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, Osterbur, and Roberts. Village Clerk Moore, Attorney Hendren, Treasurer Riley, and Supervisor of Operations Bennett were also present.
A motion was made by Trustee Roberts and seconded by Trustee Catron to approve the minutes of the last regular meeting August 5, 2013. Motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote. Trustee Arrasmith moved that the minutes of the Disaster Relief Fund Committee of August 19, 2013, be approved. Trustee Osterbur seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Dan Wyatt was present to report on the success of the 8th Sidney Poker Run and to present a check for $1,000 to the Victory Park fund. He said that many people in town helped, plus the Sidney Saloon, and many more. President White and the Trustees thanked Mr. Wyatt for his work and his donation.
PRESIDENT WHITE'S COMMENTS
Mattoon Recycling had its first recycling pickup. The turnout was low but it worked out well. The date for the next pickup will be Saturday, October 19, from 8:00 a.m. to noon in the library parking lot by the railroad where the old recycling bin was.
A representative from the Unity Soccer League was supposed to be here but was not, so this was tabled until October.
President White and Trustee Catron will be attending the Illinois Municipal League convention in Chicago. Trustee Roberts moved that the Village pay up to $1,000 for their food and travel expenses. Trustee Burr seconded the motion. The motion passed with all ayes with Trustee Catron abstaining.
President White said that the Village needs to hire a Deputy Village Clerk. Village Clerk Moore will advertise the position and will be the contact for appointment times. The committee to interview the candidates will be Trustees Arrasmith and Catron, President White, Village Clerk Moore, and Superintendent of Operations Bennett.
ATTORNEY HENDREN'S COMMENTS
Attorney Hendren presented Ordinance No. 2013-05, Ordinance Designating the Intersection of Sunset Street and Austin Street as a Required Three-Way Stop Intersection. The Ordinance was amended to Sunset Road and Austin Drive. Trustee Roberts moved that Ordinance 2013-05 be approved as amended. Trustee Osterbur seconded the motion. The motion passed with all Trustees voting in favor. It was reported that motorists are at least slowing down now on this street. Supervisor Bennett will check on putting up either flashing or stop-ahead signs. He was given approval to put up the appropriate signs as well as speed limit signs.
EARL BENNETT'S REPORT
Supervisor Bennett reported that a limb fell off the village truck and damaged a vehicle downtown. The Village will fix the damaged car.
Vandals had kicked in a door at Witt Park.
The last two times the Witt Park Pavilion has been used, garbage was left all over. The Trustees discussed having a contract with people using it so that they know what is expected.
Supervisor Bennett reported on costs of a mini-excavator. They range in price from $28,000 to $33,000 for a new one. A used one with 150 hours was available for $33,000, and it has many upgrades. Another used one with fifty hours' use costs $24,182. There followed a discussion on the pluses and minuses of each. The Trustees also discussed a payment plan, warranties, leasing, and current contracting out for some jobs. They agreed that it would save in the long run but would be a big expense up front. It would mostly be used in water projects, but the water fund does not have enough in it to cover some current projects and the projected cost of fixing the water tower in two years. Trustee Roberts moved that $20, 000 from the Super Now general fund be used and $4,182 from the water fund to purchase a used Hitachi mini-excavator. Trustee Cokley seconded the motion. The motion passed on a roll call vote with all voting in favor.
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: Bryant Services, $150, and Kevin Sanderson, $1425. Trustee Roberts seconded the motion. Motion carried as all trustees present voted aye to a roll call vote.
Trustee Catron read some suggestions from the auditor. Some of the more important ones are:
STREETS AND ALLEY
The oiling and chipping of the street from Prairie to Byron will begin September 9.
There is a work order in for the street light at the Lions Club Park.
A resident has requested a street light for N. Harrison Street.
Trustee Osterbur had talked to the property owner (Main and Harrison) along the alley by the Lions Club Park about removing the weeds. They gave permission for the village to clean up on their properties. It was noted that the property line goes to the alley.
WATER/SEWER/UTILITY
The bill from Illinois American Water for water used from June 21 to July 19 was $11,087.07.
2,998,731 gallons of water were pumped in August with a daily average of 96,733 gallons.
$30,230.02 was received in August with $10,098.27 in sewer planning money. 133 penalty bills were sent and 19 shutoffs.
PUBLIC PROPERTY
Permits for August 2013 were
The tree at 112 W. Main has been removed and the bill was approved to be paid. The next tree removal will be one on Byron.
