Macon Reporter

Village of Lovington Board of Trustees met May 12.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Call to order: President Brittany Bates called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance: President Bates led the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

Guests: Tracy Willoughby, Hunter & Lisa Kamm, Harold White, Donyell Morgan, Sharon Wardrip Attorney Ross Munsterman and Roger R Nuxoll with Farnsworth.

Appoint new Village Clerk

Bates recommends Donyell Morgan as the replacement for Village Clerk with Billing clerk duties. A Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Gorigi to appoint Donyell Morgan as Village Clerk with Billing clerk duties

YEA: Stanberry, Giorgi, Hale, Wardrip

No: None

Absent: Daily, Young

MOTION CARRIED

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) (2) Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees.

A Motion was made by Hale & 2nd by Wardrip to go into closed session at 6:03 pm for the purpose of 5 ILCS 120-2 Sec.2 (C) (2). Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees.

YEA: Hale, Wardrip, Stanberry, Giorgi

No: None

Absent: Daily, Young

MOTION CARRIED

Return to Open Session:

At 6:16 pm

Discussion and Action on Closed Session

A Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Wardrip to increase the hourly rate for Donyell Morgan to $21.00 effective May 1st.

YEA: Wardrip, Stanberry, Giorgi, Hale

No: None

Absent: Daily, Young

MOTION CARRIED

A Motion was made by Giorgi and seconded by Hale to increase the hourly rate for Dennis Coslow to $19.00 effective May 1st.

YEA: Giorgi, Hale, Wardrip, Stanberry

Absent: Daily, Young

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

Oath of Office administered to newly elected and appointed Trustees and Officers Clerk Fair read the vote canvas for the April election. She then led all newly elected and newly appointed Officers in the Oath of Office. They are as follows: Clerk Donyell Morgan, President Brittany Bates, Trustees Harold White, Keith Stanberry, and Andrea Wardrip.

Adjournment: President Bates adjourned the old board’s meeting at 6:20 pm

Call to order: President Bates called the new board’s meeting to order at 6:20 pm

Roll Call found the following trustees to be present: Keith Stanberry, Harold White, Andrea Wardrip, Todd Hale, Chrissy Gorigi. President Brittany Bates and Clerk Donyell Morgan were also present. Trustee April Daily absent.

Appointment of Trustees to their departments:

President Bates appointed the following trustees to their departments.

Daily – Buildings and Grounds, Giorgi – Parks & Special Projects, Stanberry – Police, Wardrip – Insurance, Hale – Water & Sewer, White – Streets & Alleys

Appointment of Committees (Park Recreation & Zoning Board)

President Bates appointed the following to the park board.

Park board as follows: :

Chrissy Giorgi

Tamara Carter

Ashley Marick

Veronica Utsler

Kaytin Dulik

A Motion was made by Stanberry and second by Giorgi to table the appointment of the zoning board until the next board meeting to see if dissolving of the zoning board can be done.

YEA: Wardrip, Hale, White, Stanberry, Giorgi

ABSENT: April Daily

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

Guests: Those wishing to speak are Sharon Wardrip concerning the abandoned house next to her. Lisa Kamm asked for the Farmer’s Market to be held at the park and for the Village to Sponsor it. Roger Nuxoll from Farnsworth to discuss the sewer plant options and the possibility of going with a lagoon. He also proposes we apply for an EPA loan and DCO grants to move forward with a lagoon. Hunter Kamm, Tracy Willoughby and Attorney Ross Munsterman did not wish to speak.

Trustee Daily arrived at 6:52 PM

Minutes and action of Village Clerk

1. Discussion and action on the April 2025 invoices

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

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

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

2.Discussion and action April 14, 2025, Appropriations & Regular Meeting minutes A Motion was made by Daily and seconded by Giorgi, to accept the April 14, 2025, Appropriations & Regular Meeting minutes as presented.

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

No: None

Abstain:

MOTION CARRIED

3. Approval of April 14, 2025, Closed Meeting Minutes

A Motion was made by Giorgi and seconded by Daily to approve the April 14, 2025, Closed session minutes as presented.

