Macomb City Council considers bonds to pay unfunded police pension liability

Helen Spencer
·6 min read

MACOMB — The Macomb City Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 7 started with a moment of silence in the memory of city employees Scott Moon of the Public Works Department and Dave Noteboom, a firefighter and Go West driver.

In council business, the Class A plus EH (Extended Hours) liquor license for L&J Tekila, Inc d/b/a The Forum and Two Dogs Bayou Bar was approved.

• The ordinance authorizing the sale of personal property, equipment and vehicles, by the city of Macomb was approved.

• The Council approved McDonough County Public Transportation (MCPT) request that the FY23 FTA Section 5311 – Formula Grant for Rural Areas Agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation. This agreement is awarded for $414,200 and will go toward the 35% cost of the operational expenses for the Go West and Demand Response service from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023.

• Amendments to the portions of Chapter 4 of the Macomb Municipal Code and creating a Class E and Supplemental Class OPC (On Premises Consumption) license certification was approved.

A class E license authorizes and allows the retail sale and serving of alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine and liquor, for consumption on the licensed premises, as part of a special event being held at the premises and subject to the following conditions:

- Only educational, fraternal, political, civic, religious or nonprofit organizations will be eligible for this license -Consumption on premises only: the sale by the glass of wine, beer and liquor shall be for consumption on the premises only;

- Seating for customers within the premises shall not exceed that deemed permissible by the Fire Chief or their designee;

- Unless otherwise indicated on the liquor license, the sale of alcoholic liquor for consumption is permitted only between the hours of 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday;

- No employee under age 20 is allowed to draw, pour, or mix any alcoholic beverages or to tend bar and no employee under age 18 is allowed to serve or sell any alcoholic beverages for consumption on the licensed premises;

- No person under age 18 is allowed to enter and remain in the bar/lounge or liquor sales area, unless he or she is accompanied by his or her parent or legal guardian;

- License holder shall comply with Section 4-99 concerning BASSET training certification;

- During those times in which alcohol may not be sold, all alcohol shall be housed in an area that is locked and restricted from public access during such time period;

The licensee shall be permitted to have 50 events per year. The licensee may seek administrative permission from the liquor commissioner to have additional events upon approval and payment of an additional fee of $100 per event. Request shall be sought at least seven days in advance of such event; and

An event can be no more than three consecutive days. Each date of a series shall be considered individual events for purposes of the license. An event is defined as an advertised, pre-planned or scheduled public or social occasion open to the public. The annual license fee is $1,000.

A Class SS (Sunday Sales), license may have liquor sales on Sunday as follows:

- Class P from 12:00 pm to 9 pm. (no sales of kegs).

- Class D from 11:00 am to 9 pm.

- Class E from 11:00 am to 9 pm. An additional fee for this license is $500 per year.

- Class P license holders are allowed to sell alcohol purchased from licensee to be consumed on premises within the designated premised consumption area. It also includes the following rules:

  • The on-premises consumption area should be fully enclosed within the permanent structure; and shall comply with all state and local building codes;

  • A fully monitored entrance visible at all times to the staff;

  • No person under age 21 is allowed to enter or remain in the on-premises consumption area;

  • All alcohol should be purchased and consumed within the on-premises consumption area. No alcohol, open or unopened should leave the on-premises consumption area;

  • No outside drinks shall be permitted within the on-premises consumption area;

  • The on-premises consumption area must be accessed only from within the permanent structure and not from any street, sidewalk, or adjoining property;

  • No outside drinks shall be permitted within the on-premises consumption area;

  • The on-premises consumption area must have proper emergency exits, proper ingress and egress, and otherwise fully comply with all city ordinances including provision of ADA compliant restrooms;

  • No smoking is allowed in any portion of the on-site area, with smoking being defined pursuant to the Smoke Free Illinois Act definition;

  • License holder should have the proper license from the Illinois Liquor Control Commission to have both on-and-off premises consumption; and

  • The additional fee for this license is $7,500 per year.

Class B license includes the following: Class OC (Outdoor Cafe), Class EH (Extended Hours) and Class SS (Sunday Sales).

In other business:

Series 2022A bonds in the amount of not more than $6.5 million Taxable General Obligation Bonds (alternate revenue source), are being considered to fund a portion of the police unfunded pension liability. Pledged revenues and taxes will be used to pay the bonds had its first reading and will be discussed at next week's Committee of the Whole meeting.

A similar bond situation for the Macomb Fire Department exists in the amount of not more than $10 million to fund underfunded fire pension and liability, and will be paid from fire pension levy. More discussion next week at the Committee of the Whole meeting.

Melissa Worley, Business Office Director of Macomb presented a consideration of a resolution to terminate the Trust Agreement for the City of Macomb Health and Welfare plan. Her recommendation was to move one year's worth of claim funds to a Morton Community Banks Midwest investment account. The city's original agreement from 1983 with Citizens National Bank of Macomb named Citizens as the Trustee. According to Worley, the bank no longer wants to be the trustee and the decision will have to be made in the future, if not now. The city was approached by Hometown Community Bank Divisions of Morton Community Bank to take on this role and would create better transparency for the City.

Dennis Moon, Alderman at Large was concerned the city may be compromising old benefits still available to the city under the old plan. It was voted to table the discussion until an answer was found to this question. It will be forwarded to the General Government Committee.

Second Ward Alderman John Vigezzi congratulated Macomb High School on an outstanding season and Gracie Murphy on becoming the National FFA Chapter's Vice President.

Flags of Love will be raised the last time this year on Friday, Nov. 11 for Veterans Day. Volunteers are needed at 7 am and 4 pm to help with the flags.

This article originally appeared on The McDonough County Voice: Macomb IL considers bonds to pay unfunded police pension liability