LOG CABIN–Log Cabin City Council voted July 17 to adopt regulations for city council members providing volunteer services to the city, then nominated Roy Linder to do so in the maintenance department (where his volunteer service had already started), with a time limit written into the ordinance by the city’s attorney.
Beforehand, City Secretary Leara Thorp informed the council that by state law, council members cannot act dually in the permanent role of a city employee but can fill a role temporarily. Thorp said the city attorney crafted the ordinance, which limits the temporary action to six months and only for absent or vacant positions.
According to Mayor Paul Eckeberger, without a temporary fill-in, there would be “an extraordinary amount of expenses thrust upon the city,” and a person taking over temporarily would allow the city to “not make a rash decision in filling the spot.” The mayor said Linder has “stepped up” to do city maintenance such as mowing and road repairs and had earlier said Linder was “instrumental” in keeping the department “afloat.”
Council Member Larry Sutherland questioned what limitations would be placed on those temporary responsibilities, to which Eckeberger replied that he was unsure. Council Member Rick Robertson and Linder approved the motion to accept the ordinance, while Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem Aaron Scott along with Sutherland opposed the motion to accept. With Council Member Brian LaFlower absent and with a 2-2 tie, Eckeberger voted in favor of the ordinance and broke the impasse, passing the ordinance. The mayor reiterated that the position cannot be compensated, monetarily or otherwise.
Next, the council approved a resolution to officially add Linder to the city maintenance department under the provisions of the new ordinance, starting July 17 (the night of the meeting). Thorp said that the maintenance department’s busiest time of the year is spring and summer, and that placing a new hire into that role during that time would put that employee at a disadvantage.
Robertson and Scott voted for the resolution, while Sutherland opposed it. Linder abstained. “The ayes have it,” Eckeberger declared.
The council also reviewed updates to an ordinance outlining the duties and responsibilities of the mayor and council members. Members also moved on to entertain whether to approve an ordinance officially incorporating those updates. During the discussion, Eckeberger said the updates addressed “areas of concern that all of us voiced.” The new draft was approved, with Sutherland opposing.
Another ordinance dealing with council appointed boards, committees and commissions came up for discussion. Thorp said rules such as at least one council member serving on all such entities were not written down, and this ordinance codifies that. She added that by doing so, council members would be able to add items to the council’s agenda and keep up to date on the entities’ actions.
Scott said the ordinance would add “more red tape” to the process. Sutherland’s motion to accept the ordinance died for the lack of a second. Robertson then motioned to not accept the ordinance, which passed 3-1, with Sutherland opposing.
The council also acted on a proposal from the Woodland Shores Property Owners’ Association (POA) to provide labor and equipment for repairs to Paladin Drive, with a request for the city to provide state-donated road materials and to deliver those materials.
The council unanimously approved allowing the mayor access to 12 cubic yards of road material and to provide it to the POA, with the stipulation that the mayor ensures ditches are taken care of (members had learned earlier that the silting-in of ditches allowed water to flow over the road, causing the washout).
The council also discussed addressing a damaged fence resolution from Sept. 2021, stemming from a homeowner’s claim that the city damaged his fence during unrelated, nearby work. Eckeberger said the city would “come up with a plan to do that very soon” and therefore honor the commitment of a previous administration.
In addition, the council heard the 2024 audit report from accountant David Godwin, who said the city received a clean, unmodified opinion of those finances, which he clarified is the best opinion an audit can receive. Godwin said the city’s net position increased, long-term bonded debt decreased off and the city maintained its purchasing power.
Godwin said the water and sewer proprietary fund’s cash balance increased (which was tied to the city raising water rates, according to the accountant), but that the general fund transferred about $25,000 to the water and sewer fund. He said with the general fund, the city did a “pretty good job” with revenues and expenditures.
Overall, “We’re running pretty lean,” Godwin remarked.
The council also learned that an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramp had been installed at the city’s Red Barn by the United Methodist Army, comprised of 12 to 15-year-old volunteers, who Eckeberger said “spontaneously showed up” and provided the labor and materials.
In other business, the council:
• Heard from Aqua Services’ Jeremy Crocker (who is contracted to handle the city’s water and sewer systems) that the city’s sewer plant is in poor shape and that unrelated water repairs would take place overnight July 23 and deplete residents’ water pressure.
• Learned from Angie Kemp of the Log Cabin Volunteer Fire Department that the VFD is down to five members paired with dwindling funding; Kemp put out a call for volunteers, especially during Monday-Friday work hours.
• Approved a master engineering agreement with Schaumburg & Polk.
• Discussed (with no action) erosion of areas around the city park’s boat ramp.
• Discussed (with no action) the purchase of steel security-grade double doors for city hall.
• Was informed of a project authorization request to install a dry bed at the sewer plant.