Carbondale Reporter

Village of Makanda Village Board met June 2.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Conference Call

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

CALL TO ORDER: Regular meeting of the Board of Trustees was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Tina Shingleton.

ROLL CALL: Clerk called the role of the Village Board: Trustees Allen, Wolff, Ross, Brouillette, Hilliard, and Dalton were present.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: President asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the last meeting. Trustee Wolff made a motion to accept the minutes. It was seconded by Trustee Hilliard. Voice vote. All members present at roll call voted yes. Motion carried.

CITIZEN’S HEARING: No Citizens

PETITIONS & COMMUNICATIONS: Correspondence received from IML Risk Management stating that we will be receiving our packet for insurance renewal. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, our renewal bill for insurance coverage in 2021 will not be more than we paid for 2020 and could be less if we do not have any significant changes. This is the third year in a row the RMA Board of Directors has taken action to freeze or lower program renewal rates and will continue to do their best each year.

Email received from Census Bureau advising they are beginning their next operation for the 2020 Census this week in southern Illinois Counties called Update Leave. This means a Census Bureau employee will update and verify the physical address of the household and Leave (drop off) a Uniquely Coded 2020 Census Questionnaire packet at the front door of the household. There should be no contact with the household. Temporary field staff from Illinois Census offices have been trained to observe social distancing protocols and will wear official government-provided protective equipment. These are households who normally receive their mail at the Post Office and not their primary residence. They should have had no prior communication with the Census Bureau until this time. This is to ensure the Census count is accurately attributed to the physical address of each household’s location.

IML sent an email advising preliminary estimated revenue forecasts for Municipal

Fiscal Year 2021, due to COVID-19. PPR Tax may experience a decrease from 2020 amounts of 30%, LGDF may experience 15%, MFT 15%, Transportation Renewal Fund is estimated at $14.50 per capita, and Use Tax should remain flat.

CLERK:

TRUSTEES: Trustee Ross inquired how the Board wanted her to proceed with Community Center rental deposit, for a July wedding that has now been postponed until May 2021.Rental rates have gone up, since the deposit was made. Board discussed, options. Board decided it was best to keep the deposit, not increase the rate, but change the date on the rental agreement. Trustee Ross reported that there is sewage leaking problem on Crackers Neck. President stated that the Health Department has already been there to check for the problem and did not find anything wrong. President will check her notes to confirm this. Trustee Ross also reported a rental property on Crackers Neck with a tree leaning on the house, and the landlord has not taken care of it.

President will contact the Health Department, and Trustee Ross will meet with them to show them property in question. Trustee Dalton reported that a resident on Church told her that the Village had done a good job with the cold patching that

had been done on Church Street.

FISCAL MATTERS:

A. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer presented the Treasurer’s report. 

B. Bills Payable: Treasurer presented the list of the bills payable.

President asked for a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report and pay the bills. Trustee Wolff made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s report and pay the bills. It was seconded by Trustee Dalton. Voice vote. All present at roll call voted yes. Motion carried.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES:

A. Finance Committee: 

B. Ordinance Committee:

C. Street & Road Committee: Trustee Ross reported that trees at the top of Heern Street, need to be trimmed back from the road. Trustee Ross inquired about repairs to curbing on Baptist Hill. It looks like road is dropping and more damage is occurring. President spoke with Karen at Buncombe Public Water District on May 18 regarding this issue. The water Board has been unable to meet the last couple of months due to the COVID-19 virus but will be holding their meeting on June 9. Karen will bring this to their attention and remind them repair still needs to be done.

Trustee Wolff reported that there are 3 ditches on McGuire Road that need to be cleaned out, in addition to others in the Village. Trustee Wolff recommended renting a track hoe. Trustee Allen has already talked to the Street and Road crew regarding using the track hoe to do the ditch cleaning, they estimate that with the track hoe, it will take about a week. Trustees were all in agreement. Trustee Allen will move forward with the project. Trustee Brouillette suggested that someone call the Frontier contact when work is planned and reminded the Board that the ditches will need to be JULIEd first. Trustee Allen reported that they will call JULIE before starting ditch work. Trustee Dalton asked that Trustee Allen come and check her driveway to determine where the Village road ends, and her driveway begins.

D. Subdivision Committee: 

E. Insurance Committee:

REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES:

A. Emergency Disaster Committee: 

B. Special Events Committee:

ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS: Clerk introduced the new sexual harassment model ordinance from the Illinois Municipal League. Clerk explained that this ordinance involves watching a power point presentation and signing an acknowledgement form, that every individual received a copy of the Village of Makanda ordinance prohibiting sexual harassment. Clerk will provide both documents at the next meeting. Clerk introduced Village of Makanda Ordinance 2020-3 Prohibiting Sexual Harassment. Trustee Wolff made a motion to accept Ordinance 2020-3. It was seconded by Trustee Allen. Voice vote. All present at roll call voted yes. Motion carried. President presented the 2020 Motor Fuel Resolution. Trustee Ross made a motion to accept the resolution. It was seconded by Trustee Dalton. Voice vote. All present t roll call voted yes. Motion carried.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: UNFINISHED/OLD BUSINESS:

Notices were sent postal mail on May 11 by Village legal counsel to property owners on Crackers Neck regarding abandoned property and asking they take immediate action to demolish, repair or enclose the buildings and remove garbage, debris and other hazardous, noxious, and unhealthy substances and materials. If there is no response from property owners and Village cleans up property, there will be a lien placed against the property for compensation for cleanup. Taxes on these properties have been sold as owners have not being paying them. It was suggested we may need to contact others who may have a lien against the property

Update regarding CN PTC Communications Tower:

Scheduled phone call with Larry Lloyd on May 15 was rescheduled and took place on May 27. We were advised by Larry that he would be in communication with Village legal counsel in the next week or so to respond to their previous conversation. We asked if CN would be requesting any permits from the Village. As before, he stated CN was going through the FCC permitting process. We commented FCC was for communication and not regarding the floodway issue. When asked if CN had been in direct contact with IDNR, Larry stated they had not.

The large rock fills along the tracks was also discussed. Larry stated the rock protects the railroad tracks, proposed tower, and the community. President stated it does not protect the Village residents on the west side of the creek and, in fact, would make flooding worse.

Next call is scheduled for June 12.

Trustee Ross reported that the area behind the Community Center, needs to be fixed for better drainage. Trustee Allen will look into it. Trustee Ross also reported that the picnic tables have not been returned to the Community Center, that had been taken to the Pavilion, during the last festival. Trustee Ross stated that any new signs regarding rules and regulations for the playground and Pavilion, should be at eye level.

Village Clean Up Day has been scheduled for July 11th, with July 18th as a rain date.

NEW BUSINESS:

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Trustee Ross announced that Makanda Baptist Church would be open on Sundays from 11 to 12 a.m. for worship services, they will be following state guidelines.

ADJOURNMENT: President asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion was made by Trustee Ross and seconded by Trustee Dalton. Voice vote. All present at roll call voted yes. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.

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