Village of Oblong

November 1, 2006
DRAFT MINUTES

The Village Board of Trustees met in regular session on November 1st, 2006, in the Farley Room of the Municipal Building.

Members Present: Mayor Randy Rich, Clerk Ladora Boyd, Trustee Rick Catt, Trustee Bonnie Finn, Trustee Rick Houdasheldt, Trustee Ken Russell, Trustee Sherry Catt, Trustee Debi Wilson and Treasurer Jan Miller.

Others Present: Police Chief Chad Pusey, Public Works Superintendent Gary Lanter, Jerry McDaniel, Mike McReynolds and Jamie Griffin.

1. The meeting was called to order at 7:01 pm by Mayor Rich.

2. The Regular Board Meeting minutes of October 4th, 2006, were approved with a motion by Sherry and a second by Ken. All ayes, motion carried.

3. There were no additions or deletions to the agenda this month.

4. There was three water bill customers at the meeting this month.

A. Mr. McDaniel asked if he could pay his last month’s water bill on November 3rd. The Board granted his request.

B. Mr. McReynolds asked if he could pay his last month’s water bill on November 3rd. The Board granted his request.

C. Ms. Griffin asked if she could pay her last month’s water bill on November 6th. The Board granted her request.

5. Motion by Sherry, with a second by Bonnie, to adopt Ordinance #2006-0-498 “An Ordinance Imposing a Tax on the Gross Rental Receipts Realized From the Renting of Hotel or Motel Rooms”. All ayes, motioned carried.

6. Motion by Rick C., with a second by Bonnie, to adopt Resolution #2006-R-5 “A Resolution Creating a Tourism Advisory Board”. All ayes, motion carried.

Randy appointed Sherry Catt and Keith Waldrop at this time to the Tourism Advisory Board, with the approval of the Board. Randy stated that he would bring a third person name to be appointed next month, with approval from the Board at that time.

7. Randy stated that the reason he had this bill specifically put on the agenda was due to the fact that when this bill was received it was for more than what was verbally agreed upon. Randy stated that when he saw the bill, he contacted the engineer, Lee Beckman, that did the work. Randy discussed the issue with Mr. Beckman. The original amount was to be $500. There was some discussion on the matter. Motion by Ken, with a second by Rick C., to pay Milano & Grunloh Engineers $1,000 for their estimate on the Route 33 project. All ayes, motion carried.

8. Randy stated that Gary and him had met with Todd Halfman (IDOT Representative) for the right of way located in front of the water pump house on Route 33 near Robinson. IDOT will give the Village $800 for the right of way. Randy stated that if the Village accepts this offer the Village should have in the motion wording to the effect of “any existing water lines not on the right of way now will be taken care of by the State of Illinois (or IDOT)”. Motion by Rick H., with a second by Sherry, to accept the $800 for the right of way and the bid package (municipal corporate resolution, warranty deed (non-freeway) municipal corporation, receipt for municipal warranty deed and affidavit of title) with the additional wording of “any existing water lines not on the right of way now will be taken care of by the State of Illinois (or IDOT)”. All ayes, motion carried.

9. Motion by Rick C., with a second by Rick H., to approve the Modular Home Permit of Chad and Mary Lou Pusey. All ayes, motion carried.

10. Under Mayor's Comments: 1. Randy mentioned that he had been approached about restricting the placement of mobile homes in Oblong. Randy stated that he had talked with the Village Attorney, Frank Weber. There was some discussion on this issues. It was decided that the Board would like to see the statues on this issue. Randy said he would ask Frank for copies of the statues on Mobile Homes.

2. Randy stated that he wanted to bring everybody up to date that R-CAP (Rural Community Assistance Program) gentleman from Springfield came down and talked to the Finance Committee. This is a possible grant for the Village. This grant could possibly help offset the cost of Route 33 Project. This is one avenue that the Finance Committee is looking into. There is a deadline on this and it will come before the next board meeting. So, the Finance Committee put in motion, through the Water Department, the necessary information to be sent out to water customer in the form a questionnaire/ survey. The survey is just for water customers in the Village limits. The survey is to find out where the income level is in the Village. If the Village can show that we are at the lower income level, we have a real good shot at getting the grant. Seventy-five percent (75%) need to return the survey. Of the returned surveys, fifty-one percent needs to be in the lower to medium income level. To entice a good return the Finance Committee suggested that the Water Department give a two dollar ($2.00) credit on the water bill for the customer’s cooperation in filling out the survey and have them turned in by noon on Wednesday, November 8th.

