Special Meeting Minutes 02/26/25

Harrisburg City Council

Special Meeting

City Hall

110 E. Locust Street

Harrisburg, Il 62946

February 25, 2025

8:00 a.m.

 The Harrisburg City Council met on February 25, 2025 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, Roger Angelly, Rupert Johnson, and Jonathan Brown answering the roll call.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning led the group in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor John McPeek announced the purpose of these series of meetings is to create a plan for the future of Harrisburg.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown began the discussion by stating the city leaders need to look at all options to save the city money and how to make the city money. He wants the city to look good. He wants to do what is right for the city. He wants each department to always do research before moving forward with projects. The cemetery is an important part of the community, but how can it be kept properly in the most efficient way.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown presented several options for the maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery. He suggested accepting bids for mowing and/or weed eating. He wants to look at summer help. He said business district funds can be used in the cemetery.

There was an open discussion on mowing and weed eating within the cemetery. The bid will set the criteria and give details about the cemetery. Commissioner Rupert Johnson is not in favor of accepting bids for any work in the cemetery. He does not think it will be cost effective. Commissioner Jonathan Brown made it clear that he has no intention of laying off any employees. Commissioner Jonathan Brown said the city should at least look into bids.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning said contracting out the job would add an extra expense.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson stated his plan is to weed spray starting in March to stay ahead of the weed control. They will weed eat accordingly to keep up with the weeds. He stated the street/alley men will go out every Friday and help mow. Mayor John McPeek stated mowing is not the issue, it is the weed eating. Mayor John McPeek stated last year they did not weed eat for at least a month which caused the issue to get out of control.

Commissioner Roger Angelly is in favor of accepting bids, but it does not mean the city has to accept the bid. Commissioner Jonathan Brown said the city must look into all options.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown said their job is not to sit here and continue to discuss mowing and weed eating of the cemetery. Their job should be to get new businesses in Harrisburg. Commissioner Raymond Gunning said there are three employees in the cemetery, plus you can send the street/alley employees to help. He suggests bidding it out once employees start to retire. Commissioner Roger Angelly likes having options for everything.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown explained the difference between the general fund and business district funds. Using the business district funds in the cemetery would help the general fund. He has talked to five individuals about bringing businesses to Harrisburg. Their jobs as commissioners are to generate revenue for the city. He said the bids could be too costly and cannot be done. He wants to always look at options. The cemetery has been a problem for the last few years.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson explained his plan for weed spraying. Commissioner Raymond Gunning would like to see summertime help, no full-time employees, and if the issue continues then try something new next year.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning agrees that Commissioner Jonathan Brown has the right as the finance commissioner to look at the finances in all departments. He said city hall has issues that need to be addressed and business district funds could repair the city hall. The roof in city halls need repaired.  Commissioner Roger Angelly said it does not hurt to look at all options for the mowing and weed eating.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning said the city needs to worry about the mausoleum. It needs a new roof. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said it would be easier to put a roof on the mausoleum than to move the bodies.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown offered another suggestion for the cemetery. He suggests the department go back to only one man at the cemetery and the other two employees go out to the street/alley department? There was a discussion on how many employees there are in the street/alley department and the cemetery department. Superintendent Kenny Mayhall said in the past there was one employee in the cemetery who did the day-to-day operations and called for help with grave digging, weed spraying, and burials. Every Friday, the street/alley would go help mow the cemetery. Superintendent Kenny Mayhall said they have not always had access to prison workers or summertime help.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning said there was ten men while he was employed. He said there was one employee at the cemetery and nine at the street/alley department. Superintendent Kenny Mayhall said they always used weed spray, and they then would weed eat. Commissioner Raymond Gunning said his last six years had crews from the jail and summertime help.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown suggests going back to one employee in the cemetery and all other employees go back to the street/alley. He suggests summertime help in the cemetery. That gives three extra employees in the street/alley department. He said when employees retire, do not replace in order to save money.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning said the business district money can be put to better use. He needs a new police department along with fixing the city hall and the mayor has projects. He wants to give Commissioner Rupert Johnson another chance to fix the cemetery issue and if there are still complaints, he agrees to look at other options. Commissioner Jonathan Brown just asks council to be proactive and look into other options.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning said the job of the superintendent is to make sure the job gets done. He has now been told to make sure it is done. Commissioner Roger Angelly said what happens when other things come up and this does not get done. Superintendent Kenny Mayhall said employees can be sent out to help them now. He asked if the council is willing to neglect the streets or Harrisburg Lake to help weed eat the cemetery. Commissioner Raymond Gunning talked about the past and having one employee in the cemetery and sending men out to help as needed.

Commissioner Roger Angelly discussed the duties of summertime help. Commissioner Jonathan Brown said summertime or part-time help does not have to be limited to high school kids. He said any skilled laborer can be hired. Superintendent Kenny Mayhall said these workers can do other things than just weed eating. They can assist with other job duties.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown asked if the department would work by going back to one man in the cemetery, the rest in the street/alley department and summertime help. Superintendent Kenny Mayhall said he has seen it work in the past. Commissioner Rupert Johnson wants everyone to remember Harrisburg Lake needs attention.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown suggests splitting the departments. Mayor John McPeek could be over the cemetery. He said it could save money by splitting the departments. He had City Treasurer split the budget and it appears to save money. He said the current superintendent oversees a lot and maybe splitting up the departments would free up more time for the street/alley department and it could save money.

