Council Minutes 10-16-25
Harrisburg City Council
City Hall
110 E. Locust Street
Harrisburg, Il 62946
October 16, 2025
8:00 a.m.
The Harrisburg City Council met on October 16, 2025 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.
Pastor Lynette Barnette of the First United 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 – October 02, 2025
Check Register and Warrant Report – September 2025
Moran Economic Development - $4,480.00 - #2809 – TIF
Illini Asphalt - $84,145.29 - #4161 – MFT
Illini Asphalt - $21,334.88 - #4162 – MFT
Saline Co. Highway Dept - $1,489.81 - #100125 - MFT
Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Citizen Dr. Zendaya McAllister spoke to the council regarding the need for re-entry and housing for transitioning back into the community. This situation involves homelessness, provides services to become self-sufficient, and provides counseling. The property will be supervised 24/7. It will be a three-bedroom home with six residents. There will always be someone there in a supervised safe structure. There will be accountability with these individuals. The property will be maintained in excellent condition. They are committed to keeping the neighborhood safe.
She is reaching out about expectations, feedback, and support in this project. There was a discussion about the type of transitional home. The home will be staffed 24/7 to watch over this home. They have reached out to other sources of help and providers.
She wanted to reach out to the council to discuss the opportunity and benefit of a transitional home in Harrisburg. There is nothing that needs to be signed, but she would appreciate a letter of support, and it would be beneficial to the community. She will keep the council updated on the progress of this project.
Commissioner Jonathan Brown inquired about security when the citizens reach out to the council. The transitional home is staffed 24/7 for monitoring the home. The individuals living in the home will be drug tested, there are home security cameras, and all residents go through an intake process. They verify they are eligible for a transitional program. This is a structured program, and they are required to check in regularly. The local authorities will be notified of each resident. Each resident will have their own case manager and will be required to follow all rules and regulations. Safety is taken very seriously with this project.
Mayor John McPeek stated the city clerk will reach out to her and a letter of support will be signed by Mayor John McPeek.
Jim Brown with Brown and Roberts, Inc. discussed the unsewered community grant with the council. The unsewered area in discussion is the cemetery area without sewer. The city received $30,000 in funding. The report that will be submitted to IEPA was presented to the council.
Areas have been identified for the project that do not have sewer. The cemetery area and this area can be done without a pump station but require disruption on the road. If going on O’Gara it is about half million dollars. There are a few citizens on Hazel Street and can go into the existing cemetery sewer and that will pick up about six customers for about $360,000. Mr. Brown discussed options regarding lift stations in these areas. This can be planned and refined.
The Pankeyville area has about fifty-two homes without sewer. The city will need to obtain easements. A discussion about annexation would need to be discussed. This would cost $2.4 million dollars. Pankeyville will need a pumping station.
The last area is Jones Road, Lovers Lane, and south to McHaney and this area does not need a pumping station. This area will pick up forty-four homes. There are several homes in the area that do not have sanitary sewer. This area is also surrounded by some homes that have annexed into the city. There is funding is about 45% grant and 55% loan and 40 years at 1%. They may have some additional money for additional areas later.
The council should take in as much as it can be afforded. The council will need to discuss annexation in these areas as well. The council can do preapplication in its entirety or in phases. The council wishes to do the project all at the same time. The city attorney will look into ordinances regarding annexation. There are fifteen customers on city sewer but not on city water. McHaney Road should be a city road rather than a county road. Jones Road and Lover’s Lane are a township road. The city and township split the work depending on who gets to it first. This is a shared joint venture on these roads between the city and township.
Jim Brown encourages looking at annexation options. Mayor John McPeek stated the Country Club Road has water and sewer and is not within city limits. This area should be considered part of the city. Township is mileage and county. The city would get additional MFT money based on the population. The council agrees to apply for the entire project and discuss annexation later.
Commissioner Roger Angelly would like to focus on the individuals inside the city rather than Pankeyville just yet. Jim Brown said the funding has a report that is produced, and it goes through the process, approved, and then application can be made for what has been planned. The planning is good for five years. Plan for everything and identify with the application. Pankeyville should be annexed because they are not inside the city limits. Commissioner Raymond Gunning is in favor of annexation for Pankeyville. They would get police and fire coverage in that area.
Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to allow Brown and Roberts, Inc. to begin the planning of unsewered community in Harrisburg. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown discussed the proposed project on Ford Street. Visu Sewer is doing a job in Galatia. The sanitary sewer project is a total of $13,620.00. Since they are currently in Galatia, they will remove the additional charge since they are currently working in this location. Jim Brown will work with the departments to get this taken care of.
The city is still working on the Sloan Street issue. There are no definitive answers for this project currently. IDOT is stating they are only responsible for street to street, which is the traveled way, not curb to curb. We will continue to work on resolving this matter. Jim Brown stated there should be a record stating what IDOT is responsible for on this project.
Attorney Kolby Smithpeters presented a purchase agreement to the council for 215 Walnut Street in the amount of $820.00 payable to the trustee. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to purchase 215 Walnut Street. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
City Treasurer Alex Jackson discussed the Downtown TIF project for OTTD, LLC with the council in the amount of $48,295.00. This project is located at 105 Poplar Street. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the Downtown TIF application from OTTD, LLC with a 15% reimbursement upon completion of the project of $48,295.00. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek discussed an issue at the entrance to the Appliance Store. The drive needs to be widened due to the new apartment complex. This would help with the delivery trucks at the Appliance Store. Commissioner Rupert Johnson said the city can cut out the project and Superintendent Kenny Mayhall obtained bids. Hick’s Concrete was the lowest bid. This will help fix the issue.
The following bids were received:
AR Martin: $7,789.00 – city doing part of the work
$8,973.00 – entire scope of project
Lucian Hicks: $11,500.00 – entire scope of project
$ 5,800.00 – city doing part of the work
Womack Concrete: $12,825.00 – entire scope of project
$11,325.00 – city doing part of the work
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the extension at the Appliance Store project using the bid from Hick’s Concrete in the amount of $5,800.00 to be paid from Business District. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Superintendent Jason Haney, Working Foreman Robbie Pate, Fire Chief John Gunning, Police Chief Nathan Moore, and City Treasurer each presented their departmental report to the council and public.
Mayor John McPeek stated the council will go into executive session for property acquisition and lease.
Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to extend the contract with Midwest Environmental Management Services, LLC, through December 31, 2025. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Roger Angelly is still working with the city attorney regarding ditch work when getting onto private property. The city needs to clean up some of the ditches.
Commissioner Roger Angelly stated the council will go into executive session to discuss pending litigation.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to approve Resolution 25-1016 for Christmas in the Courtyard. 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 approve Resolution 25-1016A for the Lights Parade. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek announced the following:
Boo in the Burg: October 23, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Haunted Forest: October 24 & 25, 2025 at the Saline County Fairgrounds
Trick-or-Treat: October 31, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Mayor John McPeek thanked everyone who helped make the 5th Annual Sasquatch Festival a tremendous success.
Mayor John McPeek made the motion to adjourn and go into executive session for property acquisition/lease and pending litigation. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Adjourn: 8:50 a.m.
Reconvene: 9:18 a.m.
Mayor John McPeek made the motion to return to open session. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. 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 made the motion to enter into a contract with Remedy Designs. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to pay IEPA $8,640.00. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Adjourn: 9:20 a.m.