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, McCloud, Catron, and Cokley. Village Clerk Moore, Supervisor of Operations Bennett, and Attorney Hendren were also present. Trustee Roberts was absent.
A motion was made by Trustee Arrasmith and seconded by Trustee McCloud to approve the minutes of the September 2, 2014, regular meeting. The motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Lynn Hoveln of the Sidney Library Board was present to thank the Board for the help it has given to the library. She announced that there would be an open house on Saturday, October 18 from 1-3 p.m. at the library. She asked if they could have wine at the open house, but the Board said that is against Village policy.
Roy Block brought up his concern about kids driving golf carts, sometimes too fast and too recklessly. A long discussion followed. Attorney Hendren said that it is against the law to have golf carts on the road unless the municipality has an ordinance to the contrary. So right now it is illegal for anyone to drive golf carts on the streets. Violations should be reported to the County Sheriff's office. Trustee Catron asked Attorney Hendren if he could provide any copies of what ordinances surrounding towns have passed. Attorney Hendren will send some to the trustees.
Keith Kropp, Sidney Improvement Group, questioned what was said at the last Board meeting about SIG and the donation to the basketball court. President White said that he was concerned that with the donation the SIG board would not enough money to fund next year's summer celebration. Discussion about having Breakfast with Santa and the Easter egg hunt was held. Mr. Kropp said that enthusiasm has dwindled and that there are not enough volunteers. He also said that bad weather canceled the Easter egg hunts the last two years they were held. Trustee McCloud volunteered to help and said she would get volunteers. Trustee Catron said that there needed to be a structure in place so that expectations were spelled out. Tim Osterbur, Sidney Township Supervisor, said that the Township wanted to get more involved with activities for young people. Trustee McCloud said that perhaps the Village, Township, and SIG could work together. There was much discussion. A planning meeting for SIG was set for Thursday, November 13, at 7:00 p.m. at the Township Hall.
PRESIDENT WHITE'S COMMENTS
President White asked if the Board wanted to keep the trick-or-treat hours the same as in years past: October 31, 6-8 p.m. The Trustees agreed to do so.
President White announced that there were five applicants for the Village Treasurer position and that he and Clerk Moore were interviewing them Monday, October 13.
A contractor is coming October 13 to look at remodeling the old library space for a village office. President White hopes to get one more contractor to give a bid.
Reg Ankrom asked for a contract extension resolution on electrical aggregation so that he can start getting bids from suppliers. Trustee Catron said he supported doing this now but thought the Village should bid out the contract every five years or so. After Attorney Hendren looked at the contract and had some concerns, it was decided not to act on the matter tonight but put it on the agenda for next month. In the meantime, Attorney Hendren will look at the resolution more closely to see if some changes should be made.
President White gave a short report on the IMLA conference that he attended. The highlights were Victory Park and the Clean Water plan. He will share more at a later meeting.
Clerk Moore announced that the Peoples Party caucus was set for December 1, the same night as the Board meeting. It was decided to have the caucus at 6:00 and the Board meeting at its regular time of 7:00.
ATTORNEY HENDREN'S COMMENTS:
Attorney Hendren presented Ordinance No. 2014-07, an Ordinance Regarding Salaries of Village President and Village Trustees. Trustee Arrasmith moved that Ordinance 2014-07 be adopted. Trustee McCloud seconded the motion. Trustee Catron brought up during the roll call vote some concerns. After some discussion, Attorney Hendren was directed to make some changes. Later in the meeting, Attorney Hendren presented the amended ordinance with handwritten changes. Trustee Arrasmith then changed his motion to state that Ordinance No. 2014-07 as amended in pen and ink by Attorney Paul Hendren be adopted by the Village of Sidney Board of Trustees. Trustee McCloud seconded this motion. On the roll call vote, Trustees Arrasmith, McCloud, and Cokley voted aye and Trustee Catron voted nay. President White voted aye to make the majority of four as needed to pass the motion.
EARL BENNETT'S REPORT
Supervisor Bennett said that the storage shed is 90% completed.
219 and 317 South David had leaks that were repaired.
