Sangamon Sun

Village‌ ‌Of‌ ‌Pawnee‌ ‌Board‌ ‌Of‌ ‌Trustees‌ ‌‌Met Jan.‌ ‌11.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Call to Order: 

• President Clarke called the meeting to order to 7:00pm. 

Roll Call: 

Village Clerk, Devona Martin called roll Trustees in attendance: Todd Richeson, Jan Bowsher, Patrick Murphy, David Skinner, Troy Squires Trustees Absent: Phillip Thompson Also in attendance: Attorney Don Cravens, Treasurer Kelly Thein, Candy Kramer with the Pawnee Post, Chief Barclay Harris, Scott Cameron with Pawnee Schools, Andy Lee 

Visitor's Recognition/Comments: 

Scott Cameron with the Pawnee Schools appeared before the Board. The school's plow truck is down and they are looking at purchasing one. If it snows prior to their purchase, can the Village help them out with plowing the school? Consensus was that we will plow for them until they get their new plow. Scott Cameron advised that school has been going well with Week 2 of in-person instruction. They are currently going 4 days per week. The biggest reason they aren't going all day is lunch time. He advised educators are considered B1 with the vaccine. He is thinking the educators in Sangamon County may be up for the vaccination sometime in February. 

Clerk's Report: 

Minutes of December 14, 2020 were presented for review and approval Motion made by Trustee Skinner to approve the minutes of December 14, 2020 as presented 

Second made by Trustee Murphy Roll Call Vote Taken: Richeson-yes, Bowsher-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Squires-yes Motion Carried: (5-0) 

Personnel & Finance Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Skinner 

• Trustee Skinner read the bills payable for the first half of December in the amount of  $217,779.00. Trustee Skinner advised that the bills payable for the middle of December to now is $158,669.16. Motion made by Trustee Skinner to accept the bills payable from the middle of December to January 11, 2021 in the amount of $158,669.16. Second made by Trustee Squires Roll Call Vote Taken: Richeson-yes, Bowsher-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Squires-yes Motion Carried: (5-0) 

Gas and Water Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Squires 

• Trustee Squires advised that there were 6 shut offs for the month of December. 

Trustee Squires advised that Andy and Josh have been working on certifications. They have approximately 2 more weeks until their big test. 

• Treasurer Thein and Trustee Squires discussed the Panhandle lawsuit that we are a party to. We originally approved lawyer fees up to $10,000. We are now a little over $13,000 into it. Some of the delays have been due to COVID and the court house. Motion made by Trustee Squires to extend our attorney fees another $10,000 in the case with PEPL Second made by Trustee Richeson Roll Call Vote Taken: Richeson-yes, Bowsher-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Squires-yes Motion Carried: (5-0) 

Streets, Alley and Sidewalk Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Richeson 

Trustee Richardson advised there is nothing major doing on with streets. They have been working on keeping trucks going and working on sink holes. 

Police Committee Report: Committee Chair, President Clarke 

Chief Barclay Harris presented his monthly police report. Motion made by Trustee Murphy to approve Chief Barclay Harris's Monthly Police Report Second made by Trustee Bowsher Roll Call Vote Taken: Richeson-yes, Bowsher-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Squires-yes Motion Carried: (5-0) President Clarke acknowledged the great job done by the police department during this difficult time. President Clarke discussed the Mercedes. We've had a few offers, but we decided, at the advice of our attorney, to do sealed bids. We have always done sealed bids in the past and agreed we should continue this precedence. Motion made by Trustee Murphy to approve Ordinance 21-02 to sell surplus village property. 

For the ordinance, it is for the Mercedes. Second made by Trustee Richeson Roll Call Vote Taken: Richeson-yes, Bowsher-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Squires-yes Motion Carried: (5-0) 

Sewers and Parks: Committee Chair, Trustee Thompson 

• No report. 

Zoning Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Murphy 

• Trustee Murphy advised they have been approving minor permits. 

Trustee Skinner asked about the corner of Doc Norris and Michelle. The guy building the garage found that there are 3 inlets into the storm sewer. He would like to eliminate 1 of them. Trustee Murphy advised originally that was supposed to be a drainage swail lot. It got changed from swail lot to sellable lot at the last hour. He wonders if that is the case. Consensus was to have the engineer to look at it. Trustee Skinner will take care of it. 

Bargaining Committee: Committee Chair, President Clarke 

• No report. 

Energy: Committee Chair, President Clarke 

• No report. 

Infrastructure: Committee Chair, Trustee Richeson 

• No report. 

Motion to Exit Regular Session: 7:25pm 

Motion made by Trustee Squires to leave regular session Second made by Trustee Richeson Roll Call Vote Taken: Richeson-yes, Bowsher-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Squires-yes Motion Carried: (5-0) 

Motion to Enter Executive Session: 7:28pm 

Motion made by Trustee Richeson to enter executive session for personnel Second made by Trustee Bowsher Roll Call Vote Taken: Richeson-yes, Bowsher-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Squires-yes Motion Carried: (5-0) 

Motion to Exit Executive Session: 7:38pm 

Motion made by Trustee Skinner to exit executive session Second made by Trustee Bowsher Roll Call Vote Taken: Richeson-yes, Bowsher-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Squires-yes Motion Carried: (5-0) 

Motion to Re-enter Regular Session: 7:38pm 

Motion made by Trustee Murphy to go back into regular session Second made by Trustee Skinner Roll Call Vote Taken: Richeson-yes, Bowsher-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Squires-yes Motion Carried: (5-0) 

Unfinished Business: 

• none 

New Business: 

Treasurer Thein discussed Ordinance 21-01 -An Ordinance Amending Chapter 6, Section 1-6-2 of the Code of Ordinances of the Village of Pawnee. This has to do with IMRF. They are recommending we get paid monthly instead of quarterly. That will be for the village board. Motion made by Trustee Murphy Second made by Trustee Bowsher Roll Call Vote Taken: Richeson-yes, Bowsher-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Squires-yes Motion Carried: (5-0) Discussed the fireworks. President Clarke will make a call to the fireworks people. The Assembly of God would like to have it at the church again and they are going to have an all day event. Trustee Skinner appeared before the Board. He was designated to be the Pawnee mitigation person. Recently, the guy from the county called and wanted us to update. He put in projects for the storm sewer, sanitary lift, storm shelter, water main around the square, water line upgrade from Auburn to Pawnee. All these qualify for 75% federal subsidy and we would have to pay 25%. Tomorrow at noon is the deadline. President Clarke suggested to include 4th/5th Street from Sherman to 104. 

• Trustee Skinner advised Dennis Ross with Otter Lake has retired and Joe Hogan has stepped up. They have also hired Denzel Jines to assume operations supervisor. Trustee Murphy advised he received approval from the Park District to purchase the 2014 Ford Explorer for $7,500. Consensus was to sell the vehicle. 

Motion to Adjourn: 

Motion made by Trustee Murphy to adjourn 

Second made by Trustee Richeson Roll Call Vote Taken: Richeson-yes, Bowsher-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Squires-yes Motion Carried: (5-0) 

Meeting adjourned at 7:40pm on Monday, January 11, 2021. The next scheduled meeting of the Pawnee Village Board of Trustees is Monday, January 25, 2021 at 7:00pm at the Village Hall. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XqvygvfiEf_6OeVSOfwdzeLaIXXLl2IWKxT-5JgiEsI/edit