McHenry Times

City of McHenry City Council met April 20.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

Call to Order: The City Council of the City of McHenry, Illinois, met in regular session beginning at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was held remotely via Zoom in compliance with the Open Meetings Act per the State of Illinois Executive Order 2020-07.

Roll Call: City Clerk Trisha Ramel called the roll. Members present: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab, Alderman Schaefer, Alderman Harding, Alderman Mihevc, Alderman Devine, Alderwoman Miller, and Mayor Jett. Others present: Attorney McArdle, Administrator Morefield, Director of Public Works Strange, Director of Community Development Polerecky, Finance Director Lynch, Director of Parks and Recreation Hobson, Director of Economic Development Martin, Chief of Police Birk, and City Clerk Ramel.

Public Hearing: Mayor Jett opened the Public Hearing at 7:01 p.m. for the proposed Fiscal Year 2020/2021 Budget. There were no comments from the public.

A motion was made by Alderman Santi and seconded by Alderman Harding to close the public hearing at 7:02 p.m. Roll Call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Harding, Alderman Glab, Alderman Schaefer, Alderman Mihevc, Alderman Devine, Alderwoman Miller. 0-nays; 0-abstained. Motion carried.

Motion to adopt the Fiscal Year 2020/2021 Budget: A motion was made by Alderman Mihevc and seconded by Alderwoman Miller to adopt the Fiscal Year 2020/2021 Budget as presented.

Alderman Glab stated that he is certain that the budget will be adjusted in the next couple of months with sales tax revenues and other incomes dropping. There are so many unknowns as nobody has been through this situation before. He believes the staff has done the best they can in preparing the budget. Roll Call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderman Mihevc, Alderwoman Miller, Alderman Santi, Alderman Harding, Alderman Glab, Alderman Schaefer, Alderman Devine. O nays; 0-abstained. Motion carried.

Clerk's note: City Clerk Trisha Ramel was disconnected from the remote meeting due to internet connectivity issues. Deputy Clerk Monte Johnson assumed the duties of the Clerk for the remainder of the meeting.

Public Comments: There were no comments from the public.

Motion to Approve the Following Consent Agenda Items:

City of McHenry Council Meeting Minutes 3.16.20

Approve Authorization #1 & Final to Trees R Us Inc. of Wauconda, Illinois, for the 2019-2020 City Trimming and Pruning Contract in the amount of $13,043.50; Approve and award bid for the expansion of the washroom building in Veterans Memorial Park to S.H. Freund and Sons for $168,646.58 as presented; April 6. 2020, City Council Meeting Minutes; Issuance of Checks in the amount of $167,645.63; Issuance of As Needed Checks in the amount of $165,250.31.

A motion was made by Alderman Santi and seconded by Alderwoman Miller to approve the Consent Agenda items as presented.

Alderman Santi asked in regards to item 6.B. if this was something we were going to consider doing in late spring or summer months. Director Hobson explained that the Parks Developer Donation Fund was being used and had been planned for. There are unknowns regarding the summer events schedule. If the work gets completed sooner than later, the facility will be open and ready to go when things get back to normal. It is estimated to take about a month or six weeks to complete depending on the weather.

Alderwoman Miller asked how construction will affect the current sidewalks, the slopes, and how it comes together in the back. Director Hobson explained that they will work to flatten the area and how it will slope up to the storage closet. There will probably be a step instead of a slope to the storage closet, but the restrooms will be handicap accessible.

Roll Call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderwoman Miller, Alderman Schaefer, Alderman Harding, Alderman Glab, Alderman Mihevc, Alderman Devine. 0-nays, 0-abstained. Motion carried.

Motion to approve the 2020/21 Liquor License Renewals and to pass an Ordinance amending the number of Class A, B, and C licenses in force at any time.

A motion was made by Alderman Schaefer and seconded by Alderman Santi to approve the 2020/21 Liquor License Renewals and to pass an Ordinance amending the number of Class A, B, and C licenses in force at any time.

Alderman Schaefer asked if there have been any changes to the list of businesses that have not yet submitted their paperwork. Deputy Clerk Johnson explained that there have been some businesses that have turned in renewals in the past week. He will email updated lists to the Council following the meeting. Alderman Schaefer wanted to make sure those people that got loans approved from the City did turn in their liquor applications.

