Village of Bethalto Village Board met July 12.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The Village Board of Trustees met on the above date in the Village Hall Council Chambers in a regular meeting called to order by Mayor Bost at 7:00 p.m. The meeting opened with the “Pledge of Allegiance”. Roll call was taken by Village Clerk Sue Lowrance. Present: Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy, and Keister. Trustee Mull was absent. Also present: Police Chief Mike Dixon, Public Works Director Rod Cheatham, Village Attorney Ken Balsters, Fire Chief Brian Buhs, Village Treasurer Joe Hughes, and Zoning Administrator Randy Reddick.
Motion made by Lowrance, seconded by Tweedy, to approve village board meeting minutes of June 14, 2021 as printed. All members voted aye viva voce. Motion carried 5- 0.
REPORTS FROM DEPARTMENTAL SUPERVISORS:
Fire Chief Brian Buhs presented his report for June, noting 96 calls for the month; 85 EMS calls, 10 fire calls, and 1 stand-by call for the fireworks. Buhs noted that the fireworks went off well, despite the weather. Four new members have been added to the roster. Buhs recognized firefighter Tim Brown for his work in organizing the funeral services & procession for South Roxana Fire Chief Todd Werner. Buhs also added that the department has upgraded their Class A uniforms. There were no questions.
Police Chief Dixon presented the monthly activity report for June. Significant cases were reviewed: the Rose Lawn theft, drug trafficking, narcotics sales, and a Farm Fresh robbery were all big cases the department has worked this month. Our three new officers are doing well, two on their own and one still in training. Dixon will present his thoughts and concerns surrounding the proposed Cross River Crimes Task Force in committee, along with the need for funding for additional license plate readers (LPRs). There were no questions.
Public Works Director Cheatham presented his departmental reports. There were two large main breaks this month, one 8” and one 12”, with the 12” being the main along 111 at the airport; Cheatham stated we were within an hour of losing the tower and that this is the third time this has occurred since he’s been here--so that main is in dire need of replacement. This is one of the repairs to be discussed later this meeting. Parks crews stay busy on mowing and field prep; sewer crews continue to maintain lift stations, etc. and street crews have completed work at Midway/N. Williams along with pothole patching, culvert ditching and prepping for hot mix and mill/overlay later this year. The East Main area should be completed in the next couple of days, and then road repairs there will be completed as well. The Village received a TAP Grant for Phase 4 of the multi-use trail (from Ashbrook to Old Bethalto Road) in the amount of $378,000. There were no questions.
Zoning Administrator Randy Reddick presented his monthly report, with 119 permits issued in June. Year to date we are down 46 permits. Permits have been issued on a timely basis, and code violations have been increasing (100 code violations this month). 128 Hampton is still in the near-demolition stages and Reddick is working with the owner to get that taken care of as soon as possible; other demolitions are still in the court system and may take a year or longer. There were no questions.
GUESTS/PUBLIC COMMENT:
Mona Dugger, 509 Strohbeck, addressed the board regarding the TIF and her dissatisfaction regarding the lack of improvements done in the Strohbeck, West Drive, and Miles Drive area. She stated that the roads in that area are eroding and that a lot is being used as a “dumping ground”. She added that residents in the area have waited long enough for improvements that should have been funded through the TIF, and she asked the Village to put some pressure on RLP Development in an attempt to get lots sold in Sportsman’s Park, noting the developer hasn’t lived up to his end of the deal. She encouraged board members to drive through that area to see all the issues first-hand. Mayor Bost noted that nobody would disagree with Dugger regarding the status of the TIF district, and that previous administration had researched filing a suit against RLP but that legal action would likely cost more than the Village would gain from it. Bost added that trustees could discuss further action in committee if that was the direction they’d like to pursue.
Carrie Ward of Republic Services introduced herself to the board and added that any time there are issues with anything garbage or recycling related, she is happy to assist the Village in any way she can.
