VILLAGE OF ASHKUM
MINUTES OF BOARD MEETING
SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

The Ashkum Village Board met Tuesday, September 20, 2011 @ the village hall. Present were Paul Heideman, Donna Schmitz, Jason McKee, Jeff Hanson, Russ Hull, and April Lyons. Treasurer Krystal Alberts and Joe Mikulecky from the Farnsworth Group were also present. Trustees Ed Tholen and Jeremy Beherns were not in attendance.

President Heideman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Clerk Donna Schmitz read the minutes of the September 6, 2011 meeting. April Lyons moved to approve the minutes as read, seconded by Jason McKee and the motion passed.

NEW BUSINESS/VISITORS,
President Heideman recognized Joe Mikulecky from the Farnsworth Group who was present to report the village was approved for the IEPA loan to paint the water tower. Joe distributed copies of the loan for review and noted signatures of the village president and clerk were required on the notice of intent, notice of award, and notice to proceed with the project. President Heideman reported he received the loan paperwork from IEPA and faxed a copy to our village attorney for his legal opinion but had not heard from him. The deadline to get all of the required paperwork to IEPA is October 15th. Mr. Mikulecky reported the job could get started in March and the final date of completion would be July 11th. Joe also reported paperwork on the grant to replace the water meters has been sent in but price estimates are needed before the loan is granted. He was advised we had two vendors give presentations and price estimates at previous meetings. Jeff Hanson moved to have President Heideman sign the IEPA contracts, seconded by April Lyons and the motion passed.

President Heideman distributed copies of the ordinance amending water usage rates for review and discussion. This is one the requirements we must meet before we can receive any of the IEPA loan funding. Russ Hull moved to approve Ordinance 2011-06 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE WATER USAGE RATES AND CHARGES UNDER THE VILLAGE’S CODE 8-1-3B, seconded by Jeff Hanson and the motion passed by a roll call vote: Lyons, aye; Hull, aye; Hanson, aye; McKee, aye. Trustees Beherns and Tholen were not in attendance. The water rate increase will go into effect on the January 2012 billing cycle.

President Heideman recognized treasurer Krystal Alberts who gave the treasurer’s report for August 2011. Jeff Hanson moved to approve the report as read, seconded by April Lyons and the motion passed.

President Heideman reminded the board the loan on the water filtration system is due in October. The amount to be paid is $30,000 on the principle and $12,000 in interest. The Water Works Fund currently has a balance of $21,420.32. Discussion followed regarding transfers needing to be made in order to make the payment. Finance Chairman Jason McKee reported we budgeted $25,000 to transfer from General Fund to the Water Works Fund for the loan payment. Treasurer Alberts reported we have a General Fund CD due September 30th and we could cash part of it in. Another alternative would be to take money from the General Fund Money Market because the interest paid is minimal and we would not be penalized if we took money from it. Jason McKee moved to take $10,000 from the General Fund Money Market (leaving the CD to roll over) and transfer the $25,000 budgeted in the General Fund for the payment, seconded by Russ Hull and the motion passed.

Jason McKee moved to present the bills to the Finance Committee seconded by Jeff Hanson and the motion passed. Finance Chairman Jason McKee reported expenditures of $6,426.25 in the General Fund; expenditures of $14,950.96 in the Water Works Fund; and expenditures of $22,439.11 in the Motor Fuel Tax Fund. The total expenditures in all funds were $43,816.32. Jason McKee moved to pay all August bills in the usual manner, seconded by Russ Hull and the motion passed.

At this point, Treasurer Alberts advised Jason the $10,000 the board just transferred from the General Fund Money Market for the loan payment would not be enough because the money to pay the $14,950.96 in expenditures in the Water Works Fund has not been transferred yet. Krystal reported she never transfers the money until the board approves her report. Jason did not understand why this was not mentioned when the loan payment was being discussed and in frustration left the meeting. When Jason left, there was no longer a quorum, no further business could be conducted and so members dispersed at 8:17 pm.

The next scheduled regular meeting will be Monday October 3, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the village hall.

DONNA K. SCHMITZ
ASHKUM VILLAGE CLERK