Sangamon Sun

Village of Jerome Board of Trustees met April 4

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER: The President and the Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at the Jerome Civic Center, 2901 Leonard Street, Jerome, Illinois. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by President Lopez, followed by Roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance.  

ROLL CALL: The following were present:  

Mike Lopez, Village President  

Kathy DeHart, Trustee of Public Property & Co Trustee Public Health  

Katrina Christofilakos, Trustee of Public Health  

Leigh Irons, Trustee of Public Safety  

Ralph Irons, Trustee of Water Department  

Dale Lael, Trustee of Building & Zoning  

Phil Raftis, Trustee of Public Works  

Also Present:  

Steve Roth, Executive Assistant  

Jason Brokaw, Attorney, Giffin, Winning, Cohen & Bodewes, P.C.,  

Absent:  

Lisa Cave, Village Clerk  

SWEARING IN OF VILLAGE TREASURER: President Lopez swore in Emily Stone as the Village Treasurer.  

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: President Lopez asked whether the Board had reviewed the March 21, 2024, Minutes and if they found need for any changes, corrections, or amendments. President Lopez asked the March 21, 2024, minutes would stand approved as presented.  

Motion to approve the March 21, 2024, Meeting Minutes as presented by:  Trustee Ralph Irons and 2nd by Trustee Leigh Irons  

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;  

MOTION PASSES.  

President Lopez asked whether the Board had reviewed the December 7, 2023, Executive Minutes and if they found need for any changes, corrections, or amendments. President Lopez asked the December 7,  2023, executive minutes would stand approved as presented.

Motion to approve the December 7, 2023, Meeting Minutes as presented by:  

Trustee Leigh Irons and 2nd by Trustee Ralph Irons, Trustee Christofilakos voted present  

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;  

MOTION PASSES. 

President Lopez asked whether the Board had reviewed the March 7, 2024, Executive Minutes and if they found need for any changes, corrections, or amendments. President Lopez asked the March 7, 2024, executive minutes would stand approved as presented.

Motion to approve the March 7, 2024, Meeting Minutes as presented by:  

Trustee Lael and 2nd by Trustee Ralph Irons  

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;  

MOTION PASSES. 

APPROVAL TO PAY BILLS: President Lopez asked whether the board had reviewed Warrant List 24-23 dated April 4, 2024, totaling $38,129.75. Mr. Roth stated there is a correction on page 2 for Menards should be 4574 not 8074. Please correct your warrant sheet. President Lopez asked for a motion to approve Warrant List 24-23 as amended.

Motion to Approve the Warrant List 24-23 totaling $38,129.75 as amended by  

Trustee Raftis and 2nd by Trustee DeHart  

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;  

MOTION PASSES.  

BENTON & ASSOCIATES PRESENTATION: Benton & Associates informed the Board they are 90% done with their part for advertising for Iles Ave, and suggested if we had any other road work to be done now is the time to add any other road work out for bid with the project. At 90% design we are at  $902,000.00 for the redevelopment project. After the budget is discussed, the Board will determine  how much more funds the Village has available to do more road improvements. The Village has about  $750,000.00 of the grant available for Iles. The Village would be utilizing the 1% Funds to come up with the difference. Trustee Raftis suggested to give them a go ahead to advertise for an alternate project so we have the amount it would costs, we would not be bound to do it but at least we can be proactive and see if we can move forward if the Village has the funds to do so.  

NEW BUSINESS: President Lopez asked for discussion and approval Benton & Associates Advertising Iles Avenue Reconstruction Project for Bid.

Motion to Approve Benton & Associates Advertising Iles Ave Reconstruction  

Project for Bid as presented by Trustee Ralph Irons and 2nd by Trustee Lael  

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;  

MOTION PASSES. 

President Lopez asked for discussion and approval of Resolution 05-24 Approving and Authorizing the  Execution and Delivery of an Agreement with Benton & Associates Advertising Iles Ave Reconstruction Project for Bid. 

Motion to Approve Resolution 05-24 Approving and Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of an Agreement with Benton & Associates Advertising Iles Ave Reconstruction Project for Bid as presented by Trustee Raftis and 2nd by  

Trustee Ralph Irons  

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;

MOTION PASSES.  

PUBLIC COMMENTS:  

President Lopez opened the Visitors Acknowledgement portion of the meeting at 6:55 pm.  

Dottie, resident addressed the Board and had provided to Trustee DeHart an address with an abandoned vehicle and a few addresses of abandoned property.  

This portion of the meeting closed at 6:56 pm.  

REPORTS:  

Trustee DeHart stated she has issued one fire permit and is looking in the office for the stack of fire  permits. Dave stated he had a resident stop in today to complain regarding a property at Fillmore that the resident is dumping grass clippings. The tenant at the property is not allowed to take care of the lawncare as the landlord does.  

