Carbondale Reporter

Village of Makanda Board of Trustees met Oct. 1.

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, Allen, Ross, Dalton, and Wolff, were present. Trustee Pitcher was absent.

After Roll Call: President asked for a motion to change the order of the agenda for this meeting and move Executive Session to after Reports of Special Committees. Trustee Wolff made a motion to change the order of the agenda for this meeting. It was seconded by Trustee Ross. Voice vote. All members present at roll call voted yes. Motion carried.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: President asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the last meeting. Trustee Wolff made a motion to approve 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:

Denny Kortkamp, owner of Apple Creek Golf Club, and Daniel Kaufman Wagner, of Apple Creek Gold Club. Denny advised that he had purchased the Stone Creek Golf Course and changed the name to Apple Creek Golf Club. He reported that they are in the process of revitalizing the Club House and building new greens. They hope to have the restaurant open by the end of March 2025. Apple Creek Golf Club will remain a private facility. Currently there is no set date to open the greens, hopefully March 2025 when the greens are ready.

Victor and Michelle Cardenaz to observe.

Russ Kramer inquired if there were any updates regarding Western Kentucky and Tennessee fiber optics project. President advised that about 20 people attended the Western Kentucky and Tennessee fiber optics meeting on September 24th. It was informational regarding proposed plans to run the wires on poles or buried underground as conditions dictate, and landowners give permission.

PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS President received correspondence from Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program for PY25. Information was posted at Post Office on September 18.

President received an invitation from Senator Dale Fowler and attended the groundbreaking event of an enclosed arena at Giant City Stables on September 16. The enclosed arena will greatly enhance the therapeutic horseback riding services offered to veterans and individuals with disabilities in our community.

President received an email from IML Risk Management to attend an Essential Safety Management Strategies Training Course on October 2 at The Pavilion in Marion from 9:00 am. to 12:00 p.m. President and Village Clerk will attend meeting.

CLERK:

TRUSTEES: Trustee Hilliard reported that Illini Asphalt had started their road work at 7:30 a.m. and finished at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday the 18th. Church Street and Crackersneck both got double coats. All others received a single coat. Heern Street was a little thin at the top. Trustee Wolff reported that someone had hit the mailboxes on McGuire Road Extension. They have been replaced with individual boxes. Trustee Dalton inquired why tree debris, from the recent storm had been removed from Makanda Road, but left in the ditch. Board discussed but unclear on who had done the work.

FISCAL MATTERS:

A. Treasurer’s Report: President presented the Treasurer’s Report to the Board. B. Bills Payable: President 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:

B. Ordinance Committee:

C. Street & Road Committee: The Boardwalk held a yard sale on September 14 and 15. Someone parked on the recently installed sidewalk in front of the bollards on Baptist Hill. President presented photos and recommended that No Parking signage be placed on the apron in front of the sidewalk and signs be placed on Baptist Hill stating No Parking/Violators Will be Towed at Owner’s Expense. Continual parking on the sidewalk may damage it.

D. Subdivision Committee:

E. Insurance Committee:

F. Playground Committee: President and Clerk met with Jim Closson from the Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association (IMLRMA) for a fall playground/park inspection, on September 25th. His letter of Loss Control Recommendations was received on October 1st and listed items previously discussed at the in-person meeting: playground equipment and mulch were in good condition, the stage at the Pavilion was added to the Village’s property and liability coverage, possible replacement of the stage, and the deteriorated condition of both the wooden bleachers and metal bleachers needs to be addressed. Replacing the bleachers is a possible option. Board discussed.

REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES:

A. Emergency Disaster Committee:

B. Special Events Committee:

EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion was made by Trustee Wolff to go into Executive Session to discuss salary increases. It was seconded by Trustee Allen. Voice vote. All Board members present at Roll Call voted yes. Motion carried. All nonmembers were asked to leave the room until the Board votes to end the Executive Session. The Board went into Executive Session at 7:45 p.m. and resumed regular meeting at 8:00 p.m.

ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS:

Approval of Resolution for Maintenance from IDOT for FY2025 of $3,000 to be used for Snow Removal. Trustee Wolff made a motion to approve Resolution for Maintenance from IDOT for FY2025 of $3,000 to be used for Snow Removal. It was seconded by Trustee Ross. Voice vote. All members present at roll call voted yes. Motion carried.

Approval of Ordinance 2024-4 for Increasing Salary of President, Clerk, Treasurer, and Trustees for the Village of Makanda, Illinois, Jackson County, Illinois. Ordinance was passed and approved by individual voice vote.

UNFINISHED/OLD BUSINESS: President provided an update regarding the Fiber Optic project. An informational meeting, by invitation, took place on September 24th in the B.C. Ross Community Center to introduce West Kentucky and Tennessee Telecommunications Cooperative and the fiber build process. There were approximately 20 residents who attended and approximately eight representatives for WK&T to answer any questions. A second event is being planned in Jackson County. They are looking at a target date of the last week of October or first week of November. President thanked Dan and Randy for their assistance in setup for the September 24th meeting.

President gave an update from an email she received from Jordan Haarmann with AGE regarding our Electric Aggregation with Homefield Energy. Ameren’s October 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025, rate has come in at $0.0809/kWh. This is a slight decline to their summer rate. Homefield Energy rate remains at $0.091/kWh through June 2025. They cannon make any changes to this rate until the current term ends. For comparison, a resident using 800/kWh’s a month right now would pay $72.80/mo. As part of our aggregation program. If that same resident using 800/kWh’s a month opted out and returned to Ameren’s supply service, they would pay $64.72/mo. A difference of $8.08/mo. using current rates. If residents wish to opt out of the aggregation program at this time, they should contact Homefield Energy at 866-694-1262 to request being removed from the program. At present, Homefield will be higher for the next 8-month period.

NEW BUSINESS: Request for approval of a liquor license from Apple Creek Golf Club was discussed. President has received paperwork and license fee requesting a Liquor License for Apple Creek Golf Club. A background check is in process of being completed. Motion was made by Trustee Wolf to approve liquor license for Apple Creek Golf Club once all requirements have been met. It was seconded by

Trustee Allen. Voice vote. All members present at roll call voted yes. Motion carried.

President provided a photo of a Makanda resident who has been dumping debris from the bridge into Drury Creek. The photo was taken on September 30 but is not close enough to verify the license plate. President also provided a photo of debris that was thrown in creek. This was the second sighting.

Trustee Hilliard recommended updating the amount the Village pays for mileage reimbursement to those of the State.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

ADJOURNMENT: President asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion was made by Trustee Ross and seconded by Trustee Wolff. Voice vote. All present at roll call voted yes. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 8:39 p.m.

https://villageofmakanda.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/October-1-2024-Board-Minutes.pdf