Peoria Standard

Village of Bellevue Board of Trustees met Aug. 23.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

I. CALL TO ORDER

The Village of Bellevue Mayor called the Village of Bellevue meeting to order at the Village Hall. He indicated that an audio tape recording was made of all discussions during the Regular Session.

The Meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.

II. ROLL CALL

Mayor Merriman asked for Roll Call Attendance to be taken by Mrs. Pesch.

Present: Trustee Aaron Lannert, Trustee Judith Wight, Trustee Martin Schuettler, Trustee Sandra Cooper, Trustee Leroy Wiseman, Trustee Ross Pesch

Absent:

Also in Attendance: Mayor Dean Merriman; Attorney Lane Alster; Steve Wilson, Village Public Works; Matthew Raible, Village Zoning Officer; Susan Pesch, Village Clerk; Village Resident Desirae Tannhauser; Village Resident Paul Eichhorn; Village Resident Amy Eichhorn; Village Resident Jason Eichhorn; Village Business Owner Tim Menefee; Deputy Sheriff Winder; Patrick Meyer, Civil Engineer

III. ACTION ITEMS

A. Trustee Wiseman moved to approve the Regular Session Minutes held on August 9, 2022. Trustee Wight seconded the motion. There was no further discussion.

Voice Vote: All Ayes

Motion Passed

B. Trustee Lannert moved to approve the Bills for August 23, 2022. Trustee Schuettler seconded the motion. Mrs. Pesch informed Board members that Mrs. Noel added deposits and a couple of bills. Copies would be provided at the next Board meeting.

Roll Call Vote: Ayes: 6

Nays: 0

Motion Passed

IV. PRESENTATION FROM THE AUDIENCE

Mayor Merriman thanked the visitors in attendance and gave them an opportunity to address the Village Board.

Village Resident Desirae Tannhauser informed Board members that her son has been in a wheelchair for the last 3 to 4 years. She expressed concerns with residents passing the bus with the stop arm out while the bus driver is picking up her son. This is a bus specific for picking up her son in a wheelchair. Several residents continually drive around the bus while the bus is stopped with the stop arm out and lights flashing. Ms. Tannhauser inquired about a caution sign. She has video taped residents disregarding the stop arm and passing the bus illegally. The Peoria County Sheriff’s Department has been called in regards to this situation. Homeowners have shown pictures and videos to the Deputy on duty during the day. Mayor Merriman stated that he would check into this. Trustee Cooper commented that she was glad that Ms. Tannhauser attended the meeting to bring it to the attention of the Board members.

Mayor Merriman informed Board members that Pat Meyer was attending to discuss the drainage issues in the Hamptons Crossing. Mr. Meyer stated that he has been a Civil Engineer and doing Bellevue’s NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) for many years. We do the work to make sure that Municipalities are in compliance with the NPDES. Steve asked me to come out in the spring in regards to a certain retention pond. Every 5 years, we work with the EPA to make sure that all of the retention ponds are functioning. In a nutshell, a retention pond is supposed to capture water. Retention ponds grab the water and release it at a natural rate as if the land was not developed. The retention pond in the Hamptons Crossing is overgrown and highly eroded. That erosion goes into the nearby drainage way into Kickapoo Creek, and then into the Illinois River. This is exactly what the EPA does not want to happen. When Steve signs off each year, it is our duty to make sure that we are complying with what we said that we are doing with the EPA. Mayor Merriman asked Mr. Meyer who would be responsible for the retention ponds. Mr. Meyer stated that the homeowner and the Village of Bellevue are responsible. Mayor Merriman commented that he wanted clarification. Mr. Meyer said that there is a clause in the permit itself and fines can begin at $50,000 for the Municipality and the homeowner and jail time. Attorney Alster responded that for clarification, the duty of the Village is not to clean it up, but to continue to enforce it. The owner of this particular lot that we are talking about, is a common area in the subdivision, and should have been maintained by the HOA. The property owner has the responsibility to clean it up. The Village of Bellevue’s obligation is to take action to get the property owner to clean it up. Mr. Meyer stated that public retention ponds are the responsibility of the Municipality, but in this case, the private retention pond that was to belong to the subdivision is their responsibility for the improvements. Attorney Alster stated that with this particular situation, it has been the Board’s concern. We have tried a couple of different options. Mr. Wilson stated that we have tried several actions and now it is time for the Village to send her a letter, or create the HOA. Mr. Meyer stated that with any new development with a retention pond, especially a subdivision, the major issues become, who owns it, who maintains it, and who is responsible for fixing it. Mayor Merriman stated that the previous owner bought it for back taxes. The rest of the subdivision has voiced concerns that they do not want the HOA even though we have offered to use ARPA funds to bring the retention ponds into compliance. They are like, it is not our deal, it is her deal. This is the attitude we are getting. Mr. Meyer said that there is a mix of things going on. In the end, the retention pond serves the entire subdivision. A special assessment might be in order. This property is on Denver Ct. Mayor Merriman stated that they only need three homeowners to form the HOA in the Hamptons Crossing. Mr. Meyer stated that it is in the Village of Bellevue’s best interest to be on the right side of the EPA. They have our trust. We have their trust to do the right thing and be in compliance. Mr. Meyer informed Board members that he cannot consciously let this slide by without notifying the EPA.