Trustee Burr had successfully gotten one old car moved by talking to its owner. The Trustees suggested two more.
Mike Ridinger, custodian for the Community Building, asked if the carpet in the Community Building could be cleaned and the hard floors scrubbed and waxed. Trustee Burr will contact McCloud Carpet Cleaners to schedule this.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Trustee Cokley had talked to some people about trading in the large tractor for a smaller one but had not received any bids yet.
Last Sunday, September 1, some doors were kicked in at Witt Park. Brian Curtis had played the surveillance tapes back and two vehicles could be identified. The County Sheriff was notified. In the meantime, by using the vehicles, Trustee Cokley went to see the people involved, four teenage boys from Homer and Allerton. The parents of the boys brought them to apologize to Trustee Cokley, so no charges were pressed against the boys. The damages amounted to $50-75.
Attorney Hendren remarked that neither individual Trustees nor the Board decide whether a criminal incident is investigated or prosecuted. The County Sheriff investigates reported incidents and decides whether to report them to the State's Attorney, who then decides whether to prosecute criminal charges. Our opinions might influence them, but the decisions are theirs, not ours.
There was some discussion of a gate being installed to close off Witt Park, but the Trustees did not think that would solve the problem of vandalism and would be inconvenient.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The ESDA contract is up. The Trustees had decided to pay the first invoice in anticipation of a new contract, but that has not been taken care of yet. Trustee Arrasmith will ask ESDA officials to come to the October Board meeting.
OLD AND NEW BUSINESS
The Disaster Relief Fund Committee met on August 19 and set up guidelines for the administration of the fund. Attorney Hendren had been asked to look over the guidelines for his suggestions. Trustee Cokley moved that the guidelines be accepted with the deletion of Sidney Township in #6 and the addition of #7. These guidelines may be amended from time to time by the Sidney Board of Trustees. Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion. Motion carried by voice vote of all ayes. The guidelines are attached to these minutes.
A motion was made by Trustee Catron and seconded by Trustee Roberts to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 pm. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Trustee Roberts and seconded by Trustee Catron to approve the minutes of the last regular meeting August 5, 2013. Motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote. Trustee Arrasmith moved that the minutes of the Disaster Relief Fund Committee of August 19, 2013, be approved. Trustee Osterbur seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Dan Wyatt was present to report on the success of the 8th Sidney Poker Run and to present a check for $1,000 to the Victory Park fund. He said that many people in town helped, plus the Sidney Saloon, and many more. President White and the Trustees thanked Mr. Wyatt for his work and his donation.
PRESIDENT WHITE'S COMMENTS
Mattoon Recycling had its first recycling pickup. The turnout was low but it worked out well. The date for the next pickup will be Saturday, October 19, from 8:00 a.m. to noon in the library parking lot by the railroad where the old recycling bin was.
A representative from the Unity Soccer League was supposed to be here but was not, so this was tabled until October.
President White and Trustee Catron will be attending the Illinois Municipal League convention in Chicago. Trustee Roberts moved that the Village pay up to $1,000 for their food and travel expenses. Trustee Burr seconded the motion. The motion passed with all ayes with Trustee Catron abstaining.
President White said that the Village needs to hire a Deputy Village Clerk. Village Clerk Moore will advertise the position and will be the contact for appointment times. The committee to interview the candidates will be Trustees Arrasmith and Catron, President White, Village Clerk Moore, and Superintendent of Operations Bennett.
ATTORNEY HENDREN'S COMMENTS
Attorney Hendren presented Ordinance No. 2013-05, Ordinance Designating the Intersection of Sunset Street and Austin Street as a Required Three-Way Stop Intersection. The Ordinance was amended to Sunset Road and Austin Drive. Trustee Roberts moved that Ordinance 2013-05 be approved as amended. Trustee Osterbur seconded the motion. The motion passed with all Trustees voting in favor. It was reported that motorists are at least slowing down now on this street. Supervisor Bennett will check on putting up either flashing or stop-ahead signs. He was given approval to put up the appropriate signs as well as speed limit signs.
EARL BENNETT'S REPORT
Supervisor Bennett reported that a limb fell off the village truck and damaged a vehicle downtown. The Village will fix the damaged car.
Vandals had kicked in a door at Witt Park.
The last two times the Witt Park Pavilion has been used, garbage was left all over. The Trustees discussed having a contract with people using it so that they know what is expected.
