Southern Illinois News

City of Metropolis City Council met Oct. 28.

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, October 28th, 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 Jeremy Holley, Chad Lewis, Brian Anderson, Dylan Chambers, Darryl Neill, Al Wagner, Chuck Short, 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 Absent

Holley Present Short Present

Lewis Present Wagner Present

Moved by Alderman Chad Lewis and second by Alderman Chuck Short to approve the minutes of the previous meeting held meeting on 10-15-2024 as presented. MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea            Wagner Yea

CITIZENS REQUEST:

MAYOR’S REPORT:

Moved by Alderwoman Michele Longworth and second by Alderman Al Wagner to accept road closure of Park St; E 3rd St from Park to Ferry St; Ferry St from 3rd to 5th St; 5th St from Ferry St to Market St from 5th to 9th St for the Christmas parade on December 7th 1-3 p.m. MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea            Wagner Yea

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderman Al Wagner to accept road closure of Superman Square for the Christmas Tree Lighting on November 30th from 5-6 p.m. MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea            Wagner Yea

The Planning and Zoning Department is requesting that the Zoning Ordinance be amended to clarify the requirements for calculating sign and street graphic area allowance. The original sign code limited the business to a maximum of 32 square feet regardless of the amount of street frontage it had. The request is to allow a minimum of 32 square foot signs regardless of the amount of street frontage.

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderman Chad Lewis to accept a text amendment to Title XV, Chapter 156, Section 156.451 of the Metropolis Code of Ordinances regarding sign or street graphic area allowance 2024-17

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea            Wagner Yea

Jason Cates, owner of Kennedy Place, applied for the Business Improvement Grant (BIG) for new windows in his office located at 645 Kennedy Drive. The requested motion is to approve payment for half of the total cost.

Moved by Alderman Chad Lewis and second by Alderman Chuck Short to accept the Planning Commission’s findings of fact as Council reasons for approving proposed text amendment

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea            Wagner Yea

Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Chad Lewis to accept payment to Kennedy Place LLC for a completed Business Improvement Grant project (new windows) in the amount $1,376.50

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea            Wagner Yea

Danny and Janna Worthington purchased a C-3 zoned property at 216 W. 10th Street that did not allow for a separate garage structure to be used as a guesthouse. Chad Murray explained during an Oct. 17 public hearing, the Planning Commission ruled a guesthouse as an accessory use requires a special use permit within the C-3 zoning district and must comply with the minimum district size of the zoned area. The Planning Commission recommends approving the request.

Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Dylan Chambers to approve a text amendment to Title XV: land usage, Chapter 156 – Zoning, Table 156.345. 1 and Section 156.365-Supplemmental Regulations 2024-18

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea            Wagner Yea

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderman Dylan Chambers to accept Planning Commission’s findings of fact as Council reasons for approving proposed text amendment

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea            Wagner Yea

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderman Chad Lewis to approve a Special Use Permit for a guesthouse at 216 West 10th Street, Metropolis, IL to Danny and Janna Worthington 2024-19

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea            Wagner Yea

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderman Chad Lewis to accept Zoning Board of Appeals’ findings of fact as Council reasons for approving proposed Special Use Permit MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea            Wagner Yea

Hucks Convenience Store is going to expand their business and improve parking, they requested an easement agreement between the City of Metropolis and Martin & Bayley, Inc. Martin & Bayley wishes to utilize the entirety of Lot 4 for the purpose of commercial ingress and egress for its customers. They shall keep and maintain the Easement in a good, safe, passable condition.

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderman Dylan Chambers to approve an easement agreement between the City of Metropolis, an Illinois municipal corporation and Martin & Bayley, Inc., an Illinois limited liability company 2024-20

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea            Wagner Yea

The Planning Commission met on October 17, concerning the vacation of part of a certain alley. The request is to vacate part of the alley bisecting Block 96 of the Second Addition to the City of Metropolis for Martin & Bayley, Inc and Stearns Investment Co. The alley shall be closed and vacated, and no longer used as and for public throughfare. The owners of the parcels of property acquiring title to the vacated portion of the alley pay compensation in the amount of $1,100 to the City of Metropolis.

Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Chuck Short to approve ordinance vacating a part of the alley in Block 96 of the Second Addition to the City of Metropolis 2024-21

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea            Wagner Yea

Moved by Alderman Brian Anderson and second by Alderman Al Wagner to approve the quote from Global Rental Co., Inc in the amount of $199,572.00 for the purchase of a new bucket truck for the Light Department

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea            Wagner Yea

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderman Brian Anderson to accept payment to BioVac in the amount of $20,985.00 to empty filter

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea            Wagner Yea

Moved by Alderwoman Michele Longworth and second by Alderman Chad Lewis to accept payment to BioVac in the amount of $16,011.00 to empty second filter MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea            Wagner Yea

CORPORATE COUNSEL:

The City require a minimum bid of $500 to purchase the property.

