Village of Bethalto Board met Aug. 9.
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 Mull. Trustee Keister was absent. Also present: Police Chief Mike Dixon, Public Works Director Rod Cheatham, Village Attorney Ken Balsters, Fire Chief Brian Buhs, Asst. Fire Chief Dan Bartels, Village Treasurer Joe Hughes, and Zoning Administrator Randy Reddick.
Motion made by Tweedy, seconded by Lowrance, to approve village board meeting minutes of July 12, 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 July, noting 106 calls for the month and 1 box alarm with no fire loss. The department has new reporting software, so Buhs is in the process of updating the board’s monthly report. There were no questions.
Police Chief Dixon presented the monthly activity report for July. Dixon updated the board on significant cases: there is a possibility of sending one of our detectives to Houston to assist the FBI with the ATM theft case; the department has issued a citation to the owner of the horses on Culp Lane that have caused damage to the fencing at the Sports Complex, and if the State’s Attorney seeks charges we may be able to be reimbursed for damages; a child abuse suspect is in custody; there was an attempted vehicle theft with children in the vehicle and that suspect has been identified; there was a meth possession charge with the intent to distribute; there was a vehicle tampering case that turned out to be a stolen vehicle; and finally, a hit and run case in Kutter-Aljets. Dixon stated that the hard work of our officers doesn’t go unnoticed and that our officers go to great lengths for our residents. There were no questions.
Public Works Director Cheatham presented his departmental reports. There were six main breaks in July, and the lines along E. Main Street have been completed. There are still six residential taps to do on that line, plus hydrants. There will be a lot of ground restoration needed in that area. Sewer & Street crews have joined forces to do prep work for oil & chip in early September. The bump grinder was utilized on Prairie Street for some bumpy patches in the roadway, and those areas still need to be sealed. Cheatham is happy with how the grinding turned out. Parks crews are busy with mowing; futsol equipment is in and when weather allows those items will be assembled. Mill & overlay of the former skate park site will happen in early September as well. The documents for the water line installation along 255 & 111 have been sent in; we are waiting for Haier to schedule that installation. There were no questions.
Zoning Administrator Randy Reddick presented his monthly report, with 71 permits issued in July; we are down 126 permits year-to-date, largely due to Metro Apartments. Permits are being issued in a timely manner, usually within 24-48 hours. Code violations are up, with 176 in July. Attorney Butler’s office will proceed with the legalities of the condemned property on Hampton when the eviction moratorium expires on August 21; the other condemned properties are in the court system. There were no questions.
GUESTS/PUBLIC COMMENT:
Dennis Madison of 115 Brooks Drive was in attendance to ask for sewer charges to be forgiven on his last water bill; he acknowledged that he left a hose running but asked if there could be any forgiveness on the sewer portion of the bill since that water didn’t go into the sewer. He was seeking a $60 credit. Mayor Bost stated that the Village gets inquiries about this all of the time, and that his answer would be no unless the board wants otherwise. The board agreed with Bost that the Village must remain consistent on these matters. Madison thanked the board for their consideration.
RESOLUTIONS
Resolution 2021-24 A Resolution Authorizing Intergovernmental Agreement Between the Village and Board of Education of Unit 8 School District was presented. This authorizes an agreement between the Village and School District for installation of radio equipment at Civic Memorial High School. Chief Dixon noted that this is for enhanced communications inside the school, as the current equipment doesn’t allow for good radio contact through the building’s concrete walls. This equipment will provide a secondary emergency channel as well. Motion made by Perkhiser, seconded by Mull, to approve Resolution 2021-24 A Resolution Authorizing Intergovernmental Agreement Between the Village and Board of Education of Unit 8 School District. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
Resolution 2021-25 Resolution for Improvement Under the Illinois Highway Code was presented. This is a required IDOT Resolution regarding the proposed improvements along N. Prairie Street, stating that the Village is good for our 20% portion of the project. This will go out for IDOT letting in September, and is for the stretch of Prairie between Corbin Street and the old Methodist Church property. Cheatham noted that the final cost will fluctuate with supply prices, so the cost shown isn’t a definite amount. Motion made by Tweedy, seconded by Dugger, to approve Resolution 2021-25 Resolution for Improvement Under the Illinois Highway Code. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
Resolution 2021-26 Resolution for Improvement Under the Illinois Highway Code was presented. This is the same required IDOT Resolution, but regarding the proposed replacement of the Albers Lane/Friedel Bridge. The Village will once again be responsible for 20% of the cost, and Cheatham noted that both projects will be dependent on weather as to how quickly they proceed. Motion made by Mull, seconded by Lowrance, to approve Resolution 2021-26 Resolution for Improvement Under the Illinois Highway Code. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
ORDINANCES
Ordinance 2021-12 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 24 Motor Vehicle Code was presented. As discussed in committee, this ordinance will update the Village’s restricted parking zones by making the East side of Oak Street a No Parking Zone and removing the 2- hour timed parking limit along that stretch of roadway. Motion made by Mull, seconded by Dugger, to approve Ordinance 2021-12 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 24 Motor Vehicle Code. Trustees Dugger, Tweedy and Mull voted aye, Lowrance and Perkhiser voted nay. Motion carried 3-2.
