Carbondale Reporter

Village of Warrensburg Village Board met April 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Riley called the meeting to order at the Warrensburg Village Hall on Monday, April 17, 2023 at 5:30 p.m., reminding everyone the meeting was being recorded.

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

ROLL CALL: Present: Mayor Riley, Trustee Fisher, Trustee Freeman, Trustee Hackl, Trustee Hood, Trustee Netherton & Trustee Oakley. Also present were Chief Wheeler, Atty Jankowicz, DPW Allen & VAC Hundley.

MAYOR’S COMMENTS: Mayor Riley let the board know that the Corn Festival received a grant from the IL Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunities in the amount of $19,500.00. It is a reimbursable grant and the festival has to match the funds as well. Only certain expenses are eligible, such as main stage entertainment, rental equipment and staff that might be needed for clean-up or shuttle drivers. He also announced the entertainment line-up for the festival. There will be another fundraiser breakfast on May 13 at the DaBurg. That date should also sound familiar as that is the Village clean-up day.

Last Tuesday, there was a pre-construction telephone conference meeting for the Safe Routes to School project. It involved IDOT, Chastain & Associates and Kinney Contractors and the main take away from the call was they are scheduled to start this week.

Mayor Riley also updated the board on a couple water line issues which were due to the fiber optic lines which are being laid. Danny Hadley was called in to assist with the repairs and Mayor Riley also talked with him about continuing to assist, when necessary, with the JULIE markings. One of the lines that was hit last week was due to not being properly marked and with Danny’s 30 years’ experience with the water lines, his expertise could be valuable for this service. The fiber optic company that is here now is almost done but we know there are others in the near future.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: None

NEW BUSINESS: Nothing.

ENGINEER: Stephanie Brown with Chastain & Associates added to the SRTS. She mentioned she has started a GIS layer and if Danny or any of the public work staff want to take pictures that could be added to it, it would be good idea for future use. A question was raised as to what could happen with the water meters that are along the sidewalk route. They would either have to go around them or move the meter. It was also mentioned there are mailboxes to be considered. Stephanie asked if the homeowners along the route had been contacted about the work being performed. It would be a nice gesture to keep them informed. (She was asking about Kinney Contractors)

REVIEW/APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A motion was made by Trustee Freeman, seconded by Trustee Oakley to approve the minutes of the April 3, 2023 regular meeting. Motion carried. A motion was made by Trustee Freeman, seconded by Trustee Oakley to approve the minutes of the April 3, 2023 closed session. Roll call vote: Yes – Trustees Oakley, Freeman, Netherton, & Hackl. Abstain: Trustees Fisher & Hood. Motion carried.

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK: Trustee Oakley mentioned there needs to be an additional transfer from the IL Funds General account to the SRTS checking account. Trustee Oakley moved and Trustee Freeman seconded to approve the Balance Sheet, pay the bills and make the appropriate transfers for April 17, 2023. VAC Hundley mentioned there had been enough deposits as of today to pay the Illini Drainage District invoice so that is included in the invoices to be paid. Other than that, most of the invoices and transfers are routine. Trustee Oakley pointed out the notation at the bottom of the sheet indicating the USDA loans payments, which will be due May 1. VAC Hundley stated they will be shown on the next sheet as actual payments but she wanted to make sure the board was aware of the upcoming payments. Roll call vote: Yes – Trustees Netherton, Freeman, Hood, Fisher, Hackl & Oakley. No - none. Motion carried.

VAC Hundley indicated she had included the YTD State of IL payments in each packet and that a transfer of the Cannabis Tax had been requested, which will be deposited into the Drug/Alcohol account.

VAC Hundley questioned how the board wanted to handle the payments to those residents who participated in the grant survey. There are 62 residents who participated, which would make $3,100.00. It will be shown on their water/sewer statement similar to how the Illini Drainage fee is shown rather than just a random credit to their balance, which they may not realize.

