Village of Oblong

Draft Minutes

The Village of Oblong Board of Trustees met in regular session on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022, in the Farley Room of the Municipal Building.

Members Present: Mayor Teresa K. Fielder, Clerk Ladora Boyd, Trustee Lucas Inboden, Trustee Jay Haines, Trustee Carrie Hays, Trustee Cary Bonnell, Trustee Dave Hasty, Trustee Keith Waldrop and Treasurer Jan Miller.
Other Present: Public Works Superintendent Gary Lanter, Resa Shaner (Crawford County Development Association), Angela Downing and daughter (Robinson Daily News), Nick Hinterscher, Kim Russell (Guardian Center), Sydney Slaughter (Guardian Center), Jerry Snider, Rex Finn and Bill Burke.

1. The meeting was called to order at 5 pm by the Mayor. Teresa asked everyone to stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag.
2. The Regular Board Meeting Minutes of October 5th. 2022, and Special Board Meeting Minutes of October 24th, 2022, were approved with a motion by Keith, with a second by Lucas. All ayes, motioned carried.
3. There were no Additions or Deletions to the agenda this month.
4. Teresa asked if there was any one in the audience that wanted to comment on anything that was on this month’s agenda. There were no public comments made.
5. There were no Delinquent Water Bill customers this month.
6. Kim Russell, (Guardian Center), and Sydney Slaughter, (Guardian Center), came before the Board to give information and tell about the services the Guardian Center provides. They are a not for profit organization. Their clients are referred to them by Law Enforcement and Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) which are abuse cases (physical, emotional or sexual).
7. Nick Hinterscher came to the Board to ask for an extra hour on Wednesday, November 23rd, for the taverns. Last call at 12:30 and everyone out by 1 am. The Board granted his request.
8. Motion by Jay, with a second by Cary B., to adopt Ordinance #2022-O-632 “Tax Levy Ordinance”. Roll Call vote as follows: Cary B. – aye, Jay – aye, Dave – aye, Carrie H. – aye, Lucas – aye, Keith – aye; motion carried.
9. Teresa stated that there were two bids turned in for lot 3 and 6 in Park Meadows Subdivision. The bids are as follows:
a. Bill Burke $1,000 for Lot 3 in Park Meadow Subdivision
$1,000 for Lot 6 in Park Meadow Subdivision
b. Orville York $2,000 for Lot 3 in Park Meadow Subdivision
$2,080 for Lot 6 in Park Meadow Subdivision
Motion by Lucas, with a second by Carrie H., to accept the bid of $2,000 for Lot 3 and $2,080 for Lot 6 in Park Meadow Subdivision from Orville York. All ayes, motion carried.
10. Motion by Jay, with a second by Cary B., to adopt Ordinance #2022-O-633 “An Ordinance to Accept Offers to Purchase Real Estate (Lot Numbers 3 and 6 in Park Meadow Subdivision)”. Roll Call vote as follows: Cary B. – aye, Jay – aye, Dave – aye, Carrie H. – aye, Lucas – aye, Keith – aye; motion carried.
11. Motion by Dave, with a second by Keith, to adopt Resolution #2022-R-8 “A Resolution to Include Compensation Paid Under an Internal Revenue Code Section 125 Plan as IMRF earnings”. All ayes, motion carried.
12. There was some discussion on changing the carrier for the Municipal Building’s phone lines. The Board is waiting to see what other companies have to offer. It was decided to table this item until the December Board Meeting.
13. Dave presented to the Board on behalf of the Paws for Prevention Group what it would possibly cost to do a blitz on the feral cat colonies in Oblong. The estimated cost for the three colonies would be $3,100. There was some discussion about the cat colony issues. The Board tabled any decision on this item until the December Board Meeting.
14. Mayor’s Comments:
a. Teresa wanted to thank Oblong Public Works for their extra work setting up for Fall Follies.
b. Teresa asked the Board if they were okay with giving the Oblong Chamber of Commerce a donation of $500 out of the Beautification Fund to help with the clean-up costs during Fall Follies. The Board agreed to give a donation to the Oblong Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $500.
c. Teresa mentioned that Good Energy (Village’s Aggregation Company) has successfully negotiated a bid price for the Village residentials and small businesses a contract with Constellation NewEnergy, Inc. for the electric supply rate of $0.1189 per Kilowatt Hour. She stated that this had been a long, many times last minute, and time-consuming bid process.
d. Teresa updated the Board on the Sewer Lagoon Dredge Project. There was a ‘Pre-Construction Conference” pm Friday, October 28th. Will be signing a “Notice to Proceed” soon.
e. Teresa stated that she had not received an update from South Central IL Regional Planning Commission on the OSLAD grant.
f. Teresa stated that there was not update from Tracy Cross & Associates on the housing study (should be completed by mid-November).
g. Teresa mentioned that the Indiana Rail Road Santa Train will be here on Sunday, December 4th from 10:45 am to 12:15 pm. Carrie H. mentioned that the First Baptist Church will be serving soup that day to anyone who wants to come to the church after visiting the Santa Train.
h. Teresa stated that Crawford County Board as of last week’s Board Meeting voted to give the Crawford County Boys and Girls Club $300,000 as startup money.
i. Teresa asked the Board about the Christmas Dinner for Village employees, that is paid by her and the Board Members. The Board was in favor of doing again this year. The date was set for the Employee Christmas Dinner is Tuesday, December 6th at 5:30 pm.

