Trustee Schluter moved that the minutes of the January 2, 2017, Board of Trustees regular meeting be approved. Trustee Roberts seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
There were no public comments.
PRESIDENT WHITE'S COMMENTS
President White reported that a resident on Main Street had been sent a letter from the Village asking that he stop discharging water onto Main Street and he had not complied. The Board asked Attorney Miller to write him a letter outlining the penalties if he does not comply.
The Board was going to vote on paying the application fees for Brett Bennett and Tyler Bickers for their licenses. Mr. Bickers reported that he had found someone to run the concession stand who already had a food handler's license so that he would not be taking the training. Mr. Bennett will let the Board know at the next meeting what his fee was.
President White sent around a thank you note from Suzanne Hendren.
ATTORNEY MILLER'S COMMENTS:
Attorney Miller presented the revision of the 2014 ordinance regarding the salaries of the President and the Trustees. Trustee Arrasmith moved that Resolution 2017-01, An Ordinance Regarding Salaries of Village President and Village Trustees, be approved. Trustee Finn seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Attorney Miller then presented the travel reimbursement ordinance. The Board decided to authorize the Board President approve travel expenses less than $500, and that was added to the ordinance in F6. Trustee Arrasmith moved that the Board of Trustees accept as presented Ordinance 2017-02, An Ordinance Regulating the Reimbursement of Village of Sidney Employees and Officials for Travel Expenses. Trustee Roberts seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
EARL BENNETT'S REPORT
Supervisor Bennett reported that the accounting for the motor fuel tax fund has had errors dating back to 2010 but now is up-to-date with $7,425.78 to be transferred to the MFT fund from the general fund. Trustee Arrasmith moved that $7,425.78 be transferred to the motor fuel tax fund from the general account. Trustee Finn seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
It is time for the letters to go out to the sponsors of signs at the ball park. This is something Keith Kropp always did. Tyler Bickers was present and said that he will work on this.
Supervisor Bennett has been trying to find a refrigerator for the concession stand and has not been able to. It has to be a commercial refrigerator and he was hoping to find a used one.
Brett Bennett will be taking his Class C Water Operator Classification test on February 14, and then he and Supervisor Bennett will be going to a course on trench entrapment and rescue on February 15 and 16 at Arthur.
WATER/SEWER/UTILITY
Trustee Roberts introduced Dennis Cummins and Mike Friend from the Farnsworth Group to make a presentation on a water study for the Village. A water study would include analyzing data provided them by the Village and proposing improvements and refurbishing to the water mains and the rest of the water system. They would come up with a budget and look at data for rates to cover the costs of the improvements. The cost for this study would be $8,000. After discussion, the vote on the proposal will be on next month's agenda and the contract will be supplied to all the Trustees and President so that they will be informed.
Trustee Arrasmith said that he was not comfortable with waiting to raise the rates until all this was done because the Village is losing money each month now that Illinois American Water has raised its rates almost 15%. He suggested that we raise the rates now to cover the rate increase by Illinois American Water and have another raise when the study has been done. Public comments were that the Village should make sure that the residents know why their rates are being increased and perhaps what each gallon of water costs the Village to provide. After much discussion, Trustee Roberts moved that the Village increase its water rate to $24.50 for the first 2,000 gallons and $12.50 for each additional 1,000 gallons or percentage thereof to cover the Illinois American Water increase. Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
2,602,876 gallons of water were pumped in January with a daily average of 83,963 gallons.
$26,058.22 was received in January with $50.86 in sewer planning money. 137 penalty bills were sent.
FINANCE REPORT
The financial reports were read by Trustee Finn. Trustee Finn moved that the bills be paid with the additions of $250 to the Illinois Municipal League for membership renewal, $10.90 to Personnel Concepts for labor law posters, and $$850 to Kevin Sanderson for tree removal. Trustee Schluter seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
STREETS AND ALLEY
No report
PUBLIC PROPERTY
No building permits were issued in January.
Kevin Sanderson has finished the work on West Main Street and still has the tree at 202 East Main.
Trustee Arrasmith reported the sign on the front door of the Community Building posting the hours of the Village Clerk has been completed at $40, way under the bid.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Tyler Bickers reported that ball signups are scheduled for February 11, 2-4 p.m., February 23, 6-8 p.m., and March 4, 2-4 p.m. The fee structure is $45 for one child, $85 for two, and $120 for three or more.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Nothing to report
NEW BUSINESS
Supervisor Bennett reported that the Village needs to purchase a trailer to haul the lawn mower. He has been borrowing other people's trailers. This will be on the agenda for next month.
Trustee Arrasmith moved that the meeting be adjourned. Trustee Schluter seconded the motion; motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote. Meeting was adjourned at 8:45 PM.