Chambana Sun

Village of Rossville Regular Board met Oct. 21.

Here is the agenda provided by the board:

Mayor Queen called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. then the pledge was recited. The meeting was held at the Rossville Municipal Building located at 120 East Attica Street in Rossville, Illinois.

Roll call was taken and a quorum was established with Mayor Queen and Trustees Cornell, Buck, Maden, Mahorney and Leaver were physically present. Trustee Richison was absent.

Guests present were Clerk White, Chief Kelnhofer, Rosella Ray, Marilyn Danner, Susan Misner, Sherry Decker, Lucas Sturm, Bobbette Gammon and Neal Kuester from Feller & Kuester CPAs LLP.

Minutes of the regular board meeting held September 16, 2019 were presented. Motion was made by Mahorney, seconded by Leaver to dispense with the reading of the minutes and approve the minutes as presented. All members voted yes.

Treasurer Ault’s written report for August was presented. Motion was made by Cornell, seconded by Buck to accept the treasurer’s report as presented. Vote: Buck, yes; Leaver, yes; Maden, yes; Cornell, yes; Mahorney, yes.

Current bills – Current bills were reviewed earlier in the Finance & Purchasing Committee meeting. Motion was made by Leaver, seconded by Maden to approve the bills as presented. Vote: Leaver, yes; Maden, yes; Cornell, yes; Mahorney, yes; Buck, yes.

Superintendent Lusk’s report –There were no comments on Superintendent Lusk’s written report.

Police Chief Kelnhofer’s report – Chief Kelnhofer reported the officers transfer the 1 radar unit that is working from vehicle to vehicle. Chief Kelnhofer enclosed a quote for Bee III Ka-band Dash-Mount Directional Radar units with his report. The cost to purchase 2 new Bee III radar units is $3,998. Police officers will install the new units. Money was budgeted for these items. Motion was made by Buck, seconded by Leaver to purchase 2 new Bee III radar units. Vote: Maden, yes; Cornell, yes; Mahorney, yes; Buck, yes; Leaver, yes.

Trustee Maden asked what the “Stop the Bleed” training is. Chief Kelnhofer explained the training and would like to enroll all of the officers he can to take this free training from ILEAS. If officers complete the training, they receive 5 additional kits.

Chief Kelnhofer has been talking with Fire Chief Lloyd Smith regarding possibly obtaining some respiratory systems the police department can use if they are first on the scene of a fire and the smoke is too dense to enter safely. Fire Chief Smith stated the fire district volunteers are the only persons who would be issued respiratory systems or any fire personnel equipment. Chief Kelnhofer asked board members to consider allowing him to become a member of the volunteer fire department. No objections were stated by board members.

Included in board packets was a list of reporting and training mandates overseen by ILETSB, as requested by Trustee Maden.

The police department has an AED unit but the battery is dying. Chief Kelnhofer is looking for grants to get a new unit.

Chief Kelnhofer stated the State of Illinois is changing laws regarding cannabis. The Village Board will need to amend some of the current ordinances.

Accounts Receivable -Collector White reported the utility accounts receivable total as $11,735.09. There were 3 miscellaneous invoices totaling $1,800, making the total accounts receivable as $13,535.09. There was 1 disconnect and 1 reconnect this month. Trustee Maden asked if liens can be placed on these properties. Collector White stated liens can be placed on these properties for mowing expenses.

Christmas Parade Resolution – The Christmas Parade resolution was presented. The resolution requests closure of Route 1 on December 7th from 6-6:30 p.m., from Green Street to Stufflebeam Drive, for the Christmas Parade. Motion was made by Mahorney, seconded by Leaver to approve the parade resolution. Vote: Buck, yes; Mahorney, yes; Cornell, yes; Maden, yes; Leaver, yes. Resolution 2019-05 passed.

Neal Kuester, from Feller & Kuester CPAs LLP, presented the fiscal year 2019 audit and management letters.

A resolution authorizing the destruction of executive session tapes dated 3/26/14, 4/21/14, 3/20/17 and 10/16/17, that have been retained at least 18 months after minutes were released, was presented. Motion was made by Cornell, seconded by Buck to approve the resolution. Vote: Cornell, yes; Mahorney, yes; Buck, yes; Leaver, yes; Maden, yes. Resolution 2019-06 passed.

Motion was made by Leaver, seconded by Buck to declare the TIF Inner Core Tax Revenue as Surplus Funds. Vote: Mahorney, yes; Buck, yes; Leaver, yes; Maden, yes; Cornell, yes.

The annual Joint Review Board Meeting will be held at the village office on Thursday, October 24, 2019 at 6 p.m.

Motion was made by Leaver, seconded by Mahorney to approve the estimated tax levy as $18,265.71. The estimated tax levy was calculated by using the Tax Computation Report from the Vermilion County Clerk. Vote: Buck, yes; Leaver, yes; Maden, yes; Cornell, yes; Mahorney, yes.

Discussion on Adding Garbage Pick-up as a new Utility on Village utility bills – Mayor Queen asked attendees’ opinions on adding garbage pick-up as a utility on Village utility bills. If the Village added garbage pick-up on utility bills, everyone would pay for garbage pick-up and some of the properties around town could be cleaned up. Some residents were in favor of the idea, others were not in favor. More details will be sought on how other municipalities handle garbage pick-up, prices and how to handle non-payment. Some municipalities do not offer trash pickup for businesses, only residents.

