Village of Strasburg
105 East Commercial
P.O. Box 385
Strasburg, Illinois 62465
Ph: (217) 644-3007
Fax:(217) 644-3005
January 18, 2016 Village Board of Trustees Meeting
Minutes
The Strasburg Village Board met on Monday, January 18, 2016 in the Strasburg Community Center. President Michael Antonacci called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM. Present were Village President Michael Antonacci, Trustees Jack Clark, Cinda Held, Alice Jeisy, Anita Renshaw, and Chuck Wade. Also present were Village Clerk Linda Oakley, Robert Anderson, Lee Beckman, David Huffmaster, Josh Porter and Jenny Biggs.
The Oath of Office was given by Clerk Oakley to the newly appointed Trustee Robert Anderson.
Mr. Beckman reported that the bids for the contractor to replace the waterlines had been opened. We are waiting on a letter from DCEO regarding a possible conflict of interest. Hopefully the money from the water bond should be finished within 30 days. The Village received a $600,000 disaster grant. Approval should hopefully be mailed out within the week for that we can advertise in February.
Mr. Beckman recommended going to Rural Development for credit for the next phase of the waterline replacement. This will be for the application we send in to DECO in July.
Mr. Beckman noted that a quote for approximately $20,000 had been received for the work at the East Commercial/Route 32 intersection. The Village along with Mr. Beckman will be meeting with Effingham Equity to discuss their helping with the cost.
Mr. Beckman informed the board of a search grant for Rural Development. There is no leverage required for this grant. Mr. Beckman would do the preliminary work with there being no cost to do the application. This grant could be used to smoke the sewers.
Mr. Beckman left at 6:55 PM.
Mr. Huffmaster addressed the Board asking the board to read the agreements his parents had signed regarding the water wells. He question that since the Village still owned the well, then shouldn’t the board continue giving his father free water as per the second sales agreement. President Antonacci noted that the agreements would be given to an attorney for their interpretation. He requested that his father not be billed until a decision is made. Mr. Huffmaster left the meeting at 6:57 PM.
Mr. Porter addressed the Board defending his water right on his property. He stated that he wanted all pipes and valves removed on his property and then he will be happy to pay the water bill. President Antonacci noted that Mr. Porter’s agreement would also be given to an attorney for interpretation. Mr. Porter left the meeting at 7:04 PM.
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Motion by Trustee Clark to approve the Omnibus Agenda which included approval of the minutes of the December 21, 20915 meeting, the Financial Report and List of Expenditures, the Reconciliation of Accounts ending December 31, 2015 and the transfer of funds dated December 28, 2015 (transferred $1,833.33 from Water Fund to Rural Bond Debt for December Water Bond Payment Reserve, $1,583.33 from Sewer Fund to Sewer B & I Sinking Fund for December Sewer Bon Payment Reserve, $3,000 from Water Fund to Water O & M for expenditures, $4,682.65 from Water Fund to Sewer Fund for the November Sewer Portion of Water Bills, $446.71 from Water Fund to Water/Sewer Emergency Fund for November 3% Rate Increase, $3,000 from General Fund to TIF for December York Acres Payment, and $4,000 from Sewer Fund to Sewer O & M for sewer expenditures) was seconded by Trustee Held. Motion voted on and carried by unanimous consent.
Clerk Oakley presented the list of those individuals who had not paid their water bills. This information was not current as the bank and post office were closed on this date so unpaid list could not be updated. Oakley presented information from the Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association regarding claims on the Village’s insurance. This past year the claim
was for the John Deere mower that caught on fire. Oakley asked the trustees to update their contact information and complete their Statement of Economic Interest that Oakley will submit to the Shelby County Clerk.
Trustee Clark moved to approve the Administration Firm Agreement for the CDBG-DRGrant. Agreement named Steve Pamperin (SP) Consulting, LLC as the administrator the grant. Motion was seconded by Trustee Renshaw. Motion voted on and carried. Anderson – yea; Clark – yea; Held – yea; Jeisy – yea, Renshaw – yea, Wade – yea. 6 yea – 0 nay
Water & Sewer Report - Trustee Wade noted that the Village had had two water leaks. He also noted that he and Joe Oakley were working on this coming year’s oil and gravel needs.
