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Council approves $1.73 million warrant; residents ask for clarity on sewer, pool and park expenses
Summary
The O'Fallon City Council approved warrant number 564 for $1,732,009.59 on Aug. 4. Several public commenters asked questions about specific line items in the warrant and related projects; staff provided clarifications on the sewer camera truck purchase, sewer-lining contractor work, pool viewing opportunities and park pavilion plans.
The O'Fallon City Council unanimously approved warrant number 564, totaling $1,732,009.59, during its Aug. 4 meeting.
During the public-comment period, resident Vern Moyer raised multiple questions about items he read from the warrant and other recent city activities. Moyer asked whether the public would have an opportunity to view the newly constructed pool without paying admission after earlier viewings were rained out, questioned the status of storm culvert repairs on Fifth Street and Hillgard, asked where a $180,000 line item for three pavilions had gone after the city said pavilions would not be installed, and identified several warrant line items by vendor and amount.
City Administrator Walter Denton and Public Works Director Jeff Taylor responded in detail. Denton said the city held a ribbon cutting for the pool in July and that members of the public had walked through the facility then; he said residents also may schedule an appointment to tour the pool and that it will be open during CityFest and the associated triathlon, offering additional opportunities to view it. Andrew (staff) told the council: “Anytime you wanna see the pool, you can just schedule an appointment. We're happy to give you a tour. Certainly during CityFest, during the triathlon, the pool will be open.”
Public Works Director Jeff Taylor explained that Highway 50 traffic signals are controlled by the Illinois Department of Transportation and not the city, saying, “Highway 50 is controlled by IDOT, so they would set any sort of traffic signal timing.” Taylor also explained the city’s process for addressing sinkholes and culverts: crews often place cones for safety and then follow up with pipe-camera inspections and repairs as needed. Regarding recent warrant items, Taylor said the EJ equipment purchase was for a new sewer camera truck that was included in the capital improvement plan and budget; the VISU Sewer (VISU) payment referenced is a contractor that installs cured-in-place liners and was closing out an existing contract.
Denton and Taylor also clarified other warrant entries Moyer cited: a reimbursement to a township for resurfacing on Boulder Road, a payment for North Cherry contract work, contract closeouts, and purchases of portable pitching mounds for the sports park turf fields. Denton said city facilities staff painted the finance office in-house, and that the large spoil pile at a park was hauled away by city crews on a Saturday when it was cost-effective to do so.
The council approved the warrant by roll call after the finance committee brought the item forward.
