Chambana Sun

The Thomasboro Village Board of Trustees met July 5 to review a request for 50 new digital water meters. 

Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the village:

Thomasboro Village Board of Trustees Regular Board Meeting July 5, 2016

Thomasboro Village Hall 101 W. Main Street, Thomasboro, Illinois

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Thomasboro was held on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, President Brad Morris presiding. President Morris called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.

Roll Call The Village Clerk called the roll, finding the following members physically present: Village President Brad Morris; and Trustees Jeff Robertson, Anthony Grilo, Kyle Henegar, Anna Martin, Dustin Rhodes, and Mickey Wilson.

Other Village officials present: Keith Willis, Chief of Police; Leon Albers, Treasurer; Tyler Martin, Public Works Superintendent; and Jeremy Reale, Village Clerk.

Pledge of Allegiance Following roll call, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Discussion/Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting Trustee Grilo moved to approve the minutes of the June 6, 2016 regular meeting, as prepared. Trustee Wilson seconded the motion. Motion carried, all present voting “aye”.

Presentation of Bills Following review and discussion of the monthly bills, Trustee Grilo moved to approve the payment of the bills listed and the regular bills yet to be received. Trustee Rhodes seconded the motion.

The Village Clerk called the roll:

YEAS: Robertson, Grilo, Henegar, Martin, Rhodes and Wilson – 6 NAYS: None – 0 ABSENT: None – 0 Motion carried by roll call vote of 6 to 0.

Committee Reports

Police & Safety: Chair Martin presented the monthly activity reports. President Morris reported that he had spoken to the owner of the Park Street property that had been previously discussed in meetings for its code violations. The owner was planning to replace the roof on the house within the next couple of weeks.

Personnel: No report.

Building Permit & Liquor License: No report.

Health, Sanitation & Public Relations: No report.

Waterworks & Sewer: Mr. Martin presented a request to purchase fifty new digital water meters. The meters would cost approximately $140.00 each, with the Village having budgeted for 100 new meters during the current fiscal year.

Trustee Henegar moved to authorize the purchase of fifty digital water meters. Trustee Grilo seconded the motion.

The Village Clerk called the roll:

YEAS: Robertson, Grilo, Henegar, Martin, Rhodes and Wilson – 6 NAYS: None – 0 ABSENT: None – 0 Motion carried by roll call vote of 6 to 0.

Mr. Martin also reported that he had installed the new chopper pump at the Michael Street lift station. The chopper pump would serve as the primary on the site, with pump #1 kicking on as a back-up. He noted that the condition of pump #1 was even worse than the number 2 pump that had just been replaced with the chopper.

Streets & Alleys: Chad Osterbur from Fehr Graham Engineering was in attendance to discuss the proposed projects to resurface a portion of Main Street and implement drainage improvements in the Shurbet Street area. The estimate to resurface the asphalt in the 400 block of West Main Street was $43,000.00, which would be funded from Motor Fuel Tax proceeds. Fehr Graham had submitted a proposal to study the drainage issues for the amount of $6,500.00; however, Mr. Osterbur cautioned that there was a very low likelihood that anything short of creating a retention pond for storm water runoff would be found to resolve those chronic drainage issues in that area. Discussion followed as to whether or not the Village should consider resurfacing the entire length of Main Street instead of only one block. Trustee Grilo suggested that the Village could investigate grant funding for those project. Mr. Osterbur responded that his firm would be willing to assist the Village in researching grant opportunities, although there was typically limited funding available for these projects. Most grants would be tied to business and economic development and were usually very competitive. President Morris stated that he would like to discuss the possibility of sharing the costs with Premier Cooperative. This item was tabled, pending contact with Premier Cooperative.

Civil Defense & Parks: Chair Rhodes reported that siren testing had taken place that morning.

Plat Committee: The committee had conducted a public hearing on a request from the Thomasboro Fire Protection District for a variance waiving the storm water detention requirements of the subdivision ordinance to allow for the paving of its lot at 101 North Church Street. It had been recommended that the variance be approved, with the condition that a sidewalk would be engineered into the design of the southern side of the lot to provide for adequate separation between the public easement and the private property.

Trustee Grilo moved to approve the variance request, with the conditions as recommended by the Plat Committee. Trustee Robertson seconded the motion.

