The village of Bethalto Board of Trustees met Sept. 6 to accept the resignation of the Assistant Fire Chief.
Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the board:
The Village Board of Trustees met on the above date in the Council Room at Village Hall in a regular meeting called to order by Mayor Winslow at 7:15 p.m. The meeting opened with the “Pledge of Allegiance”. Roll call was taken by Village Clerk Sue Lowrance. Present: Trustees Bourland, Withers, Mull, Bost, Dugger, McRae and Mayor Winslow. Also present: Police Chief Gregg Smock, Public Works Director Rod Cheatham, Village Treasurer Joe Schoppet, Village Attorney Ken Balsters, Fire Chief Alex Campbell, and Zoning Administrator Tim Brown.
Motion made by Withers, seconded by Mull, to approve village board minutes of August 1, 2016 as printed. All members voted aye viva voce. Motion carried 6-0.
Motion made by Bourland, seconded by Bost, to approve village special board meeting minutes of August 22, 2016 as printed. All members voted aye viva voce. Motion carried 6-0.
REPORTS FROM DEPARTMENTAL SUPERVISORS:
Fire Chief Alex Campbell reviewed the statistical report for the month of August, noting 85 runs with no fire losses, bringing the yearly run total to 723. There were 2 calls that went unanswered. We are now an ALS Paramedic Engine Service, and can provide backup service to Edwardsville as needed. Asst. Chief Nick O’Dell has left the department to pursue a full-time career at the Edwardsville Fire Department. Vehicles 2250 and 2292 are permanently out of service due to extensive repairs needed. Homecoming was a success, with early estimates showing the third highest ticket sales in the last ten years. There were no questions.
Police Chief Smock: The monthly activity report was presented with no questions. Smock agreed that the Homecoming was a success, as there were zero police calls.
Public Works Director Cheatham announced that Unit 8 is now responsible for caretaking at SC1 since school is back in session. This frees up 2-3 people for other duties. Pool restrooms are being completed, and grass mowing continues. In the Street Department, sidewalk repairs are being completed and oil & chip will be finished up this month. Sweeping of areas previously oiled & chipped is also being completed. In the Water & Sewer Department, camera work will begin on September 19, with 2 men on jetting lines and 2 men on the camera system. This will allow crews to determine priority areas for lining. The lining proposal is ready to bid. The Fairway lift station went down on August 30, indicating that infiltration behind Leisure World is getting worse. Cheatham is working with Juneau & Associates on the GIS system. 18 department work orders have been retired during the month. The Village is in desperate need of dirt, and Cheatham offered Village trucks and labor to haul away any dirt that can be donated by local contractors. Storm water issues continue to be addressed, with discussions with airport management for possible retention areas to be added, along with conversations with Kutter-Aljets and cemetery owners for other possible remedies. Engineers are working on potential solutions and owners are cooperating. There were no questions.
GUESTS/PUBLIC COMMENT:
Resident Denise Farrell of 9 Michael Court was in attendance to express further concerns over water damage issues at her residence. Ms. Farrell expressed concern over the Kutter-Aljets Place detention pond not being built as designed, and stated that the Village should step up and take care of the matter since it is also neglect on the Village’s part. She further expressed concern over several items that she filed FOIA requests for that “cannot be located”. She stated that the previous Zoning Administrator should have had these documents and that the Village should also be held responsible for them being “missing”. Farrell has done significant repairs and updates to her home in an effort to prevent continued flooding, all of which she feels were unnecessary as her home continues to flood. Farrell stated that she was assured that the creek behind her house would be cleared annually, and that it had only been done once. She noted that creek erosion is bad, and the topography is changing due to the flow of the water in the creek. She believes the Village has shown neglect and no follow-through. The Village’s engineer should have checked on the pond when it was constructed, and the builder is still being allowed to build. She feels that all construction should cease until an engineer verifies that the pond is as designed. Mayor Winslow stated that the engineering report should be completed by the middle of the month, and any formal sanctions would follow review by the Plan Commission. Ms. Farrell requested a copy of the report when it is available.
