Macon Reporter

Village of Warrensburg Village Board met Oct. 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Riley called the meeting to order at the Warrensburg Village Hall on Monday, October 16, 2023 at 5:30 p.m., reminding everyone the meeting was being recorded.

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

ROLL CALL: Present: Mayor Riley, Trustees Freeman, Hackl, P. Hood & Netherton. Also present were Chief Wheeler, DPW Allen, Atty Jankowicz & VAC Hundley. Trustees K. Hood arrived around 6:00 p.m. Trustee Fisher was absent.

MAYOR’S COMMENTS: Mayor Riley mentioned the golf cart run was a very successful fundraising event for the Corn Festival. Almost 200 persons participated that afternoon.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: Jeannie Mayfield thanked Mayor Riley for his service to the Village. She also spoke in support of Trustee Hackl to fill the position of Acting Village President. Geri Edwards would also like to speak on behalf of Trustee Hackl who she felt filled Mayor Riley’s shoes when he wasn’t available and should be allowed to take on that role until the next election.

Mr. Hawkins asked if any letters had been received in regards to the water conditions. Mr. Hawkins also asked DPW Allen who grades the water condition to determine whether it was suitable. He answered that he looks at it and so does the IL EPA.

Mr. Hawkins asked why all the citizens weren’t able to submit a letter in regards to the water quality, since the quality affects everyone. Mrs. Hawkins asked if a petition in support of the project could be circulated in the area covered by the project. Yes, it could be. However, letters and/or pictures would be a stronger submission.

Stephanie Brown explained why those boundaries are in place in order to comply for the grant.

NEW BUSINESS: There wasn’t anything.

ENGINEER: Stephanie Brown from Chastain & Assoc was in attendance. She reported that all the paperwork has been submitted to IDOT for the Safe Routes to School grant. Hopefully, everything will be approved and be able to be closed out.

Stephanie asked if anything had been set-up with the IL EPA in regards to meeting with them. Mayor Riley mentioned a meeting has been set for Wednesday, October 18 but there was some confusion on the time. He would confirm that and make sure she was notified. Mayor Riley then explained to the board the purpose of the meeting. The IL EPA had responded to his letter regarding the sewer plant and the development of a plan. He asked them to be a part of that discussion.

REVIEW/APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A motion was made by Trustee Netherton, seconded by Trustee Freeman to approve the minutes of the October 2, 2023 regular meeting. Motion carried.

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK: Trustee Freeman moved and Trustee Netherton seconded to approve the Balance Sheet, pay the bills and make the appropriate transfers for October 16, 2023. She asked the trustees to look at the Balance Sheet first. We did get the 4th installment of the real estate taxes and because of that, she would recommend moving some of the TIF funds at Buena Vista Nat’l Bank to the IL Funds account. Mayor Riley mentioned we may be getting a request for reimbursement from The Perfect Pair. However, nothing would be able to be disbursed now until November 6. VAC Hundley mentioned she had participated in a webinar for those who received ARPA/Coronavirus Funds and was able to ask the question regarding the police vehicle loan. They agreed with the auditors that now it is a loan repayment which is not allowed. An adjustment to the report can be made in April 2024 and someone would be able to talk with us at that time. She also drew attention to the Assistance Fund and that it is now a closed account. Buena Vista Nat’l Bank assisted in transitioning those funds to Mr. & Mrs. Weaver. There wasn’t anything outstanding on the Accounts Payable report unless someone has a question. Roll call vote: Yes – Trustees P. Hood, Freeman, Netherton, & Hackl. No – none. Motion carried.

VAC Hundley wanted to speak on the audit reports. She had caught when she went to make the Adjusting Journal Entries that they were not what had been discussed previously with the auditors. When she contacted them, they had already caught the error and were in the process of getting new copies sent to us. (What they had brought to the last meeting were for the FY2022) She had copies for those board members who wanted them. Atty Jankowicz stated it should be included on the next agenda to receive and file the amended audit.

FINANCE: Trustee P. Hood moved to go into Closed session to discuss the selection of a person to fill the vacancy in the office of board president pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(3). Trustee Freeman seconded. Roll call vote: Trustees Netherton, Freeman, Hackl & P. Hood. No – none. Motion carried.

Mr. Hawkins asked if that was going to be done immediately or at the close of the regular session. It was the consensus of the board to go to closed session now. Mr. Hawkins asked who would be the tie breaker vote since there were just 4 trustees present. There will be 5 when Trustee Hood arrives. Even though Trustee Fisher is out of town, he can participate in the discussion if he can be reached via phone. However, he would not be able to vote.

