Quincy Reporter

City of Quincy City Council met May 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The regular meeting of the City Council was held this day at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Michael A. Troup presiding. The following members were physically present:

Ald. Fletcher, Entrup, Bergman, Bauer, Rivera, Mays, Farha, Sassen, Rein, Ebbing, Reis, Reed, Uzelac, Holtschlag. 14.

The minutes of the regular meeting of the City Council held May 8, 2023, were approved as printed on a motion of Ald. Entrup. Motion carried.

Legal Counsel: Assistant Corporation Counsel Bruce Alford.

The City Clerk presented and read the following:

CITY EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT

Joseph Hagstrom

Mayor Troup presented Joseph Hagstrom with a retirement gift.

PUBLIC FORUM

Colin Ash stated that he is a business owner in the downtown area. He would like to thank the Council for the Rental Rehab Program because downtown has grown.

Jarid Jones stated that as an investor it is important to have the Rental Rehab Program. It improves and promotes downtown.

Vicki Demsey stated that she is pleased with the Rental Rehab Program. The City will get their money back with the taxes collected.

Tierney Craig stated that the Rental Rehab Program is money well spent. It supports Downtown by giving a “leg up.” Brett Austin stated in the past, the future of Downtown was not promising. The Rental Rehab Program has given a 16-1 ratio of return.

Layla Dye has picked up 5 trash bags of garbage in parks.

Mecki Kosin is the chair of the Sister City Commission. The Sister City Commission raises money to send students and official delegates to Germany. She invited everyone to the Germanfest June 2nd in South Park.

PETITIONS

By Fireworks Authority Inc. requesting permission to hold firework displays on June 2nd, June 15th, June 30th and July 3rd at QU Stadium, 1800 Sycamore, approximately 9:30 p.m. The Quincy Fire Department has given their approval. Ald. Bauer moved the prayer of the petition be granted and the proper authorities notified. Motion carried. By Fireworks Authority Inc. requesting permission to hold a fireworks display on July 3rd at Quincy Country Club, 2410 State Street, at approximately 9:30 p.m. The Quincy Fire Department has given their approval. Ald. Farha moved the prayer of the petition be granted and the proper authorities notified. Motion carried. A Special Event Application from Fishing for Freedom Quincy requesting permission to hold the annual Fishing for Freedom Fishing Tournament on Friday, June 2nd through Sunday, June 4th in Quincy’s riverfront parks. They have submitted all required documentation and approval is recommended by the Department of Utilities & Engineering. Ald. Bergman moved the prayer of the petition be granted and the proper authorities notified. Motion carried. A Special Event Application from the Sister City Committee requesting permission to hold Germanfest on Friday, June 2nd, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 3rd from 3:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in South Park. They have requested barricades and “No Parking” signs at the east entrance of the park on South 12th Street. They have submitted all required documentation and approval is recommended by the Department of Utilities & Engineering. Ald. Reis moved the prayer of the petition be granted and the proper authorities notified. Motion carried. By the Quincy Elks Lodge 100 BPOE request to conduct a raffle and have the bond requirement waived from now until August 15, 2023. The City Clerk recommends approval of the permit.

Ald. Holtschlag moved the prayer of the petition be granted. Motion carried.

REPORT OF TRAFFIC COMMISSION

Recommending the referral to install a streetlight on the first power pole east of South 8th Street on the north side of Van Buren Street be granted and that Ameren Illinois be notified of the lighting request.

Ald. Reis moved the report be received and concurred in. Motion carried.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT AND CYBER UPDATE

The Information Technology Department Year End Report for Fiscal Year ending April 30, 2023, and Cyber update were ordered received and filed on a motion of Ald. Uzelac. Motion carried.

SALES TAX REPORT

The report of the Illinois Department of Revenue showing sales tax collected for the month of February, 2023 in the amount of $883,414.88 was ordered received and filed on a motion of Ald. Rein. Motion carried.

HOME RULE SALES TAX REPORT

The report of the city’s 1-1/2% home rule sales tax collected for the month of February, 2023 in the amount of $829,028.70 was ordered received and filed on a motion of Ald. Rein. Motion carried.

MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS

By Mayor Michael A. Troup making the appointments of Ald. Glen Ebbing to the Sister City Commission for a three year term ending April 30, 2026; Ald. Jake Reed to the Technology Committee and the Aeronautics Committee for a three year term expiring April 30, 2026; Ald. Mike Rein to serve as Chair of the Finance Committee; Ald. Kelly Mays to City of Quincy/Adams County 9-1-1 Joint Emergency Telephone System Board for a three-year term effective immediately and expiring April 30, 2026; Ald. Mike Farha, Ald. Dave Bauer, Ald. Ben Uzelac, Ald. Kelly Mays and Ald. Greg Fletcher and staff Jeff Mays and Lonnie Dunn to an Ad Hoc Committee to review Committees, Commissions and Boards. Ald. Rein moved the appointments be confirmed. Motion carried.

PROCLAMATIONS

By Michael A. Troup proclaiming May 19, 2023, as “St. Mary Hospital Day” and the week of May 14th – 20th as “National Police Week.”

