McHenry Times

City of Harvard City Council met Oct. 22.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

City Clerk Moller called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 pm, led the pledge to the flag and called roll to establish a quorum. Aldermen present: Haderlein, Schulz, Carncross, Heinsohn, Gorman, Perkins and Opper. Alderman Meza was absent. Also present: Treasurer Bejot, City Administrator Nelson, Chief Mark Krause, Code Enforcement Officer Nutley, Community Development Director Santeler, Supt. Public Works Kruckenberg, City Attorney Clifton and members of the audience.

APPOINT ALDERMAN OPPER AS MAYOR PROTEM TO RUN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING 

A motion was made by Alderman Schulz, seconded by Alderman Carncross to appoint Alderman Opper as Mayor Protem to run the City Council Meeting. Aldermen voting aye: Haderlein, Schulz, Carncross, Heinsohn, Gorman, Perkins and Opper. All ayes. Motion carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT 

District Director Michelle Thimios updated the City Council on Congresswoman Lauren Underwood's work, pending legislation and how the Congresswoman can help constituents. Congresswoman Underwood has two full time office locations, one in Woodstock and one in West Chicago, open daily from 9 am - 5 pm.

CONSENT AGENDA - APPROVED 

Mayor Protem Opper stated that items under the Consent Agenda are acted upon in a single motion. There is no separate discussion of these items prior to the Council vote unless a Council Member requests that an item be removed from the Consent Agenda for separate action. No items were removed from the Consent Agenda

a. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of September 24, 2019 

b. Park Board Meeting Minutes September 30 and October 21, 2019 

c. Administrators Report 

d. Building & Grounds Report 

e. Community Development Department Report 

f. Harvard Diggins Library Directors Report 

g. Parks & Recreation Report 

h. Police Department Report 

i. Public Works Department Report 

j. Utilities Department Report 

k. Annual Treasurers Report 

l. Accept Sheila Henson's resignation from the Events Committee 

m. Appoint Francine Sinderson to the Events Committee 

n. Appoint Patricia M. Lindgren to the Mary D. Ayer Board 

o. Events Committee Request Regarding 2019 Christmas in Harvard 

p. Payment of bills in the amount of $375,521.08

A motion was made by Alderman Gorman, seconded by Alderman Carncross to approve the Consent Agenda, Items 4a-p, as presented. Roll call vote: Haderlein, aye; Schulz, aye; Carncross, aye; Heinsohn, aye; Gorman, aye; Perkins, aye and Opper, aye. Motion approved seven to zero.

PERMIT REQUEST WITH WAIVER OF FEES/CONIFERA TREE FARM - APPROVED 

John and Diana Minalt, Conifera Tree Farm are requesting permission to place temporary directional signs at the intersection of McGuire Rd./US Route 14 from November 27 - December 22, 2019, with the permit fee waived in exchange for the Christmas trees that will be donated to the Events Committee and displayed on Ayer St. A motion was made by Alderman Schulz, seconded by Alderman Perkins to approve the request as presented. Roll call vote: Schulz, aye; Carncross, aye; Heinsohn, aye; Gorman, aye; Perkins, aye; Opper, aye and Haderlein, aye. Motion approved seven to zero.

Alderman Schulz recused himself from the meeting at 7:07 pm for Agenda Item #8.

CLASS A LIQUOR LICENSE/NKN INC D/B/A HARVARD GAMING, 1204 N. DIVISION ST. - APPROVED 

Adrian Halimi, N.K.N. Inc., d/b/a Harvard Gaming, 1204 N. Division St., has submitted a Class A Liquor License application. The background check has been completed and the fees have been paid. Nick Halimi was present on behalf of the petitioner and reviewed the application request. Their intent is to have 5 gaming machines. At Mayor Protem Opper's inquiry, Nick related they will maintain the existing gaming machines at the restaurant. Alderwoman Haderlein inquired if City code limited the number of licenses. Administrator Nelson responded that essentially the limit is set at how many licenses there currently are and the limit would come upon approval of a new license. Each liquor license application comes before the City Council for consideration. Chief Krause had no objections. A motion was made by Alderman Perkins, seconded by Alderman Carncross to approve the Liquor License Application as presented. Roll call vote: Carncross, aye; Heinsohn, aye; Gorman, aye; Perkins, aye; Opper, no and Haderlein, aye. Motion approved five to one.