Ordinance 2021-13 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 16-Garbage was presented. This ordinance updates the garbage rates charged to residents for trash hauling services, as reflected in the newly renewed Republic Services contract. These rates will be effective October 1, 2021, and rates charged to residents will be the same as what the Village pays to Republic. Motion made by Perkhiser, seconded by Lowrance, to approve Ordinance 2021-13 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 16-Garbage. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
REPORTS FROM THE MAYOR:
Village offices will be closed on Monday, September 6 for Labor Day.
The annual Bethalto Homecoming will be held on Labor Day weekend, September 3-6.
Mayor Bost is asking the Board to approve the special liquor licenses for Homecoming Weekend for the two beer tents at Laux Brickhouse and 109 South/American Legion. Motion made by Lowrance, seconded by Tweedy, to approve the special liquor license for Bethalto Homecoming weekend for Laux Brickhouse. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0. Motion made by Lowrance, seconded by Dugger, to approve the special liquor license for Bethalto Homecoming weekend for 109 South/American Legion. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
Mayor Bost presented retired Building Inspector Lee Friedel with a 50-year service award. Friedel devoted 50 years of service to the Village in many capacities, and he will be missed. Friedel gave a short speech and thanked the board.
There will be an all-day Concert in the Park on September 11 to benefit Amore Recovery Group.
Mayor Bost announced that façade grant work has been completed at Leisure World and Farm Fresh and asked for approval for those reimbursements. Leisure World is eligible for $12,500 and Farm Fresh is eligible for $8,600. Motion made by Mull, seconded by Lowrance, to approve the reimbursement of $12,500 for Leisure World under the façade grant program. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0. Motion made by Mull, seconded by Dugger, to approve the reimbursement of $8,600 for Farm Fresh under the facade grant program. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Mull voted aye, nays none. .Motion carried 5-0. Funds will be reimbursed out of the Business District Fund.
Mayor Bost announced that a new restaurant (El Indio Mexican restaurant) has announced intentions of opening in the old Pancake Ranch location next to Hit n Run. Two other businesses have also approached Bost about locating in town, so the Village is seeing some growth potential.
MONTHLY TREASURER’S REPORT:
The July Treasurer’s Report was presented by Treasurer Joseph Hughes. Income and Expenses were reviewed, and the Village’s cash balance is up $310,000 over the previous month. There were no questions. Motion made by Perkhiser, seconded by Mull, to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the month of July, 2021. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
BILLS
GENERAL FUND
Motion by Lowrance, seconded by Tweedy, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $136,690.57. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
WATER & SEWER FUND
Motion by Mull, seconded by Dugger, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $176,175.15. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
ESDA FUND
Motion by Lowrance, seconded by Mull, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $298.50. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
GARBAGE FUND
Motion by Mull, seconded by Perkhiser, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $55,242.00. Trustees Dugger, Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Committee meetings will be held on Monday, August 23 at 6:00pm.
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on September 13, 2021 at 7:00pm.
Mayor Bost announced the need to enter Executive Session per 5 ILCS 120/2 Section 2 (c) (1) Personnel. Motion made by Perkhiser, seconded by Dugger, to enter Executive Session. All trustees voted aye viva voce; entered Executive Session at 7:31pm.
Re-entered regular session at 8:14pm. Having no further business, a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Perkhiser, seconded by Lowrance. All voted aye viva voce. Meeting adjourned at 8:15pm.
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