Village of Jerome Board of Trustees met Aug. 1.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
Call to Order
President Lopez called the August 1, 2019 meeting of the Village of Jerome Board of Trustees to order at 6:30 pm.
Pledge of Allegiance
President Lopez led all those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call Present:
President Mike Lopez
Trustees Kathy DeHart, Leigh Irons, Ralph Irons, Dale Lael, Christina Smith, Jake Tripp
Clerk Linda Wheeland
Treasurer Steve Roth
Attorney Jason Brokaw
President Lopez noted that the Board of Trustees would go into executive session at 7:15 pm.
Approval of Minutes
July 18, 2019 Regular Meeting Minutes
A motion was made by Trustee L. Irons to approve the Minutes of the July 18, 2019 Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees. The motion was seconded by Trustee De Hart.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Trustee Lael, Trustee DeHart, Trustee R. Irons, Trustee Tripp, Trustee Smith, Trustee L. Trons
The motion carried.
July 3, 2019 Executive Session Minutes
A motion was made by Trustee L. Trons to approve the Minutes of the July 3, 2019 Executive Session of the Board of Trustees. The motion was seconded by Trustee DeHart.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Trustee Lael, Trustee DeHart, Trustee R. Irons, Trustee Tripp, Trustee Smith, Trustee L. Irons
The motion carried.
Approval of Warrant List 20-07 President Lopez noted that Warrant List 20-07 dated August 1, 2019 totaled $11,961.92.
Treasurer Roth added that of this amount $4,715.59 will be paid from the General Revenue Fund and $7,246.33 will be paid from the Water Fund.
A motion was made by Trustee Lael to approve Warrant List 20-07 dated August 1, 2019 for a total of $11,961.92. The motion was seconded by Trustee L. Irons.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Trustee Lael, Trustee DeHart, Trustee R. Irons, Trustee Tripp, Trustee Smith, Trustee L. Irons
The motion carried.
Visitors Acknowledgement
President Lopez opened the Visitors Acknowledgement portion of the meeting at 6:35 pm.
Katrina Christofilakos, a resident of Jerome and owner of the Gyro Stop located in the Village, asked the Board for their support of adult-use cannabis sales businesses. She cited the tax revenue advantages to the Village, the limited number of licenses that will be awarded in the State, the substantial financial commitment required by cannabis business owners, and her family's multi-generational roots in the village. She encouraged the Board to allow the opportunity for cannabis businesses to locate here.
This portion of the meeting closed at 6:40 pm.
Reports from Village Departments
A. Public Health Trustee L. Irons reported the following:
The Flu Shot Clinic will be held on September 30th from 9:00 to 10:00 am in the Civic Center.
She is still sending out letters regarding public health violations in the Village.
She called the garbage haulers operating in the Village to alert them to the road work taking place on West Grand Court and Fillmore Street.
B. Public Works
Trustee Tripp reported the following:
Salt has been ordered and should be delivered within in the next few weeks.
The salt purchase will be reimbursed by Woodside Township.
The Public Works staff fixed the culvert on lies Avenue. They are working east through the Village to repair potholes.
The Public Works staff installed an off-street parking space at a home on Reed Avenue east of Leonard Street. The owner had been waiting for some time for the project to be completed.
He is working on a surplus property list to be presented at the next meeting.
C. Public Property Trustee DeHart reported the following:
Three people have volunteered for the Garden Club.
Two additional people have volunteered to work at the Library.
The Library will be open during the Tuesday, August 6th ice cream social for Village residents at the United Methodist Church.
President Lopez noted that VHS tapes found at the library will be removed from the collection.
D. Building & Zoning
Trustee Lael reported the following:
The owner of property at the southwest corner of the Shop 'n Save parking lot requested access to Wabash Avenue and Chatham Road so he could develop the property. IDOT has denied an entrance to Wabash Avenue because it would be located in a right turn lane. Access on Chatham Road would be too close to the intersection.
The Mexican restaurant should be opening soon.
The owner of Hunan Restaurant is making adjustments based on issues found in building inspections.
Work on Pizza Hut is still moving along quickly.
A porch is being built on the front of the house at 3 Owens Lane without a building permit.
E. Public Safety
Trustee Smith stated she had no report.
F. Water Department
Trustee R. Irons reported the following:
The increased sewer rate approved by the Sangamon County Water Reclamation District will be posted on the Village website.
Three fire hydrants have been repaired by CWLP although the hydrant at lles Avenue and Welch Avenue needs some additional work that will be done in-house.
G. Village Treasurer
Treasurer Roth stated he had no report.
H. Village Clerk
Clerk Wheeland stated she had no report.
1. Village Attorney
Attorney Brokaw stated he had no report.
J. Village President
President Lopez reported the following:
He encourages trustees and residents to attend the ice cream social next Tuesday hosted by the United Methodist Church.
He thanked everyone who helped at the July 4th parade.
He talked to the real estate division of Nieman Foods, the new leaseholder at the former Shop 'n Save property. They have no plans to open a business there in the near future. He will send a letter to the company urging them to use the building.
The Halloween party will be held on the last Saturday in October.
Thirty-five people attended the public meeting on Monday about the West Grand Court road project.
Old Business
A. Discussion and Approval of Resolution 20-04 Regarding an Intergovernmental
Agreement for Mutual Aid with Woodside Township Attorney Brokaw explained that he is discussing changes to the agreement for mutual aid with the Woodside Township attorney. A revised agreement should be available for consideration at the next meeting. This item was tabled.
