Sangamon Sun

At a recent meeting, the Pleasant Plains Village Board reviewed a draft ordinance that would raise sewer rates.

Village of Pleasant Plains

200 West Fourth Street, P. O. Box 177, Pleasant Plains, Illinois 62677 (217)626-1024

9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Monday through Friday

JULY, 2016

The Village Board of Pleasant Plains met in a regular session on Monday, July 11, 2016, at 7:00 p.m., at the Village Hall. President Jim Verkuilen called the meeting to order and roll was recorded:

Mike Huber present Elizabeth Rollins present

William Riggins, Jr present Darrell “Duey” Blair present

Vacancy Wayne Heideman present

President Verkuilen declared a quorum present.

Staff Present: Jim Verkuilen, Mayor

Carl Draper, Attorney

Brett Keyes, Treasurer

Judy Reiser, Village Clerk

Kevin Kesselring, Chief of Police

Dave Stewart, Water Superintendent

Greg Miles, Streets Superintendent

Visitor(s): Greta Myers, Marsha Shomidie, Darrel Patrick, Neil Hatcher, Danny Willis

Agenda for the Village Board Meeting was reviewed. The Girl Scouts have rescheduled for the August meeting.

Marsha Shomidie, VP and Branch Manager of the local INB, did a presentation on the INB Event-PP Branch “Play It Safe” night scheduled on Main Street in front of the bank on Wednesday, July 27th , 4:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. She asked that Main Street be blocked between Cartwright and Lincoln for this event. This is an event where kids can have hands-on learning about safety. The Fire Department/Rescue Squad, Police Department, and IT Department on Computer Fraud, etc., will be there so the children can familiarize themselves with the equipment. Trivia with WNNS will be there as well as various cartoon characters your kids can have their picture taken with, face painting, and refreshments. Parking is in the lot behind the bank.

Trustee Darrell “Duey” Blair made a motion that the street be blocked during this event, 4:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27, 2016. Trustee Bill Riggins, Jr., second this motion.

President Verkuilen declared the motion carried by a unanimous aye vote.

Minutes were reviewed for the June 13, 2016, Village Board Meeting.

Trustee Bill Riggins, Jr., asked that a statement be added to the last paragraph on page 2 stating the pole was installed to mark where the test well will be drilled. Trustee Riggins informed Mr. Milstead of the placement of this marking. Trustee Riggins also asked that the paragraph on

page 4 under the “Sign Ordinance” show he was not in favor of high permit fees or a $100 annual fee. Trustee Darrell “Duey” Blair made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected.

Motion was second by Trustee Mike Huber. President Verkuilen declared the motion carried by a unanimous aye vote.

Darrell Patrick and Neil Hatcher attended the meeting to express their concerns as to why a water main cannot be put on the 55‘right away and run a meter south to the back of the property.

Mayor Verkuilen stated, “Before we can attempt anything we must get approval first to see if we can put a water line down the easement”. There is also an old storm sewer that runs down the middle of that old road.

Mr. Patrick would like:

? Access to water and sewer for the two properties he has for sale on East Main and water access to the property on the back lot.

? Connect both Main Street properties using one hook up of the two properties installing a T that will service both properties.

Water Superintendent Dave Stewart indicated EPA will have to be contacted for prior approval and an application for a construction permit submitted to extend the water and/or sewer lines.

Our engineers will also need to be involved.

Before any decisions are made, it first has to be decided who is financially responsible for a water hookup. The cost of the sewer hookup is the full responsibility of the property owner.

Dave will provide EPA regulations to Attorney Draper, and he in turn will research our ordinances. Attorney Draper will send the trustees a comprehensive memo of what our ordinance requires and what EPA requires with regard to water and sewer. Discussion will continue in August.

Danny Willis addressed the board regarding a water leak on his property. He has requested sewer charges over and above normal use be waived. Trustee Bill Riggins, Jr. made a motion to waive sewer charges over his average cost. Trustee Darrell “Duey” Blair second this motion.

Ayes Bill Riggins, Jr., Elizabeth Rollins, Mike Huber, Darrell “Duey” Blair, Wayne

Heideman

Nays: N/A

Abstain: N/A

Absent: N/A

President Verkuilen declared the motion carried by a roll call vote.

Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Brett Keyes stated property taxes are rolling in. Due to vacations of key people the audit thru Pehlman and Dold continues. Trustee Bill Riggins, Jr., spotted a typo in numbers which will be corrected.

Trustee Wayne Heideman made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report. Trustee Elizabeth

Rollins second this motion.

Ayes: Wayne Heideman, Darrell “Duey” Blair, Mike Huber, Elizabeth Rollins, Bill Riggins, Jr.

Nays: N/A

Abstain: N/A

Minutes – Village Board –July 11, 2016 Page 3

Absent: N/A

President Verkuilen declared the motion carried by a roll call vote

Payment of Bills: A motion to pay the bills as presented was made by Trustee Darrell “Duey” Blair and second by Trustee Wayne Heideman.

