Carbondale Reporter

Village of De Soto Board of Trustees met Nov. 20.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

President Eric Schuler 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 

Brian Gleason           Eric Shuler

Eric Schuler              Jennifer Morgan

Cristy Desormeau     Rachel Alstat

Absent: 

Tony Rushing            Paulette Johnson

Motion made by Brian Gleason, seconded by Rachel Alstat, to dispense with the reading of the minutes and to approve them. Motion carried.

Motion made by Cristy Desormeaux, seconded by Jennifer Morgan, to approve the October revenue report. Motion carried.

Motion made by Rachel Alstat, seconded by Brian Gleason, to pay the list of bills. Upon roll call vote: Brian Gleason – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Rachel Alstat – Yes. Motion carried.

Motion made by Cristy Desormeaux, seconded by Jennifer Morgan, to suspend the rules to move Agenda Item 6E, Evaluation of City Maintenance Worker and Possible Raise, to after Agenda Item 11, Miscellaneous. Motion carried.

Savan Patel, owner of the 4-Way Quick Stop, was present to ask about getting the sale of alcohol on the ballot. Mr. Patel stated that he would like to sell packaged liquor at the 4-Way. He only wants to sell packaged beer and wine, no hard liquor. He does not want to sell open liquor on the premises.

President Schuler explained that because the Village is dry, a referendum is required. He explained that getting the question on the ballot required circulating a petition to get signatures of 25% of the registered voters residing in the Village of De Soto. The petition would be filed with the village clerk for the question to be placed on the ballot of the next municipal election, which will be held the first Tuesday of April in 2025.

Jim Closson, Loss Control Representative for Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association, presented the quote from the Risk Management Association for the Village’s risk management insurance. Mr. Closson reviewed the coverages provided by the policy, which included cyber protection. Mr. Closson also pointed out that Risk Management Association provides training for various areas of loss control and risk management. The annual premium for the policy with Risk Management Association was $38,800.00, which included the Illinois Municipal League membership fee.

Jared Sheffer, of Sheffer Insurance Agency, presented the insurance program renewal for Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust (ICRMT). Mr. Sheffer reviewed the coverages provided by the Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust policy. Cyber protection was not included in the policy, so a separate policy would be required. ICRMT also provides risk management and loss control services. The annual premium for the policy was $45,101,00. The annual premium for the cyber insurance would be $1,322.00

Both policies were competitive, but there were some differences in the types and levels of coverage. Risk Management Association had lower deductibles but also lower coverage limits on general liability, law liability, crime and public officials. ICRMT also offered coverages not included in the Risk Management Association policy.

Motion made by Jennifer Morgan, seconded by Cristy Desormeaux, to renew the risk management insurance policy with Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust for the annual premium of $45,101.00, effective December 1, 2023 through November 30, 2024. Upon roll call vote: Brian Gleason – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Rachel Alstat – Yes. Motion carried.

Motion made by Jennifer Morgan, seconded by Rachel Alstat, to renew cyber insurance with Cowbell Insurance Company for the annual premium of $1,322.00, effective December 1, 2023, through November 30, 2024. Upon roll call vote: Brian Gleason – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Rachel Alstat – Yes. Motion carried.

Motion made Cristy Desormeaux, seconded by Brian Gleason, to award $100.00 Christmas bonuses to all full time employees and $50 Christmas bonuses to the meter readers and crossing guard for a total of $850.00. Upon roll vote: Brian Gleason – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Rachel Alstat – Yes. Motion carried.

Director of Public Works Danny Vancil reported that the first two parking spaces of the municipal parking lot need to be reserved for the school zone crossing guard. Vehicles are parking there, and it blocks the crossing guard’s view of the children needing to cross the highway. Board members agreed to reserve the spaces, and they will be marked.

Trustee Cristy Desormeaux had spoken with Village Engineer Harold Sheffer about the proposed sidewalks. She will meet with him to discuss the proposed sidewalk on Reed Station Road. Mr. Sheffer said it is okay to proceed with the sidewalk on the south side of the school as well handicapped curbs.

Trustee Rachel Alstat scheduled a Sewer Committee meeting for Monday, November 27 at 5:30 PM. The purpose of the meeting would be to discuss lagoon sludge removal and wastewater treatment options.

Motion made by Cristy Desormeaux, seconded by Jennifer Morgan, to go into executive session at 9:03 PM to discuss personnel, pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1). Upon roll call vote: Brian Gleason – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Rachel Alstat – Yes. Motion carried.

Motion made by Cristy Desormeaux, seconded by Rachel Alstat, to come out of executive session at 9:22 PM. Upon roll call vote: Brian Gleason – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Rachel Alstat – Yes.

Motion made by Cristy Desormeaux, seconded by Jennifer Morgan, to increase Robert Roach’s pay by $1.00 per hour, based on his six-month evaluation, effective November 30, 2023. Upon roll call vote: Brian Gleason – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Rachel Alstat – Yes. Motion carried.

The next village board meeting will be held Monday, December 4, 2023, at 7:00 PM at the village hall.

Motion made by Rachel Alstat, seconded by Cristy Desormeaux, to adjourn at 9:26 PM. Motion carried.

 https://villageofdesoto.com/board-members--village-minutes--forms.html