The Sidney Village Board met on the above date for the regular monthly meeting. The meeting was opened at 7:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. President Jason Arrasmith called the meeting to order. The following trustees were present: Bickers, Hooker, Gadeken, Laurent, Harris, and Schluter. Clerk Fish, Village Maintenance Employee Wilsey, Treasurer Reinhart and Attorney Miller were also present.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Dennis Austin approached the board inquiring if he and his neighbor, Nick Laurent, could purchase a piece of property that is owned by the Village of Sidney and located behind their properties. They would like to clean up the timber on it to help reduce the flooding behind their homes. Matt Laurent stated that before the Village sells the property that they should look into different uses for the land. The board decided to table the discussion for now. President Arrasmith asked Attorney Miller for advice on the sale of the land. Attorney Miller stated that the board would have to declare the land as surplus real estate, get it appraised, post it the newspaper, then sell it at a price no less than 80% of its’ value.
PRESIDENT ARRASMITH’S COMMENTS
President Arrasmith asked for a motion to approve the minutes for the March 1st, 2021 Board of Trustees meeting. Trustee Schluter moved that the minutes of the March 1st, 2021 Board of Trustees meetings be approved. Trustee Laurent seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President Arrasmith then asked Tony Bamert of Winston’s Old Bank to approach the board with his plan for an outdoor patio area behind their building. Attorney Miller stated that the board will need to enact an ordinance to allow outdoor alcohol consumption there. The board advised Attorney Miller to draft up an ordinance and to include that they must have a minimum of a five foot privacy fence around the area.
President Arrasmith then asked Brian Weimers of Illinois American Water to give the board an update on some of their projects. Mr. Weimers stated that they have been talking to property owners regarding a new location for the water tower. He plans to begin construction of the new water tower in summer of 2022.
President Arrasmith then asked Mike Roy, president of the Sidney Improvement Group, to give an update on Fun Daze. Mr. Roy stated that Fun Daze 2021 was a “go”. He also reported that he had a citizen request that SIG started a farmer’s market in the parking lot of the community building for the summer. He stated that there are simply not enough volunteers to pull something like this off.
President Arrasmith then asked the board to approve the annual contract with ESDA. Trustee Laurent made a motion to approve the contract with ESDA. Trusteee Harris seconded the motion; the motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President Arrasmith then asked the board to approve the Village of Sidney Board of Trustees meeting dates for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. Trustee Harris made a motion to approve the meeting dates for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. Trustee Laurent seconded the motion; the motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President Arrasmith then asked the board to approve the cost of the rental for the dumpsters for Dumpster Days on April 24th. Village Maintenance Employee Wilsey stated that we would need 8 dumpsters at $515 each, for a total of $4,120. Trustee Laurent made a motion to approve $4,120 to be spent on the rental of the dumpsters. Trustee Harris seconded the motion; the motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President Arrasmith then asked to board to consider approving the purchase of a new copier for the Village Clerk’s office. Trustee Gadeken made a motion to approve $899 for a new copier as well as $300 for the annual maintenance contract with DTI Office Solutions. Trustee Laurent seconded the motion; the motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President Arrasmith then asked the board to consider approving the Village’s $90 contribution to participate in Champaign County’s annual electronic recycling event. Trustee Laurent made a motion to donate $90 for our annual contribution toward the recycling event. Trustee Bickers seconded the motion; the motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President Arrasmith then asked to board to approve the annual contract with Champaign County Animal Control at a cost of $3,045.51. Trustee Laurent made a motion to approve the annual contract with CCAC at a cost of $3,045.51. Trustee Harris seconded the motion. The motion passed with all ayes with Trustee Hooker abstaining from the vote.
ATTORNEY MILLER’S COMMENTS
Attorney Miller did not have any comments.