3. Randy stated that the health insurance annual renewal, if the Village stays at the same deductible, will increase by thirty-three percent (33%). There was some discussion on changes to the deductible and deleting dental coverage. The Board discussed that if they increase the deductible to $1,000 (the employees would pay the first $500 and then the Village would pay the second $500 with proof from the employee that they had met the first $500 to be given to the Mayor or if the Mayor is out of town then the Finance Chairperson). Motion by Rick C., with a second by Ken, to delete the dental coverage on the health insurance and increase the deductible from $500 to $1,000. All ayes, motion carried.

11. Reports of Committees:

A Police: Rick H. stated that the committee had a short meeting before the Board Meeting. Rick H., stated that Chad had come up with a first response to active shooter situations plan to be put into the Police Policy and Procedure Manual. Motion by Rick H., with a second by Ken, to adopt the Response to Active Shooter Situations. All ayes, motion carried. Chad stated that there was another addition to the Police Policy and Procedure Manual due to a State Police audit (IWIN). Motion by Rick H., with a second by Bonnie, to adopt the following wording to be put into the Police Policy and Procedure Manual:

The LEADS network or LEADS information shall not be used for personal use.
No LEADS information shall be disseminated to anyone other than authorized personnel.

Authorized personnel included the three C’s: Cops, Corrections and Courts.

Any criminal history information disseminated to any unauthorized personnel outside this department will require the officer to keep a written record for at least 7 years.

Any officer that violates these rules will be subject to the following disciplinary action:

1. First violation will result in a written reprimand to their personnel file.
2. Second violation will result in a suspension.
3. Third violation will result in termination of employment from the department.

All ayes, motion carried.

Chad stated that there will be training tomorrow (November 2nd) night shot qualifications. Chad also mentioned that he had turned in the Mary Heath grant application. Bonnie asked if Chad had heard about a Federal Police Chief grant. Chad stated that he had never heard about it.

B. Buildings and Park: Gary stated that the Metal Meet went well last month. Gary stated that the fence did not get put around the horseshoe court last month, so it is on the schedule to possibly get done this month.

C. Sidewalks and Lights: Debi stated that there was no report at this time. Debi did ask about a section of sidewalk on the east side of South Range Street in the one hundred (100) block. Gary stated that he would put it on the top of the list for next year.

D. Street and Alley: Bonnie stated that there was no report at this time.

E. Water and Sewer: Ken stated that the Village has not received the water rate increase from Robinson-Palestine Water Commission due to a computer glitch. Ken stated that he had heard from Shannon (Connor & Connor, Inc.) that Robinson-Palestine Water Commission has agreed to share the project. He understood that we are waiting on some right of ways and that Connor & Connor has gone ahead and submitted an application to EPA for a permit. Connor & Connor will be advertising for the project with the understanding that the bids can not be granted until we have received the permit from EPA.

F. Finance: Rick C. stated that Jan would be attending Treasurer Institute on November 14th, 15th and 16th. Rick C. mentioned that if the Christmas Bonus is to be paid the first pay in December that it would need to be voted on at this meeting. There was some discussion on the amount to be paid to the Village employees. Motion by Rick C., with a second by Bonnie, to pay $115 to the permanent employees and $85 to the part-time employees. All ayes, motion carried. Rick C. asked if there was a volunteer to initial the bills for this month. Ken volunteer to initial the bills for the month of November.

12. Motion by Rick H., with a second by Debi, to pay the bills that were on the warranty list and any utility bills, bills that will incur a late charge or reimbursements to employees. All ayes, motion carried.

13. There was no other business this month.

14. Motion by Rick C., with a second by Sherry, to adjourn at 8:18 pm. All ayes, motion carried.

Respectfully submitted

 

Ladora C. Boyd