Macon Reporter

Village of Harristown Board of Trustees met Jan. 23.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Village of Harristown Board of Trustees held their monthly meeting on January 23, 2023 at 185 N. Kembark St, Harristown, IL. Trustees Teresa Acree, Jay Trusner, Les Jenkins, Kevin Vessels, Treasurer Julie Rose, Budget Officer Rick Laskowski, Attorney Andrew Weatherford, Clerk Penny Allen, and Mayor Evelyn Deverell were present. Trustee Jeff Eller was absent. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Adopt Meeting Agenda

Motion by Trustee Trusner to approve the meeting agenda. Trustee Acree 2nd. Approved 4-0.

Approval of Minutes

Motion by Trustee Acree to approve meeting minutes from 12/19/2022. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 4-0.

Visitors

No visitors wished to address the board.

Mayor Updates- will discuss later

Treasurers Report

Treasurer Rose discussed. Motion by Trustee Jenkins to approve financial report. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 4-0

Western Ave- A situation happened on January 5, 2023 with the electrical running to the new cannabis facility. Ameren marked out - JULIE locate but the sewer force main was not marked correctly. Our insurance will not cover anything underground. Approximately 160 ft was torn up. Insurance paid $4,950 but the total cost was $ 11,787.33.

IEPA Loan payment- Mayor Deverell asked Attorney Weatherford if we needed to approve each payment we make? Attorney stated it would be helpful so there was a record. Motion by Trustee Acree to approve IEPA loan, 1st payment, $28,734.37, for new water tower. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 4-0.

Motion by Trustee Trusner to pay the above bills $ 11,505.98. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 4-0.

Budget Officer Report

BO Laskowski discussed. Motion by Trustee Jenkins to approve Budget officers report. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 4-0. Budget study session tabled until next month

Engineer Report

Ron Legner discussed.

Project 6899-water improvements/tower/IEPA loan-working on getting loan closed out. Total to date $2,063,902.46. Submitting last loan disbursement.

Surburban - no news; still waiting

Zoning and Planning

Will discuss later in meeting

Public Works-Superintendents Report

Jonathon Closs discussed. A lot time was spent on the Western Ave issue.

Mayor Deverell discussed a company called 120 Water. EPA is going to force lead/copper service lines. The company 120 Water will come and checkout lines. She is going to have a phone conference with this company. Attorney Weatherford said to make sure they go thru all records, not just village records.

More information will be requested.

Old Business

Indus TIF Agreement -Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve as resolution 23-01, authorizing an agreement with Indus. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 4-0. Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve TIF agreement, 90%, with Indus. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 4-0. Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve as resolution 23-02, resolution for exclusivity, must have dispensary done within a year, or exclusivity not in effect. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Roll call: Trustee Trusner, no; Trustee Jenkins, yes; Trustee Vessels, yes; Trustee Acree, yes. Mayor Deverell voted yes. Approved 4-1. Attorney Weatherford said ordinance originally adopted, does allow for more than one. We don't have to change ordinance though as it states up to 2 but must have Board approval.

New Business

New Trustee-tabled.

West Main Liquor License-Amy Koke called about wine tasting. This is meant to be a package liquor store not a bar. Motion by Trustee Trusner for West Main Liquor to remain a B license only and if any consumption of alcoholic liquor then will need to have a temporary license approved. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 4-0.

Personnel Committee - need to set up a meeting

Streets and Alleys Committee - need to set up a meeting to discuss 2023 MFT

Finance Committee-nothing to report

Ordinance Committee

Solar and Wind Farms-going to put both in one ordinance. Wind farm says none in village. Solar removed roof surface restrictions. Will state nothing in front of property. Ground will need special use permit and not cover 30% of acreage. Tabled

Liquor License-Date changed to due date of January 1st (Jan. 1st to Dec 31st). Motion by Trustee Trusner to approve as ordinance 23-03, with correct due date of license. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 4-0.

Fireworks -tabled

Water and Sewer Committee

Need a committee meeting to discuss the raw water lines wells to plant. We no longer use these. Residents on Bruce Road would like to have water. They would have to pay cost of hookup. We would convert to finish line or we can sale line to URWC and they can take care of it.

Discussion needed regarding tap on fees. Now $175 but this doesn't cover the cost of a meter; a new meter is around $300

The water bills from coop needs to be looked at. We used a lot of water last month. What we billed out and what we paid for, there is a difference of a million gallons. Not sure if meter on the new water tower is working correctly. Our responsibility starts at the meter. Anything before that, coop is responsible.

Discussion needed regarding Niantic, Harristown, and Illiopolis to consolidate sewer plants with EJ Water.

Economic Development-Benefit of Enterprise Zone - Mayor Deverell is checking on this

Fireworks - July 1st works for the fire department

Special Events-perhaps a committee needs to be formed for special events. Put in newsletter we are looking for people for a special events committee.

Garage Sale - April 29th. Mayor would like to sell food for Veterans Memorial.

Post Prom-Clerk Allen read a thank you card from Sangamon Valley for the donation

Park-idea plan distributed. Misty has applied for 3 grants. Treasurer Rose questioned if a restroom is needed/required? Mayor Deverell will check on this. Will request people to collect plastic caps; a company can turn these into park benches.

Attorney Weatherford

Well Leases-Attorney and his staff are trying to gather information on what was paid. Attorney Weatherford stated wells can still be decommissioned even if the lease issue is not resolved.

Waste Management-cannot find anything to help us protect our roads. Our ordinance says 8 tons.

Trustee Trusner stated every garbage hauler that services Harristown, is over 8 tons. Ordinance Violation -property on Western Ave said the boring went thru their service line and raw sewage went in their basement. This is not true. She wants to know who is going to pay for her flooring. Mayor Deverell sent this to our insurance. They said they will decline as this is not a village issue. Resident admitted she has a sump pump in our sewer system. Insurance will tell her to contact her own insurance agency. .

Community Center-Mayor Deverell discussed an issue last Saturday. She was called because people there was making a disturbance. They had alcohol and they did not have a permit. She has not given them their $150 deposit back. Mayor asked if we can fine this person $50 for no permit and fine her for disturbing the peace. Attorney Weatherford be Motion by Trustee Vessel to change the contract for rental of the community center to add if a nuisance or disturbance is reported, fine $100 and ban person a minimum of 1 year, if no permit for alcohol (and they have alcohol), fine $500 plus cost of a permit. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 4-0. Will ask the people that have already rented the facility for upcoming events, to come in and sign a new contract. If they refuse though, cannot make them sign a new one

Motion by Trustee Vessels to adjourn. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 4-0

Meeting adjourned at 9:20 pm

https://villageofharristown.com/documents/231/doc01065120230228152951.pdf