The Beloit City Council met in
regular session on
Department heads in attendance were
Murray McGee, Mike Haeffele, and Frank Gent.
Councilor Maxwell offered the
invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Mayor Roberts mentioned that he
continues to get great comments on the streets.
He also congratulated Youth Councilors Justin Gengler and Ambria Wendell
on being crowned St. John’s Homecoming King and Queen. Councilor Foreman thanked Sunflower for the
tour at the last Council meeting. He
also reminded people who are walking in the dark to wear reflective
clothing. He finished by addressing the
anonymous letter he received. With no
return address and no signature, he chose not to read it. Councilors Pontow and Maxwell echoed Foreman’s
comments on the anonymous letter.
Maxwell stated the Veteran’s Day Parade will be on Monday, November 12
with a theme of God Bless
City Attorney Harry Gantenbein
had no report.
City Administrator Gerber also congratulated
Youth Councilors Gengler and Wendell. He
noted the Planning Commission is advertising for a vacancy and those interested
need to live outside the City limits.
Gerber mentioned an error in the newsletter. Daylight Savings Time was listed a week
early.
Mayor Roberts asked for comments
from the public. There were none.
The Consent Agenda consisted of
the minutes of September 18, 2007 City Council meeting, Appropriations 10A, and
a Fire Department resignation. A motion
was made by Councilor Maxwell and seconded by Councilor Pontow to approve the
Consent Agenda in its entirety. Roll
call vote: Yeas: Thompson, Foreman,
Cousland, Concannon, Struble, Maxwell, Shumate, and Pontow. Nays:
None.
The Fire Department put out bids
for a sprinkler system. The system will
allow the grounds to be watered without requiring someone to be at the
station. Councilor Shumate wondered
where the Fire Department gets their funding.
Gerber informed him that they receive funding from the City’s General
Fund. Councilor Foreman would like to
see the City look into a moisture sensor to help alleviate watering while it is
raining. A motion was made by Councilor Struble
and seconded by Councilor Maxwell to approve the sprinkler system in an amount
of $3,750. Motion carried 8-0.
A motion was made by Councilor
Cousland and seconded by Councilor Foreman to recess into an executive session
for the preliminary consideration of specific personnel matter of non-elected
personnel for a period of 45 minutes.
Motion carried 8-0. The session
is to include the Governing Body, City Attorney, and City Administrator. The session began at
A motion was made by Councilor
Thompson and seconded by Councilor Cousland to recess into an executive session
for the preliminary consideration of specific personnel matter of non-elected
personnel for a period of 45 minutes.
Motion carried 8-0. The session
is to include the Governing Body, City Attorney, and City Administrator. The session began at
A motion was made by Councilor Maxwell
and seconded by Councilor Pontow to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 8-0. The meeting ended at
The work session began at
Department heads present were
McGee and Haeffele.
Correspondence and Staff reports
included the September Community Development report and Vision Development Team
minutes.
City Administrator Gerber reported
that there will be a sales tax presentation for the public on October 4 at
Residents in the area of the
OCCK, Inc. alley vacation request and a representative for OCCK,, Inc. were in
attendance to discuss vacating the alley.
Gerber has met with OCCK, Inc. representatives and informed them that
they must agree to continue the easements for City access and not ask the City
for help with maintenance in order for the City Council to consider the
vacation. They have agreed. Gantenbein explained to all parties present
that on a typical alley the property is split when vacated. However, there are exceptions when the
original land came from one side or the other.
In that case, the alley would be vacated back to the original
property. At this time, the City is not
clear on which scenario this alley is, but will find out before the hearing at
the next meeting.
The Council then reviewed a
possible change to the current residency policy. Councilor Shumate feels the Council is a
policy body and this is a policy so a decision like someone living outside the
City limits should go through the City Council.
Councilor Thompson thinks there should not be a percentage set, but that
it should be dependent on the department.
Councilor Foreman agreed that he would like to see it based on the job
rather than an arbitrary percentage. The
Council agreed with Councilor Shumate when he stated that this policy should
not open a lot of doors, but an employee with an extraordinary circumstance
would be a reason to waiver from the original policy. The policy listed positions that are not
allowed to live outside the City limits and Councilor Thompson would like to
see appointed positions included as well.
Staff will make changes and bring this back for more discussion.
The work session adjourned at
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PHILLIP ROBERTS, Mayor
ATTEST:
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CHARLENE ABELL, City Clerk