Southern Illinois News

City of Metropolis City Council met May 13.

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, May 13, 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, Alderman Brian Anderson, Al Wagner, Dylan Chambers, Jermey Holley, Chad Lewis, Chuck Short, Darryl Neill, Corporate Counsel Andrew Leonard, Mayor Don Canada, City Clerk Jan Adams and concerned citizens of Metropolis.

ROLL CALL:

Anderson Present

Longworth Present

Chambers Present

Neill Present

Holley Present

Short Present

Lewis Present

Wagner Present

Moved by Alderwoman Michele Longworth and second by Alderman Jeremy Holley to approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 4-22-2024 as presented.

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea Longworth Yea Chambers Nea Neill Yea Holley Yea Short Yea Lewis Yea Wagner Yea

CITIZENS REQUEST:

Kerian Brannon revisited the topic of Lincon Park and expressed her disgruntlements to the council. The park has been in existence for over 180 years and needs it to remain a green space for our residents. It needs refurbishing and have extra activities there for the citizens to use. There are plenty of other lots for someone to build a business with. She expressed her love for Metropolis, and she wanted to be a part of making it better and bringing in more people. She stated again that we as a community cannot help you if we do not know what is going on.

Laken Coleman and Mindy Harris asked to speak on behalf of the Massac Youth Soccer Board asking to keep Lincoln Park as a soccer park. This was the original soccer park used for all practices and games when the Massac Youth Soccer Board first came into existence. It is also the only field with lights that allows for practices and games to be played after dark. In the Fall the lights allow many coaches have a place to practice after work. Using this field helps the board maintain the playing field grass at the Soccer Complex. They also requested funding for lighting on the three back fields at the Soccer Complex. The jr. high/high school field estimate was in the amount of $267,840.00. The approximate cost for lighting per field is $250,000 -$300,000.

MAYOR’S REPORT:

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderman Jeremy Holley to accept road closure of Metropolis Street between 3rd & 4th, 4th Street between Park & Metropolis, and Park Street for “Summer Concerts on May 31st, June 22nd, July 13th, August 2nd.

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea

Chambers Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

Moved by Alderman Al Wagner and second by Alderwoman Michele Longworth to approve the road closure of 1st Street from Frelinghuysen to the Lighthouse for Massac Pre K End of Year Celebration on May 21st from 5pm to 7pm

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea

Chambers Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

Public Works director Natalie Harris commented that the street sweeper has a vacuum system and does not require a CDL to operate.

Moved by Alderman Chad Lewis and second by Alderman Al Wagner to approve purchase of a 2014 TYMCO 435 street sweeper plus shipping in the amount of $101,899.00 for the Street Department

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea

Chambers Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

Moved by Alderman Darryl Neill and second by Alderman Brian Anderson to accept the bid for Devers Road project in the amount $323,675.00. MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea

Chambers Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

Pam Tyson will finish out the term of LaDawn Bradley who resigned from the board in March. The term will end July 1, 2024.

Moved by Alderwoman Michele Longworth and second by Alderman Al Wagner to approve Pam Tyson to the Metropolis Public Library Board MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Nay Longworth Yea Chambers Yea Neill Yea Holley Yea Short Yea Lewis Yea Wagner Yea

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderman Jeremy Holley to accept the Zoning Board of Appeals advisory report regarding 1214 Baynes for a Special Use Permit.

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea

Chambers Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Al Wagner to hire for the position of Street/Water Helper/Truck Driver at Public Works created by a transfer.

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea

Chambers Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

CORPORATE COUNSEL:

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderman Al Wagner to seek bids for the sale of unimproved property located in the 600 block of West 11th, small triangle next to 611 West 11th.

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea

Chambers Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderwoman Michele Longworth to seek bids for the sale of unimproved property located at 1012 East 3rd Street.

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea

Chambers Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

Alderman Short requested a minimum bid of $300 on the sale of 905 Girard Street due to a low the first bid was rejected.

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderman Dylan Chambers to seek bids for the sale of unimproved property located at 905 Girard Street MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea

Chambers Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

DEPARTMENT HEADS:

Chief Masse stated May 15-21 is National Police Week. It is a week-long celebration to honor America’s law enforcement community. We give recognition to our first responders, EMT’s and Paramedics who treat us in our times of need and honor those who served. May 15th marks National Police Officer Memorial Day. Please take a moment and say a prayer for all the Gold Star Families that are missing and the officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

NEW BUSINESS:

Alderman Holley stated when we take actions such as library appointments and the necessity to seek outside counsel, a required compliance and consent from the council members. I think if we could seek a defined term of what it means by case law so we can have a better understanding when we vote, give consent, or advise this will hopefully cut back on some of the animosity we are receiving. There is not a lot of communication in some respects, and we will have the exact definition and we have the exact policy and procedures we can follow. We live in a small community and know a lot of people who might want to serve on our boards. Holley feels he would not have to vet many people but feels Alderman Al Wagner might being a New Jersey native. We owe it to ourselves to be able to collaborate like we have done in the past with the library and to gather a consensus among ourselves for the direction of situations we have the authority to oversee.

Alderman Holley also inquired about the Southern Scene newspapers that continually lay in people’s driveways, yards, and vacant homes. He received an email due to the fact the residents are not picking them up adding clutter to their neighborhood. He questioned if there was a way to purge the system of names who do not want to receive the papers.

FINANCIAL REPORT:

Moved by Alderman Chad Lewis and second by Alderwoman Michele Longworth 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 Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

Moved by Alderman Dylan Chambers to and second by Alderman Jeremy Holley 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.

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea

Chambers Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderwoman Michele Longworth that we go into Executive Session for reasons listed on the agenda. Time 7:22

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea

Chambers Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Chad Lewis to approve the minutes of the Executive Session for reasons and that they are to remain closed.

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea

Chambers Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

After coming out of Executive Session Alderman Darryl Neill wanted clarification concerning the park. We are seeking a deed so we can possibly make improvements, we have no intention of selling the park.

Moved by Alderwoman Michele Longworth and seconded by Alderman Jeremy Holley to adjourn. 8:11

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea

Chambers Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

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