Streets & Alleys - A report from Mr. Oakley noted that rock had been placed at the mailboxes at York Acres, Jerome Stremming’s and Larry Reel’s. Roads that had been rocked included the two at Larry Reel’s and the road at Ron Thomas’s. Dylan Ohnesorge had hand dug the ditch along Route 32 next to John Wittenberg to allow the water to run in the ditch. Mr. Ohnesorge also put in patch mix north of the Trestle.
Economic and Community Development – No Report.
Finance Committee – No Report
Building & Business Expansion; Permits – No Report.
Community Center / Park – Trustee Wade noted that Randy Doty had worked to take the Christmas lights down from the electric poles and then went back to measure for banners that SCAN would be ordering. Motion by Trustee Clark to give Mr. Doty $50 gift card from Marathon as a thank you was seconded by Trustee Wade. Motion carried by unanimous consent.
It was noted that the Leo’s were looking for a project, it was mentioned that perhaps they could repaint the bathrooms. It was noted that the walking path needs attention along with the need for new outside doors to the bathrooms at the park.
York Acres – Trustee Held noted that Jared & Caralea Smith would be moving into their new home within the week.
Attorney Report – No Report.
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Unfinished Business – Parking Spaces – motion by Trustee Held to implement parking in the 100 block of East Commercial using 10’ x 19’ 45 degree angle and parallel parking as presented with the possibility of the Leo’s painting the spaces was seconded by Trustee Anderson. Motion voted on and carried. Anderson – yea; Clark – yea; Held – yea; Jeisy – yea; Renshaw – nay – Wade – yea. 5 yea – 1 nay.
Trustee Held noted that the Village would be receiving a copy of the bill for the demolition of the house at 203 E. Commercial. The Village will pay their part directly to Bill Tabbert.
President Antonacci noted that the school bus had been removed from the Stratton residence and that the vehicle belonging to Larry Brown had been properly licensed.
Motion by Trustee Wade to approve retaining Dove and Dove Attorneys at Law with the retainer fee of $3,250 was seconded by Trustee Held. It was noted that Village had received a courtesy discount of $11,536.19. Motion voted on and carried. Anderson – yea; Clark – yea; Held – yea; Jeisy – yea; Renshaw – yes – Wade – yea. 6 yea – 0 nay.
Motion by Trustee Anderson to approve Resolution 16-1 “Establishing a Schedule of Meetings” for the 2016 year was seconded by Trustee Held. Motion voted on and carried by unanimous consent.
Discussion held regarding replacing the Village Golf Cart. Trustees Wade and Clark, along with Todd Apke will look for a UTV/gator with information to be presented at the February board meeting.
Motion by Trustee Renshaw to donate $70 to the Stewardson-Strasburg Post Prom was seconded by Trustee Clark. Motion voted on and carried by unanimous consent.
Ms. Biggs thanked the board for the gift card she received as a thank you for helping judge the Christmas Light contest.
Motion by Trustee Held to leave regular session was seconded by Trustee Wade. Motion voted on and carried by unanimous consent. Regular session was recessed at 8:30 PM.
Attorney Probst excused himself from executive session as he recused himself from the topic of discussion.
Motion by Trustee Held to enter executive session regarding the sale/lease of property that contains the Village water wells was seconded by Trustee Clark. Motion voted on and carried by unanimous consent. Executive Session entered at 8:45 PM.
Motion by Trustee Jeisy to exit executive session was seconded by Trustee Held. Motion voted on and carried by unanimous consent. Executive Session exited at 9:15.
Motion by Trustee Held to enter regular session was seconded by Trustee Clark. Motion voted on and carried by unanimous consent. Regular session entered at 9:16 PM.
Motion by Trustee Clark to seek legal counsel regarding the Porter and Huffmaster agreements was seconded by Trustee Held. Motion voted on and carried by unanimous consent.
Consensus of Board to refrain from charging Huffmaster and Porter for water used until legal advice is obtained.
Motion by Trustee Held to adjourn the meeting was seconded by Trustee Clark. Meeting was adjourned at 9:27 PM.
Linda D. Oakley, Village Clerk