Aug 21, 2023 City Council Meeting

CONTACTED A LANDSCAPING COMPANY HERE IN MACON COUNTY, AND THEY WERE ADVISING THAT NO MORE THAN FIVE INCHES A MULCH SHOULD BE PUT ON A YARD.

I'M HERE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR RESPONDING TO OUR COMMENTS TWO WEEKS AGO.

UM, WE ARE HERE THIS EVENING TO UPDATE YOU ON WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND, UH, TO UPDATE YOU SO FAR.

WE'VE SEEN THE YARD MOWED A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE A PATH THROUGH THE YARD, AND THEN WE'VE ALSO SEEN A DUMP LOAD, UH, DUMP TRUCK LOAD OF ANOTHER LOAD OF MULCH AFTER THE CITY WAS OUT THERE.

AND SO, UM, I HAD ANOTHER NE NEIGHBOR COME TO ME THE OTHER DAY SEEKING MY ADVICE ON IF THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAD BEEN, UH, HAVING MICE.

AND I SAID, WELL, Y YES, I HAVE HEARD SOME PEOPLE AND SHE SAYS, WE USED TO JUST HAVE 'EM IN THE WINTER, BUT NOW WE'RE HAVING 'EM YEAR ROUND AND WE'RE CATCHING 'EM LIKE CRAZY.

AND SO THEY'RE GONNA TAKE PICTURES OF IT AND PROBABLY COME IN THE CITY COUNCIL HERE.

UM, ALSO, I WANNA KIND OF PAINT A PICTURE FOR YOU.

UM, IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN A GERAL CAGE OR A HAMSTER CAGE.

WELL, THE MULCH IN THIS YARD IS THREE TO FOUR FOOT DEEP, AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO ABOUT THE MULCH, BUT I

[00:05:01]

AND IF IT, IF IT'S MORE THAN THAT, THEN IT NEEDS TO BE TURNED ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW, TO PREVENT THE CRUSTING OVER THE TOP OF THE, UH, THE MULCH.

BUT YOU CAN IMAGINE IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN THIS, UH, A HAMSTER CAGE AND YOU PUT BEDDING IN IT, AND THEN YOU DON'T CLEAN IT OUT, AND THEN YOU PUT MORE BEDDING IN IT AND YOU DON'T CLEAN IT OUT, HOW HIGH CAN THIS BEDDING GET BEFORE THE, THE HAMSTER IS FORCED OUT OF ITS CAGE? AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO DESCRIBE THIS PROPERTY TO YOU BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE TURN AROUND, THERE'S ANOTHER LOAD OF MULCH.

GARY OVER HERE HAS A ITEM TO SHOW YOU.

UM, I'VE HAD FOUR FOOT SNAKES ON MY FRONT PORCH.

I'VE HAD FIVE SNAKES IN MY YARD THIS YEAR ALONE.

I'VE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE.

UH, THE NEIGHBORS ALSO HAVING MICE PROBLEMS. UM, I JUST, I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH HOW BAD THIS MULCH PROBLEM IS BECOMING.

AND, UM, ALSO, UH, THERE'S SOME, I'M SORRY, MRS. SMITH, YOU'RE OUT OF TIME.

I LIVE, I ADJOIN HIS PROPERTY.

THIS IS A RAT SNAKE SKIN.

IT WAS CLOSE TO HIS PROPERTY LINE.

I I'M GONNA FIND THAT SNAKE .

IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE RAT SNAKES RUIN ANY NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS THING ALL STARTED A WHILE BACK.

THERE ARE 40 TO 50 STRAW BELLS ALONG MY DRIVEWAY AT THE PROPERTY LINE HALF BURIED.

THIS MAKES PRIME BRADY GROUND FOR MICE, RATS, STORM AND SNAKES.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT A RAT SNAKE WAS UNTIL NOW.

YOU CAN SEE THE BEGINNING OF THIS STRAW BELL GARDEN, WHATEVER IT IS, ON A DECATUR DIGITAL ATLAS.

YOUR OWN WEBSITE, GOOGLE DIGITAL ATLAS.

YOU'LL SEE IT, IT COMES DOWN, IT SHOWS 11 BELLS.

THERE'S ABOUT 30, 40 FEET THAT HE FINISHED FILLING IN IT.

IT IS AN EARLIER SNAPSHOT, WAS WHAT IT IS, A DIGITAL ATLAS.

ANYHOW, IT, IT, IT, IT IS NOT NORMAL TO DO THIS TO A YARD.

I'M, I'M AT A LOSS OF WORDS.

THANK YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU, SIR.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS BRUCE PORTER.

UH, I'M HERE ABOUT RECYCLING.

I BELIEVE IN RECYCLING.

I THINK MOST OF US WOULD AGREE IT'S A GOOD THING TO DO.

UM, I HAVE SPOKEN TO, UH, THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, MR. SPE.

IS HE HERE? MR. KIN? MR. KINS IS RIGHT HERE IN THE FRONT ROW.

OKAY.

UM, AND HE ACQUAINTED ME WITH THE LICENSING AGREEMENT THAT THE CITY HAS WITH THE VARIOUS GARBAGE COLLECTORS, WHICH CALLS FOR THEM TO PICK UP RECYCLING.

BUT THE PARAMETERS OF IT ARE LIMITED TO RESIDENCES AND PLACES WITH NO MORE THAN SIX UNITS.

UH, THE ORLANDO APARTMENTS WHERE I LIVE HAS, UH, 87 UNITS.

AND I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE.

IT'S GONNA BE 17 YEARS.

COME LABOR DAY.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE ORLANDO TRIED TO, UH, COLLECT RECYCLING, BUT NO ONE WOULD PICK IT UP.

THE, THEIR GARBAGE COLLECTOR WOULDN'T PICK IT UP, I SUPPOSE, BECAUSE THEY'RE OUTSIDE THE PARAMETERS OF THE AGREEMENT.

SO, UH, MR. KIN BROACHED THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE ORDINANCE COULD BE REVISITED TO INCLUDE, UH, LARGER COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES SUCH AS THE ORLANDO.

AND, UH, I'D LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT BECAUSE WE, WE HAVE PEOPLE, I'VE GOT A WAY TO GET MY RECYCLING TAKEN CARE OF.

A FRIEND OF MINE PICKS IT UP AND TAKES IT TO HIS NEIGHBORHOOD, PUTS IT IN HIS DUMPSTER, WHERE, WHERE HIS, HIS GARBAGE COLLECTOR WILL COLLECT IT.

BUT THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE IN ORLANDO THAT DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION.

AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THERE TO BE AWAY FOR THEM TO, UH, GET THE RECYCLING PICKED UP.

AND IF IT'S PICKED UP, TAKE WHERE IT BELONGS.

IT SERVES A PURPOSE.

IF IT'S THROWN IN THE TRASH, IT JUST GOES TO THE LANDFILL.

THE LANDFILL GETS BIGGER, WE START ANOTHER LANDFILL.

AND WHERE DOES IT END? THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT IT.

I, I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT THIS IS A SMALL PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S A, IT IS A NEIGHBORHOOD.

THANK YOU, MR. PORTER.

TAMBRA BURNS.

AND I'M HERE ABOUT THE ISSUE AT 31 72 RED LAKE.

UM, AGAIN, I WANNA REITERATE WHAT JENNY SAID.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO.

UM,

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IT HAS BE, IT HAS BEEN BECOMING A NEIGHBORHOOD ISSUE.

UM, BUT I DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE, UM, BECAUSE THE INSPECTORS WERE OUT TUESDAY MORNING AFTER YOU TOLD US THEY WOULD BE.

AND THAT WAS GREAT.

UM, I THINK IT'S, MR. PATRICK HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MY HUSBAND, WHO IS THE, UH, CONNECTION.

AND HE SENT HIM AN EMAIL AND IT SAID THAT THE PROPERTY'S BEEN INSPECTED AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.

SO IN THE MEANTIME, WE JUST KIND OF WAIT AND, AND WATCH AND LISTEN TO OTHER PEOPLE START SHARE WITH US NOW, DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY'RE NOTICING FROM WHAT THE HOMESTEADER IS DOING ON HIS PROPERTY.

UM, FOR ME, IT'S A LITTLE BIT BIGGER THAN THAT.

AND I, AND I REALIZED THAT WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN HERE MY ENTIRE LIFE.

UM, MY HUSBAND AND I TWO OWN TWO SMALL BUSINESSES.

WE HAVE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE.

AND I ASKED MYSELF DRIVING JASPER TO JASPER, END TO END OR ANY OTHER STREET, HOW DID WE GET HERE? AND SO, IN MY OWN BACKYARD, NOW I'M SEEING A SITUATION THAT I WANNA SEE A GOOD RESOLUTION FOR.

I WANT IT TO BE A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND I WANT IT TO BE A WIN-WIN, YOU KNOW, SITUATION FOR US.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS.

SO I'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO THE WEBSITE AND RESEARCHING AND EVERYTHING, BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, IT SEEMS, IT MAY SEEM LIKE IT'S A LITTLE PROBLEM, BUT I THINK IT'S A BIGGER PROBLEM.

AND I JUST HOPE THAT WE CAN COME AWAY FROM THIS ENCOURAGING OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE WE HEAR, WELL, THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING.

THAT'S WHAT WE HEAR, THAT NOTHING WILL HAPPEN.