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

No: None

4. MOTION CARRIED

Approval of April 29, 2025, Special Meeting Minutes

A Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Wardrip to approve the April 29, 2025, Special session minutes as presented.

YEA: Stanberry, Giorgi, Daily, Wardrip, White

No: None

Abstain: Hale

MOTION CARRIED

Treasurer’s Report

1. Discussion and action April 2025 treasurer’s report

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

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

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

Old Business:

1. Discussion and Action on Electric Aggregation Contact

After some discussion it was decided to table until the June Meeting, Clerk Morgan will reach out to CEFS to get more information regarding LIHEAP and the Aggregation Contract.

Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Wardrip to table until next month

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

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

2.Discussion and Action on Condemned Houses

Attorney Ross Munsterman spoke regarding where we are at in court with the condemned house and what our next steps are. Daily will call and get bids for the three locations that need to be torn down for the next board meeting.

Motion was made by Giorgi and seconded by Wardrip to table until the next board meeting.

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

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

3.Discussion and Action on Zoning, Building & Planning Agreement with Moultrie County A Motion was made by Daily and seconded by Giorgi to accept both agreements with the county after the approval of our Attorney Ross Munsterman.

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

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

4. Discussion and Action on Ordinance 2025-06 Amending Chapter 7, Article II- Solicitors Solicitors will now be able to pick up an application from the Village Hall, the Police Department will then have five days to approve or deny the permit once approved, the Police Department will collect the bond fee of $1,000.

A Motion was made by Daily and second by Stanberry to approve Ordinance 2025-6 Amending Chapter 7, Article ll- Solicitors

Yea: White, Stanberry, Giorgi, Daily, Wardrip, Hale

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

New Business:

1. Discussion and Action on Grocery Tax

Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Giorgi to propose an ordinance allowing a 1% grocery tax to go in effect January 2026

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

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

2. Discussion and Action on Business Tax

After some discussion it was decided to table until next month, the attorney would find more information for us.

A Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Wardrip to table until next meeting.

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

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

3. Discussion and Action on Junefest’s Xtreme Proposal

The decision was made to continue hosting June fest activities at the park.

Motion was made by Giorgi and seconded by Wardrip to accept the proposal from 25/8 Xtreme

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

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

4. Discussion and Action on Village Sponsoring Farmer’s Market

Lisa Kamm will have all the vendors sign waivers provided by the Village of Lovington as suggested by our insurance company to be held the 2nd and 4th Thursday in May, June, July, August and September. Motion was made by Giorgi and seconded by Hale to sponsor the Farmer’s Market at the park

YEA: Wardrip, Hale, White, Stanberry, Giorgi

ABSTAIN: Daily

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

Department Reports

Presidents Report – Brittany Bates

The Military signs the Women’s Auxiliary purchased are in and will be hung on the Street Garage facing County St. before Memorial Day.

GFL will be sending an updated proposal for a contract, we are having too many issues with Waste Management, Clerk Morgan will try to contact LRS for a quote as well.

Water & Sewer Report – Todd Hale

Reported a new pump for the bisulfate had to be purchased for the Sewer Plant, the cost was $1200. The old pump was pumping too much chemicals and would not turn down.

Park and Special Projects – Chrissy Giorgi

Reported that park rec will be July 7-11, 2025, for Lovington children only.

Police – Keith Stanberry

Reported that the month of April was busy, the Police had double the number of calls. He is also looking into hiring a part-time police officer.

Streets and Alleys – Harold White

Nothing

Buildings and Grounds – April Daily

Reported stumps will be removed hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

She will be checking with Chris to see about getting posts done in front of Zancha’s before Junefest. Chris is also getting quotes on tree removals and trims.

The broken curb on State St. and Logan St. was marked for a new curb to be placed.

Insurance – Andrea Wardrip

She will get the new trustees updated and get Clerk Morgan added to insurance. Received the waivers from our insurance for the Farmer’s Market.

Miscellaneous Report

Nothing

Adjournment

A Motion was made by Hale to adjourn at 8:16 p.m.

YEA: All agreed

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

https://www.lovingtonil.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025-05-12-minutes.pdf