Chris Carter, 209 Dorothy Street, addressed the board over issues he’s had with a building permit for 731 Dugger Street which was signed off on by former Zoning Administrator Rich Mersinger. Mr. Carter stated that he has approximately $20,000 in cash and $30,000 in personal labor spent on a home that is now uninhabitable because of a failing foundation and other issues, all of which were both directed and OK’d by Mersinger on the building permit. The matter has been turned over to the Village’s liability insurance carrier for investigation, and Carter stated he believes he is getting the runaround from the insurance company. Trustee McRae asked what issues the home has; Carter replied that the foundation wasn’t done to code and thus the entire home is uninhabitable. Carter said that Mersinger had given him direction on how to proceed and asked him only to go through him on the inspections. Mersinger signed off on the permit at all inspections. Current Building Inspector Lee Friedel and Plumbing Inspector Greg Fowler both found issues with the dwelling upon further inspection after Mersinger’s departure from the Village. Carter stated that he would like to request that the Village pay him $18,315 for which he has receipts, and he will negotiate with the insurance company on the labor costs. Carter said that this has taken a toll on him physically and emotionally as well. Carter further stated that he received estimates of $6230 to demolish the house, and $40,000 to raise it for a new foundation. Mayor Winslow told Carter that the board will take it under advisement and that he would personally contact Carter to follow up.
RESOLUTIONS
Resolution 2016-10 A Resolution in Support of Preserving Mississippian Mounds Culture –Cahokia Mounds was presented by Mayor Winslow. This is to show local support to designate Cahokia Mounds as a National Park. This is no cost to the Village, simply an endorsement. Motion made by Bost, seconded by Mull, to approve Resolution 2016-10 A Resolution in Support of Preserving Mississippian Mounds Culture-Cahokia Mounds. Trustees Bourland, Withers, Mull, Bost, Dugger and McRae voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
Resolution 2016-11 A Resolution Declaring 514 B Street as Unsafe and Dangerous and Authorizing the Village to Demolish Same was presented by Zoning Administrator Tim Brown. This is a property that has been neglected by the homeowners and has major structural issues. The utilities have all been turned off and the dwelling boarded up. Motion made by Bourland, seconded by McRae, to approve Resolution 2016-11 A Resolution Declaring 514 B Street as Unsafe and Dangerous and Authorizing the Village to Demolish Same. Trustees Bourland, Withers, Mull, Bost, Dugger and McRae voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
Resolutions 2016-12 and 2016-13 Resolutions Authorizing Rates and Charges with Alton and Subjurisdictions for Wastewater Treatment Costs were tabled due to further research being needed on discrepancies in meter readings. Juneau & Associates will be meeting with Alton for further verification of calculations, since there is a discrepancy of 61 million gallons between Alton’s figures and ours. Attorney Balsters stated that the resolutions could be approved contingent on the verified, updated meter readings, but the consensus was to table them both until a special meeting which will be held later in the month. It was noted that time is of the essence since the new rates should have gone into effect September 1.
ORDINANCES
Ordinance 2016-09 An Ordinance Authorizing Sale of Items of Personal Property Owned by the Village of Bethalto was presented. This authorizes the Village to sell at auction any items no longer useful to Village operations. Each department provided an inventory list. Once approved, Mayor Winslow will set a date and time for the sale with a local auction service. Motion made by Mull, seconded by Dugger, to approve Ordinance 2016-09 An Ordinance Authorizing Sale of Items of Personal Property Owned by the Village of Bethalto. Trustees Bourland, Withers, Mull, Bost, Dugger and McRae voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
REPORTS FROM THE MAYOR:
No action has been taken on the fire department equipment bids.
There is no update on the potential sale of property to Anderson Hospital.
The Village received notification from the State of Illinois that Illinois Route 140 from Bellwood/Route 111 to Prairie Street has been designated as LCpl Kenneth Corzine Memorial Drive, and signs will be posted.
Bids were received for repainting the Mine Street water tower. This will require minimal blasting, and the tower will be cleaned and paint rolled on to minimize overspray. The lowest bid was from TriKote at $117,000 which was well under the $180,000 estimate. Motion made by Withers, seconded by Bost, to accept the bid of TriKote for painting the Mine Street Water Tower. Trustees Bourland, Withers, Mull, Bost, Dugger and McRae voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
Assistant Fire Chief Nick O’Dell has submitted his resignation due to being hired full time at the Edwardsville Fire Department. The Fire Department board has recommended Tim Brown for promotion to Asst. Chief. Motion made by Mull, seconded by Withers, to approve the appointment of Tim Brown to Assistant Fire Chief for the Bethalto Volunteer Fire Department. Trustees Bourland, Withers, Mull, Bost, Dugger and McRae voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
OSLAD funding has been appropriated by the State, meaning that the Village is in line to receive the $400,000 grant for Sports Complex II once the concession stand is completed. The estimated cost of the concession stand is $280,000.
