Macon Reporter

Village of Lovington Board of Trustees met April 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Call to order: Acting President Brittany Bates called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance: Since the pledge was led in the Appropriations Meeting it wasn’t recited again.

Roll Call found the following trustees to be present: Keith Stanberry, Mike Young, Andrea Wardrip, Todd Hale, Chrissy Giorgi and April Daily. Acting President Brittany Bates and Clerk Alma Fair were also present.

Guests: Amy Tighe co-chairman of the community club instead of Carol Smith regarding Junefest Fish Fry asked permission to use the park for fish fry at Junefest. They would need the water on north side to be on, rest rooms open, use of table and will have the health department certificate. All agreed

- Trustee Daily did ask about insurance and trustee Wardrip said all was taken care of. Other guests not wishing to speak were - Harold White, Kevin McReynolds, Tracy Willoughby, Lori Miller and Ross J. Munsterman. Although Mr. Munsterman was introduced as an attorney that we might be hiring. When asked if he would be at each meeting – his response was if we ask him to be there.

Minutes and action of Village Clerk

1. Discussion and action on the March 2025 invoices

A Motion was made by Daily and seconded by Hale to accept the March 2025 invoices as presented.

YEA: Stanberry, Giorgi, Daily, Young, Hale, Wardrip

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

2.Discussion and action March 10, 2025, Regular Meeting minutes

A Motion was made by Hale and seconded by Stanberry to approve the March 10, 2025, Regular Meeting minutes as presented.

YEA: Giorgi, Daily, Young, Hale, Wardrip, Stanberry

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

3. Approval of March 10, 2025, Closed Session Minutes

A Motion was made by Young and seconded by Hale to approve both of the March 10, 2025, Closed session minutes as presented.

YEA: Daily, Young, Hale, Wardrip, Stanberry, Giorgi

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

4. Approval of March 24, 2025, Special Meeting Minutes

A Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Giorgi to approve the March 24, 2025, Special session minutes as presented.

YEA: Young, Hale, Wardrip, Stanberry, Giorgi, Daily

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

Treasurer’s Report

1. Discussion and action March 2025 treasurer’s report

A Motion was made by Daily and seconded by Young to accept the March 2025 treasurer’s report.

YEA: Hale, Wardrip, Stanberry, Giorgi, Daily, Young

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

Old Business:

1. Discussion and Action on Fencing Bids for Sewer Plant

A Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Hale to accept the bid from Richter Landscaping not to exceed $10,000 for the fence at the sewer plant.

YEA: Wardrip, Stanberry, Giorgi, Daily, Young, Hale

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

2. Discussion and Action on moving Dennis Coslow to Full-time

Daily thinks if we are not behind in work we do not have to increase hours.

A Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Giorgi to have Dennis Coslow become full-time employee.

YEA: Stanberry, Giorgi, Young, Hale, Wardrip

No: Daily

MOTION CARRIED

3. Discussion and Action on Purchasing of a Backhoe

Remove from the agenda for now.

4. Discussion and Action on Electric Aggregation Contract

Clerk Fair introduced Kevin McReynolds to help explain about the electric aggregation group. McReynolds explained how this would work for the municipality. He suggested we going to Stone River Group from Good Energy. Stone River Group will send to all residents an opt-out letter. He explained that the Village of Lovington has been a part of the electric aggregation group for many years now. To decide next month.

5. Discussion and Action on Appointing a Replacement for Village Clerk upon Clerk Fair’s retirement

Clerk Fair read her letter of resignation with the ending date of 5/12/25 meeting.

After discussion of combining the Village Clerk and Billing Clerk the attorney present stated it would be at the discretion of the Village board. Daily asked if an appointed position can have health insurance. The attorney present said he would need to look into that question, but his gut is thinking if she is hired, she is an employee whether appointed or hired.

A Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Wardrip to amend the ordinance for Village Clerk to allow for additional duties and compensation to be determined at the appointment.

YEA: Giorgi, Daily, Young, Hale, Wardrip, Stanberry

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

6. Discussion and Action on Trustee Daily’s results for her email hacking Daily spoke to the sheriff's office to show them what Clerk Fair gave her for Go-Daddy, and he said to just watch it. Clerk Fair clarified that the problem was with iPhones and their problem with email. Stanberry also asked Daily if she went to Alma and asked if he could get into her email. Daily responded that she didn’t name him. Stanberry suggested we look into problems before accusing trustees of anything.

7. Discussion and Action on Zoning, Building & Planning Agreement with Moultrie County Daily showed our proposed zoning ordinance to Kristy Hart at the courthouse and she marked some of the proposed zoning ordinance that we need to change. We also need to have a zoning map and we do need a zoning board. We will be working with our current zoning ordinance until we can further read the new proposed ordinance.