AND I SAID, WELL, I BEG TO DIFFER WITH THAT.

AND SO I'M GONNA KIND OF RUN THIS PATH AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN GET DONE.

SO I GUESS MAYBE I HAVE A FAVOR TO ASK ALL OF YOU.

AND THAT WOULD BE, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO TAKE 15 MINUTES OUT OF YOUR TIME AND JUST COME DRIVE THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK A PICTURE OR WORDS THAT THEY HAVE SAID COULD ADEQUATELY DESCRIBE TO YOU WHAT WE GET TO LOOK AT OR WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING.

I WILL SAY TODAY, BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF MOWING, IT LOOKS A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

BUT THERE IS A HUGE, AND IT'S NOT MULCH, IT'S NOT TREATED MULCH.

IT IS TREES THAT HAVE BEEN CUT DOWN AND JUST SHREDDED.

AND SO IT'S UNTREATED.

AND SO AGAIN, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO AND LIKE I SAID, WE'RE, LOOK, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHERE THIS ENDS.

WE HAVE PEOPLE SHOOTING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THANK YOU, MS. BARNES.

DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE? COUNSEL? HELLO, COUNSEL.

I'M LARRY BAKER, NORTHGATE PET CLINIC, A VETERINARIAN.

AND, UM, I JUST HAPPENED A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE LICENSING OF PETS.

UH, CURRENTLY FOR LICENSING.

UM, PEOPLE COME INTO THE OFFICE, GET A RABS VACCINATION, VETERINARIAN, FILLS OUT A LICENSE, AND THOSE PEOPLE CAN MAIL THE LICENSE INTO THE CITY FOR THE COUNTY, OR THEY CAN PAY US AND WE CAN, UH, TAKE THE, OR HAVE THE MONEY DELIVERED TO THE CITY.

USUALLY AN AN ANIMAL CONTROL WORD COMES BY ONCE A MONTH, ONCE A WEEK, I'M SORRY, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FROM THE EIGHT CLINICS IN TOWN AND DELIVERS THAT.

AND THE COUNTY WANTS US, US TO DELIVER THE MONEY AND WE'RE JUST OPPOSED TO THAT.

I JUST THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT.

UM, AND, UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ANYTIME, YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL ME.

I'M THE RABS CONTROL ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE COUNTY.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU, DR.

BAKER.

AND AGAIN, SINCE YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT A, UH, THE AGENDA ITEM LATER, YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME BACK FOR THREE MORE MINUTES.

SO, PRETTY EXCITING.

DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNCIL TONIGHT? HELLO, MY NAME IS ABIR MOTIAN, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY HALL IF WE CAN SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE PUBLIC AND CITY HALL TO TALK ABOUT AIR QUALITY AND AIR CLEANLINESS, AND ALSO TO HELP, UM, SEE IF WE CAN VOTE TO GIVE THE, THE PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON HAVING THE E P A EMISSION TESTING FOR VEHICLES HERE STATIONED IN DECATUR, ILLINOIS, LIKE SOME OTHER CITIES IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IS DOING.

WE NEED THAT.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE LUXURIOUS CARS, IF YOU'VE GOT A LUXURY CAR AND IN FRONT OF IT IS A JUNK CAR AND IT'S GOING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR CAR, IT'S GONNA AFFECT YOUR CAR AND IT'S GONNA MAKE YOUR CAR NOT WORK, RIGHT? AND SO, AND NOT ONLY IS IT GONNA DO THAT, IT'S GONNA AFFECT EVEN THE AIR QUALITY FOR PEOPLE TO BREATHE THE PLANTS AND THE ANIMALS.

SO I WAS WONDERING IF I'M SPEAKING FOR THE PUBLIC, AND I WANTED TO ASK YOU IF WE CAN SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO VOTE ON IT THAT IS GOOD FOR THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT, PRESERVATION OF LIFE AND PRESERVATION EVEN OF CARS.

AND THEN I WANT TO TELL YOU ALSO THAT, UM,

[00:15:01]

WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE USING EXPLOSIVES.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WANTING TO BURN BUILDINGS.

WE'VE HAD PEOPLE I HAVEN'T HAD, BUT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS WHAT I MEAN IS THEY'VE BEEN SHOOTING AND PLANNING TO DESTROY POWER LINES AND TRANSISTORS AND OTHER THINGS SO THAT THEY CAN GET THE ELECTRICITY TO CUT OFF AND SO THAT THEY CAN START FIRES.

AND THEN ALSO SO THAT THEY CAN ASK FOR THE, UH, FOOD STAMP, UM, REIMBURSEMENT THAT'S BACKUP SO THAT THEY CAN LIQUIDATE IT IN THEIR OWN WAYS.

SO I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, AND KEEP IN MIND, KEEP THAT IN MIND THAT SOME PEOPLE PREPLAN BEFORE NATURAL WEATHER, YOU KNOW, HAPPENS LIKE HEAT WAVES.

THEY WANNA BLAME IT ON THE HEAT WHEN THEY WERE, THEY'RE ACTUALLY PLANNING THE FIRES IN ADVANCE.

THIS IS HOW IT IS GOING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND SURROUNDING AREAS ALL AROUND.

I MEAN, IT COULD BE LIKE EVEN A MILE AWAY.

SO I JUST WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF THIS, THAT PEOPLE ARE PRE-PLANNING FRAUDS.

ALSO, PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD TRY TO BURN THE GARAGE NEXT TO THE HOUSE, TO THE LEFT OF THE HOUSE BY PUTTING, PRETENDING THAT THEY'RE TRIMMING AND STUFF AND THEN PUTTING THE WEEDS AND THE BRANCHES IN THE GARAGE TRYING TO SET THE GARAGE ON FIRE AND TRYING TO CHECK ON THE, THE PLANTS TO SEE IF IT WITHERED AWAY OR DRIED ENOUGH FOR IT TO, TO BE IGNITED BY FIRE.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CITY TO PLEASE PROHIBIT THEM FROM COMING AROUND THE AREA PRO PROHIBIT THEM FROM, FROM SETTING FIRES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND SURROUNDING AREAS AND I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU MS. MOAN.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNSEL TONIGHT? SEEING NONE, I WILL OPEN IT UP, UH, TO COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL.

MS. BURNS, I'M SURE MANY OF US ON COUNCIL WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO TAKE YOU UP ON YOUR INVITATION TO AT LEAST DRIVE THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SEE FOR OURSELVES WHAT, UH, YOU ALL ARE GOING THROUGH.

AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

UH, CITY COUNCIL WOULD LOVE TO SOLVE EVERYBODY'S PROBLEMS EVERY TIME, AND SOMETIMES WE'RE A LITTLE LIMITED ON WHAT WE CAN DO.

AND SO, BUT WE WILL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP AS WELL.

UM, DOES ANYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL WISH TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL? I JUST WANTED TO, UM, SAY ON BEHALF OF THE STAFF ANYWAY, WITH REGARD TO THE RED SITUATION THAT WE DON'T SEE IT AS, AS SMALL AND, UH, UM, THAT, UH, UH, MR. PATRICK'S TEAM HAS BEEN OUT THERE AND THAT, UH, THEY'RE TAKING IT VERY SERIOUSLY.

THERE IS A DUE PROCESS, YOU KNOW, THAT THESE, THESE, UH, CODE ENFORCEMENT AND NUISANCE, UH, ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT.

BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW WE'RE GONNA STAY ON TOP OF IT.

AND I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE THAT I, THIS CAN GO TO THE CITY MANAGER OR EVEN PAT, UH, ON THIS MULCH.

I UNDERSTAND THERE'S NOTHING RIGHT NOW WE CAN DO WITH PRIVATE PROPERTY, BUT IS THERE A BETTING ISSUE OR AN ISSUE WITH TREATED VERSUS UNTREATED MULCH AND HAVE OTHER JURISDICTIONS MAYBE LOOKED AT, UM, POSSIBLE, UM, MULCH AND DEPTH, SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT, IT, IT WILL CREATE ISSUES WITH RODENTS AND OTHER THINGS, WHICH WILL OBVIOUSLY SPREAD.

PAT, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

I'M SURE THAT MAYBE SOME OF YOUR CODES PEOPLE HAVE HAD SOME COMMENT ON THIS.

I MEAN, MULCH ISN'T ILLEGAL NECESSARILY IF IT CREATES OTHER SORTS OF NUISANCES.

PERHAPS THERE'S A CONNECTION WITH THE ORDINANCE.

WE'RE STILL EXPLORING THAT.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANTED TO SAY? UM, NEIL, ANOTHER COMMENT.

DR.

BAKER I KNOW IS ON HIS WAY OUT, BUT I DID WANNA MAKE MENTION, UM, WE DO HAVE AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT ABOUT, UM, AND SOME AMENDMENTS TO OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY REGARDING ANIMAL CONTROL.

THIS LICENSING ISSUE IS NOT PART OF THAT, AND SO WE WON'T BE VOTING ON THAT TONIGHT.

AND REALLY IT IS, UM, THAT'S NOT BRAIN SURGERY.

WE'RE GONNA FIGURE THIS OUT AND WE'RE GONNA, THE, I UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF THE VETERINARY CLINICS ARE SHORTHANDED.

THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS ALSO RUNNING A LITTLE BIT SHORTHANDED AS IS EVERY BUSINESS IN AMERICA.

