The Minonk City Council approved locating a recycling bin behind City Hall where residents can dispose of their recyclables. Mayor Koos said that under the new garbage contract with Tomlinson Disposal the City will be going to a central location for recycling. Mayor Koos reported that approximately only 20% of Minonk residents participate in the recycling program. He also reported that the City does not make any money from the program and that the City actually has to pay for the disposing of recyclable materials. The cost is $3.30 per cubic yard and $110 per load hauling fee. Tomlinson Disposal is providing a bin for the recyclable materials to be deposited.
City Administrator Qualifications Specified
City Attorney Jay Greening explained the selection process for a city administrator to the Council. Greening said the selection process is up to the Mayor in terms of how he may go about appointing. Some mayors take that responsibility on themselves and others advertise and interview by committee. Greening said ultimately the Mayor selects somebody and that person is formally considered by the City Council. If the Council does not consent to the appointment, then it would be incumbent on the Mayor to continue to look for a permanent appointment.
After a brief discussion the Mayor and the Council agreed upon the following qualifications for a city administrator.
• Municipal budgeting experience.
• Personnel management experience and the ability to manage human resources.
• Ability to address concerns in a professional manner and in a timely basis.
• Candidate who wants to live in a small town.
• Bachelor’s Degree minimum level of education requirement.
• Candidate has had a progressive increase of responsibility and accountability in previous jobs or occupations.
The Mayor and Council were in agreement that the salary range would be $60,000 to $70,000.
On the method for publication and posting of position, the Mayor and Council were in agreement to get prices using websites monster.com and careerbuilder.com versus hiring a professional headhunter to recruit candidates. The Finance Committee will compare the benefits and costs and their meeting next week and report to the Council at the next regular meeting.
Change to Grass/Weeds Ordinance Denied
Linda Azbill, 730 Locust Street, addressed the Council about changing Ordinance 2004-08 (Grass/Weeds Ordinance Chapter 8.20.020--Height limit designated) which states that is unlawful of any owner/or tenant of any premises to permit any weeds, grass or plants other than trees, bushes flowers, vegetable plants or other ornamental plants, to grow to a height exceeding ten (10) inches anywhere within the corporate boundaries of the City of Minonk. She said that she would like to see the ordinance changed back to a maximum height of six (6) inches as it was before the ordinance was amended in 2004 and asked why the maximum height limit was increased from six (6) inches to the present ten (10) inches as is now allowed.
Mayor Koos said that the ordinance was addressed at a Public Safety Committee meeting first in June 21, 2004 and that there really is no history why it was changed from a maximum height allowed from 6 inches to 10 inches.
Azbill said the grass height was an issue for her because in the area where she lives it is a constant problem as the grass is allowed to grow so tall before it is mowed. She said that last summer a spoon went through her house siding as a result of the adjacent property’s high grass being mowed. She said she never knows what is going to be thrown by the mower. Azbill asked the Council members if they would like their neighbors to have a 10 inch yard of grass.
Alderman Cunningham said that he was fine with lowering it, but he did not know what that right amount is and asked Police Chief Nick Cavera about the issue.
Chief Cavera said that where he last worked (Bolingbrook) and lived (Plainfield) both had a maximum height of 6 inches for grass height and he always thought that was kind of high.
Alderman Jenkins suggested taking the maximum height down to seven inches and fined a happy medium.
Alderwoman Carls said 8 inches would suffice. She added that her grass grows 8 inches in four days and if she is gone for a week and a half on vacation, would she have a citation in her mail box when she returned home?
Alderman Petersen said he does not want to change it to a lower height and then it is not enforced because the yard looks good at this height . He also did not want the police to have to go out there with a tape measure. He added, "At 10 inches you know when it looks bad."
Alderman Ruestman asked Linda Azbill if there were other things besides the tall grass that are making this property look bad.
Azbill responded that there are weeds and junk.
Alderman Ruestman said that their are other ordinances out there to take care of the other issues and he felt that 10 inches was fine. He added that someone who mows their grass tall to begin with and are on vacation and get an extra day or two with rain and do not get to mow it right away, it could get up to 6 or 8 inches with no problem.
Azbill responded that she could agree with that, but last year it was all summer long. She stated that this is not a once a month type thing, it was all summer last year and it has started out the same this year. She concluded, "The property is just not being kept mowed."
Mayor Koos asked the Council for a motion on how to proceed with this issue.
Council took no action on the request to lower the height of grass in Ordinance 2004-08.
Zoning Variance Denied
The Council denied a request for a zoning variance to build a 3 car garage at 805 Maple Avenue, residence of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Coons.
The variance would allow the garage to be 13 feet closer to the sidewalk than the 20 foot setback for their neighbors house.
Alderman Petersen made a motion to approve the variance and was seconded by Alderman Fortner, but was voted down by Aldermen Cunningham, Carls, Jenkins, and Ruestman.
Mayor Koos said that to bring back another proposal would require a variance and it would have to be published 15 days before the hearing and the whole process would have to start over and the earliest this could be done would be the middle of June.
Initiate Process Issuing Go Bond One Year Early
Mayor Koos said he has talked to First Midstate and it appears things are going very well for the City as far as Waste Management is concerned on the City being able to get easements on the north side of town. The Mayor said "We could not do much until Waste Management was sure they were going to give us the easements and it appears that is going to happen for us now." Koos said that he cannot thank them enough on that.
Koos said that First Midstate has told him that it could take up to 60 to 75 days to get the bond in order because the City is asking for one (1) year early. Mayor Koos asked the Council if they want to go ahead and have them start assembling the paper work necessary to start putting together the bond on a year early basis to get the storm water project in. The Council was in agreement to have the Mayor call First Midstate and get the paper work started.
City Council Comments
Alderman Fortner reported that the High School is putting up a veteran’s memorial and have had money donated by various groups and are falling about $2000 short for the electrical part to run the light for the flag. He said that he would like TIF II funds used to fund the lighting portion of the project.
Mayor Koos said that request would be added to the agenda for the Finance Committee meeting next week.
Mayor's Comments
• Thanked the VFW for their donation of a video camera for the new police car.
• Reported that it is looking like the City will be getting a $20,000 grant to the storm water sewer project from DCEC (Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity)
• Thanked State Representative Keith Sommer who worked hard in getting an application for the grant for Minonk.