Macon Reporter

Village of Lovington Board of Trustees met June 9.

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, April Daily, Andrea Wardrip, Todd Hale and Harold White. President Brittany Bates and Clerk Donyell Morgan were also present. Chrissy Giorgi was absent

Guests: Denise from News Progress, Tracy Willoughby, Linda Patrick, Attorney Ross Munsterman, Roger Nuxoll with Farnsworth, Eric Shangraw with GFL and Chief Swisher. Linda Patrick brought up the concern that no phone number is posted for emergencies when the Village Hall is closed, it was decided to post Moultrie County Sherriff’s Office phone number for emergencies, then the County will contact either Chris or Donyell, she also would like to see more patrolling on Virginia Dr. due to suspicious activity during the night. Chief Swisher will be participating in a Softball Match Fundraiser for School supplies in support of Sullivan, Bethany and Lovington School Districts, the first Responders of Moultrie County are seeking monetary donations and school supplies, Attorney Ross Munsterman will look into if any donation can be made by the Village.

Minutes and action of Village Clerk

1. Discussion and action on May 2025 invoices

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

YEA: Stanberry, Daily, Wardrip, Hale, White

No: None

Absent: Giorgi

MOTION CARRIED

2. Discussion and action May 12, 2025, Regular Meeting minutes

A Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Daily, to accept the May 12, 2025, Regular Meeting minutes as presented.

YEA: Daily, Wardrip, Hale, White, Stanberry

No: None

Absent: Giorgi

MOTION CARRIED

3. Approval of May 12, 2025, Closed Meeting Minutes

A Motion was made by Daily and seconded by Stanberry to table until next meeting, wrong Closed Session Minutes printed off.

YEA: Wardrip, Hale, White, Stanberry, Daily

No: None

Absent: Giorgi

MOTION CARRIED

Treasurer’s Report

1. Discussion and action May 2025 treasurer’s report

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

YEA: Hale, White, Stanberry, Daily, Wardrip

No: None

Absent: Giorgi

MOTION CARRIED

Old Business:

1. Discussion and Action on Electric Aggregation Contact

After much discussion a motion was made by Wardrip and Seconded by Hale to table until next month with more research to be done.

YEA: Stanberry, Daily, Wardrip, Hale, White

No: None

Absent: Giorgi

MOTION CARRIED

2. Discussion and Action on Dissolving the Zoning Board

A motion was made by Daily and seconded by Wardrip to table until next month, Andrea 77will contact Kristy Hart regarding The Village of Lovington Board to also become the Zoning Board.

YEA: Daily, Wardrip, Hale, White, Stanberry

No: None

Absent: Giorgi

MOTION CARRIED

3. Discussion and Action on Condemned Houses

Attorney Ross Munsterman explained that the Expedited Demolition Procedure is the quickest method to tear down abandoned homes. We currently have 4 homes that need to be demolished. A motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Wardrip to get bids for the Expedited Demolition.

YEA: Wardrip, Hale, White, Stanberry, Daily

No: None

Absent: Giorgi

MOTION CARRIED

4. Discussion and Action on Business Tax

A motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by White to approve a .25% Business Tax increase for the next four years. A motion was made Stanberry and seconded by White.

YEA: Hale, White, Stanberry, Wardrip

No: Daily

Absent: Giorgi

MOTION CARRIED

New Business:

1. Discussion and Action on Dissolving Waste Management Contract

A motion was made by White and seconded by Stanberry to dissolve Waste Management contract.

YEA: Stanberry, Wardrip, Hale, White

No: Daily

Absent: Giorgi

MOTION CARRIED

2. Discussion and Action on Signing a Contract with GFL

A motion was made by Wardrip and seconded by Hale to accept the proposed contract with GFL.

YEA: Wardrip, Hale, White

No: Daily, Stanberry

Absent: Giorgi

MOTION CARRIED

3. Discussion and Action on Park Board Request

A motion was made Stanberry and seconded by Hale to approve $1,000 request from the Park Board for Park Rec in July.

YEA: Daily, Wardrip, Hale, White, Stanberry

No: None

Absent: Giorgi

MOTION CARRIED

4. Discussion and Action on Ordinance 2025-07

A motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by White to approve the Ordinance 2025-07 Implementing a Non-Home Rule Municipal Retailers’ Occupation Tax and a Non-Home Rule Municipal Service Occupation Tax.

YEA: Wardrip, Hale, White, Stanberry

No: Daily

Absent: Giorgi

MOTION CARRIED

5. Discussion and Action on Ordinance 2025-08

A motion was made Stanberry and seconded by White to approve the Ordinance 2025-08 Implementing a Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax and a Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax.

YEA: Hale, White, Stanberry, Daily, Wardrip

No: None

Absent: Giorgi

MOTION CARRIED

6. Discussion and Action on Wastewater System Improvements for Sewer Plant A motion was made by Wardrip and seconded by Stanberry to move forward with the IEPA loan application and DCEO grant applications, Roger Nuxoll from Farnsworth Engineering will get the applications going as soon as the Village has signed the contract with Farnsworth.

YEA: Stanberry, Daily, Wardrip, Hale, White

No: None

Absent: Giorgi

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 White and seconded Wardrip to go into closed session at 7:30 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: Stanberry, Daily, Wardrip, Hale, White

No: None

Absent: Giorgi

MOTION CARRIED

Return to Open Session:

At 7:49 pm

Discussion and Action on Closed Session

A Motion was made by Stanberry and seconded by Hale to increase the hourly rate for Dennis Coslow to $20.00 with back pay from May 1, to present.

YEA: Wardrip, Hale, White, Stanberry

No: Daily

Absent: Giorgi

MOTION CARRIED

Department Reports

Presidents Report – Brittany Bates

Reported Town Clean-Up went well.

Water & Sewer Report – Todd Hale

Park and Special Projects – Chrissy Giorgi

Absent

Police – Keith Stanberry

Reported the Solicitors’ signs have been placed at all 3 Main Entrances to Lovington. The Radar Sign was moved to Broadway St due to the increase of speeding complaints. New Speed Limit signs have been ordered. No Part-time Police this month.

Streets and Alleys – Harold White

Buildings and Grounds – April Daily

Poles were finished at Zancha’s Guns & Ammo

Looking into prices for a 10-12 ft Evergreen to be planted at the park for a Christmas Tree. Curb on State & Logan will be finished in the next couple of weeks.

Insurance – Andrea Wardrip

Nothing

Miscellaneous Report

Nothing

Adjournment

A Motion was made by Hale to adjourn at 8:13 p.m.

YEA: All agreed

No: None

MOTION CARRIED

https://www.lovingtonil.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-06-9-minutes.pdf