Carbondale Reporter

Village of DeSoto Board of Trustees met Sept. 18.

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

President John Evans called the second regular 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: Paulette Johnson; Brian Gleason; John Evans; Tony Rushing; Eric Schuler; Heath Rushing

Absent: Tim Cochran

Motion made by Tony Rushing, seconded by Brian Gleason, to dispense with the reading of the minutes and to approve them. Motion carried.

Motion made by Tony Rushing, seconded by Heath Rushing, to approve the August revenue report. Motion carried.

Motion made by Tony Rushing, seconded by Eric Schuler, to pay the list of bills. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Heath Rushing – Yes; Eric Schuler – Yes. Motion carried.

Ronald Leonard was present to discuss the nuisance violation notice he had received regarding his vacant house at 306 S. Hickory Street. Mr. Leonard asked what he needed to do to get into compliance. He would like to salvage the oak from the house; reduce the second story and make it one story; strip the outside; and keep enough of the building to make a workshop. He said he would like to reduce the size of the building by 50 to 60 percent. He asked for three months to complete his plans. If things have not progressed in three months, he will have the house torn down. Trustee Paulette Johnson stated that there are broken windows on the house and a lot of weed growth. Mr. Leonard agreed to board them up and cut the growth down.

Motion made Paulette Johnson, seconded by Brian Gleason, to give Ronald Leonard until January 1, 2018 to make progress on the house at 306 S. Hickory Street and to re-evaluate at that time. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Heath Rushing – Yes; Eric Schuler – Yes. Motion carried.

Ron Bohm was present to discuss his situation with flooding in his basement at 407 E. Camelot Street due to the sewer backing up. Mr. Bohm said this has occurred five times since 2012. Mr. Bohm had received a letter from the Village’s insurance company stating that they were denying the claim for damages because they could find no evidence that the Village was negligent. Mr. Bohm asked that the insurance company reconsider his claim. He wants compensation for the damage and the Village to fix the problem so it won’t occur again. John Archer, who lives at 409 E. Camelot Street, stated that he has had problems for years with his basement flooding due to sewer back up but has never reported it. Trustee Tony Rushing stated that the line will be cameraed again and video-taped this time. President John Evans stated that Village will investigate the matter to see if something was missed or there is something the Village might not be aware of. However, the Village stands by the insurance company’s decision unless new evidence is obtained to resubmit the claim.

Trustee Brian Gleason read a letter of appeal from Wendy Carter in response to a nuisance violation notice that she had received that gave her 15 days to remove her vacant mobile home at 209 N. Walnut Street and to clean up accumulated yard waste, junk and trash. Mrs. Carter asked for an extension of time to clean up the yard waste, junk and trash. She objected to removing the mobile home because she felt that the condition of the mobile home did not warrant removal. She said improvements had been made and sent pictures. She said the grounds have been mowed, and she will keep the grounds maintained.

Motion made by Brian Gleason, seconded by Tony Rushing, to give Wendy Carter 30 days from receipt of her letter to clean up the accumulated yard waste and accumulated junk and trash at 209 N. Walnut Street, and the Village will investigate further the removal of the mobile home. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Heath Rushing – Yes; Eric Schuler – Yes. Motion carried.

Police Chief Ben Doan called Novacom. They are checking into grants for sirens.

Trustee Brian Gleason reported that the Police Fund had enough money in the Police Vehicle Fund to pay off the loan on the police chief’s vehicle. There is also enough money in the Vehicles Fund to make a down payment on 2017 Ford Explorer.

Motion made by Paulette Johnson, seconded by Eric Schuler, to pay off the loan for the police chief’s vehicle in the amount of $14,894.34 from the Police Vehicle Fund, Line Item 151-492, and to purchase a 2017 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor from Vogler Ford Company for ? and to make a down payment of $6,500 toward the purchase from the Vehicles Fund, Line Item 151-493. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Heath Rushing – Yes; Eric Schuler – Yes. Motion carried.

Chief Doan had met with a representative from the Secretary of State Police about regulations for car dealerships and the number of vehicles an individual could have advertised for sale. According to the law, a person may have four vehicles on their property with for sale signs on them. Chief Doan and the Secretary of State will be on top of the situation.

Motion made by Heath Rushing, seconded by Tony Rushing, to approve the application from Shane Stevenson for a water tap at 1793 Township Line Road, pending payment. Motion carried.

Motion made by Heath Rushing, seconded by Tony Rushing, to approve the application from Brandon L. Fuhrhop for a water tap on Township Line Road, 275 Pioneer Lake Lane. Motion carried.

Trustee Heath Rushing scheduled a water committee meeting for Thursday, September 21 at 4 PM. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss water rate increases and the possibility of paying off the loan for Phase I Watermain Replacement Project.

Motion made by Eric Schuler, seconded by Tony Rushing, to approve the Village’s external financial audit as prepared by Emling & Hoffman, P.C. for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2016 and ending April 30, 2017. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Heath Rushing – Yes; Eric Schuler – Yes. Motion carried.

The next board meeting will be held Monday, October 2, 2017 at 7 PM at the Village Hall.

Motion made by Tony Rushing, seconded by Brian Gleason, to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 PM. Motion carried.

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