Macon Reporter

Village of Harristown Board of Trustees met Aug. 26.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Village of Harristown Board of Trustees held their monthly meeting on August 26, 2024 at 185 N. Kembark St, Harristown, IL. Trustees Les Jenkins, Jay Trusner, April Bogan, Kurt Terry, Financial clerk Teresa Acree, Attorney Joshua Dubbelde, Clerk Penny Allen and Mayor Evelyn Deverell were present. Trustees Kevin Vessels, Jeff Eller, and Budget Officer Rick Laskowski was absent. 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 4-0.

Visitors

Sangamon Valley Youth League-Village presented them with a village donation of $16,0000 for dugout replacement ($14,000) and equipment ($2000). Trustee Kevin Vessels arrived at 6:32 pm

Auditors Report- Kevin Buckley discussed the audit.

Approval of Minutes

Financial clerk Acree page -3- change to show SVYL $14,000 for dugout and $2,000 for equipment. Page-4- Chapter 7 solicitors, 10:00 am. Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve the minutes with above corrections. Trustee Terry 2nd. Approved 5-0.

Public Works

Mr. Closs discussed his monthly report. Five water leaks this month.

Sewer agreement with EJ Water-Trustee Trusner stated we agreed on ½, not 1/3 on page 6 of the agreement. Village is protected if funds do not come thru. Do not have final estimate of cost. $423,541 net after everything is received, if we get everything; agreement says 1/3 of gross. Illiopolis is interested in this if we are not. Trustee Vessels also said we agreed to ½ net. Trustee Trusner stated only two towns now, before when it said 1/3, there were 3 towns. Committee recommended ½ of net. Board also wants to o with ½ net. Attorney will fix agreement to say ½ of net and take back to EJ water; Board is in agreement.

Work on Main street will starts on 9/09 =-patching and resurfacing.

Letter sent to Senator Turn regarding the ditch on 36 to Indus Drive.

Engineer Report

MFT -Seth from Milana was present and said this is completed. It was less than what was budgeted.

Wells decommissions – will be done after crops are removed

Income surveys -if these are done, we can apply for grants. Harristown is eligible. Grants can be for construction only. Applications due on December 4, 2024. Have to have 50% response back of the income surveys. No cost for application, If we get grant, use them for engineering. Not sure how long Harristown will be eligible. Have to be over 51% or more of village at low to moderate income to get grant for specific area. Mayor Deverell said years ago tried to do this and didn’t receive many surveys back. Income surveys are good for one year. Seth will send form and cover letter to send to residents. Could offer credit to resident if submitted by deadline. Board thinks we should offer residents if received back with Sept 15, $20 water bill credit and if by 15th-30th, $10 credit. 75% response will be good, if not, then will need to go door to door.

Service Line Replacement-question was asked if we need to have the engineers get a plan together to submit? Motion by Trustee Trusner for engineer to start working on a plan proposal for service line replacement. Trustee Terry 2nd. Approved 5-0.

Treasurers Report

Trustee Trusner questioned the Attorney bill. Charge of $555 for communication with Mayor. He believes a lot of money is being spent for the attorney for calls. A separate ledger will be made for fines. Motion by Trustee Vessels to pay the above additional bills , total of $133,477.53. Trustee Trusner 2nd Approved 5-0.

Budget Officers Report

Mayor discussed. Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve Budget officers report. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 5-0..

Zoning/Planning

Variance discussed for 5212 W. Main St. Mr. Miller, 193 Western Ave, is resident requesting this. His intentions is to keep it in better condition than it has been and with horses. Zoning Board had all 7 members in attendance. Vote was 3-2 (1 abstained) to deny the request for variance, feels it would be setting a precedence and it is residential area. Visitor Maurice Doyle was present and questioned if this gentleman does not own the property , how can the board approve a variance for someone who does not own the property? This cannot be done, whoever owns the property has to request the variance. If owner did not sign variance, then this is not legal. Trustees Jenkins stated an individual on Wyckles wanted to do this and we told them no. Board cannot act on this since he is not the owner. Motion by

Trustee Trusner to table this variance request until property owner can apply for it. Trustees Jenkins 2nd . Approved 5-0.