The Village truck was hit while parked at the maintenance building in a hit and run. Supervisor Bennett has submitted a claim to IMLRMA. The estimates he has received are $1,233 to 1,770, with a $500 deductible. Supervisor Bennett was told to use his best judgment on which bid to accept. Trustee Catron moved that the Village pay to repair the truck. Trustee Cokley seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
FINANCE REPORT
The financial reports were passed out. After reading them, Trustee Catron moved that the bills be paid with the addition of bills to Orkin for the year, Illiana Construction, and Donahue and Associates. Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote. Clerk Moore said that she had instructed Royal Bookkeeping to pay the sewer planning installments to bring the account up-to-date. The payment is not due until May 2015, but the Village has been making monthly payments. The Board agreed that it wanted to continue monthly payments.
The audit was passed out to those who wanted a copy, also reports from Martin, Hood, Friese and Associates, the audit firm.
STREETS AND ALLEY
Trustee Catron said that the basketball court had been poured. The equipment is in and waiting for the concrete to be poured to set the poles for the backboards. There is enough money left over to stripe the court.
WATER/SEWER/UTILITY
2,658,979 gallons of water were pumped in September with a daily average of 88,632 gallons. (Read by Supervisor Bennett)
$29,951.07 was received in September with $9,740.07 in sewer planning money. 119 penalty bills were sent. (Read by Clerk Moore)
PUBLIC PROPERTY
No permits was issued in September.
Trustee McCloud said that the codification speaker who was supposed to be at this meeting had cancelled.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Trustee Cokley had heard nothing from the Tolono Park District about the number of Sidney children who played in the soccer leagues.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Trustee Arrasmith reported that ESDA tested the siren and it worked. There is new technology available to make the siren workable where it is.
OLD AND NEW BUSINESS
Clerk Moore reported on her conference for Illinois Funds sponsored by the Illinois State Treasurer held at Charleston. There was an overview of the Illinois Funds and e-pay. A speaker told of grants available for disaster relief or projects that provided jobs. The mayor Washington, Illinois, told about his community's survival of the disaster in November 2013. The main points he emphasized were to know your community's disaster plan and your role in it, let the experts do their jobs, and have a reciprocal agreement for help with surrounding communities.
Trustee Catron moved that the meeting be adjourned at 9:40 p.m. Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Trustee Arrasmith and seconded by Trustee McCloud to approve the minutes of the September 2, 2014, regular meeting. The motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Lynn Hoveln of the Sidney Library Board was present to thank the Board for the help it has given to the library. She announced that there would be an open house on Saturday, October 18 from 1-3 p.m. at the library. She asked if they could have wine at the open house, but the Board said that is against Village policy.
Roy Block brought up his concern about kids driving golf carts, sometimes too fast and too recklessly. A long discussion followed. Attorney Hendren said that it is against the law to have golf carts on the road unless the municipality has an ordinance to the contrary. So right now it is illegal for anyone to drive golf carts on the streets. Violations should be reported to the County Sheriff's office. Trustee Catron asked Attorney Hendren if he could provide any copies of what ordinances surrounding towns have passed. Attorney Hendren will send some to the trustees.
Keith Kropp, Sidney Improvement Group, questioned what was said at the last Board meeting about SIG and the donation to the basketball court. President White said that he was concerned that with the donation the SIG board would not enough money to fund next year's summer celebration. Discussion about having Breakfast with Santa and the Easter egg hunt was held. Mr. Kropp said that enthusiasm has dwindled and that there are not enough volunteers. He also said that bad weather canceled the Easter egg hunts the last two years they were held. Trustee McCloud volunteered to help and said she would get volunteers. Trustee Catron said that there needed to be a structure in place so that expectations were spelled out. Tim Osterbur, Sidney Township Supervisor, said that the Township wanted to get more involved with activities for young people. Trustee McCloud said that perhaps the Village, Township, and SIG could work together. There was much discussion. A planning meeting for SIG was set for Thursday, November 13, at 7:00 p.m. at the Township Hall.
PRESIDENT WHITE'S COMMENTS
President White asked if the Board wanted to keep the trick-or-treat hours the same as in years past: October 31, 6-8 p.m. The Trustees agreed to do so.
President White announced that there were five applicants for the Village Treasurer position and that he and Clerk Moore were interviewing them Monday, October 13.
