Peoria Standard

Village of Somonauk Board of Trustees met Oct. 9.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

October 09, 2019 Board meeting

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

Minutes: 

MOTION: 

Trustee Conley moved to approve the minutes for the September 12, 2019. McMillen seconded the motion and the following voted: Eade-yes, Conley-yes, McMillen – and yes Grandgeorge-yes, Whiteaker –Absent, Nemcek-Button- Absent.

Motion Passed 

BILLS: 

Bills were presented in the amount of $103,727.58. Morphey reported included in the bill list is the Village IML Risk Management Insurance. This is for the yearly insurance bill for the Village and if paid early the Village saves $556.40. She would like the motion to include the approval for the insurance bill. Motion: Trustee Conley moved to approve the bills to October 09, 2019 in the amount of $103,727.58, with the approval of IML Risk Management Association proposal of $55,333.60 which is included in the total. Trustee McMillen seconded the motion and the following voted: Conley-yes, Eade-yes, McMillen- yes and Grandgeorge- yes.

Motion Passed Rhonda Nemcek Button entered the meeting at 6:35.

Communications: Grandgeorge asked if the board had any communications. With non, he proceeded to ask for a motion appoint Brian Severson as new board member to the board.

Motion: 

Conley moved to appoint Brian Severson to the board of Trustees for the unexpired term. Eade seconded the motion and the following Trustees voted: Conley-yes, Eade-yes, McMillen- yes, Nemcek- Button and Whiteaker- absent.

Motion Passed

He asked Severson to step forward and sworn him in as new board member. Severson took a place at the table.

Report of Officers: 

Police: Chief King reported he had been dealing with trailer sites to make sure they are in compliance. And working with the business in Imperial Marble to make sure they are in compliance. King also reported there had been testing with the new radio system at the school and different locations in the Village. It was working much better than before.

Water & Sewer Eipers reported there had been a EPA inspection. There were more logs that they needed to keep but nothing big. They also had to install a fuel spill area by the gas pumps. There was also a sewer plant energy audit with DeKalb County. They are waiting for the report of recommendation on that. 

Streets & Alleys:

Wasson was on vacation and his report was presented. As for the SRTS program he had received word that IDOT is supposed to be looking at doing work on RT 34 next year so that would mean that part of the work at the crossings could be done by IDOT rather that with the SRTS grant. That would allow more money to put toward the sidewalks in the Village. The Engineer is scheduled to go to a meeting on Oct. 18. He will contact Jeff after that. Grandgeorge expressed the need to paint the cross walk at Green St. and RT 34 as is is almost non existent.

Committee Reports:

Water & Sewer: Eade reported he had nothing to report from Water & Sewer.

Finance: 

Morphey presented the 2018-2019 Treasurers Report. Treasurer Mestemaker was in attendance to answer any questions and explain it needs to be published in a local paper by the end of October. Next month would be the Tax Levy

Motion: 

Conley moved to accept the 2018-2019 Treasurers Repot presented. Eade seconded the motion and the following Trustees voted: Conley-yes, Eade-yes, McMillen- yes, Nemck-Button-yes, Brian Severson- yes and Whiteaker-Absent.

Motion Passed Morphey asked for a motion to publish the repot in the local paper. Last year it was $800.00 to print the paper in the Valley Life would like a not to accede $1000.00.

Motion: Conley moved to publish the 2018-2019 Treasurers report in the Valley Life not to accede $1000.00. Eade seconded the motion and the following Trustees voted: Conley-yes, Eade-yes, McMillen- yes, Nemck-Button-yes, Brian Severson-yes and Whiteaker-Absent.

Motion Passed 

Grandgeorge thanked Mestemaker and Morphey for all the hard work on this

Laws & Ordinance: 

Morphey reported the PZC had held their required meeting and after discussion had pass the ordinance to move to the Village Board for vote. Grandgeorge questioned the yearly inspection and fee. Morphey stated this was in the draft she had presented for the last two meeting and nobody had any problems with it. She said the PZC had discussed this and decided to leave it in the ordinance at this point and see how the first year went. Nemcek-Button add that she felt that would be a good idea. Conley felt that restrictions were already in place if there were any violations. Grandgeorge agreed. It was decided to leave it in the ordinance at this point but to reevaluate this next September 2020. He was putting it in his phone to remember. Grandgeorge asked the audience if there were questions. One asked if it was the same as last month? Yes, was the answer they said there were no questions.

Motion: 

Conley moved to adopt ordinance 19-11 amending the Unified Development Ordinance relating to the keeping of Chicken. Nemcek-Button seconded the motion and the following Trustees voted: Conley-yes, Eade-yes, McMillen- yes, Nemcek-Button-yes, Brian Severson-yes and Whiteaker-Absent.

