Sangamon Sun

Village of Jerome Board of Trustees Met Dec. 3.

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 DeHart, Leigh Irons, Ralph Irons, Dale Lael, Philip Raftis, Christina Smith Clerk Linda Wheeland Attorney Jason Brokaw Treasurer Steve Roth 

President Lopez asked for a moment of silence in memory of Joe Gragg, the Village's contractual water operator for 21 years, who passed away. He will be missed. 

Approval of Minutes 

November 19, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes A motion was made by Trustee L. Irons to approve the Minutes of the November 19, 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 21-15 This item was addressed later in the meeting. 

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

• Ameren opened the road on lles Avenue and Dave is not happy with how they repaired 

Attorney Brokaw mentioned that the Village has a franchise agreement with Ameren that covers the opening and repairing of roads by the utility company. 

• The intersection at Leonard Street and Glenn Avenue where the water main was  repaired will be patched.

• The part needed to repair the orange dump truck is not yet available.

• The Village got in on the State's salt bid for the 2021-2022 winter season. The cost is $46.43 a ton which is much less than the cost the Village is paying this year, 

• The road project on Reed Avenue is mostly complete with just a couple items left to do. President Lopez noted that Trustee Raftis and Dave Wilken met with the engineer overseeing the road project to discuss some issues that need to be resolved. 

C. Public Property 

Trustee DeHart reported the following: 

• Dave and Billy will put out the large outdoor holiday decorations on Monday. Trustee De Hart will put up the smaller decorations over the weekend. 

• Dave is buying parts for door repairs at the Police Station. 

D. Building & Zoning 

Trustee Lael stated he had no report. 

E. Public Safety 

Trustee Smith reported the following: 

. Chief Estill told her that the Village has been very quiet over the past few weeks. 

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

• CWLP has not yet had the opportunity to make the needed fire hydrant replacements. 

• Dave was able to get repair kits for three other hydrants. The kits cost $480 each while  a new hydrant costs $4,500.

• With the loss of Joe Gragg, CWLP has agreed to conduct water testing for the Village until Dave Wilken gets his water operator's certificate. Trustee R. Irons thanked President Lopez for making arrangements with the City of Springfield for water testing in the meantime. 

G. Village Treasurer This item was addressed later in the meeting. 

H. Village Clerk Clerk Wheeland reported the following: 

• Liquor Commissioner Lopez and three of the deputy liquor commissioners reviewed the liquor license and video gaming renewal applications. The other two deputy commissioners were unable to schedule a time to review the applications. Letters were sent to the applicants yesterday outlining deficiencies in the applications or noting that nothing more was needed. Four applicants had their liquor license application fee returned because they met the requirements for having that fee waived.

• Candidate packets for the April 6, 2021 Consolidated Election will be accepted at the Village Office between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm on December 14th – 18th and December 21st. The offices to be voted on are Village President and three Trustee positions. All are for four-year terms. 

I. Village Attorney 

Attorney Brokaw stated he had no report. 

J. Village President 

President Lopez reported the following: 

• He reminded the Board that the online sexual harassment prevention training must be completed by all employees and officers by the end of December. He suggested anyone having trouble accessing the link for training could contact Clerk Wheeland. 

• He reminded Board members to schedule a time to review executive session minutes  individually in the Village Board Room.

• We received a notice from Lake Area Disposal today that our garbage disposal rate will increase from $72 to $80 per month. This will still include two service calls per week to empty the dumpster.

• In January FY 22 budget worksheets will be distributed.

• The Village complex is still shut down indefinitely. He asked anyone needing to come to the office to call ahead and to wear a mask. 

Approval of Warrant List 21-15 

Treasurer Roth stated that Warrant List 21-15 dated December 3, 2020 totaled $51,616.30. Treasurer Roth added that of this amount $18,064.19 will be paid from the General Revenue Fund, $13,547.06 will be paid from the 1% Fund, and $20,005.05 will be paid from the Water Fund. 

