Village of Bethalto Board of Trustees met June 5.
Here is the minutes 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 Mull, Bost, Dugger, McRae, Gibbons, Buhs, and Mayor Winslow. Also present: Police Chief Gregg Smock, Police Lt. Craig Welch, Public Works Director Rod Cheatham, Village Attorney Ken Balsters, Fire Chief Alex Campbell, Village Treasurer Joe Schoppet, and Zoning Administrator Tim Brown.
Motion made by Gibbons, seconded by Buhs, to approve village board minutes of May 1, 2017 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 May, noting 109 total calls with no fire loss; Campbell noted that the department is heading into the busier months now and is on pace for 1000-1100 calls this year. There were three missed calls in May. One volunteer has left the department and one new application has been received. The roster currently stands at 23 members. The department has 4 paramedics and is certified to run EMS calls. There were no questions.
Police Chief Smock presented the May activity report with no questions. The department will have new hire testing on June 17; 43 applications have been received to date.
Public Works Director Cheatham presented his report: Brush pickup has at least one crew working daily. The manholes on Sheridan Street have been lined and are now in excellent condition. Cheatham stated he has the next three rounds of manhole lining mapped out and ready to go. Mr. Manhole has been used on approximately 50 manhole covers. The Prairie Street lift station had a technical failure and both pumps went out; one is back in operation now, but Cheatham noted that the Prairie Street station is the only one without a backup pump and one needs to be in place. Mowing & weeding work continues in parks, and concession stands have all been inspected and approved. Park repairs are being completed from the Jaycees Carnival. Splash Pad material has been delivered; the contractor is waiting on final approval from the state then will start work immediately. Some of the water features have been delayed and may not arrive until mid-July, but will take only a couple of days to install once they arrive. There were no questions.
Guests/Public Comment:
Makayla, President of the Bethalto Jaycees, was in attendance to thank the Village for use of the Park and facilities for their carnival. She expressed concerns over the conditions of the facilities when they first arrived to set up, but volunteered their organization to assist in any way they could in helping to maintain the park, bandstand, fish stand, etc. She also asked the trustees and Mayor for any input they can provide regarding community projects or ways the club could help the Village out. She was introduced to Public Works Director Cheatham, who would be the contact person for any assistance they could provide in assisting with the park facilities. Mayor Winslow inquired as to the success of the carnival; she stated it was successful but the weather affected attendance somewhat.
Gary Edsall, 301 Ridgeway, was in attendance to express concerns over survey work being done in his neighborhood. The Village has contracted with surveyors in order to locate easement boundaries for creek cleanup, but Edsall stated that neighbors have noted property lines marked which has caused some disputes. Mayor Winslow assured Mr. Edsall that the Village did not contract with surveyors for property lines, only for the easement boundaries. Public Works Director Cheatham noted that he saw the flags prior to the Village’s crews starting their survey work, and further stated that there would be no reason for the survey crews to find property lines as part of the Village’s needs unless they needed to find a reference point, in which case there would possibly be one point located, but not several. Cheatham noted that the property lines flagged could be “mischievous” and not at all accurate. Police have been called on several occasions due to the property line disputes. Edsall explained he was concerned with the turmoil in the neighborhood and that since he was instrumental in wanting the creek cleaned out and thus the survey work, he was coming across to his neighbors as the “bad guy”. Mr. Edsall inquired as to when the cleaning of the creek would be completed; Cheatham stated that he needs the equipment to do so, and is hoping for early fall.
