MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COUNTRYSIDE, ILLINOIS
HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2005

1. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, Mayor LeGant called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Ald. Conrad moved, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk, to authorize Acting City Clerk Bartelt to continue in City Clerk Herberts absence. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Acting Clerk Bartelt called the roll which was as follows:

PRESENT: Mayor Carl LeGant, Aldermen Robert Conrad, Wayne Straza, Joseph Fajdich, Karen Michalczyk, Edward Krzeminski, Michael Smetana

ABSENT: City Clerk Herberts

ALSO PRESENT: Acting City Clerk Bartelt, City Treasurer Stoffels, City Attorney Erik Peck, Police Chief Swanson, City Administrator Bailey, City Engineer Fitzgerald, Deputy Treasurer Wenzel, Police/Fire Bd. Member Pondelicek, ESDA Coordinator Norman

OMNIBUS AGENDA

2. Approval of Minutes of December 8, 2004.

3. Statement of Bills for period ending December 22, 2004 and January 12, 2005.

4. Treasurer’s Report for period ending November 30, 2004.

5. Application for a general business license from OLD 66 SHELL, 6101 LaGrange Road. Type: Filling Station. Applicant: I.M. Mokhtarpour (formerly Countryside Shell #2).

6. From Misericordia, Heart of Mercy, requesting permission to solicit at various locations on April 29-30, 2005.

7. Application for a general business license from Treasured Years, Inc., 915 W. 55th St. Type: Service Merchant. Applicant: Rainier Hidalgo (new owner).

8. Application for a general business license from Advantage Home Medical Equipment Inc., 911 W. 55th St. Type: Retail Merchant. Applicant: Michael Zemlak (former address 921 W. 55th St.).

9. Application for a general business license from Kombs Beef, 5438-44 LaGrange Road. Type: Restaurant. Applicant: Romauldo Camarena Jr. (new owners).

10. Membership: 2005 Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police – Police Chief – $135.

11. Membership: South Suburban Water Works Association – Sr. Water Plant Operator – $45.

12. Membership: Government Finance Officers Association – Treasurer – $85.

13. Membership: Illinois Association of Park Districts – Recreation Director – $357.64.

14. Conrad moved to approve the Omnibus Agenda as presented, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

ADDITIONS TO AND/OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA – none

QUESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE – none

MAYOR’S REPORT

15. Presentation of audit for fiscal year ending April 30, 2004 by Chizek & Company, formerly FPT&W Auditors (Pandolfi) (distributed prior to meeting). Mr. John Weber stated that the audit was actually done under the firm PTW & Co; they recently had a business combination and are now known as Chizek & Company. There are some differences in that report compared to previous years, which follows requirements of the new accounting standard issued by the Government Accounting Standard Board. The City actually implemented this standard a year early. Part of this standard requires the city to capture all the infrastructure (roads, curbs, sidewalks, etc.) and depreciate it; the City chose to implement everything at once; this was not an easy project and took a great deal of effort by staff to complete the undertaking.

16. The Management Discussion and Analysis document, pages 3-9, is a narrative of the financial statements explaining what took place during the year. It reveals summary activity of balance sheet and income statement items, explanation of the numbers, the reason for changes in numbers and compares budget to actual figures. Financial highlights include viewing the balance sheet and seeing the city as a whole, showing all assets and liabilities. The City ended 2004 with $46.6 million of net assets; $18.2 million of that figure actually represents cash/investments of the City. The financial statements show an excellent picture compared to many other municipalities.

The governmental fixed assets, however, are 66% depreciated; that should be considered when planning to move forward with rebuilding infrastructure. The business activity assets are only 31% depreciated. The General Fund revenue was under budget by $560,000 mostly in the sales tax area. Expenses were favorable – $337,000. Water Fund revenues under budget by $108,000; expenses were under budget by $345,000.

There was no effect on fund balances. The audit was completed with no problems; city staff was a great help; this is an unqualified opinion on the financials. Ald. Krzeminski moved to accept the budget as presented, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously. Council thanked Mr. Weber for the presentation.

17. Mayor LeGant discussed the request for a Class H Liquor License from Nonno’s Pizza, 5396 LaGrange Road. Mayor LeGant stated that a Class H License is available from Amici’s. Ald. Krzeminski moved to allow the transfer of the Class H Liquor License from Amici’s to Nonno’s Pizza, seconded by Ald. Conrad and carried by Roll Call vote.

18. Mayor LeGant sought confirmation of the reappointment of Richard Stoffels, Martin Sweeney and Michael Smetana to the Flagg Creek Golf Course Administrative Board. Ald. Krzeminski moved to confirm the appointments, seconded by Ald. Conrad and carried unanimously.

19. Mayor LeGant read aloud and signed the Proclamation authorizing Monday January 17, 2005 as Martin Luther King. Jr. Day in Illinois.

20. Mayor LeGant discussed the request for a Class H. Liquor License from Kombs’ Beef, in conjunction with a 2005 business license for new owners. This is dependent upon review by the Chief of Police. Ald. Smetana moved to transfer the existing Class H License to the new owner, seconded by Ald. Conrad and carried unanimously.

CITY CLERK’S REPORT

21. Acting City Clerk Bartelt requested attendance for the Clerk and Deputy Clerk to participate in the International Institute of Municipal Clerk’s Annual Conference scheduled for May 22-26, 2005 in St. Paul, MN. Total estimated expenses are $1,858 per person. Ald. Conrad moved to approve the expenditure, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

FINANCE COMMITTEE – TREASURER STOFFELS, CHAIRMAN, presented recommendations from the committee.

