Southern Illinois News

City of Metropolis City Council met June 10.

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, June 10th, 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 Chad Lewis to approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 5-28-2024 as presented.

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea     Longworth Yea

Chambers Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

CITIZENS REQUEST:

MAYOR’S REPORT:

Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Chuck Short to approve payment for a 3-year service plan for a new firewall for the city in the amount of $8,841.55

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 Dylan Chambers to accept payment to Quint Utilities and Excavating in the amount of $10,380.00 for emergency repairs at the Wastewater Treatment Plant

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea     Longworth Yea

Chambers Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

Public Works Director Natalie Harris stated the following motion is to replace one of our transformers going bad used in a high service area.

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderman Al Wagner to accept purchase of a 750 KVA Three Phase Pad Mount from UTB Transformers in the amount of $41,5000.00 for the Light Department

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 Alderman Chad Lewis to accept the purchase of a Dodge Durango for the Police Department in the amount of $47,855.00

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea     Longworth Yea

Chambers Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

Trish Steckenrider, Executive Director of Greater Metropolis Area CVB, is requesting $100,000 for normal operations, payroll and marketing. She gave a brief update about upcoming events after wrapping up another successful Superman Celebration. The ASA Archery Competition begins June 27-30 at Memet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area. We have the Super City Brew Fest on September 7th at Harrah’s Casino followed by the 50th Fort Massac Encampment on October 19th and 20th. They received state funding in the amount of $100,000, it’s earmarked for the website, print and digital billboards to advertise Metropolis as your vacation destination.

Moved by Alderman Al Wagner and second by Alderman Jeremy Holley to accept $100,000 for Tourism

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea     Longworth Yea

Chambers Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

CORPORATE COUNSEL:

Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Chuck Short to adopt an Ordinance of the City of Metropolis, Massac County, Illinois Authorizing the Execution of a New Power Sales Contract with the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency for the Delivery Period Commencing October 1, 2035, #2024-08

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea     Longworth Yea

Chambers Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

Our local farmer’s market is open Saturday’s during the summer months at Dorothy Miller Park. Discussion if the farmers market should have their own liability insurance after concerns and questions have been raised since it’s on city property. Corporate counsel Andrew Leonard stated any time you have a public event with foot traffic from the public on city-owned property that we’re allowing someone to use free, we are going to have liability if someone gets hurt. We need to protect the city the best we can. We should reach out to those in charge of the market about setting up as a non-profit so they can continue to operate. This may include the city assisting them in starting the corporate formalities to move forward. If a claim is made, they have their own liability insurance before it gets to the city. They can continue to operate, if we want to do it in a manner to protect the city a little bit more, there's always the option to do that. Mayor Canada commented, we do not want to hamper the farmer’s market; they have done a really good job. We are addressing the concerns of who is liable if somebody gets hurt and our insurance doesn’t cover it. He added, we’re only trying to protect the people putting on the event. It was asked if we knew what Paducah’s farmer’s market policy was on the subject. A suggestion was to post signs “Not Responsible for Injuries” on events hosted on city property.

OLD BUSINESS:

Alderwoman Longworth wanted clarification about the people who rented the Community Center who play pickleball and had an injury, who would be liable. Do we have everyone sign a waiver? She also inquired about playing pickleball at Franklin Park needing a waiver to play. The mayor gave an update on the pickleball court at Franklin Park, he has contacted the light dept and street department to make sure the courts are ready. The street dept has leveled out the courts, the last step is to paint the lines.

NEW BUSINESS:

People have inquired about how long businesses can leave their wares in front of their place. We have businesses who leave their merchandise out continuously and in an unsystematic way. They have previously been abated and cleaned up the property but is back to being an eyesore. This is not a good first impression nor is it fair to surrounding businesses.

FINANCIAL REPORT:

Moved by Alderman Chad Lewis and second by Alderman Jemery 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 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 Alderwoman Michele Longworth 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 Alderwoman Michele Longworth and seconded by Alderman Jeremy Holley to adjourn. 7:20

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea     Longworth Yea

Chambers Yea    Neill Yea

Holley Yea          Short Yea

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

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