Working Foreman David Williams gave a list of equipment the cemetery needs. Commissioner Jonathan Brown said if you contract out the mowing/weed eating, then the city would not need to buy additional equipment. If the city gave up grave digging, it could free up time and there is no need for new equipment. He suggests not hiring when employees retire. The city needs to look at ten years down the road. He said every department wants more men, but does the city need additional employees. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said you will be cutting services.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson said work is being done faster, culverts are being installed, if citizens are ignored you will get voted out. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said there is more to the cemetery than weed eating and mowing.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown said Harrisburg Lake loses money every year. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said the lake is not advertised as needed. His vision is to have a campground for people to come stay. There are now nine new spots that were not there before. Commissioner Jonathan Brown said no one has ever rented out the campsite. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said there is no advertisement. Commissioner Jonathan Brown asked why he has not advertised. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said he is not in charge of that. Commissioner Jonathan Brown said he could have made a motion to advertise. He said we have to think outside the box. He said it only brings in $80,000 and over half of the renters do not live in Harrisburg. The expenses are more than the income. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said he has improved the lake.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown said every option must be looked at or property taxes will need to be raised. Commissioner Roger Angelly agrees to looking at all options. He said our kids will not stay here and there are a lot of other towns like Harrisburg. He said there needs to be something to entice businesses to come to Harrisburg. He will not vote to raise property taxes. He agrees it is the job of the finance commissioner to look at all options.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown has called at least ten cemeteries, ambulance services, and does research. He encourages each department to call other cities for options. He said this is not an attack on any department as they should all work together for the best of this town.

Mayor John McPeek said the city does not have to accept the bids. Commissioner Jonathan Brown said his way might not be the right way, but options need to be looked at, and we need to talk about how to make it work best for the city. We do not have to agree on everything, but we have to work together. He said the city is already in a bind, and the city needs to find ways to save money.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown made the motion to authorize the city clerk to advertise for sealed bids for mowing, weed eating, and both mowing/weed eating. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes, except Commissioners Raymond Gunning and Rupert Johson voting no. Motion carried.

Commissioner Roger Angelly had a few questions about the ambulance service. He asked if the city get money from outside ambulance calls? Is that money reduced from the monthly bill? He said neighboring towns do not pay any portion of the monthly expense. He would like to form a committee to go and ask for assistance from the neighboring communities.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning said the price is for city limits only and now they go out. He said there was to be a meeting to revisit the expense. Mayor John McPeek said they have agreed not to raise their rates during the contract time.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning would like to offer current firefighters the option to become paramedics and allow them to stay within the city limits of Harrisburg. You will gain revenue. There is a process, and it is looking forward. You would not have to hire extra employees. Commissioner Roger Angelly would like to see what it cost before making a decision. Commissioner Raymond Gunning said no additional employees would not have to be hired even if the city has two ambulances. Everything will be done in-house so no extra employees will be needed. The department would do call back as needed. If there is a fire, there is mutual aid from other communities/departments. That would free up the ambulance expense.

Fire Chief John Gunning stated there would need to be two employees per ambulance. That is state mandated. He reminded the council that his department is to protect the citizens whether fire or EMS. He said this would have to be looked at and it would have to be negotiated within the contract. He discussed how calls work and how many employees would be needed to add another ambulance. His department plays dual roles. The council will have to sit down and look at options.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown said every community he talked to about an ambulance said those communities levy tax money for an ambulance. Commissioner Roger Angelly would like to see the figures. Fire Chief John Gunning said the trend is for fire houses to run an ambulance. Commissioner Roger Angelly said the city always needs to look at back up options.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown said he can have someone come talk to the council about the ambulance service.  Mayor John McPeek said the county agreed to pay $50,000 a year when their new budget starts.

Mayor John McPeek stated there is nothing for personnel or possible litigation.

Commissioner Roger Angelly stated he has been told Saline Valley Conservancy District voted to raise the water rates 12%. This will cripple the city. He asks for permission to allow the city attorney to write a letter to Saline Valley and attempt to negotiate a lower rate. He was expecting a 3 or 4% increase and it is not right. He will meet with Jim Brown to look at alternative solutions to get water. He is looking at hooking up to Rend Lake or building a water treatment plant to use Harrisburg Lake water. He will have some ideas at the next meeting.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning said the ordinance needs to be changed and the minimum should be lowered back to 3,000 gallons. Commissioner Roger Angelly said the city cannot do that. He will look at options and bring the ideas back to the council. An official letter has not been received from Saline Valley Conservancy District. The city chose not to raise the rate for several years and the city should have been raising rates as needed.

Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to send a letter to Saline Valley Conservancy District. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning.  A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek stated Billy Bradley and Larry Quinn voted no, one person abstained, and the others voted yes. Commissioner Roger Angelly said Norris City is building their own plant because they want to get away from the increases from Saline Valley.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Adjourn: 9:13 a.m.