Carbondale Reporter

Village of Desoto Board of Trustees met March 16.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

President John Evans called the second regular monthly 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 Brian Gleason, seconded by Jennifer Morgan, to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the February 18 regular meeting and the February 26 special meeting and to approve them. Motion carried.

Motion made by Tony Rushing, seconded by Paulette Johnson, to approve the February revenue report. Motion carried.

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

Roger Noe of the Rural Water Association presented information regarding the Village’s water loss since 2014. The water loss percentage has increased from 9.4% in 2014 to 21% in 2019. In reality, a 21% loss is more like 10-11% when you factor in meter reading times of Kinkaid and the Village. He said a 10% leak is not bad for a municipality. Mr. Noe felt the problem was not a leak but more in the billing. He reported that the Village is buying more water than in 2014 but not much. He said the Village bills out less water now than in 2014. Mr. Noe said residential meters start to slow down after about 15 years, and the Village loses revenue on the readings. In his study, he found that the school’s dual flow Badger water meter readings have decreased significantly since 2014, which could possibly be a meter problem. Mr. Noe said that if there is no water evidence of a leak, look at storm drains and the sewer. He said the Rural Water Association would not detect a leak at no charge unless there is water evidence of a leak. A leak survey would cost.

Trustee Tony Rushing said the Village would look into getting a new meter for the school.

Mr. Noe said the Rural Water Association would do a water rate study for the Village at no cost.

Motion made by Tony Rushing, seconded by Paulette Johnson, to request a water rate study from the Rural Water Association at no cost. Motion carried.

Motion made by Tony Rushing, seconded by Cristy Desormeaux, to approve the park agreement with the De Soto Little League. Upon roll call vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler - Yes. Motion carried.

In regard to the driveway into Adventure Time RV from Highway 51, the apron on the property owner’s side had been removed reducing the cost from $1,500-$2,500 to $722.50.

Jesse Crow reported that the estimate to put the plaques on the new portion of the war memorial would be $25,800 plus $100 to engrave each plaque. The memorial has about $5,000 in the fund. Donations and fundraisers will be needed.

Motion made by Paulette Johnson, seconded by Tony Rushing, to pay Redimix Solutions $437.90 for concrete for the war memorial. Upon roll vote: Tony Rushing – Yes; Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler - Yes. Motion carried.

A sign-up sheet for names to be included on the memorial will be available at the Village Hall. The call for names will be posted on Facebook.

Because of the COVID-19 issue, each department will submit their budget to Treasurer Dana Smith individually instead of having a budget planning meeting on March 23.

In the event that the Village Hall would be closed to the public, the Village has a drop box for utilities payments, or customers can pay at the bank, call and pay over the phone or mail the payment. The Board left the decision to close the hall to the public to the discretion of President John Evans.

Motion made by Tony Rushing, seconded by Eric Schuler, to suspend water cutoffs until May 1, 2020. Upon roll call vote: Rushing – Yes; Brian Gleason – Yes; Paulette Johnson – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler - Yes. Motion carried.

Village Clerk Paula Parks reported that Pay Estimate #4 in the amount of $81,575.25 approved at the last meeting was incorrect. The amount of $21,355.00 for extra work performed to date had been omitted from the pay estimate. The corrected amount would be $100,794.75.

Motion made by Tony Rushing, seconded by Eric Schuler, to rescind the motion to approve Pay Estimate #4 in the amount of $81,575.25. 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 Tony Rushing, seconded by Eric Schuler, to approve Revised Pay Estimate #4 in the amount of $100,794.75 to Wiggs Excavating 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.

The deadline to apply for an IEPA loan for the Phase IV Watermain Replacements Project that gives some loan forgiveness is March 31, 2020. The estimated cost for the project is $1,141.621.00. The Village is not obligated to proceed with the loan if debt forgiveness is not available.

Motion made by Tony Rushing, seconded by Eric Schuler, to authorize J. T. Blankinship Inc. to apply for an IEPA loan for the Phase IV 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.

Tony Rushing left the meeting at 7:59 PM.

President Evans reported that the Red Cross had asked to hold their blood drive at the Village Hall on March 19. They were not sure if the school would allow them to hold the blood drive there as planned.

Motion made by Eric Schuler, seconded by Brian Gleason, to allow the Red Cross to hold their blood drive at the village hall on March 19 if the school is not available. Motion carried.

Motion made by Eric Schuler, seconded by Cristy Desormeaux, to suspend village hall and park event rental until May 1. Motion carried.

The park Easter Egg hunt will be cancelled.

The village newsletter will be delayed until definite date and event information can be obtained. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused much uncertainty about event dates.

There was no information from the engineers about installing the fire hydrant on Chestnut Street.

Trustee Brian Gleason reported that the Finance Committee recommended using GroupCast Intrado for the Village’s emergency notification system. Residents would be notified by means of voice mail, text messages, and Facebook posting. There were concerns that the older residents might not have access to the methods used. The quote for a one-year contract for 6,000 residents was $750 set up fee and $4,850 for services for one year. The quote for a five-year contract for 6,000 residents was $350 set up fee and $2,700 per year. The quote was valid through March 30. Chief Ben Doan will call GroupCast to make sure messages are left on land lines and to see if the quote deadline can be extended due to the fact that the Board does not meet until April 6. Otherwise, a special meeting might be required.

Trustee Paulette Johnson reported that the drywall is finished at the park house.

Trustee Cristy Desormeaux reported that she is still waiting to hear from IDOT about the crosswalk and sign on Highway 51.

The next village board meeting will be held Monday, April 6 at 7 PM at the village hall. If the board is unable to meet in person because of COVID-19, the Open Meetings Act requirements for meeting in person have been suspended, and the Board will be able to meet via telephone conference. The telephone conference will be available to the public for their participation.

Motion made by Brian Gleason, seconded by Jennifer Morgan, to adjourn at 8:25 PM. Motion carried.

https://villageofdesoto.com/uploads/1/2/5/0/125085618/minutes_3-16-20.pdf