A contractor is coming October 13 to look at remodeling the old library space for a village office. President White hopes to get one more contractor to give a bid.
Reg Ankrom asked for a contract extension resolution on electrical aggregation so that he can start getting bids from suppliers. Trustee Catron said he supported doing this now but thought the Village should bid out the contract every five years or so. After Attorney Hendren looked at the contract and had some concerns, it was decided not to act on the matter tonight but put it on the agenda for next month. In the meantime, Attorney Hendren will look at the resolution more closely to see if some changes should be made.
President White gave a short report on the IMLA conference that he attended. The highlights were Victory Park and the Clean Water plan. He will share more at a later meeting.
Clerk Moore announced that the Peoples Party caucus was set for December 1, the same night as the Board meeting. It was decided to have the caucus at 6:00 and the Board meeting at its regular time of 7:00.
ATTORNEY HENDREN'S COMMENTS:
Attorney Hendren presented Ordinance No. 2014-07, an Ordinance Regarding Salaries of Village President and Village Trustees. Trustee Arrasmith moved that Ordinance 2014-07 be adopted. Trustee McCloud seconded the motion. Trustee Catron brought up during the roll call vote some concerns. After some discussion, Attorney Hendren was directed to make some changes. Later in the meeting, Attorney Hendren presented the amended ordinance with handwritten changes. Trustee Arrasmith then changed his motion to state that Ordinance No. 2014-07 as amended in pen and ink by Attorney Paul Hendren be adopted by the Village of Sidney Board of Trustees. Trustee McCloud seconded this motion. On the roll call vote, Trustees Arrasmith, McCloud, and Cokley voted aye and Trustee Catron voted nay. President White voted aye to make the majority of four as needed to pass the motion.
EARL BENNETT'S REPORT
Supervisor Bennett said that the storage shed is 90% completed.
219 and 317 South David had leaks that were repaired.
The Village truck was hit while parked at the maintenance building in a hit and run. Supervisor Bennett has submitted a claim to IMLRMA. The estimates he has received are $1,233 to 1,770, with a $500 deductible. Supervisor Bennett was told to use his best judgment on which bid to accept. Trustee Catron moved that the Village pay to repair the truck. Trustee Cokley seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
FINANCE REPORT
The financial reports were passed out. After reading them, Trustee Catron moved that the bills be paid with the addition of bills to Orkin for the year, Illiana Construction, and Donahue and Associates. Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote. Clerk Moore said that she had instructed Royal Bookkeeping to pay the sewer planning installments to bring the account up-to-date. The payment is not due until May 2015, but the Village has been making monthly payments. The Board agreed that it wanted to continue monthly payments.
The audit was passed out to those who wanted a copy, also reports from Martin, Hood, Friese and Associates, the audit firm.
STREETS AND ALLEY
Trustee Catron said that the basketball court had been poured. The equipment is in and waiting for the concrete to be poured to set the poles for the backboards. There is enough money left over to stripe the court.
WATER/SEWER/UTILITY
2,658,979 gallons of water were pumped in September with a daily average of 88,632 gallons. (Read by Supervisor Bennett)
$29,951.07 was received in September with $9,740.07 in sewer planning money. 119 penalty bills were sent. (Read by Clerk Moore)
PUBLIC PROPERTY
No permits was issued in September.
Trustee McCloud said that the codification speaker who was supposed to be at this meeting had cancelled.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Trustee Cokley had heard nothing from the Tolono Park District about the number of Sidney children who played in the soccer leagues.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Trustee Arrasmith reported that ESDA tested the siren and it worked. There is new technology available to make the siren workable where it is.
OLD AND NEW BUSINESS
Clerk Moore reported on her conference for Illinois Funds sponsored by the Illinois State Treasurer held at Charleston. There was an overview of the Illinois Funds and e-pay. A speaker told of grants available for disaster relief or projects that provided jobs. The mayor Washington, Illinois, told about his community's survival of the disaster in November 2013. The main points he emphasized were to know your community's disaster plan and your role in it, let the experts do their jobs, and have a reciprocal agreement for help with surrounding communities.
Trustee Catron moved that the meeting be adjourned at 9:40 p.m. Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion. Motion carried.
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