VILLAGE OF ASHKUM
MINUTES OF BOARD MEETING
JULY 19, 2011

The Ashkum Village Board met Tuesday, July 19, 2011 @ the village hall. Present were Paul Heideman, Donna Schmitz, Ed Tholen, Jason McKee, Jeff Hanson, and Russ Hull. Treasurer Krystal Alberts and Jeff Glenn, a member of the Planning Commission were also present. Trustees Jeremy Beherns and April Lyons 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 5, 2011 meeting. Jason McKee moved to approve the minutes as read, seconded by Ed Tholen and the motion passed.

NEW BUSINESS/VISITORS,
President Heideman recognized Jeff Glenn, a member of the Planning Commission, who was present to report on recent activities of the commission and to answer questions the board may have. Jeff asked if the new village attorney had the burning ordinance and the wind turbine ordinance ready for review. When President Heideman asked Mike Sabol, village attorney, he responded he didn’t think he had copies of the ordinances. We’ll have to go through the paperwork from Pat Murphy’s office to find copies of the ordinances in question. At a previous meeting, Mr. Sabol agreed to talk to Jim Glenn about the burning ordinance if he was contacted. Jeff asked why the Planning Commission must purchase three BOCA books when they are so expensive and two are not being used. President Heideman will contact Mr. Sabol for his legal opinion regarding the matter. President Heideman said Jim would be contacted for lists of swimming pools capable of holding two feet of water that do not have fences around them. We have an ordinance requiring a pool be fenced in if it could hold two feet of water or more. There are a number of violators who need to be notified they must be in compliance or face a fine.

President Heideman recognized Treasurer Krystal Alberts who gave the treasurer’s report for May 2011. Ed Tholen moved to approve the report as read, seconded by Jeff Hanson and the motion passed. Jason McKee moved to present the May bills to the Finance Committee, seconded by Ed Tholen and the motion passed. Finance Chairman Jason McKee reported expenditures of $8,497.69 in the General Fund, expenditures of $8,989.16 in the Water Works Fund, and expenditures of $2,176.58 in the Motor Fuel Tax Fund. Total expenditures in all funds were $19,663.43. Jason McKee moved to pay all May bills in the usual manner, seconded by Ed Tholen and the motion passed. Treasurer Krystal Alberts gave the treasurer’s report for June 2011. Russ Hull moved to approve the report as read, seconded by Jeff Hanson and the motion passed. Jason McKee moved to present the June bills to the Finance Committee, seconded by Ed Tholen and the motion passed. Finance Chairman Jason McKee reported expenditures of $9,067.76 in the General Fund, expenditures of $11,249.81in the Water Works Fund, and expenditures of $226.56 in the Motor Fuel Tax Fund. Total expenditures in all funds were $20,544.13. Jason McKee moved to pay all June bills in the usual manner, seconded by Jeff Hanson and the motion passed. Krystal reported she entered the 2011-2012 budget figures in the computer and they’re reflected in the reports she distributes.

Utilities Clerk Krystal Alberts reported the water bills have been mailed, and there are three delinquent accounts she is recommending water service be terminated. Krystal reviewed the history of each account explaining the amount of the current bill and that which is past due. On the account discussed at previous meetings where there was a water leak and the village forgave $199.54 on the last billing cycle, the delinquent amount is now $251.60. The current water bill is $97.10, so a total of $348.70 is due the village. Although this would not bring the account current, Krystal advised the owner he must pay $200 by July 29th or the service would be terminated. It was a consensus to terminate the water services on all three accounts, and if the fourth person has not paid the $200 by August 1st, the entire amount must be paid including the amount forgiven and his water service be terminated. This account has a history of always being delinquent.

Treasurer Krystal Alberts reported she had talked to Jeff Wadley from Wadley & Associates who had performed our audits in the past. Mr. Wadley informed Krystal their company is no longer auditing municipalities, and recommended Smith Koelling Dykstra & Ohm PC for our auditing needs. They are familiar with the requirements of village and municipality auditing and one of their employees used to work for Wadley & Associates. All information requested by Smith Koelling Dykstra & Ohm before they could give us a price quote was sent several weeks ago. President Heideman reported he received their quote but it was at the office. After discussion, Jeff Hanson moved to hire Smith Koelling Dykstra & Ohm PC as our auditors, seconded by Russ Hull and the motion passed. Trustee Jason McKee voted nay. The treasurer’s book for last fiscal year is at the new firm for auditing.

President Heideman brought the following before the board for discussion and/or action:

    -The annual Homecoming is next month and do we want the park      sprayed and pellets spread for mosquito abatement? Jason McKee      moved to have the treatments done, seconded by Ed Tholen and the      motion passed.

    -Attorney Mike Sabol drew up the necessary paperwork for a water      rates increase ordinance, but Joe Mikulecky had not been contacted      about the $10,000 yet and President Heideman wanted to wait until      he talked to Joe. The ordinance did not have to be passed tonight, so      no action was taken.

OLD BUSINESS
President Heideman reported on the following:

    -Attorney Mike Sabol asked what we wanted done with the part time      police ordinance. President Heideman advised him to base it off the      Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standard Board.

    -The part time deputy reviewed the list of unlicensed vehicles and now      names must be added to the addresses before letters can be written      to the offenders. When the letters are ready, they will be hand      delivered along with a copy of the ordinance.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
Trustee Russ Hull had no report.

Trustee Jeff Hanson had no report.

Trustee Jason McKee inquired (for informational purposes only) if the $6,400 the village has paid the Farnsworth Group in the last months is included in the loan application? Jason reported he and Ed Tholen attended the township meeting and presented the figures he had accumulated on a possible joint property purchase. The township members will discuss the matter, and Carl Sparenberg (multi township assessor) will try to get in the building to evaluate the assessment because he did not think it was worth the asking price.

Trustee Ed Tholen reported he also went to the township meeting and discussed two roads the village shares with the township. The township agreed to take over the roads, and Tyson Engineering is working on the paperwork for a jurisdictional transfer. The transfer must go to the county engineer first and then be passed by both the township board and the village board.

Trustee Russ Hull reported he talked with the person who offered the treatment lagoons to the village at no cost, and the person indicated he was willing to give the village another acre to build a third lagoon if it was necessary and if the village was interested.

President Heideman reported he received a letter from Tyson Engineering which stated we would be receiving a check in the amount of $3,144 from the State of Illinois. This is the second of five installments due the village. Due to the economic situation, the remaining installments should not be anticipated or appropriated until they are actually received during the next three years. The check should be deposited in the Motor Fuel Account to be used only on street maintenance.

As there was no further business to come before the board, Russ Hull moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:14 p.m., seconded by Ed Tholen and the motion passed.

The next scheduled regular meeting will be Monday August 1, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the village hall.

DONNA K. SCHMITZ
ASHKUM VILLAGE CLERK