Macon Reporter

Village of Harristown Board of Trustees met July 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Village of Harristown Board of Trustees held their monthly meeting on July 22, 2024 at 185 N. Kembark St, Harristown, IL. Trustees Les Jenkins, Kevin Vessels, Jeff Eller, Jay Trusner, April Bogan, Kurt Terry, Budget Officer Rick Laskowski, Financial clerk Teresa Acree, Attorney Joshua Dubbelde, Clerk Penny Allen and Mayor Evelyn Deverell were present. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Adopt Meeting Agenda

Motion by Trustee Trusner to adopt the meeting agenda. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Approval of Minutes

Page 3 - magician at village hall; add “courtesy of Barclay Library”. Add date of June 29 on celebration date. Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve minutes of regular board meeting with above additions. Trustee Eller 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Received 2 thank you notes from the family of Sam Rogers and the church for donations

Visitors

Mr. Miller – 193 Western Ave -interested in buying property at 5212 W Main. He is asking for a variance to allow horses on this property. It is 2.3 acres and our ordinance states you must have 3 acres to have a horse. Trustee Eller questioned if he was going to live in the house on W. Main and he stated no, he had renters.

Mr. Juan Calixto-president of Sangamon Valley Youth league asked the Board if they were willing to help fund the dugout replacement at the grade school in Harristown. He has a couple estimates, H&K $ 14,000 to do all of it and they are donating their labor; Elite Custom Company $ 15725. He has also went to the school board and has to go back there. He presented the Board with a plaque for being a sponsor this year. The youth league has $4,000

Treasurers Report

Bills needing approved

IEPA waste water $ 2500.00

Attorney legal services $ 1700.00

IEPA loan $ 37,212.78

Morgan Dist fuel $ 1271.41

Mark Bingham engineering $ 3700.00

Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve the above bills in the amount of $ 46,384.19. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Employee Pay Distribution – what funds to take money from? Motion by Trustee Trusner to pay Jonathan Closs(superintendent of public works) -50% general, 30% water and 20% sewer and two maintenance helpers(public work employees) both 100% general. Trustee Vessels 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Motion by Trustee Vessels to have any health insurance payments to come completely out of general fund. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Motion by Trustee Terry to have the water/sewer clerk salary come completely out of General fund. Trustee Eller 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Christmas bonuses- Financial Clerk Acree needed to know about Christmas bonuses. Motion by Trustee Trusner to give every employee (3 public works and one water/sewer clerk) $ 500 Christmas bonus. Trustee Vessels 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Grant submitted for Park Brothers property on Wyckles. $500,000 grant applied to redo Pop/Mom area, Page parking lot, and lot behind pizza place.

Budget Officers Report

BO Laskowski discussed. Agreement was executed with Calpine until 2028. Motion by Trustee Trusner to approve Budget officers report. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 6-0. As of today, there is $312,000 in TIF; $60,000-$70,000 will go back to Mueller and Billingsley.

Zoning/Planning

Mr. Miller requesting horses on property as discussed under visitor section. Ordinance passed in 1995 states no horses on any property under 3 acres. Trustee Jenkins said the zoning committee has to have a hearing if a variance is requested. This will get set up

Engineer

DCEO application -new income limits which now made Harristown eligible for DCEO funding. Village would have to conduct an income survey to verify eligibility.

August 6 @ 5 pm there will be a public works committee meeting

Public Works

Mr. Closs discussed report. August 6 thru 8, company will be here to finish rehab of the lift stations.

Waste Water agreement- EJ Water we asked for 1/3 gross cost of plant; they changed to 1/3 of net cost. Public works committee will look at this and make a recommendation. Attorney has not had a chance to look at it yet.

Old Business- nothing to report

New Business

HFPD -Harristown Fire Department asked if the village would considered purchasing a forcible entry door training tool $11,000 for their dept.. The golf cart rally that will be held on August 26 will use the money raised to go to the Fire Department to help with this purchase.

Sangamon Valley Youth League request – Mayor talked to Krishna (Mystic Greens) about community project requests; he said when he came into the village, he would help on community projects. Motion by Trustee Vessels to give SVYL $14,0000 for dugout , replacement, out of the business district fund. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Congresswoman Budzinski’s letter received stating we may get one million dollar funding to replace water service lines but not sure yet. House to vote on July 22nd; could be further delays.

