Sangamon Sun

Village of Jerome Board of Trustees met Dec. 5.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Call to Order President Lopez called the December 5, 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 De Hart, Leigh Irons, Ralph Irons, Dale Lael, Christina Smith, Jake Tripp Clerk Linda Wheeland Attorney Jason Brokaw

Treasurer Roth arrived at the meeting during Executive Session.

Approval of Minutes

November 21, 2019 Regular Meeting Minutes A motion was made by Trustee L. Irons to approve the Minutes of the November 21, 2019 Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees. The motion was seconded by Trustee Smith.

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

The motion carried.

November 7, 2019 Executive Session Minutes

A motion was made by Trustee L. Irons to approve the Minutes of the November 7, 2019 Executive Session of the Board of Trustees. The motion was seconded by Trustee Smith.

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 20-15 President Lopez noted that Warrant List 20-15 dated December 5, 2019 totaled $21,110.06. He added that of this amount $14,102.32 will be paid from the General Revenue Fund, $6,712.34 will be paid from the Water Fund, and $295.40 will be paid from the Police Equipment Fund.

A motion was made by Trustee L. Irons to approve Warrant List 20-15 dated December 5, 2019 for a total of $21,110.06. 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.

Visitors Acknowledgement President Lopez opened the Visitors Acknowledgement portion of the meeting at 6:34 pm.

There were no public comments and this portion of the meeting closed at 6:35 pm.

Reports from Village Departments

A. Public Health Trustee L. Irons reminded residents to put stickers on yard waste bags.

B. Public Works 

Trustee Tripp reported the following:

• Dave Wilkens returned from a two-week vacation, during which he got married, on Monday.

• Joe Gragg and Bill Schlich filled in during that time and among other things cleaned the Durapatcher for winter storage and did leaf cleanup on Village property. 

• Trent Bree, the new Public Works laborer, started on Monday and has been busy with winterization activities.

• The 1991 dump truck was recently sold. It was advertised for $3,000 but the highest bid we received was $6,100.

President Lopez read a letter of resignation from Trustee Tripp effective February 21, 2020.

C. Public Property 

Trustee DeHart reported the following:

• She thanked Joe and Bill for their work while Dave was on vacation,

• The park was closed this week for the winter.

A plumber looked at the water fountain in the Civic Center but said it was too old for him to work on. • He explained what could be done to Joe Gragg and he has been working to repair it. One big problem was that the drain pipe was clogged with coffee grounds. Dave is planning to clear the pipe.

• The contractor will clean the Civic Center floors on January 17 – 19. 

• Dave has requested approximately $500 worth of battery-powered tools.

• Holiday decorations will be put up tomorrow. Trustee DeHart will work on the park and the library 

• A new Illinois flag is needed for the flagpole in front of the Civic Center. Trees on the Civic Center property need to be trimmed.

D. Building & Zoning 

Trustee Lael reported the following:

• The foundation for a new house at 1510 W. Glenn will be poured tomorrow.

• Work at The Barn restaurant is progressing.

E, Public Safety 

Trustee Smith reported the following:

• The Police Department is stretched a little thin right now and our part-time officers are not always available. Yesterday Chief Estill interviewed a candidate who works full-time at the Secretary of State's office and would like to hire him. This will be an item on the next agenda. 

• Officer Jimmy Montgomery will be filling in shifts during December. 

• Chief Estill and Officer Brewer are cleaning out the evidence room and will destroy older evidence. 

• Chief Estill is working with the Clerk to identify documents that can be destroyed. The Southern View Police Chief has offered to buy the SUV for $14,000. This would provide an opportunity to lease a third vehicle for the Police Department. 

• One of the televisions in the Police Department, which was installed when the building was constructed, has gone out and will be replaced. 

President Lopez made clear that when the Sangamon County Sheriff's Department responds to a call in Jerome they do not charge the Village anything.

