Peoria Standard

Village of Somonauk Board of Trustees met Aug. 14.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Village President Grandgeorge called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Attending: Trustees: Conley, Eade, McMillen. Whiteaker- Absent

Minutes:

MOTION:

Trustee Eade moved to approve the minutes for the July 11, 2019. Conley seconded the motion and the following voted: Eade-yes, Conley-yes, McMillen –yes Grandgeorge-yes, Whiteaker - absent

Motion Passed

BILLS:

Bills were presented in the amount of $68,394.33. Morphey reported it was a pretty normal bill run. The Auditors bill for $10,400.00 was listed in the bill list.

Motion:

Trustee Eade moved to approve the bills to August 14, 2019 in the amount of $68,394.33. Trustee Mike seconded the motion and the following voted: Conley-yes, Eade-yes, McMillen- yes, Grandgeorge – yes, and Whiteaker- absent.

Motion Passed

Communications:

Grandgeorge stated that he had met with several people who are interested in the trustee position. He is hoping to appoint one in September and one in October. Eade stated he had a potential person interested also.

Report of Officers:

Police:

Chief King presented his report for review and reported he had been training several part-timers. One of the part-timers is interested in the full time position the Village will have after Officer Gagner leaves. He has completed EOP Emergency Operations Plan. He had met with the Fire Department and made changes and met with Trustee Conley.

Water & Sewer

Eiper reported there had been 2 leaks that needed to be taken care of. A water leak on Dorothy and a hydrant leak on East St. He had not had a chance to talk to Alex Marshall about the drainage behind Magnuson Lane. HR Green was looking at the drainage near Illowa Farms.

Streets & Alleys:

Wasson presented his report and added that he been trimming the trees by stop signs and in the areas where they were designated. He also been taking pictures of all the areas that will be address in the SERTS grant and had sent them to HR GREEN.

Committee Reports:

Water & Sewer: Eade reported he had nothing for Water & Sewer.

Finance:

Audit:

Brian Zabel was in attendance to present the Audit for Fiscal year 2018-2019. He reported the Village finances were in good shape and fiscally sound. The Village was able to have a small surplus. The revenues and expenses were kept in line. The next financial report would be the tax levy which is due by December. He would like to discuss a few options with Becky and Denise before then.

Motion:

Conley moved to accept the Audit for the fiscal year 2018-2019. Eade seconded the motion and the following Trustees voted: Conley-yes, Eade-yes, McMillen- yes, Grandgoeorge -yes and Whiteaker-Absent.

Motion Passed

Allen Stevens:

Morphey presented a sheet showing expenses for the removal of the house on 230 S. Cherry St. (Allen Steven’s house) in the amount of $22,935.68. Listed on the sheet were also the revenues brought in for the sale of the lot and the auction revenue in the amount of $28,870.66 leaving the difference of $5844.98. The intent was to return the excess to Allen.

Motion:

Conley moved to issue a check to Allen Steven’s in the amount of $5844.98 for the difference between the revenues and expenses of his house on 230 S. Cherry St. Eade seconded the motion and the following Trustees voted: Conley-yes, Eade-yes, McMillen- yes, Grandgoeorge -yes and Whiteaker-Absent.

Motion Passed

Laws& Ordinance:

Shawn Ajazi was in attendance to present this year’s aggregation contract. AEP Energy Inc. is the lowest provider this year, the cost will be 6.39 and will be a savings of about $80.00 for each resident enrolled in the program. Letters will be sent to the residents and they will have the opportunity to stay in or opt out of the program. Morphey asked if he had talked to NEXAMP about the proposed solar farm. Ajazi he had talked to them and they will be working together.

Motion:

Conley moved to adopt ordinance 19-10 Electrical Aggregation Renewal with AEP Energy Inc. for one year. Eade seconded the notion and the following trustees voted: Conley-yes, Eade-yes, McMillen- yes, Grandgoeorge -yes and Whiteaker-Absent.

Motion Passed

Morphey presented a motion for the extension of the special use for NEXAMP. They had applied for a special use in 2018 for 1167 Somonauk Rd. parcels 18-28-360-007 and 18-28-451-002 and been approved it was approaching a year and they would like to have an extension for another year.

Motion:

Eade moved to extend NEXAMP their special use to 1167 Somonauk RD. parcels 18-28-360- 007 and 18-28-451-002 until August 2020. Conley seconded the motion and the following voted: Conley-yes, Eade-yes, McMillen- yes, Grandgoeorge -yes and Whiteaker-Absent.

