The Sidney Village Board met on the above date for the regular monthly meeting. President White called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm with the following trustees present: Arrasmith, Burr, Catron, Cokley, and Osterbur. Village Clerk Moore, Attorney Hendren, Treasurer Riley, and Supervisor of Operations Bennett were also present.
A motion was made by Trustee Arrasmith and seconded by Trustee Osterbur to approve the minutes of the last regular meeting, September 3, 2013. Motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
DiAnna and Jason Kammin were present to present a check for $1,000 to the Victory Park fund from the Jerry Kammin Memorial Golf Outing. DiAnna suggested that a light and a flag pole be purchased for the park. President White and the Trustees thanked the Kammins for this donation.
Tim Maupin was present for ESDA with Pete Mantell arriving during the discussion. The contract with the Village as drawn up by ESDA officials was presented. It is almost the same as the 2006 contract. The Village gives ESDA $5,000 a year, and that is used for non-capital items, expenses that are less than $2,500 in cost, such as a radio. A siren is a capital expense. All equipment is owned by the Village. ESDA has $7,600 in its account now.
A discussion ensued about the Witt Park siren, which was given to the Village by the City of Champaign. It has a three-phase electrical connection and has never been hooked up because the line to Witt Park is a single-phase and the cost to change was prohibitive. The plan now is to move this siren to the elevator, which has a three phase, and move the Scarborough siren to Witt Park. To do this will cost about $8,000. The Trustees told Mr. Maupin to go ahead and pursue this.
ESDA and the Fire Department recently had a membership drive. The results were that the Fire Department got 5-7 new firefighters and ESDA 6-7 storm spotters. The ESDA volunteers are not paid but do receive $20 gas cards.
The contract was discussed, and Attorney Hendren suggested that paragraph #8 be changed. The Village Trustees will decide in their discretion whether and what capital equipment would be purchased for the ESDA system. Trustee Cokley moved that the Intergovernmental Agreement be approved as amended (paragraph #8) and President White be authorized to sign it. Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion, and the motion carried with a roll call vote with all ayes. Mr. Maupin and Mr. Mantell took the contract to be presented and signed at the next ESDA meeting, and then the agreement will be returned to the Village.
PRESIDENT WHITE'S COMMENTS
President White had talked to Randy Grace about the soccer program that the Tolono Park District is sponsoring. Randy had asked if the Village would be willing to pay the registration fees for the Sidney children participating, which is $30 a child. Pete Mantell told about the soccer program. The Village asked that Randy Grace send a letter asking for a donation, and Pete Mantell said he would take the request back to Mr. Grace.
Trick or Treat hours will be October 31, Thursday, from 6-8 p.m.
Baby Huey's Recycling from Mattoon will have its next recycling pickup on Saturday, October 19, from 8 a.m.-noon in the library parking lot. This will probably be the last one until spring.
Treasurer Riley asked if she could attend one or both upcoming classes for which she had received information. One is a two-day Quick Books seminar for $479. The second is a treasurers' workshop for Illinois government treasurers. It is a three-phase course, and Treasurer Riley has completed the first phase. It is a five-day event in Bloomington for $410. It was decided to approve this as an addition to the monthly bills during the Finance section of the meeting.
President White decided to move the executive session to the end of the meeting.
ATTORNEY HENDREN'S COMMENTS:
The tax levy needs to be approved next month. It will be last year's rate plus an increase for the cost of living if desired.
There had been questions raised about Trustees participating in a community internet Facebook social media site. Attorney Hendren had discussed this with other attorneys. The safer way to participate is for the Trustees to receive messages but not to respond. It is okay for posting of information, such as President White posting the information about the recycling pickup.
Attorney Hendren had received information that the Village might be able to get a better rate on its sewer study debt. The Village of Philo had refinanced one of its loans through the Philo Exchange Bank. Trustee Catron's committee will look into this.
EARL BENNETT'S REPORT
The oiling and chipping of the roads is done.
The ridge at the ball park had been knocked down.
The water line on Scarborough is in, and there is a boil order now. Supervisor Bennett has sent water samples to the state. When the results come back, they will finish the project. President White helped out every day. They used the mini-excavator for all of the project.
Supervisor Bennett reported that the Village was able to buy a new mini-excavator for the price of a used one.
FINANCE REPORT
Trustee Catron read account balances in each account. Trustee Catron made a motion to pay bills from the proper accounts as presented with the following additions: Foth, $934.48, continuing education for Mary Riley not to exceed $1,200 ($410 registration+hotel costs+meals+gas) and $3,120 for the Salt Fork project (the Village splitting the cost with the Township). Trustee Burr seconded the motion. Motion carried as all trustees present voted aye to a roll call vote.
STREETS AND ALLEY
All residents of Harrison Street with their back yards backing up to the alley by the Lions Club park had given their permissions to clear out by the alley on their private properties. Attorney Hendren said that an oral agreement is all right for a one-time project.
There is no opposition from the neighbors for a new street light at Harrison and Alley. Trustee Osterbur will go ahead with plans for the light.
The Lions Club Park street light has been replaced.
