Council Minutes 08/06/26

Harrisburg City Council

City Hall

110 E. Locust Street

Harrisburg, Il 62946

August 06, 2026

6:00 p.m.

The Harrisburg City Council met on August 06, 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, Roger Angelly, and Rupert Johnson Commissioner present and Commissioner Jonathan Brown was present via telephone all answering the roll call.

Pastor Jerry Wells with the Dorrisville Social Brethren Church led the group in prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

Council Meeting Minutes – July 16, 2026

Check Register and Warrant Reports – July 2023

Sullivan Lawn Care - $4,650.00 - #5264 – Business District

Sullivan Lawn Care - $4,650.00 - #5305 - Business District

Sullivan Lawn Care - $4,650.00 - #5345 - Business District

Brown & Roberts, Inc. - $2,280.71 - #24-201 – Small Street/Veterans Drive Roundabout

Relinquish Lake Lot – Pruitt – 2nd Add, Block 2, Lot 13

Petition Lake Lot – Horton – 2nd Add, Block 2, Lot 13

Relinquish Lake Lot – Quertermous – 1st Add, Block 2, Lot 8

Petition Lake Lot – Baird – 1st Add, Block 2, Lot 8

Petition Lake Lot – Mitchell – SE Add, Lot 2

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

Mayor John McPeek made the motion to reject all garbage bids received on April 02, 2026. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to authorize Mayor John McPeek to sign the redevelopment agreement with Dr. Ethan Grounds. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. 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 potential litigation.

Bruce Wallace with Priority Power presented the power contract.  There was a discussion about the current rates and the new rates. The best option was to go with a thirty-six-month rate contract. Bruce Wallace will send City Treasurer Alex Jackson the contract for approval and signatures. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to approve Priority Power with a term of thirty-six months as presented. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek stated Oakwood 618, LLC has submitted a TIF Façade application. Once the work is completed, he will be eligible to receive up to $5,000 in reimbursement. This will be a new accounting office. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to accept the Oakwood 618, LLC TIF Façade application. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek stated he would like to table the IDOT resurfacing project to have further discussion with Brown and Roberts, Inc.

Mayor John McPeek made the motion to approve Resolution 26-0806 for the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area for the 2026 Sasquatch Festival. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. 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.

Mayor John McPeek stated the council will go into executive session to approve the executive session minutes from January 2026 through July 2026.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated he is postponing the new hire at this time because he does not have the votes.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning thanked the Fire Department for their hard work and dedication.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to authorize the city clerk to advertise the selling of the Fire Department brush truck. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to authorize the city clerk to advertise for sealed bids for two new squad cars in the Police Department. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to approve Resolution 26-0806A for the temporary street closure for the Harrisburg Homecoming parade. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to approve Resolution 26-0806B for the temporary street closure for the 2026 Sasquatch Festival. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Mayor John McPeek discussed installing a fountain at 1 E. Poplar Street with the council. There was an open discussion about a fountain. The two trees have died. There was about two feet of water standing when the last tree was removed. There may be a water issue in the building next to 1 E. Poplar Street.

Mayor John McPeek discussed the following properties to include instructing Attorney Kolby Smithpeters to contact the owners about possibly acquiring the property and/or getting the property cleaned up:    

17 W. Park Street; 621 S. McKinley; 615 W. Sloan Street; and 202 N. Vine Street.

A citizen who lives next to 615 W. Sloan Street stated there are animal living in the house, doors open, windows broken out, holes in the roof, it needs to be demolished because it is beyond repair.

Mayor John McPeek stated the backpack give away was great. He thanks Little Chapel Church for donating school supplies. He thanked Congressman Mike Bost for donating the backpacks and school supplies.

The 2nd Annual Shawnee Sasquatch Jeep Run is August 15, 2026. Mrs. Proctor Sno and More along with Pork N Gene’s will be serving food. The Elks will have a live band starting at 5:00 p.m. The jeep run starts at the Harrisburg Elks Lodge at 10:30 a.m.

The 2nd Annual Shawnee Sasquatch Golf Tournament is September 12 at Shawnee Hills County Club and is full.  There are twenty teams signed up to play.

The 6th Annual Shawnee Sasquatch Festival is October 06, 2026 and the city is still accepting donations. Please stop by City Hall to donate to the festival.

Mayor John McPeek made the motion to go into executive session to discuss potential litigation, property acquisition, and approval of executive session minutes from January 2026 through July 2026. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

Adjourn: 6:28 p.m.

Reconvene: 6:39 p.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, and Rupert Johnson Commissioner present and Commissioner Jonathan Brown was present via telephone all answering the roll call.

Mayor John McPeek stated there is no action regarding potential litigation or property acquisition.

Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to open the following executive session minutes: April 30, 2026 and July 16, 2026 and to keep the following executive session minutes closed: January 15, 2025; February 19, 2026; March 05,2026; April 16, 2026; May 21, 2026; June 04, 2026, and June 18, 2026. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.

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: 6:40 p.m.