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, Finn, and Schluter. Village Clerk Moore, Supervisor of Operations Bennett, Treasurer Reinhart, and Attorney Hendren were also present. Trustees Roberts and Cokley were absent.
Trustee Schluter moved that the minutes of the November 7, 2016, Board of Trustees regular meeting and the special meeting be approved. Trustee McCloud seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
There were no public comments.
PRESIDENT WHITE'S COMMENTS
President White reported that he should know by the January meeting what the rate increase will be for Illinois American Water as the hearing was to be held in December.
Five people have responded to the invitation to be on the zoning commission. Two have not. President White is going to check with them to see if they are still interested.
Year-end compensation for Village employees was discussed. Trustee McCloud moved that Carol Moore, Earl Bennett, and Brett Bennett as full-time employees be paid $150 and part-time employees Ashley Reinhart and Tom Talbott be paid $75. Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President White presented the agreement with Martin, Hood, Friese, and Associates, the Village auditors. Trustee Finn moved that the Village of Sidney retain the services of that company for the services to prepare the yearly report. Trustee Schluter seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President White had been in contact with Reg Ankrom about the new rate for electric aggregation for the Village. The best bid was 6.32 for three years presented by Homefield Energy to begin in June 2017. (The rate is 5.79 now.) If Ameren's rates go lower than the 6.32, the Village would revert back to that rate. Trustee Arrasmith moved that the Village sign with Homefield. Trustee Schluter seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Another letter was received from the Regional Planning Commission about the Village participating the the residential electronics collection in 2017 by paying its share of $511. By consensus it was agreed that the Village would not change last month's decision, which was not to participate.
ATTORNEY HENDREN'S COMMENTS:
Attorney Hendren reported that the Sidney Township has not responded to the Intergovernmental Agreement that he had drawn up. Trustee Schluter said the Township had met with J & S Wastewater about the sewage facility for the proposed building. The regulations mandate that the treatment tanks and leach fields be fenced in, which would take quite a bit of area. The site plan will need to be reworked. The Township is not ready to enter into an intergovernmental agreement until some of these problems are resolved so didn't want the Village to incur any more legal costs with preparing an agreement. So a hold was put on the agreement as well as the Special Use Permit Ordinance.
Attorney Hendren presented the Tax Levy Ordinance. Trustee Schluter moved that the Sidney Board of Trustees accept Ordinance No. 2016-07, Village of Sidney 2016-2017 Annual Tax Levy Ordinance. Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion; motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Attorney Hendren and his partner are working on an ordinance, mandated by the State, to set reimbursement travel rates for the Village.
EARL BENNETT'S REPORT
Supervisor Bennett reported that everything is ready for snow. He has salt. He reminded everyone of the Village policy of plowing for a two-inch snow or more.
FINANCE REPORT
The financial reports were read by Trustee McCloud. Trustee McCloud moved that the bills be paid with the addition of $675.00 to Sanderson Tree Service and $6,850.00 to G&E Service. Trustee Finn seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote. Discussion followed about the motor fuel tax checking account being overdrawn. Treasurer Reinhart will check on this with RBS.
STREETS AND ALLEY
The Scarborough project is done.
WATER/SEWER/UTILITY
2,608,121 gallons of water were pumped in November with a daily average of 86,937 gallons.
$23,921.85 was received in November with $1,323.22 in sewer planning money. 138 penalty bills were sent.
Supervisor Bennett read the reports in the absence of Trustee Roberts. He was questioned about the meter pit on Route 130. He said that pit and the one here in town are rusting out and do not meet code. In 1990 a new pit cost $30,000. The grants mentioned at the last meeting were for 2013 and are not available now. There are some grants and low-cost loans available for water and sewage improvement projects. It was decided to put some needed projects together to come up with a figure for a grant or loan. Supervisor Bennett was directed to look at possibilities and report back. He said he would want a closed session to discuss the projects.
PUBLIC PROPERTY
One building permit was issued in November: $150, 111 Witt Park Road, new construction, permit #694.
The Community Building has been cleaned and had the mold abated.
Kevin Sanderson has removed two trees on W. Main Street and just has the tree trunk to cut down on the remaining tree. Trustee Arrasmith moved that the Sanderson Tree Service be hired to cut down the next tree on the list, a Chinese elm at 202 East Main Street. Trustee McCloud seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
PARKS AND RECREATION
The benches and batting cage are in and installed.
Trustee McCloud has been working with the Champaign-Urbana Public District for the license for the concession stand to be renewed. There are a list of things to fix before it can be issued. The food certificate has been filed.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Trustee Schluter reported that the web site has been updated with Clerk Moore's suggestions. The problem with the e-pay has to do with the State of Illinois and that was being looked into.
Trustee Finn reported that people were asking him what the proposed Village-Township building would look like and where would it be sited. It was decided that those questions could not be answered until the new developments were addressed and decided. All agreed that this material would be presented to the public before any final decisions were made.
