Macon Reporter

Village of Harristown Board of Trustees met July. 24.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Village of Harristown Board of Trustees held their monthly meeting on July 24, 2023 at 185 N. Kembark St, Harristown, IL. Trustees Jay Trusner, Les Jenkins, Jeff Eller, April Bogan, Kevin Vessels, Budget Officer Rick Laskowski, Treasurer/office staff Teresa Acree, Clerk Penny Allen, and Mayor Evelyn Deverell were present. Attorney Weatherford was absent (vacation). The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Adopt Meeting Agenda

Motion by Trustee Vessels to adopt the meeting agenda. Trustee Eller 2nd. Approved 5-0. Approval of Minutes

5/30/23 special meeting - Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve minutes. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 5-0.

6/26/23 regular board meeting – Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve minutes. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 5-0.

Visitors

No one wished to address the board

Mayor Updates

Recycling bin – no larger trailer is available

Harristown Blvd Speed – waiting to hear from IDOT

Mr. Walters-Joynt and Union School – happy about the ditch being filled in

Mayor Deverell requested the Board to think about a police department. Should we get the opinion of the residents? The Board wants to look at options for now and wait until we have more details before we put this in front of the residents.

Treasurers Report

Tabled until next month.

Budget Officers Report

BO Laskowski discussed. The CEFCU credit cards needs to be itemized by what was bought. Motion by Trustee Trusner to approve Budget officers report. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 5-0.

Engineer Report-nothing to report

Zoning and Planning

No report. There is a small interest in the property across from the dispensary but do not know if they would want to annex into the village.

Public Works

Jonathon Closs discussed. A lot trees down and there will be extra brush pickup from the storm. Working a lot with JULIE for the internet company.

Mayor Deverell and Mr. Closs will sit down and figure out FEMA numbers for overtime, brush pickup, etc. She would like to include the sewer plant roof even though not all damage was caused by storm.

Jonathon found a dump truck for $49,000 @ Bloomington IL and a 2012 without sides for $ 45,000. This is not 4 wheel drive. He also found another truck; a 4x4 2010 Ford F350 @ Raushford in Bensenville IL for $ 43,998. Board gave Jonathon the ok to go look at this truck and if it meets his expectations, to purchase it.

Old Business

Street Lights – Mayor Deverell believes Twin Lakes, south, Gravel Pit Road,and West main sewer pump station could all use street lights. She questioned if Jeanair, Lindale and Suburban needed some? The Board would like to do Twin Lakes and pump station.

Cable-Fiber Optics-will discuss in closed session

New Business

Nothing to report

Personnel Committee –

Personnel Manual-Changed vacation days to start date. Changed clothing allowance. Removed unpaid holidays – day after Thanksgiving. Board gave approval for the new personnel manual to be distributed.

Streets and Alleys Committee

Suburban Road-Mayor emailed state to request an update. They told her they were working on this to submit a check to the Village.

Twin Lakes Ditch-extremely deep. Road is gone from the side. Will get a bid to have a culvert put in the ditch

Finance Committee-nothing to report

Ordinance

23-15-tap on ordinance- this was sent to Sentinel and General Code; both places stated the ordinance did not make sense; was not typed correctly. It has been redone.

Tap on fees - approved in June – renumbered with correct numbers.

Solar Ordinance-only references residential solar not solar farms. Does the Board want to add? Trustee Vessels suggested leave as is and address the issue as needed.

20-22 40.3.2 zoning – all territories annexed would automatically be as A1 agriculture. It was changed to read to annex as to the lowest available. Ordinance never passed. Tabled

Water and Sewer Committee

URWC board meeting Thursday night. Trustee Vessels is going with Mayor Deverell. Economic Development

Celebration -August 5. Need volunteers and baked goods. Raffles and 50/50 drawing is going to Veterans/First responders landscaping memorial

Golf Cart Rally -will be held on August 26. Proceeds to landscaping for Veterans/First responders memorial.

Mural – has been completed but needs to be clear coated.

Park Update – trees cut down (money came from TIF). Will be filing for a grant. Very good chance we will receive the grant.

Almost 40 bricks have been sold.

Misty suggested a cash calendar for September

Landscaping – only received one quote for this so far -$15,000 from NEAT Landscaping

Motion by Trustee Vessels for village to pay for the cost difference of the landscaping, from what is raised and actual cost. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 5-0

Monical’s will have a fundraiser night for the Village Veteran/First Responder memorial on Sept 11. Attorney Weatherford Not present – no report

Motion by Trustee Vessels to enter closed session to discuss closed session minutes, ordinance violations, and personnel. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 5-0.

Enter closed session at 7:38 pm

Back to regular session at 7:53 pm

Ordinance violations were discussed/still working on these. No closed sessions minutes to approve. Personnel item tabled.

Motion by Trustee Vessels to adjourn. Trustee Bogan 2nd. Approved 5-0 Meeting adjourned at 7:55 pm

https://villageofharristown.com/documents/231/Meeting_Minutes_7-24-23.pdf