Carbondale Reporter

Village of Desoto Board of Trustees met May 6.

Here is the minutes 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: Tony Rushing, Paulette Johnson, John Evans, Cristy Desormeaux, Eric Schuler

Absent: Brian Gleason

Motion made by Eric Schuler, seconded by Cristy Desormeaux, to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the regular meeting and the April 24, 2019 special meeting and to approve them. Motion carried.

Motion made by Tony Rushing, seconded by Eric Schuler, to approve the April expense report. Motion carried.

Village Clerk Paula Parks announced the election results.

Village Trustee , 4-year term

Kelly Kellett, Republican 30 votes

Shelley Kirchner, Republican 50 votes

Eric Schuler, Republican 66 votes

Tony Rushing, Democrat 84 votes

Brian Gleason, Independent 71 votes

Village Trustee, 2-year term

Larry Johnson, Republican 37 votes

Jennifer Morgan, Republican 60 votes

Cristy Desormeaux, Democrat 63 votes

James (Jim) Pribble, Democrat 56 votes

Eric Schuler, Tony Rushing and Brian Gleason were elected as 4-year term trustees. Jennifer

Morgan and Cristy Desormeaux were elected as 2-year term trustees.

Motion made by Paulette Johnson, seconded by Eric Schuler, to adjourn sine die at 7:03 PM.

Village Clerk Paula Parks administered the oaths of office to the newly elected village trustees. Due to his absence, Brian Gleason will be sworn into office at the next board meeting.

The meeting of the new board was called to order at 7:06 PM by President John Evans.

Present: Tony Rushing, Paulette Johnson, John Evans, Jennifer Morgan, Cristy Desormeaux, Eric Schuler,

Absent: Brian Gleason

Motion by Paulette Johnson, seconded by Tony Rushing, to pay the list of bills as presented. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler – Yes. Motion carried.

Travis Fred was not present with his proposal for repairing the curb on the corner of Highway 149 and North Hickory Street across from the Village Hall to make it handicapped accessible.

Trustee Eric Schuler presented William Kelley’s contract proposal to the Village for mosquito abatement from April through October. Mr. Kelley offered a one-year contract for $5,000.00 or a two-year contract for $4,400.00 per year. Board members discussed the fact that William Kelley is the only economically feasible option at this time for mosquito abatement.

Motion made by Eric Schuler, seconded by Tony Rushing, to approve the two-year contract with William Kelley for mosquito abatement at a cost of $4,400.00 per year. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler – Yes. Motion carried.

President Evans assigned the following trustees as chairpersons of the board standing committees.

Public Safety Brian Gleason, Chairperson

Sewer Eric Schuler, Chairperson

Water Tony Rushing, Chairperson

Finance Jennifer Morgan, Chairperson

Streets & Alleys Cristy Desormeaux, Chairperson

Motion made by Paulette Johnson, seconded by Tony Rushing, to increase the pay of all full-time and regularly scheduled part-time employees by 3% as budgeted. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler – Yes. Motion carried.

Treasurer Dana Smith reported that effective January 1, 2020 the employer contribution rate for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) will increase from 12.34% to17.37% due to the change to the IMRF’s assumed rate of return and the 2018 investment loss. IMRF is offering a plan for an optional phase-in rate in which the increased cost is spread over multiple years. The Board of Trustees has until August 30, 2019 to select which plan they want. Treasurer Smith distributed printouts of information regarding the rate to board members for their review before choosing an option.

Tony Rushing reported that the Village has received 75% loan forgiveness from IEPA for the Phase III Watermain Replacements project. The amount financed will be $174,741.97 with an annual payment of $10,057.98.

The Village is paying an additional $29,694.50 to install sidewalks from the four-way intersection to the trestle.

Motion made by Paulette Johnson, seconded by Tony Rushing, to go into executive session at 8:13 PM to discuss personnel, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1). Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler – Yes. Motion carried.

Motion made by Paulette Johnson, seconded by Cristy Desormeaux, to come out of executive session at 8:34 PM. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux - Yes; Eric Schuler – Yes. Motion carried.

The next board meeting will be held Monday, May 20 at 7 PM at the Village Hall.

Motion made by Tony Rushing, seconded by Paulette Johnson, to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 PM. Motion carried.

https://villageofdesoto.com/uploads/1/2/5/0/125085618/minutes_may_6_2019.pdf