give us an approximation of how many accounts are currently in default?
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: No. Honestly, I can’t. I know there are–the issue has arisen, ah,
with several accounts where people are selectively paying sewer bill and
indicating–and some of these are larger accounts, multiple building accounts,
but not paying solid waste disposal and not paying the old COPS fee. They’re in arrears that far back on some of
these.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: If
you say multiple accounts in one building, so are you talking rental
properties?
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: Some
of them, yes.
ALDERMAN HEARN: Who
will enforce this?
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: It’ll
be enforced–the water company will notify the Adjudication Office and the
Collection office when it’s not..........when somebody is refusing or has not
paid that portion of the bill. And, at
that point, then we will enforce it. We
will inform the disposal service they should not provide service to that
address until they’re told to renew the service.
ALDERMAN HEARN: And,
what department is that?
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: Pardon
me.
ALDERMAN HEARN: And,
what department.......
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: Collection
department. And, Adjudication
together. Because the tickets will come
out. Adjudication or Collection will
notify Code to issue the tickets.
MAYOR GREEN: Alderman
Epstein.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: If
the units are rental properties, why can’t we just pull their rental license?
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: That’s
an option also. But, this is a more
effective option, I think. I think
either of those things can happen. If
they’re owner-occupied, we have no indistinguishable mechanism.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: I
understand that.
MAYOR GREEN: Alderman
Schwade.
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Ah,
the problem with not picking up the garbage though, is that everybody else
suffers.
MAYOR GREEN: Public
Works will end up picking up the garbage that’s why we enforced the fine
mechanist to require that they reimburse the City for that. I don’t know any other way to recover the
cost of what Public Works is going to have to do.
MAYOR GREEN: Alderman
Jones.
ALDERMAN JONES:
Will you set up payment
arrangements for them to catch up on what they owe on their solid waste?
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: Sure.
ALDERMAN JONES:
Like the water company
has worked with people to get their sewer bills paid, so that will be an option
for the people.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: I
have no problem. Somebody that is in
good faith, falls behind, wants to make arrangements. Quite frankly, that’s not what’s triggering
this issue. What’s triggering this issue
are people coming in and saying, I want to pay only the sewer bill. I do not want to pay the.....apply any of the
money I’m paying to solid waste. The
method has been passed along to several individuals and they are selectively
paying their bills.
MAYOR GREEN: Any
other questions? Is there a motion on
this Ordinance, then?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Somebody
move to First Reading. How soon do you
need it?
MAYOR GREEN: I
would recommend First Reading.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: I
will make a motion to put it on First Reading.
ALDERMAN SWANSON: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Epstein, seconded by Alderman Swanson to put this Ordinance on its
First Reading. Any further
questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter (I’m going to review this further.
I’ll vote aye on First Reading); Epstein; Baron; Ciaccio; Swanson;
Hearn; Linneman; Diersen; Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
PRESENT: Williams (Until I get some further
information.) (1)
ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 34 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE
OF THE CITY OF KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS (KANKAKEE MUNICIPAL
SOLID WASTE UTILITY)
MAYOR GREEN: Motion carries. There
are no Appointments. There are no
Motions and Resolutions. Are there any
Aldermanic comments or questions?
Alderman Williams.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: Mayor
Green, I was wondering, ah, since we have heard so much information of late
dealing with how other communities are disposing their trash, have we looked or
had a research team or have our legal staff perused any other cases or see if we
can come up with to alleviate our situation with a landfill?
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: Yes. Several indications were discussed about, I
think, Tallahassee County, Florida, was one of them and that’s a gasification
process. That, so far, has met with a
lot of resistance because of increased air emissions. And, there’s a substantial debate going on as
to whether that process is an improvement or a not an improvement. I have not investigated....not talked to
anyone from Lake County, Indiana, as Mr. Bruck has suggested, but we’ll
certainly do that. We’re obviously
trying to find any alternative we can find.
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: And,
I believe Chicago is working on something, also.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: Yeah,
but Chicago–I did do the research on the company that Chicago is meeting
with. And, that company describes itself
as a research and development facility or company that’s in the experimentation
stage. So, I don’t think we
want.........that’s not, you know, I hope they’re successful in Chicago and if
they are that may be an alternative.
Right now, we certainly can’t afford the investment. It’s a matter of finding if the company is
willing to make the investment and follow up from there and if the investment
makes sense.
MAYOR GREEN: Any
other comments or questions?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor
Green.
MAYOR GREEN: Excuse
me. Just a second, Alderman. Alderman Jones.
ALDERMAN JONES:
Mayor, after Mr. Bruck’s
comments about, I believe it was Lake County–I don’t know what the mileage
difference would be, but if it would be to save money for the City, would it be
an option that we could take our garbage to Lake County versus Momence?
MAYOR GREEN: We
don’t know yet. That’s what Mr. Bohlen
just said. We haven’t done the research
on that one yet. We were just all
notified late last week.
