Minutes 06-05-25
Harrisburg City Council
City Hall
110 E. Locust Street
Harrisburg, Il 62946
June 05, 2025
6:00 p.m.
The Harrisburg City Council met on June 05, 2025 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, Rupert Johnson, and Jonathan Brown answering the roll call.
Pastor Jerry Wells from 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.
Public Hearing Minutes – May 15, 2025
Regular Meeting Minutes – May 15, 2025
Special Meeting Minutes – May 16, 2025
Warrant Report & Check Register – May 2025
We The People Roofing & More LLC - $16,000.00 - #120525 – Business District
Daniel’s Landscaping - $12,958.76 - #625 – Business District
SI Embroidery - $5,355.00 - #3060 – Council Contingency
Barnes Lumber - $141.00 - #565426 – Business District
Ray O’Herron - $40.99 - #2410972 – Council Contingency
Egyptian Health Dept - $200.00 - #051525 – Council Contingency
Ray O’Herron - $313.41 - #2411103 – Council Contingency
We The People Roofing & More LLC - $8,000.00 - #020625 – Business District
Wal-Mart - $116.63 - #5174 – Council Contingency
Siegel’s Uniforms - $620.97 - #605167-1 – Council Contingency
SI Embroidery - $476.94 - #3677 - Council Contingency
CM Renovation - $14,405.81 – 060325 – Business District
AR Martin - $12,975.00 - #0062 – MFT
AR Martin – $23,664.00 - #0063 - MFT
Fire Station Furniture - $5,589.92 – Business District
Petition Lease Lake Lot – J. Williams II – 2nd Add, Block 1, Lot 12
Relinquish Lake Lot – K. Hines – 1st Add, Block 3, Lot 7
Petition Lease Lake Lot – K. Rector – 1st Add, Block 3, Lot 7
Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Citizen Sharon Vandenberg addressed the issue with animals running at large within the city. Mayor John McPeek stated Kathy Bush will be addressing the council with some solutions and ideas. He stated the animal control officer has been issuing tickets for animals at large.
Mayor John McPeek stated sealed bids were opened in City Hall for the demolition of 917 W. O’Gara Street, Fire Department garage doors, Water Department truck, and sidewalk project.
The city received two sealed bids for the demolition of 917 W. O’Gara Street. The sealed bids are as follows:
Wasted Disposal: $5,500.00
Luke Shimp: $5,200.00
Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to accept the sealed bid from Luke Shimp in the amount of $5,200.00 for the demolition of 917 W. O’Gara Street. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
The city received three sealed bids for the Fire Department garage doors. The bids are as follows:
Wilson’s Door Co.: $116,400.00
Door Doctor: $90,310.00 – 1 row of windows
$95,310.00 – 2 rows of windows
Anderson Door: $90,108.00 – 1 row of windows
$104,832.00 – 2 rows of windows
Fire Chief John Gunning stated the bids come with openers, wall buttons, installation and they will haul off the old doors. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to accept the sealed bid from Door Doctor in the amount of $95,310.00 with two rows of windows. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
The city received one sealed bid for a truck for the Water Department. The sealed bid was from Jim Hayes, Inc. in the amount of $46,148.00 for a 2025 F-150. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to accept the sealed bid from Jim Hayes, Inc. in the amount of $46,148.00. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
The city received two sealed bids for the sidewalk project. The bids are as follows:
AR Martin: $35,548.99
Baseden Concrete & Excavating: $53,740.00
Commissioner Rupert Johnson made the motion to accept the sealed bid from AR Martin in the amount of $35,548.99. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Jim Brown with Brown and Roberts, Inc. presented the dam inspection report for Harrisburg Lake. This is required by IDNR, and the report is submitted to them as well. There is water leaking out of the spillway on the east side. His recommendation is to lower the level of water to see what is causing the leak. This will not drain the lake. It will need to be lowered two to three feet. The council agrees to address this issue.
Fire Chief John Gunning presented a mobile home application Bronston and Stephanie Walker for 525 Beggs Place. They have paid their application fee and deposit fee. The property has been inspected, and he stated they can proceed. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to accept the mobile home application from Bronston and Stephanie Walker for 525 Beggs Place. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Fire Chief John Gunning thanked the Park District for providing them with a house to do a controlled burn training.
