Sangamon Sun

Village of Jerome Board of Trustees met Nov. 19.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Call to Order President Lopez called the 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 Clerk Wheeland called the roll. Present: President Mike Lopez Trustees Kathy De Hart, Leigh Irons, Ralph Irons, Dale Lael, Philip Raftis, Christina Smith Clerk Linda Wheeland Attorney Jason Brokaw Treasurer Steve Roth

Approval of Minutes

November 5, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes

A motion was made by Trustee Smith to approve the Minutes of the November 5, 2020 Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees. The motion was seconded by Trustee Lael.

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

The motion carried,

Approval of Warrant List 21-14 Treasurer Roth stated that Warrant List 21-14 dated November 19, 2020 totaled $28,747.54. He added that of this amount $5,718.85 will be paid from the General Revenue Fund, $374.16 will be paid from the 1% Fund, and $22,654.53 will be paid from the Water Fund.

It was noted that the dates at the top of Warrant List 21-14 were incorrect and would be changed to show the warrant list date as 11/19/2020 and the mailed date as 11/20/2020.

A motion was made by Trustee L. Irons to approve Warrant List 21-13 dated November 19, 2020 for a total of $28,747.54. The motion was seconded by Trustee R. Irons.

Roll Call Vote:

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

The motion carried.

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

He noted that during the time period when remote meetings are being held public comments must be submitted in writing to the Clerk by email or by placing them in the deposit slot outside the office front door by 6:00 p.m. the day of the meeting.

Clerk Wheeland stated no public comments had been received.

This portion of the meeting closed at 6:36 pm.

Reports from Village Departments

A. Public Health Trustee L. Irons stated she had no report.

B. Public Works Trustee Raftis reported the following:

. Most of the major roadwork on Reed Avenue is done. The contractor should be finishing work within the next week or so.

C. Public Property Trustee De Hart reported the following:

Dave ordered the needed parts and he and Billy repaired the garage door openers on the garages behind the police station. Public Works staff cleaned the Civic Center after election day rather than hiring an outside business to do the cleaning.

D. Building & Zoning Trustee Lael reported the following:

A new house will be built on the lot east of 1510 Glenn Avenue where a new house was recently constructed. A new house will be built at 1020 Urban. A new building will be built between the Asian Market and Sonic. A tree fell diagonally onto the house at 1526 Glenn Avenue and may have damaged it beyond repair.

E. Public Safety Trustee Smith reported the following:

• Part-time officer Cortez Luttrell has resigned. There are now four part-time officers.

Chief Estill reported the following:

• There was a gas leak at lles Avenue and Leonard Street.

When the tree fell on the house on Glenn Avenue no one was home.

• Criminal trespass to an unlocked vehicle occurred on Homewood Avenue.

Police officers continue to write traffic citations at lles Avenue and Park Street.

• Officer Luttrell resigned to take a job with the Sangamon County Sheriff's Department.

Officers will be attending training in December. Craig Reiser with Hyperion, a business in Jerome, set up new software for the bodycams at no cost to the Village.

F. Water Department Trustee R. Irons stated he had no report.

G. Village Treasurer Treasurer Roth reported the following:

. November revenues were received for Telecom Tax, Sales Tax, 1% Tax, Use Tax, Income Tax, and Cannabis Tax.

• October MFT funds have not been received.

October Gaming Revenue has not been received. We continue to see good numbers compared to last year with continuing increases in Income Tax, Use Tax, Sales Tax, MFT, and 1% Tax revenues. However, with indoor dining recently shut down the Sales Tax and 1% Tax could take a hit. The deficit in Gaming Revenue experienced earlier this year has almost been made up. However, with all video gaming closing down tomorrow due to COVID-19 mitigation efforts, this fund could also take a hit. Based on monthly reports, the Village is operating at a surplus with overall revenues $35,318 higher than expenses in the General Revenue accounts. That is good news and shows that the departments are monitoring their spending and keeping it to a minimum. That needs to continue. We are in better shape than some other communities right now but that surplus could decrease under the State's TIER 3 Mitigation rules going into effect tomorrow. Checks for the November 5th warrants were mailed out right after that meeting. Payroll was met for November 15th Checks will be mailed out following this meeting. Water Fund revenue is $47,000 over our payments to CWLP for water purchases and the Sangamon County Water Reclamation District for sewer charges. Taking other expenses into account, there is a surplus of $12,000. This will be used at the end of the fiscal year for the annual water meter purchase payment. Last year the Water Department was seeing a deficit every month so things have improved. He has repeatedly sent letters to the telecom companies with all the addresses in Jerome so we are accurately credited with the telecom tax. The decrease we are seeing in this tax may be due to the current societal nature of communication with few households using landlines and more texting than calling. The costs of cell phone package deals are also getting cheaper.

