Pontiac public meetings in 2022

City Council

The City Council approved several infrastructure and service contracts, including street maintenance and storm sewer design. The council denied a property variance and the purchase option for the Rathburn Building. A tax levying ordinance for corporate purposes was also approved.

• Approved $689,642 bid from Opperman Construction Co. for street maintenance (8-0)
• Approved $184,500 design amendment with Farnsworth Group for South side Storm Sewer Separation (9-0)
• Denied Ordinance 2022-O0-031 variance for parking surface at 424 W. North St. (9-0)
• Denied Ordinance 2022-O0-032 to exercise purchase option for Rathburn Building (8-0)
• Approved Ordinance 2022-O0-030 levying tax for corporate purposes (9-0)
• Approved $4,650 monthly financial services contract with Lauterbach & Amen, LLP (9-0)
• Approved $20,675 bid from H, J, Eppel for Heisner Island maintenance (9-0)
• Approved sale of retired police canine to handler for $1.00 (9-0)

Public Library Board of Trustees

The Pontiac Public Library Board of Trustees will meet to approve minutes and bills, hear public comments, and receive the director's report. Old business includes updates on digitization funding and bathroom construction. New business covers a staff holiday pizza party, a personnel policy draft review, and a library tour.

• Digitization funding update
• Live & Learn construction update on bathrooms
• Staff holiday pizza party
• Policy review of personnel policy draft

The Board of Trustees accepted the November minutes and paid bills. The board also discussed funding for a digitization project and potential restroom repairs using grant funds.

• Approved November minutes and paid bills (All in favor)
• Approved providing a holiday pizza party for library staff

Planning and Zoning Board

The Board approved a request from William Eaton III for an after-the-fact and zoning variance regarding an RV parking area at 424 W. North Street. The variance allows the use of crushed asphalt over a gravel base instead of the required all-weather dustless surface. A proposed ordinance regarding chicken ownership is still being drafted by the City Attorney.

• Approved minutes from November 28, 2022 meeting (unanimous)
• Approved variance for crushed asphalt RV parking at 424 W. North Street (unanimous)

City Council

The City Council approved a special use permit for a cannabis dispensary and a lease option for a solar energy facility. Other actions included approving several engineering agreements, a police vehicle purchase, and the start of an annexation process.

• Approved Special Use permit for Snap Canna cannabis dispensary at 1910 W. Reynolds St. (7-2)
• Approved lease option for solar energy facility at Pearl Street property with Cenergy Power (9-0)
• Approved $51,200 engineering agreement for ITEP Rail Trail and Rt 66 Bike Trail (9-0)
• Approved $695,485 insurance renewal (9-0)
• Approved purchase of 2022 Ford Interceptor for $37,705 (9-0)
• Approved $422,514.31 in bill payments (9-0)
• Approved starting annexation process at Westview/Countryside Rd. (9-0)
• Directed attorney to draft ordinance regarding backyard chickens (6-3)

Planning and Zoning Board

The Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval for a cannabis dispensary at 1910 W. Reynolds St., Unit A. The Board also referred a proposed chicken ownership ordinance to the City Council for initial discussion.

• Approved November 14, 2022 meeting minutes (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of Special Use permit for Triumph 7 Investments LLC (Snap Canna) to operate a cannabis dispensary, conditioned on permit expiration upon new ownership (unanimous)
• Recommended that City Council discuss a proposed chicken ownership ordinance before referring it back to the Planning Commission (unanimous)

City Council

The City Council approved a special use permit for a solar farm and amended the zoning ordinance to include solar farms in the Estate Residential column. The council also approved a lease amendment for a solar energy facility and authorized bill payments.

• Approved payment of bills totaling $174,078.77 (8-0)
• Approved Ordinance 2022-0-025 granting Special Use Permit for Solar Farm to ESP Solar LLC (8-0)
• Approved Ordinance 2022-0-026 amending Zoning Ordinance to insert Solar Farm under Estate Residential column (8-0)
• Approved Ordinance 2022-0-027 approving 1st Amendment Solar Energy Facility site lease agreement with BOP Illini LLC (8-0)
• Approved minutes of November 7, 2022 meeting (8-0)
• Approved minutes of November 15, 2022 Committee of the Whole meeting (8-0)
• Entered Executive Session to discuss personnel matters (8-0)

Public Library Board of Trustees

The Pontiac Public Library Board of Trustees will meet to consider consent agenda items (minutes and bills), hear a director's report, and discuss old business including a Live On construction update and digitization funding. New business includes trustee resignations/appointments, the 2023-2024 library levy, and a review of the 'Serving Our Public' chapter for a per capita grant requirement.

• Live & Learn Construction Update
• Digitization Funding Update
• Library Board Trustee Resignations/Appointments
• Library Levy '23-'24
• Serving Our Public Chapter Review / Per Capita Grant Requirement

The Board approved the allowable tax levy for the upcoming fiscal year and processed trustee resignations. Members also accepted previous minutes and bills. The Director provided updates on facility maintenance and community programming.

