The Sidney Village Board met on the above date for the regular monthly meeting. The meeting was opened at 7:00pm with the Pledge of Allegiance. President Arrasmith called the meeting to order. The following Trustees were present: Leroy Schluter, Donna Hooker and Matt Laurent. Trustee Bret Harris arrived at 7:10pm. Trustees Tyler Bickers and Dan Gadeken were not present as were Supervisor of Operations, Jeff Wyant. Attorney Marc Miller and Clerk Ashley Reinhart were present.
Public Comments:
Resident Kurt Foster was present and thanked the Village Maintenance crew for their mowing and clearing of limbs. Mr. Foster was also present to voice concerns over the solar project east of town and urge the Board to oppose certain parts of the waiver applied for regarding the project. President Arrasmith stated the project he is discussing is the much larger solar project and is not the current solar project being discussed during this meeting.
Approve Minutes:
President Arrasmith requested a motion to approve the minutes for the Sidney Village Board meeting August 5, 2024. Trustee Schluter made a motion to approve the monthly meeting minutes from the August 5, 2024, meeting. Trustee Laurent seconded the motion, and the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President Arrasmith's Comments:
Consideration of development requests concerning a proposed solar farm located at 24- 28-11-300-019- Shareholder Benjamin Jacobi from Polsinelli PC, Polsinelli LLP is present along with two engineers from Luminace for the proposed two (2) megawatt solar project located on about twelve (12) acres of parcel number 24-28-11-300-019 to discuss the need for written confirmation from the Village allowing the subdivision of the property. In 2018 Champaign County granted approval for the previous project, but due to proximity to the Village they would need the same for this portion of the project. President Arrasmith stated to his knowledge they would not need the permission from the Village, the question was then directed to Attorney Marc Miller to answer. Attorney Marc Miller responded stating the Village's Subdivision Ordinance does not apply to this project and that the Village does nothing because the project is far enough out of town a housing subdivision is unlikely.
Trustee Laurent inquired if the project is a new one or an extension of the previous project in the area. Mr. Jacobi responded no, it is not an extension of the previous project, it is being built by a different company, will be next to the previous project and will be about the
same size. Trustee Schluter inquired about the amount of property owned and were setbacks met. Mr. Jacobi stated about 109 acres adding the company was only granted four
(4) megawatts through the Special use Permit issued by the County, two (2) have already been built, this project would max out the Special Use permit issued by the County and all set back requirements have been met. Trustee Schluter made a motion to authorize the Village Board President to provide the County with a letter confirming the Village Subdivision Ordinance does not apply to the proposed solar farm at 24-28-11-300-019 as proposed under its existing special use permit issued by the County. Trustee Hooker seconded the motion, the motion then carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Attorney's Comments:Nothing to report.
Jeff Wyant's Comments:Discuss/approve Baxter Utility Service estimate for tree removal at the Porter property
President Arrasmith read on behalf of Jeff Wyant. The cost for the removal of the tree is
$5258.00. The tree is dead and does need to be removed. Trustee Brett Harris made a motion to approve the removal of the tree at 41OE. Bluff Street, spending up to $5300.00. Trustee Laurent seconded the motion, the motion then carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
October Dumpster Day- Saturday October 12, 2024, will be the fall dumpster date. The hours and location will be the same as the spring and last fall, 7am-11am at Witt Park. Jeff was not present, but he will inquire about price and present at the next Board meeting.
Finance:
Trustee Hooker read the finance reports. There were no additional bills added. Trustee Hooker made the motion to approve the monthly bills with no additions, Trustee Harris seconded, and the motion was carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Streets and Alleys:Nothing to report.
Water and Drainage:Nothing to report.
Public Property:Read by Clerk Ashley Reinhart. There were two permits issued. Permit# 793 for $50.00 at 107 Pleasant Drive for a fence. There was also a chicken coop permit issued for $25.00 at 302 E. Main Street.
Discuss/Approve removal of inoperable vehicles, cleanup of private property and sidewalk repair-will be moved to next month to discuss.
Parks and Recreation:Trustees Brett Harris and Matt Laurent have heard other Villages having issues in their parks at night. Trustee Harris and Laurent would like additional security lights added to Witt Park and discussed this with Baxter's Utility Service. The lights would be LED and come on automatically at night and turn off during the day. The cost of the lights will be $4375.63.
President Arrasmith stated the additional security lights are nice, but he does not want to disrupt those trying to enjoy the dark. Trustee Harris made a motion to approve up to
$4400.00, to be paid out of the General Fund, to have Baxter's Utility Service add four (4) security lights to Witt Park, located at 300 Witt Park Road. Trustee Laurent seconded the motion, the motion then carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Trustee Brett Harris would also like the community to know the Village will be hosting a college exposure camp November 3 at Witt Park for local athletes. Trustee Hooker asked if there would be concessions that day, Trustee Harris was unable to answer regarding that, but he did state there will be several people traveling through town and local business should do well.
