The Quincy Finance Committee approved a request by Good Samaritan Home to refinance a $12 million bond it took out in 2009 to help fund its expansion.

The home used the city’s bonding authority to finance the construction of the Anna Brown Unit, office space and the parking lot. The bond was originally for $12 million, and $8 million is being refinanced.

City Comptroller Ann Scott said since the bond is being refinanced,  it should not affect the city’s $10 million bond limit that it has available to non-profits. The city will receive a $10,000 fee for Good Samaritan Home’s use of the bonding authority.

This is similar to a refinancing plan approved last year for Quincy University. Aldermen voted in 2007 to allow QU to issue up to $14 million in bonds to refinance two $7 million bonds issued in 1997 and 2001.

In other business, the committee recommended that it accept the bid of $11,643 from Area Distributors for janitorial supplies.

The Quincy Finance Committee recommended that the City Council approve entering an intergovernmental agreement with the state of Illinois comptroller’s office for the Local Debt Recovery Program during a brief meeting on Monday.

If someone owes money to the city, the state’s comptroller’s office would reduce any state checks, such as a tax refund, vendor payments or lottery winning and give it to the city. The program was in legislation signed into law in December 2011.

City Treasurer Peggy Crim said the city would only use the program after the city has used all of its options. She said it could be used for nuisance abatements.

“If you don’t pay your bill, you get a statement from me saying you owe still us money,” she said. “Then you get a letter from me telling you if you don’t pay your bill, we’re going to turn it over to the attorneys. After that we turn it over to the attorneys, but even then sometimes it can’t be collected.”

People would receive notice from the state if they will be docked. People will also have 60 days to protest the deduction.

The committee also forwarded an agreement to cede approximately 2.8 acres of city-owned land to Quincy University. The university asked for approximately 1.2 acres to use for its new soccer complex, but the city is including an 1.6-acre parcel with a pond.

In exchange for the land, QU will mow about 2.3 acres of city-owned land next to North Campus for 10 years in exchange for the land.

QU originally offered to mow for five years, but the  the committee asked  if the university would agree to mow for an additional five years.

The Quincy Finance Committee rejected a request Monday night to store mortars used in fireworks in the old hangar building at the wastewater treatment plant.

Rob Ebbing, a representative with S&N Fireworks Inc., said the company has lost space where it was storing the mortars and is moving them to a temporary facility.

“It’s not an explosive item that we are looking to store,” he said.

Utilities Director David Kent said he had not heard the plan yet and was concerned about storing materials that weren’t owned by the city.

“I was not approached whatsoever,” he said. “I don’t think our insurance carrier would allow storing anything but our own property.”

The committee originally asked Human Resources Director Doug Olson to check with the city’s insurance provider before it would issue a decision, but the consensus was that there was no interest in leasing out space for storage.

“I don’t know if we need to get into the commercial storage business frankly,” said Chairman Steve Duesterhaus, D-2. “This is a commercial business. This is a private business. It opens the door. If we have spare space that we start storing things, I don’t know if that is our charge.”

Alderman Tony Sassed, R-4, said since the consensus with the committee was that it was not interested in storing the materials, there was no need to check with the city’s insurance provider.

“If the committee here is already against it, then there is no sense in wasting Doug’s (Olson) time,” he said.

Fireworks are already stored on city land. In June 2010, the City Council approved a lease agreement with S&N Fireworks Inc. on vacant land south of the wastewater treatment plant to store fireworks. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms does not allow non-firework mortars to be stored with the explosive fireworks.

The Quincy Finance Committee denied one request and tabled another to donate equipment to two local organizations.

The first request was to donate an old truck to the Mississippi River Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America, which would have been used in maintaining roads at the Saukenauk Scout Reservation.

Gary Sparks, director of administrative services, said he viewed this as similar donations of old buses the city has made over the years. He estimated that the truck, which needs extensive repairs, would fetch a couple thousand dollars at auction.

“I personally felt for the small amount of money that we would receive, we’d probably get a greater benefit donating it to the Boy Scouts,” he said.

Alderman Paul Havermale, R-3, said there have been discussions during the last two budgeting years about cutting back donations and subsidies to local organizations.

“This seems to be under that list,” he said.

Alderman Steve Duesterhaus, D-2, agreed with the sentiment as well.

“Our charge right now is to squeeze every nickel as hard as we can and that’s consistent with it,” he said.

