Chambana Sun

Village of Sidney Board of Trustees met Nov. 4.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The Sidney Village Board met on the above date for the regular monthly meeting. The meeting was opened at 7:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. President Finn called the meeting to order. The following trustees were present: Arrasmith, Harris, Catron, Gadeken, Bickers and Schluter. Clerk Fish, Treasurer Reinhart, Attorney Miller and Village Maintenance employee Jarin Wilsey were also present.

Trustee Catron moved that the minutes of the October 7th, 2019 regular session of the Board of Trustees meeting be approved. Trustee Harris seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

There were no public comments.

PRESIDENT FINN'S COMMENTS

President Finn stated that he would go over the Homefield Energy contract with the board members since Reg Ankrom from Simec did not show up. President Finn suggested that the village stay with Homefield Energy because it is only a two year contract and they would automatically give the village the lower rate. The board members looked over the contract but could not find where it stated that the rate will be automatically lowered if it goes down. Trustee Catron motioned that the board approve and authorize the Village Board President to sign the Aggregation Program Agreement as presented subject to modification of the language to provide for the pricing to default to the lower of the published rate of Ameren Power or the contract bid prize. The President is authorized to agree to contract modification language in consultation with the Village Attorney. Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion. The motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.

ATTORNEY MILLER'S COMMENTS:

Attorney Miller stated that there will need to be a public hearing either before or during the next board meeting in order to vote on amending the zoning ordinance not to allow Conex Storage Containers in the village. It was decided that the public hearing will be at the beginning of the next monthly board meeting at 7pm on December 2nd. The notice of the public hearing will be published in the newspaper and in the village office.

Attorney Miller then explained what the Tax Levy Ordinance was for. To calculate the tax levy, municipal officials must determine the amount needed to fund services and the amount available from various revenue sources. The difference must be raised through property taxes and this amount is the tax levy. The amounts levied are based on the potential expenditure requirements as expressed in the current fiscal year's appropriation ordinance. Trustee Schluter motioned to approve Tax Levy Ordinance #2109-08. Trustee Gadeken seconded the motion. The motion was approved with all ayes on a roll call vote. Attorney Miller will file a copy with Champaign County and send a confirmation to Village Clerk Fish.

JARIN WILSEY’S REPORT

Village Maintenance Employee Wilsey reported that the map that was done of the storm drains for the village was incorrect and that he will need to hold off fixing the tile work in front of Keller Automotive until he does more investigating.

FINANCE REPORT

The financial reports were read by Trustee Catron. Trustee Catron moved that the bills be paid with the addition of $4,860 to Gulliford Sewer Services. Trustee Bickers seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

Trustee Catron then brought up the issue with trustees pay being confusing. Some trustees receive paper checks and some receive direct deposit. Trustee Catron stated it would be best if all of the trustees received their pay in the same manner. He then asked what the trustees preferred and they stated paper checks would be fine. Trustee Catron made a motion for all of the trustees to receive paper paychecks from now on. Trustee Harris seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

Trustee Catron also made a motion that he would like Royal Bookkeeping Services to issue the paychecks themselves every six months and mail them directly from there to avoid any confusion with trustee pay. Trustee Bickers seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

STREETS AND ALLEY

Trustee Gadeken reported that he and Village Maintenance Employee Jarin Wilsey spent two and half hours going around the village inspecting broken street signs. He stated that almost every single sign in town is either crooked or broken. Trustee Gadeken motioned that the board approve $3,000 for street sign repairs. Trustee Bickers seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

WATER/SEWER/UTILITY

Trustee Harris was not able to read the monthly usage reports since we have no one who is licensed to do so.

$31,143.35 was received in October. 100 penalty bills were sent. $31,632.17 was billed in October to 535 customers.

PUBLIC PROPERTY

Robert Tincher was present to discuss his proposal to allow Hillside Development to be project manager for the new Sidney Village Hall project. He has quotes for everything they’ve designed. MG2A for $12,000 to do the surveying-with a total of $1800 which includes landscaping; $204,312 for the excavation of the site and other site work; $604,448 for the building systems; and a $74,500 for project management costs. Total proposal cost of $901,267.00 for the project. Trustee Bickers made a motion to hire Hillside Development as project manager for the new Sidney Village Hall project. Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

Trustee Arrasmith then motioned for the board to approve $1,025 to JT’s Tree Service to remove a decaying tree and grind the stump at 208 South Scarborough St. Trustee Bickers seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

PARKS AND RECREATION

Trustee Bickers motioned for the board to approve $1,000 for a tree removal at Witt Park. Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

Trustee Bickers then reported that Illini Fence had completed their work at Witt Park and that the no pets allowed on the ballfields and the park rules signs be put up. He also stated the shed at Witt Park will also need to be cleaned out and maintenance completed on the lawn mowers. He stated that he was also looking into possibly putting up cameras or installing lights there as teenagers have been doing doughnuts in the parking lot after the park is closed.

Trustee Bickers then stated that the bench at Victory Park will need be taken out and reset.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Trustee Schluter reported that no change had been made to the village’s trick or treating hours on Halloween due to the weather and that a lot of kids still came out.

He also stated that he posted about the village’s fall brush and limb pickup which is this week, November 4th-8th.

Trustee Bickers motioned at 8:31p.m. that the board move into executive session for the limited purposes of discussing the employment, performance and/or compensation of a village employee pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1). Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

The Board came out of closed session at 9:21p.m. Trustee Bickers motioned to offer Village Maintenance Employee Jarin Wilsey the hourly pay of $20.19 with benefits and $22.19 without benefits. Trustee Gadeken seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

Trustee Catron moved that the meeting be adjourned at 9:26pm. Trustee Arrasmith seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

http://villageofsidney.com/meeting-minutes-and-notifications/village-of-sidney-board-of-trustees-meeting-november-4th-2019