Council Minutes 02-19-26

Harrisburg City Council

City Hall

110 E. Locust Street

Harrisburg, Il 62946

February 19, 2026

8:00 a.m.

The Harrisburg City Council met on February 19, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. at the City Hall located at 110 E. Locust Street, Harrisburg, IL.

Mayor John McPeek called the meeting to order. Mayor John McPeek presided over the meeting with Commissioners Raymond Gunning, Roger Angelly, Rupert Johnson, and Jonathan Brown answering the roll call.

Mayor John McPeek welcome the Harrisburg High School Civic Class to the council meeting.

Pastor Lynette Barnett from the with the First Methodist Church led the group in prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the consent agenda.

Regular Meeting Minutes – February 05, 2026

Murphy Rental - $15,000.00 – Business District

City Limit Motors - $5,000.00 – Business District

IDOT - $118,120.03 – Small Street Roundabout - Business District

Flock Safety - $35,250.00 - Business District

Relinquish Lake Lot – J. Brown – 2nd Addition, Block 2, Lot 25

Petition Lake Lot – D. McNeill – 2nd Addition, Block 2, Lot 25

Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Citizen Danny Gibbs spoke to the council regarding Harrisburg Lake lease changes. He and many others have invested in Harrisburg Lake. After reading the contract, he stated there should not be any permanent structures at Harrisburg Lake, but there are a lot out there.

He asked what the council’s position on the lake is. There are 131 leases and the city received $87,000 in revenue in the past. He stated if the city increased the fees from $500 up to $1,000, it could generate $131,000 in revenue. The city could then provide water lines. Over the past few years, the boat dock has been repaired, the roads are in better condition, and there are some new campsites. He stated that he pays property taxes on his lot.

He is aware that the lake is in the process of being surveyed. He is in favor of continuing to improve that area. If the city sells, is there some type of covenants in place? He informed the council that West Frankfort Lake just sold for $1,800.00 an acre. It was appraised at $1.7 million dollars and sold for $850,000.00. Some residences have been at Harrisburg Lake for thirty years.

Mayor John McPeek stated the change is to plan and better manage the lake. The one-year lease allows the city to address problems. Harrisburg lake was once the water source for Harrisburg; however, it no longer is. He said the leases have never been enforced by any council member. It was intended to be used by only residents of Harrisburg. At the present time, there are roughly thirty Harrisburg residents out of 131 lease holders. It was only to be a weekend getaway, but people live out there. It cannot be policed like it needs to be.

Attorney Kolby Smithpeters stated the change in the Harrisburg Lake ordinance changes the terms from a three-year lease to a one-year lease. Mayor John McPeek made the motion to approve Ordinance 1930. Seconded by Commissioner Jonathan Brown. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes, except Commissioner Rupert Johnson voted no. Motion carried.

Attorney Kolby Smithpeters discussed with the council the proposed reciprocal access easement agreement. This is an easement agreement at Parker Place. This was discussed and agreed upon at the September 18, 2025 council meeting. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to accept the reciprocal access easement agreement. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek stated the council will go into executive session to discuss property acquisition.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown would like to implement a sick leave policy. He discussed the policy with the council. This policy is for those not under a contract. He believes the best policy in place is the one in the 318 contracts. There is one change to make in the presented ordinance. The employee can use five sick days before needing to obtain a doctor’s note if the council feels the policy is being misused. Commissioner Jonanthan Brown made the motion to approve Ordinance 1931 for the sick leave policy for non-contractual employees making the change as discussed. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes, except Commissioner Raymond Gunning abstained. Motion carried.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown discussed retirement with Fire Chief John Gunning. Fire Chief John Gunning stated he thinks it should be equal for all employees throughout the city. He thinks he should be able to walk out some of the sick time. He would like to use sick time through May 01. The council stated he is not in a union contract; he is non-contractual. City Treasurer Alex Jackson stated it specifically states in the fire contract how those employees can walk out their time.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown stated the law reads that everyone must be treated the same and the previous police chief was not allowed to walk his sick time out. There are about eight prior employees who were not allowed to do it. What is fair for one is fair for them all. Attorney Kolby Smithpeters stated that laws state they must be treated equally. Fire Chief John Gunning said the council voted to let him retire July 29, but he will leave in May. He is not going to walk all his sick time out because he does not feel like he should be kept on city insurance or work comp. He said he feels like he is cheating the city. He does not want to walk out on a bad note.

Fire Chief John Gunning stated he wants to be fair, honest, and upfront. He thinks if a person dedicates their life to the city, they should not be kicked out the front door. He does not think it’s fair to the employees in the city.

