Macon Reporter

Village of Harristown Board of Trustees met March 27.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Village of Harristown Board of Trustees held their monthly meeting on March 27, 2023 at 185 N. Kembark St, Harristown, IL. Trustees Teresa Acree, Jay Trusner, Les Jenkins, Kevin Vessels, Jeff Eller, April Bogan, Budget Officer Rick Laskowski, Attorney Andrew Weatherford, Clerk Penny Allen, and Mayor Evelyn Deverell were present. Treasurer Julie Rose was absent. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Adopt Meeting Agenda

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

Approval of Minutes

February 27 regular meeting - Motion by Trustee Trusner to approve meeting minutes. Trustee Eller 2nd. Approved 6-0.

March 20 – special meeting. Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Visitors

Kari Bone-asked if any updates on the property on Kembark? Mayor Deverell stated the trees to be cut down. There will be a park there but not for at least 9 months to a year. Kari Bone questioned if the Village will be installing a privacy fence? Mayor Deverell said no definite plan on the park yet but there will be a fence but not necessarily a privacy fence.

Mayor Updates

April 6 @ 6:00 pm – budget study session

Bottle caps -still collecting

Mural- Cody Parks bought the building but the mural will still be going up.

Del Carmens – pizza -currently a lawsuit regarding name; delaying the opening at Wyckles

Golf Cart – 35 are registered. Collins won the gift certificate.

Waste Water Illiopolis agreed to the same thing we did last week – pursuing new waste water company

Suburban Road-no base to road. Engineer will look at this and the sewer plant.

Treasurers Report

Treasurer Rose absent; Budget officer Laskowski discussed. Motion by Trustee Acree to approve financial report. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 6-0

Telescan clean sewer line to Harristiown Blvd lift station (rags/towels in line) $ 1500 SF

Illinois EPA Laboratory lab fee July 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2023. $ 1008.92 WF

Bill for 1/1/24 to 12/31/2024 will be $2017.84 (this can be guaranteed)

Motion by Trustee Vessels to pay the above bills. Trustee Eller 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Budget Officer Report

BO Laskowski discussed. Discussion was held about combining sewer with Illiopolis, Niantic and Harristown. Illiopolis and Niantic would have their own plants and contribute $100,000 each. Everything would come to Harristown; we could try and get grants. The engineer will be looking at our plant; a lot to be worked out. Billingsley said they are doing better than they expected. We should start seeing sales tax soon; state is behind 2 years. Motion by Trustee Trusner to approve Budget officers report. Trustee Acree 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Engineer Report-nothing to report

Zoning and Planning

473 Lincoln Memorial Parkway – John Deverell discussed. Hearing was held on site on 3/23/2023. Mr. Evans explained use of property. No neighbors were present. Five zoning members present and all in favor of granting this. Zoning board recommended change from RE1 to M2. Trustee Acree questioned if there will be a privacy fence? This is tabled. Will contact Mr. Evans and ask about a fence and dust control. He will get water from the main and have a septic system.

Zoning hearing costs was discussed. Perhaps the fee for hearings should be raised. Trustee Trusner is in agreement with this. Now paying approximately $195 per hearing and only collecting $85. Tabled.

Jill Williams resigned. Mayor Deverell would like to appoint Mark Page. Motion by Trustee Eller to appoint Mark Page as zoning/planning member to replace Jill Williams. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Public Works-Superintendents Report

Jonathon Closs discussed. The newsletter will have an article on what you can/cannot flush in the toliets.

Selling old generator was discussed. Mr. Closs would like to take it to Martin auction. Mayor would like to have a reserved bid on it. Could also take sealed bids. Motion by Trustee Vessels to sell old generator at auction. Trustee Vessels amended his motion to read to sell old generator at auction with a reserve of $2500. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Old Business

Fireworks-last year cost $20,000; this year $22,000 for same amount of fireworks. Motion by Trustee Acree to approved the village to give the fire department $22,000 for fireworks. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 6-0

Well Leases-BO Lasksowski gave Attorney information he needed. Should have something at the April meeting. Have not heard anything from this individual but would like to get this taken care of.