JARIN WILSEY’S COMMENTS
Village Maintenance Employee Wilsey approached the board to get approval to purchase a new lawn mower for $11,173.16 which would include them giving us a trade in allowance of $2,145 for our current mower. He also stated that the Village’s other mower is getting close to the end of it’s life span as well. He said that Falcon’s out of Ogden can give us a deal for 2 new mowers for around $20,000. Trustee Laurent made a motion to approve up to $20,000 to purchase 2 new lawn mowers for the Village. Trustee Bickers seconded the motion; the motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
FINANCE REPORT
The financial reports were read by Trustee Hooker. Trustee Hooker moved that the bills be paid with the additions of Protection Associates for $135, Schulte Supply for $287.04, and Martin Equipment for $1,153.45. Trustee Bickers seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
STREETS AND ALLEY
Trustee Gadeken reported on the radar sign that was installed by the Dairy Barn. 55,4174 cars came through Sidney last month with 70% of those caught speeding by the radar. He also reported that the speed radar sign for the East side of town has been ordered and that it should be installed by the end of the month.
WATER/SEWER/UTILITY
Trustee Harris reported that Aaron Fenter shaved down the catch basin in Dunlap Woods, however, it was discovered that there is a sump pump buried that is draining into the ditch causing flooding problems for neighbors. We will need to talk to the resident about not draining into the ditch before we try to re-dig the drainage ditch and put in tile.
PUBLIC PROPERTY
Trustee Bickers reported that there were no permits issued.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Trustee Laurent would like to purchase garbage can for the downtown business area and also for the outside the Community Building. Trustee Hooker made a motion to spend up to $1,000 for the garbage cans. Trustee Harris seconded the motion; the motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Trustee Laurent then reported that all the new playground equipment is in place at Witt Park and that the signs that businesses have paid for at the ballfield are installed.
Trustee Laurent then reported that he and Clerk Fish are going to apply for a grant through Birkey’s Farm Store to install sidewalks along a portion of South Bryan Street and North Witt Park Road.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Trustee Schluter reported that the website is up to date and that residents can vote here tomorrow in the new Community Building.
Trustee Laurent made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:15pm; Trustee Bickers seconded the motion. The motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
__________________________ __________________________
Maggie Fish, Village Clerk Date approved
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Dennis Austin approached the board inquiring if he and his neighbor, Nick Laurent, could purchase a piece of property that is owned by the Village of Sidney and located behind their properties. They would like to clean up the timber on it to help reduce the flooding behind their homes. Matt Laurent stated that before the Village sells the property that they should look into different uses for the land. The board decided to table the discussion for now. President Arrasmith asked Attorney Miller for advice on the sale of the land. Attorney Miller stated that the board would have to declare the land as surplus real estate, get it appraised, post it the newspaper, then sell it at a price no less than 80% of its’ value.
PRESIDENT ARRASMITH’S COMMENTS
President Arrasmith asked for a motion to approve the minutes for the March 1st, 2021 Board of Trustees meeting. Trustee Schluter moved that the minutes of the March 1st, 2021 Board of Trustees meetings be approved. Trustee Laurent seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President Arrasmith then asked Tony Bamert of Winston’s Old Bank to approach the board with his plan for an outdoor patio area behind their building. Attorney Miller stated that the board will need to enact an ordinance to allow outdoor alcohol consumption there. The board advised Attorney Miller to draft up an ordinance and to include that they must have a minimum of a five foot privacy fence around the area.
President Arrasmith then asked Brian Weimers of Illinois American Water to give the board an update on some of their projects. Mr. Weimers stated that they have been talking to property owners regarding a new location for the water tower. He plans to begin construction of the new water tower in summer of 2022.
President Arrasmith then asked Mike Roy, president of the Sidney Improvement Group, to give an update on Fun Daze. Mr. Roy stated that Fun Daze 2021 was a “go”. He also reported that he had a citizen request that SIG started a farmer’s market in the parking lot of the community building for the summer. He stated that there are simply not enough volunteers to pull something like this off.
