Village of Stonington Board of Trustees met March 1.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
The Board of Trustees met in Regular Session at 7:00 p.m. at the Village Hall in person and via GoToMeeting.
The Meeting was called to order by President Bruce Dowdy with the following Members present:
Trustees: David Blakeman, via GoToMeeting; Nathan Rybolt, via GoToMeeting; Tara Ramsey, Tammy Wilson, Andrew Callan, and Korey Bailey
Clerk: Jill Gilpin
Treasurer: Christine Lerch, via GoToMeeting
Superintendent: Jake Heberling
Village Engineer: Mark Bingham
Village Attorney: Scott Garwood (Absent)
Chief of Police: Travis Peden, via GoToMeeting
Officer Manager: Debbie Niles
Zoning Officer: John LeVault
Others in attendance: Kim Paisley, Breeze-Courier, via GoToMeeting
Minutes of the regular meeting February 1, 2021 were presented to the Board for their approval. Motion made by Blakeman, seconded by Bailey, that the minutes be approved and filed as presented. Motion passed by all “Yea” votes.
The Treasurer’s Report for the month of February was presented to the Board for their approval. Motion made by Wilson, seconded by Ramsey, that the Treasurer’s Report be approved and filed as presented. Motion passed by all “Yea” votes.
The Gas Report for the month of February was presented to the Board for their approval. Motion made by Bailey, seconded by Blakeman, that the Gas Report be approved and filed as presented. Motion passed by all “Yea” votes.
There was no Water Report for the month of February pending the gas report to get the Water Report finalized.
There was no Sewer Report for the month of February pending the gas report to get the Sewer Report finalized.
The Police Report for the month of February was presented to the Board for their approval. Motion made by Ramsey, seconded by Blakeman, 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 Callan, seconded by Bailey, to approve and issue warrants for all bills. Motion passed by all “Yea” votes.
Zoning Officer‘s Report: Zoning Officer LeVault issued no zoning permits in the month of February.
President’s Report: President Dowdy discussed the appointment of the Engineer for Motor Fuel allotment of $40,000.00 to be taken out of the Motor Fuel Tax for oil and chipping and road repairs. Engineer Bingham presented a map that shows where the oil and chip program will be used in the Village.
President Dowdy asked for a motion to allow $40,000.00 for the Motor Fuel Tax. Motion made by Wilson, seconded by Blakeman, for the Motor Fuel Tax. Motion passed with a 6-0 vote.
President Dowdy asked for a motion to approve Resolution 21-455. Motion by Blakeman, seconded by Ramsey, to approve Resolution 21-455, A Resolution for Maintenance Under the Illinois Highway Code. Motion passed with a 6-0 vote.
President Dowdy discussed the increase of water and sewer rates that are set up in the Municipal Code for an automatic 3% increase every year for equipment and material expenses. This is set up so every three years there is not a larger increase for these expenses. The Board agreed to the 3% increase of the water and sewer rates.
President Dowdy discussed the new Illinois law that requires police officers to wear a body camera. Officer Peden is looking into quotes for equipment. He received a quote from Digital-Ally for two units with a 5-year plan for $3,600 a year. A body camera would need to be purchased for year officer.
Officer Peden contacted the Illinois Standards and Training Board and found out there are no grants available at this time.
Village Engineer Report: Engineer Bingham handed out a spreadsheet of the water project expenses showing the breakdown of the expenses.
Engineer Bingham reported on the water project and presented a disbursement and pay request from Burdick Plumbing & Heating, Inc. Burdick Plumbing & Heating has delivered the tanks and the plumbing is being installed for the new filters.
Engineer Bingham requested the following disbursement requests for the water project:
Burdick Plumbing & Heating, Inc. ............ $171,378.00
Chastain & Associates, LLC ........................ $2,592.17
President Dowdy asked for a motion to pay the requested disbursements of $2,592.17 for the engineering costs and $171,378.00 for Burdick Plumbing & Heating, Inc. costs. Motion made by Callan, seconded by Blakeman, to pay the requested disbursements of $2,592.17 for the engineering costs and $171,378.00 for Burdick Plumbing & Heating, Inc. costs for the water project. Motion passed with 6-0 vote.
There are some items left to finish up with Petersburg Plumbing & Excavating, LLC. In looking at some of the items, if the Village can work on them the Village could get a credit for roughly $15,000 and the project can be closed out with them.
Engineer Bingham presented a handout of a liquid chlorine feed cost estimate. The plan was not to do anything with the chlorine feed. Currently the water plant has a gas chlorine feed. There were issues with it during the freeze a couple of lines froze up and lost the chlorine feed and there is not a working alarm system currently. Gas chlorine is odorless and dangerous to work with so switching from to a liquid chlorine feed is much safer. The cost of the liquid chlorine feed can possibly be incorporated into the loan. This is just Engineer Bingham’s budgetary number of $28,842.50 and is not a quote from a contractor.
The amount of the liquid chlorine feed cost would get rolled into the loan. Deducting the $15,000 credit from Petersburg Plumbing & Excavating, LLC, and deducting the replacement of the cabinets and furnace and the putting epoxy on the floor from the loan would allow for the cost of the liquid chlorine feed to be installed.
President Dowdy asked for a motion for Engineer Bingham to look further into the upgrade cost of the installation of a liquid chlorine feed. Motion made by Blakeman, seconded by Callan. Motion passed with a 6-0 vote.
Village Attorney Report: Nothing to report.
Superintendent’s Report: Superintendent Heberling reported the new employees have taken some tests and passed for mosquito spraying and general standards.
President Dowdy reported there has been some existing natural gas training with Jake and Allen. Superintendent Heberling is looking into gas training for the new employees so they would be able to be on call.
WATER – There was no Water Report presented.
GAS – There was no Gas Report presented.
SEWER – There was no Sewer Report presented.
Committee Reports:
STREETS & ALLEYS: Nothing to report.
HEALTH & SAFETY – Nothing to report.
FINANCE – Nothing to report.
WATER – Nothing to report.
SEWER – Trustee Bailey reported the new mower is almost ready.
GAS – Nothing to report.
Trustee Callan made a motion to move into Executive Session to discuss gas rates and a personnel change. Motion seconded by Wilson. The Board went into Executive Session at 7:50 p.m. to discuss gas rates and a personnel change.
President Dowdy asked for a motion to adjourn the Executive Session at 9:20 p.m. Motion by Blakeman, seconded by Callan, to adjourn the Executive Session.
The Board then returned to regular session.
There was a Finance Committee scheduled for March 15, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss insurance and payroll.
President Dowdy set the date and time for the April Regular Meeting as Monday, April 5, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Village Hall.
With no further business coming before the Board, a motion was made by Callan, seconded by Rybolt, to adjourn the Meeting at 9:21 p.m. Motion passed by all “Yea” votes.
https://www.villageofstonington.com/documents/654/March_1_2021.pdf
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