Fairbury public meetings in 2022

Public Works Committee

The Fairbury Public Works Committee will meet to discuss and recommend action on a 2023 master agreement with Olsson Associates, the purchase of two mowers for the Parks Department, a request to add an 18-hole disc golf course at Crystal Springs Park, and painting proposals for the Community Center. The meeting is a special session on December 5, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.

• Consider 2023 Master Agreement for Professional Services between the City of Fairbury and Olsson Associates
• Discussion and recommendation regarding the purchase of 2 mowers for the Parks Department
• Discussion and recommendation regarding a request from Jonathan Fletcher with the Elpison Foundation to add an 18-hole disc golf course to Crystal Springs Park
• Discussion and recommendation regarding Community Center painting proposals

The Public Works Committee recommended that City Council approve a new 18-hole disc golf course at Crystal Springs Park. The committee also recommended approving a professional services agreement with Olsson Associates, the purchase of two mowers, and a painting contract for the community center.

• Recommended council approve 2023 Master Agreement for Professional Services with Olsson Associates (3-0)
• Recommended council approve purchase of 2 mowers for Parks Department from Bruna for $17,250 (3-0)
• Recommended council approve 18-hole disc golf course at Crystal Springs Park and city assistance with brush/tree removal and grading (3-0)
• Recommended council approve $19,500 contract with Schramm Construction to paint the community center (3-0)
• Approved October 4th, 2022, minutes (3-0)

City Council

The Council authorized an amended loan agreement for $6.3 million to fund wastewater treatment system improvements. Other key actions included approving a multi-year street improvement plan and authorizing a new disc golf course in Crystal Springs Park.

• Approved $6.3M amended loan for Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade Project (5-0)
• Approved 2023-2028 1- & 6-Year Street Improvement Plan via Resolution No. 1217 (5-0)
• Approved $80,000 RVW bid for substation upgrade engineering services (5-0)
• Approved request to add 18-hole disc golf course to Crystal Springs Park (5-0)
• Approved $19,500 Schramm bid to repaint community center walls (5-0)
• Approved purchase of two Grasshopper mowers for parks department at $17,250 each (5-0)
• Approved $20,678 replacement sludge pump and $11,209 pump rebuild (5-0)
• Approved $184,230.14 pay request #6 for BRB Contractors (5-0)

Community Redevelopment Authority

The Community Redevelopment Authority approved the authorization for the CRA Chair to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Ben Larkins for a project at 3001 Industrial Ave. The board also approved the minutes from the October 5, 2022, meeting.

• Approved minutes of the October 5th, 2022, meeting (3-0)
• Authorized CRA Chair to sign Memorandum of Understanding with Ben Larkins for project at 3001 Industrial Ave (3-0)

Personnel Committee

The committee approved the hiring of a Line Department intern and adjusted the pay scale for the sanitation foreman to align with other foreman positions. The pay change for the sanitation foreman is subject to union approval.

• Approved hiring of Line Department intern at $18/hour for up to 1000 hours from May to September (4-0)
• Approved adjusting sanitation foreman pay scale to match street and wastewater foreman, moving current foreman to step 1 ($28.20) with retro pay to October 1, 2022 (4-0)
• Approved minutes of the October 18, 2022, meeting (3-0)

Planning & Zoning

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on a conditional use permit for an accessory building on a lot without a primary structure in an R-2 zoning district. They will also discuss and recommend the city's 1- and 6-year street improvement plan for 2023-2028 and conduct an annual review of zoning ordinances for discriminatory policies.

• Conditional Use Permit (CU-2022-002) for accessory building at 1103 4th Street
• Discussion of City of Fairbury's 1- and 6-Year Street Improvement Plan for 2023-2028
• Annual review of zoning and land use ordinances for discriminatory policies per federal fair housing laws

The commission recommended that Council approve the One and Six Year Street Improvement Plan with amendments to road materials and industrial park scope. They also confirmed that current zoning and land use ordinances contain no discriminatory policies. A conditional use permit for an accessory building was postponed.

