Council Minutes 03-05-26
Harrisburg City Council
City Hall
110 E. Locust Street
Harrisburg, Il 62946
March 05, 2026
6:00 p.m.
The Harrisburg City Council met on March 05 2026 at 6:00 p.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, Rupert Johnson, and Jonathan Brown answering the roll call. Commissioner Roger Angelly was absent.
Pastor Jerry Wells from the Dorrisville Social Brethren Church led the group in prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner Jonathan Brown made the motion to approve the consent agenda.
Regular Meeting Minutes – February 19, 2026
Warrant Report & Check Register – February 2026
Sullivan Electric - $2,571.18 – #894 - Business District
Brown & Roberts, Inc. - $2,890.94 - #24-201-05 – Small Street Roundabout
Brown & Roberts, Inc. - $3,937.50 - #2025-143 – Harrisburg Lake Survey
Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried. Commissioner Raymond Gunning abstain due to his brother’s severance check which was included in the warrant report and check register.
Mayor John McPeek stated there was a sealed bid opening at City Hall on Wednesday March 04, 2026 for the mowing and weed eating of the cemetery. The sealed bids are as follows:
White Oak Lawn Care: $4,500.00 per cut, but the packet was not completed.
Maxx Mowing: $4,500.00 per cut, but he does not have workers compensation insurance.
Sullivan Lawn Care: $4,650.00 per cut
Audie’s Lawn Care: $4,990.00 per cut
Palmer Lawn Care: $5,400.00 per cut
There was a discussion regarding the bid packets. Sullivan Lawn Care was the second lowest bid and met all the criteria described in the bid packet prepared by the city attorney.
Commissioner Jonathan Brown made the motion to accept the sealed bid from Sullivan Lawn Care at $4,650.00 per cut for mowing and weed eating of the cemetery. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes, except Commissioner Rupert Johnson voted no. Motion carried.
Jim Brown with Brown and Roberts, Inc. presented the 2026 MFT program to the council. MFT funds are based on population. Eric Boe and Superintendent Kenny Mayhall worked on the 2026 MFT packet. Once the council approves the maintenance, it is sent to IDOT for approval. Once IDOT approves it, they can begin bidding out the projects. The 2026 MFT municipal estimate for maintenance is $155,753.96. Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to accept the 2026 MFT municipal estimate for maintenance at $155,753.96. Seconded by Commissioner Jonathan Brown. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown with Brown and Roberts, Inc. presented the 2026 MFT resolution for maintenance at $165,000.00. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to accept the Resolution 26-0305 for the 2026 MFT municipal estimate for maintenance at $165,000.00. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown with Brown and Roberts, Inc. presented the 2026 MFT engineering agreement. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to accept the 2026 MFT engineering agreement with Brown and Roberts, Inc. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown with Brown and Roberts, Inc. discussed resurfacing Sloan Street. This project will include milling, leveling, and laying bituminous. There would need to be traffic control with this project. This is estimated to cost $450,000.00. He stated Federal Aid Urban money is available and can be used for this project. Please keep in mind that using Federal Aid Urban money is a process and takes time. Jim Brown stated the Federal Aid Urban money is 80/20, with the city portion being 20%. Jim Brown will have documents for the next meeting.
Mayor John McPeek asked Jim Brown if the contractors will be cleaning up the roundabout area. Jim Brown stated he has talked to the contractors, and it will be cleaned up.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to proceed with the resurfacing of Sloan Street with the Federal Aid Urban money and/or MFT money. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Assistant Fire Chief John Quisenberry presented a mobile home application for 201 E. Big Four Street. The application has been reviewed, site inspected, and they have paid their application fee and deposit. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the mobile home application for 201 E. Big Four Street. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. 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 collective bargaining.
Mayor John McPeek stated the council will go into executive session to discuss personnel.
Mayor John McPeek stated the council will go into executive session to discuss potential litigation.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to appoint John Quisenberry as the Fire Chief at the pay rate of $75,000.00 effective March 16, 2026. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek swore in John Quisenberry as the new Fire Chief.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to request the name of a fire captain from the merit board. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek made the motion to authorize the city clerk to advertise city owned city properties for sale as listed:
1017 Hobson Street – PIN: 06-2-490-03
310 Homer Street – PIN: 06-2-024-01
724 W. Raymond Street – PIN: 06-2-414-07
719 W. Lincoln Street – PIN: 06-2-412-07
605 Jackson Street – PIN: 06-2-007-09
416 W. Elm Street – PIN: 06-2-041-07
125 W. South Street – PIN: 06-2-688-10
519 W. Elm Street – PIN: 06-2-042-05
18 S. Cherry Street – PIN: 06-2-182-07 with the starting bid at $5,000.00. This is what the city paid to acquire 18 S. Cherry Street.
Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson reminded everyone about spring clean-up starting March 16, 2026. Please place your items curbside and call 618-253-7451 ext. 3 to leave your address.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson asked Mayor John McPeek if he would be doing spring clean-up at Harrisburg Lake. Mayor John McPeek stated not at this time. Superintendent Jacob Palmer stated the leaseholders at Harrisburg Lake threw their items in front of the dumpster rather than inside the dumpster last time. The Code Enforcer has been tagging lake lots at Harrisburg Lake.
Mayor John McPeek stated the city is still working on the July 4th celebration. The city along with Abbott EMS is working on a BBQ contest at the amphitheater. Be watching the city Facebook page for upcoming events. Please stop littering.
Mayor John McPeek made the motion to go into executive session for collective bargaining, personnel, and potential litigation. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Adjourn: 6:16 p.m.
Reconvene: 7:45 p.m.
Mayor John McPeek 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, Rupert Johnson, and Jonathan Brown answering the roll call. Commissioner Roger Angelly was absent.
Mayor John McPeek stated there is nothing to act upon regarding collective bargaining, personnel, or potential litigation.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Jonathan Brown. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Adjourn: 7:43 p.m.