Roll Call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderman Schaefer, Alderman Santi, Alderwoman Miller, Alderman Harding, Alderman Glab, Alderman Mihevc, Alderman Devine. 0-nays, 0-abstained. Motion carried.

Motion to approve the 2020/21 Video Gaming License Renewals

Alderwoman Miller asked if more businesses have submitted their applications in the last week and Deputy Clerk Johnson will get an updated Video Gaming list to Council following the meeting. Alderman Santi asked what the process would be if a business wants to increase their number of terminals in the middle of a fiscal year. He noticed that Main Street Station went from two to four terminals the previous year. It was agreed that if any business requested additional terminals in the middle of the year, the issue would be brought before Council for approval. Deputy Clerk Johnson will research the issue with Main Street Station and what process they went through to increase from two to four terminals.

Alderman Schaefer asked where each business stood in regards to the new video gaming development agreements that are now required. City Administrator Morefield explained that he visited each business and has met with each establishment owner to go over their requirements and agreements. All but four of the license holders have complied with their new agreements and are complaint. The four remaining businesses still have some construction that must be done and they have been given another month to complete the requirements because of issues with the COVID-19 situation.

A motion was made by Alderman Santi and seconded by Alderman Schaefer to approve the 2020/21 Video Gaming Renewals as presented.

Roll Call: Vote: 7-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Schaefer, Alderwoman Miller, Alderman Harding, Alderman Glab, Alderman Mihevc, Alderman Devine. O-nays, 0-abstained. Motion carried.

Mayor's Report: Mayor Jett reported the passing of Mark Amore and announced his services will be on Tuesday and Wednesday. He explained that he was a true leader and a mentor to many in the community. This is a tragic loss and his prayers are with the family, the firefighters, and first responders that knew him.

Staff Reports: Alderman Glab stated there was a discussion at the last meeting about Lafarge and possibly letting the company split the payments owed to the City. He feels that the City should collect payments as stated in the agreement because the City has budgeting issues that will need to be dealt with. Alderman Schaefer stated that if they have a true hardship, and if the City has a cash flow situation, it might make sense to have them make monthly payments.

City Administrator Morefield explained that he already sent a letter to Lafarge requesting full payment as stated in the agreement. Due to budgeting concerns of the City and with the fiscal year starting May 1st, it helps in planning to know that the City has the full amount already in an account instead of waiting for the money.

Alderman Glab asked if the City has any authority in businesses regarding requiring employees to wear masks. Some constituents have expressed concern that they and fellow employees aren't required to wear masks at work, and it appears that everybody feels safer when people wear protective equipment. Chief Birk explained that this issue has been discussed internally for over a week. City of McHenry staff is required to wear masks when they are in the building even though it is not open to the public. Workers need to be able to protect themselves from each other.

The Governor's Executive Order as it stands now does not require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees at work or for citizens out in the public. Each store could create its own policy. Chief Birk has been monitoring other municipalities that have put restrictions in place. The Mayor could pass an Executive Order to require PPE within the corporate limits of the City of McHenry, although it could be difficult to regulate and it could be tricky how to word such an order. The Governor is also expected to give a new order and may alter the stay-at-home order. The use of PPE may be included in the State's order.

There are three routes that the City could take at this point: 1) don't change anything and let each business form its own PPE policy, 2) have Mayor Jett give a new Executive Order with wording that includes the use of PPE, or 3) follow the State's lead, as they are expected to come out with wording that would take care of the situation. If the State does not come up with an order that includes the use of PPE, the City could then enact one. Educating the public would be very important. Another issue would be that not everybody has access to PPE.

Alderman Glab asked about the timing of a proposed City wide trash pickup. Considering the stance that Prairieland is taking with bulk items, he believes it would be best to delay the event. Director Strange will be having discussions with Prairieland about the timing of an event, and the City would not want to have a trash pickup day with the current restrictions in place. Director Strange will keep the Council informed of any plans moving forward.

A motion was made Alderman Glab and seconded by Alderwoman Santi to adjourn the meeting at 7:41 p.m. Roll Call: Vote:7-ayes: Alderman Glab, Alderman Santi, Alderman Schaefer, Alderman Harding, Alderman Mihevc, Alderman Devine, Alderwoman Miller. 0-nay, 0-abstained. Motion carried.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c5B2vTDDogzVeZzlwYJEoxDZZ66mgpmAuYrq0cXSN08/edit