Parks TIF Request – Cody and Chris Parks asked if village would assist in the purchase of new windows, doors etc on the strip of buildings where Pops, Moms and Kates corner is, approximate cost $81,000. If we get grant that Theresa and Misty applied for, we could use this money for this project. Or approve their TIF agreement for them. Board would like to wait and see if we get grant before dong a TIF. Tabled.

Public Works

Trees at corner Main/Birks, southeast corner intersection of Camp / Macon St. North Birks trees growing over road in power line. Birks /N. 3rd, leaning toward power lines. These are all village trees. Estimates received: Leka Tree Service $6550; Josh Highley H&D $5000. Motion by Trustee Jenkins to approve $5000 for H&D to remove trees and trim trees. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approve 6-0.

URWC Board Meeting – no meeting held

Finance Committee-nothing to report

Ordinance

Ordinance Violations-list of ordinance violations distributed

5262 West Main- Board wants to fine this resident

7710 W. William -fined and they paid the fine both times. Vehicles still there. Will fine resident again

Trustee Trusner reported the Martin House on W. William that not much progress has been done.

Ordinance for Elected Official Salaries - Mayor $12,000/year; Trustees $1800/year $25 for each committee meeting; Clerk $3600/year and Treasurer $4800/year -if appointed will be paid a salary. Attorney said we can approve this and then once we appoint a treasurer, can change the pay at that time. Motion by Trustee Vessels, chapter 1 Article 3, to approve above salary changes, beginning May 1, 2025, as ordinance 24-08. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Roll call: Trustee Eller yes; Trustee Trusner, yes; Trustee Jenkins, yes; Trustee Vessels, yes; Trustee Bogan, yes; Trustee Terry yes. Approved 6-0. Motion by Trustee Vessels to approved as ordinance 24-09, to change treasurer position from elected to appointed. Jenkins 2nd. Roll call: Trustee Eller yes; Trustee Trusner, yes; Trustee Jenkins, yes; Trustee Vessels, yes; Trustee Bogan, yes; Trustee Terry yes. Approved 6-0.

Recodification review Chapter 1 -committee names will be changed to current names and will be noted that additional committees can be formed

Bonds-currently says budget officer and treasurer positions need to be bonded. The Board does not think the budget officer needs to be bonded. Change ordinance to read $50,000 bond for treasurer.

Business licenses – does board want to issue business licenses? New business one time fee of $25. Could revoke license if issues. Every business should have a license. Current businesses will not pay but one will be issued to them. Financial clerk Acree questioned how will Board determine who needs a business license, for example day care facilities. Trustee Bogan does not agree with the one time fee. Attorney stated could say have to have renewed yearly but only one time fee for new businesses.

Chapter 7 solicitors – village must allow solicitors but can make them pay for permit. $50 fee for 5 day permit; this is per solicitor, not just per company; each individual must have a permit. What are hours? Residents can put a sign/sticker on door and /or property that says no solicitors. Change the soliciting hours to 1000 am to 7 pm. Attorney stated peddlers are the same as solicitors. Solicitor is someone who is selling something they do not have and a peddler actually has the product he is selling. Combine solicitors and peddlers as one. Junk Dealer/junk yards – our zoning prohibits junk yards. Chapter 7 -attorney will rework. Chapter 30-public safety-entire section regarding village of Harristown police department can be deleted since we do not have a police department. Ordinance says Mayor is chief of police but has to be certified by taking a course with the Illinois State Police. Attorney is going to look at this section. He will also review ordinances discussed.

Economic Development-

Park- bids for concrete- 5 received. For basketball/pickleball/sidewalks and parking lot. Flanigan Construction $ 115,418.93 and Central IL Foundation $123,878; remaining bids were all higher. Motion by Trustee Terry to accept bid from Flanigan Construction for $115418.93. Trustee Vessels 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Wycklesfest – August 3rd. there will be lots of food trucks, car show, and bands

Sign quotes – quotes not received back yet

Attorney

Macon County Title company did a research of pond at Partridge Trace. They believe estate of William Pusey, who is deceased, owns the lot. Danburry was dissolved in 1998. January 1998 the development was deeded, pond, to William Pusey. Appears his heirs own the pond. Attorney said if the village does anything we assume some of the responsibility. Board doesn’t want to pursue any further; village is done with this issue. If the residents have issues, they will need to find the heirs.

Trustee Terry questioned whether ducks are allowed. Mayor will look into this

Motion by Trustee Vessels to adjourn. Trustee Bogan 2nd. Approved 6-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:43 pm.

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