Macon Reporter

Village of Forsyth Board of Trustees met Feb. 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 Jeff London, Trustee Kerry Denison, Trustee Jim Peck, Trustee Dave Wendt, Trustee Jeremy Shaw and Trustee Bob Gruenewald

Absent: None

Staff Present:

Village Administrator David Strohl, Village Attorney Jed Jedlicka, Village Engineer Matt Foster, Library Director Rachel Miller, Public Works Director Darin Fowler and Treasurer Rhonda Stewart

Others Present:

Stephanie Brown, Attorney Andrew Weatherford, Attorney Michael Fleshman and John Moody

CONSENT AGENDA

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

1. Approval Of Minutes Of The Regular Meeting Of January 20, 2020

2. Approval Of Warrants

Motion: Trustee Peck made the Motion to approve the Consent Agenda and Trustee London seconded.

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

Yeas: 6 – London, Denison Peck, Wendt, Shaw and Gruenewald 

Nays: 0 - None

Absent: 0 - None Motion declared carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mayor Johnson stated that, at this time, the public can 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 Herbert stated there was not anything new to report. He then introduced Deputy Trevor Rigg a new deputy for Forsyth. Mayor Johnson spoke about last weekend when cars were damaged at Red Lobster from young groups of people. Deputy Rigg stated he actually took that report. He said these large group of teens were crossing Route 51 and he was thinking they could write them a ticket, but the Village did not have an Ordinance that would cover these groups crossing a roadway. Trustee Peck asked what he had seen working in Argenta that was different from what we had. Deputy Rigg said we would need an Ordinance for these type of offences with smaller fines than we currently have. Trustee Peck asked Village Administrator Strohl and he replied that we could talk to our attorney.

2. Village Staff Reports

Trustee Gruenewald asked Public Works Director Fowler if the light on the Forsyth entrance sign had been fixed and he replied, Yes. Trustee Gruenewald then asked him about the water meters that had not been working. Public Works Director Fowler replied they got 15 done last week and a couple more already this week.

OLD BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

1. Approval Of Concrete Sidewalk Replacement Project (Public Works Director Fowler)

Public Works Director Fowler discussed the bids for the sidewalk repair and recommended Jess Concrete as they were the low bidder. Trustee Gruenewald asked if any of this was something we could do ourselves. Public Works Director Fowler stated they would try to do that this spring and summer. He said his plan was to teach the employees how to do this for smaller jobs.

Motion: Trustee Peck made the Motion to approve Jess Concrete for the Concrete Sidewalk Replacement with backfill and seed and Trustee Gruenewald seconded.

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

Yeas: 6 – London, Denison, Peck, Wendt, Shaw, and Gruenewald 

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 0 - None

Motion declared carried.

2. Approval Of Agreement For Professional Services For 2020 Street Maintenance Project (Village Engineer Foster)

Village Engineer Foster explained as part of the CIP that was approved last fall we would join with the other intergovernmental agencies in the area for cape sealing or micro surfacing this summer. The County engineer is putting together a 5-year agreement. The estimated cost for design and construction is $33,000.00. However, we will need to replace 5 curb ramps and some sidewalks that is not included in the County work. Trustee Gruenewald asked what the total cost will be for the 3 streets and the sidewalk work. Village Engineer Foster stated we have a line item in the budget of $216,000.00 and we are looking at about $175,000.00 “ish”. Trustee Peck stated the cape sealing on County Highway 20 was pretty good; but not so good in the individual neighborhoods. Village Engineer Foster said County Highway 20 did have problems in some other towns. He then stated his initial thought is to do micro surfacing on any street with curbs and gutters. Trustee Shaw asked what the price difference was. Village Engineer Foster stated micro surfacing was cheaper. Trustee Gruenewald asked if the problems we were having with the cape sealing was unique to our project. Village Engineer Foster said yes, as the contractor was having mechanical issues with their equipment. Trustee Shaw asked Public Works Director Fowler which he preferred, and he answered micro surfacing.

Motion: Trustee Peck made the Motion to Approve The Agreement For Professional Services For 2020 Street Maintenance Project and Trustee Denison seconded.

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

Yeas: 6 – London, Denison, Peck, Wendt, Shaw and Gruenewald 

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 0 - None

Motion declared carried.

3. Discussion And Potential Action Regarding Park And Recreation Grant Opportunities (Village Engineer Foster, Stephanie Brown)

Village Engineer Foster stated they had turned in the application to IDNR for the 1st Phase of the Sports Park but don’t have any word yet. He stated that in May they will be having another round of OSLAD grants. He then introduced Stephanie Brown from his firm that is an urban planner and works with grants. Ms. Brown spoke about her experience and then spoke about what the organizations like to see when applying for a grant. She said they want to know if you are “shovel ready”, what support you have, what funds we are putting into the project, feasibility, etc. Trustee Gruenewald asked what the OSLAD grant is for; building or non-buildings. Ms. Brown answered they are for outdoor recreation, trails, ball fields, etc. Park grants try to focus more on the indoor facilities. She stated that OSLAD is 50% outdoor and 50% indoor; where Park grants are 75% outdoor and 25% indoor. Trustee Gruenewald asked what does “shovel ready” mean. She stated having good concrete plans in front of you; final design, know exactly what you are going after, linear feet of trails, how much dirt needs to be moved, etc. Village Engineer Foster said there is a lot of dirt work to be done with Phase I and Phase 2 and it will be 60% of the cost of the entire project and need to get that tuned in a little better. Ms. Brown said the max on the OSLAD grant is $800,000.00. The LWCF grant has 3 steps: 1st is to have the appraisal done in the 1st 6 months and we will have no problem with that. 2nd is to have the property purchased and closed by September 2021. Then 3 years from the date the land has been purchased and has been approved by the State the facility must be done and ready to use. Trustee Gruenewald then asked if it was true that we cannot apply for the OSLAD grant until we own the property and Ms. Brown said that is correct. Village Engineer Foster stated an archeological covenant needs to be put on the deed. He also stated the grant opens in May and applications are due July 1st, 2020. Trustee Gruenewald then asked if we will need to do more work on the amount of dirt work to do and the design. Village Engineer Foster answered, yes, that we should have some level of design and work with the regulatory agencies as some of the land that floods may be a wetland area.

CLOSED SESSION

Motion: Trustee Wendt made the Motion to go into Closed Session with potential action to be taken after the Closed Session and Trustee Denison seconded. Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 6 – London, Denison, Peck, Wendt, Shaw and Gruenewald 

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 0 - None

Motion declared carried.

Mayor Johnson reconvened the meeting at 9:04 P.M.

ADJOURNMENT

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

The meeting was adjourned at 9:04 P.M.

https://forsyth-il.gov/vertical/sites/%7B18717005-44FD-438D-B0BC-B86101984F4F%7D/uploads/External_Meeting_Packet(37).pdf