Chambana Sun

The Sidney Board of Trustees met Monday, Feb. 1, to hear residents voice their concerns about an attack by two dogs on another dog.

The village board provides municipal oversight for Sidney.

Here are the meeting minutes, as a provided by the village: 

VILLAGE OF SIDNEY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING February 1, 2016

5/2/2016

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, Roberts, Finn, McCloud, and Schluter. Village Clerk Moore, Supervisor of Operations Bennett, Treasurer Reinhart, and Attorney Hendren were also present. Trustee Cokley was absent.

Trustee Arrasmith moved that the minutes of the January 4, 2016, Board of Trustees meeting be approved. Trustee Roberts seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Residents were present to voice their concerns about an attack by two dogs on another dog and that the two dogs were dangerous. President White read two letters from the Champaign County Animal Control declaring the two dogs dangerous and setting forth the precautions that the owners now had to take. The letters were also sent to the dogs' owners. The Village of Sidney has a contract with Animal Control for control of dogs and cats. Much discussion followed about the need for the two dogs to be confined to the owners' property and what could be done to ensure this. Trustee McCloud expressed her concern that these two dogs are dangerous. Discussion was also held about the Village's animal ordinance, enacted in 1979, and how it could be updated.

Attorney Hendren said that the state has a statute on control of animals and that the County Animal Control based its procedures on that statute. People asked if the Village could have stricter rules, such as declaring a dog vicious after one offense instead of three or requiring the owners to put up a high fence. The Village has to abide by the state's rules, Attorney Hendren said.

To report dogs running loose, a person has to call Supervisor Bennett or President White and they will call Animal Control. Linda March, veterinarian, said that people can report threatening dogs directly to Animal Control. Another resident said that people are going to have to report all dogs running loose or other offenses so that a history can be started before an attack happens or after in order to get the third offense quicker.

It was decided to ask Stephanie Joos from the Champaign County Animal Control to come to the March meeting to answer questions and to further explain the legality of actions to control animals.

Tyler Bickers was present on behalf of the summer ball program. Sign ups will be in the Community Center on February 24, Wednesday, from 6-8 p.m. and on Saturdays, February 20 and 27, from 12-3 p.m. They are planning to have a gun raffle again, and the raffle will be put on next month's agenda.

PRESIDENT WHITE'S COMMENTS

President White read a letter from the Unity Music Boosters promoting the A Capella show that will be presented on Saturday, February 6, at 5:00 and 8:00. Tickets are $14 for adults and $7 for students. President White encouraged support of the program.

President White reminded the trustees to file their economic interest forms on-line.

Clerk Moore had sent a copy of the Disaster Relief Fund guidelines to all the Trustees. President White said it was clear that the Fund was to pay people who were forced out of their homes because of a disaster, such as flooding or fire.

ATTORNEY HENDREN'S COMMENTS:

Attorney Hendren explained the purpose of the special meeting held before this regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Because the Village has no acting Plan Commission, the Board of Trustees acts as the Plan Commission. The Board sat as the Plan Commission at the special meeting with the subject, the de Pasquali subdivision. Attorney Hendren told the Board that they had two choices: one, to proceed under the Village subdivision ordinance or two, to decline to assume jurisdiction. Trustee Arrasmith moved that the Village of Sidney decline jurisdiction of the 1 ½ mile limit for the de Pasquali subdivision. Trustee McCloud seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

Attorney Hendren presented Ordinance 2016-01, which was discussed at the January 4, 2016, Board of Trustees meeting. Trustee McCloud moved that Ordinance 2016-01, Ordinance Amending the Alcoholic Liquor Ordinance to Permit two (2) Class “C” Package Licenses as presented be passed. Trustee Finn seconded the motion. The motion passed with all ayes and one abstention (Arrasmith) on a roll call vote.

EARL BENNETT'S REPORT

Supervisor Bennett would like to advertise for a summer help position soon. This job would be basically mowing of the ball park and other Village property. He will meet with Clerk Moore to write a job description so that it can be advertised.

Supervisor Bennett would like to meet with the Park and Recreation Committee, Trustees Cokley and McCloud, about the ball park needs.

Bid packets for the water tower repair were available today, February 1, 2016. There will be an 11:00 a.m. bid opening at the Community Building on Friday, February 26.

Supervisor Bennett will meet with the Water Committee, Trustees Roberts and Cokley, Thursday, February 4, at 4:00 p.m. at the maintenance shop. If one trustee cannot attend, President White will take his place. This is to discuss new lead and copper regulations.

FINANCE REPORT

The financial reports were read by Trustee McCloud. After reading them, Trustee McCloud moved that the bills be paid with the addition of $750 to Sanderson Tree Service (already approved), $3,977.80 to Donahue & Associates (water tower bid process bill), $150 to Jim Nonman for snow removal, and $1,858.75 to Champaign County Animal Control for both contracts. Trustee Finn seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

Trustee McCloud will continue looking into codification.

STREETS AND ALLEY

Dennis Cummins of Donahue & Associates was present to present information on the damage to culverts on N. Scarborough. The repair can be paid for with motor fuel tax money. He is consulting an associate to see if there are options for repair.

Trustee Schluter reported that he had talked to Jeff Blue about the proposed crosswalk on West Main Street. Mr. Blue had looked at the sidewalk there and thought a crosswalk was feasible. He will get back to the Village after he attends an ADA conference.

WATER/SEWER/UTILITY

2,804,248 gallons of water were pumped in January with a daily average of 90,459 gallons.

$31,239.45 was received in January with $9,916.91 in sewer planning money. 127 penalty bills were sent.

President White reported that $88,224 was still owed on the sewer planning loan. It should be paid off in November or so of 2016.

PUBLIC PROPERTY

No building permits were issued in January.

The tree at Scarborough and Byron was taken down. Trustee Arrasmith had a bid from Kevin Sanderson to take down a tree at 410 E. Byron, $900 if he disposed of all the wood, and $725 if the Village disposed of it. Trustee Arrasmith moved that the Village accept the bid of $900 from Kevin Sanderson for the removal of the tree at 410 E. Byron. Trustee McCloud seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

Trustee Schluter said that Tim Osterbur had met two time with Morton Building representatives about the new building. President White said that the Trustees need to begin thinking about what to do with the present Community Building, such as getting an estimate on its razing.

PARKS AND RECREATION

Nothing to report

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Nothing to report

OLD AND NEW BUSINESS

President White said that he would not be able to go to the Illinois Municipal League's annual conference this year and asked that other Trustees consider going.

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 8:35 p.m.