CITY OF KANKAKEE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 19, 2010
7:01 P.M.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Good
evening. I would like to call the
meeting of the City Council to order. I
would like to ask Pastor Sherman Collins, Sr., from the International Healing
and Deliverance Center to come forward and lead us in prayer.
PASTOR COLLINS: Eternal
Father, we thank You right now once again.
We thank You for how You watched over us, Lord, the City of
Kankakee. Touch all the Aldermans, all
the officials right now. In your name,
Lord, we ask you, cover them with Your blood in the name of Jesus. And, Lord we ask You to let the intercessions,
the prayers and the intercessions around this City, around each country
continue to go in prayer. Don’t let the
intercessions come off the wall until the assignment is fully completed by
You. And, we give Your name praise and
we give You honor and we thank You for what You are about to do for this City
and this Council right now. In Jesus’
name. Amen.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. I would now like to ask Alyssa
Copeland to come forward and lead us in the Pledge. Alyssa, if you’ll just come right up here.
ALYSSA COPELAND AND ALL: Pledge of Allegiance.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. Our photographer is ready. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
PRESENT:
Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Tall; Faford; Swanson; Osenga;
Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (13)
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Department
Heads.
CLERK DUMAS:
PRESENT:
Regnier; Young; Spice; Bohlen; Tyson; Banasiak; Cross; Gordon; Bertrand;
Yohnka (10)
ABSENT:
Power; Simms (2)
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. I’m going to deviate a little bit
from the agenda this evening. The first
item I would like to move up is the swearing in of Rayleen Harris. At this point, I would like a motion to
approve the appointment of Rayleen Harris as Alderman for the 5th
Ward replacing Alderman Sam Ciaccio who recently retired.
ALDERMAN TALL: I
so move.
ALDERMAN SWANSON: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: A
motion has been made by Alderman Tyler Tall, seconded by Alderman Danita
Swanson to approve the appointment of Rayleen Harris. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Tall; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones;
Schwade; Davidson; Cox (13)
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. I would ask Rayleen to come forward
and be sworn in.
CLERK DUMAS: Raise
your right hand and repeat after me.
RAYLEEN HARRIS: I,
Rayleen Harris, having been elected to the officer of Alderman in the City of
Kankakee, in the County of Kankakee, in the State of Illinois, do solemnly
swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States of
America and the Constitution of the State of Illinois and I will faithfully
discharge the duties of the office of Alderman to the best of my ability.
CLERK DUMAS: Congratulations.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Now
you can take your seat.
ALDERMAN HARRIS: Okay,
thank you.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you Alderman Tall. I’m going to ask the
Clerk to do roll call again so we can include Alderman Harris.
CLERK DUMAS:
PRESENT:
Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Tall; Harris; Faford; Swanson; Osenga;
Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. Moving on, the minutes of the July
6, 2010, meeting are in your packet. Do
I have a motion to approve?
7:08 P.M.
Richard Simms arrives
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mayor
Epstein, I move that they be approved as recorded.
ALDERMAN BROWNE: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Rich Browne to approve the minutes
that are in the packet. Are there any
additions or corrections? Hearing none,
all those in favor, aye. Opposed, same
sign.
MOTION TO APPROVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JULY
6, 2010
MAYOR EPSTEIN: The
minutes are approved. I have no Petitions. Are there any Petitions from the Floor? Moving on.
Again I ask your indulgence. I
would like to amend the agenda and I would like to, at this time, read a
Resolution honoring and celebrating the life of Lt. Frank W. Fouts, V. I would ask, Kathy, his wife, to come
forward. This is RESOLUTION NO. 2010 –34 HONORING
AND CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF
THE CITY OF KANKAKEE FIRE DEPARTMENT
LIEUTENANT FRANK FOUTS V WHEREAS, Frank
William Fouts V, the eldest son of Frank William Fouts IV and Bettina Tarquinio
Fouts, was born on October 29, 1972, in Chicago Heights, Illinois. His siblings included one brother, Jason, and
two half sisters, Jessica and Rebecca.
His stepmother was Gayle Fouts.