ALDERMAN JONES:
And, I had another
theory, Mayor. I know the City of
Chicago has their own garbage trucks where they pick up their own garbage and
stuff like that and plow in the winter and I did not know if that would be an
option for this City, too, at some point.
MAYOR GREEN: Don’t
know yet.
ALDERMAN JONES:
Okay. Alderman Hunter.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Yes,
ah, fellow Council members, I just want to take a few brief moments to discuss
a matter with you regarding something I think is utmost concern and should be
to all of you as well as our labor force as well as, ah, the business community
and the tax payers as a whole. Ah, I’d
like to discuss with you briefly the local hiring preference. I know in the past we’ve done something with
respect to a matter out at Armstrong when we developed, I think, a TIF out
there and we had local goals and targets for City residents. Ah, as you guys well know, Kankakee–the City
of Kankakee–is a City within the County of Kankakee and the United States of
America. As of the 2000 census, the City
population was 27,491. Ah, I’d like to
provide you with some additional statistics with respect to the City of
Kankakee. According to the government data,
the average salary for jobs in Kankakee, Illinois, is $26,911.00 and the median
income of households in Kankakee was $30,469.00. That’s per annum. Kankakee has an unemployment level of 10% and
this is something I got off the web today.
I’ve been kind of discussing this stuff and doing a little research on
this prior to the big article that transpired with Mayor Kent recently. Kankakee has an unemployment level of 10%
compared with the national average of 5.8(%). I bring to you a local Hiring Preference
Ordinance that was adopted in Waterbury, Connecticut. Ah, this is an analysis of the legal and
policy options done by the National Employment Law Project prepared at the
request of Good Jobs Partnership. What I’m
essentially saying here, as of late, you know how we do sales tax sharing
agreements, we do real estate sharing agreements, incremental increases and so
forth. We share those kinds of
things. We do special service
areas. We do TIFs, etc. As a consequence of those deals there are
jobs generated. Are you with me? Jobs are created, real estate taxes go up,
jobs are created. We are involved
directly and indirectly in making those things happen. And, as a consequence of that, I would think
that you as a City Council, the administration and the City’s tax payers should
derive some kind of benefit in terms of those projects. For example, I would think that local
businesses could provide goods and services towards those projects. There could be contracts let which people in
the City of Kankakee, the immediate area–meaning the Kankakee County–should
derive some benefits, etc. Jobs–some of
those jobs are primary jobs in terms of construction, goods and services being
consumed by the workers, materials being consumed and as a consequence of that,
jobs are created. And, our tax base is
enhanced. This particular report which I
have in front of me, ah, was prepared by the National Employment Law Project at
the request of Good Jobs Partnership, contains recommendations and policy
options for implementing resident hiring preferences. The National Employment Law Project (NELP) is
a national research and advocacy organization that specializes in state and
local work force policies which effect the poor and the unemployed, including a
broad range of work force development programs.
Waterbury, as I indicated, is in Connecticut. Like many cities throughout the country, must
find ways to stem the tide of economic decline.
Government-assisted construction projects are an important part of the
effort to reveal our inner cities. Of
equal importance is the need to raise construction projects receiving municipal
assistance. Ah, as I indicated earlier,
we’re involved in TIFs, we’re involved in special service areas, real estate
sharing agreements, etc. What concerns
me as well, too, is that we want to make sure that local companies, local
businesses, local entrepreneurs, receive those contracts that are here in the
City of Kankakee. I think that’s our
hope and our desire. Additionally, if
indeed they are the lowest and most responsible bidder, let’s say, we would
hope that some of the contracts–sub-contracts–that they let, go to businesses
within the County or the not-too-far-out businesses, maybe Iroquois
County. Hopefully, not in Indiana, not
in some of the northern suburbs of the City of Chicago. We’d like some of those dollars bouncing
around our respective community. Ah, the
NELP recommends that the City of Waterbury adopt a resident hiring preference
for publically-funded construction projects in order to expand its job base and
hold recipients of public funds accountable to the community. And, what we mean in terms of assisted
projects, shall mean by any commercial development which receives any public
subsidy including, but not limited to, tax abatements, tax fixing agreements,
public bonds, public grants and public land for easements, sold or otherwise
conveyed for the benefit of the development for less than the appraised fair
market value as determined as the date of transfer which shall not be located
in an Enterprise Zone. So, all I’m
saying to you that various projects that come up, I notice, for example, we
just passed around–where’s that folder that was passed around in terms of
the.....of the, ah, the progress being made with respect to the old City Hall
which is now the Public Safety Building?