RESOLUTIONS
Resolution 2021-22 A Resolution Authorizing Execution of Intergovernmental Agreement with Bethalto School District for School Resource Officer was presented. This was discussed in committee, and Chief Dixon is in favor of proceeding with this agreement. Motion made by Lowrance, seconded by Dugger, to approve Resolution 2021-22 A Resolution Authorizing Execution of Intergovernmental Agreement with Bethalto School District for School Resource Officer. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Keister voted aye; nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
Resolution 2021-23 A Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of Bid for Water Main Replacement at Interstate 255 Ramp and North Bellwood Drive was presented. PW Director Cheatham explained that the water main at the 255 off ramp at Vaughn Hill and the main at North Bellwood at the airport are in need of replacement and bids were received and opened on July 7. Haier Plumbing was the low bid, coming in nearly $100k less than the engineer’s estimate. Cheatham recommends that the Village proceed with the repair, and it was noted that this expense is in the proposed budget. Motion made by Perkhiser, seconded by Lowrance, to approve Resolution 2021-23 A Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of Bid for Water Main Replacement at Interstate 255 Ramp and North Bellwood Drive. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Keister voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
ORDINANCES
Ordinance 2021-06 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 6-Buildings was presented. This updates the date of appointment for all inspectors to the first meeting in May, adds occupancy inspections to the duties of building inspector, and sets an hourly salary for the position of building inspector as defined in the annual salary ordinance. The initial salary will be set at $25 an hour under the amended salary ordinance to be considered tonight. Motion made by Lowrance, seconded by Tweedy, to approve Ordinance 2021-06 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 6-Buildings. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Keister voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
Ordinance 2021-07 Salary Ordinance (Amended) was presented. This amendment includes a line item for Building Inspector at $25 per hour. Motion made by Dugger, seconded by Perkhiser, to approve Ordinance 2021-07 Salary Ordinance (Amended). Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Keister voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
Ordinance 2021-08 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 25-Nuisances was presented. This cleans up language found under Inoperable and Unlicensed Vehicles to reflect a 7-day time limit for vehicles to be moved under non-emergency situations. Motion made by Lowrance, seconded by Tweedy, to approve Ordinance 2021-08 An Ordinance
Amending Chapter 25-Nuisances. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Keister voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
Ordinance 2021-09 Appropriations Ordinance was presented. This ordinance sets the annual budget for the fiscal year 2021-2022 as was discussed in the public hearing tonight. Motion made by Lowrance, seconded by Tweedy, to approve Ordinance 2021-09 Appropriations Ordinance. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Keister voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
Ordinance 2021-10 An Ordinance Authorizing Entering Into Waste Hauler Contract with Allied Waste Transportation dba Republic Services was presented. This authorizes a contract extension with Republic for waste hauling services, and freezes the current rate through the first year of the extension. Motion made by Perkhiser, seconded by Lowrance, to approve Ordinance 2021-10 An Ordinance Authorizing Entering Into Waste Hauler Contract with Allied Waste Transportation dba Republic Services. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Keister voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
Ordinance 2021-11 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 7-Business Code was presented. This establishes rules and regulations regarding food trucks and authorizes the Mayor to approve one-day event permits in any non-residential zoned area. Motion made by Lowrance, seconded by Dugger, to approve Ordinance 2021-11 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 7-Business Code. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Keister voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
REPORTS FROM THE MAYOR:
Mayor Bost announced that work for the previously-approved façade grant for Lowrance Properties has been completed and their new electrical panel installed at a cost of $1,690. Bost asked for approval for the reimbursement for this grant. Motion made by Perkhiser, seconded by Dugger, to approve the façade grant reimbursement for Lowrance Properties. Trustees Dugger, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Keister voted aye, Lowrance abstained. Motion carried 4-0.
A 50-year service award will be presented to retired Building Inspector Lee Friedel at the next meeting, as Friedel was unable to attend tonight.
Bost recommended current Occupancy Inspector Aaron Snyder to fill the position of Building Inspector. Motion made by Lowrance, seconded by Dugger, to approve the appointment of Aaron Snyder as Building Inspector. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Keister voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
There will be a public hearing and meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals/Plan Commission on July 22 beginning at 6pm to consider a request for a parcel rezoning and Special Use Permit by Unit 8 School District.
MONTHLY TREASURER’S REPORT:
The June Treasurer’s Report was presented by Treasurer Joseph Hughes. Revenue and expenses were reviewed, and the ending cash balance was up approximately $300,000 from the previous month. There were no questions. Motion made by Dugger, seconded by Perkhiser, to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the month of June, 2021. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Keister voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
BILLS
GENERAL FUND
Motion by Tweedy, seconded by Lowrance, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $134,008.94. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Keister voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
WATER & SEWER FUND
Motion by Lowrance, seconded by Dugger, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $307,144.49. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Keister voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
GARBAGE FUND
Motion by Perkhiser, seconded by Lowrance, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $54,112.00. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Keister voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Committee meetings will be held on Monday, July 26 at 6:00pm. Trustee Keister announced that she is working on creating a “Unified Planning Committee” of local leaders and group members to work together on a unified Village vision.
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on August 9, 2021 at 7:00pm.
Having no further business, a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Lowrance, seconded by Tweedy. All voted aye viva voce. Meeting adjourned at 7:35pm. .
https://bethalto.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/VILLAGE-BOARD-MINUTES-071221.pdf
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