City of Auburn City Council met March 5.
Here is the minutes as provided by the council:
Mayor Berola called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Mayor Tom Berola, Clerk Julie Barnhill, Treasurer Chris Warwick, Alderman Vic Devos Jr, Alderman Jason Garrett, Alderman Larry Hemmerle, Alderman Joe Powell, Alderman Rod Johnson, Alderman Tracy Sheppard, Alderman Lori Basiewicz, Alderman Seth Williams, Jr Alderman Bailey Devine, Jr Alderman Mitch Jones
Absent: Jr. Alderman Yaleina Anaya
Department Heads: Bruce Centko, Mike McCarthy, Kristy Ponsler. City Attorney: Raylene Grischow.
I. Mayor’s Comments – Mayor Berola
Mayor Berola shared photos that Alderman Garrett had taken in regards to a large tree
branch that is stuck within another tree located on Seventh Street and Madison. Berola
shared with the Council that Whalen Tree Service has provided two different quotes. One
quote was to remove the entire tree in the amount of $1500 and the other quote was for
just removing the dead portion which is ½ of the tree in the amount of $600. A motion was
made by Alderman Devos to have Whalen Tree Service remove ½ of the tree and not to
exceed $600, second by Alderman Sheppard. VOICE Vote AYE: Lori Basiewicz, Vic Devos Jr,
Jason Garrett, Larry Hemmerle, Joe Powell, Rod Johnson, Tracy Sheppard, Seth Williams,
Mitch Jones, Bailey Devine NAY: None. PRESENT: None. ABSENT: Yaleina Anaya (8-0-0-0)
II. Visitors/Public Comments – No Visitors report
III. City Clerk’s Report –Barnhill
A. February 20, 2018 – Meeting Minutes
Clerk Barnhill presented the meeting minutes from the February 20, 2018 council
meeting for review and approval. Alderman Devos made the motion to approve the
February 20, 2018 meeting minutes, second by Sheppard. VOICE Vote AYE: Vic Devos Jr,
Jason Garrett, Larry Hemmerle, Joe Powell, Rod Johnson, Tracy Sheppard, Lori
Basiewicz, Seth Williams, Mitch Jones, Bailey Devine NAY: None. PRESENT: None.
ABSENT: Yaleina Anaya (8-0-0-0)
Barnhill informed the Council that their Statement of Economic Interest is due to the
County by May 1, 2018. She also informed the Council the Sangamon County Mobile
Records Unit will be at the City of Auburn Council Chambers on Monday, April 2, from
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. for the public. This information will be sent to the City office for
publication. The Bi-Annual Review of Executive Minutes will be conducted on Monday,
March 19, 2018 at 6:45 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
IV. Treasurer’s Report – Warwick
A. Bills List February 21 to March 5, 2018
Warwick presented the Bills List from February 21, 2018 to March 5, 2018 for the
Council’s review and approval.
A motion was made by Alderman Sheppard to approve the Bills List from February 21,
2018 to March 5, 2018, second by Alderman Williams. Vote AYE: Lori Basiewicz, Vic
Devos Jr, Jason Garrett, Larry Hemmerle, Joe Powell, Rod Johnson, Tracy Sheppard, Seth
Williams, Mitch Jones, Bailey Devine NAY: None. PRESENT: None. ABSENT: Yaleina
Anaya (8-0-0-0)
B. Attorney’s Report –
Second Reading, Ordinance 1448-18 – Amended Appropriations Ordinance
1) Attorney Grischow presented Second Reading of Ordinance 1448-18 – Amended
Appropriations for the Council’s review and approval. A motion was made by
Alderman Garrett to approve Ordinance 1448-18 – Amended Appropriations,
second by Alderman Sheppard. Vote AYE: Lori Basiewicz, Vic Devos Jr, Jason
Garrett, Larry Hemmerle, Joe Powell, Rod Johnson, Tracy Sheppard, Seth Williams,
Mitch Jones, Bailey Devine NAY: None. PRESENT: None. ABSENT: Yaleina Anaya (8-
0-0-0)
2) Attorney Grischow presented Second Reading of Ordinance 1449-18 – Amendments
to Chapter 21, Article V – Building Sewers and Connections for the Council’s review
and approval. A motion was made by Alderman Johnson to approve Ordinance
1449-18 – Amendments to Chapter 21, Article V – Building Sewers and Connections,
second by Alderman Garrett. Vote AYE: Lori Basiewicz, Vic Devos Jr, Jason Garrett,
Larry Hemmerle, Joe Powell, Rod Johnson, Tracy Sheppard, Seth Williams, Mitch
Jones, Bailey Devine NAY: None. PRESENT: None. ABSENT: Yaleina Anaya (8-0-0-0)
3) Attorney Grischow presented Second Reading, Ordinance 1450-18 – Amendments
to Chapter 24 – Utilities for the Council’s review and approval. A motion was made
by Alderman Sheppard to approve Ordinance 1450-18 – Amendments to Chapter 24
– Utilities, second by Alderman Garrett. Vote AYE: Lori Basiewicz, Vic Devos Jr,
Jason Garrett, Larry Hemmerle, Joe Powell, Rod Johnson, Tracy Sheppard, Seth
Williams, Mitch Jones, Bailey Devine, Yaleina Anaya NAY: None. PRESENT: None.