SO THIS ISN'T THAT HARD.

WE'RE GONNA GET IT FIGURED OUT.

IT'LL BE OKAY.

WE WORK VERY WELL WITH THE COUNTY, SO I'M SURE WE'LL COME TO A RESOLUTION, BUT THAT WILL NOT BE PART OF THE AGENDA WE'RE VOTING ON TONIGHT.

SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE THAT ISSUE, GET IT OFF THE TABLE AND, AND MOVE ON TO THE LICENSING ISSUE AT A LATER DATE.

BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING.

ALRIGHT, OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? OKAY, SCENE NONE.

[IV. Approval of Minutes]

WILL MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF AUGUST 7TH, 2023.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND SOLE MOVED.

COUNCILMAN COLT.

TREASURER'S FINANCIAL REPORT HEARING COUNSEL, THE TREASURER'S REPORT THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET INDICATES THAT OUR RESERVES HAVE TICKED UP JUST A LITTLE BIT.

MAYOR MOORE WOLF? AYE.

SIX AYES, NO NAYS, ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS? NONE.

MOVING ON TO NEW BUSINESS, MR. MANAGER.

THE

[1. Treasurer's Financial Report]

THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON IN JULY AND AUGUST, THIS IS WHEN WE RECEIVED SOME OF THE LARGEST PAYMENTS FROM THE COUNTY FOR PROPERTY TAX DISTRIBUTIONS UNTIL THEY'RE TURNED OVER TO SOME OF THE OTHER AUTONOMOUS

[00:20:01]

AGENCIES THAT ARE RECIPIENTS OF THOSE UNDER THE LAW.

UM, I CONTINUE TO, UH, STRESS TO YOU THAT, UH, WE NEED TO MAINTAIN OUR RESERVES.

UM, UM, REVENUES ARE ALREADY LOOKING SLUGGISH.

I, I, IN FACT, I PROJECT THAT IN 2024, UH, WHILE OUR REVENUES WILL BE UP SLIGHTLY, OUR EXPENDITURES WILL BE UP HIGHER AND WE NEED TO ENTER THAT FISCAL YEAR, IN MY OPINION, WITH STRONGER RESERVES.

AND SO, UM, WHILE THIS REPORT IS STILL POSITIVE, I THINK, UH, THE, THE CONTINUED CONSERVATIVE POSTURE WE HAVE HAD IS, UH, IS IMPORTANT TO SUSTAIN THE STAFF THAT HELP THAT PREPARE.

THIS TREASURER'S REPORT IS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL.

SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE

[2. Ordinance Authorizing the Issuance of Debt to Finance MSC and Library Roofs and Library HVAC Project]

ON TO ITEM TWO.

ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF DEBT TO FINANCE M S C AND LIBRARY ROOFS IN THE LIBRARY, HVAC PROJECT.

MOTION OF THE ORDINANCE TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SECOND, MR. WRIGHT MAYOR AND COUNSEL, WHEN YOU PUT TOGETHER THE 2023 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET, YOU AUTHORIZED US TO PROCEED WITH TWO, UM, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

UH, THE FIRST IS A NEW ROOF AND SOME OTHER IMPROVEMENTS AT THE PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY CALLED THE MUNICIPAL SERVICE CENTER OUT ON NORTH JASPER STREET.

AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDING.

UH, THE LIBRARY IS, OUR TENANT OCCUPIES ABOUT 75% OF THE SPACE.

WE OWN THE BUILDING AND WE NEED TO MAKE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CHILLER AND TO THE ROOF AND, AND SOME OTHER PHYSICAL PLANT AND GROUNDS IMPROVEMENTS THERE.

AND, UH, WHAT WE HAD PLANNED TO DO WAS ISSUE, UH, SHORT TERM, UH, DEBT, UM, WHEN IT WAS NEEDED AND NOT TO INCUR THAT DEBT UNTIL IT WAS ACTUALLY READY, UNTIL IT WAS MUCH CLOSER TO WHEN WE'D BE ACTUALLY EXPENDING FUNDS.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, YOU AUTHORIZED, UM, LOCAL ENG UH, ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING SERVICE TO, TO DO THE WORK ON THOSE PROJECTS.

SO WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO BIDDING.

AND SO THE, THE C F O HAS, UH, HAS SOUGHT COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR THE, FOR THE STEAD INSTRUMENT AND, UH, IT'S RECOMMENDED WE GO WITH REGIONS BANK.

RUBY, DO YOU WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE INTEREST RATE OR ANY, ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE RECENTLY THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PACKET MATERIAL? I CAN.

SO, UH, REGIONS CAME IN WITH A COMPETITIVE RATE, UH, ALMOST 1% BELOW THE OTHER BANKS.

AND SO WE, UH, STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT WE GO WITH REGIONS.

I DUNNO IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

BUT WE LOOK AT, UH, OVER FIVE YEARS, AGAIN GOING ALONG WITH, UM, THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION THAT WE BELIEVE ANYTHING OVER A MILLION DOLLARS DEFINITELY SHOULD BE FINANCED AND WE SHOULD, UM, KEEP OUR CASH RESERVES.

LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR WILL BE A LITTLE BIT, UM, TIGHTER THAN THIS YEAR.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE TREASURER? THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? SEE NONE.

COUNCILMAN COLE? AYE.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY, MACON, ILLINOIS AND THE CITY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS REGARDING ANIMAL CONTROL PROGRAM.

COUNCILMAN HORNE? AYE.

MAYOR, MORE WOLF? AYE.

[3. Resolution Authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement between the County of Macon, Illinois and the City of Decatur, Illinois Regarding Animal Control Program]

MOTION OF THE RESOLUTION DO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

THE TERMINATION CLAUSE FOR THE AGREEMENT BE INCREASED FROM THREE MONTHS TO, TO 12 MONTHS WHILE THE CITY IS NOT TRYING TO, UH, EXIT THIS AGREEMENT AT THIS TIME.

SECOND, MR. WRIGHT MAYOR AND COUNSEL, UM, AS HAS BEEN INDICATED BY THE PUBLIC FORUM SECTION OF THIS EVENING'S MEETING, AND BY CORRESPONDENCE AND COMMUNICATIONS THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT, THERE REMAINS AN ISSUE ABOUT THE COLLECTION OF FEES AND REGISTRATIONS, UM, THAT ARE DONE BY LOCAL VETERINARY CLINICS.

UM, I I WANNA SAY ON, UH, REALLY ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND THE COUNTY CHAIRMAN, BOTH OF WHOM I SPOKE TO BEFORE THIS, BEFORE THIS MEETING, THAT THIS IS NOT, UH, THEY HAVEN'T FINISHED THE ANALYSIS OF THAT.

AND, UH, AND WITH YOUR, IF YOU'LL INDULGE JUST A LITTLE BIT, UH, AFTER WE GET THROUGH THESE AMENDMENTS, I'D LIKE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE WORKED OUT SO FAR, UH, EVEN THOUGH IT'S SOMETHING STILL IN PROGRESS.

AND I, AND I'M CONFIDENT BECAUSE WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH MACON COUNTY THAT, UH, THAT WILL WORK OUT A SOLUTION THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY, BOTH FOR ANIMAL OWNERS AS WELL AS, AS WELL AS FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY, AS WELL AS FOR THE, UH, FOR THE VETERINARY CLINICS.

THE ITEM ACTUALLY BEFORE YOU, UH, HAVE YOU, AS YOU ALREADY EXPLAINED, MAYOR, UH, DOES NOT DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE.

IT DEALS WITH, UH, OTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE ORIGINAL 2011 INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT, WHICH SET UP THE JOINT ARRANGEMENT FOR THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TO HANDLE ANIMAL CONTROL TOGETHER UNDER ONE AGENCY.

UM, AFTER 11 YEARS, THERE'S, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT, THAT, UH, THE COUNTY ESPECIALLY WANTED TO CHANGE.

AND I'VE SUMMARIZED IN MY TRANSMITTAL MEMO, UH, WHAT THOSE ARE.

UM, THE, UM, UH, THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE, UM, WASN'T AS PERFECTLY CLEAR AS MAYBE IT COULD HAVE BEEN.

AND, AND SO THERE HAVE BEEN MORE, UH, DEAD ANIMALS, UH, LARGE DEAD ANIMALS BY, BY THAT WE REALLY MEAN DEER IN COYOTE THAT FIND THEIR WAY INTO THE CITY.

UH, THAT, UM, THAT THEY HAVE ASKED US TO HANDLE THE COLLECTION OF, UM, UH, THE, UM, UH, THE SMALL NUMBER REALLY IS A SMALL NUMBER OF CASES OF ANIMAL CRUELTY CASES THAT ARE FELONY CASES.

AGAIN, ONLY THOSE THAT ORIGINATE FROM INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF DECATUR.

AND WE HAVE ASKED THAT THE, UM, THAT

[00:25:01]

UM, WE'RE EITHER PARTY WANTING TO DO THAT.

IT BECOMES, IT'S HAVE WE HAVE MUCH MORE FLEXIBILITY TO DO THAT IF THERE'S A 12 MONTH TERMINATION CLAUSE BY THE TIME, YOU KNOW, RAISING UP A SEPARATE AGENCY, GOING TO THE CITY COUNCIL, PUTTING IT IN THE BUDGET, THESE THINGS TAKE TIME.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO IN, IN THREE MONTHS.