A Motion was made by Daily and seconded by Giorgi to accept both agreements with the county as presented.

YEA: Daily, Stanberry, Giorgi, Young, Hale, Wardrip

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

8. Discussion and Action on Ordinance No. 2025-04 Designation certain roads as Snow Routes

A Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Hale to approve the Ordinance 2025-04 as amended which clarified the roads mentioned in ordinance.

YEA: Stanberry, Giorgi, Young, Hale, Wardrip, Daily

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

New Business:

1. Discussion and Action Park Board requesting $600 for 2025 Easter Egg Hunt A Motion was made by Giorgi and seconded by Hale to approve the request of the park board for $600 for the 2025 Easter Egg Hunt with the receipts and any unused money returned.

YEA: Hale, Wardrip, Stanberry, Giorgi, Daily, Young

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

2. Discussion and Action on Weekend differential pay for Police

Stanberry - currently we have part-time police, and they can make more money to work overtime at their regular jobs.

A Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Wardrip to make a weekend differential of $5 added to the regular pay for part-time police from 6 pm Friday to 6 am Monday.

YEA: Daily, Stanberry, Giorgi, Young, Hale, Wardrip

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

3. Discussion and Action on purchasing of a Bushhog that will fit the new tractor Young reported on why we needed a bushhog to fit the new tractor. He found one for $1799.99 at TSC. Motion was made by Young and seconded by Giorgi to purchase from TSC a bushhog at the cost of $1799.99.

YEA: Stanberry, Giorgi, Young, Hale, Wardrip, Daily

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

4. Discussion and Action on Michelle Martina taking over Payroll after Clerk Fair’s retirement Motion was made by Giorgi and seconded by Stanberry to appoint Michelle Martina to take over payroll.

YEA: Giorgi, Young, Hale, Wardrip, Daily, Stanberry

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

5. Discussion and Action on updating employee handbook

No action was needed – Clerk Fair stated that the pages in their packet came from our ordinance book and needed to be placed in the back of each of their employee handbooks. Clerk Fair also suggested that the handbook be updated to what is in the ordinance.

6. Discussion and Action on Power Washing Water tower quote

Motion was made by Giorgi and seconded by Wardrip to accept the quote from Kauffman’s to power wash the water tower in the amount of $4500.00.

YEA: Young, Hale, Wardrip, Daily, Stanberry, Giorgi

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

7. Discussion and Action on Purchase of new body cameras for PD

Stanberry reported on why we need to purchase new body cameras for the PD. The price of 2 new body cameras would be $3,139.00 from Midwest Public Safety

Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Hale to purchase 2 body cameras at the cost of $3,139 from Midwest Public Safety.

YEA: Hale, Wardrip, Daily, Stanberry, Giorgi, Young

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

8. Discussion and Action on Ordinance allowing chickens in town

Motion was made by Daily and seconded by Giorgi keep our ordinance the same as it is now.

YEA: Daily, Stanberry, Giorgi, Hale, Wardrip

No: Young

MOTION CARRIED

Asked by a guest as to why – Daily responded to the question as well as Giorgi.

Closed Session:

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.”

1. 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.

A Motion was made by Young and seconded by Hale to go into closed session at 7:46 pm for the purpose of 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. YEA: Hale, Wardrip, Stanberry, Giorgi, Daily, Young

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

Return to Open Session:

At 8:16 pm

Discussion and Action on Closed Session

A Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Young to terminate our relationship with Attorney Crossman and hire Attorney Munsterman

YEA: Wardrip, Stanberry, Giorgi, Daily, Young, Hale

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

Department Reports

Presidents Report – Brittany Bates

Gillis and she will be meeting with IDOT regarding opening bids for road oiling on April 22 at 10am. Lisa Kamm would like to have a farmer’s market in the park we need to look into it more.

Water & Sewer Report – Todd Hale

Nothing

Park and Special Projects – Chrissy Giorgi

Had a very large turnout for the Easter Egg Hunt and next will be park rec. this summer.

Police – Keith Stanberry

A couple of cars were stolen last month, Chief Swisher was on vacation last week.

Streets and Alleys – Mike Young

Nothing

Buildings and Grounds – April Daily

Chris Gillis will be doing stump grinding in the next week or two. They also talked about some of the trees that need taken down or trimmed and then getting the work finished in front of Zancha’ s

Insurance – Andrea Wardrip

Graduation in the park will get insurance from the school, Spoke of the vendors for Junefest. Also, if any vendors will be at the fireworks she needs to know.

Miscellaneous Report

Nothing

Adjournment

A Motion was made by Young to adjourn at 8:30 p.m. YEA: all agreed

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

https://www.lovingtonil.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/041425-minutes.pdf