Carbondale Reporter

At a recent meeting, the DeSoto Village Board discussed options to address the worsening mosquito problem in the village.

Below are the minutes from this meeting, as provided by the board.

STATE OF ILLINOIS)

COUNTY OF JACKSON)

VILLAGE OF DESOTO)

Minutes

Board of Trustees Regular Meeting

August 1, 2016

President John Evans called the first monthly meeting of the De Soto Village Board of Trustees to order at 7:00 P.M. Village Clerk Paula Parks was present to record the minutes.

Present: Tony Rushing Paulette Johnson

Tim Cochran John Evans

Eric Schuler Larry White

Motion made by Larry White, seconded by Eric Schuler, to dispense with the reading of the minutes and to approve them. Motion carried.

Motion made by Tony Rushing, seconded by Paulette Johnson, to approve the July expense report. Motion carried.

Motion made by Paulette Johnson, seconded by Tony Rushing, to pay the list of bills. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing- Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Larry White – Yes; Tim Cochran – Yes; Eric Schuler - Yes. Motion carried.

President John Evans appointed Brian Gleason to fill the vacant village trustee position with the advice and consent of the board.

Motion made by Larry White, seconded by Paulette Johnson, to approve the appointment of Brian Gleason as village trustee. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing- Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Larry White – Yes; Tim Cochran – Yes; Eric Schuler - Yes. Motion carried.

Village Clerk Paula Parks administered the Oath of Office to Mr. Brian Gleason. Mr. Gleason took his seat at 7:05 PM.

President Evans appointed Mr. Gleason to be the chair of the Police Committee.

Amanda Tinsley of J. T. Blankinship Inc. reported that about 75% of the Phase I Watermain Replacements project has been completed. They are ready to transfer services.

Motion made by Larry White, seconded by Tony Rushing, to approve Pay Estimate #2 for the IEPA loan in the amount of $134,132.04, which includes $121,088.74 to Haier Plumbing & Heating Inc. and $13,043.30 to J. T. Blankinship Inc. for work completed on the Phase I Watermain Replacements project. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing- Yes; Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Larry White – Yes; Tim Cochran – Yes; Eric Schuler - Yes. Motion carried.

Eric Schuler presented a copy of the Pinckneyville Nuisance Ordinance for comparison to the Village’s Nuisance Ordinance. Board members will review Pinckneyville’s ordinance for discussion at the next meeting.

The Special Nuisance Committee will meet Monday, August 8 at 7 PM to discuss properties that are in violation of the Nuisance Ordinance, Article II Weeds. They will bring recommendations for properties to be addressed.

Tony Rushing stated that he was still waiting to hear from the Township Cemetery Board as to whether they want to keep the solar light or have the electrical line repaired.

Trustee Johnson reported that she is working on De Soto Daze and that she needs volunteers. The De Soto Daze Committee will meet Tuesday, August 9 at 7 PM.

Trustee Johnson said that the mosquito problem is bad. Board members discussed the possibility of paying for an extra spray. They also asked Director of Public Works David Griffin to check into what it would cost to purchase a sprayer and to have an employee certified for mosquito abatement.

The Board authorized Jana Fann to call about getting an extra spray for mosquitoes.

Trustee Tim Cochran reported that the Street Department needs a snow plow for the red tractor. David Griffin had checked prices and had an estimate of $1,900 to $2,800 for the snow plow attachment.

Motion made by Tim Cochran, seconded by Tony Rushing, to purchase a snow plow for the red Case tractor from Vergennes Equipment for up to $2,000. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing- Yes; Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Larry White – Yes; Tim Cochran – Yes; Eric Schuler - Yes. Motion carried.

Police Chief Ben Doan will check on the status of the investigation on the burned trailer on South Ash Street.

Director of Public Works David Griffin reported that the aerator and polishing reactor at the sewer plant had been repaired.

Mr. Griffin reported that Mr. Leroy Miles will pay the extra cost for the additional oil and chipping on the right-of-way beside his business on West Douglas Street.

Mr. Griffin reported that a new pump for Autumn Lane will cost $1,625.

Jana Fann reported that she had called Voss Heating and Air Conditioning because the air conditioner was not working properly when she came to work. The repairman said that the air conditioner had a leak. He filled the Freon and said he would have to come back to find the leak. Board members discussed contacting other heating and air conditioning vendors to get prices.

Copies of the financial audit for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2015 and ending April 30, 2016 were distributed to the board members for review.

The next meeting will be held on Monday, August15 at 7:00 p.m. at the Village Hall.

Motion made by Tony Rushing, seconded by Tim Cochran, to adjourn the meeting at 8:08 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Paula J. Parks

Village Clerk