Macon Reporter

Village of Harristown Board of Trustees met June 30.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Village of Harristown Board of Trustees held their monthly meeting on June 23, 2025 at 185 N. Kembark St, Harristown, IL. Trustees Jamie Jackson, Jay Trusner, Kurt Terry, Jeff Eller, Kevin Vessels, Treasurer Teresa Acree, Budget Officer Rick Laskowski, Attorney Joshua Dubbelde, Clerk Penny Allen and Mayor Les Jenkins were present. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Adopt Meeting Agenda

Would like to move items 14A(nominate new board member) and 14B(swear in new board member) behind the visitor portion and then move engineer section behind the visitor section. Motion by Trustee Trusner to adopt the meeting agenda with these changes. Trustee Eller 2nd. Approved 5-0.

Approve Minutes

Motion by Trustee Trusner to approve regular board meeting minutes from May 19, 2025. Trustee Vessels 2nd. Approved 5-0.

Visitors

Rose Ross discussed the new park. She said she has called several times about issues at the park; people there after dark, and people having alcohol. She said the park has been a nuisance. She would like for the Board to figure something out about the issues occurring at the park.

Heather Vaughn-spoke on behalf of the SV Youth league. She read a letter from her Mom (Denise Puckett). The basketball league at SV are in need of uniforms. Some are damaged, different logos on some of the jerseys, etc. They did receive $2000 from the sports booster and was asking if perhaps the Village could donate to this. They will be going to the Illiopolis and Niantic board as well. The cost for 60 new uniforms is $4500-$6000

Brett and Tina Gwin-discussed their request for a shipping container on their property to be used as a storm shelter for their neighbors and themselves. This will be discussed during zoning officers' report, item 13.

Kyler Page-neighbor of Brett and Tina said he is in support of this container as he will also be using it in case of storms

Nominate New Board Trustee

Mayor Jenkins would like to nominate April Bogan for the vacant trustee position. Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve this appointment. Trustee Terry 2nd. Approved 5-0. Clerk Allen swore in April Bogan for the trustee position.

Engineers Report

NPDES-Seth discussed. Has been submitted to IEPA for funds

MFT-acceptance has been approved. Dunn completed MFT work

Service Line/Meter Replacement-Village has tentatively received $1,000,000. CPC Grant will help lower IEPA funding. An application is required and the engineer will assist.

Harristown Buckeye Connection -Buckeye is interested in being supplied with water for a fire suppression pond at their site. Two bids received: MB Construction $ 61,950 and Entler $ 280,000. There would be an additional cost for the parts and labor for a 3" meter; approximately $ 20,000.

Mayor's Report

Committee assignments -Mayor Jenkins distributed the new committee assignments; requested the trustees to let him know if there are any issues.

Village Signs-eleven new signs were found at the sewer plant. These will be used and put up in village.

Approve bills over $1,000

HD Tree Service $5,400 remove trees General fund

EJ Water $3000 bore to run pipe General fund

Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve above two bills. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Treasurer Report

Treasurer Acree discussed. Treasurer Acree said the auditors did not like how the money was split on some accounts. For example, Misty and the maintenance people, they would like it 60% gen fund, 30% water fund and 10% sewer fund. They would also like the dental/health insurance brokedown and split the same way. The auditors also stated we can pull money from the general fund and put in the water fund and it does not have to be paid back. Motion by Trustee Trusner to change the pay allocations to what the auditor has suggested. Trustee Terry 2nd. Approved 6-0. Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve Treasurer report. Trustee Eller 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Budget Officers Report

BO Laskowski discussed. Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve report. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Old Business

Water meters-will discuss at a public works committee meeting.

Security for Park and Village office-Mayor Jenkins discussed options with a security service. They suggested cameras, motion detection and possible screens at the village hall to monitor. Would need to have power at the park for better reception. Trustee Eller said need to have on a system that records as we don't want the park vandalized and we can hold someone accountable. Trustee Terry said can buy something for around $600-$700; he has a system at home. The Board would like to look into this.