WATER/SEWER/UTILITY
The bill from Illinois American Water for water used from July 20 to August 20 was $11,016.73.
2,882,929 gallons of water were pumped in September with a daily average of 96,097 gallons.
$30,596.46 was received in September with $9,742.77 in sewer planning money. 107 penalty bills were sent and 15 shutoffs.
PUBLIC PROPERTY
Permits for September 2013 were Orville Fitzgerald, 19 Dunlap Woods, fence, permit #652, $150 and Richard Sampson, 12 Wesley Court, shed, Permit #653, $150.
No one had met yet on the zoning changes. It was decided to have the Village Clerk mail the zoning ordinance to the members of the Board so that they could read it and be able to make suggestions.
Kevin Sanderson had removed a tree at 304 E. Byron and a stump at another vicinity.
Trustee Burr had a bid for $121.78 to clean the carpet in the Community Center and to mop and wax the hard floors. It did not include the carpet in the library or Village Clerk's office. Trustee Burr moved that McCloud Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning clean the carpets in the Community Center, library, and the Clerk's office and for the mopping and waxing of the hard floors not to exceed $250. Trustee Cokley seconded the motion. Motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Trustee Cokley had a bid from Heath for trading in the large tractor at the ball park for a smaller one with a six foot mower deck and a blade: $9,500 for the new tractor minus a $7,800 trade-in allowance and $700 in attachments leaving a balance of $1,000. He is waiting on a bid from Arends.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The ESDA business was taken care of at the beginning of the meeting.
OLD AND NEW BUSINESS
President White said that the Sidney Saloon approached him about having bingo on Sunday evenings. It is legal in the village, but the owner has to go through the state for a license and he has to give 100% of the profit to a non-profit organization.
Clerk Moore informed the Board that a contract has been signed with Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital to carry on Peace Meal as it has been running. They meet in the Community Center. Also, a counselor from PACE will be meeting with interested parties to explain the Affordable Care Act on Tuesday, October 15, at 1:30 p.m. and Thursday, October 24, at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Center. Bryan Lierman is using the Community Center on October 5 and 19 for gun safety classes.
Trustee Catron moved that the Board go into executive session at 9:15 p.m. for the purpose of discussing the hiring and/or the salary of a village employee. Trustee Cokley seconded the motion. Motion carried on a roll call vote.
The Board came out of executive session at 9:26 p.m. Trustee Arrasmith moved that the Board hire Judy Branson as Deputy Village Clerk at a salary of $10 an hour for training and $12 an hour after training. Trustee Osterbur seconded the motion. Motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
A motion was made by Trustee Arrasmith and seconded by Trustee Osterbur to adjourn the meeting at 9:28 pm. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Trustee Arrasmith and seconded by Trustee Osterbur to approve the minutes of the last regular meeting, September 3, 2013. Motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
DiAnna and Jason Kammin were present to present a check for $1,000 to the Victory Park fund from the Jerry Kammin Memorial Golf Outing. DiAnna suggested that a light and a flag pole be purchased for the park. President White and the Trustees thanked the Kammins for this donation.
Tim Maupin was present for ESDA with Pete Mantell arriving during the discussion. The contract with the Village as drawn up by ESDA officials was presented. It is almost the same as the 2006 contract. The Village gives ESDA $5,000 a year, and that is used for non-capital items, expenses that are less than $2,500 in cost, such as a radio. A siren is a capital expense. All equipment is owned by the Village. ESDA has $7,600 in its account now.
A discussion ensued about the Witt Park siren, which was given to the Village by the City of Champaign. It has a three-phase electrical connection and has never been hooked up because the line to Witt Park is a single-phase and the cost to change was prohibitive. The plan now is to move this siren to the elevator, which has a three phase, and move the Scarborough siren to Witt Park. To do this will cost about $8,000. The Trustees told Mr. Maupin to go ahead and pursue this.
ESDA and the Fire Department recently had a membership drive. The results were that the Fire Department got 5-7 new firefighters and ESDA 6-7 storm spotters. The ESDA volunteers are not paid but do receive $20 gas cards.
The contract was discussed, and Attorney Hendren suggested that paragraph #8 be changed. The Village Trustees will decide in their discretion whether and what capital equipment would be purchased for the ESDA system. Trustee Cokley moved that the Intergovernmental Agreement be approved as amended (paragraph #8) and President White be authorized to sign it. Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion, and the motion carried with a roll call vote with all ayes. Mr. Maupin and Mr. Mantell took the contract to be presented and signed at the next ESDA meeting, and then the agreement will be returned to the Village.
PRESIDENT WHITE'S COMMENTS
President White had talked to Randy Grace about the soccer program that the Tolono Park District is sponsoring. Randy had asked if the Village would be willing to pay the registration fees for the Sidney children participating, which is $30 a child. Pete Mantell told about the soccer program. The Village asked that Randy Grace send a letter asking for a donation, and Pete Mantell said he would take the request back to Mr. Grace.
Trick or Treat hours will be October 31, Thursday, from 6-8 p.m.