There will be a September 11 Remembrance Ceremony at the High School on Thursday, September 8 beginning at 7:30pm.
Mayor Winslow thanked everyone who worked to clean up the Arboretum over the past few weekends and stated he has received many compliments. He also noted the number of homes adorned by blue ribbons to honor our police officers for Blue Ribbon Weekend.
MONTHLY ZONING ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:
Zoning Administrator Brown presented the monthly report with no questions. It has been a slow month with a few garage and roofing permits issued. There have been many property maintenance complaints and a few code enforcement issues. 448 Park is in the process of being demolished and rebuilt from the fire. The Village will now move forward with the demolition of 514 B Street, and is waiting to hear from the county on 10 & 14 MacArthur. The Village has contracted with an outside vendor for updating our building codes as discussed last month.
MONTHLY TREASURER’S REPORT:
Treasurer Schoppet presented the July Treasurer’s Report and reviewed some of the account figures and profit & loss statements. There was a transfer made to cover the negative balance in the TIF Fund. Schoppet noted that the July report means we are approximately 25% through the Fiscal Year, meaning that 25% is the benchmark for revenues and expenses on the report. Most funds are within that threshold with a few items to investigate. Schoppet noted that a few permit fees need to be reclassified due to building permits now being broken down by type. There were no questions. Mayor Winslow noted that the bills are high this month and will put the Village in a cash crunch for a couple of weeks, but that tax revenue should come in before the end of the month. He recommended that capital spending be kept at a minimum until then. Motion made by Bourland, seconded by Mull, to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the month of July, 2016. Trustees Bourland, Withers, Mull, Bost, Dugger and McRae voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
A special board meeting will likely be held on September 19; details and an agenda will be announced. Trustee McRae stated that he had met a 12-year-old resident at an event who expressed concern over the status of the Methodist Church building on Prairie Street. Mayor Winslow said that he had met with the new Pastor of the church who said the church board was supposed to be meeting to discuss the plans. Winslow has not heard back from him. McRae noted that it is past time to put a timeline in place for the project.
WATER DEPARTMENT BILLS
Motion by Withers, seconded by Mull, authorizing payment of the Water Department bills in the amount of $168,217.06. Trustees Bourland, Withers, Mull, Bost, Dugger and McRae voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
GENERAL FUND
Motion by Bourland, seconded by Dugger, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $202,147.65. Trustees Bourland, Withers, Mull, Bost, Dugger and McRae voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
ESDA FUND
Motion by Mull, seconded by Bost, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $3,499.44. Trustees Bourland, Withers, Mull, Bost, Dugger and McRae voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
MFT FUND
Motion by Withers, seconded by Bourland, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $73,975.70. Trustees Bourland, Withers, Mull, Bost, Dugger and McRae voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
GARBAGE FUND
Motion by Mull, seconded Dugger, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $49,573.53. Trustees Bourland, Withers, Mull, Bost, Dugger and McRae voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
TIF FUND
Motion by Mull, seconded by Bourland, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $142,375.78. Trustees Bourland, Withers, Mull, Bost, Dugger and McRae voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be October 3, 2016 at 7:00pm water board, 7:15pm for the village board.
Mayor Winslow announced the need to enter into Executive Session per ILCS Section 2 (c) (1) Personnel. Motion made by Bourland, seconded by Withers, to enter into executive session at 8:28pm. All trustees voted aye viva voce. Entered executive session at 8:28pm.
Regular session re-convened at 9:16pm with trustees Bourland, Withers, Bost, Dugger and McRae in attendance. Trustee Mull was absent.
Having no further business, a Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Bost, seconded by Dugger. All voted aye viva voce. Meeting adjourned at 9:17pm.
_______________________________ ______________________________
Sue E. Lowrance, Village Clerk Alan Winslow, Mayor
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