Chambana Sun

Village of Rossville Board of Trustees met Oct. 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

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

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Roll call was taken. A quorum was established with Mayor Queen and Trustees Gammon, Richison, Jones, Cornell, Daniel and Black physically present.

Absent – None

Guests present were Clerk White, Treasurer Bridget Ault, Kenneth Gammon and Erik Pelikant

Minutes of the regular board meeting held September 18, 2023, were presented. Motion was made by Black, seconded by Daniel to dispense with the reading of the minutes and approve them as presented. Vote: Daniel, yes; Richison, yes; Gammon, yes; Jones, yes; Black, yes; Cornell, yes.

Minutes of the special board meeting held October 6, 2023 were presented. Motion was made by Gammon, seconded by Cornell to dispense with the reading of the minutes and approve them as presented. Vote: Richison, yes; Gammon, yes; Jones, yes; Black, yes; Cornell, yes; Daniel, yes.

Treasurer Ault’s amended report for August 2023 and report for September 2023 were presented. The Finance & Purchasing Committee met earlier. Trustee Gammon discussed adding a “Contributions” and an “Expense” column for the Customer Deposits section of future treasurer’s reports with Treasurer Ault. Clerk White stated the form is ready for future reports with the additional columns as requested. Motion was made by Black, seconded by Jones to accept the Treasurer’s amended report for August 2023 and approve the September 2023, with an omnibus vote, as presented. Vote: Gammon, yes; Jones, yes; Black, yes; Cornell, yes; Daniel, yes; Richison, yes.

Current bills – Current bills were reviewed. Motion was made by Black, seconded by Gammon to approve and pay the bills as presented. Vote: Jones, yes; Black, yes; Cornell, yes; Daniel, yes; Richison, yes; Gammon, yes.

Superintendent Lusk’s report – Trustee Gammon asked which generator was being worked on. Clerk White assumed the new generator at the new lift station.

Trustee Gammon reported someone backed over the fire hydrant at the lift station area. The maintenance department replaced it.

Sewer Operator Price’s report – There were no comments on Sewer Operator Matt Price’s written report.

Police report – Chief Greene will be attending a TASER school in Champaign.

Trustee Gammon reported Superintendent Maden was raving about the police officers who have been in the school and their interactions with the kids.

Trustee Gammon stated the Toy Express will be tabled to the Police, Health & Safety Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 18, 2023.

Chief Greene would like to adjust the hours police officers work during the winter. The matter will be discussed at the Police, Health & Safety Committee meeting to be held on Wednesday.

Accounts Receivable - Collector White reported the utility accounts receivable total as $41,442.25. There were miscellaneous invoices totaling $12,673.00, making the total accounts receivable $54,115.25. There was 1 shutoff this past month. The account has been paid in full and the service was reconnected.

Christmas Parade Resolution – A resolution authorizing Route 1 (Chicago Street) to be closed between Green Street and Stufflebeam Drive between 6:00-6:30 p.m. on December 2, 2023, for a Christmas Parade sponsored by RCO (Rossville Community Organization) was presented. Motion was made by Gammon, seconded by Black to approve the parade resolution authorizing the closure of Route 1 between Green Street and Stufflebeam Drive from 6:00-6:30 p.m. on December 2, 2023 for a Christmas Parade. Vote: Black, yes; Cornell, yes; Daniel, yes; Richison, yes; Gammon, yes; Jones, yes. Resolution 2023-09 passed.

Motion was made by Black, seconded by Richison to declare TIF Inner Core Tax Revenue as surplus funds. Vote: Cornell, yes; Richison, yes; Daniel, yes; Gammon, yes; Jones, yes; Black, yes.

The tax levy has been announced as $19,069.87 this year.

Trustee Gammon suggested looking for an attorney with experience in municipal matters along with TIF experience. Some inquiries will be made and the matter will be discussed at the November meeting.

Façade Improvement Grant Reimbursement – A reimbursement request was received from Danner Insurance Service, LLC/Erin Danner for Façade Improvements to the property located at 124 S. Chicago Street. The application was approved by the Village Board on December 19, 2022 not to exceed $5,000. Mrs. Danner enclosed copies of receipts totaling $8,046.57. Motion was made by Black, seconded by Richison to reimburse Erin Danner, from Danner Insurance, for $5,000 for the Façade Improvements on her property located at 124 S. Chicago Street. Vote: Richison, yes; Daniel, yes; Cornell, yes; Black, yes; Jones, yes; Gammon, yes.