Mayor Riley mentioned the application for the grant was submitted last Monday.

FINANCE: Trustee Oakley moved & Trustee Freeman seconded to cap the increase in water rates for the next fiscal year at 4%. In the current rate ordinance, it is the greater of 2% or the CPI, which is currently between 7% and 8%, depending on where you look. Roll call vote: Yes – Trustees Hood, Fisher, Hackl, Oakley, Freeman & Netherton. No – none. Motion carried.

Trustee Oakley moved and Trustee Hood seconded to approve Ordinance #786 amending Section 2 of Ordinance #737 regarding Wastewater Service Charges. This will help align the language with the water rates. The water includes the CPI, whereas the wastewater section does not. If adopted, this would become effective FY25. Roll call vote: Yes – Trustees Netherton, Fisher, Hackl, Oakley, Hood & Freeman. No – none. Motion carried.

VAC Hundley mentioned she had received information from the State of Illinois in regards to the IL Funds policies and had made those documents available for each trustee.

BUILDING: Trustee Netherton stated he didn’t have anything. Mayor Riley mentioned the resident at 233 N Main had received a letter about the porch on his property and his boat/trailer which appeared to not have a current registration. The current porch will be remodeled and he obtained a valid sticker.

POLICE: Trustee Fisher didn’t have anything.

Chief Wheeler mentioned the 2016 squad car is still being repaired.

SEWER: Trustee Hackl mentioned the motor on the S Lift Station had quit. Terry Allen reported he had received 2 estimates, one from Decatur Industrial Electric for $1,028.00 and the other is from Bodine for $640 something plus freight. Mayor Riley asked DPW Allen to explain how the system works. Trustee Hackl moved to purchase the motor for the S Lift station, not to exceed $1,000.00. Trustee Oakley seconded. Mayor Riley questioned the amount not to be exceeded due to the fact if they have to go with the lower price and it happens to be Decatur Industrial Electric, it’s already over the amount in the motion. Trustee Hackl adjusted his motion to $1,200.00 and Trustee Oakley agreed. Trustee Oakley asked what the time frame could be for obtaining the motor. It was unknown. Trustee Netherton asked when the last time was that the sizing and volume of the pumps were checked. Mayor Riley referred to this as an emergency motion since it was not included on the agenda. Roll call vote: Yes – Trustees Hood, Freeman, Netherton, Fisher, Hackl & Oakley. No – none. Motion carried. Trustee Hackl mentioned to DPW Allen he would like to have a committee meeting to discuss the other pumps.

STREETS: Trustee Hood moved and Trustee Freeman seconded to contract with Warrensburg Tree Service to remove 2 trees at a cost of $2,000.00. He had attempted to get a quote from Xtreme Tree Service but they hadn’t responded. Roll call vote: Yes – Trustees Hackl, Oakley, Fisher, Netherton, Freeman & Hood. No – none. Motion carried.

WATER: Trustee Freeman didn’t have anything.

PUBLIC WORKS: DPW Allen didn’t have anything additional.

VILLAGE ATTORNEY: Atty Jankowicz reminded the trustees since they are stewards of Village Funds, they do need to solicit & document they have complied with policy and attempted to obtain at least 2 proposals for work to be done.

A court date has been set on April 25 for Rusty Simpson for contempt for not paying. Some funds have been received for prior fines.

Atty Jankowicz thanked Trustee Oakley for his service to the board and working with him on budget and appropriation business, making his job a little easier.

VAC Hundley asked if Atty Jankowicz had heard anything further from the other outstanding ordinance citation for Mares.

OTHER AND/OR OLD BUSINESS: Mr. Hawkins has if the trees that were being taken down were on private or Village property. They are located on the Village right-of-way.

Trustee Hackl moved and Trustee Netherton seconded to adjourn. Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 6:16 p.m.

The next meeting will be on Monday, May 1, 2023.

https://warrensburgil.com/meeting-info/