Macon Reporter

Village of Forsyth Board of Trustees met Dec. 3.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Marilyn Johnson called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL

Upon call of the roll, the following members were physically present: Mayor Marilyn Johnson, Trustee Jeremy Shaw, Trustee Bob Gruenewald, Trustee Dave Wendt, Trustee Jim Peck, Trustee Kirsten Trachtenberg and Trustee Kerry Denison.

Absent: None

Staff Present:

Village Administrator David Strohl, Village Attorney Jeff Jurgens, Community and Economic Development Coordinator Nik Duffle, Village Engineer Mary Cave, Library Director Rachel Miller, Public Works Director Larry Coloni and Village Treasurer Rhonda Stewart.

Others Present:

Deputy Lilly, Shauna Bohlmann and John Moody.

PUBLIC HEARING

1. Public Hearing On The Annual Operating And Capital Budget For The Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2019 And Ending December 31, 2019.

No Comments.

CONSENT AGENDA

Consideration of items listed on the Consent Agenda under the omnibus vote designation:

1. Approval Of Minutes Of The Regular Meeting Of November 19, 2018

2. Approval Of Warrants

Motion: Trustee Gruenewald made the Motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented and Trustee Denison seconded.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 6 – Shaw, Gruenewald, Wendt, Peck, Trachtenberg, Denison Nays: 0 – None

Motion declared carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mayor Johnson stated that, at this time, the public has the opportunity to express views or make comments to the Mayor and Board of Trustees on agenda items or any other Village issue. Mayor Johnson asked that comments be limited to not more than three (3) minutes and opened the meeting for the public to address the Board.

None.

ADMINISTRATION REPORTS

1. Law Enforcement Report

Deputy Lilly stated it had been a very calm month. There was one retail theft on Black Friday. Trustee Gruenewald stated he had seen about 10 police cars about a week or so ago and would like to know if they could notify the Village when they were going to be doing this so people would not worry; possibly put up a sign. Deputy Lilly said that he would let them know we would like this done.

2. Village Staff Reports

Trustee Peck addressed Economic Development Coordinator Duffle to just keep it up and he had noticed everyone on the surveys were asking for a grocery store. He also asked him if Mr. Sullivan was still closing on December 21st and the answer was yes. Trustee Peck then addressed Village Engineer Cave about the pricing for the County Highway 20 and Route 51 project. She responded she had met with IDOT and they said they are planning on doing an overlay down Route 51 but that would not be for about three years and it would not go into the problem area. Trustee Peck asked if they were willing to help us with it and Village Engineer Cave said no. IDOT was in the midst of redesigning the intersection of Barnett Ave. for the turn lanes. They are willing to talk about the medians; however they would not help pay for any of it. She stated that the State has a nominal amount of money for repairing medians. She also stated that she had received another bid for the County Highway 20 and Route 51 repair for $64,500.00 from Central Paving and is waiting for 2 more bids. Trustee Peck then asked if we could defer billing until after the 1st of the year and she replied that it could probably be arranged. Trustee Wendt asked Village Engineer Cave about having a barrier, as he has seen other areas that did not have a raised median; what if we did not have any medians. Village Engineer Cave said that IDOT would want a barrier with that many lanes. Trustee Gruenewald asked Village Engineer Cave about the intersection of County Highway 20 and Route 51 and as to where IDOT’s responsibility starts and stops. Village Engineer Cave answered that it ends at the edge of the pavement/asphalt and does not include the gutter. Trustee Gruenewald then asked about the maintenance of the right-of-way and she said they had responsibility for that; such as mowing.

