Macon Reporter

Village of Harristown Board of Trustees met Nov. 28.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Village of Harristown Board of Trustees held their monthly meeting on November 28, 2022 at 185 N. Kembark St, Harristown, IL.  Trustees Teresa Acree, Jay Trusner, Les Jenkins,  Larry Ditty, Jeff Eller, Kevin Vessels, Treasurer Julie Rose, Clerk Penny Allen and Mayor Evelyn Deverell were present. Budget Officer Rick Laskowski and Attorney Andrew Weatherford was absent.  The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Adopt Meeting Agenda

Motion by Trustee Acree to approve the meeting agenda. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Approval of Minutes 

Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve meeting minutes from 11/03/2022.  Trustee Ditty 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Visitors

No visitors present.

Mayor Updates

Veterans/First Responder Dinner-not as big of crowd as anticipated

Christmas bazaar – was a big success

Election Packets – filing begins December 12, 2022.

Open Meeting Act – new members need to take this.

December 19 meeting – this will be a potluck.  Start at 5:30 pm followed by meeting at 6:30 pm

Santa at Village --- this will be on December 2nd 6 pm to 8 pm

Mayor Deverell read Trustee Larry Ditty’s resignation letter.  The December board meeting will be his last meeting. 

Water Leaks – several water leaks; maintenance men working until midnight last night.  Jonathon Closs thinks the garbage trucks are damaging our water lines with their heavy trucks.

Treasurers Report

Attorney Weatherford arrived at 6:10 pm

Chastain                           IEPA load professional station        $ 5444.36   WF

Mission Communication   booster pump station                      $ 2289.60   WF

Master Meter                    annual software support                  $  875        WF

Master Meter                    annual software support                   $ 875        SF       

Braniff                               inspection/testing tornado sirens    $ 2655        GF

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

Motion by Trustee Eller to approve above bills, total $12,138.96. Trustee Acree 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Budget Officer Laskowski arrived at 6:24 pm

Budget Officer Report

BO Laskowski discussed

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

Engineer Report

Ron discussed

Project 6899-water improvements/tower/IEPA loan-all work complete.  Manuals received except Burdick, they will send once they receive them. Contractor pay applications-board approved final pay applications for Burdick and Caldwell and sent to IEPA for a loan disbursement. Loan close out – submitted most of the close out documentation to IEPA.

Surburban – no news.

Once manuals are received, checks will be mailed.

Zoning and Planning

Nothing to report

Public Works-Superintendents Report

Jonathon Closs not present; worked late on water leak.  A letter will be sent to Waste Management regarding their trucks too heavy for our roads. Mayor will look at the ordinance.

Need a portable generator; one we have is not powerful enough to kick on pumps at lift station.

Mr. Closs would like a building to store salt, rock and sand in.

Demolishing of ground storage and aerator-only one bid received so far, $ 9500.  This will be put in the budget study session

Old Business 

Deputy Clerk-Clerk Allen will swear in Misty Peters as deputy clerk this week.

Authorize personnel for Village credit card-Motion by Trustee Trusner for the Board of Trustees to approve Jonathon Closs a $10,000 credit limit on credit card, Mayor Evelyn Deverell a $3,000 credit limit and Jeremy Embrey $1000; this would be thru CEFCU. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 6-0. After the new cards from CEFCU are received; Scott state Bank credit cards will be discontinued.

Indus Capital TIF- received a package with options from Moran. Trustee Vessels and Trustee Trusner do not want to offer them a TIF package.  This is because they have already started with no incentives.  Mayor Deverell said Indus have not mentioned anything. Trustee Trusner stated we have not received any clear numbers from them.  

New Business

2023 Board Meeting Dates – start at 6:30pm

January 23                  May 22                  September 25

February 27                June 26                 October 23

March 27                    July 24                  November 27

April 24                       August 28             December 16

Motion by Trustee Acree to approve 2023 Board meeting dates. Trustee Eller 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Second dispensary – Mayor Deverell stated she has been approached by someone in regards to opening a dispensary (2nd one for village).  Where they are wanting to put it, they would have to annex in the village.  Presently there is no water, sewer or power there.

Wells – Attorney Weatherford indicated Carolyn Floyd has contacted his office.  She is one of two owners of the property.  She thinks the 2 parcels we have 3 wells on, should have a lease on each well.  Attorney Weatherford said that is not accurate. She stated the village owes her $10,455. She said amount owed for well#2, July 2021 until present.  Well one, she said still owe her $2985.13 and well #3, under lease, but she claims not under lease.  She said amount owed is $2985.13 for each 3 wells, well2 $1500 for a total of $10455.  Attorney said he has not had a chance to check with Treasurer Rose yet. Will discuss again in December.   Mrs. Floyd’s figures will be compared to ours.  Leases are by parcel, not per well.

Personnel Committee 

Personnel manual states paid vacation days / paid holidays. Day after Thanksgiving and Good Friday are unpaid holidays.  Must use a vacation day or do not receive pay. Trustee Trusner thinks the day after Thanksgiving should be a paid holiday but Good Friday a regular day. Motion by Trustee Trusner to remove from the personnel policy Good Friday, it will become a normal workday and change the day after Thanksgiving to a paid holiday. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 6-0

Christmas bonuses- Board approved $500 to each employee, J. Closs, J. Embrey and M. Peters.  Mayor Deverell said normally it is prorated for new employees.  Board agreed to pay Misty Peters $ 208.35 instead of the $500 (she has been here full time 5 months)

Streets and Alleys Committee

Nothing to report

Finance Committee

Nothing to report

Ordinance Committee

Attorney Weatherford distributed 3 ordinances for trustees to look at.

Wind ordinance-wind farms – Attorney said he needs to look into this more

Small wind energy/solar energy- Change letter G, Board thinks should read 50% of total roof property and remove about being on front of roof provision, removed C.  Building coverage-ground mounted panels will fall under the guidelines of building coverage. Trustee Weatherford will do more research and make substitutions.

Fireworks ordinance – need to add permit from county needed first, then ok by fire district. Attorney Weatherford will work on this.  Need to add time they can do until and when they can do.  Can they do anytime if they have a permit?  Board to look at these ordinances distributed tonight.

Board members need to review the annexation ordinance also

Water and Sewer

Nothing to report

Economic Development

Park – any ideas, let Misty know

Attorney

Nothing to report

Closed session tabled until next meeting.

Next meeting – J. Closs will have more information regarding generators.

Hold off on Indus until they approach us.  2nd Cannabis – wait until they approach us.

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

Meeting adjourned at 8:22 pm