Lieutenant Fouts grew up in Crete, Illinois, graduated from Bloom Trail
High School, and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fire Science from Southern Illinois University; and WHEREAS, Frank Fouts started his career in firefighting by
volunteering with the Grant Park Fire Department, where he was eventually hired
on. He left the department to pursue his
bachelor’s degree. By the time he was
hired by the Kankakee Fire Department in 1998, he was a certified paramedic;
and WHEREAS, “There are some people who were born to be a
firefighter and Fouts was one of them,” remembers Chief Ron Young. Lieutenant Fouts, who at the time was the
department’s emergency medical services coordinator, implemented the use of
plastic index cards for seniors to list their ailments and their medications
and physician information. “So often
there is no one to tell us what the patient’s medical condition is or what
their history is,” Fouts explained at a public safety meeting. For dedication to protecting members of the
community, a desire to serve, courage to act, and an ability to perform by
upholding the fine traditions of the Fire Service in the Kankakee Fire
Department, Fouts and members of his shift were awarded a Unit Citation. Those same five members were presented with a
Meritorious Service Award for a fire on July 4, 2005. Lieutenant Fouts also wrote the book on the
medical emergency procedures for the City’s firefighters, which is read by all
new employees of the department. He was
promoted to Lieutenant in the Kankakee Fire Department on November 10, 2004;
and WHEREAS, aside from being a firefighter,
Lieutenant Fouts was also a master craftsman, a jack of all trades, and a perfectionist, and was often
called upon to tile bathrooms or refurbish basements. “He was the hardest working person,” said his
close friend Mike Panozzo. When asked to
recall what they remember best about Lieutenant Fouts, three words were
repeated by everyone: “hard-working”; “dedicated”; and “generous”; and WHEREAS, his most important role was being a loving and caring family man. He met the love of his life through her work
at Riverside’s emergency room, and on September 10, 2006, he married Kathleen
Benoit. They were blessed with two sons:
Frank “Grant” William Fouts, VI and Parker Edmund Fouts. Lieutenant Fouts had immersed himself into
his role as a father and was a big part of his sons’ lives; and WHEREAS, on
Thursday, July 1, 2010, Lieutenant Frank Fouts passed away at his home. He was a true hero who was honored and
respected by firefighters from across the state and parts of Indiana and Wisconsin. He will be remembered for his compassion, his
dedication in all he did, his strength, and his love of life; and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by Mayor Nina Epstein and
the City Council of the City of Kankakee, Illinois, to recognize and honor
Frank William Fouts V for his many years of unselfish and loyal contributions
to the City of Kankakee. It is indeed an honor and a privilege to present this
to you, Kathy.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Motion
to approve.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter, was that correct?
And, seconded by Alderman Carl Brown to approve the Resolution. All those in favor, aye. Opposed, same sign.
RESOLUTION HONORING AND CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF
LIEUTENANT FRANK W. FOUTS V
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. It was truly an honor to present
that this evening.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Mayor?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Yes.
ALDERMAN BROWN: For
the record, can we have the second by the entire City Council?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Absolutely. Motion made by Alderman Hunter, seconded by
the entire City Council for the City of Kankakee. Thank you, Alderman. Moving onto Communications. The first three items are for information
only. The next items, D, E, F, G, H all
the way through N. My only question, ah,
and it’s just a question, on Item I.
There’s a request to block the 300 block of North Schuyler Avenue. I’d have to ask Mr. Dear if that is going to
be a concern, since that’s really one of our major thru streets.
BERT DEAR: I
would think so. I, personally–any main
street like Indiana, Schuyler and Harrison, I think our Fire Department and
Police Department should have something to say about that.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Yeah,
I think, really, we might want to speak to the person who’s requesting that and
see if a side street might be better serve the purpose for that event. I just think that would be a very difficult
request to honor.
ALDERMAN DAVIDSON: Mayor,
if I may?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Yes.
ALDERMAN DAVIDSON: I
did speak with Mr. Harris in regards to that and I expressed similar
concerns. As a back-up, he would ask
that Locust–the side street where Locust and–it goes behind the building–I can’t
think of the name of the other street that runs north and south, be our
alternative. It would be going
west. It would be South East
Avenue. As an alternative.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: I
would appreciate if we would amend the request then to say that we will do the
alternate that was suggested by Alderman Davidson instead of the 300 block of
North Schuyler.
ALDERMAN DAVIDSON: I
make a motion that we amend the request.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Do
I have a motion to approve those?
ALDERMAN BROWNE: We
have..........Alderman Baron and I have one with problem with N there unless we’re
invited. Just teasing.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Better
watch out. He’ll have to block out more
time than that then if everybody else is invited.
ALDERMAN BROWNE: We
know how noisy he can be.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Do
I have a motion to approve the request with the correction on item I?
ALDERMAN BROWNE: So
moved.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
by Alderman Richard Browne. Is there a
second?