Ayes Bill Riggins, Jr., Elizabeth Rollins, Mike Huber, Darrell “Duey” Blair,

Wayne Heideman

Nays: N/A

Abstain: N/A

Absent: N/A

President Verkuilen declared the motion carried by a roll call vote.

Police Department: Chief Kesselring reports they assisted New Berlin with traffic control during the Sangamon County Fair and New Berlin assisted us during our 4 th of July event. A new officer was hired, Richard Gerlach, retired Chief of Police from the Jerome Police Department after 37 years.

Water Department/ Test Well:

Superintendent Dave Stewart stated the new test well has been dug and it appears there is neither arsenic nor nitrate problems. In comparison to the other wells the iron level is a little high. At this time they were pumping 30 gallons a minute at 60 feet down. Dave would like to see a larger pump installed to see if it would reach 300 gallons a minute however at this point we need to see the 200 gallon a minute test. Further discussion will continue after Cahoy’s report is received. Comparison will be made between the specifications and what the contractors actually did. Trustee Bill Riggins, Jr. states the original test completed in 2005 registered 12.1 arsenic and 9.27 iron. This was without being pumped. Trustee Riggins indicated our time restraint on this is September 30 th . If another approach needs to be taken to reach the desired results then it may be necessary to have another meeting to get moving on this.

Dave also brought up residents wanting a break on their sewer charges when they fill a swimming pool. He stated in years past he would use the hydrants which would bypass the sewer and fill the pool faster, thus causing an increase demand and in turn the poor quality of water brought complaints of excessive use of chemicals to balance the water ph levels. After a short discussion it was determined to leave the ordinance as is for now.

Street Department: Greg reports that IRC was the only bidder for the 2016 Motor Fuel Tax Proposals. Their estimate was 9% lower than originally thought and it’s possible the cost for the primer is lower this year, which will help in the cost for priming the streets since the millings did not hold up on Lincoln Street. Greg will go ahead and prime some areas and prepare them for rock and chip. Greg states he has some thoughts on a couple things he would like to do and different ways to do some things so he would like to meet with the Streets Committee before presenting these ideas to the board. Greg will also be spraying.

The Streets Committee scheduled a meeting at the Street Garage on Wednesday, 7/13/16 at 5:00 p.m.

Trustee Mike Huber made a motion to accept the Approval of Bid from IRC for the 2016 MFT year. Darrell “Duey” Blair second this motion.

Minutes – Village Board –July 11, 2016 Page 4

Ayes: Wayne Heideman, Darrell “Duey” Blair, Mike Huber, Elizabeth Rollins,

Bill Riggins, Jr.

Nays: N/A

Abstain: N/A

Absent: N/A

President Verkuilen declared the motion carried by a roll call vote.

Multi Water Hook-Ups – Nothing to discuss at this time.

Sewer Rates:

Sewer use ordinance conforms well to the water extension

Advise customers of sewer rates annually on the bills

Ordinance makes a suggestion our rate structure be reviewed by the auditors yearly-make sure this is included in the agreement next year.

Determine we are indeed operating in the black.

The Board should also look at rates annually to determine rates for the coming year.

Draft Ordinance 17-002 was reviewed by the board. This ordinance will raise the minimum sewer rates of $25 to $26 and by $1.00 per 1000 gallons to help in meeting our sewer expenses.

RATES The following sewer rates shall apply to all users inside the Village:

First 1,000 gallons per month -- $26.00 minimum charge

Next 2,000 gallons per month -- $5.55 $6.55 per 1,000 gallons

Next 3,000 gallons per month -- $4.70 $5.70 per 1,000 gallons

Over 6,000 gallons per month -- $4.10 $5.10 per 1,000 gallons

The above proposal would raise approximately $12,000 which would give the auditors a better understanding of what kind of increase we need to balance the sewer budget.

Trustee Darrell “Duey” Blair made a motion to approve the ordinance as written increasing sewer rates by $1 per 1000 gallons effective with the September, 2016 billing cycle. Trustee Mike Huber second the motion.

Ayes Bill Riggins, Jr., Elizabeth Rollins, Mike Huber, Darrell “Duey” Blair

Nays: Wayne Heideman

Abstain: N/A

President Verkuilen declared the motion carried by a roll call vote.

Trustee Wayne Heideman states he feels this rate structure gives the high usage customers a better rate. Trustee Bill Riggins, Jr., stated this is just a bridge to get us started. After much discussion it was determined there needs to be further research on these numbers.

Notification of the rate increase will be added to the monthly bills, put on facebook, our website, in the minutes, and in the paper.

Sign Ordinance: Discussion continues on a sign ordinance proposal.

Minutes – Village Board –July 11, 2016 Page 5

Announcement: N/A

There being no further business, Trustee Elizabeth Rollins made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was second by Trustee Darrell “Duey” Blair. The motion was passed by voice vote. President Verkuilen declared the meeting adjourned by a unanimous vote at 8:52

p.m.

Submitted by, Approved by,

___________________________ _______________________

Judy Reiser, Village Clerk Jim Verkuilen, President