Motion Passed

Dispatch Ken/Com Village Attorney Eric Hanson addressed the board giving the time line of the events with Ken/Cm and DeKalb County Dispatch. He explained that several years ago DeKalb County had sent notice that they would be increasing the cost of dispatch by a very large amount, which caused Somonauk and other municipalities reason to look at other dispatch services. The Village signed a contract with Ken/Com in 2015 seeking dispatch services. The problem was that there was no direct line Ken/Com couldn’t preform Ali and Ani (data transfer). Ken/Com has the problem fixed and is now ready to take over dispatch for Somonauk. In the meantime, DeKalb County had reworked their original cost for the municipalities and it at this point is more reasonable. So at this point Somonauk does not wish to go with Ken/Com. It has been three and 1⁄2 years. However, Somonauk is in a 5-year contract and must give a 2 year notice to get out of the contract. The Village Attorney had given Ken/Com notice of termination July 2019 so this is in place regardless of what happens. Village Attorney had spoken to the Ill State Dispatch Coordinator and the decision to switch dispatching is not up to the state of Ken/Com or Somonauk it is up to DeKalb County 911. So this resolution will be presented to DeKalb County 911 and it is up to them if they will let Somonauk go or not. That will keep Somonauk out of the middle. Ken/Com has been sending the Village bills which he had asked them to stop until everything was settled.. 

Motion: 

Conley moved to adopt 19-12 Resolution Authorizing 9-1-1 calls Originating in the Village of Somonauk to be routed to Ken/Com Public Safety Dispatch for Call Processing and Dispatch Purposes.

Ordinance 19-13 Amending the Village of Somonauk Village Code by the addition of Chapter 1, Article D, imposing a Municipal Cannabis retailer’s occupation tax. This is if there were a cannabis shop to come to the Village, we would be able to charge a 3% tax for the village. This would be on top of the standard 6.25 at this point. Morphey stated she had attended a conference and it was stated that it would usually take a year before the municipality would receive any tax money so the sooner this is passed the sooner the Village would receive the tax, if a shop were to open. The PZC will be working on an ordinance this next month for the ability to have a cannabis shop.

Motion: 

Eade moved to adopt Ordinance 19-13 Amending the Village of Somonauk Village Code by the addition of Chapter 1, Article D, imposing a Municipal Cannabis retailer’s occupation tax. Conley seconded the motion and the following Trustees voted: Conley-yes, Eade-yes, McMillen- yes, Nemcek- Button-yes, Brian Severson-yes and Whiteaker-Absent.

Motion Passed

Employee Relations: 

Conley reported we had received a MOU from the Village Attorney. This is an agreement with DeKalb County Sherriff Dept. This give the County access to use the Village PD if there is a need because of being at the south end of the county. Village Attorney had wanted a sign in sheet but Village President Grandgeorge and Chief King did not think that was necessary as they have to report to the County when they stop. Motion: Motion: Conley moved to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with DeKalb County Sherriff Dept. Giving the County Sherriff Dept. the ability to use the Somonauk Police Department. Eade seconded the motion and the following Trustees voted: Conley-yes, Eade-yes, McMillen- yes, Nemcek-Button-yes, Brian Severson-yes and Whiteaker-Absent.

Motion Passed

Conley presented a quote for the Village Health Insurance. It is up for renewal a by December 1st. The existing insurance is going up about 8%. Morphey explained that this was a smaller amount that has been in the past. She feels we should keep this for the employees if possible. She has looked into other policies and the problem is that with so few employees we can’t get a group rate and we have to pay for the individuals age rate.

Motion: 

Conley moved to stay with the stay with Blue Cross Blue Shield through Crum Halstead for the same coverage at an increase cost of 8%. Eade seconded the motion and the following Trustees voted: Conley-yes, Eade-yes, McMillen- yes, Nemcek-Button-yes, Brian Severson-yes and Whiteaker-Absent.

Motion Passed Conley commented we have heard nothing from the Union we are supposed to be going to arbitration.

Streets & Alleys 

Nothing to report

Building and Grounds: 

Nothing to report 

Other Business:

Morphey mentioned the Community meeting to be held on Oct. 22, 2019 at the library. This pertains to the grant that has been applied for from DeKalb County Economic Development. She asked that they attend.

Adjournment

Motion: 

McMillen moved to adjourn. At 7:35 pm. Conley seconded the motion and the following trustees voted: Conley-yes, Eade-yes, McMillen- yes, Nemcek-Button-yes, Brian Severson-yes and Whiteaker-Absent.

Motion Passed

http://www.vil.somonauk.il.us/db/October%2009,2019%20board%20meeting.pdf