The Fairfield City Council met with all aldermen present Tuesday evening, approving minutes from recent meetings and payment of bills before moving on to a full agenda of community and infrastructure matters.
Mayor Gary Moore introduced Mary Murphy from Southern Illinois Critter Fixers, a 501(c)(3) organization working to reduce Fairfield’s feral cat population. Since May, the group has raised around $7,000 through donations and letter campaigns, funding the spay/neuter of 41 cats and 45 kittens, including 31 from Fairfield. Murphy noted that spaying 18 female cats from the city may have prevented an estimated 360 kittens from being born this year.
The program traps feral cats, provides veterinary care including vaccinations and spay/neuter surgery, and then returns them to their original location unless the property owner requests otherwise. The average cost per cat is approximately $115–$120. Mayor Moore expressed concerns about returning cats to the city after treatment, noting that many residents complain about cats using their yards as restrooms and walking on their cars. He suggested that most residents would prefer the cats not be returned. The council referred potential funding discussions to the finance committee.
The council approved a business district agreement with Fairfield Memorial Hospital for a water pressure improvement project. The hospital had experienced insufficient water pressure on its second and third floors after the city shifted their water supply from the reservoir water tower to the tower west of town. The total cost of the project was just over $193,000, with the city agreeing to split the cost 50/50 with the hospital for a total of $96,612 on the city’s part. A business district agreement was also approved for Aaron Tucker, doing business as CrossFit Rax, who plans to rehabilitate property at 109 Southeast 7th Street into a CrossFit gym. The $50,000 project will receive $20,000 in city funding.
A highway authority agreement with Green Wave Consulting, LLC was approved for dirt mitigation work at a former gas station property site owned by Mark & Patti Owen at 1316 West Main Street. The project will not cost the city any funds.
The council declared 613 West College Street a dangerous building based on a narrative by Public Safety Officer Keith Colclasure and accompanying pictures. Attorney Darrin Rice explained that the next steps involve sending notice to the property owners, waiting the required time period, filing a complaint in court, and proceeding from there.
Three street closure resolutions were approved for upcoming events:
FCHS Homecoming – October 17th
Halloween celebration – October 31st
Veterans Day parade – November 8th
The South First Street general maintenance bid was awarded to Kiefer Brothers Construction for $34,222.10, the lowest of three bids received. The work will be funded by motor fuel tax dollars. The council also approved appropriating $110,000 from motor fuel tax funds for general road maintenance of various roads throughout the city.
A petition to disconnect property at 1233 South First Street was introduced by Brandon Cline. Attorney Rice explained the procedure for disconnection, which requires a written petition, a 30-day waiting period, proof that all city taxes have been paid, and approval by a simple majority vote of the council. The council will vote on this request at the September meeting.
A proposal to renew an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for the development of Atkinson Forest was rejected. The agreement would have required the city to develop the property with a parking lot, walking trails, and restrooms, but the council felt it would not be appropriate to spend city taxpayer money on property outside the city limits.
The council approved $1,000 from the recreational fund for Fall Fun Fest expenses.
For July, the city reported $1,707,383 in revenues and $1,606,951 in expenses, resulting in a net gain of $100,432 for the month. Year-to-date figures show $4,968,186 in expenses and $4,883,726 in revenues, leaving the city $84,460 in the red. The general fund balance as of July 31 stood at $2,380,038.01.
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