Macon Reporter

Village of Warrensburg Village Board met Oct. 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER:  Mayor Pro-tem Oakley called the meeting to order at the Warrensburg Village Hall on Monday, October 17, 2022 at 5:30 p.m., reminding everyone the meeting was being recorded.   

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

ROLL CALL:  Present:  Trustee Fisher, Trustee Freeman, Trustee Netherton & Trustee Oakley.  Also present were Chief Wheeler, Atty Jankowicz, DPW Allen & VAC Hundley.  Mayor Riley, Trustee Hackl & Trustee Hood were absent.

MAYOR’S COMMENTS:  Mayor Riley wasn’t able to attend and hadn’t left any items to discuss.  Trustee Oakley asked if the Trick-or-Treat hours had been posted on Facebook.  VAC Hundley mentioned it was on the website and on the bulletin board and that she will post it on Facebook tomorrow.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:  Brandon Rarick, owner of ACTS internet services was in attendance.  He let the board know they are applying for Federal & State grants to enable them to complete the work in Warrensburg, along with the surrounding country & Latham.  He thought the timeline on the grants was 30 – 90 days to be assigned.  All of the costs for the permits to bore under the railroad along with incurred attorney fees are included in the application.

Trustee Oakley asked if they had anticipated applying for these grants when they originally started the project in Warrensburg.  Mr. Rarick responded that was not their intention at the beginning.  They were using their year over year profits to fund their expansion.  That was before COVID and the rising costs associated with that.  The issues recently were other companies cutting their fiber lines and not paying for repair.  They’ve had to use lawyers to try to recover those costs and attorney fees have been $30,000.00 so far.  With a grant, they’d be able to use State resources to recover those costs.  Trustee Oakley asked if they were “on hold” until they are awarded a grant.  Mr. Rarick stated they are on a slight hold.  The completion is not pending the grant but it will make the process easier.  

Trustee Oakley asked “of the people that wanted the service initially, is there an idea of the completion percentage?”  Mr. Rarick stated approximately 33% of the town has been covered and, in that area, only about half of the people who stated they wanted the service have actually completed the installation.  In addition, of those who have signed up, almost 1/3 haven’t paid their bill.  

Trustee Freeman asked about the railroad permit.  Mr. Rarick stated the application has to go through Rail Pro, who is the company that oversees that part of the project.  He also stated the permit to go under Route 121 has been revised due to the high-pressure gas line, State fiber lines, water and sewer lines.  

Mr. Rarick stated they will be installing fiber along both sides of County 20 and because of the pipeline and water line, they will need to go further into the front yards.

Trustee Oakley asked for an estimated timeline.  Mr. Rarick replied that once the grant is approved, they will have 3 – 4 weeks to complete the project.  A grant subsidized project is ahead of a private project, so it will be easier to purchase equipment and have the utility locates done.  

The problem in the past hasn’t been getting installations completed, it has been in obtaining the equipment.

Trustee Oakley asked if they will be sure to keep the Village updated as to the status of the grant.

Mr. Rarick asked if the Village could ask for more letters of support for the grant applications and if there was any way the Village could assist with getting another company to pay for damages caused to ACTS fiber lines.

NEW BUSINESS:   Nothing.  

ENGINEER:  Stephanie Brown from was absent

REVIEW/APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  A motion was made by Trustee Fisher and seconded by Trustee Freeman to approve the minutes of the October 3, 2022 regular meeting.  Motion carried.  

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK:  Trustee Freeman moved and Trustee Oakley seconded to approve the Balance Sheet, pay the bills and make the appropriate transfers for October 17, 2022.  VAC Hundley stated the Village had received the 4th payment for RE Taxes.  She explained the transfer from the wind tower funds to SRTS to pay that invoice.  She also explained about the several invoices from Pace Analytical.  Trustee Oakley asked VAC Hundley to explain the items listed at the bottom of the Balance Sheet, which showed the interest payments for the USDA loans which will be deducted from the Water Bond account on November 1.  Roll call vote:  Yes – Trustees Oakley, Freeman, Netherton, & Fisher.  No - none.  Motion carried.

VAC Hundley mentioned the spreadsheet included in the packet which shows the State of IL payments as of this month, which is midway through our fiscal year.  She will also run the budget comparison report after the AP transactions are posted tomorrow and have that report at the next meeting so each department can review their budget items.   

FINANCE:  Trustee Oakley didn’t have anything which requires action.  The office had received a call from Decatur Computer, that the firewall that was installed within the last 6 weeks, may need an update.  Decatur Computer had been notified by the manufacturer of the possibility this product could be hacked.  Trustee Oakley will be reaching out to them to make the update and also have them make other changes which were already approved during the same visit.

BUILDING:  Trustee Netherton didn’t have anything.  

POLICE:  Trustee Fisher didn’t have anything.  

Chief Wheeler informed the board running boards will need to be installed on the new truck.  These will be necessary for access to the back seat for transports.  The cost including installation would be right at $525.00.  Trustee Fisher moved and Trustee Netherton seconded to purchase the running boards at a cost not to exceed $525.00 and this be included in the loan.  Roll call vote:  Yes – Trustees Netherton, Freeman, Fisher & Oakley.  No – none.  Motion carried.  

Chief Wheeler also asked the board to think about whether they wanted to do the Christmas Lighting contest again this year.

Chief reported on the annual visit to the PD by the Pre-K classes.  Approximately 53 children participated.

SEWER:  Trustee Hackl was absent.  DPW Allen mentioned the blower motor had been purchased and was being installed.  Some electrical work needed to be redone.  This had been approved via verbal consent by the trustees last week.  A motion was made by Trustee Freeman, seconded by Trustee Netherton to formally approve the purchase of the blower motor from Decatur Electric at a cost not to exceed $1,250.00.  Roll call vote:  Yes – Trustees Fisher, Oakley, Freeman & Netherton.  No - none.  Motion carried. 

STREETS:   Trustee Hood was absent.  The question was asked about the sidewalk work.  DPW Allen was asked to follow-up with Dary Burnett as to a time-frame for the work.

WATER:  Trustee Freeman didn’t have anything.  He would like to schedule a committee meeting.

PUBLIC WORKS:   DPW Allen mentioned they had come in to get some of the program stuff and will come back for remote access.  He was asked to clarify who he was talking about.  This will allow the employees remote access to the water plant.  Trustee Oakley asked if there was a timeline on the completion of that work. 

VILLAGE ATTORNEY:  Atty Jankowicz didn’t have anything.

OTHER AND/OR OLD BUSINESS:  Nothing.

Trustee Fisher moved and Trustee Freeman seconded to adjourn.  Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m.  

https://warrensburgil.com/meeting-info/