Trustee McCloud moved that the meeting be adjourned. Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion; motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote. Meeting was adjourned at 7:57 PM.
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Trustee Schluter moved that the minutes of the November 7, 2016, Board of Trustees regular meeting and the special meeting be approved. Trustee McCloud seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
There were no public comments.
PRESIDENT WHITE'S COMMENTS
President White reported that he should know by the January meeting what the rate increase will be for Illinois American Water as the hearing was to be held in December.
Five people have responded to the invitation to be on the zoning commission. Two have not. President White is going to check with them to see if they are still interested.
Year-end compensation for Village employees was discussed. Trustee McCloud moved that Carol Moore, Earl Bennett, and Brett Bennett as full-time employees be paid $150 and part-time employees Ashley Reinhart and Tom Talbott be paid $75. Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President White presented the agreement with Martin, Hood, Friese, and Associates, the Village auditors. Trustee Finn moved that the Village of Sidney retain the services of that company for the services to prepare the yearly report. Trustee Schluter seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President White had been in contact with Reg Ankrom about the new rate for electric aggregation for the Village. The best bid was 6.32 for three years presented by Homefield Energy to begin in June 2017. (The rate is 5.79 now.) If Ameren's rates go lower than the 6.32, the Village would revert back to that rate. Trustee Arrasmith moved that the Village sign with Homefield. Trustee Schluter seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Another letter was received from the Regional Planning Commission about the Village participating the the residential electronics collection in 2017 by paying its share of $511. By consensus it was agreed that the Village would not change last month's decision, which was not to participate.
ATTORNEY HENDREN'S COMMENTS:
Attorney Hendren reported that the Sidney Township has not responded to the Intergovernmental Agreement that he had drawn up. Trustee Schluter said the Township had met with J & S Wastewater about the sewage facility for the proposed building. The regulations mandate that the treatment tanks and leach fields be fenced in, which would take quite a bit of area. The site plan will need to be reworked. The Township is not ready to enter into an intergovernmental agreement until some of these problems are resolved so didn't want the Village to incur any more legal costs with preparing an agreement. So a hold was put on the agreement as well as the Special Use Permit Ordinance.
Attorney Hendren presented the Tax Levy Ordinance. Trustee Schluter moved that the Sidney Board of Trustees accept Ordinance No. 2016-07, Village of Sidney 2016-2017 Annual Tax Levy Ordinance. Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion; motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Attorney Hendren and his partner are working on an ordinance, mandated by the State, to set reimbursement travel rates for the Village.
EARL BENNETT'S REPORT
Supervisor Bennett reported that everything is ready for snow. He has salt. He reminded everyone of the Village policy of plowing for a two-inch snow or more.
FINANCE REPORT
The financial reports were read by Trustee McCloud. Trustee McCloud moved that the bills be paid with the addition of $675.00 to Sanderson Tree Service and $6,850.00 to G&E Service. Trustee Finn seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote. Discussion followed about the motor fuel tax checking account being overdrawn. Treasurer Reinhart will check on this with RBS.
STREETS AND ALLEY
The Scarborough project is done.
WATER/SEWER/UTILITY
2,608,121 gallons of water were pumped in November with a daily average of 86,937 gallons.
$23,921.85 was received in November with $1,323.22 in sewer planning money. 138 penalty bills were sent.
Supervisor Bennett read the reports in the absence of Trustee Roberts. He was questioned about the meter pit on Route 130. He said that pit and the one here in town are rusting out and do not meet code. In 1990 a new pit cost $30,000. The grants mentioned at the last meeting were for 2013 and are not available now. There are some grants and low-cost loans available for water and sewage improvement projects. It was decided to put some needed projects together to come up with a figure for a grant or loan. Supervisor Bennett was directed to look at possibilities and report back. He said he would want a closed session to discuss the projects.
PUBLIC PROPERTY
One building permit was issued in November: $150, 111 Witt Park Road, new construction, permit #694.
The Community Building has been cleaned and had the mold abated.
Kevin Sanderson has removed two trees on W. Main Street and just has the tree trunk to cut down on the remaining tree. Trustee Arrasmith moved that the Sanderson Tree Service be hired to cut down the next tree on the list, a Chinese elm at 202 East Main Street. Trustee McCloud seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
PARKS AND RECREATION
The benches and batting cage are in and installed.
Trustee McCloud has been working with the Champaign-Urbana Public District for the license for the concession stand to be renewed. There are a list of things to fix before it can be issued. The food certificate has been filed.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Trustee Schluter reported that the web site has been updated with Clerk Moore's suggestions. The problem with the e-pay has to do with the State of Illinois and that was being looked into.
Trustee Finn reported that people were asking him what the proposed Village-Township building would look like and where would it be sited. It was decided that those questions could not be answered until the new developments were addressed and decided. All agreed that this material would be presented to the public before any final decisions were made.
Trustee McCloud moved that the meeting be adjourned. Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion; motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote. Meeting was adjourned at 7:57 PM.
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