Lovington Library | Village of Lovington
Lovington Library | Village of Lovington
Village of Lovington Board of Trustees met March 10,
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
Call to order: Acting President Brittany Bates called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance: Acting President Bates led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call found the following trustees to be present: Todd Hale, Keith Stanberry, April Daily, Andrea Wardrip and Mike Young. Acting President Brittany Bates and Clerk Alma Fair were also present.
Visitors and Public Comments: Harold White, Tracy Willoughby, Lori Miller, Jim Closson, Risk Management Assoc., Kris Evans & Shawn Evans as well as Chrissy Gorigi
Those wishing to speak were Tracy Willoughby & Jim Closson.
Tracy Willoughby – wants to have chickens in town at least 6 – eggs are getting more expensive. Currently our ordinance doesn’t allow chickens in town.
Jim Closson – The Village has been with them for 35 years and he wanted to thank us for that. There will be training in Effingham on Wednesday 9-12 Police Dept. training room for our workers.
Minutes and action of Village Clerk
1. Discussion and action on February 2025 invoices
A Motion was made by Daily and seconded by Stanberry to accept the February 2025 invoices as presented.
Discussion: none
YEA: Hale, Daily, Bates, Stanberry, Wardrip & Young
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
2. Discussion and action on February 18, 2025, Regular Meeting Minutes
A Motion was made by Hale and seconded by Stanberry to approve February 18, 2025, meeting minutes as presented.
Discussion: none
YEA: Daily, Bates, Stanberry, Wardrip, Young, Hale
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
3. Discussion and action on February 18, 2025, Closed Session Minutes.
A Motion was made by Daily and seconded by Hale to approve the February 18, 2025, Closed Session Minutes as presented.
Discussion: none
YEA: Bates, Stanberry, Wardrip, Young, Hale, Daily
No: None
Absent:
MOTION CARRIED
Clerk Fair presented the final Appropriations/Budget for 2025-2026
A Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Young to approve the annual appropriation ordinance for fiscal year 2025-2026 to be on file for 30 days with a Public Hearing on April 14th
Discussion: none
YEA: Stanberry, Wardrip, Young, Hale, Daily
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
Treasurer’s Report
1. Discussion and action February 2025 treasurer’s report
A Motion was made by Young and seconded by Hale to accept the February 2025 treasurer’s report.
Discussion: none
YEA: Wardrip, Young, Hale, Daily, Stanberry
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
Old Business:
1. Discussion and Action of Fencing bids for Sewer Plant
The bids will be here this Friday
A Motion was made by Young and Stanberry to table until April meeting.
Discussion: none
YEA: Young, Hale, Daily, Stanberry, Wardrip
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
2. Discussion and Action on moving Dennis Coslow to full time
Daily – her opinion we do not need to have him full time.
A Motion was made by Daily and seconded by NONE to not hire Dennis Coslow to full time. Motion died for lack of a second.
Andrea suggested we have Chris come to our April meeting.
A Motion was made by Young and Stanberry to table until April meeting.
Discussion: none
YEA: Hale, Daily, Stanberry, Wardrip, Young
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
3. Discussion and Action on 2025 Firework Contract
The Fireworks committee will donate to the Village $3,093.25
A Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Wardrip to accept the 2025 Fireworks contract for the amount of $11,093.25
Discussion: None
YEA: Daily, Stanberry, Wardrip, Young, Hale
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
4. Discussion and Action on adding streetlights to some alleys
Young was approached by a resident to have a streetlight installed in the alley from Casey’s to Buck street. Clerk Fair will have Donyell call Ameren about cost.
A Motion was made by Daily and Wardrip to table until April meeting.
Discussion: none
YEA: Stanberry, Wardrip, Young, Hale, Daily
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
5. Discussion and Action on Ordinance to increase bulk water sales from .25 cents to .50 cents per 50 gallons
A Motion was made by Daily and seconded by Stanberry to approve Ordinance 2025-02 to increase bulk water sales.
Discussion: None
YEA: Wardrip, Young, Hale, Daily, Stanberry
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
6. Discussion and Action on Ordinance to increase Solicitors permits
Stanberry was looking for other communities ordinances for solicitors. Our attorney will prepare an ordinance for us.
A Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Wardrip to add in the ordinance a $1,000 bond and a $1,000 ordinance violation and fee to $75 per day for solicitors.
Discussion: None
YEA: Young, Hale, Daily, Stanberry, Wardrip
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
7. Discussion and Action on purchasing a generator
A Motion was made by Hale and seconded by Young to purchase a generator (EU2200ITAN) from Power Plus for the amount of $1,099.95.
Discussion: None
YEA: Hale, Daily, Stanberry, Wardrip, Young
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
8. Discussion and Action on purchasing a backhoe
A Motion was made by Hale and seconded by Stanberry to table until next month to see if we can get a grant for one.