I WANNA EMPHASIZE AGAIN THAT, THAT, UH, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP, UH, NOT JUST ON ANIMAL CONTROL, BUT ON A LOT, BUT ON A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES.

AND SO WHEN THEY CAME TO US AND WANTED TO MAKE THIS REVISION, UH, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE COULD ACCOMMODATE THEM, I WANTED TO DO SO BEFORE YOU VOTE ON THIS THOUGH, UM, TAMMY, WOULD YOU MIND COMING UP TO THE PODIUM? AND, UH, ALTHOUGH IT IS TECHNICALLY NOT A PART OF THESE, OF THESE REVISIONS TO THE ANIMAL CONTROL AGREEMENT, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE USEFUL IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IF, IF, IF, UH, MRS. WILCOX COULD AT LEAST EXPLAIN AT LEAST WHERE, WHERE YOU'RE AT NOW WITH WHAT YOU'VE WORKED OUT OR ARE STILL WORKING OUT TO HANDLE THE, THE COLLECTION OF REGISTRATIONS AND, AND, UM, AND MONIES FROM THE CLINICS.

SURE.

UM, AND TALKING TO, UH, SERGEANT ATKINS, WHO'S WITH ME TONIGHT, UH, WHO IS RUNNING OUR ANIMAL CONTROL SHELTER, UM, HE TALKED TO ME ABOUT, HEY, WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR OUR WARDEN TO GO TWO TIMES A WEEK TO THESE ANIMAL CLINICS, PICK UP THE FEES.

AND I WAS LIKE, I WOULDN'T THINK SO.

WE'RE SHORT OF WARDEN.

UM, AND SO WE ALREADY HAD OTHER ANIMAL CLINICS MAILING IN THEIR, THE REGISTRATIONS AND BRINGING THE MONEY IN THEMSELVES.

UH, THEY WERE DOING BOTH MAILING IT AND TAKING IT TO THE CITY.

AND I WAS LIKE, YEAH, THAT MAKES SENSE.

SO WE REALLY DIDN'T MEAN TO START THIS FIRESTORM.

WE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THAT BIG A DEAL, BUT WE ARE LISTENING TO THEIR CONCERNS.

WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA MEET WITH THEM TOMORROW NIGHT AT SIX 30 OUT AT, UH, NORTHGATE WITH DR.

BAKER.

UM, SO I'M ANXIOUS TO HEAR WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE AND WE WILL TRY TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR EVERYBODY.

BUT OUR WARDEN GOING OUT TWO TIMES A WEEK TO COLLECT THEM, UM, ISN'T WORKING FOR US .

SO WE WERE TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING ELSE, AND I DON'T WANNA SPEAK ON BEHALF OF, UM, OUR ABILITIES WITH OUR WEBSITE, BUT WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT YOU, WE'VE, WE'VE STREAMLINED A LOT HOW WE DO BOAT LICENSING NOW.

MM-HMM.

, THAT USED TO BE JUST A LOT OF LEGWORK FOR ANY BOAT PERSON TO GET ALL OF THEIR THINGS IN.

I'M SURE THERE MIGHT BE A WAY TO ADD PET REGISTRATIONS.

I DON'T REALLY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUTSIDE OF MY AREA OF EXPERTISE, BUT, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH IS DONE ELECTRONICALLY NOW.

I WOULD THINK THAT SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP IN SOME WAY.

I AM, I DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT YOUR PORTAL, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ANIMAL SHELTERS PORTAL, WHICH LOOKS LIKE A GOOD ONE, WHICH DOES HAVE THAT SYSTEM WHERE THE VETERINARIAN CLINIC COULD JUST UPLOAD IT INTO THAT SYSTEM.

YOU WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO IT SO YOU'D KNOW WHO'S REGISTERED AND UP TO DATE, AND THEN THOSE LETTERS WOULDN'T GO OUT.

UM, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO AND WE HA WE DO HAVE A CALL INTO THEM, BUT WE HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FROM 'EM.

APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM MS. WI WILCOX? FROM COUNSEL? OKAY.

THANKS SO MUCH.

UH, MR. WRIGHTON, ANYTHING FURTHER YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? OKAY.

ANY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DR.

HORN COMMENT THEN A QUESTION.

OUR VET AREA VETERINARY CLINICS ARE ALREADY UNDERSTAFFED AND INCREASING THE WORKLOAD OF VETERINARY CLINICS IS UNLIKELY TO IMPROVE PET CARE RABIES PREVENTION OR ENHANCE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ENTITIES THAT SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER UNDER THE CHANGE IN POLICY.

VETERINARY CLINICS WOULD NOW BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DELIVERING PAPERWORK AND FEES AS OPPOSED TO MAKING COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL, UH, PICKING UP THAT PAPERWORK AND FEES AT THE CLINICS THEMSELVES.

A PRACTICE THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR MANY YEARS BY SHIFTING THAT BURDEN, THE CLINICS WOULD NOW BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DELIVERING PAYMENT OF FEES THAT'S ULTIMATELY GOING TO THE COUNTY WITHOUT COMPENSATION IN TIME OR EXPENSES.

AND I THINK THIS IS A CHANGE IN PRACTICE, UM, OR THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE THE CONTRACT IS SIGNED.

I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MIGHT BE THE FIRST OF MULTIPLE POLICIES THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED THAT COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR VETERINARY CLINIC.

SO MY QUESTION, QUESTION TO MR. WRIGHTON IS, CAN WE DELAY APPROVING THIS AGREEMENT UNTIL AFTER THE COUNTY HAS RESOLVED THIS ISSUE IT CREATED WITH THE LOCAL VETERINARIANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLLECTION OF FEES FOR RABIES VACCINES? COUNCILMAN HORNE, UH, THIS ITEM LIKE

[00:30:01]

MANY OTHERS CAN BE TABLED.

IF THAT WAS THE, THE VIEW OF THE CITY, OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

I, I DON'T RECOMMEND IT, NOR DO I BELIEVE THAT IT'S NECESSARY.

UM, I BELIEVE THAT IT'S A SEPARATE ITEM AND I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S A NEED.

UM, WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH, WITH THE COUNTY.

I'M CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL, UH, CARRY THROUGH ON THEIR PLEDGE TO, TO, UH, THAT THAT, THAT YOU HEARD THIS EVENING AND THAT THEY MADE PERSONALLY TO ME EARLIER, THAT THEY'LL WORK THIS OUT.

UM, IT, I MEAN, THE COUNTY BOARD CHAIRMAN TOLD ME AS, AS RECENTLY AS, AS THIS EVENING THAT, UH, IF NECESSARY IN ORDER TO WORK THINGS OUT, THEY'D EVEN LEAVE THE EXISTING SITUATION IN PLACE FOR A WHILE.

I, I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THAT AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED TO HOLD THE OTHER AGREEMENT, UM, WHICH DOESN'T DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE A HOSTAGE FOR THIS.

UM, WELL, AGAIN, UH, THIS IS ONE ISSUE THAT'S COME TO THE FOREFRONT THAT IS PRICE IS AN UNDUE VETERINARIAN, UH, UNDUE BURDEN ON VETERINARIANS AND THERE'S NOTHING STOPPING OTHER ISSUES FROM EMERGING.

AND I WOULD POINT OUT THAT IF THERE IS NO HARM IN DELAYING, UH, THIS CONTRACT FROM BEING APPROVED, THEN WE SHOULD DELAY IT SO THAT IT IS RESOLVED.

BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE TIMES WHERE, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, WE ARE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS FOR GARBAGE HAULERS AND THEY MIGHT TAKE ACTIONS THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACT GARBAGE HAULING.

AND IF WE KNOW THERE'S NEGATIVE IMPACTS THAT INFLUENCE GARBAGE HAULING, WE SHOULD WAIT TO FORMALIZE, UM, CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS UNTIL SUCH ISSUES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.

AND SO, FOR THOSE REASONS, I MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS AGREEMENT UNTIL AFTER THE, UH, REGISTRATION PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.

IS, IS THERE A SECOND TO TABLE SEEING NONE? UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD, I THINK KIND OF ALONG THE LINES OF, OF YOU BROUGHT UP GARBAGE, DAVID.

UM, ONE OF THE ISSUES I THINK THAT WE'VE, WE'RE STRUGGLING IN THIS AGREEMENT HANDLES IS WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DEER THAT HAVE BEEN HIT IN THE CITY LIMITS AND THE COUNTY HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY SHORTHANDED.

UH, SO PUBLIC WORKS HAS STEPPED IN, AND THIS, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, MR. WRIGHTON, BUT THIS REALLY HELPS SETTLE WHO DOES WHAT AND ALLOWS US TO JUST MOVE FORWARD A LITTLE MORE QUICKLY.

IS THAT CORRECT? IT CLARIFIES RESPONSIBILITIES MOVING FORWARD.

YES, MA'AM.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? ED? I WOULD ONLY ADD THAT I, I APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN HORNE BRINGING THIS TO UP FOR DISCUSSION, BUT THIS IS NOT A PRIVATE BUSINESS.

THIS IS AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT.

IT'S BEEN LONGSTANDING AND VERY DECENT ON BOTH ENDS FOR MANY YEARS.

THIS IS JUST A MINOR OPERATIONAL ISSUE THAT'S GONNA GET RECTIFIED.