ALDERMAN TALL: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded
by Alderman Tall to approve the items.
All those in favor, aye. Opposed,
same sign.
ALMA PIZANO IS REQUESTING A NOISE PERMIT FOR A
BIRTHDAY PARTY
ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010, FROM 4:00 P.M. TO 10:00
P.M.
ST. PATRICK’S CATHOLIC CHURCH IS REQUESTING A NOISE
PERMIT FOR
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2010 AND SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18,
2010, FROM
5:00 P.M. UNTIL 11:00 P.M.; STREET BLOCKAGE OF THE
ALLEY IN THE SOUTH
300 BLOCK BETWEEN INDIANA AVENUE AND HARRISON AVENUE
ON
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2010, THROUGH SUNDAY,
SEPTEMBER 19, 2010;
AND STREET BLOCKAGE OF WEST HICKORY STREET BETWEEN
INDIANA
AND HARRISON AVENUES ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2010,
FROM
12:00 P.M. UNTIL 6:00 P.M., FOR THEIR ANNUAL HALF
PADDY FESTIVAL
DONATION REQUEST FROM ALDERMAN GLENN DAVIDSON FOR THE
FREE
BACK-TO-SCHOOL HAIRCUT PROGRAM ON MONDAY, AUGUST 23,
2010, AT
THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER
KRYSTAL BRYANT IS REQUESTING A NOISE PERMIT FOR AN
ANNUAL FAMILY REUNION ON SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2010, FROM 3:00 P.M. UNTIL MIDNIGHT
JAMES YOHNKA IS REQUESTING A NOISE PERMIT FOR A
BIRTHDAY PARTY
ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2010, FROM 11:00 A.M. UNTIL
MIDNIGHT
STEVIE HARRIS IS REQUESTING A STREET BLOCKAGE OF 300
BLOCK OF
NORTH SCHUYLER AVENUE FOR A BIKE, CAR AND SAFETY SHOW
ON
SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2010, FROM NOON UNTIL 6:00 P.M.
(AMENDED TO BE LOCUST STREET BETWEEN
SCHUYLER AND EAST AVENUES)
YOUTH FOR CHRIST CITY LIFE CENTER IS REQUESTING
PERMISSION TO
HOST A TAG DAY
FOR SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2010
GARDEN OF PRAYER YOUTH CENTER IS REQUESTING PERMISSION
TO
HOST A TAG DAY ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2010
THE MEN’S MINISTRY OF MORNING STAR MISSIONARY BAPTIST
CHURCH IS REQUESTING A NOISE PERMIT AND STREET BLOCKAGE OF EAST MERCHANT
STREET WEST OF SCHUYLER AVENUE AND THE NORTH PARKING
LOT,
INCLUDING THE FOUNTAIN AREA, FOR “REAL MEN COOK,” IN
CELEBRATION
OF FATHER’S DAY, ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2010, FROM
NOON UNTIL 8:00 P.M.
MARIA OROZCO IS REQUESTING A NOISE PERMIT AND STREET
BLOCKAGE
OF THE ALLEYWAY FROM 463 SOUTH FIFTH AVENUE TO
BOURBONNAIS
STREET FOR A BAPTISM PARTY ON SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2010,
FROM
2:00 P.M. UNTIL 10:30 P.M.
ALDERMAN GLENN DAVIDSON IS REQUESTING A NOISE PERMIT
FOR
A FAMILY AND FRIENDS COOKOUT ON SATURDAY, JULY 24,
2010, FROM
1:00 P.M. UNTIL 11:00 P.M.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: The
items are approved. Standing
Committees. Public Safety, Alderman
Hunter.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Ah,
they are self-explanatory. Would like to
receive and place them on file.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. License and Franchise, Alderman
Brown.
ALDERMAN BROWN: The
minutes are self-explanatory, but I would like to take a minute to just thank
Rich Browne for the job that he did in putting together the legalized video
gambling presentation at Olivet University.
And, I would like for him to just go through what he feels was the
progress for about a minute or something.
So, I’d like to concede to Rich Browne.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: indistinguishable
ALDERMAN BROWNE: Imagine
that.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman
Browne, would you like to give us a brief recap of the meeting?
ALDERMAN BROWNE: Sure. Well, thank you everybody who was able to
attend. For those who weren’t, it is on
DVD and we’ll be getting that to all of you as you request. I talked with Pete tonight and we’ll burn
copies so everybody can have one. It’ll
go out to the Mayors and other people who want it. But, I thought it was a pretty good
presentation from both sides and you’ll be able to see it on the DVD.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you very much, Alderman.