Keep Vermilion County Beautiful submitted an invoice for membership dues at last month’s meeting. Motion was made by Maden, seconded by Leaver to renew membership at the Business level and issued a check for $150 for the calendar year of 2020. Vote: Leaver, yes; Buck, yes; Mahorney, yes; Cornell, yes; Maden, yes.

Mayor Queen announced a new computer business, Hub City News, is coming to Rossville. Hub City News would like to employ 25 employees and work up to 40 employees later. Hub City News will be leasing a downtown building and would also like to lease parking space from the Village of Rossville. Mayor Queen suggested making a parking lot out of either 121 or 122 E. Attica Street. TIF money can be used to build the parking lot. Prices to build the parking lot(s) will be researched.

Finance & Purchasing Committee – Chairman Leaver had nothing further to report at this time.

Streets & Alleys Committee – A request for reimbursement for sidewalk installation expenses was received from Allen and Trisha Willard at last month’s board meeting. Superintendent Lusk measured the sidewalk that was built on the Village side of the property to determine the value of reimbursement. The total value for the Village portion of the sidewalk was $1,160.25 for the concrete. Motion was made by Cornell, seconded by Maden to reimburse Allen and Trisha Willard $1,160.25 for the Village portion concrete expense. Vote: Leaver, yes; Maden, yes; Cornell, yes; Mahorney, yes; Buck, yes.

At the committee meeting held earlier today, the committee recommended amending the current sidewalk ordinance to make all sidewalks the same width, frost beds the same, strike lines conformity, etc. along with instructions for property owners who want to install their own sidewalk that are on Village property. Motion was made by Cornell, seconded by Maden to adopt the sidewalk ordinance amendment. Vote: Leaver, yes; Buck, yes; Mahorney, yes; Cornell, yes; Maden, yes. Ordinance 2019-10 passed.

Trustee Cornell has requested at prior meetings to have “Children Playing” signs ordered and installed for the North Church and Benton Street intersection. There are several small children playing in that area and traffic goes fast down Benton and North Church. Board members agreed to allow the signs to be purchased and Superintendent Lusk will be directed to order and install four “Children Playing” signs. Rosella Ray explained that the “Watson Drive” street sign has not been installed yet either. Susan Misner would like a “Children Playing” sign in front of her house on McKibben and South Grove.

Police, Health & Safety Committee – Trustee Buck will meet with Chief Kelnhofer to discuss rules for parking around the pond, based on a complaint received.

Water & Sewer Committee - Chairman Maden had nothing to report at this time. Gas Committee – Trustee Richison was absent.

Public Improvements/Beautification Committee – The newly appointed Beautification Committee met in September and recommended the following suggestions:

1) to make a parking lot out of 121 E. Attica

2) bring the gazebo from Gilbert Street to 122 E. Attica, build a grain bin gazebo at the current gazebo site on Gilbert (the Danner family will donate farm implements for the area also)

3) 131-133 S. Chicago lot needs smoothed and/or repaired

4) request an engineer’s evaluation for the proposed Village Marketplace in the recently demolished Village- owned properties on East Attica

5) phases of the Village Marketplace(farmer’s market type)-build lean to for shade for vendors, build small building for storage of vendor tables in shape of barn, picket fence along sidewalk

6) suggested placing 6’ benches downtown made out of recycled plastic, to be sponsored by families (sponsor pay 1⁄2 of the cost and Village to pay the remaining 1⁄2 of the cost $250 + 200 lbs. of plastic lids).

A decision was not reached regarding any of these suggestions. Marilyn Danner will bring a copy of the drawing of the proposed Village Marketplace for board members to review.

Dangerous Building located at 106 E. Attica – Lucas Sturm, owner of the newly opened restaurant located at 104 E. Attica, asked the status of repairs for 106 E. Attica Street since the 60 days for repairs to be done have expired. Mayor Queen stated the contractor was to work today but it rained. Mr. Sturm strongly urged Mayor Queen to follow through with the Dangerous Building Procedures or damage will be done to his property and/or Justin Richison’s property, located at 110 E. Attica since the roof of 106 E. Attica caved in. Mayor Queen will contact the Village attorney regarding the matter including the contractor’s insurance has expired.

Motion was made by Maden, seconded by Buck to adjourn to executive session to review executive session minutes under 5 ILCS 120/2 C21. Vote: Maden, yes; Cornell, yes; Mahorney, yes; Buck, yes; Leaver, yes. The meeting adjourned to executive session at 8:45 p.m.

Motion was made by Buck, seconded by Leaver to return to regular session. Vote: Cornell, yes; Mahorney, yes; Buck, yes; Leaver, yes; Maden, yes. The meeting returned to regular session at 8:48 p.m.

Motion was made by Leaver, seconded by Maden to release executive session minutes dated June 17, 2019, April 15, 2019 and January 21, 2019. Vote: Mahorney, yes; Buck, yes; Leaver, yes; Maden, yes; Cornell, yes.

Motion was made by Leaver, seconded by Maden to adjourn the meeting. Vote: Maden, yes; Cornell, yes; Mahorney, yes; Leaver, yes; Buck, yes. The meeting adjourned at 8:49 p.m.

https://www.villageofrossville.org/documents/218/Reg._Mtg._10-21-19.pdf