Sangamon Sun

Village of Jerome Board of Trustees met Aug. 15.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Call to Order President Lopez called the August 15, 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

Attorney Jason Brokaw was not present at the start of the meeting but arrived later. Treasurer Steve Roth was not present prior to the Board going into executive session but was in attendance after the Board returned from executive session.

Approval of Minutes

August 1, 2019 Regular Meeting Minutes A motion was made by Trustee L. Irons to approve the Minutes of the August 1, 2019 Regular Meeting 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 20-08 President Lopez noted that Warrant List 20-08 dated August 15, 2019 totaled $47,788.36. He added that of this amount $11,985.76 will be paid from the General Revenue Fund and $35,802.60 will be paid from the Water Fund.

A motion was made by Trustee Lael to approve Warrant List 20-08 dated August 15, 2019 for a total of $47,788.36. 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.

President Lopez reported the following:

Businesses are opening in Jerome including the Mexican restaurant last Saturday and the Pizza Hut today. On Monday he will meet with Waste Management to discuss the fact that their stickers are not available for purchase anywhere in the area, At the last meeting the Board voted to support cannabis businesses in the Village, Since then Brad Cole, Executive Director of the Illinois Municipal League, provided information indicating the State Legislature will most likely add clarification to the original bill in the fall. We have also received notification that new legislation has increased the number of video gaming terminals allowed from five to six. He asked the Board to look at the possibility of having another branch pickup over the next 90 days.

Visitors Acknowledgement President Lopez opened the Visitors Acknowledgement portion of the meeting at 6:35 pm.

Hal Pilger of Homewood Avenue stressed the need for a strong police presence in the Village.

Dorothy Keys of Fillmore Street stated that she had been approached by Ameren and Hanson Professional Services about putting communication equipment on her property. She was unsure of her rights in this proposal. President Lopez said he would follow up with her on this issue.

This portion of the meeting closed at 6:39 pm.

Reports from Village Departments

A. Public Health Trustee L. Irons reported the following:

• The flu clinic is scheduled for September 30th in the Civic Center.

She has sent a total of 77 letters to residents regarding branch piles. Those who do not comply will be fined.

• Thirty more letters will be sent.. She thanked Chief Estill for dealing with an inoperable vehicle on Homewood Court.

B. Public Works Trustee Tripp reported the following:

The branch pickup budget was exceeded with the spring pickup. Removing the large tree on the Homewood Avenue right-of-way that came down recently stretched that budget even further into the red.

Public Works Supervisor Dave Wilken reported the following:

The staff is methodically working on patching the roads with the majority of Fillmore Street done and lles Avenue from Chatham Road to Fillmore Street. There are issues on lles Avenue east of Fillmore Street that must be addressed before patching can proceed. The Village has experienced issues with storm drains because of litter in gutters that clog the drains. Eighteen drains need to be evacuated at a cost of $3,500.

President Lopez suggested the Sangamon County Water Reclamation District may help out with the storm drain project.

Trustee De Hart proposed striping lles Avenue at Chatham Road before winter,

C. Public Property Trustee DeHart reported the following:

. Dave repaired the Police Department air conditioner but it is on its last legs.. She will meet with Bill Canham tomorrow to discuss materials and prices for replacing signs at the library and the entrance to the Village,

• There are three new library volunteers.

• Three people volunteered to be on the Garden Committee.

At this point Attorney Brokaw arrived at the meeting.

D. Building & Zoning Trustee Lael reported the following:

• The food is very good at the new Mexican restaurant.

• Pizza Hut opened today and delivered free pizzas to businesses in the area.

• Hunan Restaurant passed all inspections and should be opening soon.

Dave Wilken mentioned that another restaurant going into the Jerome Mini-Mall requested a water meter.

E. Public Safety Trustee Smith reported the following:

• Corporal Schroeder's last day was July 31st Chief Estill is working hard to maintain police coverage and two former part-time officers have been re-hired.

The next meeting with the union is scheduled for August 30th.. She has worked with Chief Estill on a body camera policy.

Chief Estill reported the following:

. Sangamon County uses Jerome facilities to provide training and because of that gave the Village two new and one used taser worth $2,500. Allied Plumbing and Heating donated $1,000 to the Police Equipment Fund. The victim of a theft who had his property returned donated $1,000 to the Police Department.

The donations will be used to purchase vest carriers, body-worn cameras and equipment.

. Chief Eştill demonstrated how a body-worn camera works. He stated that the video/audio would be kept 90 days for non-criminal cases and two years for criminal cases. They cameras have night-vision and will download to a hard drive. He noted that the police vehicles already have cameras installed which engage when the car is started. Car burglars are back in the area and suspicious persons at night are being checked out.

There was a burglary on lles Avenue at a house under construction. A woman was robbed of her purse on Leonard Street.

F, Water Department Trustee R. Irons reported the following:

Installation of the smart water meters will begin next Monday, August 19th Dave prepared a letter explaining the time line for installation that is posted on the website.

