Carbondale Reporter

Village of DeSoto Board of Trustees met January 2. 

Here is the minutes as provided by the board:

President John Evans called the first 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:            John Evans             Paulette Johnson

                          Tony Rushing         Heath Rushing

                         Brian Gleason         Eric Schuler

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

Motion made by Eric Schuler, seconded by Heath Rushing, to approve the November expense report. Motion carried.

Motion made by Paulette Johnson, 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. Motion carried.

Landlords Carl and Cathy Payne and Darren Snyder were present to discuss dumping at the city maintenance building. Mr. Payne said they do not abuse the dumping. He said it is easier to use the city dumpsters for smaller loads from their rental properties, and it keeps the city clean. Mr. Snyder agreed that it helps keep properties clean. They all felt that allowing them to dump small loads from their rental properties would be helpful to them to keep the properties clean.

Board members explained that dumping at the city garage has been allowed in the past as a privilege for individual residents when they occasionally have items that are too large to get into their trash totes. It is not for businesses. The Board felt that rental properties were businesses, and the privilege was not for people making money off of the property. Board members also felt that the city employees do not have time to police the dumping. Trustee Johnson explained that the Village is considering discontinuing the dumping altogether because of the abuse. However, the Board will take their suggestions for a resolution into consideration.

Motion made by Tony Rushing, seconded by Eric Schuler, to suspend all dumping at the city garage but to allow disposal of yard waste and trees by appointment until the committee can meet to try to come up with a resolution. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Heath Rushing – Yes; Eric Schuler. Motion carried.

Motion made by Heath Rushing, seconded by Tony Rushing, to approve Change Order No. 2 in the amount of $7,472.80 for the Phase II Watermain Replacements Project for additional materials and services. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Heath Rushing – Yes; Eric Schuler. Motion carried.

Motion made by Heath Rushing, seconded by Tony Rushing, to approve pay estimate No. 4 for the Phase II Watermain Replacements Project in the amount of $72,011.57. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Heath Rushing – Yes; Eric Schuler. Motion carried.

Motion made by Brian Gleason, seconded by Tony Rushing, to renew the intergovernmental agreement with the Jackson County 911 Program. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Heath Rushing – Yes; Eric Schuler. Motion carried.

Motion made by Brian Gleason, seconded by Paulette Johnson, to pass Ordinance No. 2018-1 Amending the Employee Code, Article XI, Policy Prohibiting Sexual Harassment. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Heath Rushing – Yes; Eric Schuler. Motion carried. Ordinance incorporated by reference.

Trustee Paulette Johnson reported that Andrea Bullar had asked to change the date and location on Farmer’s Market sign. The Farmer’s Market will be held in the city parking lot. Trustee Johnson pointed out that the cost will be paid by the Park Fund. Board members authorized Mrs. Bullar to do so.

The Board received a card from the De Soto Community Christmas Committee thanking the Board for the $250 donation from the De Soto Daze Fund. The donation was for food baskets.

Mike Garrison had given an estimate of $349 for eight surveillance cameras plus the cost of a monitor and the cable. These cameras would be on the outside of the village hall. Brian Gleason, Ben Doan and Mike Garrison will determine how many cameras are needed and where to install them.

Motion made by Heath Rushing, seconded by Brian Gleason, to deny the request from Alesia Lipe for the Village to pay the $250 deductible for damage to her vehicle. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Heath Rushing – Yes; Eric Schuler. Motion carried.

Regarding the duck issue, Village Clerk Paula Parks was authorized to contact Attorney Pat Hoke to see what the Village could legally do.

New windows are needed for the front of the village hall. Jana Fann will get prices on windows.

Motion made by Paulette Johnson, seconded by Tony Rushing, to go into executive session at 8:40 PM to discuss personnel, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1). Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Heath Rushing – Yes; Eric Schuler - Yes. Motion carried.

Motion made by Heath Rushing, seconded by Tony Rushing, to come out of executive session at 9:45 PM. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Heath Rushing – Yes; Eric Schuler. Motion carried.

The next board meeting will be held Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at 7 PM at the Village Hall due to Martin Luther King Day.

Motion made by Eric Schuler, seconded by Brian Gleason, to adjourn at 9:47 PM. Motion carried.

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