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderwoman Michele Longworth to seek bids for the sale of improved property located at 600 West 18th Street MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea            Wagner Yea

The City require a minimum bid of $1,500 to purchase the properties.

Moved by Alderman Chad Lewis and second by Alderman Jermey Holley to seek bids for the sale of improved property located at 401, 407, 415 West 8th Street

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea            Wagner Yea

Corporate Counsel Andrew Leonard stated that prior to the ordinance the city had nothing to protect citizens from fighting each other during public comment. This also prevents the overburdening of meetings and more the substance of what is being spoken.

Moved by Alderman Dylan Chambers and second by Alderman Brian Anderson to Adopt an Ordinance Establishing Rules and Regulations for Public Participation in Addressing the City Council 2024-22

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea            Wagner Yea

After discussing the rules and regulations Alderman Short wanted to strike the language in Rule B making it easier for residents to address the city council. Corporate Counsel stated he would make the corrections. A motion was made to amend the ordinance with the corrected changes.

Moved by Alderman Brian Anderson and second by Alderman Chuck Short to amend and Adopt an Ordinance Establishing Rules and Regulations for Public Participation in Addressing the City Council 2024-22

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea            Wagner Yea

ORDINANCE COMMITTEE:

The amended ordinance will reduce the 30-mph speed limit on Speckman Street between 19th and 20th streets to 20 mph.

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderwoman Michele Longworth to Adopt an Ordinance Amending Title VII, Traffic Code Chapter 71, Traffic Schedules, Schedule II Speed Regulations of the Code of Metropolis to Reduce the Maximum Allowance Speed on Speckman Street Between 19th Street 20th Street to 20 MPH 2024-23

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

The amended ordinance will increase the cost of an additional residential trash tote from $2 to $7.50 over the next three years. The rate will go to $5 on Jan. 1, 2025; then to $6.25 on Jan. 1, 2026; and to $7.50 on Jan. 1, 2027. The $2 fee has been in effect since 2006.

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderman Al Wagner to Adopt an Ordinance Amending Title 5, Public Works, Chapter 51, Garbage, Section 51.6, Rates, of the Code of Metropolis 2024-24

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

The amended ordinance will change the current diagonal parking into parallel parking. Shawnee Mass Transit District will now pick up citizens at the opposite end in front of city hall next to the handicapped space. This gives three parallel parking spaces for our residents.

Moved by Alderman Chuck Short and second by Alderman Chad Lewis to Adopt an Ordinance Amending the Code of Metropolis by Regulating Parking on West 5th Street in Front of City Hall 2024-25

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

The amended ordinance will increase the 15-mph speed limit on 15th Street between Metropolis Street and Catherine to 20 mph. The speed bumps will be removed as they are not recognized as a traffic control device.

Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Chuck Short to Adopt an Ordinance Amending Title VII, Traffic Code Chapter 71, Traffic Schedules, Schedule II Speed Regulations of the Code of Metropolis to Reduce the Maximum Allowance Speed on 15th Street Between Metropolis Street and Catherine Street to 20 MPH 2024-26

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

DEPARTMENT HEADS:

Chief Masse shared Mason Stewart graduates Friday from the academy.

OLD BUSINESS:

Alderman Short stated we need clarification on the dos and don’ts when setting a minimum on our properties up for bid. He suggested setting a minimum of $300 on less than whole lots and $500 minimum on whole lots. Further discussion will be held in an Ordinance Committee meeting in the future.

NEW BUSINESS:

Alderman Holley invited the members of the council to come to ROE’s (Regional Office of Education #21) open house from 2-4, Tuesday, October 29th located at 109 East 5th Street.

MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS:

Alderwoman Longworth inquired about the property on 8th and Broadway. The mayor informed her that it had been sold and they will begin to clean up the property soon.

FINANCIAL REPORT:

Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Chad Lewis 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 Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

Moved by Alderman Jeremy Holley and second by Alderman Chad Lewis 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.

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

Moved by Alderwoman Michele Longworth and seconded by Alderman Dylan Chambers to adjourn. 7:26

MOTION CARRIED:

Anderson Yea      Longworth Yea 

Chambers Yea    Neill Absent 

Holley Yea           Short Yea 

Lewis Yea           Wagner Yea

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