Carbondale Reporter

Village of Desoto Board of Trustees met Dec. 2.

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: John Evans          Tony Rushing

Brian Gleason                    Paulette Johnson

Jennifer Morgan                Cristy Desormeaux

Eric Schuler

Motion made by Eric Schuler, seconded by Cristy Desormeaux, to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the public hearing on November 13 and the regular meeting on November 18 and to approve them. Motion carried.

Motion made by Paulette Johnson, seconded by Brian Gleason, to approve the November expense report. Motion carried.

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

Harold Sheffer of J. T. Blankinship presented Change Order No. 2 for the Phase III Watermain Replacements project. The change order increases the contract amount by $600.00 for moving a fire hydrant.

Motion made by Tony Rushing, seconded by Eric Schuler, to approve Change Order No. 2 for $600.00 for the Phase III Watermain Replacements project. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – No; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler – Yes. Motion carried.

Motion made by Tony Rushing, seconded by Eric Schuler, to approve Pay Estimate No. 2 in the amount of $59,146.11 to Wiggs Excavating Inc. for work completed on the Phase III Watermain Replacements project. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes: Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler - Yes. Motion carried.

Mr. Sheffer reported that the only grants available for projects like installing a watermain to 101 Williams Road have a $250,000.00 minimum for the cost. This project would not cost near that much. Trustee Rushing asked if money could be obtained from IEPA for doing three pending small water projects. Mr. Sheffer said it would be possible. Trustee Rushing and the engineers will meet to determine a quantity and a cost for the projects. Trustee Rushing would like to see this done within the next three to five years.

After a motion was made to allow marijuana businesses in the village limits, President John Evans opened the floor for discussion. Trustee Paulette Johnson was conflicted about the issue because she felt she did not have enough information. Trustee Eric Schuler explained that he supported having marijuana businesses in the village because the revenue generated would supplement the village’s budget because of necessary employee raises due to the minimum wage increases over the next five years. He felt the Village Board would want to increase all employee wages to be fair and the current budget would not support the cost. He also stated that the Board should look at other ways to generate revenue because revenue from the marijuana sales would still not be enough. Trustee Cristy Desormeaux felt that the argument that the children would have more access to the marijuana was invalid because they

can get it already. Trustee Brian Gleason said that he felt the Village was not ready for it, and no one knows what the future holds in regard to this issue. He also felt that the Village does not have the resources or the structure to handle this task.

Motion made by Eric Schuler, seconded by Cristy Desormeaux, to allow medicinal and recreational marijuana businesses in village limits with a 3% Municipal Cannabis Retailers’ Occupation Tax as allowable by state law. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – No; Brian Gleason – No; Paulette Johnson – No; Jennifer Morgan – No; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler – Yes. Motion denied.

Information was not yet available for purchasing an AED for the park. Trustee Brian Gleason and Police Chief Ben Doan will get an estimate for the next meeting for the kind of AED to purchase and the cost.

Police Chief Ben Doan reported that installing a surveillance camera on the west side of the village hall would cost $200.00 with no additional monthly cost.

Motion made by Paulette Johnson, seconded by Christy Desormeaux, to contract with Security Alarms to install a surveillance camera on the west side of the village hall for $200.00 so the parking lot is under surveillance. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes: Brian Gleason – 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 give a $100.00 Christmas bonus to the two office workers, three public works employees, two police officers, treasurer and village clerk and a $50.00 Christmas bonus to the custodian, two meter readers and crossing guard. Upon roll vote: Tony Rushing – Yes: Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler - Yes. Motion carried.

Motion made by Jennifer Morgan, seconded by Eric Schuler, to pass Ordinance No. 2019-4 Annual Levy Ordinance levying property taxes in the amount of $80,905.00 for all corporate purposes for the Village of De Soto for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2019 and ending April 30, 2020. Upon roll vote: Tony Rushing – Yes: Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler - Yes. Motion carried.

The Village had received the final payment of $13,500.00 from Ameren for the purchase of the old pump station property on Highway 51, Carbondale, Illinois. The $1,500.00 deposit was received earlier. Treasurer Dana Smith asked that a new account be opened for the funds to be designated for property rehabilitation.

Motion made by Paulette Johnson, seconded by Jennifer Morgan, to open a new account with First Mid Illinois Bank and Trust for the money from the sale of the old pump station property to Ameren. Upon roll vote: Tony Rushing – Yes: Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler - Yes. Motion carried.

Trustee Tony Rushing left the meeting at 7:58 PM.

Trustee Brian Gleason read a letter of resignation from Officer Stacey Sperling effective Wednesday, November 27.

Motion made by Brian Gleason, seconded by Eric Schuler, to accept the resignation of Officer Stacey Sperling and to wish her good luck in her future endeavors. Motion carried.

Trustee Brian Gleason informed the Board that he would conduct CPR training for village staff and trustees and waive his fee if there was interest in the training. Several were receptive to the idea.

The vacant police officer position will be posted in the paper in order and through other media to move forward with getting an officer to replace Officer Sperling.

Trustee Johnson thanked the village trustees and volunteers for decorating the gazebo and parking lot.

Trustee Johnson reported that Utilities Clerk Alesia Lipe plans to retire at the end of April 2020.

Director of Public Works David Griffin reported that the Payne’s old water meter tested good.

The next village board meeting will be held Monday, December 16 at 7 PM at the village hall.

Motion made by Brian Gleason, seconded by Eric Schuler, to adjourn at 8:26 PM. Motion carried.

https://villageofdesoto.com/uploads/1/2/5/0/125085618/minutes_december_2_2019__1_.pdf