Carbondale Reporter

Makanda Board of Trustees met Tuesday, Sept. 6.

Here are the minutes as provided by Makanda:

Village of Makanda

P. O. Box 99

Makanda, Illinois 62958

Board Minutes

September 6, 2016

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

CALL TO ORDER: Regular meeting of the Board of Trustees was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by

President Tina Shingleton.

ROLL CALL:Clerk called the roll of the Village Board: Trustees Hilliard, Dalton, Wolff,Ross,and Allen present.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:President asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the last meeting. Motion made by Trustee Dalton to accept the minutes. It was seconded by TrusteeRoss. Voice vote. All members present at roll call voted yes. Motion carried.

CITIZEN’S HEARING: Jennie Snyder, Makanda Community Wildfire Protection Plan Coordinator, presented an overview of the Forest Service grant that has provided funds to assist in mitigating the risk of wildfires in the Makanda area. This grant is for work on private land and includes working with individual property owners on thinning trees and brush, prescribed burning, and invasive species control. Individuals with 10 acres or more that is forested or adjacent to Forest Service land, and are interested in this service, should call Jennie. She will come out to inspect the property and develop a contract for qualified properties to do the work of mitigating the wildfire risk. Individual homeowners can also contact Jennie to come out and inspect their home, and she will complete a wildfire safety checklist, for them. Jennie distributed her business card, and brochures on becoming a fire wise community, to the Board. She also talked about possibly organizing volunteer neighbor helping neighbor days to assist those with less than 10 acres mitigate the wildfire risk. Jennie answered several questions from Board members. Clerk will post information at the Post Office, and leave brochures.

Jenny Johnson, a Village resident and a graduate student at Southern Illinois University is doing her thesis project on Makanda. She is also a musician and has been reading and recording stories about Makanda, turning them into songs, recording an album, and putting on a performance in Makanda. She is currently taking a class on documenting with photographs, which she plans to include in her thesis. She asked if she could take a few pictures of the Board. Board agreed, and Jenny took several pictures. Jenny also gave the Board members her phone number so that anyone could call her to let her know of other good photo opportunities in the Village or had some history about the Village to share with her.

PETITIONS& COMMUNICATIONS:

President received a call from Pat Brierton who has asked to use the Pavilion on Saturday, October 1 to celebrate 2 years of being cancer free. It was explained to her that we do not reserve the Pavilion and it is open to the public.

Amber Vaughn, who is associated with “Back to the Badge” called to ask if she could tie a few blue ribbons on poles downtown in support of our police officers. President told her it would be okay but she would need to check with shop keepers on Boardwalk to place any ribbons there.

An investigator from Fairview Heights, David Walker, left a message wanting to check if President was familiar with a person but did not leave a name. He was called him back and a message was left. Did not receive a call back.

Richard Stockenberg called President regarding building permits in Makanda. He did not have a specific address so it could not be determined whether or not the property is located in the Village.

Margery Mitchell, from Greater Egypt Planning & Development called inquiring as to zoning permits for residential structures.

President received a phone call from Mr. Jumps’ son, Bud Barnett, who has purchased property across from Mr. Jump’s house. He was inquiring about the Village installing a culvert in the ditch at the parking lot across from the Village Hall. He has a 20’ x 1‘black corrugated culvert that he would donate to the Village. This would give him access to his property from the North end and might possibly be on his property. He has mentioned having plans on his property for the upcoming Eclipse. Trustee Ross advised everyone that he plans on using the space for food vendors during the Eclipse. The Board did not see a benefit in installing the culvert and chose not to install the culvert. President will call Mr. Barnett to let him know.

Jesse Rowan has offered to watch the dumpster on September 24 on Cleanup Day.

President met with Karen Carlton and her Photo Club from Vienna at the pavilion on September 3 for a brief meet and greet. They were visiting Makanda to take photos at the Boardwalk, Giant City State Park, and the surrounding area.

Power line/transformer was knocked down by tree on Church Street while mowing in preparation for oil and chipping. We will be receiving a bill for repair from Ameren.

President asked the Board to consider hiring Darwyn Lowery to assist with road work. He is a resident of Makanda and is living in the Jackson home on old US 51. President has also talked with Jerry Keller, a retired construction worker, who might also be interested in helping with road work. Board advised President to proceed in checking with Darwyn to see if he is interested.

President presented to the Trustees an employment application for future applicants to complete.

