South Central Reporter

Village of Stonington Board of Trustees met Oct. 5.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Trustees met in Regular Session at 7:00 p.m. at the Stonington Community Center.

The Meeting was called to order by President Bruce Dowdy with the following Members present:

Trustees: David Blakeman, via GoToMeeting; Nathan Rybolt, Tara Ramsey; Tammy Wilson, Andrew Callan, and Korey Bailey

Clerk: Jill Gilpin

Treasurer: Christine Lerch, via GoToMeeting

Superintendent: Jeff Tumiati

Village Engineer: Mark Bingham

Village Attorney: Scott Garwood (Absent)

Chief of Police: Travis Peden, via GoToMeeting

Officer Manager: Debbie Niles, via GoToMeeting

Zoning Officer: John LeVault

Others in attendance: Jake Heberling, Asst. Superintendent, via GoToMeeting; Rene Wattelet, Village Resident

Minutes of the regular meeting September 8, 2020 were presented to the Board for their approval. Motion made by Rybolt, seconded by Callan, that the minutes be approved and filed as presented. Motion passed by all “Yea” votes.

The Treasurer’s Report for the month of September was presented to the Board for their approval. Motion made by Bailey, seconded by Wilson, that the Treasurer’s Report be approved and filed as presented. Motion passed by all “Yea” votes.

The Gas Report for the month of September was presented to the Board for their approval. Motion made by Ramsey, seconded by Bailey, that the Gas Report be approved and filed as presented. Motion passed by all “Yea” votes.

The Water Report for the month of September was presented to the Board for their approval. Motion made by Callan, seconded by Wilson, that the Water Report be approved and filed as presented. Motion passed by all “Yea” votes.

The Sewer Report for the month of September was presented to the Board for their approval. Motion made by Bailey, seconded by Wilson, that the Sewer Report be approved and filed as presented. Motion passed by all “Yea” votes.

The Police Report for the month of September was presented to the Board for their approval. Motion made by Rybolt, seconded by Bailey, that the Police Report be approved and filed as presented. Motion passed by all “Yea” votes.

Bills against the Village were presented for the approval of the Board. Motion made by Wilson, seconded by Rybolt, to approve and issue warrants for all bills. Motion passed by all “Yea” votes.

Zoning Officer‘s Report: Zoning Officer LeVault issued one zoning permit in the month of September.

Permit # 766-20 to Nathan Frisch, located at 702 W North, for a fence and concrete pad.

President Dowdy asked for a motion to approve the Zoning Report for the month of September. Motion made by Callan, seconded by Bailey, to approve the Zoning report for the month of September. Motion passed by a 6-0 vote.

President’s Report: President Dowdy started the discussion regarding comp time. He would like a committee meeting to be set to figure out a plan for the employees. He suggested that if there has been any research done to bring the information to the committee meeting.

Trustee Wilson scheduled a Finance Committee meeting for Monday, October 19, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. at the Stonington Community Center. All employees are welcome to attend the meeting. President Dowdy stated that if employees have any suggestions to email them to him.

Trick-or-Treating will be still allowed on October 30th and October 31st. The hours for Trick-or-Treating were changed to 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. It was suggested by the CDC to wear gloves when handing out candy.

President Dowdy wanted to remind everyone that the curfew for the month of October is 9:00 p.m. for ages 16 and under.

President Dowdy welcomed Rene Wattelet. Mr. Wattelet voiced his concerns again from a year ago regarding the culvert by his home that goes under Route 48. Reminded the Board that the last time it rained he ended up having 16 inches of water in his front yard. He voiced his concern regarding the ditch across the street on Southwest Street by the tavern. He feels It has not had any maintenance done to it in years. It is full of weeds and questions how it would be able to drain when it is filling up with vegetation.

Superintendent Tumiati stated that there is a tile in the ditch on Southwest Street and the tile is sitting on top of the ground.