The board left for closed session at 6:00 p.m.

The board reconvened to open session at 6:54 p.m.

Trustee Netherton moved and Trustee P. Hood seconded to table the selection of a person to fill the vacancy of Village President until November 6, 2023 and to have Trustee Hackl preside over the November 6, 2023 board meeting. Mayor Riley explained we have an impasse in the election of an Acting Village President. Roll call vote: Yes – Trustees K. Hood, P. Hood, Hackl, Netherton & Freeman. No – none. Motion carried.

BUILDING: Trustee Netherton didn’t have anything.

POLICE: Trustee Fisher was absent.

Chief Wheeler mentioned the body cams have been working for the last couple weeks.

SEWER: Trustee Hackl didn’t have anything. He deferred to DPW Allen when it’s his turn on the agenda. Mayor Riley mentioned the meeting with the IEPA on Wednesday. He confirmed with Trustee Hackl the sewer committee will be involved in the meeting. He will confirm the time of the meeting along with the link and that info will be sent to everyone. DPW Allen, possibly Kenny Crosier and Stephanie Brown should also be included in the meeting.

STREETS: Trustee K. Hood reported the sidewalk work was done. He would like to have signs posted along the area for pedestrian and golf cart usage.

WATER: Trustee Freeman moved to award KLM Engineering to paint the 6 – 9 spots on the 200,000-gallon pedestal water tower for a cost not to exceed $9,880.00. Trustee P. Hood seconded. Roll call vote: Yes – Trustees K. Hood, Hackl, P. Hood, Feeman & Netherton. No – none. Motion carried.

PUBLIC WORKS: DPW Allen stated they had talked about trying to switch to a bio-solid to clean the lines at the sewer plant and getting a drum pump. The cost for the pump would be $710.50. The cost for the bio-solids would be $3,795.00. This would be a change to what we are currently using. Trustee P. Hood asked how long the 55-gallon drum would last. DPW Allen mentioned that at this time, they didn’t know how long it would last or how much would be used on a daily basis. Trustee K. Hood stated the freight charge on the pump wasn’t shown plus we would need at least 2 more quotes. Mayor Riley asked if there was anyone else besides Aquafix that could provide the bio-solids. It was unknown. But either way, we are going to need a drum pump.

Trustee Freeman asked how long it would take before you could see results. We would be able to tell from how well it bubbles whether it is working or not.

Trustee Netherton asked DPW Allen to ask if the chemical needed to be kept at a certain temperature.

Trustee Hackl started to make a motion to purchase the smaller amount of chemicals and the pump without knowing the freight charges. Mayor Riley asked if the chemicals could be used without the pump and the answer was no. He then reminded the board they need more quotes but it would be up to the board.

A contractor had contacted DPW Allen about the Village furnishing a culvert. He told him the Village typically didn’t do that but he would ask.

The aeration tank had been cleaned out and he estimated it hadn’t been cleaned for about 3 years. It was in pretty bad shape and suggested it be done every year.

VILLAGE ATTORNEY: Atty Jankowicz stated he didn’t have an agreement with Rise to bring before the board at this time. He had discussed the situation with their in-house attorney. Their marketing person wanted the Village to do some marketing for them. They may want to re-locate their cabinet from Village property to one of the right-of ways. He reviewed their agreement and they would certainly have the right to do so. There is still nothing regarding free internet service and no discussion about the fee they were wanting to pay the Village per month for the cabinet setup.

A motion was made by Trustee Freeman, seconded by Trustee Netherton to adopt Ordinance #792, which would amend section 980-33 Entitled “VR-1 Suburban Residential Zone Special Uses” and granting a museum special use permit for 158-168 E Main St., Warrensburg, IL. Atty Jankowicz explained this was a follow-up of the zoning board recommendation to the board at the last meeting about keeping the zoning residential and granting a special use permit.

Roll call vote: Yes – Trustees K. Hood, Freeman, Netherton, Hackl & P. Hood. No – none. Motion carried.

Atty Jankowicz also distributed minutes of the zoning board hearing for their information and asked that copies be sent to the members of the zoning board.

He also wanted to offer his thanks and appreciation to Mayor Riley for the work he’s done the last couple years. He’s always tried to put the interest of the Village first; just as previous Village Presidents have done.

Mr. Hawkins asked what was gained by the closed session. Since it was closed session, it cannot be discussed.

OTHER AND/OR OLD BUSINESS:

Trustee K. Hood moved and Trustee Freeman seconded to adjourn. Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m.

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