Alderman Jack Holtschlag, D-7, said he was in favor of donating the truck.

“It would go along way with the scouts,” he said. “Last year with the snow, they got hit pretty hard. They couldn’t even move the snow around.”

The committee also tabled a proposal to purchase a sonar that would be shared with the Quincy-Adams County Volunteer Emergency Corps in order to approach the county about a cost sharing possibility. A sonar would cost around $3,000.

Glenn Sanders, of the Quincy-Adams County Volunteer Emergency Corps, said the corps spent 4,000 hours in search operations following the last local drowning in the Mississippi River. The organization has participated in operations for three drowning victims in the last year.

“On a cheap day, it’s going to cost us $500-600 on a drowning operation,” he said. “The last one we were on it for 40-some days before we started backing off a little bit.”

Sanders said in the recent search, a sonar operator from the state had to be brought in.

The corps has been offered free training if a sonar is obtained. The sonar would detect bodies in the river.

“I think overall we’ll save the city money on this,” Sanders said. “Just the simple call out of the dive team…I would assume the chief has to spend some money on overtime for his men, and every hour he has his guys on the water, that’s one more.”

The Quincy-Adams County Volunteer Emergency Corps is a quasi-governmental organization. It’s boats are actually included on the county’s inventory.

Other business Monday night at the City Council meeting included:

In other business:

• Approved an ordinance granting a special permit for a planned development, which will allow a termite and pest control business to operate at 634 S. 11th.

• Heard the first presentation of an ordinance granting a special permit for a planned development to build a parking lot at the northwest corner of North 11th and College and the southwest corner of North 11th and Elm.

• Heard the first presentation of an ordinance to rezone a parcel of property west of South 36th and north of the Chapel Valley Subdivision from rural to single-family residential zoning.

• Heard the first presentation of an ordinance to decrease the side yard setback from 5 feet to 3 feet and the rear yard setback from 30 feet to 2 feet to build an attached garage at 1725 Ohio.

• Agreed to temporarily allow parking through the holiday weekend on Payson between Eighth and Ninth streets in front of Irving School.

• Proclaimed Saturday as Small Business Saturday.

• Proclaimed Monday through Jan. 1, 2012, as Project Red Ribbon.

• Approved raffle permits and waived the bond requirement for the Police Benevolent and Protective Association Local 12 through Dec. 16 and the Brain Trauma Awareness Organization through Dec. 15.

The Quincy Finance Committee agreed to forward a proposal to the City Council to sell off seven properties Monday night, one month after it tweaked the ad to sell more of the properties the city has obtained and had to maintain.

Five of the properties would go to Toni Hemming for use for the Domestic Abuse Re-Lief program, which makes houses available to women and children escaping domestic abuse situations. The Good Samaritan Home has donated several houses near 24th and Harrison to the organization.

Hemming offered bids of:

• $500 for 326 Chestnut with plans to repair and remodel the home.

• $500 for 614 Elm with plans to repair and remodel the home.

• $500 for 505 Sycamore with plans to repair and remodel the home.

• $500 for 1613-1615 N. Second St. with plans to relocate a home donated by the Good Samaritan Home.

• $500 for 410-412 and 416-418 S. Fifth St. with planes to relocate homes donated by the Good Samaritan Home.

Hemming previously purchased a vacant lot at 533 Van Buren for the program.

Hemming said that there would be advertising for a Sept. 15 workday for the program.

Other proposals that were also forwarded included:

• $1,500 by Ron McKenzie for 328 Chestnut with plans to repair and remodel the home.

• $1,000 by Rebecca Humke for 628 N. Fifth St. with plans to repair and remodel the home.

The Quincy Finance Committee approved minor changes Monday night in how the city will attempt to sell a batch of properties it has obtained.

Chuck Bevelheimer, director of planning and development for the city, said the committee agreed to readvertise the bids for a group of properties.

“Instead of putting in our cost that we have in them, we are just going to advertise to see if we can get them sold,” he said. “Last time, we put the cost we have in them, and we had very few people in them.”

The city attempts to get around $1,500 per property, the approximate cost to the city to obtain a property through its fix or flatten program. The city will ask for $1,500 or best offer on the properties.

The city has sold a few properties in recent months for less than the costs it put into it. While it doesn’t get back the initial investment, it puts the properties back on the tax rolls and city crews do not have to mow.

Bevelheimer said the change would also eliminate variable bids, such as a bid offering $500 more than the highest bid.

