Macon Reporter

Village of Harristown Board of Trustees met March 25.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Trustees of the Village of Harristown held their monthly meeting on March 25,2024, at 185 N. Kembark St., Harristown, IL. Trustees Kevin Vessels, Kurt Terry, Jay Trusner, Les Jenkins, Mayor Evelyn Deverell, Financial Clerk Teresa Acree, Budget Officer Rick Laskowski, and Attorney Joshua Dubbelde were in attendance. Clerk Penny Allen, Trustees Jeff Eller, and April Bogan were absent. Mayor Deverell called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Adopt Agenda

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

Approve Minates

a) February 26,2024 regular meeting minutes.

Mayor Deverell identifred 3 corrections:

l) Page 2--Water Service Line Replacement. Mr. Closs to talked to Seth Flach of Milano & Grunloh (not Seth Lee)

2) Page 3--Streets and Alleys Committee. T$'in Lakes Road Ditch-quote was $168,935.00 (not $17,000.)

3) Page 3--Street Lights Sentence 3: Mayor said Mystic Greenz will place a sign at Indus and'Westem (not a sign my be able to be put up showing where to turn into Mystic Greenz.

Motion by Trustee Trusner to approve meeting minutes with the 3 corrections. Trustee Vessels 2od. Approved 4-0.

Visitors

a) No visitors addressed the Board.

Treosurers Report

a) March Bank totals of all Funds (Scott State Bank and Illinois Funds) was presented. Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve the report, Trustee Jenkins 2nd, approved 4-0.

b) A list of invoices >$1,000 requiring Board approval was also presented. The list contained 6 invoices totaling $19,851 .27 . The Smith & Loveless invoice should be changed from Water to Sewer fund. Motion by Trustee Trusner to approve payment, Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 4-0. A new bank account will be needed to track expenses applied to the S10,000 Norfolk Southem grant to be used for the new park.

Budget Officers Report

a) Monthly budget report for February 2024 was reviewed. Included were 10 expense accounts thatarc over budget. Motion by Trustee Vessels to accept the Budget report. Trustee Trusner 2'd. Motion passed 4-0.

b) 2024-25 Budget Draft has been updated with changes discussed at the March2L, 2024b;udget study session. The report is available at village hall for public inspection prior to passage at the next regular Board meeting.

Zoning/Plunning

a) Hearing for Variance atl990 W. Fourth St. - New building is 1 ft. taller than planned; variance requested. The zoning board recofirmends approving the variance. Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve the variance request Trustee Trusner 2nd. Motion passed 4-0.

b) Update on Foursquare church given by the mayor. The plan is to demolish the house on the property. Future building permit to be requested.

Engineer

a) Report submitted which included updates on NPDES Elimination Project, Suburban Drive, Decommissioning Wells, and Service Line / Meter Replacement.

b) 2024MFT. Resolution presented for signing. Cost listed was $104,900. Motion by Trustee Trusner to approve signing the resolution. Trustee Vessels 2nd. Motion passed 4-0. Document will be signed when Clerk Allen is present.

c) Decommission Wells - waiting on quotes.

d) Service Line lMeter replacement. A plan is needed for replacement. Estimated project cost is $1.47M. Principal Loan Forgiveness of 30%o - 100% is unknown; depends on Lead content in service lines. There are no commitments until documents are signed. Need to submit application as soon as possible. 3-year Lead replacement plan is needed. Current contract with 120 Water includes data on Lead inventory to be supplied to Village Board.

e) Sewer Consolidation. Illiopolis is not interest in joining a coop with Harristown Niantic. A cost per 1000 gallons is desired billing to Niantic. Board feels there should be a minimum fee. Maintenance cost will be included in the billing fee, Harristown will pay actual maintenance costs. Average daily flows are 45K gallons (Niantic) and 90K gallons (Harristown). Cost should be like current Harristown billing to residents. Need to check current Niantic billing rates. Board does not want to overcharge Niantic; not all Harristown equipment will be used to treat Niantic flow. Cost estimate to operate sewer plant is $3,000 per month; consider charging Niantic a fixed fee of 50o/o or 33o/o of $3,000. Attomey Dubbelde to draft sample agreement for Board review. Need to consider adding potential large cost upgrades to the draft agreement.

Publk Works

a) Report - included in the meeting packet. Mowing has started. Training of the 2 new maintenance employees continues. Testing by Pace Analytical to be reduced. IEPA inspection is upcoming; reports are being prepared. There is 13 miles of water main lines in the village.

Old Business

a) Metro/Conxxus update given by the mayor. Fiber optic lines are being installed in the village. Problems with connections should be reporled by residents; village office should be contacted is unable to report online.

b) TextMyGov update given by the mayor. This is going live soon; included in the monthly newsletter to residents.

c) Financial Clerk established in Nov 2A23 ordinance. Treasurer is elected position; term needs to expire before changed to appointed position.

New Business

a) Village signs. Consider changing current village 1ogo. Remove picture of Harristown Depot and head of President Lincoln. Resident contest suggested for ideas on changes. Other signs needed are no solicitation, village office directions and speed limit postings. Sidewalks and bike trail also discussed.

Personnel

No report

Streets andAlW

a) Main & Wyckles road update given by the mayor

Finance

No report

Ordinance

a) Ordinance violation updates given by the mayor. Several violations for unlicensed vehicles; fines have been issued. William St. (new residents) - wood stored on property, mini bikes, trash, debris, unlicensed vehicles on property. Wood St. - truck-camper-trailer on property fot +l- 40 years, current owners need to be identified; prior owners are deceased. Consider towing away the unlicensed vehicles.

Water and Sewer

a) Bill due date. US mail goes to St. Louis for sorting causing late receipt. Consider giving residents a grace period to avoid assessing late fees.

b) Water & Sewer rates. Water rate increase of 3V, will be applied in May per ordinance. Wait till water losses stabilize before considering additional rate increases for both water and sewer. Any rate increases will require an ordinance change.

Economic Deve lopment/Community

a) Park update given by mayor. Playground equipment being developed.

b) July 4th Celebration update given by mayor. Date for freworks is June 29,2A24.

c) Wycklesfest update given by the mayor. There will be 3 bands at the event. Good donations are being given; committee is working on event details.

Motion by Trustee Vessels to enter closed session to discuss the Treasurer I Financial Clerk staffpositions Trustee Trusner 2'd - Motion passed 4-0. Leave regular session at 8:23 PM.

Returned from Closed session at9:26PM

Motion by Trustee Vessels to offer Financial Clerk a pay increase to $31.25lhr. with no change to current hours being worked. Trustee Trusner 2nd approved 4-0.

Job descriptions are needed for both clerical positions (Financial - T. Acree & Sewer/Water- M. Pettyjohn). Need to understand duties and avoid duplication.

Motion by Trustee Trusner to adjoum, Trustee Vessels 2"d. Motion passed 4-0

Meeting adjoumed at 9:28 PM

https://villageofharristown.com/documents/231/Meeting_Minutes_3-25-24.pdf