Council Minutes 11-20-2025
Harrisburg City Council
City Hall
110 E. Locust Street
Harrisburg, Il 62946
November 20, 2025
8:00 a.m.
The Harrisburg City Council met on November 20, 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 with 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 – November 06, 2025
Ameren Illinois - $2,025.00 - #111025 – Business District
Tison & Hall - #318.60 - #129611 – Business District
Hick’s Concrete - $5,800.00 - #895365 - Business District
Ray O’Herron - $2,851.78 - #3255114 – Council Contingency
Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek moved some of the agenda items around because Commissioner Roger Angelly needed to leave the meeting early.
The council discussed the tax levy, cost saving ideas, and the possibility of laying off the last police officer hired. Commissioner Raymond Gunning stated laying off one of his employees will cause overtime. Mayor John McPeek asked how many times the drug task officer has worked. Police Chief Nathan Moore stated he has worked six overtime shifts which leaves an open shift. He has talked to the Master Sargent, and he can get the city their $25,000.00 for the drug task force employee. Commissioner Jonathan Brown said this money/grant is not guaranteed every year. The council all agreed it is a good program, but if the city cannot afford to participate then they will explore other options.
The council discuss cost saving ideas such as doing work in-house rather than bidding or contracting out work unless required, requesting bids for insurance, revisit the ambulance contract, possible overstaffed departments, eliminate ESDA director and safety director positions, increase tree limb permit fees, eliminate the city ambulance and lay off three firefighters, and the need to get new businesses in Harrisburg. Commissioner Jonathan Brown stated new businesses will increase revenue.
Police Chief Nathan Moore stated he has an extra employee. He stated other departments are overstaffed and no one department is more important than the other. Commissioner Jonathan Brown asked Police Chief Nathan Moore if the city can buy into the drug task force. He believes that is an option.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson wants to see the roadways repaired. Commissioner Jonathan Brown stated during the budget meetings that would be the time to make those projects priorities. Commissioner Jonathan Brown suggests using MFT money for roads rather than oil/chipping unnecessary alleyways. Commissioner Roger Angelly said the city needs to sell Harrisburg Lake and use the money to repair the roads within the city.
Commissioner Jonathan Brown believes most things should be bid out to see if the city is getting the best price. He is in favor of bidding out insurance, garbage, and house demolitions. The city is not required to accept bids. Citizen Dusty Depew stated the city needs to factor is the cost of house demolition prior to accepting bids so that they know if it would be cheaper to do it in-house or to accept a bid.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to lay off the last new hire effective April 30, 2026 and revisit this option in April 2026. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
The city treasurer presented the 25/26 tax levy. The levy will be available in the city clerk's office and the city treasurer’s office for review. The levy will need to be approved at the December 18, 2025 council meeting.
Commissioner Roger Angelly left the meeting.
Adam Gossett with AMR thanked the council for their support. They are trying their best to provide a great service for the community. They are going to do a food drive called Stock the Ambulance on December 12 and 13. The food will be donated to local food pantries. They have worked with the community. They have worked with the schools by providing CPR training, attended career days, training with officers at the middle school, Boo in the Burg, and always try to keep lines of communication with the staff and community. The staff has told them they feel safer knowing AMR is the building which helps keep drifters out. They have a Facebook page if anyone wants to keep up to date with them: AMR Southern Illinois.
Shaun Rapp with AMR (Operations Director) thanked those who attended the meeting last Friday. He believes AMR goes above and beyond in their efforts to provide a great service. They are always looking for ways to partner with the community and ways to work with the fire department to help generate revenue for their department. They want to keep strengthening their relationship with the community.
Fire Chief John Gunning asked the council to allow him to send a letter to the owner at 209 W. Lincoln Street. She is willing to sign a waiver allowing the city to go onto her property and clean up the garbage and debris that is being created by people who have decided to stay on her back property. This will help eliminate vandalism that has been happening in the area. The council agreed that Fire Chief John Gunning can send the letter and get her to sign the waiver to clean the property.
Fire Chief John Gunning has completed the final inspection on the mobile home located at 818 W. O’Gara Street. They can receive their security deposit. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve the mobile home deposit refund for 818 W. O’Gara Street. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown from Brown and Roberts, Inc. discussed painting the water tower. The council will receive a notice regarding the funding amount that they can accept or reject the offer.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to authorize Mayor John McPeek to sign the IEPA loan application, tax certificate, and federal funding forms. 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 council with an ordinance to borrow funds from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency public water supply loan program. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve Ordinance 1925 to borrow funds from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency public water supply loan program. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek announced the roundabout is open. He thanked Brown and Roberts, Inc. for their work on this project. Jim Brown was pleased to announce there were no accidents during this project.
Mayor John McPeek stated that D & D Electric, LLC TIF application has been tabled.
Attorney Kolby Smithpeters present the council with an ordinance regarding the regulation for the sale of tobacco and alternative nicotine products, vape products, electronic smoking devises, and non-electronic smoking devices. This ordinance only allows the sale of these products to individuals 21 years of age and older. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve Ordinance 1926 establishing regulation for the sale of tobacco and alternative nicotine products, vape products, electronic smoking devises, and non-electronic smoking devices. Seconded by Commissioner Jonathan Brown. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek stated there are three properties ready for demolition. The council asked if these projects can be done in-house. City Treasurer Alex Jackson informed the council they are not required to accept any bids. They can receive them but refuse to accept them if it is determined it would be cheaper to do in-house. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to authorize the city clerk to advertise for the demolition of 601 N. Jackson Street, 605 N. Jackson Street, and 18 S. Cherry Street. Seconded by Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Jonathan Brown passed out a procedure that he wants the council to review. The procedure outlines how to handle expenditures in excess of the budgeted amount.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson held a discussion with the council about snow routes. Commissioner Raymond Gunning discussed the route with Superintendent Kenny Mayhall. A snow route map was presented to the council. This will ensure the street sweeper and snowplows can get down the side streets without trying to maneuver around parked vehicles. Some no parking signs will be placed in these areas. The council needs to review this proposal. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to approve a snow route with Commissioner Rupert Johnson and Superintendent Kenny Mayhall creating the route. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek asked the council to increase the cemetery fees. He would like Attorney Kolby Smithpeters to amend the current ordinance to the following fees for grave openings:
Monday through Friday from $500.00 to $650.00
Saturday from $600.00 to $850.00
Sunday from $700.00 to $1,000.00
Cremations will remain at $250.00
Remove the burial permit
Mayor John McPeek made the motion to authorize Attorney Kolby Smithpeters to amend the ordinance. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek informed the council they need to address what to do about the heat in City Hall. The boiler is starting to go out. To replace the boiler, it will cost $300,000.00. Superintendent Jacob Palmer stated there is water leaking from the boiler, pipes have corrosion, and he has presented the mayor with different options. Heat can be installed in City Hall for $15,000.00 which can be paid out of TIF. The council suggested looking into grant money since City Hall is a historic building.
Mayor John McPeek asked Commissioner Rupert Johnson to be able to use one of his five dump trucks in the Public Property department. This will allow the cemetery to have a dump truck when needed especially for a burial. Commissioner Rupert Johnson stated the public property department can use a dump truck any time one is available. Superintendent Kenny Mayhall stated they are welcome to use anything his department has.
Mayor John McPeek reminded the citizens about Christmas in the Courtyard. It will be held December 04, 2025 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
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: 9:30 a.m.