ALDERMAN BROWNE: Sure.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Report
of Officers. Do I have a motion to
approve the payment of the bills? Alderman Faford.
ALDERMAN FAFORD: I
move we approve the Report of Officers, place the money in the proper accounts
and pay the bills in the amount of $559,671.35.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
by Alderman Faford, seconded by.........
ALDERMAN OSENGA: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: .......Alderman
Osenga to approve the bills. Are there
any questions? Hearing none, roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Harris; Tall; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman;
Schwade; Davidson; Cox (13)
ABSTAIN: Jones (1)
REPORT OF OFFICERS APPROVAL OF BILLS - $559,671.35
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries. Moving onto New Business. The first item is an Intergovernmental
Cooperative Agreement between the Metropolitan Planning Organization. This is a pretty standard intergovernmental
cooperative agreement. Do I have a
motion to approve?
ALDERMAN TALL: So
moved.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
by Alderman Tall. Seconded by.....
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: ........Alderman
Hunter to approve. Roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Harris; Tall; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman;
Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT METROPOLITAN
PLANNING ORGANIZATION E10037
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. Motion carries. The next new item on the agenda is Riverfront
Trail Phase II, an Agency Agreement for Federal Participation. Mr. Tyson is here if there are any
questions.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Brief
overview please.
DAVID TYSON: What
this is, is just an agreement that’s required.
If you recall we got money from the state that actually came through the
federal government. We’re doing portions
of Phase II for the river trail. This is
another agreement that the state came back with and asked for so we’re just
processing it.
ALDERMAN TALL: So
moved.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
made by Alderman Tall, seconded by Alderman Hunter to approve the Riverfront
Trail Phase II Local Agency Agreement.
Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Harris; Tall; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman;
Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
RIVERFRONT TRAIL PHASE II LOCAL AGENCY AGREEMENT FOR
FEDERAL PARTICIPATION SECTION 10-00276-00-BT TEI JOB NO. E10054
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries.
ALDERMAN BARON: Mayor?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Yes.
ALDERMAN BARON: Before
we leave this portion of the agenda, can we ask Mr. Tyson to describe Phase II
of the Riverfront Trail, just a bit?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Sure.
DAVID TYSON: Ah,
yeah, Phase II of the bike trail will run from like the corner where Aqua
Illinois is, where we stopped with Phase I.
We don’t have the exact route determined yet, but it will come through
City streets until we get up.......we have two alternatives. One of them would be, we would go
up........across Court Street, staying on the east side of the river, have a suspended
trail that would actually be on the west side of Kennedy Drive, would run
north, then run through the subdivision which is, I think it’s River
Place. And then get to Levasseur
Park. That trail, then connects to Perry
Farm. The other alternative that we’re
looking into would be to go up Wall Street, actually go into Bird Park, through
Bird Park, then you would either go back out onto the Wall Street to get to
Riverside Hospital. We’re trying to get
permission to use the old abutments that are north of the railroad trestle,
there, put a bridge across at that point because if we go to the west side and
we’re successful doing that it brings in Small Memorial Park and a lot more
parks into play with the bike trail the way it is. Then we will get.....we’ll connect on the
east side of the river. Go back through
the same direction that we talked about before.
But, what we are starting in right now with these agreements is actually
the study of which route we can use and which is the best and most feasible way
to go.
ALDERMAN BARON: What’s
the time table on that?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Time
table on the grant that we have right now is that the contract has to be let
and the money spent for the money that was allocated to us by September of
2012. The way it is looking right now,
we are hoping to have the project development report on the way and submitted
for the first time by March of 2011 providing we get the information back, the
plans from the state as far as contracts go, have plans submitted back to the
state by September of 2011. We’re anticipating
if it’s like even Phase I, it’ll take six or seven months for them to review
them and get it back to us which will
allow us to where our goal is to have this out and actually be ready for
construction in spring of 2012 and be ahead of the game.
ALDERMAN BARON: Thank
you.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: But,
I think it’s important to note that the money that was allocated is certainly
not enough for the construction phase.
That we are constantly looking for more funding. We hope to get a similar allocation from the
state next year, but we’ll..........
