Carbondale Reporter

Village of Makanda Board of Trustees met Feb. 6.

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 7:00p.m. by President Tina Shingleton.

ROLL CALL: Clerk called the roll of the Village Board: Trustees Hilliard, Pitcher, Allen, Ross, Dalton, and Wolff, 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 from the last meeting. It was seconded by Trustee Ross. Voice vote. All members present at roll call voted yes. Motion carried.

CITIZEN’S HEARING: Russ Kramer inquired if there had been any new developments on fixing Baptist Hill Road. President Shingleton replied that it was still a work in progress, and she had several more leads to look into.

PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS: Email was received from Senator Dale Fowler’s office regarding a Valentines for Seniors Drive from January 5- February 5. They were requesting help by writing cards to those living in assisted living and long-term care facilities throughout the 59th Senate District for delivery. President purchased 9 cards from the Village and sent to Senator Fowler’s office on January 17. Cost of cards was $9 and postage to send to Senator’s office was $5.40. Reimbursement is not necessary.

Correspondence was received from the Jackson County Clerk & recorder office regarding use of the B.C. Ross Community Center for Primary Election March 19, 2024 and the General Election November 5, 2024 from 5 a.m. until approximately 10 p.m. or until the election judges have completed their requirements. Letter was given to Trustee Ross who assists in setting up the polling place.

President completed and submitted the annual Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) on January 29. This survey is voluntary, but participation is strongly encouraged. The Census Bureau uses this information for data collection, tabulation, and dissemination for the decennial census, American Community Survey (ACS), Population Estimates Program (PEP), and many other censuses and surveys. The Federal Government allocates more than 2.8 trillion in federal funds annually for health, welfare, infrastructure, education, and other federal programs and services. Correct boundaries ensure governments receive funds appropriately and have the best data available for their decision-making processes. We did not have any boundary changes to report. We did not have any boundary changes to report.

President received Certificate of Status of Exempt Property for Village property from the Chief County Assessment Office which is required annually. There were no changes to report.

President met with Darrell Bryant, Executive Director, Jackson Growth Alliance on January 25 to see if there was anything they might be able to assist with. President advised Mr. Bryant that the Boardwalk makes Makanda unique and attracts tourists to the area. Some items discussed were resurfacing of Baptist Hill and Makanda

Road and Broadband service. Mr. Bryant responded on January 31 that the internet company WK&T will start the countrywide build in the Makanda area but did not have an exact date of when this would happen.

CLERK: Clerk reported she had asked President Shingleton for approval to have an accounting firm do the W2 forms for the Village, this year. Clerk reported that the accounting firm was very efficient and secure. Clerk suggested that going forward, the Village should retain an accounting firm to do the Village W2’s and 1099 tax forms plus the monthly and quarterly state and federal reporting. An accounting firm would all the correct computer programs, be up to date on new laws, reporting changes, and is more secure. Several Board members reported that they use an accounting firm for their taxes and were satisfied with their work. Treasurer suggested using the accounting firm in Anna that currently does the Village’s annual audit.

TRUSTEES: Trustee Wolff reported that the guard rail on McGuire and Poplar Camp Road is holding up. Trustee Ross reported that she is continuing to collect tourism information on how vital Baptist Hill Road is to the area. Trustee Ross will have President Shingleton review the information. Trustee Ross inquired if the Village was going to be able to complete all the projects that had been determined for the current fiscal year. She also mentioned updating the Community Center Display Case. President Shingleton replied that there was still money in this year’s budget to complete the projects. The current fiscal year ends April 31, 2024, and projects would need to be paid out by that date. Re-keying the Community Center was discussed. Trustee Hillard is in the process of getting a bid for the locks on the Village Hall and will ask about the Community Center locks. Changing the locks may be another option. Trustee Dalton reported that she had called Ameren and they did come out and trimmed some branches that were tangled in the wires.

FISCAL MATTERS:

A. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer presented the Treasurer’s Report to the Board. 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 Dalton. Voice vote. All present at roll call voted yes. Motion carried.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES:

A. Finance Committee: There will be the annual Finance Committee Meeting on Saturday February 10th at 9 a.m. in the Village Hall.

B. Ordinance Committee:

C. Street & Road Committee: President has contacted Village legal counsel regarding the exchange with Makanda Township of Sheppard Lane and a part of Poplar Camp Road. He will check into this and contact Makanda Township to discuss.

At last months’ meeting Trustee Ross mentioned that Crackers Neck should be one word. President contacted Jackson County 911 office, and, after some research, they advised that in 1982 a map shows Crackers Neck as two words and 911 removed apostrophes from street/road names.

Trustee Ross inquired if the Village was going to add additional cement blocks to protect the sidewalk by the Church at the bottom of Baptist Hill Road. Board agreed that additional blocks were needed to protect the sidewalk and the culvert underneath it. Trustee Pitcher reported that there was a tree down at Pritchard property on Rowan Road. Trustee Pitcher inquired how to determine if the tree was on the Village right of way property and then the Village would be responsible for removing it if it was. The standard measurement to determine Village right of way is 20 feet from the center of the road.

D. Subdivision Committee:

E. Insurance Committee:

F. Playground Committee: President Shingleton advised that she had told Dan that when there is a break in the weather in March to go ahead and order mulch and spread it on the playground before the April Eclipse.

REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES:

A. Emergency Disaster Committee:

B. Special Events Committee:

ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS: President has been advised by legal counsel that the Village will need to pass an Ordinance regarding the IL Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Legal counsel provided a Policy for approval. A Fact Sheet on the IML website states “The Act does not require municipalities to pass paid leave ordinances.” After discussion, Board agreed not to adopt this Policy and table at this time.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

UNFINISHED/OLD BUSINESS: President contacted Frontier on 1/18 regarding phone at Village Hall. The phone line has been repaired. Since we have not had service for over a year, the Village will receive a credit.

Dan set off foggers at Community Center, replaced a ceiling above the stage area, fixed a light fixture in men’s restroom, and is checking on toilet paper holders for replacement in the women’s restroom. He and Randy have arranged chairs and tables as Trustee Ross recommended. Dan also returned the motorcycle to John Newsome that we had removed from the Pavilion some time ago and has been in the Village Hall garage.

President gave an update regarding the April 8, 2024 Eclipse. The group met on January 11 and things are progressing well. Next meeting is scheduled for March 14.

An email was received on January 3, 2024 from Jordan Haarmann with AGE (Select Energy) regarding our Municipal Electric Aggregation program. The rate we were paying through December 2023 was $0.05400/kWh. The new contract rate effective January 2024 is $0.084731 kWh and will be reevaluated in July. The plan on the rate side is to implement 12-month fixed rates throughout the remainder of the new contracts with Homefield Energy beginning in July 2024. Ameren’s rate through May 31 is $0.08638 kWh.

President spoke to legal counsel February 5, 2024, regarding status of property purchase from Bud Barnett and John Newsome. He is working on to resolve.

NEW BUSINESS: Greg Tunison at 78 Crackers Neck inquired on January 9 how much room from the road to put the last step down from his yard so they will not be in the way of any road maintenance. Dan checked this out and marked where 12’ from the center of the road to the bottom of the first step would be. An email and photo of this was sent to Mr. Tunison on January 12.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

ADJOURNMENT: President asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion was made by Trustee Wolff and seconded by Trustee Dalton. Voice vote. All present at roll call voted yes. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

https://villageofmakanda.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/February-6-2024-Board-Minutes.pdf