Macon Reporter

Village of Harristown Board of Trustee met Sept. 26.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The Village of Harristown Board of Trustees held their monthly meeting at 185 N. Kembark St, Harristown, IL. Trustees Teresa Acree, Jay Trusner, Les Jenkins, Larry Ditty, , Budget Officer Rick Laskowski, Treasurer Julie Rose, Attorney Andrew Weatherford, Clerk Penny Allen and Mayor Evelyn Deverell were present. Trustee Kevin Vessels was absent. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Adopt Meeting Agenda

Mayor Deverell would like to move, under new business, swearing in new trustee Jeff Eller, up. Motion by Trustee Acree to approve moving up the swearing in of new trustee Jeff Eller and approve the meeting agenda. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 4-0.

Clerk Allen swore in Jeff Eller as new trustee.

Trustee Kevin Vessels arrived at 6:35 pm

Approval of Minutes

Motion by Trustee Acree to approve meeting minutes from 8/22/2022. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Visitors

Visitor Rose Ross wants to address the board later in the meeting under vacating property section.

Treasurers Report

Motion by Trustee Trusner to approve the treasurers report. Trustee Ditty 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Chastain    construction management   $ 7048.71  WF

Dunn          asphalt repairs – W. Main   $ 4960.00  WF

Pump Supply   submersible grinder pump Jenner Lift station  $ 3447.86  SF

Troy Page   demolish/haul debris 201 N. Kembark  $ 5500.00  GF

Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve above bills, total $20,956.57. Trustee Acree 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Annual Treasurers report – motion by Trustee Vessels to approve annual treasurers report, year ending April 30, 2022. Trustee Ditty 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Budget Officer Report

BO Laskowski discussed

Motion by Trustee Trusner to approve Budget officers report. Trustee Vessels 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Engineer Report

Ron discussed. The punch list did have 31 items, down to 3 now. 1) curb Wyckles/Main 2) electrical feed removal, old building, coordinating with Ameren 3) spare chemical feed pump.

Received contractor payment requests. Burdick $112,148.91 – leaves $64,951, mostly retainage. Caldwell Tanks #11 $5121 and #12 $ 6660. Roughly $61,000 retainage left. We need to make sure we have owner manuals and everything we need before the next meeting.

Change order for Burdick. Net decrease $6956.23. Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve pay application #9 Burdick Plumbing and Heating $112,148.91(thru 8/31/2022), out of IEPA loan funds. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Motion by Trustee Jenkins to approve change order #5 for Burdick, decrease $6956.23. Trustee Ditty 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Motion by Trustee Ditty to approve pay request application #11-Caldwell tanks, $5121 (thru 6/20). Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Motion by Trustee Eller to approve pay request application #12 $6660 (end July 20), Caldwell Tanks. Trustee Vessels 2nd. Approved 6-0.

The first loan payment is due February 28, 2023 * $28,734.37; 2 payments per year.

No news on Suburban Road

2022 MFT project is completed

Zoning and Planning

Mike Sorrentino discussed the meeting held last Tuesday-vacation 7545 W. Wood, 7495 W. Wood and Macon Street. There were two concerns; access to Macon St from Kembark will be cut off and other concern was drainage. The zoning committee recommends to grant the petition of vacating the right of way. Visitor Rose Ross stated if this is vacated, what happens years from now and someone wants to split up the property and put houses there? She said the village always needs to look at 50-100 years ahead. Macon Street may get developed; need to think about the future. Michelle Pagel, one of the property owners, is not concerned about that. She said cannot build on easement. Trustee Trusner questioned how far the property went; would have to subdivide. Mrs. Ross said if there is a shed on a parcel, have to be all on one parcel. Macon County map shows it’s on one parcel. Attorney Weatherford questioned if Kembark picks up after Macon St? Mayor Deverell stated, no, it doesn’t. Motion by Trustee Trusner to approve the vacation of right away, south of W. Wood, north of Macon St. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Roll call: Trustee Trusner, yes; Trustee Eller, yes; Trustee Jenkins, yes; Trustee Ditty, yes; Trustee Acree, yes; Trustee Vessels, yes. Approved 6-0.

The zoning boards would like a meeting to discuss solar panel, Air B&B, windmills, and various ordinances/permits. They will be having a meeting towards end of October. A resident was thinking about putting an Air B&B on their property.

Mayor Deverell stated a stop order was put on Parks Building at Main/Wyckles. Licensed electrician is required and this has not been supplied to village.

Public Works-Superintendents Report

Jonathon Closs discussed. Gravel Pit Road is down to one lane; waiting on Ameren to fix their gas line.

The water plant is shut down and wells turned off.

Old Business

ARPA Funds-Mayor requests everyone think about what to spend the balance on

Village wells-sheet distributed discussing well leases; 365 days to terminate leases. Attorney Weatherford will looks into the leases and will prepare communication to Carolyn Stahl Floyd and Carla Stahl Graham. He will let Mayor know if letters can be sent.

Decommissioning – don’t have to worry about this right now. EJ Water may try to do all villages at same time; probably in the spring.

Mayor Deverell read thank you letter from Sangamon Valley Primary School for $150 donation.

New Business

Motion by Trustee Jenkins to give authority for Misty Peters to pickup /take bank deposits to bank, write and calculate deposits, and answer bank questions. Trustee Ditty 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Fence quotes-waiting on quotes for fence on north side of property at 210 N. Kembark property.

210 N. Kembark – Mayor Deverell would like Board members to think about what to do with this property, approximately 100 x 200. Trustee Trusner would like a park. There are grants available for parks. She questioned if we wanted to sell the property? Trustee Vessels suggested holding a town meeting to discuss. Rose Ross said she heard someone was interested in buying the property; then could use that money to build a park somewhere else. Tabled

Indus 365- Mayor Deverell, Trustee Jenkins and zoning chairman Mike Sorrentino met with Krishna. He did not bring final cost estimates. Discussed a road, would like old route 36 access; he would like bonds to pay for infrastructure costs. Mayor stated she did not feel that bonds is a good idea. If something would fall thru, village is stuck with bonds. We need more information from them.

Personnel Committee

Nothing to report

Streets and Alleys Committee

Nothing to report

Finance Committee

Nothing to report

Ordinance Committee

Meeting will be scheduled

Water and Sewer

Termination of contract for water operator- a letter was sent to EJ to terminate using them; will save $1600/month.

URWC-we are on URWC now. Rate is currently $3.94 per 1000 gallon. They are already talking about raising this.

Waste water facility consolidation – Mayor Deverell does not want to start on this at this time

Economic Development

Grants – Misty is filing out a grant agreement to help pay for parts that we mow.

Mural – no final proof yet

Veterans/1st Responders dinner – will be held November 11, 2022. We did receive a $5,000 anonymous donation.

Holiday Bazaar will be November 19, 2022

Santa at the Village – will be December 16, 2022

Attorney

Nothing to report

Motion by Trustee Vessels to enter closed session to discuss closed session minutes. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Entered closed session at 8:43 pm

Back to regular session at 8:53 pm

Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve and release closed session minutes from May 23,2022. Trustee Eller 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Motion by Trustee Acree to adjourn. Trustee Vessels 2nd. Approved 6-0

Meeting adjourned at 8:54 pm

https://villageofharristown.com/minutes