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, and Schluter. Supervisor of Operations Bennett, Treasurer Reinhart, and Clerk Moore were also present. Attorney Miller and Trustees Roberts and McCloud were absent.
Trustee Finn moved that the minutes of the June 5, 2017, Board of Trustees regular meeting and the June 5 closed meeting be approved. Trustee Bickers seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Mike Roy, Sidney Improvement Group, asked if the Village Board would consider a monetary donation for the Sidney Fun Daze on July 28 and 29. Mark Catron said that the group is planning an electrical upgade on a pole to better serve the vendors and others. The group would also like to work with the Parks Committee to upgrade the Lions Club Park. Trustee Bickers moved that the Village donate $1,000 to SIG. Trustee Finn seconded the motion; motion carried with all ayes.
PRESIDENT WHITE'S COMMENTS
President White said that Troy Roberts was supposed to be at the meeting tonight to be sworn in but was again called into work.
President White is planning to attend the Illinois Municipal League conference in Chicago September 21-23. Trustee Arrasmith moved that $1,000 be alloted for expenses for attendance. Trustee Finn seconded the motion; motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President White had been in contact with Reg Ankrom, our electrical aggregation negotiator, and the Village is now with Homefield Energy. Right now, Ameren's rates are lower than our negotiated rates with Homefield so the Village will be on Ameren's rates until there is a change.
ATTORNEY MILLER'S COMMENTS:
Attorney Miller was absent due to a previous engagement because of our date change.
EARL BENNETT'S REPORT
Supervisor Bennett said that he would be taking vacation time in the next two months. He also has jury duty starting July 31.
FINANCE REPORT
The financial reports were read by Trustee Finn. Trustee Finn moved that the bills be paid with the addition of $47.83 to Crop Production Services. Trustee Schluter seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
STREETS AND ALLEY
The Village is waiting until after Fun Daze to do the oil and chipping.
There is a til problem at Keller Automotive. Supervisor Bennett has been talking to the County Highway Department about whose responsibility it is to fix it. Main Street is a county highway, but if the County does not fix it, the Village will.
WATER/SEWER/UTILITY
2,556,620 gallons of water were pumped in June with a daily average of 85,220 gallons.
$24,211.24 was received in June. 104 penalty bills were sent.
Trustee Bickers reported on the water committee meeting with its recommendations. He moved that the Village spend up to $70,000 for meter upgrades. Trustee Finn seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Trustee Bickers moved that the Village authorize a leak detection survey with authorization to pay up to $8,000. Trustee Schluter seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Discussion was held on selling the Village water system. Engineer Mike Friend spoke on some details concerning a sale. There is a state incentive program that will end June 2018 that makes it more financially feasible for companies to purchase water systems. That program could be extended but there is no guarantee for that. The village water system could still be sold at any time. Attorney Marc Miller has experience in this matter and Engineer Friend said he would meet with Attorney Miller to work out a proposal if the Village wanted that. Trustee Bickers moved that the Village approve hiring Farnsworth Group to prepare a proposal for preparing bid packets to sell the water system. Trustee Finn seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Much discussion was held on raising the water rates to cover the cost of upgrading the water system. The rate increase passed in February has just covered the cost of water with Illinois American Water's rate increase. Trustee Bickers moved that the new rates of $32 for the first 2,000 gallons used and $17 for each additional 1,000 gallons be adopted.
Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Some discussion was held about changing late fees. The water committee will meet and make a recommendation at the August meeting.
PUBLIC PROPERTY
Trustee Arrasmith said that the Village will have to go ahead on its own for a new building. The Township is no longer interested.
Trustee Arrasmith did get a lower estimate to cut down a large tree at 411 West Main, but the person has never returned Trustee Arrasmith's calls. Trustee Arrasmith said that he thought the Village might get a more favorable rate and quicker service if we offered a bid packet to remove several trees instead of just proposing one tree at a time. There was no opposition to this, so Trustee Arrasmith will go ahead with a bid packet.
ESDA – Nothing to report
There are some inoperable cars around town. A list will be prepared and letters sent out.
One building permit was issued in June: 211 East Byron, garage, #697, $150.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Trustee Bickers reported that they had had a good ball season, and the last game was tonight. 7-8-year-olds girls won the tournament, and there was a junior pony league time for the first time in years. They had made $8,500 on the fund raiser.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Nothing to report
NEW BUSINESS
Trustee Arrasmith moved that the Board go into executive session for the purpose of employee review. Trustee Bickers seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote. The Board went into executive at 8:45 p.m.
When the Board came out of executive session at 9:13 p.m., Trustee Arrasmith moved that the Board of Trustees affirm that the Board President has the authority to discipline any employees with regard to their job performances. Trustee Finn seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote. Also, it was discussed that an employee manual needs to be written with job descriptions and all disciplinary procedures outlined.
