Council Minutes 8-15-24
Harrisburg City Council
City Hall
110 E. Locust Street
Harrisburg, Il 62946
August 15, 2024
8:00 a.m.
The Harrisburg City Council met on August 15, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. at the City Hall located at 110
E. Locust Street, Harrisburg, IL.
Mayor John McPeek called the meeting to order. Mayor John McPeek presided over the meeting
with Commissioners Raymond Gunning, Rupert Johnson and Jonathan Brown answering roll
call. Commissioner Roger Angelly was absent.
Pastor Jerry Lynette Barnett from the First United Methodist Church led the group in prayer and
the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner Jonathan Brown made the motion to approve the consent agenda.
Regular Meeting Minutes – August 01, 2024
Energy Culvert - $1,821.80 - #2024-8-004 MFT
Looking Glass - $5,500.00 - #8167 – Business District
Brown & Roberts, Inc. - $1,675.80 - #2024-143 – DCEO Grant
Brown & Roberts, Inc. - $476.00 - #2024-059 – Dam Inspection
Brown & Roberts, Inc. - $1,998.29 - #2024-144 – DCEO Grant
Vermeer - $162,395.00 - #W00391 – Business District/Water/Sewer
Saline Co. Highway Dept. - $2,663.82 - #080124 – MFT
Beelman Logistics, LLC - $505.36 - #1008182 – MFT
Prestige Project Management - $47,000 - #3226 Final – DCEO Energy Grant – Upon
Final Inspection and Completion
Moran Economic Development - $280.00 - #2452 – Veterans Drive TIF
Beelman Logistics, LLC - $3,578.90 - #1009601- MFT
Beelman Logistics, LLC - $2,023.59 – MFT
Beelman Logistics, LLC - $6,930.05 - MFT
Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting
yes. Motion carried.
Citizen Joe Hutchison sent a message that he would not be attending.
Mayor John McPeek discussed the downtown area and Fire Department security cameras. These
cameras will be placed in various locations to include the city parking lots and the Fire
Department. He is hoping this will help reduce vandalism and thefts. The proposal broke down
the price of the cameras and the monthly fee. The initial set up is $20,783 and the monthly lease
fee is $915.00. This will be paid out of the Business District Fund. Commissioner Raymond
Gunning made the motion to approve the Security Alarm camera system as presented. Seconded
by Commission Jonathan Brown. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion
carried.
Attorney Kolby Smithpeters discussed with council a second array of floating solar. He stated
this will generate roughly $32,000 a year for the sewer department. This revenue can help pay
for repairs within the sewer department. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to
authorize Attorney Kolby Smithpeters to negotiate and draft the lease for the second array of
floating solar. Seconded by Commission Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all
present voting yes. Motion carried.
Eric Boe with Brown and Roberts, Inc. presented a change order for the Dorris Heights Road and
South Main Street resurfacing project. There is a decrease in the final pricing of ($2,314.00).
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the change order to Samron
Midwest Contracting by ($2,314.00). Seconded by Commission Rupert Johnson. A roll call
vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Eric Boe with Brown & Roberts, Inc. presented pay estimate #2 and final bill for the resurfacing
of Dorris Heights Road and South Main Street. The final pay estimate is $37,590.73.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the final pay estimate to Samron
Midwest Contracting, Inc. Seconded by Commission Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken
with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Attorney Kolby Smithpeters presented an ordinance for the sale of the Pontiac Firebird from the
sealed bid. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve Ordinance 1884 for
the sale of the Pontiac Firebird. Seconded by Commission Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was
taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Police Chief Nathan Moore discussed a Flock Security System. Each commissioner met with
Police Chief Nathan Moore to view the system to see how it works. Each commissioner stated
this appears to be a great system. It will flag for suspended license, expired tags, no insurance,
and will send out alerts to the iPad.
Commissioner Jonathan Brown said this is a state-of-the-art system that is tied to the nationwide
camera system. He stated this will be purchased out of the Business District Fund.
Commissioner Jonathan Brown made the motion to approve the purchase of the Flock Security
System. Seconded by Commission Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all
present voting yes. Motion carried.
Each department presented their monthly departmental reports to council. The city treasurer
stated she has been applying for several grants, and she asked each department to continue to
monitor their budget closely. She stated the city has finished the first quarter of the fiscal year.
The city clerk reported working on daily duties, 4th Annual Sasquatch Festival, permits, and
answering FOIA request.
Commissioner Jonathan Brown stated due to the volume of FOIA’s coming into the city clerk’s
office, Mayor John McPeek stated he will step up and become the Chief FOIA Officer for city
hall. The city clerk will be the back-up FOIA Officer when Mayor McPeek is unavailable to
answer the request.
