NORMAL – During Monday’s regularly-scheduled Normal Town Council session Monday, held remotely due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the Town’s Fire Chiefs updated members of the governing body concerning how a 16-car train derailment and fire at a nearby apartment complex created a busy weekend for members of both departments.
Normal Fire Chief Mick Humer told Council members said the first call came about the derailment around 5a.m., and once on scene firefighters realized it was a large situation, but the original call about the incident said 60 of 150 car train had come off the tracks between Vernon Ave. and Fell Ave. In truth, Humer said, just 16 cars had come off the track.
He said fire officials quickly realized the railroad crossings between Fell Ave. and Ft. Jesse Rd. were blocked due to the derailment. Luckily, Humer said, it was discovered there were no tanker cars turned over among the wreckage, which could have meant the possibility of hazardous materials being among the damaged cars. He said three power poles had been sheared off, but the lines were attached, meaning the power hadn’t gone out.
Published reports indicated Ameren and Nicor crews were present with railroad crews evaluating the accident. Power was shut off in a large area around Uptown to make repairs. Uptown Station and Bone Student Center were used as warming stations for residents of the affected area.
He credited elected officials with responding quickly getting information out to the public to avoid worry.
City Manager Reece’s Contract Extended: Council members voted 6-1 to approve a resolution for extending the employment contract of City Manager Pam Reece. Council Member Stan Nord cast the lone opposing vote. Reece has been City Manager for the Town since April 2, 2018, succeeding Mark Peterson who retired at the end of March that year.
The agreement for Reece’s employment the Town entered into was amended to reflect a wage adjustment in April 2019. The contract Council members approved will keep Reece at City Hall through March 31, 2024. She will receive a salary of $190,550. Employed by the Town for nearly 30 years, Reece served as Deputy City Manager under Peterson before being elevated to her current position.
Among the issues Nord questioned about the Town’s agreement with Reece was a clause concerning severance pay to Reece in the event of her dismissal. Should the Town either terminate Reece’s employment or not renew her contract with the Town, Mayor Chris Koos explained to Nord, Reece would receive severance pay. “It’s not broad-based,” Koos said. “A non-renewal is a passive termination, a firing is an active termination. The end result is the same.” The Mayor added that how the language in that part of the contract came about was the result of a conversation he had with Reece.
Nord then asked Town Corporation Counsel Brian Day for his opinion on the matter. Day verified that any non-renewal of such a contract “would, in effect, be a termination.”
Nord argued such compensation would be “a guaranteed payment” likening it to Reece receiving “a golden parachute” should her employment be concluded prior to the contract expiring. “I’m not in favor of the golden parachute clause.” Koos was quick to correct Nord’s assertion, saying, “It’s actually, not a golden parachute, Mr. Nord.”
Council Member Kevin McCarthy contributed to the conversation, saying he “disagreed with aligning City Manager renewals and election cycles. The City Manager position is a professional position.” He added the job of Council members “is to hire the best person we can to run the Town.”
Solid Waste Agreement With Bloomington-Based Company Approved: By a 6-1 count, Council members approved execution of a two-year agreement with Republic
Services at the Bloomington Transfer Station for the transfer and disposal of solid waste collected by the Town with the Town paying $537,903 for the service. Nord cast the lone opposing vote objecting to the length of the contract which would be for two years. The current contract between the company and the Town is due to expire March 1.
Agreement With Stark Excavating On Maxwell Park Ball Fields Project: Council members unanimously approved a resolution Accepting a bid and approved a contract with Bloomington-based Stark Excavating, Inc. in the Amount of $375,383.05 for a project to replace baseball and softball fields at Maxwell Park. The ball fields were first built in Maxwell Park in 1978.
In October of 2018, Council approved the application to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grant for renovation and improvements at the park. The Town received an award of the requested maximum $400,000 grant. As part of what was required by the grant, the Town committed $400,000 to match the grant amount, resulting in a total project cost of $800,000.
During public comments, former Town Council candidate Ron Ulmer said, “With all the millions of dollars spent on walking and bicycling trails that are used for recreation and transportation, it is oxymoronic for the Town to encourage driving to the place of outdoor recreation and exercise that contribute to a healthy lifestyle.” He suggested using an established set location for users to be picked up or dropped off at the park. “Normal already has plenty of pavement,” he said. “Green space makes urban areas more attractive and improves quality of life.”
Omnibus Agenda Items Approved: Omnibus agenda items approved by the Council included:
• Approval of minutes of the budget work session special meeting held Jan. 26, 2021.
• Approval of minutes of the regular Council meeting held Feb. 1, 2021
• Approval of Town of Normal expenditures for payment as of Feb. 10, 2021.
• A resolution to accept bids and award a contract to Bloomington-based Stark Excavating, Inc. for the Gregory St. culvert rehabilitation project (MFT Project 20-00268-00-BR) in the amount of $862,923.73.
• A resolution approving an amended site plan for Heartland Community College (1500 W. Raab Rd.).