Community Development:Nothing to report.
New and Old Business:Nothing to report.
Adjourn:Trustee Schluter made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Laurent seconded the motion, and the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote. The Meeting was adjourned at 7:40pm.
Public Comments:
Resident Kurt Foster was present and thanked the Village Maintenance crew for their mowing and clearing of limbs. Mr. Foster was also present to voice concerns over the solar project east of town and urge the Board to oppose certain parts of the waiver applied for regarding the project. President Arrasmith stated the project he is discussing is the much larger solar project and is not the current solar project being discussed during this meeting.
Approve Minutes:
President Arrasmith requested a motion to approve the minutes for the Sidney Village Board meeting August 5, 2024. Trustee Schluter made a motion to approve the monthly meeting minutes from the August 5, 2024, meeting. Trustee Laurent seconded the motion, and the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President Arrasmith's Comments:
Consideration of development requests concerning a proposed solar farm located at 24- 28-11-300-019- Shareholder Benjamin Jacobi from Polsinelli PC, Polsinelli LLP is present along with two engineers from Luminace for the proposed two (2) megawatt solar project located on about twelve (12) acres of parcel number 24-28-11-300-019 to discuss the need for written confirmation from the Village allowing the subdivision of the property. In 2018 Champaign County granted approval for the previous project, but due to proximity to the Village they would need the same for this portion of the project. President Arrasmith stated to his knowledge they would not need the permission from the Village, the question was then directed to Attorney Marc Miller to answer. Attorney Marc Miller responded stating the Village's Subdivision Ordinance does not apply to this project and that the Village does nothing because the project is far enough out of town a housing subdivision is unlikely.
Trustee Laurent inquired if the project is a new one or an extension of the previous project in the area. Mr. Jacobi responded no, it is not an extension of the previous project, it is being built by a different company, will be next to the previous project and will be about the
same size. Trustee Schluter inquired about the amount of property owned and were setbacks met. Mr. Jacobi stated about 109 acres adding the company was only granted four
(4) megawatts through the Special use Permit issued by the County, two (2) have already been built, this project would max out the Special Use permit issued by the County and all set back requirements have been met. Trustee Schluter made a motion to authorize the Village Board President to provide the County with a letter confirming the Village Subdivision Ordinance does not apply to the proposed solar farm at 24-28-11-300-019 as proposed under its existing special use permit issued by the County. Trustee Hooker seconded the motion, the motion then carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Attorney's Comments:Nothing to report.
Jeff Wyant's Comments:Discuss/approve Baxter Utility Service estimate for tree removal at the Porter property
President Arrasmith read on behalf of Jeff Wyant. The cost for the removal of the tree is
$5258.00. The tree is dead and does need to be removed. Trustee Brett Harris made a motion to approve the removal of the tree at 41OE. Bluff Street, spending up to $5300.00. Trustee Laurent seconded the motion, the motion then carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
October Dumpster Day- Saturday October 12, 2024, will be the fall dumpster date. The hours and location will be the same as the spring and last fall, 7am-11am at Witt Park. Jeff was not present, but he will inquire about price and present at the next Board meeting.
Finance:
Trustee Hooker read the finance reports. There were no additional bills added. Trustee Hooker made the motion to approve the monthly bills with no additions, Trustee Harris seconded, and the motion was carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Streets and Alleys:Nothing to report.
Water and Drainage:Nothing to report.
Public Property:Read by Clerk Ashley Reinhart. There were two permits issued. Permit# 793 for $50.00 at 107 Pleasant Drive for a fence. There was also a chicken coop permit issued for $25.00 at 302 E. Main Street.
Discuss/Approve removal of inoperable vehicles, cleanup of private property and sidewalk repair-will be moved to next month to discuss.
Parks and Recreation:Trustees Brett Harris and Matt Laurent have heard other Villages having issues in their parks at night. Trustee Harris and Laurent would like additional security lights added to Witt Park and discussed this with Baxter's Utility Service. The lights would be LED and come on automatically at night and turn off during the day. The cost of the lights will be $4375.63.
President Arrasmith stated the additional security lights are nice, but he does not want to disrupt those trying to enjoy the dark. Trustee Harris made a motion to approve up to
$4400.00, to be paid out of the General Fund, to have Baxter's Utility Service add four (4) security lights to Witt Park, located at 300 Witt Park Road. Trustee Laurent seconded the motion, the motion then carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Trustee Brett Harris would also like the community to know the Village will be hosting a college exposure camp November 3 at Witt Park for local athletes. Trustee Hooker asked if there would be concessions that day, Trustee Harris was unable to answer regarding that, but he did state there will be several people traveling through town and local business should do well.
Community Development:Nothing to report.
New and Old Business:Nothing to report.
Adjourn:Trustee Schluter made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Laurent seconded the motion, and the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote. The Meeting was adjourned at 7:40pm.
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