Village of Bethalto Board of Trustees met Nov. 8.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The Village Board of Trustees met on the above date in the Village Hall Community Room 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 Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy, Keister, and Mull. Trustee Dugger was absent. Also present: Police Chief Mike Dixon, Public Works Director Rod Cheatham, Village Attorney Ken Balsters, Fire Chief Brian Buhs, and Village Treasurer Joe Hughes.
Motion made by Lowrance, seconded by Mull, to approve Village Board meeting minutes of October 11, 2021 as printed. All members voted aye viva voce. Motion carried 5-0.
Motion made by Mull, seconded by Lowrance, to approve Special Board meeting minutes of October 18, 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 October, noting 140 total calls for the month. The department has one new volunteer, and is researching lowering the minimum age for volunteers to 18. There were no questions.
Police Chief Dixon presented the monthly activity report for October, with his department running 628 calls; Dixon reviewed the calls by type and updated the board on some significant cases over the past month: an assault case involving a cab driver with the assailant apprehended; continued issues with the same group of juveniles, including one mob action incident; a juvenile sexual assault case; and recurring issues with speeding and stop sign violations throughout town. Three children were hit by cars near local schools, none seriously injured. There were no questions.
Public Works Director Cheatham presented his departmental reports and reviewed activity by department. Six I Hydrants have been installed; these are devices that will assist in locating leaks when they occur. Cheatham hopes to have 20 total at some point. Crews completed 244 hours of flushing in the fall cycle. Visu-Sewer has started inspecting the Interceptor Line. New lighting fixtures have been installed downtown, and work has started on the Friedel Bridge project. The Prairie Street project will begin March 1. Work continues around the new pickleball courts. There were no questions.
In the absence of Zoning Administrator Randy Reddick, Mayor Bost updated the board on significant activity in that department. 128 Hampton and 544 Park Drive have both been demolished. There were no questions.
GUESTS/PUBLIC COMMENT:
Janel Robinson of Alton Memorial Hospital was in attendance to introduce the board to their Behavioral & Addiction Medicine program. She left information with the trustees and public information for Village residents to have access to if needed.
Mona Dugger of 509 Strohbeck was in attendance to ask the board to attempt to find funding for road improvements on West Drive and Strohbeck. She stated she has asked before and does not feel her “request has been adequately addressed” and she’d like to know what more the Village can do for the residents in that area. She further mentioned the TIF and stated she hopes there is no consideration of extending it once it expires. She referenced the streets along E. Main that were recently resurfaced and added that she knows the Village has received COVID relief funds. Mayor Bost addressed her concerns, noting that the resurfacing of road along E. Main was due to water line replacement in that area and that COVID funding cannot be spent on roads, only sanitary sewer and water lines. Bost acknowledged that there are many street issues in town and that it is a long process to repair but that we’d get there. PW Director Cheatham agreed and noted that oil & chip of that area could be done next year, but nothing reconstructive in the near future. Mayor Bost stated that once the TIF expires, that will free up $250,000 in General Fund money that won’t be going to the TIF loan and hopefully that will help speed up the process of road improvements.
RESOLUTIONS
There were no resolutions for consideration.
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PLAN COMMISSION/ZONING BOARD: Mayor Bost presented a recommendation from the PC/ZBA to approve the proposed Final Plat for GRP Wegman Resubdivision of Lot 7. Step by Step Day Care is planning to purchase the 1 acre “Lot 2” for construction of a new facility. Motion made by Lowrance, seconded by Mull, to accept the recommendation of the PC/ZBA and approve the Final Plat of GRP Wegman Resubdivision of Lot 7, Bethalto Business Park. Trustees Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy, Keister and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
Bost then presented the PC/ZBA recommendation to rezone “Lot 2” of the GRP Wegman Resubdivision of Lot 7, Bethalto Business Park from LI Light Industrial to GC General Commercial to allow for day care use. The parcel already borders existing General Commercial zoned property. “Lot 1” will remain Light Industrial. The exact location of the property was discussed, and it was noted that the east side of Mechanical Drive is zoned General Commercial. Attorney Balsters noted that since the subdivision has now been officially approved, “Lot 2” exists, but that the metes & bounds description was used as Exhibit A in the ordinance since “Lot 2” didn’t exist until the board approved the subdivision. Motion was made by Perkhiser, seconded by Lowrance, to accept the PC/ZBA recommendation and rezone “Lot 2” of the Final Plat of GRP Wegman Resubdivision of Lot 7, Bethalto Business Park, from LI Light Industrial to GC General Commercial. Trustees Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy, Keister and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
ORDINANCES
Ordinance 2021-17 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 40-Zoning Code was presented. This amends the Village’s zoning map to reflect the change recommended by the PC/ZBA regarding the address commonly known as 333 Mechanical Drive, changing it from LI Light Industrial to GC General Commercial. Motion made by Lowrance, seconded by Tweedy, to approve Ordinance 2021-17 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 40-Zoning Code. Trustees Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy, Keister and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
REPORTS FROM THE MAYOR:
Village offices will be closed on November 11 for Veterans Day, and November 25 & 26 for Thanksgiving. Bethalto Christmas Village opens the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and the Victorian Christmas Walk will be December 12. Mayor Bost noted that Geno’s 140 Club has completed their remodel and qualifies for reimbursement through the façade grant program as previously approved. Payment of $25,000 will be issued this week.
MONTHLY TREASURER’S REPORT:
The October Treasurer’s Report was presented by Treasurer Joseph Hughes. Income and Expenses were reviewed, and the Village’s cash balance is up approximately $400,000 over the previous month. There were no questions. Motion made by Tweedy, seconded by Mull, to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the month of October, 2021. Trustees Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy, Keister, and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
BILLS
GENERAL FUND
Motion by Lowrance, seconded by Mull, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $157,164.77. Trustees Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy, Keister, and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
WATER & SEWER FUND
Motion by Mull, seconded by Lowrance, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $393,721.73. Trustees Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy, Keister, and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
LIABILITY FUND
Motion by Mull, seconded by Perkhiser, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $154,834.12. Trustees Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy, Keister, and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
GARBAGE FUND
Motion by Mull, seconded by Lowrance, authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $54,112.00. Trustees Lowrance, Perkhiser, Tweedy, Keister, and Mull voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 5-0.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Committee meetings will be held on Monday, November 22 at 6:00pm in the Council Room.
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on December 13, 2021 at 7:00pm in the Council Room of Village Hall.
Having no further business, motion made by Tweedy, seconded by Lowrance, to adjourn the meeting. All trustees voted aye viva voce. Meeting adjourned at 7:29pm.
https://bethalto.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/VILLAGE-BOARD-MINUTES-110821.pdf
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