Taylorville aldermen Monday night voted to table a recommendation by the Taylorville Planning Commission to approve the preliminary plan for the proposed Hathaway Homes project being built by Christian County Integrated Community Services, and for aldermen to bring their ideas on what attorney to hire for a second opinion to review their March 4th action approving the construction of the new subdivision. The vote on the motion, after long discussion by council members, was 6 to 2.
The council was split between those who voted against the proposed subdivision on March 4th, and those voting in favor of it, with Mayor Greg Brotherton breaking the tie voting in favor of proceeding with the project. Those against it say they’ve talked with attorneys outside the city, who say the city could win a threatened law suit from C-C-I-C-S. Other council members say the vote Monday night is putting the city at risk of losing a law suit. Mayor Greg Brotherton told Regional Radio News after the meeting Monday night, that he’s frustrated that the Council can’t get this issue behind them.
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Brotherton added that if the City Council hits the brakes on the project, it is possible C-C-I-C-S could ask the city to pay for all the work that has been done up to this point.
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Asked for a comment after the Council’s vote tabling the Planning Commission’s recommendation Monday night, Christian County Integrated Community Services executive director Jeff Copley said he was disappointed. Taylorville city council members will bring their recommendations on an attorney to provide the city a 2nd opinion on whether or not the city could win a case if sued by C-C-I-C-S, at the next Finance Committee meeting which is currently set for the 3rd week in April.
Before Monday night’s Taylorville City Council meeting, the Council held a public hearing to hear public input on the city’s application for a Community Assistance Development Grant, or C-DAP grant, to improve the city’s storm sewers. City engineer Joe Greene spoke to the Council about the various needs of the city and where monies need to be spent first if such grants are obtained.
The vote to formally apply to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a state C-DAP grant, was 6 to 2, with aldermen Martin Vota and Ray Koonce both voting no saying the city doesn’t have the matching funds should the grant be approved.
The Council OK’d a resolution for an antenna site lease agreement with T-6 Broadband for their antennas on the north Taylorville water tower, they annexed property at 1400 North Cheney, OK’d an ordinance permitting gambling and video gaming per state statutes, tweeked current liquor ordinances to allow 12 Class A and A-1 liquor licenses and 10 Class C or C-1 licenses all amended to allow video gaming, and amended the city code addressing residency requirements to now say that the fire chief, assistant fire chief, police chief, deputy police chief, and police lieutenants all have to live inside city limits. Alderman also OK’d the repair of the cemetery backhoe at a cost not to exceed 57-hundred 50-dollars.
Council members OK’d retaining the current insurance company, KMRM, Incorporated, a division of Dimond Brothers Insurance, for the general liability, property, equipment, auto, and pollution coverage, and did not require public bids. They decided to begin the process of hiring a full-time police officer to replace an officer that will be retiring later this year. The Council purchased 26 police badges and a video recording system for the police department.
Water rates for industrial users inside and outside the City of Taylorville, will be going up, after action by the Taylorville City Council Monday night. Aldermen voted to direct the city attorney David Fines, to prepare an ordinance raising the inside city limit industrial water rate from one dollar-83 per 100 cubic foot of water, to one-dollar 91, to match the outside city limits industrial water rate. And, as of January First of next year, they will also raise the inside city limits industrial rate to one dollar-99 per 100 cubic foot, to match the outside city limits rate which is already set to go to a dollar-99.
Taylorville aldermen Monday night OK’d the purchase of 2 aluminum sulfate feed pumps costing some 93-hundred dollars, and a meter reading device with software and charge costing 64-hundred dollars.
The aldermen OK’d forwarding the fiscal year 2013-2014 Airport and Lake Budgets to the Finance Committee, voted to accept the low bid of 80-dollars per week from Whitlow Septic Service for sanitation services at Lake Taylorville for this season, accepted the lowest responsible bid of 14-dollars per cabin from Carole Howell for cabin cleaning at Lake Taylorville for this season, OK’d the lake campers schedule of events for this year, and OK’d a farm lease for ground at Taylorville Municipal Airport with Brian Moses.
The Taylorville City Council at the start of their meeting, honored the Lady Tornadoes varsity basketball team, who were in attendance Monday night, for a great season.
