The Minonk City Council continued to grapple with the problem of alley
parking at the city council meeting. City Administrator Trent
Smith
presented to the Council two options regarding the alley parking
between
Chestnut Street and
Walnut Street
in the 400 and 500 blocks.
The first
would remove the parking restriction from the east side of the
Chestnut Street
alley between 5th and 6th Streets.
The second would include the above option and
remove the parking restriction from the north 100 feet of the east side of the
same alley between 4th and 5th Streets.
If vehicles park on both sides, only one
vehicle could get through at a time, but that is the same as most every street
in town.
Alderman Sean Cunningham
motioned to adopt an amendment to the current parking ordinance to allow
parking on the east side of the alley between
Chestnut Street and
Walnut Street from 5th to 6th
Streets.
Because of confusion caused by
the options not written correctly in ordinance form Alderman Brian Petersen
said that must be corrected before a vote can be taken on this change to the parking
ordinance.
Alderman Cunningham then withdrew
his motion.
Alderman Petersen moved that
the City Council table Ordinance 2006-01 which was approved by the council. Mayor Koos said that this item
would be on the agenda for the
February
20, 2006 meeting.
Update Blood Born Pathogen Policy for Police and Ambulance
City Administrator Trent Smith
reported that the Illinois Department of Labor visited the City and found a few
deficiencies within the city departments.
One of the things cited was the need to update the Blood Borne Pathogen Policy for both the police
and ambulance departments.
Smith said that the
police department had a pretty extensive one and there were only a couple of
minor changes needed and they were incorporated into that
policy for the ambulance department .
One of the changes needed is to allow personnel the time to take the hepatitis shots on city time.
Also a declination wavier is needed if they
decline to take the shot.
In addition, a needle stick record sheet is needed to record all needle
sticks.
The final requirement is that
this policy has to be reviewed annually.
Alderman Petersen moved that
the City Council approve to update the Blood Borne Pathogen Policy for the
ambulance and police departments, seconded by Alderman Fortner.
Med-I-Claims Service Contract
Mayor Koos reported that the
contract that the City has with Med-I-Claims (the City’s ambulance billing
service) is coming up for renewal and they have a couple of different options
that are available to the city
City AdministratorTrent Smith said that the last
time a contract was made with them they gave the city a 3-year contract.
Ther initial contract with Med-I-Claims was for $15 per claim for 1-year
and the next year it went to $18 per claim and that was locked in for a 3- year
period.
This new contract is for $24 per
claim for 1-year or a 3-year contract for $28 per claim.
Smith said that he had
checked with another billing company in the
Quad City
area and they charged 6% per claim collected.
On a $400 bill the fee would have been $24 at 6% which is the same for a
one year contract with Med-I-Claims.
With most runs, the charge is more that $400 and probably over
$500.
Smith recommended that the City go with the 3-year
contract with Med-I-Claims.
Alderman Cunningham moved that
the City Council approve a 3-year contact with Med-I-Claims at cost of $28 per
claim which was approved by the council.
Tomlinson Disposal Contract
City Administrator Trent Smith reported that the contract with Tomlinson Disposal is up for renewal on
March 31, 2006.
It is a 2-year contract that automatically
renews for an additional two years if nothing is done by the City.
It can be cancelled by either party by
providing the other party a 60 day notice at any time during the contracted
period.
Smith said that the last
time (2 years ago) we looked into other companies for waste hauling, Tomlinson
was the cheapest.
Tomlinson also does the spring cleanup for the city at an additional charge of $5000.
Alderman Cunningham asked if we
do nothing, then this present contract just rolls over.
Trent Smith said that the only
time that Tomlinson can change the rates are when the landfill rates charged to
them go up.
Alderman Cunningham asked if
there were many complaints with Tomlinson Disposal.
Smith said that there
have been a few complaints.
Most have to
do with the recycling; stuff that is not recyclable is not picked up.
Sometimes it is not in the right container or
the container is too heavy to lift and they do not take it.
Sometimes people to not take their garbage
out early enough and they are missed for pickup.
Tomlinson has been pretty good about coming
back and picking it up according to Smith.
Council members were in
agreement to let the existing contract roll over unless Tomlinson comes back
with a rate increase before the current contract expires on
March 31, 2006.