Mayor John McPeek stated Nathan Sumner and Josh Knight submitted a Façade Grant application. They will be painting the exterior portion of the building. They will be reimbursed up to $5,000.00 of the completed project. Commissioner Raymond Gunning made the motion to accept the Façade Grant application from OTTD, LLC. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek explained the ordinance for the levee property. This property will revert to the assignee due to the city’s non-use of the property for levee construction purposes. This property will go back on the tax roll as well. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to approve Ordinance 1917 regarding the levee property. 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 approve Ordinance 1918 for the sale of surplus property of 14.13 acres behind the movie theater. 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 approve Ordinance 1919 for the sale of surplus property at 124 S. Webster Street. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Raymond Gunning commended Mayor John McPeek on how good the uptown area is looking.
Commissioner Roger Angelly stated the water rates will be increased effective June 01, 2025. This increase is a result of the supplier rate increase. The increase will be .96 on the minimum and then .48 per one thousand gallons. The sewer rates will not be increased. Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to approve Ordinance 1920. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Rupert Johnson held an open discussion about Abbott EMS. He had a family member receive a bill for lift assist. He does not agree with being billed for lift assistance. Heather Morse with Abbott EMS spoke to council on how to help resolve matters when it comes to issue with Abbott EMS. She agrees the charge should be less for Harrisburg citizens and she would like to meet with Commissioner Raymond Gunning to discuss how to modify this part of the contract. She feels there is a good working relationship between Abbott and the City of Harrisburg. There are variables that go into how a bill is generated. It depends on what service is being provided during the call. She stated that any time there is an issue, questions, or concerns, please feel free to contact her and she will address the matter immediately.
Commissioner Jonathan Brown said he has done quite a bit of research, and the City of Harrisburg is getting a good deal for the service Abbott is providing. The City of Harrisburg ambulance has been billing but only receiving 25% of what is billed. He stated the city is not making money from the city ambulance service. He stated the city could not afford to do their own ambulance service. Mayor John McPeek stated Abbott/AMR has been great to work with in City Hall. Commissioner Roger Angelly encouraged the citizens to call if they have issues. Heather Morse will leave business cards in the city clerk's office, and she asked that the information be posted on the city website so the citizens can have contact information should they feel the need to contact the ambulance service with questions or concerns.
Commissioner Jonathan Brown said the city ordinance stated the city ambulance is to be billing for each call, and they are not. If they are not going to bill, the ordinance should be changed. Commissioner Raymond Gunning said he considers it a service to the community. He said he would not have a problem if the city did not charge at all. Commissioner Raymond Gunning said a provider came in and offered to do it for free. Commissioner Roger Angelly reminded everyone that the last time a provider did it for free, they came back after a year and asked for a subsidy. Commissioner Jonathan Brown said that UMR bid on the current contract and did not get it because they were the highest bidder, so how can they do it for free now? Commissioner Rupert Johnson said he wants to make sure the citizens do not have to worry about extra bills hanging over their head which is why he put it on the agenda.
Fire Chief John Gunning said there were some issues with the billing provider. The issues have been resolved. Commissioner Jonathan Brown said the city is still only receiving 25% of what is being billed. It does not matter how many calls are billed, the issue involves the community that is being served does not have insurance, and is primarily Medicare, which does not pay.
Mayor John McPeek stated the car dealer sold the truck before the city was able to purchase the truck which was approved at the last council meeting. Mayor John McPeek would like to make the motion to authorize the city clerk to advertise for sealed bids for a public property truck. 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 re-appoint Dan Dearing to the airport board. Seconded by Commissioner Raymond Gunning. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek would like to get Harrisburg Lake surveyed. Jim Brown said pieces of the lake have been surveyed. The older portion has not been surveyed. Mayor John McPeek made the motion to have the Harrisburg Lake surveyed. Seconded by Commissioner Roger Angelly. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Mayor John McPeek thanked Pastor Jerry Wells for his help during the Memorial Day Service. He also thanked Logan Hatton for his hard work in getting the cemetery mowed. He is doing a fantastic job. The July 4th event will be at the Harrisburg Amphitheater starting around 4:00 p.m. There will be a DJ, food trucks, dunk tank, and fireworks at dusk. The city is hosting a new event. We will have the 1st Shawnee Sasquatch Golf Tournament on September 27, 2025 at Shawnee Hills Country Club.
Commissioner Roger Angelly made the motion to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Rupert Johnson. A roll call vote was taken with all present voting yes. Motion carried.
Adjourn: 6:46 p.m.