VILLAGE OF ASHKUM
MINUTES OF BOARD MEETING
AUGUST 16, 2011
The Ashkum Village Board met Tuesday, August 16, 2011
@ the village hall. Present were Paul Heideman, Donna Schmitz, Ed
Tholen, Jeff Hanson, Jeremy Beherns, and April Lyons. Maintenance
Supervisor Russ Schoon, Treasurer Krystal Alberts, and Joe Mikulecky
from the Farnsworth Group were also present. Trustees Jason McKee
and Russ Hull were not in attendance.
President Heideman called the meeting to order at
7:00 p.m.
Clerk Donna Schmitz read the minutes of the July 19,
2011 meeting. Ed Tholen moved to approve the minutes as read, seconded
by April Lyons and the motion passed.
NEW BUSINESS/VISITORS,
President Heideman recognized Joe Mikulecky, a representative from
the Farnsworth Group, who was present to give an update on the IEPA
Loan for rehabilitation of the water tower. Joe distributed a packet
of information which included a draft of the loan agreement; a letter
from IEPA approving our dedicated source of revenue for repayment
of the loan conditioned on the enactment of Water User Rates and
Charges in the form of a certified ordinance that are adequate to
assure annual payments of the loan; a chart calculating future rate
increase (0.0055 per gallon) for 4500 gallon usage and another for
5000 gallon usage; a breakdown of the estimated total loan of $237,485
with the 25% forgiveness ($59,371.25) showing the annual amount
due to IEPA $12,112.24 for twenty years at an interest rate of 1.25%;
a spreadsheet of a Rate Demonstration for All Debt Water Fund that
was updated August 2, 2011; and a spreadsheet of the Projected Water
Expenditures Budget (2010-2021) IEPA Loan to Finance Capital Improvements
that was updated on June 27, 2011. The contents of the packet were
reviewed and discussed at length. Joe explained that due unpredictable
weather conditions for painting, it was decided to start the project
in March 2012. He also explained all monies paid to Farnsworth Group,
with the exception of the loan application costs, would be reimbursed
from IEPA once the grant is approved. Joe also reported Russ Schoon
had loaned him the drawings of the tank, (built in 1980’s)
that will be copied and returned to him.
President Heideman recognized Maintenance Supervisor
Russ Schoon who reported on the following:
-Outback checked for blockage in the women’s
bathroom at the park, and found nothing.
They suggested using single ply toilet tissue, and
Russ is making the change. Russ asked if the bladder on the stool
could be adjusted. Trustee Jeremy
Beherns said he would look at it before
the Homecoming.
-Grosso will start spray patching on Thursday
and will bring their gravel. They
need a place to store it and will be using our equipment to
move it.
-Richard Panozzo, Quality Sealing Coating,
and Bob Grosso will be giving quotes
for the patchwork of tile holes.
-Russ and Leroy Ducat have 75% of the tree
trimming completed at the park; the
bathroom has been painted and hopes to get the north and
south side of the pavilion finished before the Homecoming.
-The Fall Water Conference will be held
in September and asked for permission
to attend. Ed Tholen moved to approve his request and to pay
all the usual expenses, seconded by Jeff Hanson and the motion passed.
-The pellets for mosquito abatement were
dropped off by Leon Pfingsten about
a month ago.
-The signs about unauthorized vehicles will
be set up before the Homecoming. Russ
asked if the light should be put up by the bathroom
in the park and was informed it should be.
-Upon questioning, Russ reported the water
service has not been terminated on
the account that was given until August 1st to pay $200 because
there is still a leak.
President Heideman recognized Treasurer Krystal Alberts
who gave the treasurer’s report for July 2011. Jeff Hanson
moved to approve the report as read, seconded by Jeremy Beherns
and the motion passed. Ed Tholen moved to present the July bills
to the Finance Committee, seconded by Jeff Hanson and the motion
passed. Finance Vice-Chairman Ed Tholen reported expenditures of
$10,225.61 in the General Fund, and expenditures of $9,711.88 in
the Water Works Fund. Total expenditures in all funds were $19,937.49.
Ed Tholen moved to pay all July bills in the usual manner, seconded
by April Lyons and the motion passed.
President Heideman brought the following before the
board for discussion and/or action:
-ICOM (911) sent a letter which indicated
with the FCC mandating new systems,
the tornado receiver on our radio system has to be updated.
The cost is $1,500, but ICOM is applying for a grant and if the
grant is approved, our cost would be $750. President Heideman will
complete the paperwork and send it back.
-Attorney Mike Sabol drew up the necessary
paperwork for the part time police
ordinance the village is required to pass. After reviewing the
ordinance, April Lyons moved to approve Ordinance 2011-05: An
Ordinance Concerning Training Standards of Part-Time Police officers,
seconded by Ed Tholen and the motion passed by a roll call vote.
Beherns, aye; Hanson, aye; Lyons, aye; Tholen, aye. Trustees McKee
and Hull were not present.
-President Heideman signed a propane pre-purchase
option with Gateway Propane in Clifton.
This option means we can purchase at least
500 gallons or more of propane in July and August 2011 at a pre-purchased
price. President Heideman pre-purchased 700 gallons of
propane @$1.93, which totaled $1,357.40, and a check was sent prior
to the deadline date of August 18th.
-Attorney Mike Sabol drew up the paperwork
for a water rates increase ordinance,
but after the presentation by Joe Mikulecky earlier,
the ordinance will be sent back for an increase change from . 00053
to .00055 for 4500 gallon usage. Other changes to our water ordinance
were discussed, including increasing our water deposit rate but
no action was taken at this time.
OLD BUSINESS
President Heideman reported he received a letter from 911 ICOM which
stated we would be receiving an invoice in the amount of $150 a
month for dispatching police calls. Because our deputies patrol
Danforth, ICOM is automatically including their rate of $75 on our
invoice. President Heideman asked if he should attend one of their
meetings to inform them of the fee and encourage them to pay their
share, and was advised to do so.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Trustee April Lyons had no report.
Trustee Jeremy Beherns had no report.
Trustee Jeff Hanson asked if the village or a resident
was responsible for weeds growing in the concrete and was advised
it is the village’s responsibility to either mow or to spray
them. Russ Schoon will be notified of the locations requiring action.
Trustee Ed Tholen reported he received a letter from Tyson regarding
the jurisdictional transfer of the two roads discussed at the July
19th meeting. Mr. Tyson’s letter said that “based upon
a telephone conversation with Illinois Department of Transportation
officials, they indicated the Village would have to de-annex at
least a 100 foot strip of land around the two streets before the
jurisdictional transfer can occur.” Ed Tholen moved to de-annex
at least a 100 foot strip of land around the two strips, seconded
by Jeff Hanson and the motion passed. The matter will be forwarded
to the village attorney for the necessary paperwork.
Clerk Donna Schmitz reported copies of the Abandoned,
Junked Vehicles Ordinance and the letters written to the list of
owners of unlicensed vehicles are ready for the police officers
to deliver. President Heideman reported they’re on his desk
and he would discuss the matter with the officers. Clerk Schmitz
reported she would not be at the next meeting and asked if someone
would read the minutes of this meeting and take the minutes of the
meeting. President Heideman reported someone would fill in for her.
As there was no further business to come before the
board, Jeff Hanson moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:24 p.m., seconded
by Ed Tholen and the motion passed.
The next scheduled regular meeting will be Tuesday
September 6, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the village hall.
DONNA K. SCHMITZ
ASHKUM VILLAGE CLERK