DAVE TYSON: And,
also, there’s.........we’re constantly writing grants from our office to try to
obtain money. We have another one that’s
due in two weeks and that’s a newly formed enhancement program that you might
have heard that the state has. This is a
perfect fit for that, so we’re going to try to get the rest of the money that
we’ll need for Phase II through the enhancement grant.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman
Hunter.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Just
a question. I understand the strike is
over. Can you give the implications on
that? I understand the construction
sites indistinguishable
DAVE TYSON: Most
jobs resumed today. To the best of my
knowledge is they settled Saturday evening and, ah, most of the jobs around
here were back in operation again the first thing this morning. Now that everything is settled, it should
just move on from this point. There
shouldn’t be any more strikes.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Okay.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. Any other questions? Moving onto Motions and Resolutions. We’ve already done the Resolution honoring
Lt. Fouts. The next item is a
Proclamation of Recommitment to the implementation of the ADA Act. This is the 20th anniversary. I’ve already submitted on line, our
commitment to that. I would just like a
motion to approve.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: I
so move.
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: I
second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Schwade to approve the
Proclamation. All those in favor,
aye. Opposed, same sign.
PROCLAMATION OF RECOMMITMENT TO FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE
ADA IN CELEBRATION OF THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE AMERCIANS
WITH DISABILITIES ACT
MAYOR EPSTEIN: The
motion is approved. The next item. For those of you who attended the
Environmental Services Utility Board meeting tonight, a proposal was made and
approved for us to enter into negotiations to do a contract with Allied Waste
for our solid waste services. At the same
time, the City was contemplating whether we would do this ourselves. In order to purchase equipment if we chose to
do it ourselves, we had to go out for bid because there is a five-month lag on
getting equipment. So, to cover our
bases, we also went out for bid. Because
we have chosen not to do that, we must reject all of the bids for the purchase
of the trucks and the carts. So, I would
entertain a motion to approve this Resolution.
ALDERMAN BARON: I
so move.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
by Alderman Baron, seconded by Alderman Brown to reject all bids on solid waste
trucks and carts.
CLERK DUMAS: Which
Brown?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: It
was Carl Brown.
CLERK DUMAS: Thank
you.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Roll
call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter (I didn’t say aye, but I just..........that was discussed at a
previous meeting this evening, right?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Not
the rejection of the bids.
ALDERMAN HUNTER:
No, but.....
MAYOR EPSTEIN: The........the.........yes,
the proposal. Yes, it was. It was.
ALDERMAN HUNTER:
Will we receive some kind of update?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Oh,
absolutely. The discussion tonight,
Alderman, was just to allow the administration to enter into negotiations to do
a contract. That contract will go to the
Environmental Services Utility Board first and then will come to the full
Council.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: And, Allied’s where? Where they based at?
MAYOR EPSTEIN:
We had that discussion. They’re a
multi, ah, huge company. Their closest
office, we think, is in Homewood.
BERT
DEAR: Joliet.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Joliet?
BERT
DEAR: Joliet and Homewood. I think Homewood might be the........
MAYOR EPSTEIN:
They own the transfer station in Momence as well as the landfill in
Indiana and the landfill in Pontiac.
ALDERMAN HUNTER:
Let me ask you this. I
know..........we use........what transfer station do we use right now?
MAYOR EPSTEIN:
Bradley.
BERT DEAR: The
one in Bradley.
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: What’s his name?
BERT
DEAR: Mike Watson.
ALDERMAN HUNTER:
Mike Watson. Yeah. Okay.
Will it mean that we may be using the one that Allied has?
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Oh, I would most
definitely.........yes.
ALDERMAN HUNTER:
Well........well, yeah, that’s my question. It won’t cost any more?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: No.
ALDERMAN HUNTER:
Okay. I’ll......I’ll talk to you
later about it.
MAYOR EPSTEIN:
Okay.); Browne, R.; Baron;
Harris; Tall; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox
(14)
RESOLUTION REJECTING ALL BIDS FOR SOLID WASTE
COLLECTION
TRUCKS AND CARTS
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries. The next Resolution, ah, is an
authorization to allow us to intervene in as assessment appeal for
Riverwoods. It’s the high rise. They are appealing their property tax
assessment and this allows us to engage Robbins and Schwartz as.........’cause
we would like to obviously fight their appeal of their property taxes. I’m sure you’re all aware of how these
really, really hurt the City’s finances when, ah, these are approved. So, this is a Resolution asking the
authorization to intervene. Do I have a
motion to approve?
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: I
so move.
ALDERMAN JONES: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
by Alderman Schwade, seconded by Alderman Jones to accept the Resolution. Are there any questions?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Not
germane to this, but the others, could you give us after indistinguishable
the status on the others that are pending?
