Mayor Gary W. Manier called the regularly scheduled City Council meeting of Monday, September 15, 2008, to order at 6:30 p.m. in the meeting room at Washington District Library, 380 N. Wilmor Road.

Aldermen answering present for Roll Call included Don Brubaker, Todd Clanin, Jim Newman, Dave Dingledine, Jim Gee, Gene Schneider and Bob Brucks. Alderman Al Howerter was absent.

City Attorney Kenneth L. Black, City Administrator Bob Morris, City Treasurer Bob Gordon, City Engineer Ken Newman, Chief of Police Jim Kuchenbecker, P&D Director Jon Oliphant, Public Services Manager Bill Bimrose and City Clerk Carol Moss were also present, as was Fire Chief Mike Vaughn, St. Marks Youth Director Oliver Bade, Chad and Jonna Leuelling and members of the press.

All those in attendance stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. The Agenda was reviewed and stood as presented.

Alderman Gee moved and Alderman Newman seconded to approve the Consent Agenda of September 15, 2008. Items included on the Consent Agenda were minutes of the September 2, 2008 Council meeting, Bills & Payroll in the amount of $773,726.86, a Proclamation proclaiming October 4, 2008 as Band Day in Washington, and approval of Pay Request #1 for 2008 Street Maintenance Seal coat in the amount of $140,406.31 to R A Cullinan & Son, Inc. 
On roll call on the motion to approve the vote was: 
Ayes: 7 Brubaker, Brucks, Clanin, Dingledine, Schneider, Newman, Gee 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

Announcements/Awards/Presentations/Recognitions - Washington Fire Chief Mike Vaughn reported that things are going well in the department. They had a couple of calls on Friday. The department is moving forward with three new people and they have received three additional applications.

Mayor Manier welcomed Chief of Police Jim Kuchenbecker back following his ten weeks at FBI Academy. Mayor Manier thanked Deputy Chief Don Volk for doing a remarkable job during the Chief's absence. Mayor Manier said that he has received questions of how the Chief can leave the department for ten weeks, and he pointed out that the Chief was in daily contact with Deputy Chief Volk, Mayor Manier and City Administrator Morris. Mayor Manier passed around the award Chief Kuchenbecker received at Academy.

Chief Kuchenbecker thanked Mayor Manier, the City Council and the citizens of Washington for allowing him the opportunity of a lifetime. He stated this was a wonderful training experience and he looks forward to bringing the benefits of that training to the City of Washington. Chief Kuchenbecker praised Deputy Chief Volk for the excellent job he did of overseeing the Police Department during the Chief's absence. Mayor Manier pointed out that Chief Kuchenbecker was elected president of his group, and Chief Kuchenbecker noted that indeed was a very humbling experience.

Audience Comments - Oliver Bade, Youth Director of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, asked the City's permission to use Glendale Cemetery for a scavenger hunt on October 29th from 7-9 p.m. The group will then have to tell what they want to leave as a legacy to their lives. Consensus was to allow the group to use the cemetery during the time period stated. Chief Kuchenbecker said he will have an officer assigned to this in case there are any questions about the group being in the cemetery during the hours of 7-9 p.m.

There were no Standing Committee Reports.

City Attorney Black read, by title only, first reading of an ordinance granting a variance from the terms of the Zoning Code of the City of Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois, to the property located at 721 W. Jefferson Street for the construction of an accessory structure exceeding the permitted height limitations. Alderman Newman moved and Alderman Clanin seconded to waive the second reading of this ordinance and proceed with adoption. 
On roll call the vote to waive second reading was: 
Ayes: 7 Schneider, Gee, Dingledine, Brucks, Brubaker, Clanin, Newman 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

Alderman Dingledine moved and Alderman Clanin seconded to adopt the ordinance as read. Alderman Brubaker asked why there is a need for a building height variance, and P&D Director Oliphant replied the petitioners want to build a garage that will be in balance and harmony with their historical home. Alderman Dingledine said this is a large lot and he does not see a problem with issuing a variance for the additional height. Alderman Gee asked if other property owners in the neighborhood were notified, and asked if anyone had objected to the granting of the variance. City Clerk Moss, who serves as Secretary to the Planning Commission, answered that all adjacent and adjoining property owners were notified, a public hearing was held on the matter before the Planning Commission, notice of the public hearing was posted in the newspaper, and the property was posted. She stated that there were no objections to the granting of the variance. 
On roll call on the motion to adopt the ordinance as read, the vote was: 
Ayes: 7: Brucks, Gee, Newman, Schneider, Brubaker, Clanin, Dingledine 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Attorney Black provided first readings of two ordinances, one amending the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois by rezoning property located north of Constitution Street and south of Mallard Crossing Subdivision, and east of Washington Estates from C-3 to R-2; and an ordinance authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk of the City of Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois, to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Washington and County of Tazewell for a county approved Recycling Collection Program. Both ordinances will be placed on the October 6, 2008 Council agenda as second readings for Council action.