B. Discussion and Approval of Support of Cannabis Businesses Development in the Village of Jerome
Attorney Brokaw explained that any entity submitting documents to the State for approval of a cannabis business license must show that the business would be in compliance with local zoning regulations. Dispensaries are regulated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations. Cultivation businesses, craft growers, and transporting organizations are regulated by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
Local jurisdictions can prohibit cannabis businesses but if they are not prohibited they are free to locate in the community. If cannabis businesses are allowed, reasonable zoning regulations can be adopted. To prohibit such businesses would require formal action by the Board. Under current Jerome zoning, cannabis-related uses are not allowed in a residential district with the exception of home-grow for people with a medial cannabis card. Some communities are considering requiring a conditional permitted use for cannabis-related businesses. An individual business would need to go through the zoning process for approval to locate at a specific property
Attorney Brokaw added that municipalities can adopt a cannabis sales tax of up to 3%. Although cannabis sales are scheduled to start in January 2020, sales taxes will not go into effect until June 2020. There are 75 cannabis business licenses available statewide in 2020.
Attorney Brokaw said he would provide the Board with a summary of the State act.
Board members discussed the advantages of supporting cannabis businesses in the Village.
A motion was made by Trustee Lael to support cannabis businesses development in the Village of Jerome. The motion was seconded by Trustee Tripp.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Ayes: Trustee Lael, Trustee DeHart, Trustee R. Irons, Trustee Tripp, Trustee Smith, Trustee L. Irons
The motion carried.
C. Discussion and Approval of the Purchase of Water Meter Service Parts
This item was tabled.
D. Update on Thayer Avenue Rumble Strip Request
There was no update at this time.
New Business
A. Presentation of FY 2019 Audit by Pehlman and Dold
This item was tabled.
B. Discussion and Approval of Hiring a Part-Time Police Officer
This item was addressed after the Board returned from executive session.
C. Discussion and Approval of Terminating Two Part-Time Police Officers
This item was tabled.
D. Discussion and Approval of Hiring a Water Clerk
This item was addressed after the Board returned from executive session.
E. Discussion and Approval of Increased Sewer Rates
This item was addressed after the Board returned from executive session.
F. Discussion of Fines Related to Obstructions in Ditches
President Lopez asked for feedback from Board members on imposing fines related to obstructions in ditches. This issue will be discussed at the next meeting.
Executive Session
A motion was made by Trustee L. Irons to go into Executive Session to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of a specific employee or legal counsel for the public body (5 İLCS 120/2(c)(1)); collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2)); minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the Open Meetings Act for purposes of approval by the Body (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21)); meetings between internal or external auditors and governmental audit committees, finance committees, and their equivalents (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(29)); the establishment of reserves or settlement of claims as provided in the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act, if otherwise the disposition of a claim or potential claim might be prejudiced, or the review or discussion of claims, loss or risk management information, records, data, advice or communications from or with respect to any insurer of the public body or any intergovernmental risk management association or self insurance pool of which the public body is a member (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(12)); and litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is ding before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or Imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11)). Trustee R. Irons seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Trustee Lael, Trustee DeHart, Trustee R. Irons, Trustee Tripp, Trustee Smith, Trustee L, Irons
The motion carried.
The Board went into Executive Session at 7:22 pm.
The Board returned from Executive Session at 11:06 pm.
Clerk Wheeland called the roll.
Present:
President Mike Lopez Trustees Kathy DeHart, Leigh Irons, Ralph Irons, Dale Lael, Christina Smith, Jake Tripp
Clerk Linda Wheeland
Treasurer Steve Roth
Attorney Jason Brokaw
Discussion and Approval of Hiring a Water Clerk
A motion was made by Trustee R. Irons to approve the hiring of Diane Ahern for the position of water clerk at a salary of $14.00 per hour and a schedule of Monday through Friday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm and Friday from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, subject to a background check. The motion was seconded by Trustee L. Irons.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Ayes: Trustee Lael, Trustee DeHart, Trustee R. Irons, Trustee Tripp, Trustee Smith, Trustee L. Irons
The motion carried.
Discussion and Approval of Increased Sewer Rates It was noted that new sewer rates had been imposed by the Sangamon County Water Reclamation District with rates going into effect on August 1, 2019 of $12.67 for the user fee and $0.00696 for the per gallon fee.
A motion was made by Trustee Lael to accept the new sewer rates approved by the Sangamon County Water Reclamation District. The motion was seconded by Trustee R. Irons.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes; Trustee Lael, Trustee DeHart, Trustee R. Irons, Trustee Tripp, Trustee Smith, Trustee L. Irons
The motion carried.
Discussion and Approval of Hiring a Part-Time Police Officer
A motion was made by Trustee Smith to approve the re-hiring of Tricia Summerson as a part time police officer at a salary of $17.00 per hour. The motion was seconded by Trustee L. Irons.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Ayes: Trustee Lael, Trustee DeHart, Trustee R. Irons, Trustee Tripp, Trustee Smith, Trustee L. Irons
The motion carried.
Adjournment
A motion was made by Trustee R. Irons to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Trustee DeHart.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes: Trustee Lael, Trustee De Hart, Trustee R. Irons, Trustee Tripp, Trustee Smith, Trustee L. Irons
The motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 11:11 pm.
https://www.villageofjerome.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/08.01.19-MINUTES.pdf
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