PLEDGE
 
APPROVE MINUTES                                   August 7, 2017, meeting
                                                                       
PUBLIC COMMENTS                                  Library Representative                                  
                                                                                               
                                               
PRESIDENT WHITE'S COMMENTS          *Procedure Manual for Employees
                                                                        *Building
                                                           
ATTORNEY'S COMMENTS                       
 
COMMITTEE REPORTS:                                                                                                                                                                            
Earl Bennett’s Comments                              
                                                                       
Finance                                                            *Approval of Monthly bills
                                                                        *Audit Report
                                                                       
Street and Alley                                              *Street Oil & Chipping
                                                                        *Tile at Keller Automotive                                                               
                                                           
Water and Drainage                                        *Monthly Report       
                                                                        *Meter Upgrades
                                                                        *Leak Survey
                                                                        *Estimate of Costs for Inventory Report
                                                                        *LOCIS Charges
                                                                       
Public Property                                               *Tree & Stump Removal Bids/Approval
                                                                        *ESDA
                                                                       
Parks and Recreation                                     
                                                                       
Community Development                                                                 
                                                                                   
New & Old Business 
 
Adjourn

            The Sidney Village Board met on the above date for the regular monthly meeting.  President White called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.   The following trustees were present:  Arrasmith, Finn, Bickers, Roberts, McCloud and Schluter.  Supervisor of Operations Bennett, Treasurer Reinhart, and Clerk Moore  were also present.  Attorney Miller was absent.
 
            Trustee McCloud moved that the minutes of the August 7, 2017, Board of Trustees meeting be approved.   Trustee Finn seconded the motion.  The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
           
            PUBLIC COMMENTS:
 
            Rosemary McCarrey, new director of the Sidney Community Library, was present to introduce herself and to ask for the Village's help with the Library audit.  The Library has not had an audit done for fifteen years; before that, it was done with the Village's audit.  No one is sure why that changed.  Mrs. McCarrey had a price from the Village's auditor and it was the same as the Village's.  She asked if the Library could be included in the new Village audit.  There was a general consensus of agreement, and Trustee McCloud will follow up with this.
           
            PRESIDENT WHITE'S COMMENTS
 
            The employees' procedure manual is a work in progress.
            President White appointed Trustees McCloud and Finn to a committee for a new building.  Trustee Schluter clarified that no Village money had been given to the Sidney Township for a building.  The money was approved but never paid. 
            President White had written a letter for Ameren, which he passed around to the Trustees to read.
            On electrical aggregation, Ameren's rate is lower than the negotiated rate with Homefield.  Homefield is going to be giving a credit of $3.50 to each customer for the next ten months.  President White is going to talk to Homefield about this because it does not take into account that some people are paying more.  People can still opt out of the agreement with Homefield.
           
 
            ATTORNEY MILLER'S COMMENTS:
 
            Attorney Miller was absent due to another meeting.
 
            EARL BENNETT'S REPORT
 
            Supervisor Bennett reported that the meter upgrading had been started.  The week of September 25 training will begin, including LOCIS. 
            The leak survey had been done.  One hydrant that was leaking had been sealed; another line going into a residence was fixed.  Everything has been repaired so the water useage should go way down.  12-15% loss is acceptable:  the Village's loss has been 26%.
If there is still a problem, we will have to look at the billing and at Illinois American Water.
            There are two hydrants that are hidden by residents' landscaping.  Supervisor Bennett will compose a letter to be sent to the homeowners to trim back the landscaping or it will be done by the Village. 
            The tile on Main has been repaired and also the one by Keller Automotive.
           
            FINANCE REPORT
 
            The financial reports were read by Trustee McCloud.  Trustee McCloud moved that the bills be paid.  Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion.  The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote. 
            The audit reports have been signed and returned.
           
             STREETS AND ALLEY
 
            The streets haved been oiled and chipped.  The cost came in $402 below the estimate.
           
            WATER/SEWER/UTILITY
 
            2,595,966 gallons of water were pumped in August with a daily average of 83,740 gallons.
            $24,798.61 was received in August. 104 penalty bills were sent.
            Engineer Mike Friend presented the estimate of cost in the form of a Task Order for a “Public Water Supply Inventory and Assessment.”  The estimate is $11,990 and would take 2-3 weeks to complete.  He also gave short explanations for the four main items in the proposed work: 

• Gather and review System background information, including meeting with the Superintendent of Public Works
• Compile a listing of assets inventory and condition
• Compile estimates of system present value and replacement costs
• Compile a report with narrative, summary, and attachments

            Trustee Roberts moved that Farnsworth Group of Champaign be retained to provide professional services to the Village of Sidney in connection with “Public Water Supply Inventory and Assessment” for a cost of up to $12,000.   Trustee Finn seconded the motion; the motion carried with all yes on a voice vote.
            President White asked Trustee Roberts to explain the reasons for the two recent water rate increases.  The one in February was to cover the increase  by Illinois American Water's in its rate to the Village.  The new increase is to cover the cost of the maintenance of the Village's water system per the study by Farnsworth.
 
 
            PUBLIC PROPERTY
 
            One building permit was issued in August:  13 Southview, fence, $50, #698.
            Trustee Arrasmith reported on the bids for the removal of thirteen (13) trees and for the stump removal.  There were two bids for the removal, and the lowest was J.T.'s Tree Service for $6,700.  There were three bids for stump removal, and the lowest was Leaf It to Us Total Tree Care for $1,250.  President White reported that there was a tree hanger that also needed to be removed and asked if the winning bidder could also do that.  Trustee Arrasmith moved that J.T.'s Tree Service be hired for an amount not to exceed $7,000 to remove the thirteen trees and the hanger.  Trustee Finn seconded the motion; motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.  Trustee Arrasmith moved that Leaf It to Us Total Tree Care be hired at $1,250 to remove thirteen stumps.  Trustee McCloud seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.  The trees are to be removed by December 1, 2017, as per bid.  Leaf It asked if they could have longer to remove the stumps because they have no control over when the trees will be removed.  That was granted.  The Trustees decided to ask Leaf It to give an estimate to remove other stumps in town, probably about twelve.   
           
            PARKS AND RECREATION
 
            Someone is needed to run the ballpark concession stand next year.  Trustee Bickers reported that there is now an on-line course for certification as a food handler, and he is willing to take it and be certified.  The cost is $145.  This will be put on next month's agenda.  He would then be the certified person on hand for the concession stand.  The concession stand makes about $4,000 for 6-8 weeks' work with more possible if the operator wanted to work tournaments and games on the weekends.  The concession operator pays the Village 10% of the profits.  
            President White had talked to Randy Grace from the Tolono Park District, which sponsors the soccer teams.  15-20 children from Sidney take part.
           
            COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
 
            Trustee Schluter said that can put the fall ball schedule on the Village web site as he had done for summer ball.
 
            NEW BUSINESS
 
             None
 
            Trustee McCloud moved that the meeting be adjourned.  Trustee Bickers seconded the motion; motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote. Meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.