Mayor Manier said that he has received a number of questions of why the emergency sirens were activated on Friday night. He said that the City will always err on the side of safety. Chief Kuchenbecker pointed out that there were reports of a wall cloud with rotation eight miles to the west of Washington and coming our way. That is the reason the sirens were activated. Alderman Brucks said that he saw weather alerts on Channel 22 regarding the tornado warning in effect and said the sirens were right in sync with the weather warnings. It is much better to err on the side of safety. Alderman Dingledine said he would much rather have his sleep disturbed than suffer the consequences of no warning. It is much, much better to be safe than sorry, especially at night when it is so very difficult to see.

Mayor Manier asked Public Services Manager Bimrose to talk about the water situation. Bimrose stated that an unbelievable amount of rain fell over the weekend, and the City fared very well with all of the water and flooding in the area. A number of calls have been received about flooded basements. He stated that the sewers surcharged during the heavy rainfall, and both of the waste water treatment plants are still at capacity. There was a lot of standing water in some streets and flooding in certain areas. Alderman Gee stated that the detention areas around the area really helped with the overland flooding. The detention east of town has had a very positive affect on overland water as have the ponds on Cruger and the borrow pits as well.

Chief Kuchenbecker pointed out that the emergency sirens on Cedar Street and on Santa Fe will be replaced in the very near future and then all of the old sirens will have been replaced.

City Administrator Morris told Council that he is seeking formal authorization to close on the former library building at 301 Walnut Street in accordance with the terms of the Commercial Real Estate Sales Contract with the Washington District Library dated May 20, 2008. Once approved the City Attorney will proceed with preparation of closing documents. Alderman Dingledine moved and Alderman Brucks seconded to authorize proceeding with necessary documents for the purchase of the former library building. Alderman Brubaker said that purchasing the old library building is a good thing for the City. Alderman Dingledine said that we need to move forward with the purchase because it is a good use of an old building and it is a win/win situation for all involved. Mayor Manier said that it will allow for additional space for the administrative side of City Hall without spending a lot of taxpayer dollars. This is much better to use an existing building than go out and build a new one. He said that it is the hope to do both buildings, the former library and current City Hall into the Police Department without increasing taxes. City Administrator Morris reported that today staff viewed preliminary floor plans and everything requested fits very nicely. 
On roll call on the motion to proceed with the purchase the vote was: 
Ayes: 7 Gee, Newman, Clanin, Schneider, Brubaker, Brucks, Dingledine 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

P&D Director Oliphant requested authorization to purchase four decorative street lights for the interior of the Square from Graybar Inc. at a total cost of $15.632. These four light poles will replace the four existing light poles around the fountain and match those found next to Denhart's and in the northeast parking lot. IDOT has given approval to purchase the lights. Alderman Clanin moved and Alderman Brucks seconded to authorize the purchase of the lights as requested. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 7 Newman, Gee, Brubaker, Dingledine, Schneider, Brucks, Clanin 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

City Engineer Newman requested authorization to hire Corrective Asphalt Materials, LLC at a cost of $6500.00 for crack sealing work on South Wilmor starting at the end of the newly paved section and continuing to and along Kern Road to Hillcrest Drive, and the portion of South Cummings Lane that was reconstructed in 2002. This will be one ten hour days worth of work. Alderman Gee asked why the cold sealant and when will the work be done. Engineer Newman replied cold sealant is easier and quicker to apply, and with rubberized coating there are no millings to use. September 23 has been set as tentative date. Alderman Dingledine moved and Alderman Brubaker seconded to authorize the work as requested. 
On roll call the vote was: 
Ayes: 7 Clanin, Schneider, Gee, Newman, Brucks, Brubaker, Dingledine 
Nays: 0 
Motion declared carried.

Aldermen's Comments - Alderman Clanin asked if there can be some kind of public service announcement and media print pertaining to the one way on Bondurant. There are new students and new parents and some of the parents do not understand the process on Bondurant. Chief Kuchenbecker said that he will discuss this matter with Detective Gerkin (SRO) tomorrow. Detective Gerkin is in uniform and will address the problem. He said he will also discuss the issue with Dr. Dunnan and will ask that the media also publish information on this matter.

There were no other agenda items and at 7:01 p.m. Alderman Brubaker moved and Alderman Newman seconded to adjourn. 
Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.