McHenry Times

City of McHenry City Council met Nov. 4.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

Call to Order: 

The City Council of the City of McHenry, Illinois, met in regular session on Monday, November 4, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. in the McHenry City Council Chambers, 333 S. Green Street, McHenry, IL.

Roll Call: Mayor Jett called the roll call. 

Members present: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab, Alderman Schaefer, Alderman Mihevc, Alderman Devine, Alderwoman Miller- absent, Alderwoman Bahne and Mayor Jett. Others present: Attorney McArdle, Administrator Morefield, Interim Director of Public Works Strange, Director of Community Development Polerecky, Finance Director Lynch, Director of Parks and Recreation Hobson, Director of Economic Development Martin, and Chief of Police Birk, and City Clerk Ramel.

Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Jett led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Public Comments: None

Consent Agenda: Motion to Approve the Following Consent Agenda Items: ( Pulled Separate) 

A. Sign variance to Lennar Builders to allow advertising signs to be placed in the City's right-of-way for a period of one year; item was pulled separate requested by Alderman Glab. 

Before the discussion of the Consent Agenda, Alderwoman Baehne asks that responses from The Council to be supportive of staff in regards to last Council special meeting stated that speaking out regarding issues that are not on the agenda had occurred by Alderman Glab. Attorney McArdle stated that Glab did violate the Open Meetings Act by discussion other items that were outside of that current special meeting agenda. Mayor Jett wants all of Council to work together to help McHenry grow moving forward.

Alderman Glab stated that he pulled the Consent Agenda Item A. because of the ordinance to not put these signs in the right away. He discussed that we could potentially open the door for others to have signs that violate the ordinance. The discussion was brief regarding this Consent Agenda Item.

A motion was made by Alderwoman Baehne and seconded by Alderman Mihevc to approve Consent Agenda items as presented. Roll Call: Vote: 5-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Schaefer, Alderwoman Baehne, Alderman Mihevc, Alderman Devine, Alderwoman Miller- absent. 1- nay- Alderman Glab, 0- abstained. Motion carried.

Consent Agenda: Motion to Approve the Following Consent Agenda Items: ( Pulled Separate) 

B. Contract with Dixon Engineering Inc. for water tower coating inspection services in the amount of $ 14, 415. 00 

D. Resolution recognizing the importance of apprenticeships and designating November 11- 17, 2019 and National Apprenticeship Week in the City of McHenry; 

G. Issuance of Checks in the amount of $ 1, 633, 961. 31.

A motion was made by Alderman Santi and seconded by Alderman Glab to approve Consent Agenda items as presented. Roll Call: Vote: 6-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab, Alderman Schaefer, Alderwoman Baehne, Alderman Mihevc, Alderman Devine, Alderwoman Miller- absent. 0- nayes, 0- abstained. Motion carried.

Consent Agenda: Motion to Approve the Following Consent Agenda Items:

C. Award of bid for the installation of holiday lighting in Veterans Memorial Park to Fox Valley Lighting for$ 19, 500. 00; 

Item was pulled because the budget was over by $2,000 by Director of Parks and Recreation Hobson, needed budget amendment. Make motion subject to the budget amendment next meeting.

A motion was made by Alderman Sant! and seconded by Alderman Schaefer to approve Consent Agenda items as presented. Roll Call: Vote: 6-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab, Alderman Schaefer, Alderwoman Baehne, Alderman Mihevc, Alderman Devine, Alderwoman Miller- absent. 0- nayes, 0- abstained. Motion carried.

Consent Agenda: Motion to Approve the Following Consent Agenda Items:

E. October 21, 2019, City Council Meeting Minutes; 

F. October 28, 2019, Special City Council Meeting Minutes;

Agenda item E needed to be updated with more specifics on who voted no, also the Agenda item F needed to be updated with more conversation notes. Both were intended to be updated and vote reflected this and were questioned by Alderman Schaefer. Note: As of November 6, 2019 all meeting minutes were updated.