Mayor John McPeek stated the council need to know when he is leaving. He didn’t know until it appeared on Facebook. Commissioner Jonathan Brown said what is right for one is right for the others. Former city employees who retired were not allowed to use all their sick time, some were under a union contract, others used sick and vacation time.

Fire Chief John Gunning wants what is fair and not argue about this. Mayor John McPeek said Facebook read that he retired as of February 13, 2026. Commissioner Jonathan Brown stated that Michael Riden left time on the books because Commissioner Raymond Gunning told him he could not walk out his time. Commissioner Raymond Gunning said the city treasurer told Michael Riden he could not take the time. City Treasurer Alex Jackson stated she never told Michael Riden he could not use his sick time. Commissioner Raymond Gunning said he does not remember telling him that.

Commissioner Roger Angelly said if you go to work somewhere else you cannot use sick time. Commissioner Jonathan Brown said if you use sick time and work somewhere else, it looks bad on the city. Sick time should be used for sickness. Commissioner Roger Angelly said sick time is not retirement days. Fire Chief John Gunning stated the council should set a sick policy for all employees. The council stated each contract has wording for sick use.

Mayor John McPeek asked when his last day would be. Fire Chief John Gunning said May 01, 2026. Commissioner Roger Angelly asked what kind of time he would be using until May 01, 2026. Commissioner Roger Angelly asked when his new job started. Fire Chief John Gunning said his job will start before May 01, 2026. Commissioner Jonathan Brown asked if Fire Chief John Gunning would be calling in sick and still go work somewhere else. He stated that he would use two sick days and a carryover day like everyone else has. Commissioner Roger Angelly said the non-contractual employees did not do that, only union employees were allowed to do that.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown said he could see using benefit time other than sick time. He states he is required to use benefit time to attend a council meeting but cannot use sick time to attend council. The ordinance that just passed states you must be at home or the doctor to use sick time. Attorney Kolby Smithpeters stated the state statute reads that you must treat everyone equally or a former employee can come back and request the same.

Mayor John McPeek stated the city treasurer needs clarification on how to proceed with payroll. Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated that it is a council decision, he will abstain as it is a personal benefit and he will not be involved in the decision. Council stated that it is his department and he should make a decision. Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated he was advised to abstain. He stated whatever the council decides to do with his benefit time, he will sign his payroll. Commissioner Jonathan Brown stated he is his commissioner and has been for five years. Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated there is an issue with the use of sick time, and he will do what council decides. Commissioner Jonathan Brown asked Commissioner Raymond Gunning if he thinks it is a good idea to use sick time and go to another job. Commissioner Raymond Gunning said that it is a council decision. He is not going to do anything to jeopardize an opinion because it involves his brother and he was advised.  Commissioner Raymond Gunning said it is a council decision. Commissioner Roger Angelly said he made the decision when he told the former employee he could not do it.

Commissioner Roger Angelly said this is not personal. He said since he is starting a new job March 01, then he could be paid up until then. He said he knows John Gunning is losing time he accumulated, but those days are not retirement days. Those days were meant to be used for sick, a sick child or spouse. He believes his last day is March 01. If we treat John Gunning differently, that puts the council in a bind. He has to treat him as the past employees.

Mayor John McPeek said former employees left time on the books. He said Michael Riden and David Morris left time on the book. Fire Chief John Gunning said he was not aware employees are given flex time. Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated he was not aware of flex time. Commissioner Jonathan Brown stated if the chief comes in and works late or covers a shift, then he can leave early. He believes all non-contractual employees do this. Flex time is not paid; it is time that can be taken off later. Mayor John McPeek stated it is called comp time.

Commissioner Jonathan Brown stated the council just passed a sick policy, so an employee cannot call in sick and then go to another job. The city treasurer has been instructed to write a severance check on March 01, 2026. Commissioner Jonathan Brown said a committee will be formed to create a non-contractual handbook. He will be working with Attorney Kolby Smithpeters.

Commissioner Roger Angelly would like to make Blake Stacey a full-time employee in his department. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to make Blake Stacey full-time effective March 01, 2026. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to authorize the city clerk to advertise spring clean up for March 16 through March 27, 2026. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek thanked the civics class for attending and please stop littering.

Mayor John McPeek made the motion to go into executive session to discuss property acquisition. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Adjourn: 8:39 a.m.

Reconvene:  9:03 a.m.

Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to return to open session. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek called the meeting to order. Mayor John McPeek presided over the meeting with Commissioners Raymond Gunning, Roger Angelly, Rupert Johnson, and Jonathan Brown answering the roll call.

Mayor John McPeek stated there was nothing to act upon regarding property acquisition.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Adjourn: 9:05 a.m.