Motion by Trustee Jenkins to give residents an incentive of $20 discount if reply to survey, postmarked or received by 9/15 and $10 discount if postmarked or received by 9/30. Trustee Vessels 2nd. Approved 5-0.

Old Business-

Code recodification-will need to review when get back

Office Hours-Motion by Trustee Vessels to open office back up to 5 days a week beginning September 1, 2024. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 5-0.

Storage America-received answer from IDOT on road; will be sending plans.

Parks TIF agreement- was tabled because we applied for grant. Motion by Jenkins to give ½ of the offer of TIF money they are requesting, give $40,0000. Trustee Vessels 2nd. Approved 5-0.

New Business

Resolution for County mitigation plan-Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve as resolution Macon County hazard mitigation plan. Trustee Jenkins 2nd. Approved 5-0.

Cleaning person-currently $60/week. Motion by Trustee Vessels to increase pay to $100/week. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 5-0.

Community Center maintenance-Mayor would like the Board to think about if we should fine people that put stuff on the walls when they rent the building.

Application for Cannabis consumption area-Trustee Jenkins and Mayor Deverell had a conversation with Krishna. He wants to open a lounge in other ½ of dispensary. Café in front and lounge in back. They told him he needed to come to the Board with a plan. Trustee Trusner stated he doesn’t think it is even possible to have a restaurant and lounge in same building. No regulations in ordinance for a lounge. He believes this is a bad idea; he has had about 16 residents call him about this. He believes residents has spoken volumes about this and they do not want it. Trustee Vessels agrees with Trustee Trusner; definite no.; nothing will change his mind; should eliminate license. . Trustee Bogan stated she will never agree to a lounge. Financial Clerk Acree also thinks it is a bad idea. Attorney stated the ordinance currently reads, no consumption without a license. Trustee Vessels also said they are not good neighbors; hasn’t even touched growery but built a new dispensary elsewhere. Motion by Trustee Trusner to deny application for consumption lounge. Trustee Vessels 2nd. Approved to deny application 3-2.

Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve Elite Paving to do other ½ of concrete floor at public works building for a cost of $17,640. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 5-0.

Solicitation Permit requirements – Board wants solicitor to pay for their back ground checks.

Election Petitions-filing of petitions will be November 12 thru 18th 2024.

Finance Committee-nothing to report

Personne Committee -nothing to report

Ordinance

Ordinance Violations-17 sent last month; all sent certified. Mayor will send a letter to Indus about weeds. Mrs. Martin fined again, 3rd time.

Board signed a thank you card for Glenn and Alison Lowe for picking up trash in the village.

Economic Development-

Wycklesfest was a success. $6,257 left. Meeting will be held in September.

Park – started clearing. Will lay concrete soon. Playground equipment should arrive end of August.

Golf Cart Rally-$2200 raised for fire department

Village Sign – still no quotes

Street signs/speed limit signs – Mr. Closs has several signed ordered to replace. Union School needs new stop sign

Mueller Company is doing an expansion to their warehouse

Grow % - gardening center may want to come into village. Focus on gardening supplies to grow your own cannabis. They have not returned Mayors phone call yet.

Attorney

Paid leave act for all workers. If have an ordinance, you are grandfathered in. Can give everyone all rights.

Communication – Attorney said any questions to contact him . On emails, be careful if you include all trustees, could qualify as a question and would be in violation.

Trustee Trusner discussed the corner across from Tabernacle Church. Possibly a horse track coming to that corner with a hotel and casino. Three phases, horsetrack/casino, hotel, and an indoor ampitheater. Will have to be approved by state.

Motion by Trustee Trusner to adjourn. Trustee Bogan 2nd. Approved 5-0.

Meeting adjourned at 8:52 pm

https://villageofharristown.com/documents/231/VOH_8-26-2024.docx