Supervisor Bennett reported on costs of a mini-excavator. They range in price from $28,000 to $33,000 for a new one. A used one with 150 hours was available for $33,000, and it has many upgrades. Another used one with fifty hours' use costs $24,182. There followed a discussion on the pluses and minuses of each. The Trustees also discussed a payment plan, warranties, leasing, and current contracting out for some jobs. They agreed that it would save in the long run but would be a big expense up front. It would mostly be used in water projects, but the water fund does not have enough in it to cover some current projects and the projected cost of fixing the water tower in two years. Trustee Roberts moved that $20, 000 from the Super Now general fund be used and $4,182 from the water fund to purchase a used Hitachi mini-excavator. Trustee Cokley seconded the motion. The motion passed on a roll call vote with all voting in favor.
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: Bryant Services, $150, and Kevin Sanderson, $1425. Trustee Roberts seconded the motion. Motion carried as all trustees present voted aye to a roll call vote.
Trustee Catron read some suggestions from the auditor. Some of the more important ones are:
- Each fund should have its own account.
- Everything should be entered in Quick Books in a timely manner and itemized.
- The Fire Department agreement should be signed and kept in village records.
- Keep a monthly record of water wasteage. (Earl now fills out a water leakage report.)
STREETS AND ALLEY
The oiling and chipping of the street from Prairie to Byron will begin September 9.
There is a work order in for the street light at the Lions Club Park.
A resident has requested a street light for N. Harrison Street.
Trustee Osterbur had talked to the property owner (Main and Harrison) along the alley by the Lions Club Park about removing the weeds. They gave permission for the village to clean up on their properties. It was noted that the property line goes to the alley.
WATER/SEWER/UTILITY
The bill from Illinois American Water for water used from June 21 to July 19 was $11,087.07.
2,998,731 gallons of water were pumped in August with a daily average of 96,733 gallons.
$30,230.02 was received in August with $10,098.27 in sewer planning money. 133 penalty bills were sent and 19 shutoffs.
PUBLIC PROPERTY
Permits for August 2013 were
- Crop Production, County Roads 998 and 1900E,new construction, #649, $1,000,
- Marty Sigler, 208 S. Scarborough, garage, #650, $150,
- Angie Ingram, 318 S. David, shed, #651, $150.
The tree at 112 W. Main has been removed and the bill was approved to be paid. The next tree removal will be one on Byron.
Trustee Burr had successfully gotten one old car moved by talking to its owner. The Trustees suggested two more.
Mike Ridinger, custodian for the Community Building, asked if the carpet in the Community Building could be cleaned and the hard floors scrubbed and waxed. Trustee Burr will contact McCloud Carpet Cleaners to schedule this.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Trustee Cokley had talked to some people about trading in the large tractor for a smaller one but had not received any bids yet.
Last Sunday, September 1, some doors were kicked in at Witt Park. Brian Curtis had played the surveillance tapes back and two vehicles could be identified. The County Sheriff was notified. In the meantime, by using the vehicles, Trustee Cokley went to see the people involved, four teenage boys from Homer and Allerton. The parents of the boys brought them to apologize to Trustee Cokley, so no charges were pressed against the boys. The damages amounted to $50-75.
Attorney Hendren remarked that neither individual Trustees nor the Board decide whether a criminal incident is investigated or prosecuted. The County Sheriff investigates reported incidents and decides whether to report them to the State's Attorney, who then decides whether to prosecute criminal charges. Our opinions might influence them, but the decisions are theirs, not ours.
There was some discussion of a gate being installed to close off Witt Park, but the Trustees did not think that would solve the problem of vandalism and would be inconvenient.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The ESDA contract is up. The Trustees had decided to pay the first invoice in anticipation of a new contract, but that has not been taken care of yet. Trustee Arrasmith will ask ESDA officials to come to the October Board meeting.
OLD AND NEW BUSINESS
The Disaster Relief Fund Committee met on August 19 and set up guidelines for the administration of the fund. Attorney Hendren had been asked to look over the guidelines for his suggestions. Trustee Cokley moved that the guidelines be accepted with the deletion of Sidney Township in #6 and the addition of #7. These guidelines may be amended from time to time by the Sidney Board of Trustees. Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion. Motion carried by voice vote of all ayes. The guidelines are attached to these minutes.
A motion was made by Trustee Catron and seconded by Trustee Roberts to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 pm. Motion carried.
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