COW Minutes 1998 06-04-98 . w
CITY OF YORKVILLE
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
JUNE 49 1998
Members present: Art Prochaska, Richard Sticka, Larry Kot, Jeff Spang, Kathy
Jones, Richard Scheffrahn, Tom Sowinski, Tony Graff, Jim Nanninga, Dean
Kleronamos, J. T. Johnson, Cindy Ketcham.
Guests: Jeff Wigton, Butch Konicek, Mike Engelhardt.
Purchase of Roller-tabled.
Health Insurance the city has 2 agents that they are looking at and feel that they
should be happy with. The city would like to look at the best product that would
be appropriate for the city employees. They would like to find a product that has
both adequate benefits and is based on a competitive price. The city would also
like to contract a broker that would maintain some longevity.
The first, is Butch Konicek, who works for Caywood and
Associates, located in Piano. He told the council that any
complaints and concerns would be acted on through himself
personally. Ultimate decisions would, of course, be handled
through the Insurance vendor. It was expressed that customer
service was very important to the City of Yorkville employees. It
was expressed that the City is looking for a service oriented
company.
The second, is Mike Engelhardt, who works for R.L. Hayes
and Associates, located in Naperville. Mike prides himself in good
service and a prompt response. Mike likes to maintain his role as
"gatekeeper". He feels that if and individual were to contact the
insurance company direct, they would probably speak with three
different persons. He would like the individual to speak with him
and then he would contact the insurance company. He has
contacts at the insurance company and feels that he could get the
job done in a more timely manner. Mike also assured the council
that it is OX to speak with him directly on any issue. He feels that
he takes all of his clients personally and wants to be personally
involved with them.
More discussion is to be held and a resolution is to be drafted and placed on the
next council agenda.
Comprehensive Plan-There have been some text changes in the comprehensive
plan and they have been sent to Chris Lenert. Chris is comfortable with the
changes. The information needs to be reviewed and then it could go to council
for vote. If legal has any questions or concerns, it would then come back to
C.O.W.
Park Vendor Agreement-The agreement needs to be cleaned up and to be given
back to the park board. The agreement shows $200 annual fee for the license,
and proof of$100,000 liability insurance. There was a question raised about
limiting the number of vendor in the park The parks board are in charge of the
licenses and the approval. the vendor would also be required to register with
the group when there are special services and holidays. A clause in the
agreement that would make a reference to parks ordinances and in compliance
with parks rules and regulations. It was felt by the council that there should be
some kind of limitation of vendors allowed in the park. This item will be placed
on the June 11 agenda.
Mercy Center Employee Assistance-The contract with Mercy is up for renewal.
There is no change of the dollar charged from the prior contract. This program
is not used frequently, but it was felt that if by using this program just once, is a
great advantage. It was felt that this contract should be renewed. It was also
suggested that a list of services and contacts should be made available so that
all employees are aware of this program. This item will be placed on the June
11 agenda.
Additional Business:
Keith Kushkowski-a change in verbiage relating to the removal of trees. It
should state that the removal of a tree with the trunk measurement of over a 12"
trunk would have to meet with the approval of the building inspector. This
change needs to be made and information distributed to everyone's box by
Monday.
Police reports for April to be placed on the June 11 council agenda.
There needs to be a school liaison appointed.
Administration meeting change to June 9, at 7 PM.
There will be a School Board report update at the next council meeting.
There was mention that it is again time for Adopt A-Highway. A date needs to
be set for clean up.
A letter was received from a local resident, Cassie Bissonette. The letter talks
about Kendall County not having a recycling center. There was much discussion
on why Kendall County does not maintain a center. Kendall County does not
have enough critical mass to support a recycling center. Another major problem
is trying to find an end user for the trash product after it is collected. The letter
from Ms. Bissonette is attached.
The Roto-tiller used by Public Works is no longer in working condition. This item
will need to be replaced. Used $800.00/New#1,800.00. This item will need to
be approved through committee.
A reminder about the Music under the Stars.
Respectfully submitted by Cindy Ketcham
Monday, June 1, 1998
Dear Yorkville City Council Members:
I have been studying landfills the past two weeks and I have a good idea for the City of
Yorkville. I know we already take our recyclable items somewhere else, but I think
Yorkville should have its own recycling center. It would be less costing for our truckers
and it would be local. It would employ many people, and it could bring profits to
Yorkville.
I believe,that by having a recycling center in town, it would cut down on what we put in
our landfills. Did you know that approximately each person produces seven pounds of
garbage of day. We are also running out of room in the landfills, and our county needs
more recycling centers. Now I know some might be thinking, "why don't other city or
towns build a recycling center instead of ours," but lets face it,we shouldn't have that
attitude. Instead we should take care and not be so wasteful as we are used to. Let's not
have the "Not In My Back Yard" (NIMBY) attitude. In order to save our planet, these
are the kind of things we need to do.
My school recently visited Settlers Landfill last week, and I learned many useful facts that
gave me the courage to write this letter. They said that the landfill will probably close in
the year of 2008, maybe sooner if we don't reduce, reuse, or recycle. There is only about
ninety-eight to one hundred landfills still left in the United States, and most of the items
put in the landfill, can be recycled. These landfills are getting scarcer each day and year.
When we run out of landfills, it might be the end of man-kind.
All my facts support my idea for the recycling center in Yorkville. I hope you will please
consider bring this up at a council meeting. I thank you for your time and I hope you will
please think about my generation,the future generation of this country. Please help us
save the planet, and think about the recycling center.
Sincerely,
Cassie Bissonette
7th Grader at
Circle Center Middle School