McHenry Times

Marengo City Council met Thursday, Jan. 9.

The Marengo City Council includes the mayor, city clerk, and two aldermen elected from each of the city’s four wards. The council meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month at City Hall, 132 Prairie St.

Here are the minutes as provided by Marengo:

January 9, 2017 Regular City Council Minutes

Marengo City Council Regular Meeting Minutes City Council Chambers 132 E. Prairie Street Marengo, IL 60152 January 9, 2017

CAL TO ORDER Mayor Donald B. Lockhart called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGANCE Alderman Matt Keenum fed everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL Present this evening are Mayor Donald Lockhart; Aldermen Matt Keenum, Mike Miller, Michael Smith, Nicole DeBoer, Dennis Hammortree, Brett Martin, Todd Hall and Steve Mortensen. Also present are City Administrator Gary Boden, Assistant City Administrator Joshua Blakemore, Chief of Police Rich Solarz, Public Works Director Howard Moser and City Attorney Carlos Arevalo. City Engineer Tim Hartnett and Finance Director Jennifer Snelten were absent.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION None

APPROVAL OF MINUTES - December 19, 2016 Special Meeting Minutes Alderman Nicole DeBoer made a motion, seconded by Alderman Steve Mortensen, to approve the minutes from the December 19, 2016 Special Meeting. The aldermen voted as follows:

Ayes: Keenum, Mortensen, DeBoer, Miller, Hall, Smith, Hammortree & Martin Nays: O Abstain: O

The motion passed.

APPROVAL OF LIST OF BILLS Alderman Nicole DeBoer made a motion, seconded by Alderman Todd Hall, to approve the List of Bills.

The aldermen voted as follows:

Ayes: Smith, Keenum, Mortensen, DeBoer, Miller, Martin, Hall & Hammortree Nays: O Abstain: O

The motion passed.

NEW BUSINESS

a. Discussion Regarding the Development of Enterprise Zones Charles Eldridge presented information to the Council about Enterprise Zones. He is the Administrator of the Enterprise Zone for Harvard, Woodstock, and McHenry County. These zones are determined by geographic areas, usually in 12 square mile areas. He explained the procedure to be followed to apply for a Zone, and noted that when Harvard submitted their paperwork, it took 2 years to put it all together and was 300 pages total. The term of an Enterprise Zone is 15 years to start out, and can be extended for another 10 years. If the City of Marengo were to join with Harvard, Woodstock and the County, it would require an agreement between all the entities involved (an IGA), and that agreement would then be submitted to the State for approval. There are currently 10 Zones available through the State at this time. Administrator Boden clarified that the City of Marengo is not looking at Enterprise Zones, but wanted the Council to have this information.

h, Action on Execution of a contract with Working World Inc. for Recruitment and Hiring Services for Part Time Building Department Employee Assistant Administrator Blakemore reviewed the contract with the Council. Working World has started the recruitment process, and will keep the City updated on their progress.

Alderman Matt Keenum made a motion, seconded by Alderman Steve Mortensen, to approve a contract with Working World Inc. for recruitment and hiring services for a part-time Building Department employee. The aldermen voted as follows:

Ayes: Martin, Hammortree, Hall, Keenum, Mortensen, Miller, DePoer and Smith Nays: O Abstain: O

The motion passed.

c. Presentation and Request for Direction on Extension of the Refuse/Recycling Franchise Agreement with MDC Environmental

Greg Jury and Rick Bryant (from MDC/Rock River Environmental Services) presented information to the Council on the possibility of an extension of 2 years to the current contract with the City of Marengo. They noted 2 benefit options to residents that have full service. The first is that all residents with full service will receive a 95gallon trash cart to be used for weekly trash service. Residents that use stickers for their garbage will not receive a cart. Also, the current monthly rate of $19.13 will remain unchanged for the first year of the new agreement. The annual rate adjustment of 3% will begin on April 1, 2018. The second option has the same benefits as in option 1, but the annual rate increases would different with this option. The annual rate adjustment of 3% would start April 1, 2018 for years two through five. Year six would remain unchanged (same rate as year 5), and year seven would receive a 3% increase. They indicated that there are 900 homes in Marengo that would receive the brown carts.

Administrator Boden will receive a listing from MDC on communities in the area that have the same program as Marengo, and will contact them on pricing, etc. This information will be provided to the Council for review and discussion at the first meeting in February.

MAYOR'S STATEMENTS AND REPORTS Mayor Lockhart noted the passing of a longtime resident of Marengo, Steve Otis. Mayor Lockhart will be out of town for the next meeting. He was happy to report that there were no “issues” in Marengo during the Holiday Season,

DEPARTMENT HEAD AND STAFF REPORTS Assistant City Administrator Joshua Blakemore advised that the budget preparation work is underway.

Public Works Director Howard Moser advised that there was a main break on Sunday, and it has been taken care of. He presented the Council with a list of the previous years projects for their review. The frozen line problem at the WWTP has been solved.

Chief of Police Rich Solarz advised the Council that the State is now requiring them to do mandated training for 7 items: use of force, constitutional proper use of law enforcement authority, procedural justice, civil rights, human rights, and cultural competency. This mandated training is non-funded. Chief Solarz has found an on-line course that can be taken by the officers. The cost per officer is $95 per year and does cover all of the mandated training. The officers will be able to complete each course during their normal time on duty, as they are all on-line.

City Administrator Gary Boden stated that February will be busy in the City. Prairie Aggregates will be presenting the first draft of an amendment to the original contract with the City on their annexation. They are joining with Plote Inc. on the amendment to the contract, forming a new entity for the project. After their presentation to the Council, they will present the proposal to PZC for their approval, after which it will come back to the Council for their approval. There are other annexations being looked at. EDC has been approached by an entity looking at a project, and when more information is available, he will provide that to the Council.

City Attorney Carlos Arevalo had no report.

REPORTS AND STATEMENTS FROM CITY COUNCIL None

ADJOURNMENT

Adderman Nicole DeBoer made a motion, seconded by Alderman Mike Miller, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed with a voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:29 PM.

The City Council approved these minutes on January 23, 2017.