Quote remove tree- Resident Bob Byers has a tree he would like removed. Cost $2300 for this tree.; has been requesting this for several years. Motion by Trustee Acree to cut down the tree at 1st and 2nd St, adjacent to Byers property, for a cost of $2300. Trustee Eller 2nd. Approved 6-0

New Business

Liquor License hours-Mrs. Billingsley did not realize our liquor license hours are different on Sunday than Decatur’s. She asked if we could change it. Currently Decatur is 0600 am Sunday and ours is 1000 am Sunday. Board would like to change our hours to all the same for every day.

Point of sale reader-this was already approved in August 2022.

Personnel Committee –

Mayor Deverell said Jeremy Embrey was discussed in a committee meeting. When he was hired, he was to get his water and sewer licenses. Need to tell him now it is no longer required to be employed by the village. He can continue to take the tests if he wants.

Clothing allowance-currently a check is issued twice a year @ $200 each time, April and October. Auditor stated we need to have receipts for this. Auditor suggested the employees use the village credit card to buy their clothes/boots. Misty will keep track so we will know when they reach their $400 limit.

Trustees Eller and Trusner will schedule reviews soon

Seasonal Help – Jonathon Closs said he thinks we need the seasonal help. Part time approximately 20-30 hours a week. Last year it was $15/hr. He stated he would rather have a younger kid instead of a 50 year old. Trustee Bogan is going to check with someone she knows.

Streets and Alleys Committee – nothing to report

Finance Committee-nothing to report

Ordinance Committee

Solar and Wind Farms-Board would like to remove item “F”. Item G – attorney would like to look at this one more. Tabled.

Temporary Vendor License-someone would like to have a produce stand on Wyckles Road. Permit application distributed. Attorney Weatherford said this is regulated; penalties for not complying with applications-health department permits-certificates. Attorney Weatherford has an ordinance drawn up but not available yet. Tabled

Temporary Liquor License permit-Attorney Weatherford wants some additions to this. 1) have you ever been convicted of a felony. Trustee Acree said employees can’t even ask this. Attorney sated with liquor licenses, you cannot have a felony. 2) add 8-never been convicted of a felony; add 9 never been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty. Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve the application form for temporary liquor license permit with above corrections/additions. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved6-0.

Water and Sewer Committee

Raw Sewer line -get appraisal-Attorney Weatherford is checking on this. Tabled.

Authorize quote to inspect & service sewer lift stations-Motion by Trustee Vessels to get a quote to inspect and service sewer lift stations. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Tap on Fees for Water and Sewer-Board would like to change to read $175 tap on fee – plus time and material supplied by village (including meter). Attorney will work on this change

Economic Development

Community involvement committee-Misty is working on the 4th of July. DJ at 4th will be same as last year. Next meeting April 20.

Trustee Acree said we need to change ordinance to say no lounge permitted on the cannabis ordinance. Mayor stated need to have an ordinance committee meeting. Also need to look at Chapter 7-business code-says business licenses, but we don’t’ do that. Section on solicitors and peddlers; leave as is or remove? Article 5 – junk dealers – leave or remove? New one is mobile food service that will be added to this chapter.

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.

Cable Franchise agreement-MCC cable is a new cable company wanting to lay lines in Harristown. We currently have a non exclusive franchise with Comcast. Attorney Weatherford is looking into this. Can operate under state franchise agreement and not have an agreement with the village. Our ordinance currently reads they just have to let us know and we can give them approval. We do not currently have a license procedure. We want to see license agreement from the state and county. Mayor asked Attorney if we have to follow general code for our ordinances? Attorney asked if we have signed anything? Mayor stated no. Mayor Deverell is going to check with different villages about this.

Motion by Trustee Trusner to enter closed session to discuss closed session minutes and ordinance violations. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Enter closed session at 8:58 pm

Back to regular session at 9:17 pm

Ordinance violations were discussed. No closed sessions to approve.

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

Meeting adjourned at 9:18 pm

https://villageofharristown.com/meeting-agendas-and-minutes