Motion was made by Black, seconded by Gammon to amend the motion to hire part-time SRO, as made at the special board meeting held on October 6, 2023, to hire fulltime SRO, pay the SRO on a 12-month pay cycle and offer the SRO health insurance since they will be fulltime officers. Vote: Daniel, yes; Cornell, yes; Black, yes; Jones, yes; Gammon, yes; Richison, yes.

106 E. Attica – Mayor Queen reported the property at 106 E. Attica will be on the tax sale November 2, 2023. Motion was made by Black, seconded by Richison to authorize Mayor Queen to represent the Village of Rossville at the tax sale and bid up to $10,000 for the 106 E. Attica Street property. Vote: Cornell, yes; Black, yes; Jones, yes; Gammon, yes; Richison, yes; Daniel, yes.

Finance & Purchasing – Clerk White reported the auditor was unable to attend this evening but would like to attend the November regular board meeting to present the fiscal year 2023 audit.

Streets & Alleys – Chairman Cornell reported he went to Danville last Friday to pick up the fish order. The fish have been placed in the pond.

Police, Health & Safety Committee – Trustee Black reported bids will be received in the village office until November 17, 2023 at 5p.m. Clerk White reported the ad for the KIA K5 was placed on the IML website and in the News Gazette, which will run 1 time per week for 2 weeks. Bids will be opened at the regular board meeting on November 20, 2023.

Clerk White asked Board members when the KIA K5 is sold, do they want to reimburse the general fund for the expenses to repair the KIA then deposit the remaining funds into the Police Car Sinking Fund. Motion was made by Black, seconded by Jones to reimburse the general fund for the KIA K5 repairs then deposit the remaining funds from the sale of the KIA K5 into the Police Car Sinking Fund. Vote: Black, yes; Jones, yes; Gammon, yes; Richison, yes; Daniel, yes; Cornell, yes.

Water & Sewer – Trustee Gammon had nothing further to report.

Gas Committee- Trustee Richison had nothing to report. Trustee Gammon noted they have begun boring the main toward Danner’s on Stufflebeam for their new gas line installation. Robert and Erin Danner applied for a gas line installation for their residence. The Village is paying for the gas main extension. The Danner’s will pay for the gas line installation to their residence.

Public Improvements – Trustee Daniel had nothing to report at this time.

Erik Pelikant asked if the Village is planning to rezone his property downtown. He has had several people tell him the Village is going to rezone his property. Trustee Black explained the Village is working with the attorney to draft an ordinance to allow a residence to be established on the 1st floor of a business instead of a second-floor residence. The current zoning ordinances do not allow for a residence on the first floor of a business. The Village has noticed several residences on the first floor of businesses. The Village is trying to prepare ordinances to make it legal for residences to be established on the first floor of businesses.

Bridget Ault asked if the Village has plans for the property at 106 E. Attica since they have authorized Mayor Queen to make an offer on the property at a tax sale. Mayor Queen stated a person may be interested in the property at 104 E. Attica and expressed interest in the property at 106 E. Attica as well. The Village has no plans for the property at this time.

A motion was made by Black, seconded by Richison to adjourn the meeting to executive session to review executive session minutes under 5 ILCS 120/2 C21. Vote: Jones, yes; Gammon, yes; Richison, yes; Daniel, yes; Cornell, yes; Black, yes. The meeting was adjourned to executive session at 7:33 p.m.

Motion was made by Black, seconded by Richson to return to regular session. Vote: Gammon, yes; Richison, yes; Daniel, yes; Cornell, yes; Black, yes; Jones, yes. The meeting returned to regular session at 7:40 p.m.

Motion was made by Black, seconded by Richison to release executive session minutes dated April 16, 2018, July 18, 2022, March 20, 2023, April 6, 2023, April 24, 2023, May 8, 2023, May 15, 2023 and October 6, 2023. Vote: Cornell, yes; Daniel, yes; Black, yes; Jones, yes; Richison, yes; Gammon, yes.

Motion was made by Richison, seconded by Black to adjourn the meeting. Vote: Jones, yes; Richison, yes; Cornell, yes; Gammon, yes; Daniel, yes; Black, yes. The meeting adjourned at 7:41 p.m.

https://villageofrossville.org/documents/218/Reg._Board_Mtg._10-16-2023.pdf