15. Reports of Committees:
a. POLICE: Jay stated that there were three letters of resignation for acceptance. The letters were from Part-time Police Officer Chad Pusey (effective date 11/1/2022), Part-time Police Officer Shali Greathouse (effective 10/22/2022) and Part-time Police Officer Jordan Bowen (effective 10/30/2022). Motion by Jay, with a second by Carrie H., to accept the 3 letters of resignation. All ayes, motion carried. The swearing in of our new Police Chief Colton Williamson will be November 7th, 2022, at 9 am in the Farley Room.

b. BUILDING/PARK: Teresa stated that Byron Sanders has turned in his letter of retirement. His last day will be December 30th, 2022. Motion by Cary B., with a second by Keith, to accept Byron Sanders’ letter of retirement. All ayes, motion carried. Keith stated that he had power washed and stained the some of the benches out at the Park. Keith stated that he would like the Board to consider ordering 3 new picnic tables for the park and the old ones be moved to the campground area. There was some discussion about the new picnic tables 1. have they been budgeted for; 2. is there money in the budget for the purchase and 3. wait until closer to spring to order them. It was decided to have Gary budget for the new picnic tables for Fiscal Year 2024. Gary mentioned that he had received an e-mail from Shannon Woodard (Connor & Connor) regarding IEPA requiring a comprehensive study concerning the service line inventory of water system, specifically concerning lead service lines. The reports are due by April of 2023.IEPA has announced some Grant Funds that are available to help complete these studies. Connor & Connor are looking at the eligibility requirements for the grant that must be assured the Village meets before proceeding. The grant would help pay for the cost of the IEPA inventory for the Village system. The deadline for the grant application is December 2nd, 2022. Gary stated that an agreement was enteed into. Bill updated the Board on who the Crawford County Fair Board had awarded Mike Munson the job of taking down the old Grandstand Pavilion.

c. SIDEWALK/LIGHTS: Carrie stated that she had no report for this month.

d. STREET/ALLEY: Lucas stated that he had no report for this month. Gary stated that the department has started picking up bagged or boxed leaves. Gary said that the department will run the leaf vac truck in the next couple of weeks. Gary stated that the Washington Street Drainage Project is being looked at. Connor & Connor will be drawing up diagrams of how the slope will need to be. Hopefully will be able to start work on fixing the drainage problem next week.

e. WATER/SEWER: Dave stated that he would let Gary tell the Board about an issue that has come up. Gary stated that he been working on 2 permit applications this to be able to replace a 700’ to 800’ section of old water line in 300 block of South Adams Street, which has had 3 major water line breaks. One permit application is for Illinois EPA and the other permit application is for Indiana Rail Road (this one has a non-refundable fee of $1250). Motion by Dave, with second by Jay, to issue a check for $1250 to accompany the Indiana Rail Road permit application. All ayes, motion carried. This project cost will be in Fiscal Year 2024 Budget figures. The pumping out of water from the sewer lagoon had started.

f. FINANCE: Dave stated that the Board will need to set the amount of Christmas Bonus for the Village employees. The amount last year was $115 for Full-time employees and $85 for Part-time Employees. Motion by Dave, with a second by Carrie H., to give a Christmas Bonus of $115 to Full-time Employees and $85 to Part-time Employees. All ayes, motion carried. TREASURER’S REPORT: Jan stated that the Board had a copy of the Bank Balances and available cash reports. CLERK’S REPORT: Ladora stated that she had nothing to report this month.

g. DEVELOPMENT/ADHOC (Beautification/Ordinance):
a. Teresa stated that there is a bench warrant issued to appear before a Judge for the inoperable camper in the yard located at 210 South Adams Street.
b. Teresa updated the Board on the Tiny House at 304 North Harrison Street. Teresa sent a Letter along with a copy of the Village’s Tiny House Police and ordinances for out buildings to the owner. The property owner will need to decide his intent for the buildings and let the Village know what he is planning to do.
c. The next meeting of the committee will be February or March, 2023.
16. Motion by Jay, with a second by Lucas, to pay the bills that were on the Warranty List and any utility bills, bills that will incur a late fee or reimbursements to employees-AC renters-Water Customers. All ayes, motion carried.
17. There was one other item of business this month. Gary stated that he had been asked about possible refunding of fee paid with a Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit Application. There was some discussion on about this. Motion by Jay, with a second by Cary B., to deny this request and add on the applications (Tiny House, Detached Accessory Dwelling & Manufactured Homes) that the fee in non-refundable. All ayes, motion carried.
18. Motion by Carrie H., with a second by Cary B., to adjourn the meeting 6:28 pm. All ayes, motion carried.

Respectfully submitted

Ladora Boyd, Clerk