Trustee Raftis stated May 6, 2024, is the next limb pickup. April 29th, 2024, is the first day that residents are allowed to put items out. The orange truck is back and operable.  

Trustee DeHart stated she had nothing to report.  

Trustee Lael stated the generator will be installed in the next two weeks. They plan to install on a Wednesday as the office would be closed. $18,000.00 is left of the generator costs. Trustee Lael sent to the attorney addresses with cars being in the yard, junk cars, etc and he wants the Village cleaned up. Fines and penalties will be imposed. 1664 Homewood, Attorney Brokaw stated they were to be out to  clean the yard. Trustee Lael stated the trees are laying on the house and they need to do something with it. 1612 Glenn, Trustee Lael is going to call the owner as nothing he sees that has been done. 1025 Urban has a race tract in the back yard, Jerome Police haven't been able to catch them at home, Trustee Lael would like a letter sent. Republic is dumping trash when they pick up the waste. Isn't there something the Village can do, can we ticket them for littering? Attorney Brokaw stated he will look into it and see who we contact to enforce. Trustee Lael would like to have 3 defibrillator's in the complex. Attorney Brokaw said he believes there is a grant that could pay for half. Trustee Lael asked about the International Building Codes.  

Trustee Leigh Irons reported that the Chief Tolley has set up a meet and greet for the Jerome Police Officers on May 11, 2024, from 8 am to 10 am. The two officers in the Academy will be graduating this  month.  

Trustee Ralph Irons stated he had nothing to report. 

Steve Roth stated that the accounts are a mess and he is still working through them. Steve stated that the Village Budget meetings will be in the next few weeks, and the departments need to be more frugal  with how much they are spending. President Lopez stated as Trustees they need to sign their warrants. Steve stated that not signing the warrants will be an audit finding. We must follow proper procedures. Applicants for the secretary position has been received and interviews will be conducted on Sunday.  

President Lopez reminded all Trustees to file their Economic Interest Statement.  

NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED: President Lopez opened discussion and approval of Ordinance 24-07 An Ordinance Authorizing the Disposal of Surplus Property by the Village of Jerome.

Motion to Approve Ordinance 24-07 An Ordinance Authorizing the Disposal of 

Surplus Property by the Village of Jerome by Trustee Lael and 2nd by Trustee   DeHart  

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;  

 MOTION PASSES.  

President Lopez opened discussion and approval of the Purchasing 6 Water Pits, Rings and Lids.

Motion to Approve the Purchasing of 6 Water Pits, Rings and Lids not to exceed $1,200.00 by Trustee Ralph Irons and 2nd by Trustee Lael  

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;  

MOTION PASSES.  

President Lopez opened discussion and approval of the Removal of Log Jam from under Iles Avenue Bridge by Throop & Sons Tree Service. Dave Wilken provided pictures of the jam to the Board.

Motion to Approve the Removal of Log Jam from under Iles Avenue Bridge by  

Throop & Sons Tree Service not to exceed $3,000.00 by Trustee Raftis and 2nd by Trustee Ralph Irons  

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;  

MOTION PASSES.  

President Lopez opened discussion and approval of the Removal of Trees Within 40 Feet of Sides of Iles Avenue Bridge by Throop & Sons Tree Service. The bid is for both sides of the bridge. Throop & Sons will be doing both this job and the removal of the log jam at the same time.

Motion to Approve the Removal of Trees Within 40 Feet of Sides of Iles Avenue Bridge by Throop & Sons Tree Service not to exceed $2,850.00 by Trustee Lael and 2nd by Trustee DeHart  

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;  

MOTION PASSES.

President Lopez asked to table the Adjustment of Compensation for the Water Clerk.  

President Lopez asked for discussion and approval of Ordinance 24-08 Approving an Updated Contract for the Purchase of Real Estate Commonly Known as 3030 Chatham Road from Federal National Mortgage Association. Attorney Brokaw stated that they had a different contract that they requested be signed.

Motion to Approve Ordinance 24-08 Approving an Updated Contract for the  

Purchase of Real Estate Commonly Known as 3030 Chatham Road from  

Federal National Mortgage Association by Trustee Lael and 2nd by Trustee Ralph Irons  

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE; except Trustee Raftis voted No;  

MOTION PASSES.  

EXECUTIVE SESSION:  

A motion was made by Trustee Raftis to go into Executive Session to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of a specific employee or legal counsel of the public body (5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1)); minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the Open Meetings Act for purposes of approval by the Body (5ILCS 120/2(c)(21); Trustee Ralph Irons seconded the motion.  

The Board went into Executive Session at 7:36 pm.  

The Board returned from Executive Session at 8:31 pm.  

ADJOURNMENT: With no further business, President Lopez asked for a motion to close the meeting at 8:32 pm. Motion was made by Trustee Raftis and 2nd by Trustee Ralph Irons.

https://www.villageofjerome.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/04.04.24-Minutes.pdf