Motion Passed

Update on Backyard Chickens Ordinance:

Morphey stated that she had working on the ordinance with the Village Attorney but the Attorney’s mother had passed away so it was not finished. She presented a list of requirement that they were considering.

Work in progress: Working on permit application: Below are some of the requirements they are considering:

Yearly permit No roosters

4 chickens per permit

Permit price between $85.00 to 95.00

30 ft. from neighbors house 10 ft. off lot lines copy of plat showing distance

Shelter and chickens placed only in back yard only. Hens shall be kept in the enclosure and fenced at all times. Electrical –Indicate location of light, switch, GFCI outlet and proposed heat source

No extension cords No slaughtering of chickens

Hens shall be provided cover inside enclosure and adjacent outside fenced area

Shelter not to exceed 144 sq. ft.

Outside space area shall be no less than 32 sq. ft.

Foundation is not required but, you need to indicate what the shelter will be resting on. And how the shelter will be anchored to the ground

All enclosures shall be constructed and maintained in a manner to be free of rodent infestation Fine for not applying for permit

Yearly permit

Hopefully the ordinance will be completed next month

Employee Relations:

Conley reported we had received a resignation from Andrew Gagner. He has excepted a job offer in the City of Sandwich.

Motion:

Conley moved to accept Andrew Gagner’s resignation effective 08/11/2019. Eade seconded the motion and the following voted: Conley-yes, Eade-yes, McMillen- yes, Grandgoeorge -yes and Whiteaker-Absent.

Motion Passed

EOP:

Conley presented the EOP Emergency Operation Plan. He had reviewed and other than a few wording changes he feels it is expectable.

Conley moved to accept the EOP Emergency Operation Plan McMillen seconded the motion and the following voted: Conley-yes, Eade-yes, McMillen- yes, Grandgoeorge -yes and Whiteaker- Absent.

Motion Passed

Conley reported we had not receive the MOU from the Village Attorney. This will be an agreement with DeKalb County Sheriff to allow them to use the PD if they are in need while they are at this end of the County.

Conley reported the Union had rejected our final offer and suggested we go back the January 2019 offer. The committee felt they had fairly negotiated and the group had excepted the offer and then changed their mind the next day. So we will probably be going to arbitration.

Street & Alley’s

McMillen presented the 2019 Street Program (NON MFT) for North St and Green St and Rt 34. This is finishing North St from the looping project and also addressing the problem at RT. 34 and Green St.

Motion:

McMillen moved to award the 2019 NON MFT Street Improvement Program contract to Curran Contracting Company, in the amount of $121, 977.66, provided that no protests have been made within 8 days, and authorized the Village President and Clerk to execute the contract documents and all other forms required during the course of the project.

Conley seconded the motion the following trustees voted: Conley-yes, Eade-yes, McMillen- yes and Grandgeorge – yes. Whiteaker- Absent.

Motion Passed

Parking at RT 35 and Green St.

Chief King presented a photo of the corner of RT 34 and Green St. He explained that this had been a problem for some time. He receives multiple complaints about the visibility of the corner. He would like to suggest blocking off 3 car spaces. He had spoken to Mr. Schrader the owner of the building and he was fine with it. Conley expressed concerns taking any more public parking. Grandgeorge was in agreement with Conley. They would like it coned off so the board could see exactly what the area would be. King agreed he would work with Wasson to cone off two parking places to see what the board thought. He will have that done by next week and leave it for a few days. They will decide by next month.

As a FYI Morphey introduced the MFT Audit that the Village had gone through. It showed everything was in order.

McMillen presented 2 estimates from Stephen’s Tree Service in the total amount of $4470.00 to remove and or trim the following trees: 225 S. Sycamore, 335 W. Washington St. 230 S. Cherry St. (320 W. Washington) in the Village.

Motion:

McMillen moved to accept the 2 estimate from Stephen’s Tree Service for a total of $4470.00 to remove and trim the trees listed 320 W.Washington St, 225 S. Sycamore, 335 W. Washington St. Conley seconded the motion the following voted: Conley-yes, Eade-yes, McMillen- yes and Grandgeorge – yes Whiteaker- Absent.

Motion Passed

Building and Grounds:

No report

Other Business:

No other business

Motion:

McMillen moved to adjourn. Conley seconded the motion and the following trustees voted: Conley-yes, Eade-yes, McMillen- yes, Grandgeorge-yes. Whiteaker- Absent

Motion Passed

Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 7:28pm

http://www.vil.somonauk.il.us/db/August%2014,2019%20board%20meeting-2.pdf