Macon Reporter

Village of Warrensburg Village Board met Dec. 2.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Maloney opened the meeting at the Warrensburg Village Hall on Monday, December 2, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. reminding those in attendance that the meeting was being recorded.

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

ROLL CALL: Present: Mayor Maloney, Trustee Ewing, Trustee Fisher, Trustee Hackl, Trustee Hood, Trustee Lock, and Trustee Oakley. Also present were VAC Hundley, Chief Wheeler and Atty Jankowicz.

MAYOR’S COMMENTS: Mayor Maloney reminded everyone of the Toy Drive for the Warrensburg-Latham Lion’s Club until December 12. He hoped to have more information at the next meeting in regards to the Dollar General. He believes they are waiting on certification from IDOT. They have returned their building permit and proper fees.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: Tim Hoffman was present to speak to the board of the upgrades being made to electrical grid systems for the CornFest instead of using generators. Tim had presented the specific details at the November 18 board meeting but was in attendance to answer any questions and see if the board had approved the upgrades. He quickly went through the details of what they are proposing. They estimate the costs for these upgrades/changes would be approximately $5,500.00. Trustee Fisher asked if the meters would only be operating for the week of the festival. Tim confirmed that is correct.

Tim also mentioned the shed which is currently on the property being purchased by Dollar General. Could any of it be recycled for a storage shed to be used by both the Village and the CornFest.

NEW BUSINESS: Jason Toft & Meg Wind were present from Metro Communications Company to talk with the Village about possibly using Fiber-Optic Broadband Services for the Village Offices. Several questions were asked such as what brings them to Warrensburg; is the school being approached; how would it be installed and where; what type of services would be offered; are residents interested in their products; how competitive they are with other providers. They will follow-up with additional information.

REVIEW/APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of the regular session meeting of November 18, 2019 were presented for review. A motion was made by Trustee Fisher, seconded by Trustee Lock to approve the minutes of the November 18, 2019 regular meeting. Motion carried.

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK: Village Administrative Clerk Hundley presented the bills, balance & transfers sheet for December 2, 2019, along with the accounts payable & budget to actual reports. The additional lines were added to the Balance & Transfers sheet as discussed showing the Street & Police vehicle loans. We will also add the Water Bonds to the next sheet. Trustee Oakley asked about a couple of the bills. A motion was made by Trustee Lock, seconded by Trustee Fisher to accept the transfers & balance sheet and pay the bills as presented. Roll Call vote: Yes – Trustees Oakley, Hood, Ewing, Lock, Fisher & Hackl. Motion carried.

ENGINEER: Stephanie Brown was present and updated the board on SRTS. IDOT has said they can move forward with the project. She offered to answer any questions from the board in regards to the Municipal General Services Agreements for Professional Services with Chastain & Associates. She explained how the 3 levels of authorization would work and said that once those are set, they can complete the Agreement. After discussion & additional explanations, the board suggested Tier 1 (verbal means) be set for $500.00 or less; Tier 2 (task order) be set for $501 - $5,000; and Tier 3 (written contract) $5,001 and above.

WATER: Trustee Ewing reported the lighting at the water plant has been fixed by changing all the ballasts and bulbs by the Village employees. It saved the Village approximately $2,800.00. VAC Hundley mentioned that was what the bill from Springfield electric covered. Mayor Maloney wanted it to be on record thanking the W-L school district for the use of their lift.

BUILDING: Trustee Lock had nothing new for the board.

Atty Jankowicz updated the board regarding the owner of 175 W Warren. That owner has 2 pending Ordinance Violation court cases. The bond amount for the 2017 OV case has doubled and a court date has been set for January 2. The 2019 OV case has a full cash bond of $200.00.

More work had been done to remove some of the signs at the Cenex property. If the site is cleared after the tank removal, he is going to try to sell the property.