With regards to the culvert behind Mr. Wattelet’s home, Superintendent Tumiati stated that he had contacted Mr. Rosenthal, who is the Director for IDOT for Christian County, on October 30, 2019. Mr. Rosenthal had told him then that he would take care of the culvert. Superintendent Tumiati has since then contacted Mr. Rosenthal on a couple more occasions.

Trustee Rybolt asked if we had Mutual Aid Agreement with anyone that would be able to help in the cleaning of the ditch on Southwest Street.

Village Engineer: President Dowdy welcomed Engineer Mark Bingham to present his report. Engineer Bingham gave a brief update on the water project. The project is 70% complete and they will start putting out water service lines in the next couple weeks and it should be finished up by the next meeting and there will be a final pay request will be at the next board meeting.

Engineer Bingham requested the following disbursement requests for the water project:

Chastain & Associates, LLC ....................... $5,698.48

Petersburg Plumbing & Excavating, LLC... $37,285.42

President Dowdy asked for a motion to pay the requested disbursement of $5,698.48 for the engineering funds and requested disbursement of $37,285.42 to Petersburg Plumbing & Excavating, LLC for the water project. Motion made by Callan, seconded by Wilson, to pay the requested disbursement of $5,698.48 for the engineering funds and requested disbursement of $37,285.42 to Petersburg Plumbing & Excavating, LLC for the water project. Motion passed with a roll call vote that went as follows: Rybolt “Yea”; Bailey “Yea”; Tammy “Yea”; Andrew “Yea”; Ramsey “Yea”; Blakeman “Yea”. Motion passed with a 6-0 vote.

Engineer Bingham stated as the equipment starts coming in then there will be more pay requests.

He is working on a phosphate fee for the plant that was not approved in the loan project. A corrosion study was finished roughly 2 months ago to allow us to proceed. The permit application paperwork will be submitted to obtain the permit.

The middle 2 filter tanks rehabilitation were not eligible to be included in the IEPA loan. We can make the rehabilitation improvements with local funds. The water plant will be set up for the rehabilitation improvements at the end of the loan project. The permit application paperwork will be submitted to make these improvements towards the end of the loan project.

Village Attorney Report: Nothing to report.

Superintendent’s Report: The water town cleaning was done. The paint on top is getting thin so that will be repainted.

There is a big project south of town and we got easements free of charge to go across the property and the water main is dead set in the way of the drainage project and has to be lowered at least once. The parts and labor to lower it is $1400 and must be done in the next two weeks. We will shut that area down. The very first one south of Bayer must be lowered. The middle one is fine, but they are concerned with the south one that is going to Stonington Fertilizer.

Water plant chlorine alarm that was installed in 1994 and has gone out. The water plant has crashed, the alarm dialer is not working so there is no alarms. Also, the camera system has been down for two months and we are having problems getting that going. Parts are falling apart daily. They will try to do their best until the new system will be ready in the Spring/Summer.

WATER – The Water Report for July 29-August 25, 2020 billing period was presented. 

GAS – The Gas Report for July 29-August 25, 2020 billing period was presented. 

SEWER – The Sewer Report for July 29-August 25, 2020 billing period was presented.

Committee Reports: 

STREETS & ALLEYS: Trustee Ramsey checked out the portal that Debbie sent out for billing accounts and the portal seems to be user friendly.

And she wanted to report the streetlights by the 4-way stop on South County and West Street has been out for a while.

HEALTH & SAFETY – Nothing to report.

FINANCE – Nothing to report.

WATER – Nothing to report.

SEWER – Trustee Bailey reported that the streetlights are out at the southwest corner of 502 West 2nd Street.

GAS – Nothing to report.

President Dowdy set the date and time for the November Regular Meeting as Monday, November 2, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Village Hall.

With no further business coming before the Board, a motion was made by Rybolt, seconded by Callan, to adjourn the Meeting at 7:39 p.m. Motion passed by all “Yea” votes.

https://www.villageofstonington.com/documents/654/October_5_2020_minutes.pdf