Chambana Sun

Village of Bismarck Board met October 16. 

Here is the minutes as provided by the board:

1. Pledge of Allegiance – President Lewis opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance at 6:32 p.m.

2. Roll Call –

          Jane Cress -      Present

          Terry Light -       Present

          Jack Luttrell -     Absent

          Mary Potter -     Present

          Dave Switzer -   Absent

          Karel Volpert -   Present

          Greg Lewis -      Present

          Eric Nesbitt -     Present

          Valerie Moss -   Present

3. Approval of the Agenda for October 16, 2018 – On a motion by Karel Volpert and a second by Terry Light, the agenda was revised to include action on a Resolution Regarding Appointment of Village Clerk.

      Jane Cress – Yes    Terry Light – Yes             Jack Luttrell – Absent

      Mary Potter – Yes    Dave Switzer – Absent   Karel Volpert – Yes

4. Public Comments –

      i. Jackie Hupfer and Karel Volpert, on behalf of the Bismarck Women’s Club, presented a reading as well as candlelight vigil in honor of Illinois Governor, Bruce Rauner’s declaration of October 2018 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

      ii. Brenda Adams with Keep Vermilion County Beautiful spoke about the ways the Village can interact with KVCB events. Meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of each month at noon at the Boat Club in Danville, Illinois. Brenda also encouraged ongoing membership for 2019. Membership levels range from $50 to $1,000.

      iii. Doug Toole of the Vermilion County Health Department provided dates of upcoming flu clinics and discussed the free TV and computer monitor collection event being held on October 27, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. at Danville Area Community College. Doug also provided locations where medicine collection containers have been placed for proper disposal. Locations include: Vermilion County Public Safety Building, Hoopeston City Hall, Westville City Hall, Building 98 at the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and O.S.F. Hospital.

      iv. Resident, Susan Freedlund, expressed her concerns over a junk car that had been used during a demolition derby and is now parked at the residence at 2 E. South Street, just north of the Bismarck United Methodist’s Church, which does not promote beautification within the Village.

5. President’s Comments – None

6. Approval of minutes for September 18, 2018 – The minutes were revised to include in section 8 d. – Keep Bismarck Beautiful, Trustees Karel Volpert and Jane Cress planted mums in the flower beds. On a motion by Jane Cress and a second by Mary Potter, the amended minutes were approved.

      Jane Cress – Yes    Terry Light – Yes              Jack Luttrell – Absent

      Mary Potter – Yes    Dave Switzer – Absent    Karel Volpert – Yes

7. Treasurer’s Report – The 10/15/18 transaction for $3,063.00 paid to the Bismarck Water District is a typo and should read $30.63. $1,629.00 paid to Acton & Snyder, LLP was for legal services rendered throughout the last six months. On a motion by Karel Volpert and a second by Terry Light, the Treasurer’s Report was approved.

      Jane Cress – Yes    Terry Light – Yes              Jack Luttrell – Absent

      Mary Potter – Yes    Dave Switzer – Absent    Karel Volpert – Yes

8. Reports of Committees and Assignments –

      a. Public Works –

           i. Approximately 10 Village residents utilized the second Cleanup Day held by the Village this year on October 13th.

           ii. Maintenance personnel Dan Wright began painting the Village Office doors. It was decided that the shade of blue paint needs to be darker. Trustee Jane Cress will assist with the new color selection.

          iii. Dan Wright and President Lewis will research street signs around the Village and put together an order for missing signs and additional posts for replacement or repair.

          iv. Dan Wright reported that catch basins around the Village need to be cleaned out.

           v. There have been more raccoons causing a nuisance around the Village. Cages will be set out and any raccoons caught will be taken to live in a wildlife habitat at least five miles from the Village.

           vi. Dan Wright spoke with Ameren about a street light being out along Holloway. Ameren will follow-up with repair or replacement as needed. A new street light was installed at Wilson Lane and High Drive.

           vii. The back yard of the residence located at 12 Chicago Avenue is nasty with high grass and rubbage. A nuisance ordinance violation letter will be sent to the landowner.