Trustee Arrasmith 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 9:15 p.m.
Trustee Finn moved that the minutes of the June 5, 2017, Board of Trustees regular meeting and the June 5 closed meeting be approved. Trustee Bickers seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Mike Roy, Sidney Improvement Group, asked if the Village Board would consider a monetary donation for the Sidney Fun Daze on July 28 and 29. Mark Catron said that the group is planning an electrical upgade on a pole to better serve the vendors and others. The group would also like to work with the Parks Committee to upgrade the Lions Club Park. Trustee Bickers moved that the Village donate $1,000 to SIG. Trustee Finn seconded the motion; motion carried with all ayes.
PRESIDENT WHITE'S COMMENTS
President White said that Troy Roberts was supposed to be at the meeting tonight to be sworn in but was again called into work.
President White is planning to attend the Illinois Municipal League conference in Chicago September 21-23. Trustee Arrasmith moved that $1,000 be alloted for expenses for attendance. Trustee Finn seconded the motion; motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
President White had been in contact with Reg Ankrom, our electrical aggregation negotiator, and the Village is now with Homefield Energy. Right now, Ameren's rates are lower than our negotiated rates with Homefield so the Village will be on Ameren's rates until there is a change.
ATTORNEY MILLER'S COMMENTS:
Attorney Miller was absent due to a previous engagement because of our date change.
EARL BENNETT'S REPORT
Supervisor Bennett said that he would be taking vacation time in the next two months. He also has jury duty starting July 31.
FINANCE REPORT
The financial reports were read by Trustee Finn. Trustee Finn moved that the bills be paid with the addition of $47.83 to Crop Production Services. Trustee Schluter seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
STREETS AND ALLEY
The Village is waiting until after Fun Daze to do the oil and chipping.
There is a til problem at Keller Automotive. Supervisor Bennett has been talking to the County Highway Department about whose responsibility it is to fix it. Main Street is a county highway, but if the County does not fix it, the Village will.
WATER/SEWER/UTILITY
2,556,620 gallons of water were pumped in June with a daily average of 85,220 gallons.
$24,211.24 was received in June. 104 penalty bills were sent.
Trustee Bickers reported on the water committee meeting with its recommendations. He moved that the Village spend up to $70,000 for meter upgrades. Trustee Finn seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Trustee Bickers moved that the Village authorize a leak detection survey with authorization to pay up to $8,000. Trustee Schluter seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Discussion was held on selling the Village water system. Engineer Mike Friend spoke on some details concerning a sale. There is a state incentive program that will end June 2018 that makes it more financially feasible for companies to purchase water systems. That program could be extended but there is no guarantee for that. The village water system could still be sold at any time. Attorney Marc Miller has experience in this matter and Engineer Friend said he would meet with Attorney Miller to work out a proposal if the Village wanted that. Trustee Bickers moved that the Village approve hiring Farnsworth Group to prepare a proposal for preparing bid packets to sell the water system. Trustee Finn seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Much discussion was held on raising the water rates to cover the cost of upgrading the water system. The rate increase passed in February has just covered the cost of water with Illinois American Water's rate increase. Trustee Bickers moved that the new rates of $32 for the first 2,000 gallons used and $17 for each additional 1,000 gallons be adopted.
Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.
Some discussion was held about changing late fees. The water committee will meet and make a recommendation at the August meeting.
PUBLIC PROPERTY
Trustee Arrasmith said that the Village will have to go ahead on its own for a new building. The Township is no longer interested.
Trustee Arrasmith did get a lower estimate to cut down a large tree at 411 West Main, but the person has never returned Trustee Arrasmith's calls. Trustee Arrasmith said that he thought the Village might get a more favorable rate and quicker service if we offered a bid packet to remove several trees instead of just proposing one tree at a time. There was no opposition to this, so Trustee Arrasmith will go ahead with a bid packet.
ESDA – Nothing to report
There are some inoperable cars around town. A list will be prepared and letters sent out.
One building permit was issued in June: 211 East Byron, garage, #697, $150.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Trustee Bickers reported that they had had a good ball season, and the last game was tonight. 7-8-year-olds girls won the tournament, and there was a junior pony league time for the first time in years. They had made $8,500 on the fund raiser.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Nothing to report
NEW BUSINESS
Trustee Arrasmith moved that the Board go into executive session for the purpose of employee review. Trustee Bickers seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote. The Board went into executive at 8:45 p.m.
When the Board came out of executive session at 9:13 p.m., Trustee Arrasmith moved that the Board of Trustees affirm that the Board President has the authority to discipline any employees with regard to their job performances. Trustee Finn seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote. Also, it was discussed that an employee manual needs to be written with job descriptions and all disciplinary procedures outlined.
Trustee Arrasmith 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 9:15 p.m.
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