Carbondale Reporter

Village of DeSoto Board of Trustees Board of Trustees met Oct. 16.

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

President Pro Temp Paulette Johnson 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

Tony Rushing Heath Rushing

Eric Schuler

Absent: John Evans

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

Motion made by Brian Gleason, seconded by Tony Rushing, to approve the September revenue report. Motion carried.

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

The hearing on the placement of a 2018 mobile home at 106 N. Pecan Street was cancelled. The owner of the mobile home, Deborah Smith, decided not to purchase the lot. She purchased property in another municipality.

Mr. Glen Jones was present to address nuisance violation notices he had received in regard to his property at 405 E. Douglas St. The violations are for accumulation of junk, trash and yard waste and keeping goats in city limits. Mr. Jones had submitted a written request asking for more time to abate the violations. He explained that he is bottle-feeding the goats because their mother was killed. They are usually kept in Makanda, but it is not economically feasible to drive back and forth three times a day. When the goats are weaned, they will return to Makanda with the goat herd. He estimates they will be weaned in about two weeks. In regard to the accumulation of junk, trash and yard waste, Mr. Jones stated that he needs more time to abate the violations because he has mechanical and physical limitations.

Motion made by Brian Gleason, seconded by Tony Rushing, to give Mr. Jones until November 1 to abate the violations. Motion carried.

Joe Howerton, supervisor of the Jackson County Probation Office, was present to answer questions the board members had in regard to the public service work program. Mr. Howerton explained that by Illinois statute the Village is absolved of liability individually and collectively. There is a liability waiver the offender signs, but the statute absolves the Village of liability even if the offender doesn’t sign the waiver. He stated that the public service work program needs sites to provide work for these offenders. The Village can restrict the types of crimes for which the offenders are convicted when determining if they will be allowed to perform work. The Village employees will supervise the workers, but they don’t have to stay right with them.

The Public Safety Committee will meet Wednesday, October 25 at 4:30 to discuss procedures for the Public Service Work Program and the proposed drone ordinance.

Trustee Paulette Johnson reminded everyone that the Park Halloween Party and Hayride will be held on October 21 from 6-8:30 PM. Decorating was scheduled for Wednesday, October 18 at 5:30 PM. Trustee Johnson stated that she needed help on the 21st beginning at 5:15 PM.

Motion made by Heath Rushing, seconded by Tony Rushing, to approve the application from Michael Bach for a water tap at 1768 Township Line Road. Motion carried.

Trustee Brian Gleason reported that Animal Control Officer Rick Ellet had resigned. Trustee Gleason said the Village will use county animal control until Mr. Ellet is replaced.

The next board meeting will be held Monday, November 6, 2017 at 7 PM at the Village Hall.

Motion made by Tony Rushing, seconded by Brian Gleason, to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 PM. Motion carried.

http://www.villageofdesoto.com/villageminutes.html