City Annex Building Mayor Charles “Skip” Lee called a meeting of the Sterling City Council to order at
6:30 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012. Roll call. Present: Aldermen Barry Cox,
Retha Elston, Joe Martin, and Lou Sotelo. Absent: Aldermen Linda Marley and Amy Viering.
Also present were City Attorney Ron Coplan, City Manager Scott Shumard, Assistant to
City Manager Hadley Skeffington-Vos, Acting Fire Chief Gary Cook, Police Chief Ron
Potthoff, and City Clerk Marie Rombouts. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. There were no communications from Visitors. Alderman Cox made a motion to approve the items on the Consent Agenda, as follows:
A) Minutes from October 15, 2012 and Special Meeting of October 16, 2012 B) Bills and Payroll totaling $1,469,604.52
C) Resolution No. R2012-11-16 to close streets for the Seasonal Sights and
D) Resolution No. R2012-11-17 providing for the abatement of certain taxes
levied against real property for General Obligation Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source) series 2005-Street Program, in the amount of $162,252.50
E) Resolution No. R2012-11-18 providing for the abatement of general real
property taxes for General Obligation Refunding Bonds (Tax Increment
Financing/Sales Tax Alternate Revenue Source), Series 2010B, in the amount of
F) Resolution No. R2012-11-19 providing for the abatement of certain taxes
levied against real property for General Obligation Refunding Bonds (Sales Tax Alternate Revenue Source), Series 2010C-Lynn Boulevard and Oak Grove
Roadway Construction project, in the amount of $213,300.00
G) Resolution No. R2012-11-20 providing for the abatement of general real
property taxes for General Obligation Refunding Bonds (Alternate Revenue
Source), Series 2010A (Recovery Zone Facility Bonds), in the amount of $461,662.50
H) Resolution No. 2012-11-21 providing for the abatement of general real
property taxes for Taxable General Obligation Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source), Series 2010D (Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds – Direct Payment),
I) Payment request to Northwest Il inois Construction for parking lot improvements
on Municipal Lots 8 and 9 in the amount of $61,446.15
J) Final pay request for Asbestos Abatement/Coliseum Project to DEM Services, Inc.
K) Partial Payment Request #5 to Sjostrom & Sons for City Hall remodeling project
L) Plan Commission Minutes from regular meeting of July 19, 2012
The motion was seconded by Alderman Elston. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Cox, Elston,
Martin, and Sotelo. Nayes – None. Motion carried.
Chief Potthoff introduced Officer Matt Kipping. Kipping is a Newman graduate from
Dixon and comes to us from Illinois Central College where he served as a police officer for one year.
Chief Cook introduced Michael Wheeler, who is being promoted to Captain, and Edward
Ramos, who is being promoted to Lieutenant. Michael Wheeler, whose father was a
fire captain, was pinned by his mother, Pat Millican, and friend Dena Sharp. Edward Ramos was pinned by his wife Jeanne.
Alderman Elston made a motion to approve the appointments to the Boards and
Appoint Dr. Jeff LeMay to fill Dr. Steinke’s unexpired term to the Hospital Board,
Reappoint Colin Reynolds to the Police Pension Board, term expiring 4/30/2014 Reappoint Norden Scanlan to the Mechanical Board, term expiring 6/30/2017 Reappoint Steve King to the Plumbing Board of Appeals, term expiring 6/30/2014 Appoint Tom Cushman to the Plumbing Board of Appeals, term expiring
The motion was seconded by Alderman Sotelo. Mayor Lee stated that these people
serving on our boards and commission cannot be thanked enough because of the time they give with no compensation. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Cox, Elston, Martin, and
Sotelo. Nayes – None. Motion carried. Alderman Martin made a motion to approve Resolution No. R2012-11-22 Authorizing the Mayor to sign the disclosure letter regarding the CGH Medical Center Bond Refunding; seconded by Sotelo. Bob Vail with Bernardi Securities
explained that MSRB Rule G-17 is a new requirement regarding financial disclosures. Alderman Cox compared it to co-signing for a loan. Vail agreed and reminded the
Council that the City is not pledging a revenue stream but are saving CGH $1 million by using the City’s credit rating. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Cox, Elston, Martin, and Sotelo.
Mike Mudge distributed an updated comparison of rates for five companies:
MidAmerican Energy, Ameren Energy Marketing, Exelon Energy, MC2 Energy Services, and Nordic Energy Services. Alderman Cox liked the prices from Exelon and pondered
Page 3 how long we should commit. Mudge stated that municipalities usually take two or three
year contracts to guarantee those prices. Mudge reaffirmed that all of these companies
are good suppliers. Mudge reported on the municipal aggregation program. Residents should see 44% savings. 96.6% of the eligible consumers took advantage of the program and will see
the difference on their October bill. The savings will be approximately $400 annually
per household; with a net to the community of $2.44 million. Mudge stated they are currently working with Whiteside County to get the question on the ballot for
aggregation in unincorporated areas of the County. Mayor Lee asked where Mudge is on the transfer of suppliers for small businesses. Mudge explained that letters were sent but he has not had a good response. This kind
of response is why the opt-out works better to get citizens better rates. Alderman Cox
admitted that he was skeptical of the program but is very pleased with the results. Alderman Cox made a motion to authorize the City Manager to enter into an energy agreement with Exelon Energy for three years at 4.739 cents per kilowatt hour;
seconded by Alderman Martin. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Cox, Elston, Martin, and
Sotelo. Nayes – None. Motion carried. Alderman Elston made a motion to approve Ordinance #2012-11-32 Authorizing the Issuance of General Obligation Refunding Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source), Series 2012; seconded by Alderman Martin. Bob Vail with Bernardi
Securities announced this is the last action necessary for the refunding of these bonds and additional funds for new hospital capital expenditures. With refinancing the
hospital will realize savings of $2.1 million, plus provide additional funds for renovations. No maturities have been extended. Savings will amount to $200,000
annually. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Cox, Elston, Martin, and Sotelo. Nayes – None.