We can see all the different progress that’s transpiring. I think all of you had an opportunity to take
a look at this, right? In terms of what’s
going on. Somebody want to come and get
this? See. Ah, did you guys see it? I thought you did. Okay, if you didn’t see it, it kind of shows
you the progress that’s going on. Now,
the lowest bidder was a local company and we’re pleased with that. However, I have some concerns myself about
the sub-contractors and I would think........I would think that a lot of these
sub-contracts that were let could be done by local businesses and local
personnel. I think we have a ready
available workforce which could do some of that work. Hopefully, as you guys go over at the old
City Hall and take a look at the Public Safety Building, you’ll see people in
your neighborhood, you’ll see some of your relatives, you’ll see some in-laws,
you’ll see some cousins, you’ll see some people down the street, you’ll see
some people who live in Bradley, you’ll see some people who live in
Bourbonnais. And people who live in the
City of Kankakee. I’m hoping that
transpires. What I’m saying essentially,
I’m not throwing any rocks at anybody, but in terms of projects that come up in
the future, we should make sure that there’s some kind of local preference in
terms of we’re offering some assistance in terms of tax incentives and other
things that we offer as a City Council and a form of government. We offer them incentives. And, as a consequence of that, I think that
we deserve some benefit as well, too, and the taxpayers of the City of Kankakee
deserve some benefits in terms of jobs
and contracts. So, be mindful of
that. When these projects come up, when
these incentives come up, make sure that some of our people get some of those
jobs. For example, not necessarily that
we’re offering anything in terms of incentives, last week or the week before
when Mayor Green, Carl and I sat down with a new car dealership, we wanted to make
sure that they’re going to be assisting community-based organizations. We’re going to make sure that they hire local
people. And, the two gentlemen that we
met with said, no problem. So, we’re
going to make sure that..... that based upon the unemployment level of 10% in
the City of Kankakee and it may be higher when you think in terms of some other
areas in this County, you know, unemployment may be 30-40% in the eastern
quadrant of this County. But, I’m just
saying to you, we’re offering incentives.
We’re offering things for these different businesses and we should
derive some benefit from our offers to assist.
MAYOR GREEN: Any
other questions or comments? If not,
then I’ll entertain a motion we go into Executive Session to review minutes of
some past meetings, personnel and pending litigation. Is there a motion?
ALDERMAN WILLIAMS: So
moved.
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: I
second it.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Williams, seconded by Alderman Schwade. All in favor, AYE. Opposed, same sign.
MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS
PERSONNEL,
PENDING LITIGATION AND REVIEW OF MINUTES
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. May I ask for the Chambers to
be cleared, please?
7:30
P.M.
7:45
P.M.
MAYOR GREEN: The
meeting is now back in session. I would
like to entertain a motion that we release some Executive Session Minutes. Being very specific, the first occurring on
October 31, 1986. I’ll entertain a
motion to release those minutes.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: Do
you want to do all six (five) at once?
MAYOR GREEN: You
voted on all six (five), Alderman?
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: Yeah.
MAYOR GREEN: Yes,
he did. That’s correct. So, it’ll be 10/31/86; 12/15/86; 12/22/86;
06/01/87 and 12/07/87.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: Those
all deal with those.........
MAYOR GREEN: They
all dealt with the same thing, so..........they all deal with the same
individuals, so that’s why I’m doing it that way. So, I’d entertain a motion to release those
minutes.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: I’ll
make the motion.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Epstein. Is there a second?
ALDERMAN BARON: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Second
by Alderman Baron. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Hunter;
Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Hearn; Linneman; Diersen; Jones;
Schwade; Coleman; Cox (13)
NAY:
Brown (1)
MOTION TO RELEASE THE FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE SESSION
MINUTES:
10/31/86; 12-15-86; 12-22-86; 06-01-87 and 12-07-87
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. Next, we’ll entertain a motion
to release the following minutes.......Executive Session minutes. 10/07/02; 02/17/04;10/06/03; 04/19/04;
03/20/06; 08/21/06; 09/18/06; 04/02/07 and 09/04/07. Is there a motion to release the minutes that
I just read?
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: I
so move.
MAYOR GREEN: Alderman
Schwade. Is there a second?
ALDERMAN COLEMAN:
Second.
ALDERMAN BARON: February
17, 2004, is the one I changed.
MAYOR GREEN: Oh,
I’m sorry. February 17, 2004, was not
one to be released in that most recent list.
Will the maker and seconder agree to that?
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Yes.
ALDERMAN COLEMAN: Yes.
MAYOR GREEN: Thank
you. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Epstein; Baron; Williams; Ciaccio; Swanson; Hearn; Linneman; Diersen;
Jones; Schwade; Coleman; Cox (14)
MOTION TO RELEASE THE FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE SESSION
MINUTES:
10/07/02; 10/06/03; 04/19/04; 03/20/06; 08/21/06;
09/18/06; 04/02/07 and 09/04/07
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
carries. I’ll entertain a motion to
adjourn.
ALDERMAN HEARN: So
moved.
MAYOR GREEN: Motion
by Alderman Hearn. Is there a second?
ALDERMAN SWANSON: Second.
MAYOR GREEN: Alderman
Grant (Swanson). All in favor,
AYE. Opposed, same sign.
MOTION TO ADJOURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING
7:50
P.M.