• Approved September 19, 2022 meeting minutes (6-0)
• Postponed Conditional Use Permit CU-2022-002 for Gerald Campbell at 1103 4th Street (6-0)
• Recommended Council approve the 2023-2028 One and Six Year Street Improvement Plan 'as amended' (6-0)
• Confirmed no discriminatory policies or practices in zoning and land use ordinances (6-0)

WATER SOURCING COMMITTEE

The committee identified four primary goals regarding water sourcing, capacity, and infrastructure. Members agreed to submit a request for proposal to engineering firms to obtain guidance on these items.

• Agreed to submit a request for proposal to engineering firms for guidance on committee goals

City Council

The City Council approved a long-term water purchase agreement with the Little Blue Natural Resources District and a new IBEW union agreement. The council also authorized payments for wastewater plant improvements and created a standing committee on water sourcing.

• Approved 25-year water purchase agreement with Little Blue Natural Resources District (7-0)
• Approved $257,051.76 pay request #5 for Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Project #18-021-03172 to BRB Contractors (7-0)
• Approved IBEW union agreement for Oct 1, 2022, through Sept 30, 2025 (7-0)
• Approved Resolution No. 1218 to levy cost of nuisance abatement against certain properties (7-0)
• Approved Resolution 1219 creating a standing committee on water sourcing (7-0)
• Elected Kelly Davis as Council President (7-0)
• Approved $1,264,191.07 in claims (7-0)
• Appointed Burke Klein and Barry Schwab to the Fairbury Housing Authority (7-0)

Personnel Committee

The Personnel Committee met to approve previous meeting minutes and entered a closed session to discuss collective bargaining agreements. No substantive decisions were made during the meeting.

• Approved October 18, 2022 meeting minutes (3-0)
• Approved September 27, 2022 meeting minutes (3-0)
• Entered closed session to discuss collective bargaining agreements (3-0)

City Council

The City Council approved a 2022-2031 sub-transmission plan and authorized the mayor to sign related documents. Council also approved special assessments for the I Street Project and a cleaning contract for the city office building.

• Approved 2022-2031 Sub Transmission plan estimated at $10,711,910.00 (7-0)
• Approved $929,716.34 in claims (7-0)
• Approved 2023 City Office Building Cleaning Contract with Jennifer Lewis for $150/month (7-0)
• Approved Resolution 1213 levying special assessments for I Street Project (7-0)
• Approved Resolution 1215 for sale of city property via Public Surplus (7-0)
• Approved Resolution 1216 to levy and assess costs of nuisance abatement (7-0)
• Approved minutes of November 1, 2022 meeting (7-0)

City Council

The Council approved a 9-month extension for an owner-occupied rehab grant and appointed a Street Superintendent for 2023. A proposal to move forward with the Water Sourcing Project was defeated. The Council also approved over $451,000 in claims.

• Approved $451,582.19 in claims (8-0)
• Denied proposal to move forward with Water Sourcing Project (2-6)
• Approved 9-month extension for owner-occupied rehab grant 19-HO-36100 (8-0)
• Authorized Mayor to sign 2022 year-end certification of City Street Superintendent (8-0)
• Approved Resolution 1214 appointing Laura K Bedlan as Street Superintendent Class A for 2023 (8-0)

Public Works Committee

The committee will discuss recommendations for purchasing a new utility truck for the Water Department and a dump truck for the Street Department. The meeting also includes a discussion regarding a request from Brian Schmidt to host a Christmas at Crystal Celebration.

• Request from Brian Schmidt to host Christmas at Crystal Celebration
• Purchase of a new utility truck for the Water Department
• Purchase of a dump truck for the Street Department

Planning & Zoning

The Planning Commission is holding a special meeting to conduct a public hearing. The body will discuss and potentially take action on declaring specific areas of Fairbury as blighted and substandard.

• Public hearing regarding declaration of areas of the city of Fairbury as Blighted and Substandard

Public Works Committee

The Public Works Committee is meeting to discuss a request from Sheriff Georgi regarding traffic control. The body will determine if barricades should be placed at the entrance to City Pool Dr. for an event on August 2.

• Request to place barricades at City Pool Dr. for National Night Out on August 2 from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Citizens Advisory Review Committee

The Citizens Advisory Review Committee will meet to discuss and take action on current business. The primary focus is the review of LB840 activities for the period of January 1 to June 30, 2022.

• Review of 2022 LB840 Activities for January 1 to June 30, 2022
• Approval of minutes from January 10, 2021 meeting

Public Works Committee

The Public Works Committee is meeting to discuss a request for street closures on D Street. The body will consider a recommendation regarding barricades for a cornhole tournament and beer garden.

