Carbondale Reporter

Village of Makanda Board of Trustees met May 3.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

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 roll of the Village Board: Trustees Allen, Dalton, Hilliard, Ross, Wolff, and Pitcher were present.

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

CITIZEN’S HEARING: Russ Kramer was present to observe.

PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS: Renewal for our SIMA membership of $50 has been received. The Southern Illinois Mayors Association (SIMA) provides a means for municipalities in the Southern Illinois area to cooperate in matters of mutual concern. SIMA has emphasized the theme of cooperation among area communities in solving common problems and in voicing concerns in the state capital. SIMA also has a strong working relationship with the Illinois Municipal League (IML). President asked for approval to renew the membership. All agreed to renew membership.

Email received from AmeriCorps NCCC advising they are planning for service projects for Fall. Project examples are weatherizing homes, trail building, blight removal projects, repairing and maintaining homes or public infrastructure, and building community gardens. President asked if this is something we want to pursue. There were no projects anyone could think of at this time.

President received a phone call from John Holt regarding a Turkey Vulture sculpture done by his father that he would like to donate to the Village if they are interested. A photo of the sculpture was provided. The sculpture is 2 ft. tall and 16 inches wide. Board was happy to accept donation of sculpture from Mr. Holt.

President was contacted by Rachel Graf of the IL Farm Bureau requesting approval of information to feature Vulture Fest in the Fall edition of the Illinois Partners magazine. President spoke with Debbie Dunn since she manages this event. Debbie responded to Rachel confirming information.

CLERK:

TRUSTEES: Trustee Wolff reported that the new truck bed has not arrived. But, as soon as it does arrive, they will take the new truck over to Edwardsville. Trustee Allen reported that the new truck bed should be in by the middle of May. Trustee Ross reported that the interior of the B.C. Ross Community Center was being painted. L and P Carpet will start installing the new flooring at the Community Center on May 9th. Trustee Ross will need a check from the Village Treasurer for partial, payment to L and P Carpet. There are tables in the Community Center that need to be moved, so the flooring can be installed. Trustee Ross took pictures of the places on Makanda Road that are hazardous and need to be repaired. She sent them to Carrie at IDOT. Trustees Ross and Dalton took pictures of the Frontier cables that have been exposed and laying on top of the ground, on Church Street. On April 16, Trustee Ross sent President pictures of exposed cables in ditch on Church Street across from Trustee Dalton’s. On April 26, President reported the exposed cables to Frontier. Trustee Dalton reported that Frontier did come out to Church Street, and she showed them where the exposed cables were located. The cables are in the Village ditches, where the Street and Road crew will be ditching and mowing. Trustee Dalton was told that Frontier would do nothing about the lines, until they were broken. Board discussed a previous /similar problem that the Village had with Frontier.

FISCAL MATTERS:

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

B. Bills Payable: Treasurer presented 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 Hilliard. Voice vote. All present at roll call voted yes. Motion carried.

Treasurer reported that interest rates continue to drop. He asked if the Board want him to explore where better interest rates might be available? Board asked him to check into the situation.

Effective with electric bills for Village buildings and street lighting, our electric supplier will be Ameren and not AEP Energy.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES:

A. Finance Committee:

B. Ordinance Committee:

C. Street & Road Committee: Dan advised President that there are only three bags of salt left. Rural King had a stock of salt and asked if it would be okay to purchase a pallet of salt to replenish our supply while we can find it. President gave permission to purchase.

Dan received an estimate from Aaron’s Tree Service to cut down and remove two trees along Crackers Neck that was previously discussed. Cost of cutting trees and leaving tree debris in tree line on side of road is $1,125. To haul away debris would cost an additional $450. Total cost would be $1,575. President recommended including debris removal if Board approves trees being cut down. A motion was made by Trustee Wolff to accept the estimate from Aaron’s Tree Service to cut down and remove the two trees on Crackers Neck. It was seconded by Trustee Ross. Voice vote. All members present at roll call voted yes. Motion carried. President asked Russ Kramer if the Village had some trees to be taken down would he be interested in looking at the trees and give the Village a bid. Russ Kramer agreed.

Dan has contacted Union County regarding cinders for winter. They have approved us getting two loads at no charge.

Trustee Hilliard gave each Board member a copy of the Annual Street and Road Report. Board reviewed and discussed the report. The roads recommended for oil and chip this fiscal year 2022 are: Community Center North Drive, Upper Eastern Star, Oak Grove Road, and Rowan Road/Cemetery Lane. Money for this comes

from specific allocations of Motor Fuel Tax Funds for 2022. Trustee Wolff made a motion to accept the Street and Road Report and to move forward with the plan. It was seconded by Trustee Dalton. Voice vote. All present at roll call voted yes. Motion carried.

D. Subdivision Committee:

E. Insurance Committee:

F. Playground Committee: Clerk has not yet received the playground inspection report from Jim Closson. Board discussed ways to anchor the bleachers at the basketball court.

REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES:

A. Emergency Disaster Committee:

B. Special Events Committee:

ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS: President presented the 2022 MFT Resolution. President calculated the amount for oil and chip to be $23,677.80. Total request is for $28,000. Trustee Ross made a motion to accept the 2022 MFT Resolution. It was seconded by Trustee Dalton. Voice vote. All present at roll call voted yes. Motion carried. President will get the Resolution to IDOT for approval and then to Illini for a bid. Present will present the bid to the Board at the next meeting.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

UNFINISHED/OLD BUSINESS: President was advised by legal counsel to send a follow-up letter to Jason Chrzan regarding Keller’s at Stone Creek liquor license. Letter was sent April 29th.

President received correspondence from our Select Energy contact reaffirming that Village residents who have continued with Homefield Energy as their electric supplier are locked in through December 2023 at $0.05400/kWh, even if Ameren increases their rate. Preliminary findings from Ameren indicate our municipal aggregation electric rate through Homefield Energy could be half the price of Ameren’s energy supply rate.

President provided an update regarding new swing set equipment at playground. Unfortunately, there is no swing set that will fit in the use zone space. We will need to keep the equipment we currently have and consider replacing the swing seats. Cost for three belt seats and one high back full bucket seat with chains is $480.60. Without chains cost is $316.80. Board was asked for approval to purchase seats. Board approved purchase of new swing set seats for Playground.

President advised Board that a copy of a permit granting construction of elevated building on Church Street, that was done in 2020, was received from Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Clerk reported that the Easter Egg hunt was a success. It was attended by approximately 25 young children. The children were divided into age groups. The youngest children were allowed to go first to hunt for eggs. Trustee Hilliard reported that the Masonic Lodge will provide a new deep freezer for the Community Center. This year the Masonic Family Picnic is tentatively to be held at the Lodge in Alto Pass.

NEW BUSINESS: A letter was received from Jackson County Health Department regarding 2022 training for solid mosquito larvicide application. Dan will attend the May 10th 1-hour training seminar on May 10 which will satisfy the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s requirement to allow him to dispense certain larvicides to catch basins, roadside ditches, and similar locations. We will also be eligible to receive free larvicide.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: The dates for Spring Clean Up have been revised. Spring Clean Up is scheduled for Saturday May 21st. Rain date will be May 28th.

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 8:16 p.m.

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