      b. Budget and Finance –

            i. No update from Ed Ryan on year end State and TIF reports.

            ii. We received $13,000 TIF and $5,600 General Funds.

      c. Health and Safety –

            i. Trustee Mary Potter relayed Village resident, Gino Vecellio’s, complaint about mosquitos.

            ii. Resident Don Evans is making great progress with improvements to his properties around the Village.

            iii. The owners, Steve and Debbie Stimac, of the property located at 106 South Chicago Avenue, are trying to cooperate with the Nuisance Ordinance Violation of excess inoperable cars around the residence rented by John and Anne Kessler. The Kesslers, however, have not been cooperating. Trustee Terry Light will follow up with Danville City Attorney Dave Wesner to pursue Night Court.

      d. Keep Bismarck Beautiful (KBB) – Trustee Karel Volpert reported that we will need to redecorate the ornamental pots with seasonal greenery for the holidays. Before the ornaments will be hung on the light poles, bulbs will be changed and they will be reshaped. Don Evans agreed to hang the ornaments again this year subject to a fee increase. The annual Holiday Lighting Contest will be held again this year.

      e. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) – None

      f. Municipal Projects (Roads, Drainage, other improvements) –

            i. Quotes were obtained for the South Street drainage project. Lowest bid came from Heidrick Septic Service in the amount of $22,984.50. The tree at the corner of South Street must be removed. President Lewis to request removal by Sam Claypool. Weather permitting, the anticipated project start date is November 1, 2018 and hoped to be completed by December 15, 2018.

            ii. Large scale draining improvements – loan parameters reviewed for loan in the amount of $900,000 - $950,000 borrowed over 25 years. Logan Cronk to work with President Lewis on underwriting credentials which is an approximate 6-8 week process. Project anticipated to start in 2019.

           iii. President Lewis reported that he had spoken with Illinois State Representative Tom Bennett. The Village did not receive any additional funding. Also, any road complaints along 2750 East Road/Holloway need to be directed to IDOT.

           iv. The Utility Support Service Agreement with the Bismarck Community Water District has been approved by the lawyers. President Lewis will finish the process up with the Water District.

           v. Trustee Jane Cress reported that a neighbor of Dan Wright requested that he no longer pump excess water into her driveway.

      g. Permits – President Lewis spoke with Village resident, Kristi Dines about a possible machine shop in their garage which would require rezoning and provided her with documentation regarding the matter. The Dines have decided to not pursue the project any further at this time.

9. Old Business –

      a. The property just east of the railroad tracks on the south side of Holloway, owned by Jim Barlet, has been mowed.

      b. A response letter to resident Mike Pundt needs to be sent with regard to his Nuisance Ordinance violation.

10. New Business –

      a. On a motion by Jane Cress and a second by Terry Light, the 2018 Tax Levy Ordinance was approved.

      Jane Cress – Yes    Terry Light – Yes              Jack Luttrell – Absent

      Mary Potter – Yes    Dave Switzer – Absent    Karel Volpert – Yes

      b. On a motion by Karel Volpert and a second by Jane Cress, the Resolution Regarding Appointment of the Village Clerk was approved.

      Jane Cress – Yes    Terry Light – Yes              Jack Luttrell – Absent

      Mary Potter – Yes    Dave Switzer – Absent    Karel Volpert – Yes

      c. On a motion by Jane Cress and a second by Mary Potter, the Village Trick or Treating hours have been scheduled for Wednesday, October 31, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

      Jane Cress – Yes    Terry Light – Yes               Jack Luttrell – Absent

      Mary Potter – Yes    Dave Switzer – Absent     Karel Volpert – Yes

11. Executive Session/Closed Session – None

12. Date and Time of Next Meeting – The next regular meeting of the Bismarck Village Board will be held at the Village Office in Bismarck, Illinois, at 6:30 p.m. on November 20, 2018.

13. Adjournment – With no further business to come before the Board at this time, on a motion by Terry Light and a second by Mary Potter, the meeting was adjourned at 7:42 p.m.

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