Resolutions:
Resolution 2017-08 A Resolution Declaring 512 Strohbeck as Unsafe and Dangerous and Authorizing Village to Demolish Same was presented. This property has been a nuisance and vacant for some time. Zoning Administrator Brown noted that it is a 6-9 month process for demolition; the owner will still retain the property, but the Village will have liens on it for the cost of demolition. Motion made by Mull, seconded by Buhs, to approve Resolution 2017-08 A Resolution Declaring 512 Strohbeck as Unsafe and Dangerous and Authorizing Village to Demolish Same. Trustees Mull, Bost, Dugger, McRae, Gibbons and Buhs voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
Ordinances:
Ordinance 2017-08 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 30 Public Safety was presented. This will modify the Police Department hierarchy to remove the position of Lieutenant and create the position of Deputy Chief. Salary and chain of command will remain the same, this is just a title change only. Motion made by Bost, seconded by McRae, to approve Ordinance 2017-08 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 30 Public Safety. Trustees Mull, Bost, Dugger, McRae, Gibbons and Buhs voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
Ordinance 2017-09 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 35 Street Graphics Code was presented. This will amend the code so that appeals, variances, and amendments will be heard by the Zoning Board of Appeals who will then make recommendations to the Village Board for final approval. Motion made by Buhs, seconded by Mull, to approve Ordinance 2017-09 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 35 Street Graphics Code. Trustees Mull, Bost, Dugger, McRae, Gibbons and Buhs voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
Ordinance 2017-10 Prevailing Wages was presented. This is the annual Prevailing Wage ordinance required by the State to insure that fair wages are paid to workers for public projects. Wages are determined by the Illinois Department of Labor, and contractors must adhere to the listed wages when performing public projects. Motion made by Mull, seconded by Bost, to approve Ordinance 2017-10 Prevailing Wages. Trustees Mull, Bost, Dugger, McRae, Gibbons and Buhs voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
Ordinance 2017-11 Amended Salary Ordinance was presented. This is to remove the position of Police Lieutenant and replace it with Deputy Police Chief at the same rate of pay. Motion made by Buhs, seconded by Dugger, to approve Ordinance 2017-11 Amended Salary Ordinance. Trustees Mull, Bost, Dugger, McRae, Gibbons and Buhs voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
Reports from the Mayor:
Mayor Winslow asked that the board consider the suspension of purchasing rules for the sewer lining (CIPP) project. Normally, any purchase over $20,000 must go out for bid, but since this is an extension of work already started, the mayor is seeking a 2/3 majority vote to suspend the need to go out for bids again (reference Village Code 1-2-26 (B)). The contractor is doing a great job and agrees to continue the work at the same bid price. Public Works Director Cheatham stated that he is already seeing great results with the lining, and that the next round should be very beneficial, with the Village possibly seeing improvement such that pumps will no longer be needed during heavy rain periods. Motion made by Bost, seconded by Mull, to suspend purchasing rules for the sewer lining (CIPP) project. Trustees Mull, Bost, Dugger, McRae, Gibbons and Buhs voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
Winslow asked for board approval to continue the contract with Visu-Sewer for the sewer lining (CIPP) project. Motion made by Mull, seconded by Gibbons, to approve the continuation of the Visu-Sewer contract for sewer lining at the same rate as bid. Trustees Mull, Bost, Dugger, McRae, Gibbons, and Buhs voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
The request from Patty’s Place for a class C Liquor License was tabled until July.
Zoning Administrator’s Report:
Zoning Administrator Brown presented his monthly report, noting 14 permits issued with a year-to-date valuation of over $7 million. Speed Lube is looking into expansion. The Edwards property on Mac Arthur has been demolished; Edwards still owns the property but there is little maintenance for the Village as it is all rocked. 514 B Street is still in the demolition process and Brown has a court date in two weeks for that property. Several condemnations have been issued, property owners are complying with regulations on those and all inspections must be passed before the dwellings are inhabitable again. Brown has assisted 7 veterans through the Veteran’s Assistance program, as well as assisting 4 homeless residents find housing and assistance. Emergency Response Plans are being updated. There were no questions.
Monthly Treasurer’s Report:
Treasurer Joe Schoppet presented the end of the fiscal year April, 2017 Treasurer’s Report, reviewing fund balances and noting that the Village ended the fiscal year with a positive cash balance. The fact that the Village did not receive the May income tax payment had some effect on the ending balance, although the general fund ended the fiscal year in better shape than the previous year. Work continues on the budget process, with several adjustments made to year-end figures to correct coding errors. Schoppet noted that all other accounts seem to be in good shape. There were no questions. Motion made by Mull, seconded by Dugger, to approve the April, 2017 Treasurer’s Report. Trustees Mull, Bost, Dugger, McRae, Gibbons and Buhs voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
Committee Meetings:
The regular committee meeting will be held on Monday, June 19, 2017 at 6:00pm. Budget meetings will be held on Friday, June 9, Tuesday, June 13, and Thursday, June 15 all at 9:00 am.
Water Department Bills:
Motion by Buhs, seconded by Bost, authorizing payment of the Water Department bills in the amount of $272,099.06. Trustees Mull, Bost, Dugger, McRae, Gibbons and Buhs voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
General Fund:
Motion by Gibbons, seconded by McRae, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $121,509.84. Trustees Mull, Bost, Dugger, McRae, Gibbons and Buhs voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
Liability Fund:
Motion by Mull, seconded by Bost, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $6,917.00. Trustees Mull, Bost, Dugger, McRae, Gibbons and Buhs voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
MFT Fund:
Motion by Bost, seconded by Dugger, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $9,644.65. Trustees Mull, Bost, Dugger, McRae, Gibbons and Buhs voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
Garbage Fund:
Motion by Mull, seconded by Bost, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $48,729.66. Trustees Mull, Bost, Dugger, McRae, Gibbons and Buhs voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
TIF Fund:
Motion by Bost, seconded by Dugger, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $142,375.78. Trustees Mull, Bost, Dugger, McRae, Gibbons and Buhs voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
The next regular board meeting will be on Monday, July 3, 2017 with the Water Board meeting at 7:00 pm, followed by the Village Board at 7:15 pm.
Having no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by Mull, seconded by McRae. All voted aye viva voce. Meeting adjourned at 8:03 pm.
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