Carbondale Reporter

Village of DeSoto Board of Trustees Met Feb. 22.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

President John Evans called the second 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:    Paulette Johnson         John Evans

Jennifer Morgan            Cristy Desormeaux

Eric Schuler

Absent:     Tony Rushing                Brian Gleason

Motion made by Paulette Johnson, seconded by Eric Schuler, to dispense with the reading of the minutes and to approve the regular meeting minutes of February 1, 2021, and the Bank Committee minutes of February 8, 2021.  Upon roll call vote:  Paulette Johnson – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler – Yes.  Motion carried.

Motion made by Cristy Desormeaux, seconded by Eric Schuler, to approve the January revenue report.  Motion carried.

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

Motion made by Eric Schuler, seconded by Cristy Desormeaux, to table discussion on the water rate increase until Trustee Tony Rushing is back.  Motion carried.

Motion made by Paulette Johnson, seconded by Jennifer Morgan, to suspend the rules and to consider agenda items 7-b (possibility of De Soto Township Fire Protection District purchasing land from the Village (and 7-c (Offer by the Village to purchase property at 215 N. Walnut St.) after agenda item 10-a (Resolution 2021-3 Appropriating Motor Fuel Tax Funds for paving the parking spaces along Highway 51).  Upon roll call vote:  Paulette Johnson – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler – Yes.  Motion carried.

Trustee Paulette Johnson reported that the Bank Committee will send letters to all the banks in the area.  She also said she had been able to locate the owner of the bank building.

The next Bank Committee meeting is scheduled for March 1 at 6 PM.

Motion made by Jennifer Morgan, seconded by Cristy Desormeaux, to approve the building permit for Leon Uttring to add a 10’ x 23’ front porch and a 2.5’ x 14.5’ bathroom to the house at 111 S. Hickory St.  Motion carried.

Motion made by Jennifer Morgan, seconded by Eric Schuler, to allow the Jackson County Board to use the east hall as a polling place for the April 6, 2021, Consolidated Election from 5 AM until approximately 10 PM and to waive the rental fee.  Upon roll call vote:  Paulette Johnson – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler – Yes.  Motion carried.

Trustee Morgan reported that Friday, March 5, from 6-8 PM and Saturday, March 6 from 8 AM to 1 PM are the dates and times for registration and equipment exchange for the Little League at the village hall east side.

Little League park clean up will be May 1, 2021, from 8 AM to 12 PM.  They will sell flowers for a fundraiser that day as well.

The next Little League meeting is March 24 at 6 PM.

Little League officers are Jeri McKinnies, President; Michael McKinnies, Vice President; Ashton Toliver, Treasurer; Jennifer Morgan, Secretary; Nathaniel White, Equipment Manager; and Kelly Bean, Concession Manager.

Trustee Cristy Desormeaux commended Director of Public Works David Griffin and his crew for doing a great job with the snow and ice removal.

Motion made by Cristy Desormeaux, seconded by Paulette Johnson, to pass Resolution 2021-3 appropriating $20,000 of Motor Fuel Tax funds for paving the parking spaces along Highway 51.  Upon roll call vote:   Paulette Johnson – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler – Yes.  Motion carried.

The budget meeting to set the 2021-2022 budget was scheduled for March 22 at 6 PM.

Director of Public Works David Griffin commented that it was good that the Village had replaced those water lines.  There were no breaks or problems during the frigid cold like other towns had.

Mr. Griffin reported that he plans to spend about $1,000 on signs to replace old ones.

Motion made by Paulette Johnson, seconded by Jennifer Morgan, to go into executive session at 7:34 PM to discuss acquisition and sale of land, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5).  Upon roll call vote: Paulette Johnson – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler – Yes.  Motion carried.

Trustee Jennifer Morgan left the meeting at 7:50 PM.

Motion made by Eric Schuler, seconded by Cristy Desormeaux, to come out of executive session at 7:57 PM.  Upon roll call vote:  Paulette Johnson – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler – Yes.  Motion carried.

No action was taken on the potential sale of land to the De Soto Township Fire Protection District.

Motion made by Paulette Johnson, seconded by Cristy Desormeaux, to offer $4,500 to the owner of the property at 215 N. Walnut Street to purchase the property, to be paid from the Village’s Revitalization Fund.  Upon roll call vote: Paulette Johnson – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Eric Schuler – Yes.  Motion carried.

The next village board meeting will be held Monday, March 1 at 7 PM in person at the Village Hall.

Motion made by Cristy Desormeaux, seconded by Eric Schuler, to adjourn at 8:02 PM.  Motion carried.