McHenry Times

City of Marengo City Council met March 20.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

CALL TO ORDER 

Mayor John Koziol called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.

ROLL CALL 

Present for this evening are Mayor John Koziol; Aldermen Matt Keenum, Mike Miller, Mike DeSerto, Nicole DeBoer, Daren Mobley, Jared Secor and Steve Mortensen. Also present are City Administrator Joshua Blakemore, City Attorney David McArdle and Finance Director Jennifer Snelten. Alderman Dennis Hammortree was absent.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 

A resident spoke about the Special Council Meeting, and the Emergency measures being discussed this evening. He thanked the Council for taking steps necessary to protect the residents during this time. Mayor Koziol explained that nothing “extraordinary” would be done unless contact was made with everyone (Council members). Alderman Mortensen thanked this individual for attending the meeting via telephone/conference call.

NEW BUSINESS BONAFIDE EMERGENCY FINDING

Attorney McArdle explained the need for this meeting, citing the following information:

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a potentially severe acute respiratory infection caused by severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2). The virus was first identified as the cause of an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown case in Wuhan City, Hibei Province, China, in Dec 2019 and 2. On March 9, 2020, Gov. J.B. Pritzker declared all counties in the State of IL as a disaster area; and 3. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic; and 4. On March 11, 2020, McHenry County Board Chair Jack D. Franks proclaimed that a disaster emergency exists for the County of McHenry; and 5. On March 13, 2020, Pres. Donald J. Trump declared a national emergency concerning the novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVIC-19) outbreak; and Governor Pritzker issued Executive Order 2020-04 (COVID-19 Executive Order No. 2) cancelling all public and private gatherings in the State of Illinois of 1,000 people or more to implement social distancing. Executive Orders 2020-05 and 2020-06 (COVID-19 Exec. Order No. 3 & 4) closing all public and private schools through March 20, 2020; and (the governor) issued Exec Order 2020-07 (COVID-19 Executive Order #5) suspending service at bars and restaurants in the State of IL to the public through March 30, 2020 and limiting all public and private gatherings in the State of Illinois of 50 people or more, to implement social distancing, and 7. Following these actions, Mayor John Koziol issued a Proclamation of Local Disaster Emergency in the City of Marengo on March 17, 2020.

Alderman Mike DeSerto made a motion, seconded by Alderman Nicole DeBoer, finding that there is a bonafide emergency, pursuant to the Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/2.02 (a) warranting this special meeting of the City Council based on the above facts. The aldermen voted as follows:

Aye: Keenum, Mortensen, DeBoer, Miller, Secor, DeSerto and Mobley 

Nay: 

Absent: Hammortree 

The motion passed.

EMERGENCY ACTION ITEMS Relating to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) including the following:

a. Motion to approve the Continuation of Proclamation of Local Disaster Emergency for the City of Marengo to May 20, 2020 

b. Motion to approve an Ordinance Amending Chapter 5, Emergency management Agency, of the Marengo Municipal Code pertaining to a Local State of Emergency providing for the exercise of extraordinary powers by Executive Order of the Mayor during the state of emergency within the City 

c. Motion to Activate Powers, Previously adopted in (b) above, with the limitation that all Executive Orders are responsive to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and a copy of each Executive Order to be filed with the City Clerk, be sent to the City Council and posted on the City's website within 24 hours of being ordered by the Mayor 

d. Mayor's Declaration of State of Emergency for the City of Marengo declaring a local state of emergency e. Motion to approve an Ordinance Suspending Remote Attendance Rules for the Duration of the Local State of Emergency Declaration

Attorney McArdle went through the suggested motions being considered at this meeting. Council members reviewed these and requested one change. It was suggested the deletion of Item c (on page 4) removing the Curfew Authorization. All Council members agreed with this request.

Alderman Nicole DeBoer made a motion, seconded by Alderman Daren Mobley, to adopt Emergency Action Items A through E, with the deletion of the Curfew Authorization. The aldermen voted as follows:

Aye: Secor, Mortensen, DeBoer, Miller, Mobley, DeSerto and Keenum 

Nay: 

Absent: Hammortree 

The motion passed.

The Council discussed the items that were on the original agenda for the Regular meeting on the 23rd of March. It was agreed to cancel that meeting, and reschedule the agenda items to be taken care of at a Telephonic/Conference Call meeting on the 26th of March 2020 at 7:00 PM.

APPROVAL OF LIST OF BILLS 

Alderman Matt Keenum made a motion, seconded by Alderman Steve Mortensen, to approve the list of bills in the amount of $99,964.48. The aldermen voted as follows:

Ayes:  Mobley, Secor, DeSerto, DeBoer, Mortensen, Miller and Keenum

Nays: 

Absent: Hammortree

The motion passed.

ADJOURNMENT

Alderman Nicole DeBoer made a motion at 6:37 PM, seconded by Alderman Steve Mortensen, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed with a voice yote.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lTadtLUpDKDav5jO29xetRznKcL3Ovkt50pSXmtaurI/edit