• Request from Fairbury Area Girls Softball Association and Tooleys Bar to place barricades in the 300 block of D Street on July 24

Planning & Zoning

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing regarding a conditional use permit for self-storage units. The body will also discuss declaring a specific area of the city as blighted and substandard.

• Public hearing for Conditional Use Permit (CU-2022-001) for self-storage units at 1522 Street
• Public hearing regarding the declaration of a city area as Blighted and Substandard

Public Works Committee

The Public Works Committee will discuss several operational updates for the Community Center and City Park. The body is also reviewing estimates for curb and gutter repairs on 6th and 5th Streets.

• Allocation of $10,000 for a new storage building near the baseball field in City Park
• Authorization of alcohol use at the Community Center
• Authorization of open gym hours at the Community Center
• Resolution to name the Softball/Baseball Cloverleaf Complex the ‘Ed Durfee Cloverleaf Complex’
• Curb and gutter repair estimates for 6th Street east of D Street and 5th Street east of E street

Public Works Committee

The Public Works Committee will meet to review the April 5, 2022 minutes and discuss the Community Center rehab project. The meeting includes a provision for public comments on non-agenda items.

• Community Center rehab project discussion

Planning & Zoning

The Planning Commission will review proposed amendments to Section 9.03 of the City of Fairbury Zoning Regulations. The meeting includes a public hearing and discussion regarding these wireless communication tower updates.

• Public hearing on amendments to Section 9.03 of the 2013 Edition Zoning Regulations regarding wireless communication towers

Public Works Committee

The Public Works Committee will meet to discuss requests for memorial installations and facility maintenance. The body will consider recommendations for the Community Center gym floor and review a presentation on the City Park Veterans Memorial.

• Request to install memorial benches and a tree at Quin Field
• Community Center Gym floor resurfacing
• Presentation on City Park Veterans Memorial

Planning & Zoning

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing regarding amendments to the 2013 Zoning Regulations for the Mobile Home Residential District and Land Use Categories. The body will also discuss recommendations for regulations concerning wireless communication towers.

• Public hearing on amending Section 5.12 RM Mobile Home Residential District and 5.06 Land Use Categories/Matrix
• Discussion of amendments to Section 9.03 wireless communication towers

Planning & Zoning

The commission will review a proposed ordinance regarding Mobile Home Residential Districts and land use categories. They will also discuss recommendations for amending regulations related to wireless communication towers.

• Public hearing on Section 5.12 RM Mobile Home Residential District and 5.06 Land Use Categories/Matrix
• Discussion of amendments to Section 9.03 regarding wireless communication towers

Public Works Committee

The Public Works Committee will meet to discuss schedules and fees for the 2022 waterpark season and city-wide cleanup. The body will also consider usage agreements for Quinn Field and the Softball Complex.

• 2022 Waterpark Season Schedule and Fees
• 2022 City Wide Clean Up
• 2022 Free Dump Days
• Agreement with American Legion for use of Quinn Field
• Agreements with Fairbury Area Softball Association and Fairbury Public Schools for facility use

Citizens Advisory Review Committee

The Citizens Advisory Review Committee will review LB840 activities for the second half of 2021. The committee will also consider changing its meeting schedule from quarterly to biannual.

• Review of 2021 LB840 activities from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021
• Proposed revision of CAR Committee rules to change meeting frequency from quarterly to biannual

Planning & Zoning

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to discuss and potentially act on an ordinance amending the City of Fairbury Zoning Regulations. The proposed changes affect Section 5.12 RM Mobile Home Residential District and 5.06 Land Use Categories/Matrix.

• Public hearing on amendments to Zoning Regulations Section 5.12 (RM Mobile Home Residential District) and Section 5.06 (Land Use Categories/Matrix)

Planning & Zoning

The Planning Commission is holding a special meeting to discuss and recommend amendments to the 2013 Zoning Regulations regarding wireless communication towers. The body will also consider contracting with the Center for Municipal Solutions (CMS) for a review of these regulations.

• Contracting with Center for Municipal Solutions (CMS) for zoning regulation review
• Public hearing on amendments to Zoning Regulations Section 9.03 wireless communication towers