FINANCE: Trustee Oakley reported on the final work being done for the FY 19 Audit. He reiterated to Sikich we need to have them at our December 16 meeting with the completed audit results. Trustee Oakley brought up the information he had presented to the board at the prior meeting in regards to the Tax Levy. In order to increase the police protection levy, it would have to be put on the March referendum. If we are going to keep the level of service we have today, it needs to be brought to the community. Trustee Fisher is concerned about having it on the same referendum with the cannabis questions. He would like to hold off on the increase in the police protection levy until possibly November 2020. Atty Jankowicz mentioned several things which could be done to inform the public about the different issues. Trustee Lock asked whether holding off until November 2020 for the vote would affect the implementation of the increase in the police levy. Atty Jankowicz explained that it would not since the levy can be filed up to the last Tuesday in December.

Trustee Oakley reiterated that the current income/expense for the department was not sustainable unless something changes. Trustee Fisher asked what would be done if the police protection fund would free up the funds back to the general fund to which Trustee Oakley responded we would be able to many things with the money, such as the codification of ordinances, sidewalk repair, street improvements, etc. Mayor Maloney asked if this could mean cuts to the department and the response was that we would either raise revenue or have to cut expenses. Trustee Hackl mentioned he thought municipalities were going to get some of the cannabis tax funds which could be directed for police protection.

Mayor Maloney asked if it was placed on the ballot in March and failed, could it be placed on the next ballot? The answer is no. Atty Jankowicz mentioned there are 2 different approaches. Ordinance #742 could be amended to remove the question regarding the increase in the Police Protection Levy or it could remain the same. But this has to be submitted to the County Clerk by December 16 so the next board meeting would be too late.

Trustee Fisher moved to amend Ordinance #742 by removing the question regarding the Police Protection Levy. Motion died for a lack of a second.

Trustee Oakley moved to adopt Ordinance #742 which would put the questions regarding Cannabis and the question of the increase to the Police Protection levy on the March 2020 ballot. Trustee Lock seconded. Roll call vote: Yes – Trustees Hackl, Oakley, Lock, Ewing, Hood. No – Trustee Fisher. Motion carried.

STREETS: Nothing.

POLICE: Nothing from Trustee Fisher.

Chief Wheeler presented the monthly report for November. Trustee Hackl asked if something could be put in the newsletter in regards to burning near the road. Since the next newsletter would be January, it wouldn’t apply but could be put in future issues. Trustee Oakley asked if there was ever any outcome or key things which could be included in “Other Police Business” it would be appreciated.

Chief Wheeler reminded everyone of the Christmas Lighting contest with the prizes to be awarded December 19, in conjunction with the Illini Park at their pavilion at 6:00.

SEWER: Trustee Hood reported there is a new motor ordered and the current spare one was at Bodine to determine why it had quit working.

VILLAGE ATTORNEY: Atty Jankowicz presented Ordinance #741 regarding an Alcohol, Drug & Cannabis free workplace. He explained he had taken the input from the last board meeting and changed some of the wording to follow the police department guidelines. Resident Harold Hawkins questioned the wording in paragraph G which states “employees which appear to be unfit for duty may be required to submit to testing”. He asked why it didn’t state “will be required”. While there is risk for not making the testing mandatory, the CEO does have the discretion to require a test which would cost the Village, even if the test is negative. There was a correction to page 4 on the spelling of Cannabis. A motion was made by Trustee Lock, seconded by Trustee Oakley to adopt Ordinance #741 as corrected. Roll call vote: Yes – Trustees Ewing, Hood, Fisher, Hackl, Oakley & Lock. Motion carried.

Atty Jankowicz will prepare an Ordinance approving the Professional Services agreement with Chastain & Associates and asked if their office would provide him with the prepared draft with the amounts, which will be attached to the ordinance. He will also prepare an Ordinance for the 2019 Tax Levy and wanted the minutes to reflect the levy estimate would be $193,592.00.

OTHER AND/OR OLD BUSINESS:

A motion was made by Trustee Lock, seconded by Trustee Hackl to adjourn. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

http://warrensburgillinois.info/village-board-meeting-minutes-2019.html