Southern Illinois News

City of Metropolis City Council met Feb. 12.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The regular meeting of the City Council, City of Metropolis, Illinois was held  at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 12th, 2024, in Council Chambers of City Hall at  106 West 5th Street, Metropolis, Illinois. Upon roll call the following Council  members were present: Alderwoman Michele Longworth, Aldermen Jermey  Holley, Chad Lewis, Chuck Short, Brian Anderson, Darryl Neill, Corporate Counsel  Andrew Leonard, Mayor Don Canada, City Clerk Jan Adams and concerned citizens  of Metropolis. Alderman Al Wagner, Dylan Chambers were absent.  ROLL CALL:  

Anderson Present    Longworth Present  

Chambers Absent     Neill Present 

Holley Present          Short Present  

Lewis Present           Wagner Absent    

Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Chad Lewis to  approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 1-22-2024 as presented. MOTION CARRIED:  

Anderson Yea           Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent     Neill Yea 

Holley Yea                Short Yea  

Lewis Yea                 Wagner Absent 

MAYOR’S REPORT:  

Moved by Alderman Darryl Neill and second by Alderman Jeremy Holley to  accept entering into an agreement with Pyrotechnic Fireworks, Inc. for fireworks  display on Friday, July 5, 2024. 

MOTION CARRIED:  

Anderson Yea           Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent     Neill Yea 

Holley Yea                Short Yea  

Lewis Abstain           Wagner Absent  

Moved by Alderwoman Michele Longworth and second by Alderman  Jeremy Holley to approve road closure on Front Street from Metropolis Street to  Frelinghuysen for Friday, July 5, 2024, to host the Fourth of July fireworks.  MOTION CARRIED:  

Anderson Yea           Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent     Neill Yea 

Holley Yea                Short Yea  

Lewis Abstain           Wagner Absent  

Moved by Alderman Chad Lewis and second by Alderman Brian Anderson  to approve hire Lifeguards and Pool Manager for City Pool.  

MOTION CARRIED:  

Anderson Yea           Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent     Neill Yea 

Holley Yea                Short Yea  

Lewis Yea                 Wagner Absent 

Imua calculated the updated recommended Fair Solar Credit Values for  2024 to be $0.0538/kWh for Metropolis.  

Moved by Alderman Darryl Neill and second by Alderman Jeremy Holley to approve the new “avoided cost” as defined in Section 12 of the Customer Self Generation Net Metering Policy for 2024 to be $0.0538. 

MOTION CARRIED:  

Anderson Yea           Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent     Neill Yea 

Holley Yea                Short Yea  

Lewis Yea                 Wagner Absent 

Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Brian  Anderson to approve the Board of Fire & Police Commissioners recommendation  of the promotion of Daniel Austin to Sergeant due to the upcoming retirement of  Sgt. Michael Kennedy. 

MOTION CARRIED:  

Anderson Yea           Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent     Neill Yea 

Holley Yea                Short Yea  

Lewis Yea                 Wagner Absent 

Moved by Alderman Chad Lewis and second by Alderman Jeremy Holley to approve the Board of Fire & Police Commissioners recommendation of the hiring of Christian Childress due to the vacancy created from an officer failing to pass field training. 

MOTION CARRIED:  

Anderson Yea           Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent     Neill Yea 

Holley Yea                Short Yea  

Lewis Yea                 Wagner Absent  

Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Chad Lewis to approve funding imbursement of $100,000 to Greater Metropolis Convention & Visitors Bureau. 

MOTION CARRIED:  

Anderson Yea           Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent     Neill Yea 

Holley Yea                Short Yea  

Lewis Yea                 Wagner Absent  

Moved by Alderman Brian Anderson and second by Alderman Chad Lewis  to approve the appointment of Micah Tolbert to the Planning Commission and  Zoning Board of Appeals for a three-year term to fill a vacancy. MOTION CARRIED:  

Anderson Yea           Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent     Neill Yea 

Holley Yea                Short Yea  

Lewis Yea                 Wagner Absent  

Moved by Alderman Brian Anderson and second by Alderman Chad Lewis to approve the appointment of Jim Young to the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals for a two-year term to fill a vacancy.  

MOTION CARRIED:  

Anderson Yea           Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent     Neill Yea 

Holley Yea                Short Yea  

Lewis Yea                 Wagner Absent  

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderman Brian Anderson to approve the appointment of Ken Kovac to the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals for a one-year term to fill a vacancy.  

MOTION DENIED:  

Anderson Yea         Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent   Neill Yea 

Holley Nay              Short Nay  

Lewis Nay               Wagner Absent  

Mayor Nay 

Moved by Alderman Jeremy and second by Alderman Darryl Neill to Table the appointment of Mike Korte to the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals for a one-year term to fill a vacancy.  