Motion carried. Alderman Martin made a motion to repeal Ordinance #2012-10-30 and approve Ordinance #2012-12-33 Authorizing the City Council to vacate certain public ways from Woodburn Avenue easterly to the edge of the public alley west of Avenue L; seconded by Alderman Elston. Attorney Coplan explained the new legal description for the final plat was distributed and runs from the westerly boundary of the
alley to Woodburn Avenue. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Cox, Elston, Martin, and Sotelo. Nayes – None. Motion carried.
Alderman Elston made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2012-11-34 Amending Section 80-39 of the City Code regarding the Storm Water Drainage Appeals Board; seconded by Alderman Sotelo. Manager Shumard explained the Board currently lists the Community Services Director as a member and because that position
Page 4 is vacant the Public Works Superintendent has been suggested to fill that position.
Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Cox, Elston, Martin, and Sotelo. Motion carried.
Alderman Sotelo made a motion to approve the purchase option on the Public Works
backhoe in the amount $40,955.46; seconded by Alderman Martin. The capital budget has $45,000 set aside for this purchase. Voting: Ayes – Alderman Cox, Elston, Martin,
and Sotelo. Nayes – None. Motion carried.
Alderman Elston made a motion to approve the Tree Board’s Annual Tree Guide as a
Tree Plan for the City of Sterling; seconded by Alderman Martin. Alderman Cox is concerned that the Public Works Superintendent will have to approach the Tree Board
for approval to remove diseased or dead trees on the City rights-of-way. Hadley Skeffington-Vos explained that the Superintendent can still determine the health of
trees and remove them when necessary, without Board approval. Voting: Ayes –
Alderman Elston, Martin, and Sotelo. Nayes – Alderman Cox. Motion carried. Clerk Rombouts reminded citizens that the filing period for petitions to run for the Alderman-At-Large position can be accepted November 19 - 26, 2012.
Alderman Elston asked the status of the house of 16th Avenue. Alderman Cox reported seeing the resident moving out.
Mayor Lee urged everyone to vote in tomorrow’s election. Mayor Lee recognized
November 11 as Veteran’s Day and expressed appreciation to all who have served our
country. Mayor Lee also recognized Thanksgiving approaching and encouraged everyone to thank those people who have made an impact on their lives.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm.
drogas, el terrorismo, la corrupción y la delincuencia organizada en general y ayudará a reforzar la imagen del Sistema Financiero Salvadoreño y, en definitiva, de nuestro país en el exterior. Sistema de Administración de Operaciones Sospechosas y en Efectivo (Administración SAR – Actualmente la Unidad de Investigación Financiera cuenta con el software que permite el ingreso, almacen
The Haiti Response Plan office in Haiti is aware of the unfortunate outbreak of cholera which began occurred in the Artibonite region of Haiti and continues to be a health concern in the country. The Haiti Response Plan staff at the Methodist Guest House in Petionville have been assured that as long as safe drinking water and properly cooked food are available that there is no danger of
J) Final pay request for Asbestos Abatement/Coliseum Project to DEM Services, Inc.
K) Partial Payment Request #5 to Sjostrom & Sons for City Hall remodeling project
L) Plan Commission Minutes from regular meeting of July 19, 2012
The motion was seconded by Alderman Elston. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Cox, Elston,
Martin, and Sotelo. Nayes – None. Motion carried.
Chief Potthoff introduced Officer Matt Kipping. Kipping is a Newman graduate from
Dixon and comes to us from Illinois Central College where he served as a police officer for one year.
Chief Cook introduced Michael Wheeler, who is being promoted to Captain, and Edward
Ramos, who is being promoted to Lieutenant. Michael Wheeler, whose father was a
fire captain, was pinned by his mother, Pat Millican, and friend Dena Sharp. Edward Ramos was pinned by his wife Jeanne.
Alderman Elston made a motion to approve the appointments to the Boards and
Appoint Dr. Jeff LeMay to fill Dr. Steinke’s unexpired term to the Hospital Board,
Reappoint Colin Reynolds to the Police Pension Board, term expiring 4/30/2014 Reappoint Norden Scanlan to the Mechanical Board, term expiring 6/30/2017 Reappoint Steve King to the Plumbing Board of Appeals, term expiring 6/30/2014 Appoint Tom Cushman to the Plumbing Board of Appeals, term expiring
The motion was seconded by Alderman Sotelo. Mayor Lee stated that these people
serving on our boards and commission cannot be thanked enough because of the time they give with no compensation. Voting: Ayes – Aldermen Cox, Elston, Martin, and
Sotelo. Nayes – None. Motion carried.