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: Yes.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: I’d
like a vote, please. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Harris; Tall; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman;
Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING INTERVENTION IN THE PENDING
ASSESSMENT
APPEAL OF RIVERWOODS APARTMENTS
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries. Before we conclude the meeting,
in your packet this evening were Executive Orders that I had signed. They are a condensation of orders that had
been done previously under different administrations and I have reviewed them
and I thought it was best to condense them into one document instead of several
documents. They have been handed out to
the Department Heads, they’ve been mailed to all of the unions that the City
has contracts with and I thought it was important for all of you to have a copy
of them also. So, you will find that in
your books tonight. The Department Heads
were asked to speak to their employees because the Executive Orders cover
everything from sexual harassment to affirmative action and things that I felt
that they needed to be aware of.
Alderman Hunter, you had a question for Mr. Bohlen.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Yes. What I had done was actually, I don’t who has
actually read this, but I went through with a fine-tooth comb to review
this. This document here is pretty well
written with the exception of some things that may be omitted and I had a
question on–let’ see– the fourth page where it starts up at “Alaskan Native
and persons” and so forth, ah, where it says, “Contract” means any
contract, purchase order, blah, blah, blah, blah, why did you set the
number at $20,000? Could.......would you
be adverse to lowering that?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: To
what..........lowering it?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Yeah.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: I
think we did that for two reasons. One,
the old number in there was so old, I mean it had been...........our limit now
for going out to bid is anything at $20,000 or over so I felt to be consistent
with all of the other policies in the City, that this Executive Order should
reflect the same numbers that we use when it comes to anything else that we do
in the City as far as going out for contractor bid.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Well,
I was just wondering if that would have an adverse impact on smaller
businesses. WBE and SBE groups and we
think that if we wrote it to $10,000 it may provide an ample opportunity for
other small businesses to bid on contracts in the City of Kankakee.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Is
that number two, Alderman?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Um
huh (affirmative).
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Additionally,
I made some other changes and I cited some omissions in this document and I’ll
submit the..........I deal with this stuff every day in terms of Title 7, ADA and all of that kind of
stuff. I deal with management of
statewide investigations on issues such as this and I’m going to provide to you
for review a discrimination complaint form which has information and speaks to
the various laws which are cited in your Executive Order. Additionally, I have a brochure which comes
from my state agency which addresses some of those things as well, too. And, I have cited in my Executive Order some
of those changes. I’ve kind of
intimated........talked to the Corporation Counsel about it as well, too, and I’ll
submit this for your consideration to incorporate this information into your
Executive Order.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. We’re at the portion of the meeting
for Aldermen’s questions or concerns. I
think you had asked Mr. Bohlen though to give you an update on the pending
property tax appeals.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: And,
I’ll be glad to do that, but what I would suggest is let me give you a more
formal statement–report– showing all of those that are currently pending have
been heard by the Board of Review is my understanding. We have prevailed to the extent that the
Board of Review has accepted our appraiser’s numbers as opposed to the
objectors’ appraiser’s numbers.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: That’s
good to hear.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: That
doesn’t mean, however, that the apprais.......that the assessed value is going
to stay the same because our appraiser, quite frankly, came in with lower
numbers than the current assessment in several instances. Specifically, in Valspar and Armstrong.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: That’s
what I wanted to know about.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: And,
that’s why we had to deal with that in terms of........the Mayor had to deal
with that in terms of the budget issue because we’re going to have to pay some
of the bonds that were previously paid for through the assessed valuation. But, I’ll give you..........it’s a good time,
we can give to you the correct status of each of the appeals. I’ll do that for the next meeting.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Thank
you.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Any
other questions or concerns. If not, I
will........we don’t have an Executive Session.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Any
comments Alderman Harris would like to make?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you, Alderman. Alderman Harris, would
you like to make any comments?
ALDERMAN HARRIS:
It was the last thing I
would have expected six months ago, to be sitting in this seat and I thank
everybody for the confidence that I can do it.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Well,
we appreciate you being here and we look forward to your participation on the
Council.
ALDERMAN HARRIS: Thank
you.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: You’re
welcome. I’ll entertain a motion to
adjourn.
ALDERMAN SWANSON: So
moved.
ALDERMAN BROWNE: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
by Alderman Swanson, seconded by Alderman Rich Browne. All those in favor, aye. Opposed, same sign.
MOTION TO ADJOURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAYOR EPSTEIN: We
are adjourned.
7:35 P.M.