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Council approves $1.77 million in bills; some members abstain on vendor checks
Summary
The council approved city bills of $1,155,130.55 and environmental services utility bills of $611,079.72; votes were unanimous but several aldermen recorded abstentions on specific checks to avoid potential conflicts of interest.
KANKAKEE — The Kankakee City Council on Jan. 5 approved two bills packages totaling $1,766,210.27 but several members registered abstentions on particular vendor checks to avoid perceived conflicts of interest.
The council reviewed a city-bills package totaling $1,155,130.55. Alderman Talley moved to approve the report of officers and pay the bills; the motion passed by roll call (13 ayes, 0 nays). During the vote Alderman O'Brien noted an abstention: "But I abstain on check number 85080 to HB Equities for 25,000 to avoid a potential conflict of interest," she said on the record.
Another member noted abstentions on a series of checks, naming vendors and check numbers (including Joe's Automotive Incorporated, PSI Construction and Pagish Engineering) and saying the abstentions were to "avoid potential conflict." Those abstentions were recorded during the city-bills roll call but did not change the overall tally, which the clerk reported as 13 ayes, 0 nays.
The Environmental Services Utility (ESU) bills totaling $611,079.72 were then presented and approved on a separate motion and second. During that roll call, one member read a list of check numbers and vendors and said they would abstain on those items to avoid conflicts; the vote was recorded as 13 ayes, 0 nays.
The council did not debate the substance of the invoices during the meeting beyond the stated abstentions. No further action was taken at that time.