AND I KNOW BOTH THESE FOLKS, I, I TRUST THAT'S GONNA GET TAKEN CARE OF.

I'M NOT GONNA HOLD UP A GOVERNMENT BUSINESS OVER AN OPERATIONAL ISSUE.

MR. COOPER? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

JUST ONE QUESTION, UM, TO CITY MANAGER ON ITEM, UM, IN OUR PACKET ITEM NUMBER THREE ABOUT EXTENDING THE TIME FROM THREE MONTHS TO 12 MONTHS.

I GUESS MY ONLY QUESTION IS, I'M JUST TRYING TO FORESEE THAT IS, IS THERE AN ISSUE? WAS THIS AN ISSUE THAT THE CITY HAD WANTING TO EXTEND IT OR THE, UH, COUNTY? I BELIEVE THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, COUNCILMAN COOPER WOULD BE THE CITY.

UM, NOT THAT I AM ANTICIPATING COMING TO YOU AND ASKING FOR YOU TO, TO, UH, TO SET UP OUR OWN ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICE.

BUT IF FOR SOME REASON IT WAS, IT SEEMED TO SERVE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TO HAVE SEPARATE, UM, ANIMAL PATROL SERVICES, UM, THEN IT TAKES TIME TO SET IT UP AND THREE MONTHS IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DO THAT.

AND SO, UM, THAT'S, SO IT WAS, IT WAS MY OFFICE THAT MADE THE REQUEST TO GO TO 12 MONTHS, NOT THE COUNTIES TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

UM, I JUST WOULD SAY, I WOULD HOPE THAT, UM, THE CITY IS NOT GONNA GET INTO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ANIMAL CONTROL.

'CAUSE I DO THINK IT'S THE COUNTY'S RESPONSIBILITY, AND I THINK BY THE STATE LAW IS THE COUNCIL'S THE COUNT, THE COUNTY'S RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT THE CITY.

THE, UM, I BELIEVE THAT, THAT THE STATE LAW REQUIRES THE COUNTY TO OPERATE AN ANIMAL SHELTER.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ANIMAL CONTROL NECESSARILY PICKING UP, UH, ANIMALS THAT ARE STRAYS AND ENFORCING THE CITY'S, UH, ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE IS THE STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNTY.

UH, BUT I'M A STRONG BELIEVER AND HAVE ADVOCATED FOR IT MY ENTIRE TIME HERE TO DO MORE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION.

AND THIS AGREEMENT WAS IN PLACE BEFORE I CAME.

I, I, I BELIEVE THAT IT'S, THAT IT'S BETTER FOR US TO DO THINGS TOGETHER WHEN WE CAN.

UM, AND SO I HAVE NO DESIRE TO SEPARATE IT, BUT IF IT NEEDED TO BE DONE FOR WHATEVER REASON IN THE FUTURE,

[00:35:01]

IT'S A, IT'S A LARGE ENOUGH STEP.

IT'S A SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH STEP THAT WE NEED MORE THAN THREE MONTHS TO PLAN FOR IT.

THAT'S ALL.

AND COUNCILMAN, WE DON'T WANNA GO THERE EITHER.

TRUST ME.

IT WOULDN'T BE GOOD.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEE NONE.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY AYE.

COUNCILMAN HORN ABSTAIN.

MAYOR MOORE WOLF.

AUTHORIZING AN ACCEPTANCE AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF BODINE PROPOSAL REGARDING CITY FIRE FIBER GOODNESS EXTENSION FROM RICHLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO EAST HOSPITALITY LANE.

FIVE AYES ONE ABSTENTION ITEM FOUR RESOLUTION

[4. Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of Bodine Proposal Regarding City Fiber Extension from Richland Community College to East Hospitality Lane]

MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

MORE REMUNERATIVE TO THE CITY THAN IT CURRENTLY IS.

SECOND, SECOND, SECOND.

MR. WRIGHTON, EXCUSE ME, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

UH, THE, UM, THE EXTENSION OF YOUR BROADBAND NETWORK IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

UM, THE OBJECT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO EXTEND MORE BROADBAND, ESPECIALLY TO OUR COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND BUSINESS CLIENTS.

UM, UH, COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY CAN SPEAK TO THIS MORE DIRECTLY 'CAUSE SHE WAS INVOLVED AT VERY, AT THE VERY BEGINNING, BUT, UH, UH, SERVING RESIDENCES WAS NOT A, WAS NOT NECESSARILY PART OF THE ORIGINAL PLAN.

AND WE WANT TO EXTEND THIS ESPECIALLY TO, UH, NEW BUSINESSES COMING INTO DECATUR, MOST OF WHICH ARE UP IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT.

AND THAT SECTION OF BRUSH COLLEGE IS SHOWN ON THE MAP THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE PACKET MATERIAL IS, IS AN, IS AN UNDERSERVED AREA, AND THAT'S PERHAPS MORE ACUTE.

WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION IS THAT WHEN WE BID OUT THE, UM, UH, MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF WORK OF ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, UM, UH, THE, UH, THE LOW BIDDER WAS, WAS BODINE.

THEY, THEY'VE DONE GREAT WORK.

I, I HAVE NOTHING BUT PRAISE FOR THEIR WORK, BUT IT TOOK A LONG TIME, NOT BECAUSE OF BODINE'S FAULT, BUT BECAUSE EVERYBODY AND HIS BROTHER FROM COAST TO COAST IS PUTTING IN NEW BROADBAND BECAUSE THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS PROVIDE A LOT OF MONEY FOR IT.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS GETTING THESE, GETTING THESE MATERIALS.

UM, AND SO IT'S, IT'S TAKEN A LONG TIME TO GET IN.

AND, UH, WE HAVE SOME CONFLICT ISSUES THAT I WON'T GO INTO THE DETAILS OF WITH A SECTION WE PLAN TO PUT IN AT THE RAISE BRIDGE ROAD.

WE WANT TO KEEP THAT, UH, DECIDED TO KEEP THAT AWAY FROM THAT BRIDGE PROJECT THAT THE COUNTY'S GONNA DO.

WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MATERIALS, THESE VERY VALUABLE MATERIALS.

WE HAD TO WAIT A LONG TIME TO GET, I DON'T WANNA JUST STORE 'EM.

I WANNA PUT 'EM IN THE GROUND IN A WAY THAT ADVANCES OUR PRIORITY PROJECTS.

UH, THIS SECTION OF BRUSH COLLEGE IS ONE OF THE TWO PRIORITY PROJECTS THAT OUR STAFF IDENTIFIED IN THIS LONG RANGE PLAN.

SO THERE IS AN UPCO BECAUSE IT'S A LONGER SECTION THAN THE ONE WE'RE DELETING.

UH, BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, UH, IT CAN BE DONE MORE QUICKLY THIS WAY.

AND BODINE IS HONORING THEIR 2021 PRICES.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M RECOMMENDING IT.

ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? QUESTIONS DR.

HORN? SO JUST TO CONFIRM, MR. WRIGHTON, THIS WAS NOT A PROJECT FOR WHICH BIDS WERE SOLICITED? THAT'S CORRECT.

IT WAS A NO BID.

IS THERE A REASON THAT THIS PROJECT NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW? UM, THE, UM, UH, COMPARED TO WHAT, UH, I GUESS, UH, THE, UH, AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS A SECTION OF THE CITY THAT IS GONNA BE THE RECIPIENT OF, OF NEW PEOPLE MOVING INTO TOWN.

UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO KNOW THAT BROADBAND IS AVAILABLE.

UM, MANY OF THEM ARE MAINTAINING A, A LOT OF DATA WHICH THEY HAVE TO TRANSMIT AND COMMUNICATE WITH, WITH FARAWAY LOCATIONS.

HAVING BROADBAND IS AS IMPORTANT IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOW WE OFFER THAT AS AN, AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE, AS IS, AS IT IS AS IMPORTANT AS GOOD POWER, WATER AND SEWER.

UM, SO IT'S, IF THE CITY COUNCIL DECIDED THEY WANTED TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER YEAR TO DO THIS PROJECT, IT WOULDN'T BE THE END OF THE WORLD.

BUT I THINK THAT IT CERTAINLY ADVANCES WHAT YOUR PLANNING HAS SOUGHT TO DO NOW FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

AND, AND IT DOES SO IN A MANNER THAT DOESN'T TAKE ANY EXTRA A R P MONEY.

THERE'S, THERE'S FUNDS.

THE, THE DIFFERENTIAL COST OF THIS IS, UH, WE HAVE THE FUNDS IN THE FUND, 77, UH, BROADBAND ENTERPRISE FUND BUDGET.

COUNCILMAN MCG GREGORY, UH, WE CAN LET DR.

HORN FINISH AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK.

OKAY.

AND I'M SORRY, I, I THOUGHT YOU'D ASKED YOUR QUESTION.

AND THEN ONE FINAL QUESTION.

UM, HAVE WE IDENTIFIED, UM, CUSTOMERS FOR THIS PROJECT? AND, UM, HOW IS THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT SO FAR WITH OUR FIBER NETWORK, WE ARE PAYING FOR, UH, THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE MAKE IN FEES.

UM, WE AREN'T MAKING A LARGE PROFIT, WE ARE MAKING SOME RETURN.

UM, I THINK THAT, UH, I KNOW BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE IN THE BUDGET REQUEST THAT WE DO MORE MARKETING OF THIS THAN WE HAVE DONE.

WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS, UH, DURING LAST YEAR'S BUDGET SESSION AND DECIDED THAT WE WOULD WAIT UNTIL WE HAD SOME MORE CRITICAL SECTIONS OF THE BROADBAND NETWORK IN BEFORE DOING, UM, MARKETING.

UM, SO I THINK IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

WE, WE ARE PAYING OUR COSTS.

IT IS, IT IS NOT A NET LOSER TO THE CITY.

UH, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S MORE WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT EVEN

[00:40:01]

WE DON'T HAVE A CUSTOMER SIGNED UP.

WE GENERALLY DON'T SIGN THEM UP UNTIL WE ACTUALLY HAVE SERVICE AVAILABLE TO THEM TO CONNECT TO ADJACENT TO THEIR PROPERTY.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY? UM, YES, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT REALLY IS AN AREA OF THE CITY THAT HAS SEEN A GREAT DEAL OF ECONOMIC GROWTH, UM, THAT BENEFITS THE CITY OF DECATUR IN MULTIPLE WAYS.

UM, NEW JOBS, NEW REVENUES, UM, LEVERAGING EXISTING BUSINESSES TO BRING IN OTHERS INTO THE CITY OF DECATUR.

YOU KNOW, WE MADE A DECISION A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO TO DO A LARGE SEWER DIAMETER PROJECT IN THERE.

WELL BEFORE ANY OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THOSE NEW BUSINESSES WERE THERE.

UM, WE VOTED FOR THAT AND WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT BECAUSE IT IS AN ECONOMIC TOOL ENTICEMENT TO BUSINESSES, REALLY, BROADBAND IS ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENT.

SO IF YOU SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU'LL BE VOTING YES ON THIS.

IF YOU DON'T WANNA SEE ANY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU'LL BE VOTING.

NO, PAT, HAVEN'T I HEARD THIS TERM JUST RECENTLY.

WE WANNA BECOME A SMART CITY.

YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE DR.

HORN.

WELL, I, I DON'T THINK THIS IS A BINARY RESPONSE OF IF YOU VOTE YES, YOU'RE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND IF YOU VOTE NO, YOU'RE, YOU'RE NOT.

I MEAN, THE, THE POINT HERE IS THIS IS A NO BID PROJECT THAT WE DON'T NEED TO DO NOW FOR WHICH WE HAVE NO CUSTOMERS FOR THE BROADBAND.

ALL OF THOSE ARE FACTUAL STATEMENTS.

AND I WOULD ARGUE COLLECTIVELY THAT, UH, BROADBAND IS UNDERUTILIZED BASED ON, UH, CITY PROJECTS SO FAR.

THERE'S A NEW MURAL, I'M NOT SURE IF Y'ALL HAVE SEEN IT, ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FROM HERE.

AND IT SAYS, DREAM BIG DECATUR.

AND I'M GONNA DREAM BIG AND I'M GONNA SUPPORT THIS ALL THE WAY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEE NONE.

COUNCILMAN COLT.

RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH DUNN COMPANY, A DIVISION OF TYRO, INC.

MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE.

SIX AYES, NO NAYS.

ITEM FIVE

[5. Resolution Accepting the Bid and Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with Dunn Company, a Division of Tyrolt, Inc. for Annual Street Restoration Project City Project 2023-08]

FOR ANNUAL STREET RESTORATION PROJECT, CITY PROJECT 2023 DASH OH EIGHT.

MOTION OF THE RESOLUTION DUE PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

UH, WE CAN USE THE MONEY MOST EFFECTIVELY.

SECOND, MR. MANAGER OR MR. NEWELL? UH, THIS ITEM ALONG WITH THE ONE THAT FOLLOWS IT ARE TWO DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF, UH, OF AT LEAST A PART OF OUR STREET PROGRAM FOR THIS YEAR.

I'M GONNA LET MATT GIVE YOU MORE OF THE DETAILS.

UH, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, MAYOR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THIS IS OUTLINED IN THE, UH, IN THE MEMO.

THE FIRST ONE IS, UH, USING STATE MOTOR FUEL TAX MONEY TO DO SOME MILL AND OVERLAY WORK AND ALSO SOME CRACK FILLING.

CRACK FILLING IS NORMALLY DONE ON, ON FAIRLY NEW STREETS THAT HAVE STARTED DEVELOPING CRACKS TO, UH, KEEP THEM, UH, UH, FROM GETTING MOISTURE, MORE MOISTURE INTO THE, INTO THE SUBGRADE.

AND THEN THE, UH, SECOND ONE IS USING THE LOCAL MOTOR FUEL TAX MONEY, WHICH WE TRY TO EARMARK MORE TOWARDS LOCAL STREETS AND IS, UH, PRETTY MUCH STRICTLY MILL AND OVERLAY ON THAT WORK.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. NEWELL FROM COUNCIL? DR.

HORN? MR. NOLL, THIS, UH, QUESTION APPLIES TO BOTH THE BOTH AGENDA ITEMS. C COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW THE ROADS ARE ASSESSED? BECAUSE WHEN I LOOKED AT THE STREETS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED, SOME OF THESE, UM, STREETS SEEM VERY SMOOTH COMPARED TO OTHER ROADS THAT ARE EXTREMELY BUMPY.

SO COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT THE CITY STAFF IS USING? SURE.

WE, UH, WE TRY TO, TO, UH, UH, LOOK LAY EYES ON, ON HALF OF THE CITY, UH, EVERY YEAR.

AND, UH, WITH, WITH SOME OF OUR STAFF ISSUES WE'VE HAD OVER THE PAST, UH, COUPLE OF YEARS, THAT HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT, WE, WE HAVE GOTTEN OUT AND, AND HAVE EVALUATED THE STREETS.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT STREETS, WE DO LOOK AT, UH, WE EVALUATE, UH, HOW, HOW THEY ARE HOLDING UP GENERALLY.

ONE, UH, ONE ITEM THAT, UH, HAS NOT BEEN RATED VERY CLOSELY IS THE RIDEABILITY OF THE STREET, WHICH, UH, WE MOSTLY LOOK AT CRACKS AND, AND, UH, AND POTHOLES AND, AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

RIDEABILITY IS SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE GENERATING INTO THEIR, INTO THEIR PROCESS ON, ON HOW WE LOOK NOW AS WE'VE, UH, WE'VE, UH, PROGRESSED INTO A NEW RATING SYSTEM THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER AND, AND, UH, USE THAT TO, TO MORE EFFECTIVELY MANAGE HOW, HOW WE VIEW THE, THE STREETS AND ALSO THEN TAGS IN THE, UH, THE, THE, UH, TRAFFIC VOLUMES THAT ARE USING EACH ROAD AND, UH, AND WHERE THE, WHERE,

[00:45:01]

ON OCCASION, I WOULD SAY THAT, UH, I KNOW WE, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT CERTAIN STREETS OF THE CITY THAT CAN USE UP ALL OF THE MONEY.

THE, UH, THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE, UH, AT OUR DISPOSAL FOR STREET WORK IS, IS LIMITED.

AND, UH, AND THE STREETS ARE GETTING SO EXPENSIVE TO, UH, TO WORK ON THAT, UH, SOME OF THE MORE MAJOR STREETS TO PUT THEM ON THE LIST THAT IS THE LIST AND WOULD KEEP US FROM DOING ANY OTHERS.

SO WE DO WALK A BALANCING ACT AS TO WHAT STREET WE FEEL CAN GET BY IN ANOTHER FEW MORE YEARS WHILE WE CAN DO OTHER STREETS THAT WE DON'T FEEL CAN GET BY A FEW MORE YEARS WITHOUT THEM DROPPING INTO EVEN, EVEN THE LOWER, UH, UH, STABILITY OF THE ROAD.

SO IF YOU GET INTO A RECONSTRUCTION OF A CITY STREET THAT COSTS FOUR TIMES THE AMOUNT THAT WOULD, WOULD BE IF WE CAUGHT IT IN THE MILL AND OVERLAY CATEGORY.

AND IF YOU, UH, CAN, CAN, UH, DO A MICROS SURFACE ON THAT ROAD, IT COSTS HALF OR, UH, OR A THIRD OF THE AMOUNT THAT WOULD COST TO MILL AND OVERLAY THE ROAD.

IF YOU CRACK FILL IT, THAT'S 10% OF THE COST.

SO, SO YOU TRY TO GET THE WORST FIRST, BUT IN CERTAIN LEVELS OF THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD, BECAUSE IF WE LET EVERYTHING GO TO THE VERY BOTTOM AND WE JUST STARTED WORKING FROM THE BOTTOM UP, WE WOULD ONLY BE DOING RECONSTRUCTION.

WE'D BE DOING FOUR ROADS A YEAR AND WE WOULDN'T GET ANYWHERE.

WELL, MEANWHILE, ALL THE GOOD STUFF IS SLOWLY BEING JAMMED DOWN INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST.

SO IT IS A TIGHT ROLL PACK.

SO, UH, I I, I REALIZE THERE ARE STREETS OUT THERE THAT, THAT, UH, YOU FEEL SHOULD BE AHEAD OF CERTAIN STREETS AND, AND, AND WE DO TRY TO WALK A BALANCING ACT TO KEEP, KEEP THE LEVELS OF THE ROADS FROM, FROM PROGRESSING FURTHER DOWN.