ABSENT: Yaleina Anaya (8-0-0-0)
4) Attorney Grischow presented Second Reading, Ordinance 1451-18 – Amendments
to Chapter 19 ¼ - Personnel for the Council’s review and approval. A motion was
made by Alderman Johnson to approve Ordinance 1451-18 – Amendments to
Chapter 19 ¼ - Personnel, second by Alderman Sheppard. Vote AYE: Lori Basiewicz,
Vic Devos Jr, Jason Garrett, Larry Hemmerle, Joe Powell, Rod Johnson, Tracy
Sheppard, Seth Williams, Mitch Jones, Bailey Devine NAY: None. PRESENT: None.
ABSENT: Yaleina Anaya (8-0-0-0)
Attorney Grischow asked for an executive session at the end of the meeting to discuss
personnel.
A. Department Heads
A. Chief Bruce Centko
1. Chief Centko presented that he has the fire alarm company to check on the fire
alarm that is giving off a system failure on the building fire alarm. Centko
recommended to the Council that he would like to have the faulty fire alarm fixed.
A motion was made by Alderman Williams to allow the faulty fire alarm system to
be fixed but not to exceed $500, second by Alderman Sheppard. Vote AYE: Lori
Basiewicz, Vic Devos Jr, Jason Garrett, Larry Hemmerle, Joe Powell, Rod Johnson,
Tracy Sheppard, Seth Williams, Mitch Jones, Bailey Devine NAY: None. PRESENT:
None. ABSENT: Yaleina Anaya (8-0-0-0)
B. Mike McCarthy
Superintendent McCarthy reminded the Council that Benton & Associates would be
presenting the Public Works/Public Utilities Facility Plan that will discuss the next
steps in the facilities planning and the water main replacement in the Council
Chambers on Tuesday, March 6, 2018.
C. Ponsler
1. Office Manager Ponsler asked the Council to start scheduling committee meetings to
start working on budgets for the upcoming fiscal year.
2. Office Manager Ponsler informed the Council that she would like to switch Insurance
Agents. Alderman Garrett and Johnson both brought up that they would like to look at
all avenues before making a switch in insurance agent. Johnson asked Garrett for the
name of the company, A.J. Gallagher, that he had previously mentioned to get a quote.
Ponsler indicated that some companies will only give her so much information so
Alderman Garrett volunteered to reach out to his contact, if necessary. Ponsler was
asked to get additional information and get back to the Council.
B. Committee Reports
A. Administration – Johnson
1. Alderman Johnson informed the council that the only item left to
finalize with regards to former personnel pay was for Connie Powell.
Johnson indicated that he prepared a very lengthy document and it
was in dropbox for all Council members to take a look at it.
Alderman Johnson then asked Mayor Berola that he had heard to
Connie Powell had withdrew her request. Mayor Berola indicated
that the information was correct that Connie Powell had withdrew
her request. Alderman Garrett asked Alderman Johnson to table
this subject and place it on the agenda for another time. He would
like some time to read over the document that was prepared and
then have a discussion about it. Alderman Johnson agreed that it
could be discussed at another time.