A motion was made by Alderman Schaefer and seconded by Alderman Devine to approve Consent Agenda items as presented. Roll Call: Vote: 6-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab,Alderman Schaefer, Alderwoman Baehne, Alderman Mihevc, Alderman Devine, Alderwoman Miller- absent. 0- nayes, 0- abstained. Motion carried.

Individual Action Item Agenda: None

Discussion Items:

A. Orchard Beach Road

Discussion resumed regarding Orchard Beach Road, documents were gathered regarding this Discussion Item. Director of Public Works Strange explained the direction that is wanted by the Township. There were blueprints that were presented regarding the current plats and Orchard Beach Drive by the McHenry Township Road District Highway Commissioner, James Condon regarding Orchard Beach Road. He displayed to the Council the blueprints to help explain the private drive vs. public road of Orchard Beach. There was also talk about the sanitation sewers and its service. Alderman Schaefer questioned where it is stated as to who will upkeep of the road, also touched about pruning of trees etc. Commissioner stated that he would clarify that and that The Township would upkeep it. Alderman Glab stated that there is a referendum occurring in the spring and wanted to know how this would effect this. At this point it is hard to know which way this would go. Right now The Council needs to act as if things are the way it is today. 

Drainage would be improved from the road to the river, per the Commissioner, Alderman Glab had been questioning, The Township would not have issues to help maintain it. He also explained how they would reconstruct the road and how to reduce the drainage to help keep the road more stable. Alderman Schaefer wanted to know where the two storm sewers were located, one is out of Kennedy Homes, the other is further north beyond the city limits. Those would be utilized to help take care of any water issues. Discussion continued for some time regarding this topic. To summarize the Commissioner wants to know if we can come up to an agreement to make this a better road. He had ended his discussion, and was thankful to The Council for the time taken to listen. 

Mayor Jett asked if The Council is willing to move forward. Alderman Mihevc and Santi were heisitant, but Mayor Jett asked to move it forward.

B. 2019 Property Tax Levy 

Finance Director Lynch presented this topic. She explained that the levy has been flat since 2011. For 2019 $110K would be the increase. Several of the increases such as salaries and roads repairs would be part of that. Director Lynch asked The Council what direction they would like to move forward with, what ideas. Alderman Schaefer would like to see the levy stay flat, feels the residence need to encourage other taxing bodies to hold their levies, the burden should not be added to the residents. Alderman Glab spoke out about property taxes going up that he sees more people getting more frustrated and many want to put up for sale signs. He feels that the people of McHenry are overtaxed, he would like to see it flat again. Much discussion regarding the city growing as well as supporting the residence was also discussed during the meeting. Alderman Mihevc did not want the burden of growing our city to go into property taxes. Alderman Santi also agrees to keep it flat. Much of the Council did agree that keeping the property tax should stay flat including the Mayor. Mayor Jett also wants to look at other ways to bring in other revenue for the city. Administrator Morefield talked about identifying the opportunities to maximize what revenue is already present, he stated that it is being taken seriously and would like to provide other ideas in the future. 

The Council continued the discussion, many leaning to keep the property tax levy flat.

Executive Session: none

Staff Reports: none

Mayor's Report: none

City Council Comments:

Wants everyone to work together to have a balanced community per Alderman Glab. Alderman Schaefer asked about JESSUP 

Alderwoman Baehne, will be resigning, tonight is her last night, Mayor Jett has thanked her for all that she has done in the community. A public announcement will be made on social media and the like.

Adjourn: 

A motion was made Alderman Santi and seconded by Alderwoman Baehne to adjourn the meeting at 8: 00 p.m. Roll Call: Vote: 6- ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Schaefer, Alderman Glab, Alderwoman Baehne, Alderman Mihevc, Alderman Devine, Alderwoman Miller- absent. 0- nays, 0- abstained. Motion carried

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