IT ALSO DOES HELP THAT WE'VE HAD A LOT OF, UH, STATE WORK GOING ON AT OUR, ON OUR HIGHWAYS THAT GO THROUGH TOWN.

AND SO THE, THOSE ARE A LOT MORE SMOOTH THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN RECENT YEARS.

SO IT HELPS THE RIGHT ABILITY A LITTLE BIT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. NEWELL? LISA, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION.

I JUST HAVE A COMMENT.

I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE VERY THOROUGH EXPLANATION THAT YOU GAVE.

UM, WHEN CITIZENS ARE AT THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN AND THEY MAY SEE A YOU WORKING, FOR EXAMPLE, ON FIRST DRIVE AND THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, WHY ARE THEY ON FIRST DRIVE WHEN MY STREET? AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE BALANCING ACT THAT YOU HAVE TO DO AND I APPRECIATE YOUR THOROUGH EXPLANATION AND I THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF DO EVERY DAY.

AND THEY DO GREAT WORK.

THEY NEED TO STAY VERY SAFE OUT THERE IN THIS HEAT AS WELL.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS TOPIC? SEEING NONE, COUNCILMAN COLT? AYE.

RESOLUTION, ACCEPTING THE BID AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH DUNN COMPANY, A DIVISION OF TYRO, INC.

MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE.

SIX AYES NO NAYS.

ITEM SIX

[6. Resolution Accepting the Bid and Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with Dunn Company, a Division of Tyrolt, Inc. for 2023 Local Motor Fuel Tax Street Improvement Project City Project 2023-25]

FOR 2023 LOCAL MOTOR FUEL TAX STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, CITY PROJECT 2023 DASH 25.

MOTION THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

ANYTHING FURTHER? MR. NEWELL OR MR. WRIGHTON? NOTHING.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? SCENE NONE.

ADOPTING CITY COUNCIL POLICY.

MAYOR MOLE WOLF? AYE.

SIX AYES, NO NAYS.

ITEM SEVEN.

MOTION

[7. Motion Adopting City Council Policy Sanitary Sewer Lateral Emergency Program]

SANITARY SEWER LATERAL EMERGENCY PROGRAM.

I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.

MR. WRIGHT.

HEARING COUNCIL, UH, NOT LONG BACK YOU APPROVED A NEW CITY COUNCIL POLICY THAT PROVIDES FOR COOPERATIVE, UH, PAYMENT OF REPLACEMENT, UM, LEAD WATER LINES AND UH, UM, I THINK THAT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS VERY EXPENSIVE UNFUNDED MANDATE THAT'S COME FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS.

UM, BUT WE HAVE, UH, SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITH, UH, LA UH, SEWER LATERALS.

IN FACT, UH, FRANKLY, REPLACING A SEWER LATERAL BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND, AND THE MAIN IS USUALLY MORE EXPENSIVE THAN REPLACING THE WATERLINE.

IT'S A LARGER PIPE.

IT'S OFTENTIMES DEEPER.

UH, AND, AND SO, AND THERE ARE SOME NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, THAT, UH, WHERE THAT FINANCIAL OUTLAY IS IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

AND SO, UH, WE WANTED TO COME UP WITH A PROGRAM LIMITED, BUT, UH, NEVERTHELESS, A PROGRAM WHERE IT, IF IT'S OWNER OCCUPIED AND IF THERE'S INCOME ELIGIBILITY, THAT WE WOULD HELP OUT WITH A PORTION OF THAT.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS PROGRAM INTENDS TO DO.

MIXING SOME FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR SEWER FUND WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS.

AND I BELIEVE THIS PROGRAM IS GONNA BE ADMINISTERED BY, NOT BY PUBLIC WORKS, BUT BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

SO, BUT YOU'RE LEAVING.

POOR MR. NEWELL IN THE HOT SEAT FOR THIS, RIGHT? WE GOT GOT YOUR FRIENDS BACK THERE TOO.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. NEWELL OR HIS FRIENDS? .

SEEING NONE.

COUNCILMAN

[00:50:01]

COOPER? AYE.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY AYE.

AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF A SOURCE WELL CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF AN EXCAVATOR FROM ROLAND MACHINERY COMPANY.

[8. Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of a Sourcewell Contract for the Purchase of an Excavator from Roland Machinery Company]

MOTION OF THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SECOND, MR. WRIGHTON, BEFORE MR. NEWELL GIVES YOU HIS REPORT ON THIS, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M REALLY PROUD OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM FOR FINDING THIS AND SAVING THE CITY A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM THE AMOUNT FROM THE AMOUNT THAT YOU HAD AUTHORIZED IN THE BUDGET.

MATT? UH, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THIS IS A PRIMARY, UH, UH, MACHINE THAT WE USE TO DO DITCHING, UH, WHICH, WHICH THE CITY DOES EXCEPTIONALLY WELL.

REALLY, UH, BETTER THAN ANY CONTRACTORS.

AND, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE USE A SPECIALIZED MACHINE, WHICH IS THE MACHINE THAT IS BEING ORDERED HERE.

WE ALLOCATED ALL JUST SHY OF, UH, OF HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO, UH, TO GET A, A NEW MACHINE.

AND, UH, AS, UH, THEY WERE DOING THEIR RESEARCH, UH, DID FIND ONE THAT WAS A 2018 MACHINE WAS BRAND NEW.

PRACTICALLY IT ONLY BEEN USED FOR SOME DEMONSTRATIONS.

HAD, UH, HAD LIKE 19 OR 20 HOURS ON OF USE ON IT AND, UH, THEY WENT AND LOOKED AT IT, UH, AND, UH, AND DID SOME MECHANIC, YOU KNOW, LOOKED AT IT WITH MECHANICS AND, AND, UH, TEST DROVE IT AND ALL, I GUESS WHAT YOU CAN DRIVE A TEST, DRIVE A, A DITCHING MACHINE, BUT THE, UH, AND DID FIND IT TO BE, UH, VERY ACCEPTABLE AND, UH, AND VERY MUCH, UH, WORTH THE COST.

SO DO THEY ACTUALLY GO, YOU KNOW, DIG A DITCH OR JUST TAKE IT FOR A SPIN AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD? UH, THEY DROVE IT A LITTLE BIT AND ACTUALLY DUG A, DUG A, UH, NOT DUG A DITCH.

I GUESS THEY JUST DUG SOME DIRT.

YES.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. NEWELL? SEEING NONE, COUNCILMAN COLT? AYE.

APPROVING THE EXPENDITURE OF CITY FUNDS FOR THE PURCHASE OF TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

COUNCILMAN HORN? AYE MAYOR MORE WOLF? AYE.

SIX AYES NO NAY.

ITEM NINE RESOLUTION

[9. Resolution Approving the Expenditure of City Funds for the Purchase of Traffic Signal Video Vehicle Detection Systems]

VIDEO VEHICLE DETECTION SYSTEMS. MOTION THAT THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

MR. NEWELL, IS THIS YOU TOO OR IS IT MR. WRIGHTON? SURE.

OKAY.

HAVE AT IT.

AS WE BROUGHT TO TO COUNSEL BEFORE, UH, WE'VE TRIED TO START GETTING AWAY FROM CUTTING LOOPS INTO THE PAVEMENT BECAUSE THE PAVEMENT FAILS AND THE LOOPS, UH, THE LOOPS FAIL ALONG WITH THE PAVEMENT AND, UH, WE ARE GOING TOWARDS MORE TECHNOLOGICALLY SOUND, UH, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ACTUALLY, UH, UN BY USING VIDEO DETECTION ON OUR, ON OUR SYSTEM.

SO THIS IS TO PURCHASE, UH, TWO VIDEO DETECTION SYSTEMS. ONE IS TO GO AT TO RAYS BRIDGE ROAD AND THE BRUSH COLLEGE, WHICH IS, UH, THREE QUARTERS ON OWNED BY THE MACON COUNTY, WHICH THEY'LL BE PAYING THREE QUARTERS OF THE COST TO INSTALL THAT.

THE OTHER ONE IS TO REPLACE A UNIT THAT WE, THAT WE INSTALLED AT, UH, WILLIAMS STREET AND BRUSH COLLEGE ROAD THAT WAS DAMAGED DURING THE, UH, THE BIG WINDSTORM WE HAD AT THE END OF JUNE.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. NEWELL? SEEING NONE, COUNCILMAN COLT? AYE.

COUNCILWOMAN GREGORY AYE.

COUNCILMAN HORNE? AYE.

MAYOR MOORE WOLF AYE.

SIX AYES NO NAYS.

ITEM 10

[10. Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement with Hutchins Excavating for the Demolition of 1055 N. Union, 305 W. Packard, 345 W. Packard, 352 W. Packard, 352 W. Leafland, and 361 W. Leafland]

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH HUTCHINS EXCAVATING FOR THE DEMOLITION OF 10 55 NORTH UNION.

3 0 5 WEST PACKARD, 3 45 WEST PACKARD, 3 52 WEST PACKARD, 3 52 WEST LELAND AND 360 1 WEST LELAND.

MOTION THE RESOLUTION TO PASS AND BE ADOPTED.

SECOND, MR. WRIGHT MAYOR AND COUNSEL, ALL OF THESE STRUCTURES ARE CURRENTLY OWNED BY THE CITY OF DECATUR AND ALL OF THEM ARE IN THAT PHASE.