• The balances of various accounts are approximately as follows:

> Illinois Funds General Revenue Account - $400,000 

> Motor Fuel Tax Fund - $36,048

> INB General Revenue Account - $38,458

> INB Water Account - $262,375 

> 1% Account - $396,948 

> Law Enforcement DUI - $55

>Law Enforcement Vehicle - $318 

> Road & Bridge - $17,852 

> Police Equipment Fund - $40 

> Cannabis Fund - $882 

> MET Rebuild Minois - $36.379

H. Village Clerk Clerk Wheeland reported the following:

• Deputy Liquor Commissioners have started reviewing the liquor license and gaming permit renewal applications. The commissioners are coming in separately and three of the five commissioners have completed their review.

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

J. Village President President Lopez reported the following:

• He thanked everyone for keeping a rein on spending. We are in better shape financially than anticipated although we still need to hold the line on spending. Budget meetings will be held after the first of the year. He attended a meeting today with Sangamon County and mayors to discuss the needed financial relief for businesses and municipalities. A letter from the Sangamon County Regional Leadership Council to the Congressional Delegation and State Legislators will be released over the weekend. COVID-19 cases in Sangamon County spiked dramatically over the past week. There is hope the cases will level off in the second or third week of December. There are currently 180 COVID-related patients in Springfield hospitals.

Old Business

There was no old business.

New Business

A. Discussion and Approval of Resolution 21-13 for Maintenance Under the Illinois

Highway Code (MFT Funds) Attorney Brokaw explained that each November the Board has approved a resolution for the use of MFT funds for maintenance during the next calendar year. The amount indicated in the resolution can be amended with a subsequent resolution if needed. The resolution this year indicates the Village is changing the time frame from the calendar year to our fiscal year. The resolution therefore covers 16 months, from January 1, 2021 through April 30, 2022 to facilitate this change, rather than the calendar year,

A motion was made by Trustee Raftis to approve Resolution 21-13 for maintenance under the Illinois Highway Code for MFT funds from January 1, 2021 to April 30, 2022, modifying the time frame to coincide with the Village's fiscal year, at an amount of $15,000. The motion was seconded by Trustee R. Irons.

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

The motion carried.

B. Discussion and Approval of Resolution 21-12 Listing the Date, Time, and Place of Village of Jerome Board of Trustees Regular Meetings for 2021 President Lopez noted that each year the Board approves the meeting dates for the next calendar year. The dates are then posted on the website and at the Municipal Building and are made available to the media.

A motion was made by Trustee Smith to approve Resolution 21-12 listing the date, time, and place of Village of Jerome Board of Trustees regular meetings for 2021. The motion was seconded by Trustee L. Irons.

Roll Call Vote:

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

The motion carried.

C. Discussion and Approval of Repairs to Orange Dump Truck Dave Wilken explained that the lift cylinder in the orange dump truck is broken and is probably not rebuildable. That won't be known until it is taken in for repair. He noted that the truck is needed for salting in the winter.

Trustee Raftis said the cost of the part is $5,200 and total cost of repair would be $6,500 at Interstate Hydraulics.

A motion was made by Trustee Raftis to approve repairing the hydraulic cylinder in the lift of the orange dump truck at a cost not to exceed $6,500. The motion was seconded by Trustee R. Trons.

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

The motion carried.

Executive Session

The Board did not go into executive session.

Trustee L. Irons wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Trustee R. Irons thanked Dave Wilken for keeping the Board updated on the Reed Avenue road project.

President Lopez noted that Trustee Lael had taken pictures of the road construction.

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 Smith, Trustee L. Irons, Trustee Raftis

The motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 7:06 pm.

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