Attorney Alster commented that the Village needs to send the homeowner the letter and also send the copy to the EPA. We need to let the EPA know that the Village is taking action by sending a letter. We cannot wait any longer and will not wait two months. Mr. Meyer stated that the Village of Bellevue adopted an ordinance that allows the property owner to be fined. The EPA would back the Village of Bellevue. Mayor Merriman thanked Mr. Meyer for attending the meeting.

Village Resident Amy Eichhorn informed Board members that she was there with her husband and son to address concerns of the robberies and automobile theft in the Village of Bellevue. She stated that they were awakened at 3:00 a.m. one day last week and had three vehicles outside of their home. Individuals were going through her son’s truck. Her son confronted the individuals. They took off in the truck with her son on the vehicle. They called 911 and the response time was 15 minutes. It was a dangerous situation. The police did not take prints from their vehicle. Mrs. Eichhorn stated that as a community, they are trying to understand why the Village of Bellevue pays $11,000 per month to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department. As a Village Board, we should expect more than 8 hours of patrolling per day. Mayor Merriman commented that a Deputy is on duty from 3:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. daily. Village Resident Jason Eichhorn explained that when he fell off of his truck, the robbers told him that they were going to shoot him. Jason stated that he ran to hide in the brush and called 911. The response time was 11 minutes to reach him in the brush. Mrs. Eichhorn stated that she sent in a FOIA request to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department. She suggested that the Sheriff’s Department split up the shift. Mr. Eichhorn asked if this is the normal response time and procedure. Deputy Winder commented that crime scenes are processed based on command decisions. The incoming calls go through the Peoria County Dispatch System. There have been several car burglaries in the Peoria area. Mr. Menefee stated that Dispatch has no connection to the Sheriff’s Department. Dispatch is creating safety issues for the officers.

V. NON-AGENDA BUSINESS BY BOARD MEMBERS AND VILLAGE EMPLOYEES

Mayor Merriman asked if there was any non-agenda business to be brought before the Board from either Village Trustees or the Village Employees.

Mrs. Noel informed Board members that there was not a Board meeting for three weeks. It was necessary to pay a few extra bills that came in so they would not be late.

Board members discussed the situation with having a Deputy in the Village and receiving better service from the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department. The contract comes due shortly. The Village has been told that if they do not pay for the monthly service, the response time will be longer for calls. Police protection could be transferred to the late shift. The Village of Bellevue should be able to negotiate the contract. Negotiations with the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department will be held in the open meeting.

VI. INFORMATION / DISCUSSION ITEMS

A. Position - Village Treasurer-Trustee Wiseman informed Board members that Theresa came in to help the Village when they needed her the most. We are losing good people. Mrs. Noel commented that it has been very stressful for her. It is not the money. She appreciates all of the Board members, but works three jobs. This particular job is stressful. She stated dealing with things from the past with the IRS. Mrs. Noel said that she hopes that someone can step in. She would give it another month. Mrs. Noel commented that she did not have experience coming into this position and has a lot of things going on in her personal life. Mr. Wilson stated that it has been better than before. Mayor Merriman informed Board members that they could advertise for the position.

B. Next Village of Bellevue Meeting – September 13, 2022

Item not on the Agenda.

Trustee Lannert made a motion to advertise for the Treasurer position. Trustee Cooper seconded the motion. Mrs. Pesch stated that she would check into the cost and place the ad.

Roll Call Vote: Ayes: 6

Nays: 0

Motion Passed

VII. ADJOURNMENT

Mayor Merriman asked for a motion to adjourn. Trustee Lannert moved to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Pesch seconded the motion. There was no further discussion. Voice Vote: All Ayes

Motion Passed

MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:12 p.m.

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