F. Water Department 

Trustee R. Irons reported the following:

. The new Water Clerk started yesterday. In two weeks LOCIS and Beacon will provide training for her on their software, 

President Lopez suggested a sign be installed in the lobby stating partial payments on water bills will not be accepted.

G. Village Treasurer 

President Lopez read the financial report provided by Treasurer Roth:

. We have not received any tax revenues for December.

• Checks for the November 21st warrants were mailed out right after that meeting. Payroll was met for November 27th Checks will be mailed out following this meeting.

• The balances of various accounts are approximately as follows:

> Illinois Funds General Revenue Account - $301,069 

> Motor Fuel Tax Fund - $29 (This fund was expended for the West Grand Court project and still owes the General Revenue Fund $24,540. Treasurer Roth will reimburse the GRF as MFT funds are received.) 

> INB General Revenue Account - $39,343 

> INB Water Account - $292,202 

> 1% Account - $259,533

• We just received notice that the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) will increase from 14.37% to 20.00% in 2020.

H. Village Clerk 

Clerk Wheeland stated she had no report.

I. Village Attorney 

Attorney Brokaw reported the following:

• The collective bargaining agreement previously approved by the Board has been signed by the Unit. He will review the document to assure all agreed upon changes have been made. He asked all Board members to stop by his office to review and sign the agreement.

J. Village President 

President Lopez reported the following:

. With the holiday coming up he hopes the December 21st agenda will be light.

• The Board will start looking at the FY 2021 budget after the first of the year.

• He asked residents to look out for their neighbors' property. Packages have been reported stolen from porches around Springfield but this has not occurred in Jerome.

Old Business

A. Discussion of Fines Related to Obstructions in Ditches This item was tabled.

B. Discussion and Approval of Ordinance 20-12 Levying and Assessing Taxes for Streetlighting and Police Protection for the Village of Jerome, Illinois for the Fiscal Year Ending April 30, 2020 

Attorney Brokaw explained that two meetings ago the Board approved the estimated property taxes for property in the village. This has traditionally been done through two levies - one for streetlighting and another for police protection. The estimated taxes approved by the Board are reflected in Ordinance 20-12 with $9,148 for streetlighting and $14,656 for police protection.

A motion was made by Trustee Lael to approve Ordinance 20-12 levying and assessing taxes for streetlighting and police protection for the Village of Jerome, Illinois for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2020. 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.

New Business

A. Discussion and Approval of Compensation for Part-Time Officer

Trustee Smith noted than Officer Brewer has not had a raise in a long time and she proposed a one-time bonus of $450.

A motion was made by Trustee Smith to approve a $450 bonus for Officer Brian Brewer. The motion was seconded by Trustee Tripp.

Roll Call Vote: 

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

The motion carried.

B. Discussion and Approval of Raise for Public Works Supervisor This item was addressed after executive session.

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 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)) and minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the Open Meetings Act for purposes of approval by the Body (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21)). Trustee Smith 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 7:06 pm.

The Board returned from Executive Session at 8:32 pm.

Clerk Wheeland called the roll. 

Present: President Mike Lopez Trustees Kathy De Hart, Leigh Irons, Ralph Irons, Dale Lael, Christina Smith, Jake Tripp 

Clerk Linda Wheeland 

Attorney Jason Brokaw

Treasurer Roth

Discussion and Approval of Raise for Public Works 

Supervisor A motion was made by Trustee Tripp to approve a 3% raise and a $1,500 equity adjustment for Dave Wilken retroactive to November 8, 2019. The motion was seconded by Trustee Lael.

Roll Call Vote: 

Ayes: Trustee Lael, Trustee DeHart, Trustee R. Irons, Trustee Tripp, Trustee Smith, Trustee L, Irons

The motion carried.

Treasurer Roth informed the Board that our IMRF rate and Unemployment Insurance rate will both increase in 2020. These increases were not included in the FY 2020 budget.

Adjournment

A motion was made by Trustee L. Irons to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Trustee Tripp.

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

The motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 8:33 pm.

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