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Council votes against raising its own salaries
In a one hour meeting Monday, the city council turned down a proposal to raise the salaries of the aldermen and was apprised
of a possible storm sewer replacement problem that affects the city.
At a recent administrative committee meeting, it voted 2-2 on the recommendation to raise the meeting fee to $100 from the
present $50 for alderman.
Monday, after the city attorney Pete LaBarre went through the scenario that must be followed to make the raise possible for
those who are elected next April, the council voted to table the suggestion on an 8-0 vote.
If the raise was to go into effect by May 4, the prospective first meeting of the new council would have had to pass the motion for
the increase Monday which would be 180 days prior as per law.
Several problems faced the council if it had been agreeable which it wasn't, several including Therese Svetlik and Barb Stamer
asking where would the money come from.
But, because of the first reading before a second reading passage of any new legislation, the council would have had to pass
an emergency measure by a three-fifths vote to open the door to skip the second reading. The council members have not had a
raise since 1993.
The council may have to tussle with a storm sewer problem that at present doesn't seem to have any clear cut answers.
Supt. Bill Karhliker explained the situation to the council Monday, saying that an estimated cost if the complete line had to be
replaced would approach $45,000 plus materials. The 18 inch line which is 13 feet deep, drains Pine View subdivision on the
west side emptying into a creek near the cemetery.
As of now, only one sink hole area has revealed a five foot section that has collapsed. Further diggings are scheduled for
next week to see if there are more areas collapsed or just deflections. The line is still flowing and a sample of the pipe has been
sent to the manufacturer.
The line was constructed in 1995, the city after inspection, taking over maintenance. The tile was purchased from an out-of-
town pipemaker through Springfield Plastics which at the time did not make 18 inch tiles. Springfield Plastics is working with the
city to find a solution.
Karhliker also explained some low water pressure events in the past two weeks. They were twofold.
Once, while attempting to adjust the altitude valve in the city's water tower, DICKEY-john, which gets its water from the Otter
Lake Water Commission but on the same line, was testing its new fire protecting system thus creating reduced pressure. Also,
when three hydrants were being flushed recently, a similar period of low pressure occurred.
The altitude valve has been repaired and the tower is working perfectly now.
The city has received a letter from the IDOT concerning school speed and crossing signs that have been removed because
they don't meet the established criterion.
This means that school speed (20 mph) signs along Illinois 104 from Fourth to Tenth Street are gone. School crossing signs,
other than those located at the Seventh Street intersection, will remain the place. In addition, school pedestrian signs will be
installed for both directions of 104 in the vicinity of Trinity Lutheran Church as requested earlier.
Since the city owned the flashing lights above school crossing signs, it can now seek new locations for them closer to the
schools.
In other action, the council:
— approved (8-0) Ordinance 1283-08 dealing with personal days of newly hired employees:
— voted 7-0-1 (Gillock present) to abate fines in excess of $10,000 for a home at 1212 Pine Lane if cleaned up and approved
for a $100 administrative charge.
— will schedule another meeting (November 12) with the ambulance squad to work out an agreement such as occupying
space at the city garage at no charge.
In a one hour meeting Monday, the city council turned down a proposal to raise the salaries of the aldermen and was apprised
of a possible storm sewer replacement problem that affects the city.
At a recent administrative committee meeting, it voted 2-2 on the recommendation to raise the meeting fee to $100 from the
present $50 for alderman.
Monday, after the city attorney Pete LaBarre went through the scenario that must be followed to make the raise possible for
those who are elected next April, the council voted to table the suggestion on an 8-0 vote.
If the raise was to go into effect by May 4, the prospective first meeting of the new council would have had to pass the motion for
the increase Monday which would be 180 days prior as per law.
Several problems faced the council if it had been agreeable which it wasn't, several including Therese Svetlik and Barb Stamer
asking where would the money come from.
But, because of the first reading before a second reading passage of any new legislation, the council would have had to pass
an emergency measure by a three-fifths vote to open the door to skip the second reading. The council members have not had a
raise since 1993.
The council may have to tussle with a storm sewer problem that at present doesn't seem to have any clear cut answers.
Supt. Bill Karhliker explained the situation to the council Monday, saying that an estimated cost if the complete line had to be
replaced would approach $45,000 plus materials. The 18 inch line which is 13 feet deep, drains Pine View subdivision on the
west side emptying into a creek near the cemetery.
As of now, only one sink hole area has revealed a five foot section that has collapsed. Further diggings are scheduled for
next week to see if there are more areas collapsed or just deflections. The line is still flowing and a sample of the pipe has been
sent to the manufacturer.
The line was constructed in 1995, the city after inspection, taking over maintenance. The tile was purchased from an out-of-
town pipemaker through Springfield Plastics which at the time did not make 18 inch tiles. Springfield Plastics is working with the
city to find a solution.
Karhliker also explained some low water pressure events in the past two weeks. They were twofold.
Once, while attempting to adjust the altitude valve in the city's water tower, DICKEY-john, which gets its water from the Otter
Lake Water Commission but on the same line, was testing its new fire protecting system thus creating reduced pressure. Also,
when three hydrants were being flushed recently, a similar period of low pressure occurred.
The altitude valve has been repaired and the tower is working perfectly now.
The city has received a letter from the IDOT concerning school speed and crossing signs that have been removed because
they don't meet the established criterion.
This means that school speed (20 mph) signs along Illinois 104 from Fourth to Tenth Street are gone. School crossing signs,
other than those located at the Seventh Street intersection, will remain the place. In addition, school pedestrian signs will be
installed for both directions of 104 in the vicinity of Trinity Lutheran Church as requested earlier.
Since the city owned the flashing lights above school crossing signs, it can now seek new locations for them closer to the
schools.
In other action, the council:
— approved (8-0) Ordinance 1283-08 dealing with personal days of newly hired employees:
— voted 7-0-1 (Gillock present) to abate fines in excess of $10,000 for a home at 1212 Pine Lane if cleaned up and approved
for a $100 administrative charge.
— will schedule another meeting (November 12) with the ambulance squad to work out an agreement such as occupying
space at the city garage at no charge.
Issue Date: Nov. 6, 2008
