Public Property Meeting June 4, 2012 Minutes

Swimming Pool Funding
Discussion was held about the possible ways to fund a swimming pool. One option is to put on a referendum for November to raise property taxes. Using figures from 2010, a person who owns a home worth $100,000 would pay an additional $37 per year for 10 years. Alderman Waldorf said that “people don’t want to pay more real estate taxes”. Nobody thought that a referendum would be approved.

Increasing sales tax was mentioned. The increase in sales tax for the roads will be reviewed in 5 years, but most likely will not go away, so raising the sales tax would not be a good idea.

Another idea was to use Hotel/Motel monies. We could use $100,000 per year for 20 years for a $2 million project. Mayor Harl cautioned that a referendum was passed that would raise everybody’s utility bills $5 per month if funding is approved for the pool. Mayszak will look into that ordinance to see if it should be changed or repealed. Harl also mentioned that the city might be looking into purchasing the King’s Inn or Howard Johnson properties to demolish them and make that a suitable place for a new business to build, and the Hotel/Motel monies could be used for that.

Permanent Airplane Display at IVRA
Mayszak stated she would like to see if it would be possible to get a retired military aircraft to put on permanent display at IV Regional Airport. All were in favor of that. Mayszak got a mailing address from Congressman Adam Kinzinger’s office for where to write to ask for an airplane and will write a letter. Unfinished Business

Recreation Commission Ordinance Mayszak suggested extending term to 7 years and announcing an opening every January in order to give other people a chance to be on the Commission. Others said we should leave it alone, that the Recreation Commission does a great job and they are getting beat up. Another suggestion was to increase the number of people that can be on since 3 letters of interest were received when Barb Pyszka retired. No decision was made. Veteran’s Park Parking was a problem when LP was playing there recently. People were reported to be parking on graves in the cemetery. We need to look into expanding parking there. The question came up of which is a higher priority – a swimming pool or a new parking lot. Airport Concert A letter was received by Chuck Studer, Airport Manager, from Robert Hahn, Airspace Specialist from IDOT, Division of Aeronautics stating that the FAA has completed their study of Event Approval for Concert and has imposed no objections to the proposal, subject to the following conditions:

1. All temporary structures that exceed the 14-CFR Part 77 obstruction standard are marked and lighted with flags and red lights in accordance with FAA AC 70/7460-1K, Obstruction Marking and Lighting, Chapters 3, 4, 5 and 12. 2. Light fixtures shall deflect downward so as not to create visual disruption for pilots conducting operations at VYS.

3. There must not be any proposed event activities within the 300’ of NDB facility and 500’ within the AWOS facility.

4. Note that this review is only from an aeronautical utilization standpoint. Overall approval for this non-aeronautical event must be obtained separately through coordination with the Illinois Division of Aeronautics and/or the FAA to ensure compliance with the airport sponsor’s grant assurances.

Ankiewicz reviewed the expenses the City has incurred as a result of this concert. Total amount so far is $18,689. Ankiewicz wants to get this amount from Noonan. Mayszak suggested the City make a small donation. Mayszak asked to bring it to the council for a vote.

Construction Projects
Funding for two construction projects at the airport has been approved. One is the circuit separation and the other is the apron replacement. The circuit separation is extremely important as it is a major safety issue. The lights keep going out and pilots are complaining because they have to land in the dark. The cost to the City for the first project will be $12,316 and the second project will be $20,000. Mike Perry stated that IDOT sent a letter stating that Governor Quinn announced the Multi-Modal Transportation Improvement Program. IDOT is offering Illinois airports an opportunity to participate in the State-Local Airport Improvement Program of which up to $7.5 million has been designated for Fiscal Year 2013. Project requests are due by June 30, 2012. Three projects were suggested: repainting the lines on the runways, repaving the parking lot, and possibly repaving Ed Urban Drive which is in very bad shape.

Miscellaneous Terry Happ contacted Chief Bernabei about River Dock Road which goes between Go Dan and Flint Hills. Mertel Gravel, Flint Hills and Consolidated Grain use that road to get to their businesses. They would like to put a fence across the road to keep trespassers out. It was suggested to give those businesses the road but keep easement rights. That way the City would not have to maintain that road. Chief Bernabei will contact Mr. Happ with that suggestion.

Precision Motors in LaSalle has asked about buying the fence around the swimming pool once it is demolished. Bleck will ask Jim Zeman from Fence Specialties what the fence is worth. Mary Sadowski, widow of Frank Sadowski who was a former alderman has asked that Frank get a plaque and have it hang in City Hall. He served for over 20 years, so he is eligible for a plaque. It will be made and Mary will pay for it. Irwin Hagemann will have a bench with a plaque on it put at Baker Lake. Bleck will make sure the family knows that the City is not responsible for vandalism or perpetual care of the bench.

Meeting adjourned at 7:23 p.m.