Discussion: None
YEA: Daily, Stanberry, Wardrip, Young, Hale
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
New Business:
1. Discussion and Action on Motor Fuel Resolution
A Motion was made by Daily and seconded by Stanberry to approve the Motor Fuel Resolution #2025-02 as presented
Discussion: None
YEA: Stanberry, Wardrip, Young, Hale, Daily
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
2. Discussion and Action on appointing a replacement for Village Clerk upon Clerk Fair’s retirement Daily’s concern was - can an appointed and hourly be combined.
A Motion was made by Daily and seconded by Young to table until next month to see if we can get more information.
Discussion: None
YEA: Stanberry, Wardrip, Young, Hale, Daily
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
3. Discussion and Action on Electric aggregation contact
Clerk Fair explained that she received an email from the group of Municipalities that review and determine which company provides the lowest electric rates. We haven’t received what the new rate will be just yet. Young suggested we put this on agenda in April
4. Discussion and Action on Trustee Daily’s email hacking
Daily someone got into her email and everything has been deleted from before 1/25/25 Moultrie County sheriff is looking into it. She also stated that this would be a Felony because it is Municipal email. Clerk Fair stated she could make changes to the password for each trustee if they wish to have it changed. She will also contact Go-Daddy to see if they can tell when the email was deleted and by what IP address.
Closed Session (Regarding Dennis Coslow)
5 ILCS 120/2 Sec.2 (c) (1) The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity.
It was determined that we didn’t need to go into closed session for this.
Closed Session (Regarding filling in Trustee empty seat)
Meeting of “The mayor & Commissioners of a municipality organized under Article 4 of the Municipal Code held to Discuss matters, which relate solely to exercise their executive or administrative responsibilities.” 5 ILCS 120/2 (C) (3) The selection of a person to fill a public office
A Motion was made by Hale and seconded by Wardrip to go into closed session at 7:19 pm for the purpose of 5 ILCS 120/2 Sec.2 (c) (3)
Discussion: none
YEA: Wardrip, Young, Hale, Daily, Stanberry
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
Return to Open Session
A Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Young to return to Open Session at 7:27 pm.
YEA: Wardrip, Young, Hale, Daily, Stanberry
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
Discussion and Action if needed from Closed Session
Acting President Bates appointed Chrissy Gorigi to fill the empty trustee position.
A Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Wardrip to approve the appointment of Chrissy Gorigi to fill the vacancy.
YEA: Young, Hale, Daily, Stanberry, Wardrip
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
Clerk Fair led the oath of office for Trustee Chrissy Gorigi
Closed Session (Employee Raises)
Meeting of “The mayor & Commissioners of a municipality organized under Article 4 of the Municipal Code held to Discuss matters, which relate solely to exercise their executive or administrative responsibilities.” 5 ILCS 120/2 (C) (2) deliberations on wages
A Motion was made by Young and seconded by Hale to go into closed session at 7:36 pm for the purpose of 5 ILCS 120/2 Sec.2 (c) (2)
Discussion: none
YEA: Hale, Daily, Stanberry, Wardrip, Young, Gorigi
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
Return to Open Session
A Motion was made Hale by and seconded by Stanberry to return to open session at 8:19 pm
YEA: Daily, Stanberry, Wardrip, Young, Gorigi, Hale
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
Discussion and Action if needed from Closed Session
A Motion was made Wardrip by and seconded by Hale to approve a 3% raise for all employees.
YEA: Stanberry, Wardrip, Young, Gorigi, Hale, Daily
No: None
MOTION CARRIED
DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
Acting Presidents Report – Brittany Bates
Reported on the Motor Fuel meeting we had with a rep from MF. We are requesting our attorney prepare a resolution for a truck route so that we can get a grant.
Bates also reminded everyone that we all need to be respectful of each other. Daily responded that she received an email from the president that wasn’t very kind.
Water & Sewer Report – Todd Hale
Will have fence bids by this Friday.
Park and Special Projects – Chrissy Gorigi
Easter Egg Hunt will April 13 and will be requesting $600 at the next month for the hunt.
Police – Keith Stanberry
Stanberry has been looking at Hammond’s ordinance to get rid of some of the vehicles in town. Their ordinance allows the owner of derelict and/or non-operable vehicles to be notified to remove the vehicle or have it out of view in a building. The owner is notified twice and allowed ample time to remove the vehicle prior to it being removed by a towing company. Towing and impound fees are the responsibility of the owner. The Hammond ordinance has been sent to attorney Crossman for review.
Streets and Alleys – Mike Young
Nothing to report
Buildings and Grounds – April Daily
Nothing to report
Insurance – Andrea Wardrip
Dennis Coslow – is now on our insurance and there are not penalties.
She will check with the Insurance company to see if we need a rider for shared equipment Miscellaneous Report – nothing to report
Adjournment:
A Motion was made by Young to adjourn at 8:42 p.m.
YEA: all agreed
No: None
https://www.lovingtonil.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03102025-agenda-mtg.pdf
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