Alderman Schulz returned to the meeting at 7:10 pm.

DECLARE CERTAIN CITY OWNED PROPERTY AS SURPLUS PROPERTY 

A motion was made by Alderman Carncross, seconded by Alderman Schulz to declare properties located at 200 Johnson St. and 209 Ratzlaff St. as surplus property. Alderman Gorman asked the City Council to consider another use for property at 200 Johnson St. for additional parking in the downtown area instead of declaring the property surplus. Additional discussion ensued, after which Alderman Carncross and Alderman Schulz amended their motion and second respectively to declare property located at 209 Ratzlaff St. as surplus property and that 200 Johnson St. be referred back to the Public Property for review. Roll call vote: Gorman, aye; Perkins, aye; Opper, aye; Haderlein, aye; Schulz, aye; Carncross, aye and Heinsohn, aye. Motion approved seven to zero.

The minimum bid for property at 209 Ratzlaff St. was referred to the Public Property Committee.

CALL FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING TO DISCUSS TAX LEVY 

Alderman Opper called a Finance Committee Meeting for Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at 6 pm to discuss the Tax Levy.

FYI -ORDINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING OCTOBER 29, 2019 

The Ordinance Committee will meet on October 29, 2019, at 7 pm with a number of items on the agenda.

FYI - CITY OF HARVARD TO HOST MCCG MEETING OCTOBER 23, 2019 

The City of Harvard will host the MCCG Meeting on October 23, 2019, at The Starline Factory.

DEPT HEADS REPORT 

Reports as submitted.

ATTORNEY'S REPORT 

Attorney Clifton updated the City Council on an item in City Administsrator Nelson's report noting issues with property taxes on property that the City was awarded a judicial deed for. Attorney Clifton has been in contact with both the Assessor's Office and Treasurer's office and the tax issues mentioned in the Administrator's Report have been cleared up.

ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT 

City Administrator Nelson updated the City Council on an item in his report where he was dealing with an appraisal company for the City owned property on Route 14 North. The company has been engaged for $3,000 to complete an appraisal which should be forthcoming in about 20 days.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

ALDERMAN SCHULZ 

Alderman Schulz reviewed the Park Board Meeting Minutes of October 21, 2019. Pending School District confirmation, the Park Board will host a town hall meeting on November 13, 2019 at 6:30 pm in the Central School Board Room to discuss the swimming pool. Alderman Schulz encouraged each alderman to attend the upcoming meeting and to engage the public regarding the upcoming decision on the swimming pool.

NO REPORT 

Treasurer Bejot and Aldermen Perkins, Gorman, Heinsohn, Carncross and Haderlein had no additional report.

CLERK'S REPORT 

October 29 Ordinance Committee Meeting - 7 pm 

November 4 Special Park Board Meeting - 6 pm 

November 5 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting to be rescheduled 

November 12 Special Events Committee Meeting - 5:30 pm 

November 12 Finance Committee Meeting - 6 pm 

November 13 Special Park Board Town Hall Meeting - 6:30 pm 

November 18 Regular Park Board Meeting - 6 pm 

November 19 Regular Events Committee Meeting - 5:30 pm 

November 26 Regular City Council Meeting - 7 pm

MAYOR'S REPORT 

Mayor Protem Opper stated that the City of Marengo will make a presentation at the November City Council Meeting regarding their request to join the Woodstock-Harvard Enterprise Zone.

Mayor Protem Opper updated the City Council on the status of the Motorola building. The City won the default judgment that the building is uninhabitable due to the fire suppression system. The HFPD has hired a contractor to inspect the building for fire suppression and will provide a report to the City as the City is also pursuing further legal action regarding said property. The owner has paid the fines for the default judgment on the initial ruling and is looking to apply for permits. Community Development Director Santeler reported that there haven't been any permits issued to date, but a contractor has been doing cosmetic repairs which do not require permits. He has also fielded questions from fire suppression/sprinkler companies. The Mayor has requested a time line for the work to be completed.

At 7:28 pm, a motion was made by Alderwoman Haderlein, seconded by Alderman Perkins to adjourn the meeting. Aldermen voting aye: Haderlein, Schulz, Carncross, Heinsohn, Gorman, Perkins and Opper. All ayes. Motion carried.

https://www.cityofharvard.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/9461/ccminutes2019-10-22.pdf