The Village Clerk called the roll:

YEAS: Robertson, Grilo, Henegar, Martin, Rhodes and Wilson – 6 NAYS: None – 0 ABSENT: None – 0 Motion carried by roll call vote of 6 to 0.

Old Business

(A) Proposals for single-hauler refuse collection services

Trustee Grilo noted that the Village had received information from Area Disposal clarifying the issues with the Mahomet Aquifer and the Clinton landfill site. He added that he had spoken to representatives from Republic Services, and it was agreed that they would supply trucks on site for community cleanup days in lieu of roll-off dumpsters if the Village opted into a contract.

Bill Spencer, president of the Watch Clinton Landfill group, addressed the Board to reiterate that his organization was lobbying for safer alternatives to wastes continuing to be disposed of at the landfill. They would be holding a public meeting on July 30 to discuss the ongoing issues at Clinton landfill. He stated that they would prefer not to see the Village lock into an agreement with waste haulers that continue to use that site for disposing of wastes that presented a potential threat to the area’s sole source for drinking water. George Wissmiller, vice president of the organization, also spoke to the Board on his research into the environmental issues at the Clinton landfill site. Claudia Lennhoff added that the group objected the business practices as Clinton landfill and urged the Board to consider alternatives to using Area Disposal.

Following discussion, Trustee Henegar moved to approve an agreement for single hauler services with Republic Services for a three-year period, with option for an additional two-year extension. Trustee Martin seconded the motion.

The Village Clerk called the roll:

YEAS: Robertson, Grilo, Henegar, Martin, Rhodes and Wilson – 6 NAYS: None – 0 ABSENT: None – 0 Motion carried by roll call vote of 6 to 0.

New Business

(A) Award of bids for demolition of properties at 501 W. Frederick & 702 W. Morris

Mr. Martin reported that he had obtained three bids for the demolition of the properties, with the lowest bid in the amount of $14,000.00. There was some discussion as to whether the scope of the demolition project required the Village to complete a formal bidding process. It was decided that this item would be tabled, pending advice from legal counsel on how to proceed.

(B) Possible acquisition of property at 605 W. Pearl

Trustee Grilo noted that the trailer on the property was currently vacant, and the owner had approached him about the possibility of the Village purchasing it. The owner was asking $12,000.00 for the property and would agree to pay all back taxes. Following discussion, the consensus of the Board was to not make any offer for the purchase of the property.

(C) Proposal for new park equipment

Trustee Grilo moved to approve a proposal from Cunningham Recreation for new park playground equipment, not including the replacement of the swing set, for the amount of $19,334.16. Trustee Rhodes seconded the motion.

The Village Clerk called the roll:

YEAS: Robertson, Grilo, Henegar, Martin, Rhodes and Wilson – 6 NAYS: None – 0 ABSENT: None – 0 Motion carried by roll call vote of 6 to 0.

Comments and Questions from the Audience Mel Ghrist inquired about the issuance of permits for fireworks displays in the Village. It was noted that the Village did not issue permits for this activity; however, there could be better regulation of the times when such displays were allowed to take place so as not to constitute a nuisance for neighbors.

Treasurers Report There were no comments regarding the Treasurer’s Report.

Executive Session Trustee Grilo moved to enter into Executive Session pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (C) 1, to consider the employment, compensation or performance of Village employees and 5 ILCS 120/2 (C) 21, for the semi-annual review of executive session minutes. Trustee Wilson seconded the motion.

The Village Clerk called the roll:

YEAS: Robertson, Grilo, Henegar, Martin, Rhodes and Wilson – 6 NAYS: None – 0 ABSENT: None – 0 Motion carried by roll call vote of 6 to 0.

The Board entered into Executive Session at 8:32pm and reconvened at 8:51pm.

Trustee Grilo moved to authorize the release of the executive session minutes from meetings on May 4, 2015 and October 5, 2015. Trustee Wilson seconded the motion. Motion carried, all present voting “aye”.

Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Board, Trustee Grilo moved to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Wilson seconded the motion. Motion carried viva voce vote.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:53pm.

Respectfully submitted,

_____________________________ Jeremy A. Reale, Village Clerk

The undersigned Village Clerk of the Village of Thomasboro, Illinois, does hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the approved minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees held July 5, 2016, as the same appears on the records of the Village now in my custody and keeping.

________________________________ Village Clerk