• Approved 4.9% tax levy for FY '23-24 (unanimous)
• Accepted August minutes and paid bills (unanimous)
• Requested appointment of Larry Krominga and John Wille to the Board
• Confirmed library is operating according to Serving Our Public 4.0 standards

Planning and Zoning Board

The Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval for a solar farm and battery storage system on City Airport property. The Board also recommended a zoning ordinance amendment to allow solar farms as a special use in Estate Residential districts for City-owned land.

• Approved September 26, 2022 meeting minutes (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of special use permit for ESP Solar, LLC 5MW solar farm and 2.49 MW AC Battery Electric Storage System (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of amendment to Table 4.04.1 of Section 103.81 to allow solar farms as a special use in E-R Estate Residential District for City-owned real estate (unanimous)

City Council

The City Council approved the acquisition of a property at 222 E. Timber St. for demolition and a land lease for the City Airport. The council also authorized a wastewater project change order and the purchase of a police K-9.

• Approved acquisition of 222 E. Timber St. for demolition (8-0)
• Approved land lease of City Airport property with Pontiac Flying Service, LLC (8-0)
• Approved Change Order #10 for Wastewater Treatment Plant project for $69,082.00 (8-0)
• Approved purchase of K-9 'Deebo' for $10,000.00 (8-0)
• Approved renewal of City Airport liability insurance from Old Republic Insurance Co (8-0)
• Approved payment of bills totaling $593,335.29 (8-0)
• Approved October 17, 2022 meeting minutes (8-0)

Public Library Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees will meet to discuss library operations and updates. The session includes a review of several library policies and updates on digitization funding and the library logo.

• Policy review for Patron Registration, Reference Services, Service Animals, Social Media, and Disposal of Surplus Library Materials
• Update on digitization funding
• Update on library logo
• Discussion of Serving Our Public 4.0 Chapters 1-6 and Per Capita Grant Requirement
• Open House update

Public Library Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees will meet to discuss staff training and the digitization of the Newsbank Daily Leader. The meeting includes a review of several library policies and a report on per capita grant requirements.

• Staff Training Day scheduled for November 11th
• Newsbank Daily Leader Digitization Funding
• Policy review for Patron Registration, Reference Services, Service Animals, Social Media, and Disposal of Surplus Library Materials
• Serving Our Public 4.0 Chapters 1-6 per capita grant requirement

Public Library Board of Trustees

The Building and Grounds Committee of the Pontiac Public Library Board of Trustees is meeting to discuss facility updates. The agenda focuses on construction grants and exterior improvements.

• Emergency Exit Doors/Live & Learn Construction Grant
• Madison Street Landscaping

Public Library Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees will review several library policies and discuss an upcoming Fall Open House. The meeting also includes a discussion regarding exterior panel repair.

• Exterior Panel Repair
• Fall Open House
• Public Copying/Printing Policy review
• Investment of Public Funds Policy review
• Program Room Policy review

Public Library Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees will meet to review monthly updates and construction grant progress. The body will discuss janitorial services from Gem’s Cleaning and determine trustee officer positions and committee assignments.

• Live & Learn Construction Grant update
• NewsBank Daily Leader Digitization update
• Gem’s Cleaning/Janitorial Services
• Trustee Officer Positions and Committee Assignments
• Summer Reading early closings on June 30th and July 28th

Public Library Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees will meet to discuss the appointment of Debby Dowdy and the reappointment of three existing trustees. The board is also scheduled to review several library policies, including the Code of Conduct and Internet Policy.

• Trustee appointment of Debby Dowdy
• Trustee reappointments of Eric Hoover, Kathy McLean, and Connie Snyder
• Review of Library Internet Policy, Library Code of Conduct, Materials Selection, Request for Reconsideration, and Quiet Room policies
• Update on Live & Learn Construction Grant

Public Library Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees will meet to discuss a TIF extension with Bob Karls and the appointment of a library trustee. The agenda also includes a discussion regarding the digitization of the Daily Leader via Newsbank.

• TIF Extension discussion with Bob Karls
• Library Trustee appointment
• Newsbank Daily Leader digitization

Joint Review Board

The Joint Review Board will meet to conduct a review of the annual report. The meeting also includes an update regarding the TIF extension.

• Review of Annual Report
• Update on TIF Extension

Public Library Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees will meet to discuss the draft budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. The agenda also includes a trustee resignation and a request from Heartland Community College regarding security cameras.

• FY 2022-2023 draft budget
• Heartland Community College security camera request
• Library Trustee resignation
• Rachel Blakeman Memorial
• Valuable book sale items

Public Library Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees will meet to discuss the draft budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. The agenda also includes updates on security cameras and a vaccination clinic.

• Draft 2022-2023 fiscal year budget
• Heartland Community College request regarding security cameras
• IDPH Vaccination Clinic
• Rachel Blakeman memorial

Public Library Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees will meet to review monthly updates and discuss several health-related items. The agenda includes discussions on Narcan kits, staff training, and an IDPH vaccination clinic.

• Heartland Community College request and security cameras
• Narcan kits and staff training
• IDPH Vaccination Clinic
• COVID update
• Personnel discussion in executive session