President Arrasmith then asked the board to approve the annual contract with ESDA. Trustee Laurent made a motion to approve the contract with ESDA. Trusteee Harris seconded the motion; the motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President Arrasmith then asked the board to approve the Village of Sidney Board of Trustees meeting dates for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. Trustee Harris made a motion to approve the meeting dates for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. Trustee Laurent seconded the motion; the motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President Arrasmith then asked the board to approve the cost of the rental for the dumpsters for Dumpster Days on April 24th. Village Maintenance Employee Wilsey stated that we would need 8 dumpsters at $515 each, for a total of $4,120. Trustee Laurent made a motion to approve $4,120 to be spent on the rental of the dumpsters. Trustee Harris seconded the motion; the motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President Arrasmith then asked to board to consider approving the purchase of a new copier for the Village Clerk’s office. Trustee Gadeken made a motion to approve $899 for a new copier as well as $300 for the annual maintenance contract with DTI Office Solutions. Trustee Laurent seconded the motion; the motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President Arrasmith then asked the board to consider approving the Village’s $90 contribution to participate in Champaign County’s annual electronic recycling event. Trustee Laurent made a motion to donate $90 for our annual contribution toward the recycling event. Trustee Bickers seconded the motion; the motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President Arrasmith then asked to board to approve the annual contract with Champaign County Animal Control at a cost of $3,045.51. Trustee Laurent made a motion to approve the annual contract with CCAC at a cost of $3,045.51. Trustee Harris seconded the motion. The motion passed with all ayes with Trustee Hooker abstaining from the vote.
ATTORNEY MILLER’S COMMENTS
Attorney Miller did not have any comments.
JARIN WILSEY’S COMMENTS
Village Maintenance Employee Wilsey approached the board to get approval to purchase a new lawn mower for $11,173.16 which would include them giving us a trade in allowance of $2,145 for our current mower. He also stated that the Village’s other mower is getting close to the end of it’s life span as well. He said that Falcon’s out of Ogden can give us a deal for 2 new mowers for around $20,000. Trustee Laurent made a motion to approve up to $20,000 to purchase 2 new lawn mowers for the Village. Trustee Bickers seconded the motion; the motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
FINANCE REPORT
The financial reports were read by Trustee Hooker. Trustee Hooker moved that the bills be paid with the additions of Protection Associates for $135, Schulte Supply for $287.04, and Martin Equipment for $1,153.45. Trustee Bickers seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
STREETS AND ALLEY
Trustee Gadeken reported on the radar sign that was installed by the Dairy Barn. 55,4174 cars came through Sidney last month with 70% of those caught speeding by the radar. He also reported that the speed radar sign for the East side of town has been ordered and that it should be installed by the end of the month.
WATER/SEWER/UTILITY
Trustee Harris reported that Aaron Fenter shaved down the catch basin in Dunlap Woods, however, it was discovered that there is a sump pump buried that is draining into the ditch causing flooding problems for neighbors. We will need to talk to the resident about not draining into the ditch before we try to re-dig the drainage ditch and put in tile.
PUBLIC PROPERTY
Trustee Bickers reported that there were no permits issued.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Trustee Laurent would like to purchase garbage can for the downtown business area and also for the outside the Community Building. Trustee Hooker made a motion to spend up to $1,000 for the garbage cans. Trustee Harris seconded the motion; the motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Trustee Laurent then reported that all the new playground equipment is in place at Witt Park and that the signs that businesses have paid for at the ballfield are installed.
Trustee Laurent then reported that he and Clerk Fish are going to apply for a grant through Birkey’s Farm Store to install sidewalks along a portion of South Bryan Street and North Witt Park Road.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Trustee Schluter reported that the website is up to date and that residents can vote here tomorrow in the new Community Building.
Trustee Laurent made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:15pm; Trustee Bickers seconded the motion. The motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
__________________________ __________________________
Maggie Fish, Village Clerk Date approved
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