Water main for Buckeye-If Buckeye wants to pursue their request, they will have to pay for the water main.

Public Works

Mr. Closs discussed. There were three big water leaks.

Zoning Officers Report

Variance request for 5565 Union School Rd-Mike Sorrentino discussed the Gwin's request for a shipping container on their property to use as a tornado shelter. There were 7 neighbors in attendance and no opposition. Trees will be blocking the view of the container. Zoning Board recommendations was to approve this variance with a vote of 3 yes and 1 no. Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve this variance. Trustee Eller 2nd. Approved 6-0. Mayor Jenkins did ask them if they could paint it.

New Business

SVTC Cheer squad request -their request is for new mats for the cheerleaders. The mats are approximately $ 1087 each. Trustee Trusner stated he is ok with paying for one but they are not going to be at our school. He feels like the other 6 towns that are involved in this particular school activity should help pay some of the costs. Trustee Jackson agrees. Trustee Vessels wants to pay for all of the mats; wants to make our community look nicer. Trustee Eller and Trustee Trusner need to come up with an allotment for next year for each cause that are requesting donations. Motion by Trustee Vessels to donate $5000 to the SVTC cheerleading squad for new mats. Trustee Eller 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Closed session recordings-After 18 months, tapes can be destroyed. Tabled

Ordinance concerning compensation of trustees repeatably absent without cause- Motion by Trustee Vessels to approve as ordinance 25-08, compensation of trustees repeatably absent. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Roll call: Trustee Eller, yes; Trustee Trusner, yes, Trustee Bogan, yes; Trustee Vessels, yes; Trustee Terry, yes; Trustee Jackson, yes. Approved 6-0

Tree Removal-Estimate received from Josh Highley to remove trees in park, 2nd St, Twin Lakes/William St/ Camp St, estimate $ 10,950. Motion by Trustee Trusner to approve the estimate from Mr. Highley for removal of trees/cleanup/haul away. Trustee Vessels 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Residents Services

Recycling bin - people have been putting everything in this bin; toys, toliets, etc. Mayor Jenkins will note something in the newsletter regarding this

Brush Pickup-Mayor will also put something in the newsletter regarding this also. Noting the guidelines and rules

Annual Recycling Event-Received a letter stating we do not have enough weight so the company cannot come out next year to do this. They suggested we combine with another town or do this every other year. May ask Niantic if they want to do this with us.

Grocery Tax-at the end of the year, 1% grocery tax will no longer be in effect. We can pass an ordinance to implement a 1% tax. Trustees are to think about this. Tabled

Committees

Public Works-Water meters. Met with 2 vendors and received 2 bids. Badger bid $ 300,000 includes everything. Zenner Utility Pipe $ 297,000 (Illiopolis had issues with this company) Motion by Trustee Trusner to accept bid from Badger meters at a cost of $300,000 for new water meters. Trustee Terry 2nd Approved 6-0.

Material Storage Building-two bids received

Greenfield Contractors $91,030.61 50x48 building, complete includes concrete

EAHC $34,275 only includes structure. Would have to contract out for concrete

Motion by Trustee Trusner to approve the bid from Greenfield Contractor for material storage building and concrete for $91,030.61. Trustee Vessels 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Public Works office -tabled

Ordinance - has received calls about dogs and cats. Also received call about grass on the roadways; resident was called that was doing this

Personnel - nothing to report

Business-nothing to report

Motion by Trustee Eller to enter closed session to discuss employee accident and release of closed session minutes. Trustee Terry 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Entered closed session at 7:59 pm

Back to regular session at 8:13 pm

Motion by Trustee Vessels to give employee, Chad Lefler, additional compensation, equal to 3 days pay. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Motion by Trustee Vessels to release closed session minutes from 9/12/2024 and 5/19/2025. Trustee Terry 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Motion by Trustee Vessels to adjourn. Trustee Trusner 2nd. Approved 6-0.

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm

https://villageofharristown.com/documents/231/VOH_6-23-25.pdf