Code Enforcer Jacob Palmer reported he has addressed 130 complaints. There are 31 open
complaints, 84 closed complaints, and 15 mowing’s on trustee lots. Of the closed complaints,
there was 71 weed, 13 vehicle, 20 garbage, 4 public nuisance, and 3 stagnant pools. Several of
the complaints had multiple violations. He has issued 24 tickets, sent 4 bills, and a total of 43
have been corrected by the Code Enforcer and 41 were corrected by the owner.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning reported on behalf of the Fire Department that there have been
299 medical calls, 103 fire calls since January to current. He said Abbott EMS has responded to
1,856 medical calls.
Superintendent Jason Haney reported replacing sewer mains, installation of water line on Brady
Street, 702 JULIE’s since January and 142 in July. There was 140 non-payment shut offs and
turned back on. He stated the new Ebill program has been working out very well. He would like
to see many more utilize the Ebill as it will cut down on postage.
David Williams from the cemetery reported 14 burials, sold a few more plots, completed the
audit of the cemetery, cleaned up after the storm damage. There is now a 28 ft tall obelisk in the
cemetery. They have done their usual mowing and weed eating. The guys bush hogged at
Harrisburg Lake.
Superintendent Kenny Mayhall reported his department has picked up over 100 truck loads of
trees/limbs. They have replaced nine culverts, three catch basins, and replaced storm sewer lids,
completed oil/chip of roadways, and the schools and necessary crosswalks have been painted.
There are six properties out for demolition sealed bids, six properties for sealed bid sale, and four
sidewalk sealed bid projects. These projects and property sealed bids will be opened at the
September 05 meeting. He stated the street sweeper has put in 112 hours of service.
Superintendent Kenny Mayhall stated Dean Reid has repairs several pieces of equipment which
has saved his department well over $15,000 in labor cost. The department has replaced signs,
filled potholes as needed, and mowed.
Commissioner Jonathan Brown thanked each department for their report. He said this helps the
citizens understand what is going on within the city. He hopes this will result in positive
feedback rather than negative comments.
Mayor John McPeek sated council will go into executive session to discuss personnel.
Curt Rowlen discussed the need for new storm sirens. The storm sirens are 25 years old. Walker
Communications has been servicing them and fixing the sirens as needed. There are two options
for new storm sirens. There is a four-way siren and an electronic recording siren. The electronic
recording siren allows for voice notifications. It gives the capacity to send out other
notifications.
There was an open discussion on what needs replacing and were to put the new siren. It was
determined a new sire should go in the Gaskin City area. City Treasurer Alex Jackson stated two
of the storm sirens are within the Business District so those funds can pay for two of the sirens.
The best location for the Gaskin City siren would be in the hospital area. There will be a
replacement siren installed on Walnut Street. City Treasurer Alex Jackson suggested to bid out
this project. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to accept sealed bids for the
sire projects. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all
present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated the Fire Department has a car that needs to be retired
from the fleet. He would like to donate the car to Harrisburg School District. The school needs
an additional car to transport the kids as necessary. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the
motion to donate the retired Fire Department car to the Harrisburg School District. Seconded by
Commission Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion
carried.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning and Police Chief Nathan Moore stated the police storage
building is needing gravel. Police Chief Nathan Moore stated the approved fence will be
installed soon. He has received a bid for the gravel in the amount of $13,000. Superintendent
Kenny Mayhall said this can be done in house much cheaper. Commissioner Raymond Gunning
made the motion to approve the purchase of material and gravel for the police storage building.
Seconded by Commission Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes.
Motion carried.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to approve Resolution 24-0815 for the 2024
homecoming parade. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken
with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek would like to bring back the rental inspection process. He stated Code
Enforcer Jacob Palmer has agreed to take on this job duty. This process will ensure landlords
keep their property cleaned and before the water can be turned on, any liens or outstanding debt
to the city must be paid. Mayor John McPeek made the motion to authorize Code Enforcer
Jacob Palmer to begin the rental inspections process. Seconded by Commission Raymond
Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek informed council that he has scheduled Christmas in the Courtyard for
December 05, 2024 as that is the only available date for Santa Clause. He asked council to
change the time of the December 05, 2024 council meeting from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to change the time of the December 05, 2024
council meeting. Seconded by Commission Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all
present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek reminded citizens of the upcoming 4th Annual Sasquatch Festival on
October 05, 2024. There will be free carnival rides, free live music, craft and food vendors. He
stated he has been receiving phone calls as to when Halloween will be this year. He stated
Halloween has always been and will be October 31 for all of eternity. The time for trick-or-treat
will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Please, please, please, stop littering.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to go into executive session to discuss
personnel. Seconded by Commission Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present
voting yes. Motion carried.
Adjourn: 8:53 a.m.
Reconvene: 9:16 a.m.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to return to open session. Seconded by
Commission Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion
carried.
Mayor John McPeek called the meeting to order. Mayor John McPeek presided over the meeting
with Commissioners Raymond Gunning, Rupert Johnson and Jonathan Brown answering roll
call. Commissioner Roger Angelly was absent.
Mayor John McPeek stated there is no action regarding personnel.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner
Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Adjourn: 9:17 a.m.