The committee also agreed to forward the sale of 533 Van Buren for $500 to the City Council. Bevelheimer said the bid submitted by Toni Hemming planned to move a small home onto the property.

The Quincy Finance Committee received a copy of a chart to document the number of hours they work a week to see if new aldermen qualify to be a part of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund.

Aldermen on the committee will note how much time they spend a week in meetings, whether full council, committee or with staff and constituents. They must also document how much time they spend in the office, prepping for meeting and at any conferences they attend. They are not allowed to include travel time.

City Comptroller Ann Scott told the committee that IMRF requires that they document the number of hours, which would be used if the pension agency audited the city.

The requirement does not include current aldermen.

The council previously approved to continue IMRF contributions for future elected mayors, treasurers and city clerks who are full-time employees. Last summer, aldermen approved a resolution increasing the minimum amount of hours needed to receive pension contributions from 600 hours to 1,000 hours annually.

The Finance Committee also heard about a proposal to sell two pieces of city owned property to a resident who would like to turn the properties into a flower bed and garden.

Chuck Bevelheimer, director of planning and development, said the two lots at 826 and 836 N. 10th, which are not connected, are too narrow to construct a residence on it. The properties previously were advertised for sale in March.

The committee forwarded the proposal to council pending a conversation with the bidder to make sure the property is maintained. The committee approved a sale price of $550 for 826 North 10th and $275 for 836 North 10th.

The city is maintaining both lots.

The committee also approved a request to have a barn demolished at 326 Chestnut. A salvager offered to demolish the barn at no cost to the city.

During the full City Council meeting, aldermen ran through a large amount of petitions and resolutions.

The council:

• Approved a resolution allowing the Police Department to apply for a $20,735 Justice Authority Grant along with the Adams County Sheriff’s Department.

• Approved a resolution allowing Supreme Electric Company to proceed with up to $5,000 in emergency repairs on traffic lights at the intersection of 12th and State.

• Concurred with the Plan Commission’s recommendation to allow the construction of a cell phone tower near 36th and Locust in the Marx Business Park.

• Concurred with the Plan Commission’s recommendation to allow a three-lot subdivision of McClelland’s 1st Addition located on the northside of the 4600 block of State.

• Concurred with the Plan Commission’s recommendation to approve a one-lot subdivision in the Wismann Ridge Business Park to allow Ruedebusch Development and Construction of Madison, Wis. to build a warehouse.

• Concurred with the recommendation of the Plan Commission to approve a special permit for a planned development at 520 S. 21st so Gretchen McDonald may operate a beauty salon. The permit must be drafted into an ordinance.

• Concurred with the recommendation of the Plan Commission to rezone 2130 Harrison neighborhood residential to complete the campus plan of the Good Samaritan Home.

• Confirmed the mayor’s appointment of John Basinger to the Zoning Board of Appeals, Greg Davis to the Plan Commission, Kristin Hoxie to the Washington Theater Commission and Paula Bristol, Eze Emeka and Renae Douglas to the Human Rights Commission.

• Heard the first presentation of an ordinance making the intersection of Fifth and Vermont a four-way stop.

• Approved an ordinance adopting an identity protection policy as required by state law.

• Approved a request by The Blind Pig, 900 North 12th, to sell and allow open liquor outside the building for events on July 30 and Aug. 27 that would feature live music from 12 to 10 p.m. with the events ending at 1 a.m.

• Approved a request by the Quincy Police Department to stand at 18th and State and 24th and Harrison on July 20 to collect “Spare Change for Real Change,” a fundraiser for the Special Olympics. The collection would be in the morning and again in the late afternoon with signage at the intersections so motorists know what they are doing and who will benefit.

• Approved a request by Martinis at 515 to close the south end of Parking Lot G from 3 p.m. June 26 until 3 a.m. June 27 for a wedding reception hosted by the business. The council also agreed to allow the sale of alcohol outside the building and that noise level restrictions be waived from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

• Approved firework displays on July 3 for the Quincy Country Club, 24th and State, and July 4 for the Quincy Broadcasting Company at the Illinois Veterans Home.

• Approved a request by the West Central Illinois Center for Independent Living to place a banner at Fifth and Maine promoting the annual Americans with Disabilities Act Celebration held on July 6 in Washington Park.

• Approved a raffle permit and waived the bond requirement for Meals Plus Seniors through June 23.