OLD BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

1. Discussion And Potential Action Regarding Forsyth Family Fest (Shauna Bohlmann)

Shauna Bohlmann spoke to the Trustees about the new Family Fest Committee that now has 12 volunteers; 3 of whom were at the meeting. She wanted to get the Trustees ideas for a theme, direction, etc. Mayor Johnson said that she would love to see the Youth League for a game in the afternoon. Discussion continued about having the little children in a ball game and doing it on Friday night. Trustee Wendt stated that he would organize the parade again and suggested that we recognize the football team. It had been an idea brought up to him by a resident to have them on a float. Trustee Trachtenberg suggested having children dress as superheroes and be part of the race and then be on the float with the football team. Trustee Peck stated that we had to have Reilly Fitzpatrick on there too. One of Shauna’s volunteers suggested that we have a camp out as part of the Festival; that people would pay $40.00-$50.00 to do it and it’s a good family activity. Another volunteer suggested having beer. Trustee Trachtenberg stated that she had tried having a beer garden in the past. Several trustees stated they would be in favor of the beer/wine area.

Discussion continued about singers, bands and street performers. Shauna stated that she would come to the meeting again and would meet with each Trustee for a meeting.

2. Adoption Of The Annual Operating And Capital Budget For The Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2019 And Ending December 31, 2019 (Village Administrator Strohl)

Village Administrator Strohl stated there had been an addition of $42,000.00 to the budget for the new water well testing bringing the total to $90,000.00. Trustee Gruenewald wanted to know what of the $90,000.00 was for the test only. Public Works Director Larry Coloni stated the $42,000.00 was for drilling the hole and putting the casing in to justify if there is enough water to build the well there. Village Administrator Strohl stated the rest of the $90,000.00 is for design and land acquisition. Trustee Gruenewald then asked about the cost for the striping of the tennis courts to also be pickle ball courts. He stated he did not want to spend $30,000.00 for the striping of one court. Public Works Director Larry Coloni stated he did not believe it would be that much and it was a rough estimate. Trustee Wendt said we would have the opportunity to vote on it later. Trustee Trachtenberg asked about the line item for the Family Fest that included 2 new grills. Treasurer Stewart stated the wording was accidentally left in from last year but the amount was correct. Trustee Shaw asked if it had been considered to charge an admission fee to the Family Fest for non-Forsyth residents. Discussion continued on the admission fee, advertising or not advertising the event, size of the event, etc. Mayor Johnson gave her opinion in that it should remain a party for the residents of Forsyth, keep it as we have, don’t advertise it, don’t have beer and keep it for the children. Trustee Peck brought up the County Highway 20 and Route 51 intersection; that the Board needs to decide if we are going to fix it with Village money. He stated that several hundred people use that intersection every day. He feels we should put this in the budget. Trustee Wendt stated he had a problem with doing something for the county or the state. He felt they are waiting to see if Forsyth will do it because we are rich Forsyth. He stated this will set a precedence. Mayor Johnson said that she agreed. Trustee Gruenewald stated that he was not a proponent of fixing 51’s problem, but he did not want things dangerous. Trustee Peck stated we are spending $50,000.00 for a roof over the bandstand but cannot spend $65,000.00 to fix a problem that people deal with everyday. Trustee Trachtenberg said she was wondering if we could turn it into a PR opportunity; politically. Village Administrator Strohl stated that you don’t want to antagonize other jurisdictions that you may have to partner with later.

Motion: Trustee Wendt made the Motion to approve the Annual Operating And Capital Budget For Fiscal Year 2019 as presented and Trustee Trachtenberg seconded.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 5 – Shaw, Gruenewald, Wendt, Trachtenberg, Denison Nays: 1 – Peck

Motion declared carried.

3. Ordinance Number 2018-38. An Ordinance Levying Taxes For All Corporate Purposes For The Village Of Forsyth, Macon County, Illinois, For The Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2018 And Ending December 31, 2018 (Village Administrator Strohl)

Motion: Trustee Trachtenberg made the Motion to approve Ordinance Number 2018-38, An Ordinance Levying Taxes For All Corporate Purposes For The Village Of Forsyth For 2018 as presented and Trustee Gruenewald seconded.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 6 – Shaw, Gruenewald, Wendt, Peck, Trachtenberg, Denison Nays: 0 – None

Motion declared carried.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion: Trustee Wendt made the Motion to adjourn, and Trustee Denison seconded. Motion was approved by voice vote.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:30P.M.

http://www.forsythvillage.us/village-board/minutes.htm