Chambana Sun

Village of Saint Joseph Village Board met Nov. 26.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Mayor Fruhling-Voges called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

The Pledge of Allegiance was said by all present.

Roll call was taken. Fruhling-Voges Present

Rigdon Absent

Painter Present

McCarty Present

Wagner Present ARRIVED AT 7:46

Davis Present

Rapp Present ARRIVED AT 7:07

Others in attendance: Tiffany McElroy-Smetzer, Village Clerk; Mike Peters, Village Public Works Superintendent; Luke Fisher, Assistant Public Works Superintendent; Julie Hendrickson, Village Office Manager; Joe Lierman, Village Attorney; Kevin Wills, Bernardi Securities; and Nora Maberry, St. Joseph Record.

MINUTES: The minutes of 10.22.19 and 11.12.19 Village Board Meetings were approved as presented. Davis motioned and McCarty seconded to approve the minutes as presented. Roll call vote was taken: Painter – Aye, McCarty – Aye, Fruhling-Voges* – Aye, and Davis – Aye. Motion passed 4 - 0.

BILLS: Painter motioned and Davis seconded to pay the bills for the Village. Roll call vote was taken: McCarty – Aye, Fruhling-Voges* – Aye, Davis – Aye, and Painter – Aye. Motion passed 4 - 0.

*Fruhling-Voges voted as there were not 4 Trustees present at the time.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: No public participation.

MAYOR’S DESK:

• Fruhling-Voges gave an update on a meeting she attended with Land Bank meeting. We are now a member of the Land Bank. Fruhling- Voges will continue to update the Board on any activity.

• Fruhling-Voges reported on an upcoming insurance meeting with employees about improved insurance coverage. The meeting will be on December 9, 2019. It will be on the December 10, 2019 agenda. There will be better coverage for employees and savings for the Village.

RAPP arrived 7:07

• Fruhling-Voges reported on the Champaign County RPC meeting. RPC’s audit is 90 days late. All the information from RPC was turned into the Champaign County Auditor in a timely manner. There is no information from the Auditor’s office about why the audit has not been finished. This is a big problem due to the fact that if the audit is not submitted by the due date or within an extension window, RPC could become ineligible for grants. They in turn would not have any funds for the grants that they make and the programs that they run. This is a very serious problem. Fruhling-Voges urged Trustees to contact our County Board Members and urge them to take action to correct this problem.

• Fruhling-Voges reported on a visit from the IL Department of Labor last week. Fisher gave an update on the progress of the issues found.

COMMITTEE REPORTS AS FOLLOWS:

FINANCE:

• Fruhling-Voges introduced Kevin Wills from Bernardi Securities. He explained to the Board what he would be doing for the Village. Wills explained that nothing would be changing on the loans except the interest rate. There will be no additional funds. There will be no extension of the time frame. There will NOT be any new additional projects. The only purpose is to lower the interest rate and save the Village money. The bonds will be offered to the three local banks before anyone else.

• Painter motioned and McCarty seconded the adoption of Resolution approving Bernardi Securities Engagement Letter as Placement Agent in connection with General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2019A and Series 2019B. Roll call vote was taken: Davis – Aye, Rapp – Aye, Painter – Aye, and McCarty - Aye. Motion passed 4 - 0.

• Lierman presented the Board with “An ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGA TION REFUNDING BONDS (ALTERNATE REVENUE SOURCE), SERIES 2019A AND SERIES 2019B, OF THE VILLAGE OF ST. JOSEPH. CHAMPAIGN COUTY, ILLINOIS, PROVIDING THE DETAILS OF SUCH BONDS AND FOR AN ALTERNATE REVENUE SOURCE AND THE LEVY OF DIRECT ANNUAL TAXES SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON SUCH BONDS, AND RELATED MATTERS”. Painter motioned and McCarty seconded to approve the Ordinance as presented. Roll call vote was taken: Rapp – Aye, Painter – Aye, McCarty – Aye, and Davis – Aye. Motion passed 4 - 0.

WAGNER ARRIVED AT 7:46

• Hendrickson presented the Tax Levy to the Board. Painter motioned and McCarty seconded to accept the Tax Levy as presented. Roll call vote was taken: Painter – Aye, McCarty – Aye, Wagner – Aye, Davis – Aye, and Rapp - Aye. Motion passed 5 - 0.

SANITARY SEWER: Nothing to report.

PARKS & RECREATION: Nothing to report.

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY:

• Davis reported on the proposed Winter Festival and ice arena.

• Davis reported on the possibility of having food trucks.

BUILDINGS & GROUNDS: Nothing to report.

STREETS & ALLEYS: Nothing to report.

OTHER: Painter brought up an electronic sign for the Welcome to St. Joseph sign. He thinks it would be beneficial. The Village could post important dates and announcements on it. Painter will follow up on this.

ATTORNEY’S DESK: Nothing to report.

CLERK’S DESK: There was discussion regarding Board packets. Rapp requested that all items, especially items to be voted on, be distributed to Board members by Friday. This would give Board members sufficient time to review their packets before the meeting, request information from Village staff if needed, and determine if they have all the information necessary to make an informed decision at the Board meeting. This will also be beneficial to Village staff as it gives them time to find answers to Board members questions in advance of the Board meeting.

It was agreed that Village staff will try to have all information relevant to the agenda, especially action items, ready for Board members by close of business on Friday before the meeting. It was noted that there are exceptions where some information may not be available until Monday before the Board meeting, or possibly the day of the Board meeting. Board members are encouraged to ask questions of Village staff on the Monday and Tuesday before the Board meeting. This will give staff time to research items if necessary.

OFFICE MANAGER: Nothing to report.

PUBLIC WORKS: Nothing to report.

At 8:25, Painter motioned and McCarty seconded to adjourn the meeting.

https://stjosephillinois.org/vertical/sites/%7B24DDC073-0F27-4A8D-B8E4-B5A8A41FF8A8%7D/uploads/village_11.26.19.pdf