B. Public Works/Public Utilities – Hemmerle/Johnson –
a. Alderman Johnson presented Resolution Appropriating $172,500 from MFT
funds for City Share of Contract 72C16 to the Council for their review and
approval. After determining that this is not a Municipality Resolution that
would take 2 readings, a motion was made by Alderman Johnson to approve the
Resolution Appropriating $172,500 from MFT funds for City Share of Contract
72C16, second by Alderman Garrett. Vote AYE: Lori Basiewicz, Vic Devos Jr,
Jason Garrett, Larry Hemmerle, Joe Powell, Rod Johnson, Tracy Sheppard, Seth
Williams, Mitch Jones, Bailey Devine NAY: None. PRESENT: None. ABSENT:
Yaleina Anaya (8-0-0-0)
C. Health & Safety – Williams
a. Alderman Williams set a Health & Safety Committee Meeting for Wednesday,
March 14, 2018 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
b. Alderman Williams shared with the Council that the FOP will be meeting again
regarding contract negotiations on March 23, 10 a.m.
D. Health & Housing – Sheppard – No Report
E. Parks – Hemmerle
a. Alderman Hemmerle shared with the Council that a group has approached him
with regards to the seeding of the baseball fields. He informed the Council that
he would like to table this matter because he has more information to gather.
F. Sidewalks – Garrett
a. Alderman Garrett presented to the Council bids for the removal of trees.
Alderman Garrett has marked 7 trees and had asked four tree services to
provide bids, which of only 2 did. Alderman Garrett provided a spreadsheet to
the Council of the cost of each tree and the vendor supplying the quote. After a
brief discussion, Alderman Garrett suggested that this matter be tabled until
Whalen Tree Service completes the first tree service to see how the work is
completed. Mayor Berola asked that the Review of the Bids to Remove 7 Total
Trees be placed on the agenda for March 19, 2018.
b. Fiscal year 2018-2019 Budget for sidewalks
Alderman Garrett indicated to the Council that he is definitely wanting to make
sure that a budget is built into the 2018-2019 Budget for sidewalks.
c. Sidewalk Safety Checklists
Alderman Garrett provided a document “IMLRMA – Sidewalk
Maintenance/Inspection Program” to the Council. Garrett will continue to
update the Council on Sidewalk updates.
G. Economic Development Committee – Basiewicz
a. No Report -- Basiewicz
Motion was made by Alderman Sheppard to go into executive session at 7:42 p.m., second by
Alderman Basiewicz.
Motion was made by Alderman Basiewicz to come back into regular session at 8:02 p.m., second
by Alderman Williams.
5) Mayor Berola presented to the Council that because Chief Bruce Centko was retiring
from his position effective March 16, 2018 and that Centko would like to take his
service weapon and badge with him when he retires but as a municipality, you are
not allowed to give away or donate municipality property of any sort. A motion was
made by Alderman Johnson to sell Chief Bruce Centko’s revolver and badge to him
for $1 per piece of equipment, second by Alderman Sheppard. Vote AYE: Lori
Basiewicz, Vic Devos Jr, Jason Garrett, Larry Hemmerle, Joe Powell, Rod Johnson,
Tracy Sheppard, Seth Williams, Mitch Jones, Bailey Devine NAY: None. PRESENT:
None. ABSENT: Yaleina Anaya (8-0-0-0)
Mayor Berola paid $2 to Treasurer Warwick for the revolver and badge to be sold to
Chief Bruce Centko.
6) Mayor Berola presented Chief Bruce Centko a plaque for his hard work and
dedication to the City of Auburn. Berola shared with the Council that Centko hired
Berola as an officer and he has worked with Centko since about 2 years out of high
school. A standing ovation was given to Chief Centko with his family, friends and
colleagues in attendance. A cake and cookie reception was provided immediately
following the Council meeting.
H. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn was made by Alderman Sheppard at 8:17 p.m.; second by Alderman Hemmerle. Voice Vote AYE: Lori Basiewicz, Vic Devos Jr, Jason Garrett, Larry Hemmerle, Joe Powell, Rod Johnson, Tracy Sheppard, Seth Williams, Mitch Jones, Bailey Devine NAY: None. PRESENT: None. ABSENT: Yaleina Anaya (8-0-0-0)
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