President Lopez noted that the warrants include $15,000 for the first insurance premium payment for our policy year. The total premium has decreased from $125,000 a few years ago to around $62,000. An engineering bill from Cummins for the Reed Avenue road project and the payment to CWLP for water purchased are also included. 

A motion was made by Trustee L. Irons to approve Warrant List 21-15 dated December 3, 2020 for a total of $51,616.30. 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, 

Village Treasurer Report 

Treasurer Roth reported the following: 

• No revenues have been received yet this month. 

• Checks for the November 19th warrants were mailed out right after that meeting. Payroll  was met for November 30th Checks will be mailed out following this meeting. 

• Treasurer Roth is wrapping up the Village's funding submission to the State under the  CARES Act. He will be asking for the $68,000 allotted to Jerome and an additional $91,000 of any dollars left over. If the full amount is not received, he will submit an application to IEMA for COVID-19-related funding available through that agency.

• The balances of various accounts are approximately as follows: 

► Illinois Funds General Revenue Account - $400,031 

► Motor Fuel Tax Fund - $36,051 

► INB General Revenue Account - $23,537 

► INB Water Account - $266,307 

► 1% Account - $396,943 

► Law Enforcement DUI - $43 

► Law Enforcement Vehicle - $308 

► Road & Bridge - $17,852 

► Police Equipment Fund - $40 

► Cannabis Fund - $881 

► MFT Rebuild Illinois - $36,379 

Old Business 

There was no old business, 

New Business 

A. Discussion and Approval of Land Division at 1330 Wabash Avenue Attorney Brokaw explained that under State statute land subdivisions are controlled by the municipality. Anyone desiring to divide property in the Village must get approval of a plat survey. Mr. Zhao has presented a plat created previously to divide the parcel he owns at 1330 Wabash Avenue. The plat was reviewed by Attorney Brokaw and Clerk Wheeland. No concerns were found. The division meets the standards of the Village for two primary uses on two separate lots.

Trustee Lael said that division of the property would allow a new building to be constructed for a new business that will provide income to the Village,

Mr. Zhao stated that the surveying firm that had created the plat of division had sold their business in 2016. He is trying to get originals of the survey from the new owners.

Clerk Wheeland explained that Mr. Zhao should bring two originals and two copies of the survey to the Village Office for President Lopez to sign. Once the signed plat is recorded at the Sangamon County Recorder's Office by Mr. Zhao the building permit can be issued.

A motion was made by Trustee Lael to approve the division of 1330 Wabash Avenue into two parcels as shown on the survey presented by the property owner. 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 Ordinance 21-14 Levying and Assessing Taxes for Streetlighting and Police Protection for the Village of Jerome for the Fiscal Year Ending April 30, 2021 Attorney Brokaw explained that each year the Village adopts a budget appropriations ordinance during the first quarter of the fiscal year. An ordinance levying and assessing taxes based on the budget appropriations is then approved in December. The ordinance and a document assuring compliance with the truth in taxation law is then filed with the County Clerk. The Village did away with a corporate levy prior to enactment of the Property Tax Extension Law Limit (PTELL) and only levies taxes for streetlighting and police protection. The estimates for these levies were presented at a previous meeting as $9,357.26 for streetlighting and $14,940.42 for police protection. These numbers have not changed since the estimate.

A motion was made by Trustee Lael to approve Ordinance 21-14 levying and assessing taxes for streetlighting and police protection for the Village of Jerome for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2021. The motion was seconded by Trustee L. Irons.

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

The motion carried.

C. Discussion and Approval of Extending Appointment of Acting Sergeant This item was addressed later in the 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 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 Smith, Trustee L. Irons, Trustee Raftis

The motion carried.

The Board went into Executive Session at 7:02 pm. 

The Board returned from Executive Session at 8:22 pm. 

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 

Discussion and Approval of Extending Appointment of Acting Sergeant A motion was made by Trustee Smith to approve extending Brian Brewer's appointment as Acting Sergeant through April 30, 2021 at a rate of $25.10 per hour. 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. 

Adjournment 

A motion was made by Trustee Raftis 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 8:25 pm. 

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