Baby Huey's Recycling from Mattoon will have its next recycling pickup on Saturday, October 19, from 8 a.m.-noon in the library parking lot. This will probably be the last one until spring.
Treasurer Riley asked if she could attend one or both upcoming classes for which she had received information. One is a two-day Quick Books seminar for $479. The second is a treasurers' workshop for Illinois government treasurers. It is a three-phase course, and Treasurer Riley has completed the first phase. It is a five-day event in Bloomington for $410. It was decided to approve this as an addition to the monthly bills during the Finance section of the meeting.
President White decided to move the executive session to the end of the meeting.
ATTORNEY HENDREN'S COMMENTS:
The tax levy needs to be approved next month. It will be last year's rate plus an increase for the cost of living if desired.
There had been questions raised about Trustees participating in a community internet Facebook social media site. Attorney Hendren had discussed this with other attorneys. The safer way to participate is for the Trustees to receive messages but not to respond. It is okay for posting of information, such as President White posting the information about the recycling pickup.
Attorney Hendren had received information that the Village might be able to get a better rate on its sewer study debt. The Village of Philo had refinanced one of its loans through the Philo Exchange Bank. Trustee Catron's committee will look into this.
EARL BENNETT'S REPORT
The oiling and chipping of the roads is done.
The ridge at the ball park had been knocked down.
The water line on Scarborough is in, and there is a boil order now. Supervisor Bennett has sent water samples to the state. When the results come back, they will finish the project. President White helped out every day. They used the mini-excavator for all of the project.
Supervisor Bennett reported that the Village was able to buy a new mini-excavator for the price of a used one.
FINANCE REPORT
Trustee Catron read account balances in each account. Trustee Catron made a motion to pay bills from the proper accounts as presented with the following additions: Foth, $934.48, continuing education for Mary Riley not to exceed $1,200 ($410 registration+hotel costs+meals+gas) and $3,120 for the Salt Fork project (the Village splitting the cost with the Township). Trustee Burr seconded the motion. Motion carried as all trustees present voted aye to a roll call vote.
STREETS AND ALLEY
All residents of Harrison Street with their back yards backing up to the alley by the Lions Club park had given their permissions to clear out by the alley on their private properties. Attorney Hendren said that an oral agreement is all right for a one-time project.
There is no opposition from the neighbors for a new street light at Harrison and Alley. Trustee Osterbur will go ahead with plans for the light.
The Lions Club Park street light has been replaced.
WATER/SEWER/UTILITY
The bill from Illinois American Water for water used from July 20 to August 20 was $11,016.73.
2,882,929 gallons of water were pumped in September with a daily average of 96,097 gallons.
$30,596.46 was received in September with $9,742.77 in sewer planning money. 107 penalty bills were sent and 15 shutoffs.
PUBLIC PROPERTY
Permits for September 2013 were Orville Fitzgerald, 19 Dunlap Woods, fence, permit #652, $150 and Richard Sampson, 12 Wesley Court, shed, Permit #653, $150.
No one had met yet on the zoning changes. It was decided to have the Village Clerk mail the zoning ordinance to the members of the Board so that they could read it and be able to make suggestions.
Kevin Sanderson had removed a tree at 304 E. Byron and a stump at another vicinity.
Trustee Burr had a bid for $121.78 to clean the carpet in the Community Center and to mop and wax the hard floors. It did not include the carpet in the library or Village Clerk's office. Trustee Burr moved that McCloud Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning clean the carpets in the Community Center, library, and the Clerk's office and for the mopping and waxing of the hard floors not to exceed $250. Trustee Cokley seconded the motion. Motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Trustee Cokley had a bid from Heath for trading in the large tractor at the ball park for a smaller one with a six foot mower deck and a blade: $9,500 for the new tractor minus a $7,800 trade-in allowance and $700 in attachments leaving a balance of $1,000. He is waiting on a bid from Arends.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The ESDA business was taken care of at the beginning of the meeting.
OLD AND NEW BUSINESS
President White said that the Sidney Saloon approached him about having bingo on Sunday evenings. It is legal in the village, but the owner has to go through the state for a license and he has to give 100% of the profit to a non-profit organization.
Clerk Moore informed the Board that a contract has been signed with Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital to carry on Peace Meal as it has been running. They meet in the Community Center. Also, a counselor from PACE will be meeting with interested parties to explain the Affordable Care Act on Tuesday, October 15, at 1:30 p.m. and Thursday, October 24, at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Center. Bryan Lierman is using the Community Center on October 5 and 19 for gun safety classes.
Trustee Catron moved that the Board go into executive session at 9:15 p.m. for the purpose of discussing the hiring and/or the salary of a village employee. Trustee Cokley seconded the motion. Motion carried on a roll call vote.
The Board came out of executive session at 9:26 p.m. Trustee Arrasmith moved that the Board hire Judy Branson as Deputy Village Clerk at a salary of $10 an hour for training and $12 an hour after training. Trustee Osterbur seconded the motion. Motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
A motion was made by Trustee Arrasmith and seconded by Trustee Osterbur to adjourn the meeting at 9:28 pm. Motion carried.
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