CLERK:Recorded Man Hours for the month of August 2016.Clerk distributed copies of the Illinois Realtors August 2016 publication, on Common Ground to Board members.

TRUSTEES: Trustee Hilliard reported that Jesse has tightened the S hooks and put in a few new S hooks on the swings. Trustee Hilliard will talk to the Masonic Lodge at next Thursdays meeting regarding their donation to the Village playground. The Masonic Lodge is having its 150 year rededication service this Saturday, and the Mayor and Board are invited. Saturday September 10th is the Masonic Fish Fry at the Village Community Center, and everyone is invited. Trustee Hilliard inquired if anyone knew who had boughtChilang Cottingham’s old property. No one on the Board has heard anything. Trustee Dalton reported that she had told Jesse he could use the left over guard rail paint to paint other guard rails in the Village. President reported that she had also told Jesse that he could do that. Trustee Wolff inquired where the Board was on getting a maintence schedule on the Street and Road equipment. Treasurer reported that at the end of the last fiscal year, new filters had been purchased and installed on the tractor. Trustee Wolff, reported that he and Jesse had talked about using a backhoe to finish the work on the backend of the culvert on McGuire Road.Trustee Ross turned Community Center rental checks to the Treasurer. Trustee Ross reported that there has been an excessive amount of clean-up work she has had to do after some recent rental events, and would the Board consider hiring someone to do the clean-up. Trustee Wolff made a motion to hire Melanie Halliday one hour a week, plus as needed after events, for $15 per hour. Trustee Allen seconded the motion. Voice vote. All present at roll call voted yes. Motion carried.

Melanie will be responsible for turning in her monthly bill to the Treasurer. Trustee Ross reported that her daughter and several friends want to rent the Community Center to host a Village Christmas party for the children, and would the Board waive the $30 rental fee. Board agreed to waive the fee. Trustee Allen inquired if the F700 is ready to be sold. There is still some work to be done on it before it can be sold. Trustee Allen reported that he had talked to Nicky Brewer, who is planning to rent out primitive camping sites on his property for the Eclipse weekend, next year. Trustee Allen reported that there is an Eclipse meeting in Harrisburgon September 22, at the College, from 3 to 7.

FISCAL MATTERS:

A. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurerreviewed the monthly report. Trustee Wolff made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s report, it was seconded by Trustee Allen. All present at roll call voted yes. Motion carried.

B. Bills Payable: Trustee Allen made a motion that wepay the bills. Trustee Wolff seconded the motion. All present at rollcall voted yes. Motion carried.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES:

A. Finance Committee:

B. Ordinance Committee:

C. Street and Road Committee:Trustee Hilliard reported that oil and chipping of Village roads is scheduled for September 13. Zach is in the process of preparing the roads. President will post notices at Post Office, Village Hall and Boardwalk. President is working on locating and providing a readable Village Road map to be used for the oil and chipping. President advised Trustees that the Baptist Hill guardrail is dangerous per conversation with E.T. Simonds and needs to be replaced. She will check on a price for replacement. She will also check on striping of Baptist Hill. Treasurer has received salt contract. Board discussed benefits of turkey grit and salt. Treasurer will consult with Zach and go with his recommendations.

D. Subdivision Committee:

E. Insurance Committee:

REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES:

A. Emergency Disaster Committee:

B. Special Events Committee:

C. Eclipse Committee: Eclipse Committee meeting was scheduled for September 13 at 6p.m. Notice will be posted.

D. Playground Committee: Playground Committee meeting was scheduled for September 13 at 7 p.m. following the Eclipse meeting. Notice will be posted.

ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS:

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

UNFINISHED/OLD Business:

NEW BUSINESS:Trustee Hilliard suggested putting gutters on the Pavilion, plus 2 downspouts on the west end. Trustee Ross will get estimates to present at the next meeting.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Trustee Ross announced that the Church will be holding their picnic on October 2, at the third shelter in Giant City Park. Everyone is invited. Also, at the Church on October 9, there will be chili dogs and a hay ride. Dolly Colson has passed away. Trustee Allen reported that there is a Buncombe School/all the old schools reunion on September24 at the Christian Youth Camp.

ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Trustee Ross that the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Trustee Dalton. Voice Vote: All members present at roll call voted yes. Motioncarried. Meeting adjourned at9:23 p.m.

Leslie Yambert, Village Clerk Tina Shingleton, President