MOTION CARRIED:  

Anderson Yea           Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent     Neill Yea 

Holley Yea                Short Yea  

Lewis Yea                 Wagner Absent  

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderman Darryl Neill to approve hiring to fill a vacancy due to a resignation.  

MOTION CARRIED:  

Anderson Yea           Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent     Neill Yea 

Holley Yea                Short Yea  

Lewis Yea                 Wagner Absent 

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderman Jeremy Holley to approve the appointment of Rebecca Reed as the Authorized Agent for IMRF. MOTION CARRIED:  

Anderson Yea           Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent     Neill Yea 

Holley Yea                Short Yea  

Lewis Yea                 Wagner Absent 

Moved by Alderman Chad Lewis and second by Alderman Jeremy Holley to approve the bid from E. T. Simonds Construction Company in the amount of 301,933. 49 for the North Avenue Street Project.  

MOTION CARRIED:  

Anderson Yea           Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent     Neill Yea 

Holley Yea                Short Yea  

Lewis Yea                 Wagner Absent 

CORPORATE COUNSEL:  

The Metropolis Police Department is disposing of personal property to be auctioned on www.govdeals.com . The three vehicles are Unit 8, a 2012 Dodge Charger, Unit 12, a 2014 Dodge Charger, and Unit 7, a 2014 Dodge Charger.  

Moved by Alderman Jermey Holley and Seconded by Alderman Brian Anderson to Adopt an Ordinance Authorizing the Sale or Other Disposition of Personal Property of the City of Metropolis. 2024-03 

MOTION CARRIED:  

Anderson Yea           Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent     Neill Yea 

Holley Yea                Short Yea  

Lewis Yea                 Wagner Absent 

The following motion is amending an ordinance passed in 2004 stating salaries of elected officials to begin in 2005 election. Salaries can only be raised 180 days prior to an election and will commence with the 2027 election. The mayor, city clerk, and half the council will receive the new increase and the remaining half will receive the increase in 2027. The mayor will be $47,000 yearly and the liquor commissioner position, also part of the mayor’s position, will be $12,000 yearly. The position has dental, optical, and health insurance offered. The clerk’s salary will be $48,000 yearly and the liquor collector, a position given to the clerk, will be $12,000 yearly. The position has dental, optical, and health  insurance offered. Each alderman will receive $375 for each regular meeting and  any special meeting attended. 

Moved by Alderman Darryl Neill and Seconded by Alderman Brian Anderson to Adopt an Ordinance Amending Salary Levels for Certain Elected Municipal Officers. 

MOTION CARRIED:  

Anderson Yea           Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent     Neill Yea 

Holley Yea                Short Yea  

Lewis Yea                 Wagner Absent 

DEPARTMENT HEADS:  

 Chief Masse along with Chief Micah Tolbert shared their concerns on bussing undocumented immigrants throughout Illinois.Our Governor has made Illinois a sanctuary state, over tens of thousands of immigrant passengers have been bussed in various locations around Chicago and its suburbs.These states limit their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agents to protect illegal immigrants who come into the country to make a living.The immigrants who commit serious crimes are turned over to authorities.Chicago is overrun with illegal immigrants and asking smaller cities throughout Illinois to help with the burden. Masse pleaded to the council to pass an ordinance eliminating Metropolis as a drop-off location for illegal immigrants. Metropolis is not equipped to house, cloth and feed these people, many do not speak English.  

Chief Tolbert added the ladder truck is of commission again and waiting on  estimate.  

Trevor Williams, Human Resource Director, wanted to thank the council for  the opportunity he was given with the city. He has worked with the city for the  past 3 years, his last day is February 16th, 2024. He will stay on as a consultant on  a needed basis.    

FINANCIAL REPORT:  

Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Brian  Anderson to approve the Finance Report be received and approved and that the orders be drawn on the Treasurer for the different amounts mentioned therein and that the Mayor and the City Clerk be authorized to make necessary arrangements for payment of current Salaries, Payroll and Contract bills. MOTION CARRIED:  

Anderson Yea           Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent     Neill Yea 

Holley Yea                Short Yea  

Lewis Yea                 Wagner Absent  

Moved by Alderman Chad Lewis and second by Alderman Jeremy Holley to approve the Finance Report be received and approved and that the orders be drawn on the Treasurer for the different amounts mentioned therein and that the Mayor and the City Clerk be authorized to make necessary arrangements for payment of miscellaneous bills.  

Anderson Yea           Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent     Neill Yea 

Holley Yea                Short Yea  

Lewis Yea                 Wagner Absent 

Moved by Alderman Darryl Neill and seconded by Alderwoman Michele Longworth to adjourn. 7:14  

Anderson Yea           Longworth Yea  

Chambers Absent     Neill Yea 

Holley Yea                Short Yea  

Lewis Yea                 Wagner Absent 

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