Ald. Rein moved the proclamations be received and filed. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the City of Quincy has been allocated funding from the Division of Public Transportation, Department of Transportation, State of Illinois, for a financial assistance grant under Section 5311 of the Federal Transit Act of 1991, as amended (49 U.S.C. § 5311), in the amount of $693,292.00 for the purpose of off-setting a portion of the Public Transportation Program operating deficits of Quincy Transit Lines, and;

WHEREAS, in addition to the above-mentioned grant, the City of Quincy has submitted an application for grant funding from the Illinois Downstate Public Transportation Operating Assistance (DOAP) with the State of Illinois under the provisions of the Illinois Downstate Public Transportation Act (30 IL CS 740/2-1, et. seq.) up to an amount of $3,568,807.00 and;

WHEREAS, the City has traditionally funded the Transit Lines for several months of operations while we wait for Grant funding to be received, and;

WHEREAS, in fiscal year ending 4/30/2023 City Council authorized three separate Transit loans from the General Fund totaling $1,700,000 and at year end the General Fund had extended $1,552,770 in loans to the Transit Fund; and WHEREAS, on May 9, 2023, approximately $580,000 in grant funds from July through December 2022 were received from the State; and,

WHEREAS, to cover the costs of providing uninterrupted essential transit service for the citizens of the Quincy area, it will be necessary to secure an extension of the short-term loan from the General Fund for a total amount of up to $2,000,000, said amount to be repaid with grant funds once received; now,

THEREFORE, the Director of Quincy Transit Lines and the Comptroller respectfully request that the Mayor and City Council approve a short-term loan limit of up to $2,000,000, as needed, from the General Fund to the Quincy Transit Lines to pay operating expenses.

Marty Stegeman

Director of Operations

Quincy Transit Lines

Sheri Ray

Comptroller

Ald. Rein moved for the adoption of the resolution, seconded by Ald. Reis, and on the roll call each of the 14 Aldermen voted yea. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The City of Quincy, Quincy Transit Lines, owns and operates a fleet of 16 buses; and

WHEREAS, the City of Quincy purchased scheduling software from Route Match in 2011; and

WHEREAS, the software requires maintenance and updates to operate efficiently; and

WHEREAS, Quincy Transit Lines has a standing maintenance agreement in place with Route Match; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Transportation Director, and Information Technology Manager recommend to the Mayor and City Council that the service maintenance agreement with Route Match be renewed at a cost of $23,017.20. Marty Stegeman

Transportation Director

Corey Dean

Information Technology Manager

Ald. Rein moved for the adoption of the resolution, seconded by Ald. Reis, and on the roll call each of the 14 Aldermen voted yea. Motion carried.

ORDINANCE

Adoption of an Ordinance entitled: An Ordinance Amending title III (Administration) Of Chapter 40 (Board and Commissions) Of The Municipal Code Of The City Of Quincy Of 2015. (Any Quincy police officer who separates from the department and desires to be re-employed will be subject to the same hiring requirements applicable to a lateral transfer police officer.)

Ald. Rein moved for the adoption of the ordinance, seconded by Ald. Sassen and on a roll call each of the 14 Aldermen voted yea.

The Chair, Mayor Michael A. Troup, declared the motion carried and the ordinance adopted.

ORDINANCE

Second presentation of an Ordinance entitled: An Ordinance Amending The District Map Which Is Made A Part Of Section 162.002 Of The Municipal Code Of The City Of Quincy Of 2015. (R1C (Single Family Residential) to C2 (General Commercial) for a portion of 1537 North 24th Street, formerly 2304 Locust Street.)

ORDINANCE

First presentation of an Ordinance entitled: An Ordinance Amending The 2022-2023 Fiscal Year Budget. (Increased expense #612: Health Insurance Premiums in the amount of $126,000.)

Ald. Rein moved the requirements of Section 32.31 of the City Code of the City of Quincy be waived and the ordinance adopted, seconded by Ald. Reis, and on the roll call each of the 14 Aldermen voted yea.

The Chair, Mayor Michael A. Troup, declared the motion carried and the ordinance adopted.

ORDINANCE

First presentation of an Ordinance entitled: An Ordinance Amending Chapter 32 (City Council) Of The Municipal Code Of The City Of Quincy, 2015. (Delete Planning & Development Committee from Standing Committees.)

REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

Mike Rein

Jack Holtschlag

Michael Troup

Anthony E. Sassen

Richie C. Reis

Finance Committee

Ald. Rein seconded by Ald. Sassen, moved the reports be received and vouchers be issued for the various amounts and on the roll call each of the 14 Aldermen voted yea. Motion carried.

MOTIONS

Ald. Holtschlag moved to allow the alley to be closed behind the Quincy Axe Co., 625 Maine, from 6th to 7th Streets, on May 22nd for a Senior High graduation party from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Barricades needed. Motion carried. Ald. Holtschlag referred to the Traffic Commission the request by Blessed Sacrament school to shut down the alley from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during the school year. Motion carried.

Ald. Holtschlag referred to the Traffic Commission to study putting a sign at 1320 Jersey Street for a special needs child. Motion carried.

The City Council adjourned at 8:49 p.m. on a motion of Ald. Holtschlag. Motion carried.

https://www.quincyil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/7610/638207099202470000