Dave Wilken said that Harvey Dye Plumbing dropped off their equipment earlier today and will start installing meters at 6:30 am on Monday. They will be working for 10 hours a day Monday through Thursday and will start at lles Avenue and Chatham Road, ending with West Grand Court. They will install the easy ones first. Those meters that require additional work will be addressed last. JULIE will be called to locate utilities at those locations, Signs will be posted where meter replacement work is underway and will include the phone number for Harvey Dye Plumbing for any questions. Residents can also call the Village garage. Barring weather problems or other issues the project should be wrapped up by September 6th The new meters will be much more accurate than the old meters which were not picking up 100% of usage. Some of the old meters date from 1940, although the majority are from the 1970s. The new meters will provide data every 15 minutes, so leaks will be detected quickly.

G. Village Treasurer There was no Treasurer's report.

H. Village Clerk Clerk Wheeland stated she had no report.

1. Village Attorney Attorney Brokaw stated he had no report.

Presentation of FY 2019 Audit by Pehlman and Dold Scott Sowers from Pehlman and Dold presented an overview of the FY 2019 audit. He noted that the opinion paragraph presented a clean audit opinion with financial statements fairly reported. General Revenue Funds were $128,000 over expenses. Motor Fuel Tax Fund revenues were $77,000 less than expenses because of the road project. The Water Fund posted a $42,153 operating loss because less revenue came in and some expenses increased.

J. Village President President Lopez had no further report.

Old Business

A. Discussion and Approval of Resolution 20-04 Regarding an Intergovernmental

Agreement for Mutual Aid with Woodside Township Attorney Brokaw explained that other municipalities had also suggested changes to the IGA with Woodside Township. The township attorney is collecting all comments and will compile a new document for review by the municipalities.

B. Discussion and Approval of the Purchase of Water Meter Service Parts Trustee R. Irons stated that $1,245 worth of water meter service parts were needed. Dave Wilken said that extra water meter pits, centers, and incidentals would be required to be on hand for the water meter installations. Any equipment not used could be returned.

A motion was made by Trustee R. Irons to approve the purchase of water meter parts at a cost not to exceed $1,500. The motion was seconded by Trustee Lael.

Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Trustee Lael, Trustee De Hart, Trustee R. Irons, Trustee Tripp, Trustee Smith, Trustee L. Irons

The motion carried.

C. Update on Thayer Avenue Rumble Strip Request President Lopez stated that he and Trustee DeHart will meet with Kevin Kuhn, Village Engineer, to discuss the feasibility of installing a rumble strip on Thayer Avenue.

D. Presentation of FY 2019 Audit by Pehlman and Dold This item was addressed earlier in the meeting.

E. Discussion and Approval of Terminating Part-Time Police Officer(s) This item was tabled.

F. Discussion of Fines Related to Obstruction in Ditches President Lopez asked Board members to give him feedback individually on this issue before the next meeting.

New Business

A. Discussion of Allowing Chickens in Village President Lopez said a Jerome resident requested that chickens be allowed in the village. He will distribute a letter she sent to Board members.

Trustee DeHart said she was told that two years ago a petition may have been circulated supporting chickens in the Village.

B. Discussion of Restrictions on Issuance of Licenses, Permits, or Certificates for Any

Taxes Payable or Debt Owed to the Village Attorney Brokaw explained that the Board has an option to restrict non-life-threatening critical services to persons who owe money to the Village. The Board can address the restriction broadly, within reason, or in a specific manner. The Village could also enter into an agreement with the State Comptroller that would allow debts to be collected through State income taxes.

It was the consensus of the Board to have Attorney Brokaw prepare a policy restricting services for their review.

C. Discussion and Approval of Ordinance 20-06 Authorizing the Disposal of Surplus

Property Attorney Brokaw explained that Ordinance 20-06 authorizes the president or his designee to dispose of the listed personal property in Jerome's inventory that is no longer of value to the Village. Sale of the dump truck should include establishing a minimum bid, running an ad in the newspaper and posting it on the Village website, and opening bids at a Board meeting.

A motion was made by Trustee Tripp to approve Ordinance 20-06 authorizing the disposal of surplus property. 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.

D. Discussion and Approval of Body-Worn Cameras Policy for Jerome Police

Department Attorney Brokaw stated that Chief Estill had done a nice presentation on how the body-worn cameras work. The policy presented to the Board incorporates the minimum standards for such policies established by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.

made by Trustee Smith to approve the Body-Worn Cameras Policy for the Jerome Police Department. 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.

E. Discussion and Approval of Hiring a Part-Time Police Officer Chief Estill said that Cortez Luttrell has worked as an officer in the area for quite some time.

A motion was made by Trustee Smith to approve hiring Cortez Luttrell as a part-time police officer at $17.00 per hour. 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

Executive Session

A motion was made by Trustee Lael 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 ILCS 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 [LCS 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 pending 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 DeHart seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Trustee Lael, Trustee DeHart, Trustee R. Irons, Trustee Tripp, Trustee Smith, Trustee L. frons

The motion carried.

The Board went into Executive Session at 7:49 pm.

The Board returned from Executive Session at 10:32 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 (Treasurer Roth arrived during the executive session.) Attorney Jason Brokaw

Adjournment

A motion was made by Trustee L. Irons to adjourn the meeting. 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 and the meeting adjourned at 10:32 pm.

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