Chambana Sun

Village of Sidney Board of Trustees met Dec. 2.

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 November 4th, 2019 regular session of the Board of Trustees meeting be approved. Trustee Bickers seconded the motion; the motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

PUBLIC HEARING:

A public hearing was held as part of the board meeting to hear resident’s opinions regarding amending the Village of Sidney Zoning Ordinance to provide for additional “Building” definitions relating to Conex and/or steel containers. No residents voiced their opinions. Trustee Schluter motioned for the board to approve Ordinance #2019-09 prohibiting Conex and/or steel containers within the Village of Sidney. Trustee Gadeken seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Brandon Lovett approached the board to see if they would possibly approve dividing parcel #24-28-09-200-032 into two lots instead of one. The board could not take any action regarding his proposal, however, they stated that he should come back when he has purchased the property and that it should be fine if he divided it.

Village of Sidney residents Mike and Joni Roy were in attendance to ask the board if the Village could cap off a drain located on the Village of Sidney easement in front of their property at 307 East Byron. It has been causing serious flooding in their basement for many years. There was no motion needed; the board members all agreed that the Village would cap off the drain in a roll call vote.

Village of Sidney resident Jeff Wyant approached the board to let them know that he would be available to help Village Maintenance Employee Jarin Wilsey plow snow this winter and anything else he needed help with. The board thanked Mr. Wyant for coming to the meeting and told him they would get back to him after discussing the particulars for the position during the executive session of the meeting.

Matt White with Illinois American Water was also in attendance to let the board know that ANY issue/problem with the water has to go through them exclusively now to make sure EPA guidelines are being met since the Village is contracted with them.

PRESIDENT FINN'S COMMENTS

President Finn stated Alex Moore could not attend the meeting that evening, but wanted to get a feel for how the board would vote to change four acres of the Tin Cup Property from agricultural to commercial if he were to purchase the property. President Finn would not state what Mr. Moore proposes to do with the property, but stated that it will be good for the community. The board members were all in agreement that it would not be a problem to rezone the property. Alex Moore will be in attendance at the next village board meeting.

Discussion took place regarding the new Village of Sidney Water Shut Off Procedure Policy. Effective December 2nd, the Village shall abide by the following procedure as it relates to disconnecting water connections in the Village:

1.Each month the Village Clerk shall prepare a list of water connections which are to be disconnected (shut off) from the village water system.

2.The Shut Off List will be completed within one day of the mailing of water bills and shall be provided to the Village Maintenance Supervisor.

3.The Village Maintenance Supervisor shall post notices as required by Ordinance by hanging them on front doors or otherwise posting them within three days after receipt of the Shut Off List.

A motion was made by Trustee Harris to approve the Shut Off Procedure Policy. The motion was seconded by Trustee Gadeken. The motion was carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

President Finn then stated that he had received the annual contract for services performed from Martin, Hood and Associates. The contract was reviewed and Trustee Catron made a motion to approve the contract. Trustee Harris seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

ATTORNEY MILLER'S COMMENTS:

Attorney Miller had no report.

JARIN WILSEY’S REPORT

Village Maintenance Employee Wilsey had no report.

FINANCE REPORT

The financial reports were read by Trustee Catron. Trustee Catron moved that the bills be paid with the addition of $430 to Gulliford Sewer Services, $281.06 to Casey’s General Store, $172.80 to Depke, $478.65 to Martin Equipment, $760 to General Code, and $1,473.76 to Farnsworth. Trustee Harris seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

STREETS AND ALLEY

Trustee Gadeken reported that the replacement street signs have been ordered and that Village Maintenance Employee Jarin Wilsey had fixed the hump in the street on Wilsey Lane.

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.

$27,661.17 was received in November. 106 penalty bills were sent. $26,405.85 was billed in November to 535 customers.

PUBLIC PROPERTY

Trustee Arrasmith reported that there were no permits issued. He also stated that Hillside Development Group did the site survey at the old school lot and the plans for the new village hall should be completed by Christmas.

PARKS AND RECREATION

Trustee Bickers reported that the dead tree at Witt Park could not be removed yet because the ground was too wet; will need to wait until the ground freezes again.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Trustee Schluter had no report. Trustee Catron, however, stated that he would like to have a backup for Trustee Schluter as manager of the village social media pages in the event Trustee Schluter is out of town and the village needs to report something on village social media pages in a timely manner. Village Clerk Fish stated that she would be the backup person for this.

Trustee Schluter then asked Sidney Improvement Group President Mike Roy if he would speak about the upcoming Village Christmas Activities on December 6th and 7th.

Trustee Bickers motioned at 7:55p.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 8:26p.m. Trustee Catron motioned to hire Jeff Wyant on an as needed basis for $20.00 per hour. Trustee Bickers seconded the motion. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

President Finn then announced his resignation effective immediately as Village of Sidney President under new business. His official resignation will be accepted at the next Village Board Meeting on Monday, January 6th, 2020. Trustees will then appoint an interim Village of Sidney President to finish out President Finn’s term that concludes in 2021.

Trustee Bickers made a motion to appoint Trustee Arrasmith as interim Village President effective immediately until the board meeting on January 6th, 2020. The motion was seconded by Trustee Harris. The motion carried with all ayes on a roll call vote.

Trustee Catron moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:35pm. Trustee Gadeken 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-december-2nd-2019