Notes From the City of Lanark Council Meeting

December 7, 2010

Sharon Pepin of Community Funding & Planning Services was on hand to discuss several issues. A water and sewer rate comparison was submitted by Pepin. The analysis included communities in four counties, including Carroll, that showed Lanark’s proposed rate increase of 15% for water & sewer was still one of the lowest rates per capita.

Well improvements project timeframe, funding and expenses were presented. The DCEO emergency grant was approved Dec. 3, and the contract awarded to Peerless Service Company was approved formally approved Dec. 9. The work is expected to be completed by mid-March 2011.

The Library/Municipal Building funding and possible funding by grants was also discussed. Mayor Ed Stern signed an Energy Grant which was approved recently. Next Planning Committee will be December 20th at 7:30 PM.

The water and sewer rate increases was presented, and an ordinance draft was submitted and amended to be put on the next agenda.

A leaky roof at Heritage Center was reported. Prowant Construction will be doing the repairs. Interior damage to Heritage Center as a result of leaky roof will be addressed when the roof is repaired.

Building a salt shed at the sewer plant was proposed by Alderman Strohecker, as was a second proposal to add on to the current maintenance building by Alderman Fehlhafer. No decision was made.

Which engineering firm to request cost estimate for storm water on Prairie, Argyle and Blair Parkway was again discussed. After announcing MSA Professional Services’ previously prepared design proposal developed last summer would be used, Mayor Stern said he had reviewed the engineering proposals and said his first choice is Willett Hofmann and second is Fehr Graham, based on experience and licensed storm water professionals. The City requested Willett Hofmann to submit cost estimates on storm water on Prairie, Argyle and Blair Parkway.

Alderman Kocal requested that the City remove fluoride from the city’s water system. Being that adding flouride is mandated by the State of Illinois, this issue will be pursued at the state legislative level by Kocal. (See this week’s commentary, “Flouride - Carcinogen and Neurotoxin.”)

A new Cemetery Oversight Act and requirements was presented, but not much information is available as yet.

Election fling dates for petitions are December 13 through December 20.

Ordinance #857 amending the Lanark City Code with regard to compensation of city treasurer was approved.

All of Option #1- for 8ft. parking lane to mill and resurface from gutter to gutter at a total cost estimate of $80,530 ($43,265 cost to the City) from IDOT to resurface Route 73 was approved. Motor Fuel tax funds will be used.