22. A donation of $3,500 to the Southwest Suburban Center on Aging. Ald. Michalczyk moved to approve the expenditure, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

23. Community Care Options, formerly Fillmore/Community Family Service in Western Springs has requested a donation of $100 for a one-half page ad; the same amount was donated last year. Ald. Straza moved to approve the donation, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously.

24. West Suburban Chamber of Commerce has invited the city to participate in the New Member Reception & Breakfast on January 26, 2005 at 7:30 a.m. at the William Tell Banquets at a cost of $20 per person. He suggested that city officials and department heads be authorized to attend. Ald. Conrad moved to approve attendance including Mr. Bailey and Mr. Muenzer, seconded by Ald. Fajdich and carried unanimously.

25. POLICE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN CONRAD, CHAIRMAN, presented a recommendation from the Police Department to purchase a Mobile-Vision in-car digital video system and software in the amount of $5,870. Ald. Conrad moved to approve the expenditure, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

26. BUILDING COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN FAJDICH, CHAIRMAN, reported that 14 building permits were issued in December; 8 paid permits for $1,173.34 and 6 free permits were also issued.

LEGAL REPORT

27. City Attorney Erik Peck presented the draft ordinance providing for stop signs at Lorraine Drive and Forestview. This draft has been forwarded to the Police Department; Deputy Chief Mallon reviewed it and has approved the language. Ald. Krzeminski moved to approve the ordinance as presented and waive the second reading, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously. Acting Clerk Bartelt declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 05-01-O.

28. Mr. Peck stated that the City has not received the Simon Group Sales Tax Revenue Sharing proposal as of this date. This matter should be continued to the next meeting. Council agreed that this matter will be discussed in Executive Session.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

29. City Administrator Bailey presented engineer’s pay estimate #6 for the 2004 Water Main Replacement project to Cerniglia Company in the amount of $118,562.40. Ald. Straza moved to approve the expenditure, seconded by Ald. Conrad and carried unanimously. Discussion by Council members, Mr. Bailey and Mr. Fitzgerald regarding assessing penalties for additional work days. In future contracts the city has a penalty system in place and it will be enforced. The city is holding 10% of total funds until completion of the project.

30. Mr. Bailey recommends approval of the 2005 annual liability insurance premium to IRMA in the amount of $205,517. Ald. Smetana moved to approve the expenditure, seconded by Ald. Fajdich and carried unanimously.

31. Mr. Bailey recommends requesting the surplus insurance credit available to the city from IRMA in the amount of $51,589 in check form. Ald. Straza moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Conrad and carried unanimously.

32. Mr. Bailey recommends the purchase of a SCADA system processor servicing the LaGrange Highlands Sanitary District in the amount of $2,070 to Automatic Control Services. Ald. Conrad moved to approve the purchase, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously.

33. Mr. Bailey recommends modifying the ESDA office by installing a manual transfer switch and generator tap box as part of the effective response to emergencies plan. The cost is $2,450. This will allow the building to receive electrical power from a portable generator in the event of normal electrical service disruption. Ald. Smetana moved to approve the expenditure seconded by Ald. Conrad and carried unanimously.

34. Mr. Bailey received a request from CDO Muenzer to attend the National APA Conference in San Francisco, March 19-23, 2005; estimated expenses are $2,069. Ald. Straza moved to approve the expenditure, seconded by Ald. Conrad and carried unanimously.

35. Mr. Bailey presented a draft resolution to borrow funds against a City CD held by the State Bank of Countryside maturing in April 2005 for $1,048,394.78 for the partial purchase price of the United Hospitality Hotel at 5631 LaGrange Road. A memo explaining this procedure is included in the packet. It results in a 1% loan to avoid the early withdrawal penalty on CD closure. Ald. Krzeminski moved to approve the loan, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously. Acting Clerk Bartelt declared that this will be known as RESOLUTION 05-01.R.

STAFF REPORTS

36. Police Chief Swanson stated that the city will be filing an application for Storm Ready Certification by the Weather Service. We will be the 7th community certified in Illinois. This should be completed before the tornado season arrives.

37. Engineer Fitzgerald provided Council with two updates – the 2005 street rehab plans & specs are completed; they are awaiting IDOT approval in the next two weeks. The 2005 Water Main Replacement Program plans will be completed next week; both projects will go out to bid by the end of January.

38. Ald. Smetana asked about the Noise Wall. Mr. Fitzgerald stated that chips and dings were noted on various sections of the wall; they are being recorded and will be repaired in the Spring.

39. Ald. Krzeminski asked for information about the flood plain in Ward 1. Mr. Fitzgerald stated that the City has received IDNR approval; the last step is getting FEMA approval, which takes about six months; he anticipates that approval by June.

40. Mayor LeGant noted the presence of Ricky Lang, Boy Scout Troop 69, who is working on his badge for citizenship and community; he has eight Merit badges thus far.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to discuss, Ald. Conrad moved to adjourn to Closed Session under Section 2Ah of the Open Meetings Act for the purpose of discussing pending or probable and imminent litigation. Ald. Krzeminski seconded the motion. Motion carried by unanimous Roll Call vote.

Mayor LeGant declared the meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

SHIRLEY C. HERBERTS, CITY CLERK

By: Acting City Clerk, Gail Bartelt