ONE AREA THAT YOU PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED WOULD EVENTUALLY BE GIVEN TO THE GOOD SAMARITAN INN FOR THE, UM, FOR THE URBAN AGRICULTURE PROJECT.

UM, SO, UH, THIS IS A PART OF THE DEAL AND, AND I RECOMMEND THAT YOU PROCEED.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE MANAGER SINCE MR. NEWELL IS SITTING DOWN? SAY NONE.

COUNCILMAN COLT.

MAYOR MOORE WOLF.

ANY OF THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? SEEING NONE.

SIX AYES, NO NA.

DOES ANYONE ON COUNCIL WISH TO REMOVE

[11. Consent Calendar: Items on the Consent Agenda/Calendar are matters requiring City Council approval or acceptance, but which are routine and recurring in nature, are not controversial, are matters of limited discretion, and about which little or no discussion is anticipated. However, staff’s assessment of what should be included on the Consent Agenda/Calendar can be in error. For this reason, any Consent Agenda/Calendar item can be removed from the Consent Agenda/Calendar by any member of the governing body, for any reason, without the need for concurrence by any other governing body member. Items removed from the Consent Agenda/Calendar will be discussed and voted on separately from the remainder of the Consent Agenda/Calendar.]

ITEM A ANNEX AND TERRITORY LAW EAST OF NINE 90 TOW HILL ROAD, ITEM B, ORDINANCE ANNEXING TERRITORY, SECOND LAW EAST OF NINE 90.

TOW HILL ROAD, LYING SOUTH OF C AND RAILROAD ITEM C, ORDINANCE, ANNEX AND TERRITORY 18 0 5 DSLAND ROAD, ITEM D, ORDINANCE ANNEX AND TERRITORY 2249 MESA DRIVE.

ITEM E ORDINANCE ANNEXING TERRITORY 30 34 TEMPE DRIVE.

ITEM F RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A LETTER OF AMENDMENT TO THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AGREEMENT WITH NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY FOR THE BRUSH COLLEGE ROAD GRADE SEPARATION CITY PROJECT 2009 DASH 33 SECTION ZERO NINE DASH 0 0 9 3 3 DASH ZERO ONE DASH B ITEM G RESOLUTION APPROVING REAPPOINTMENT CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

[00:55:01]

ITEM H RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE AMENDMENT TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 2008 DASH ZERO TWO.

ADOPTING PROCEDURES FOR ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS.

ITEM I RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO THE RIGHT OF WAY.

USE AGREEMENT WITH SCI-FI NETWORKS DECATUR, L L C FOR INSTALLING BROADBAND SERVICES IN AREAS OF DECATUR NOT SERVICED BY THE CITY.

ITEM J.

RESOLUTION.

AUTHORIZING ACTION REGARDING UNSAFE STRUCTURES.

ITEM K RESOLUTION, RESCINDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 2023 DASH ONE 40 PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF THREE PIERCE SABRE FIRE APPARATUS AND AGREEMENT FOR DEBT FINANCING OF APPARATUS.

I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ITEMS AS PRESENTED.

IF WE WENT INTO THAT TYPE OF PROCESS.

[VII. Other Business]

OTHER BUSINESS.

DOES ANYONE ON COUNCIL HAVE ANYTHING TO BRING BEFORE THE COUNCIL TONIGHT? DR.

HORN? THANK YOU MAYOR.

I'D LIKE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER A CHANGE IN POLICY, SPECIFICALLY THAT THE CITY OF DECATUR SHOULD STOP WATER SHUTOFFS DURING EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNINGS WHERE THE RESIDENCE IS OCCUPIED.

AND SPECIFICALLY I'M SEEKING CONSENT FOR A ONE YEAR PILOT PROGRAM.

EXCESSIVE HEAT IS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF WEATHER RELATED DEATHS AND HEAT RELATED DEATHS ARE PREVENTABLE AND OUR CITY CAN DO MORE TO MITIGATE HEAT RELATED IMPACTS.

IN THE SHORT TERM, THE CITY COUNCIL CAN STOP WATER SHUTOFFS OF OCCUPIED RESIDENCES DURING EXTREME HEAT.

CURRENTLY THE CITY HAS NO POLICY ASSOCIATED WITH WATER SHUTOFFS.

UH, DURING SUCH EVENTS IN DECATUR, OUR MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS $45,111.

WE'VE GOT A POVERTY RATE OF 19.7% AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES IN THIS CITY THAT ARE RENT OR MORTGAGE DISTRESSED.

AND THESE FAMILIES SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO DECIDE WHETHER TO PAY THEIR RENT OR MORTGAGE, BUY GROCERIES, PURCHASE MEDICATIONS, OR PAY UTILITY BILLS DURING TIMES OF EXTREME ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, CONDITIONS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO WORSEN IN THE COMING YEARS DUE TO GLOBAL WARMING.

THERE'S PERHAPS THREE ARGUMENTS AGAINST ADOPTING A ONE YEAR PILOT PROGRAM.

THE FIRST IS THAT INDIVIDUALS WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SUCH A PROGRAM, BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE WATER BILL.

IT IS SIMPLY THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR NO WATER SHUTOFFS DURING EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNINGS.

THE SECOND IS THAT RESIDENTS HAVE OTHER SOURCES TO STAY SAFE FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT.

BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT TURNING OFF THE WATER SHOULD NOT BE THE CATALYST FOR A FAMILY RELYING ON SOCIAL SERVICES FOR RELYING ON COOLING STATIONS.

HOUSING FIRST CONTINUES TO BE A CRITICAL, UH, STRATEGY FOR KEEPING FAMILIES IN THEIR HOME.

AND THE THIRD ARGUMENT IS THAT IT'S SIMPLY NOT A COMMON PRACTICE.

HOWEVER, AS PLANET EARTH CONTINUES TO WARM, MORE CITIES MAY ADOPT POLICIES SUCH AS PREVENTING WATER SHUTOFFS DURING EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNINGS.

FINALLY, I MIGHT MENTION THAT, UH, CITY STAFF MAY BE PUT AT RISK BY GOING OUTSIDE IN AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING TO SHUT OFF THE WATER IN A RESIDENTIAL UNIT.

I MEAN, WHY SHOULD WE PUT CITY STAFF AT SUCH A RISK? SO AGAIN, I'M ASKING CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER A ONE YEAR PILOT PROGRAM WHERE WE WILL STOP WATER SHUTOFFS OF OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL HOUSING UNITS DURING EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNINGS WHILE WE, SUCH AS THE ONE WE'RE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.

OTHER COMMENTS OR OTHER BUSINESS TO COME? MR. COOPER? UH, CAN I DO A RESPONSE TO THAT? ABSOLUTELY.

OH, OKAY.

UM, I GUESS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, HEAR SOME CRITERIA IF NOT TONIGHT, BUT IN THE FUTURE, UM, WHAT LEVEL WE WERE BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT, WHAT HEAT LEVEL ACTUALLY WHO WOULD MAKE THAT DETERMINATION, WHETHER IT'S THE STATE TO CITY OR WHO AND WHAT LEVEL OF THE HEAT INDEX THAT WE WOULD BE UTILIZING

[01:00:01]

CAN I SEE IF THERE IS ANY, ANYBODY ELSE WITH A COMMENT, DR.

HORN, COUNCILMAN COOPER.

MY THOUGHT HERE WAS WHEN THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING LIKE WE'RE UNDER, THAT WOULD BE THE CRITERIA BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE A, A STANDARDIZED, UM, CRITERIA THAT'S ALREADY BEING USED.

SO DR.

HORN, DO YOU ENVISION THIS AS BEING, IF THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IS FOR FIVE DAYS THAT WE JUST WOULD NOT SHUT OFF WATER DURING THOSE FIVE DAYS? OR YOU WOULDN'T SHUT OFF WATER FOR A YEAR? IT WOULD BE FOR THE DURATION OF THE EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING AND THAT, THAT IS SIMPLY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE CRITICAL THINGS THAT THE C D C MENTIONS DURING EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNINGS IS KEEP HYDRATED.

AND I REALLY THINK IT'S COUNTERPRODUCTIVE FOR US TO BE TURNING OFF WATER IN OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL UNITS.

THANK YOU MR. COLP.

I THINK IT'S A PRETTY GOOD IDEA CONSIDERING THE HEAT AND JUST FOR THAT STANDARD BIT OF TIME.

BUT HYDRATION IS IMPORTANT AND OBVIOUSLY WITH FAMILIES THERE'S PARAMETERS WE MIGHT WANT TO LOOK AT.

AS YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE CHANGING.

IT'S NOT A BAD IDEA.

MR. MCDANIEL, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? WELL, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF OUR STAFF AND I UNDERSTAND I, BUT OKAY, LET'S SAY YOU HAVE FIVE DAYS OF EXCESSIVE HEAT.

DON'T TURN IT OFF.

EVERYTHING GOES FINE THEN WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, UM, OTHER PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE CAN LOOK AT IT HERE, SEE WHAT THE STAFF COMES BACK WITH.

COUNCILMAN MCG GREGORY, I WOULD PREFER THAT YOU SHARE YOUR IDEAS WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND THAT THIS COUNCIL SEE A FULLY FLUSHED OUT PROPOSAL BEFORE MAKING ANY COMMITMENT, ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL TONIGHT SEEING THEM? WE NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN.