Sangamon Sun

Village of Jerome Board of Trustees met March 18.

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 6:31 pm.

Pledge of Allegiance President Lopez led all those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call 

Clerk Cave called the roll: 

Trustee Lael 

Trustee De Hart 

Trustee Ralph Irons 

Trustee Smith 

Trustee Leigh Irons 

Trustee Philip Raftis 

President Lopez 

Attorney Brokaw 

Treasurer Roth

Present 

President Mike Lopez 

Trustees Kathy DeHart, Leigh Irons, Ralph Irons, Dale Lael, Christina Smith, Philip Raftis 

Clerk Lisa Cave 

Attorney Jason Brokaw

Approval of Minutes

March 4, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes

A motion was made by Trustee Leigh Irons to approve the Minutes of the March 4, 2021 Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees. The motion was seconded by Trustee Ralph Irons.

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 21-22 

President Lopez stated that Warrant List 21-22 dated March 18, 2021 totaled $31,113.15. Treasurer Roth added that of this amount $6,061.90 will be paid from the General Revenue Fund and $25,051.25 will be paid from the Water Fund.

Warrants will not be mailed until next week.

A motion was made by Trustee Lael to approve Warrant List 21-22 dated March 18, 2021 for a total of $31,113.15. 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.

Visitors Acknowledgement President Lopez opened the Visitors Acknowledgement portion of the meeting at 6:36 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 pm, the day of the meeting.

Clerk Cave stated no public comment had been received. This portion of the meeting closed at 6:37 pm

Reports from Village Departments

A. Public Health 

Trustee L. Irons reported there are couches out, TVs and cars in the yards. Letters will go out to the residents and if they are rentals they will also send to the landlords. With the way the post office has delivered mail, Trustee L. Irons will set up a meeting with Chief Estill to see if the police can hand deliver them again this year. Trustee Lael agreed that is a good idea to have them hand delivered.

B. Public Works 

Trustee Raftis wanted to remind residents to keep your ditches and gutters clear of debris. We need help to get the water moving.

C. Public Property Trustee DeHart reported she is waiting on a call back for Comcast to make an appointment for WIFI in the Civic Center and equipment in the Board room. Trustee DeHart stated she is still formalizing the bids for the removal of branches. Trustee DeHart wanted to remind everyone that Dave is on vacation from the 20th to the 28th of this month and he has replaced the ceiling lights in the hall and there was a mold issue in the hall, if you see anything please report it to Dave or to Trustee DeHart to mitigate.

D. Building & Zoning 

Trustee Lael reported the new home construction on Urban had trusses delivered on Monday and the new building on Wabash is closed in and is progressing.

E. Public Safety 

Trustee Smith had nothing to report..

F. Water Department 

Trustee R. Irons had nothing to report.

G. Village Treasurer 

Treasurer Roth stated he has sent out his report to the Board. The Village has received the $68,293.18 from the Covid-Cares Act. Treasurer Roth has a conference call tomorrow with IEMA to walk him through the process of federal funds reimbursement. We received the largest amount for gaming revenue for the month of February was a little over $14,000, this could be part of the previous month, but we won't know until the next month. Treasurer Roth has met with Trustee Raftis and President Lopez regarding the grant applications. Treasurer Roth has shared with the Board the Draft Budget for Fy 2022 which still needs additional cuts of about $117,000 to have a balanced budget. Trustees are asked to send to Treasurer Roth their priorities of expenses for this next fiscal year so he may present the next draft of the budget at the first meeting in April. Treasurer Roth believes the Board should pass the communication fee of $0.89, that is charged each month for the new meters to the customer to help the water account balance and not absorb the cost. The Water department's overhead would be reduced by about $6500 annually.

Treasurer Roth provided each member of the Board his bi-monthly report. There will be approximately $450,823.10 in the Illinois Funds GRF account and $56,015.74 in the MFT funds. There is approximately $86, 167.66 in the INB GRF account (which includes the CURES Act reimbursement) and $249,906.23 in the INB Water account. The other bank account balances are as follows: Law Enforcement - DUI - $22. 10; Law Enforcement - Vehicle - $457.43; 1% NHR - $413,789.81; Road & Bridge - $18,526.27; Police Equipment Fund - $39.83, Cannabis Fund - $1,291.59, and for the MFT-Rebuild Illinois fund - $36,378.98.

H. Village Clerk 

Clerk Cave stated she had nothing to report.

1. Village Attorney 

Attorney Brokaw had nothing to report.

J. Village President 

President Lopez reported the following:

The next two meetings could be lengthy due to the FY 2022 budget approval. Please reach out to Treasurer Roth on projects for funding, priority lists, and budget cuts. Treasurer Roth stated to rank your priorities to ensure we do not cut the highest priority. President Lopez stated he would like the newsletter to get out soon, so anyone that has any ideas for the newsletter please submit it to Clerk Cave and myself. Items that need included in the newsletter are when the limb pickup and the parameters of the pickup size, civic events, parade, other community events, what day the park will open with what limitations will consist of, public safety and what the revenues will look like.

President Lopez thanked Treasurer Roth on all his hard work to assist the reimbursements through the Cares Act. ARP program will provide all municipalities additional funding to help the municipalities from COVID. It appears we will receive $200,000. Half of that, $100,000 will be sent to us in the next 6 months or so and the remainder of the $100,000 in the late summer of 2022. No word yet as to how these funds can be spent.

President Lopez wants to encourage all Trustees, Employees and residents to make an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine, getting vaccinated is not required but is encouraged. Businesses is bouncing back up slowly; the Barrel Head has opened back up with limited hours. Hats off to the Jerome Police Department, with the crime increased around the Springfield area surrounding Jerome, we are blessed with their coverage. Decisions will need to be made on how the board will operate when we resume public meetings in the civic center and opening the office to the public. Please be conscious to wear your mask inside the office.

Old Business

A. Appointment of Individuals to Village Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Commission

Trustee Lael has one person for the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Commission. Jake Tripp.

A motion was made by Trustee Lael to appoint Jake Tripp to the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Commission. The motion was seconded by Trustee DeHart.

Roll Call Vote: 

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

The motion carried.

New Business

A. Discussion of and Approval of Wear Parts Replacement for the Durapatcher

Trustee Raftis stated the Village needs general replacement parts for maintenance on the Durapatcher. Dave Wilken stated the hoses on the machine are original hoses and need to be replaced. Total of costs for the replacement parts are $543.76. Two hoses two different lengths are priced differently, one is $276.99 and the other is $250.20, and a replacement fuel cap is $76.99, bringing the total to $543.76.

A motion was made by Trustee Raftis to spend $543.76 on wear parts replacement for the Durapatcher. 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 of and Approval of Purchase Replacement of Salt Shed Doors

Trustee DeHart stated the salt shed doors are needing replaced. There are no latches or bottom rails. Two companies refused to submit a bid, Custom Structures out of Ashland is the bid we have for $2,850.00. Trustee Lael stated the doors have needed repaired for years.

A motion was made by Trustee De Hart to spend $2,900.00 to replace and install the salt shed doors from Custom Structures from Ashland. 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.

C. Discussion and Approval to Purchase and Install Police and Mosquito Garage Door Openers

Trustee DeHart stated the motors, and the remote controls are having issues. They are not working. Springfield Overhead Doors bid was $1,361.00, includes installation and motors with lifetime warranty. The motor and control board has gone out in two garages. We are unable to get the replacement parts for them. Midwest Garage Doors would not honor the bid that we were given as their employee was terminated.

A motion was made by Trustee DeHart to approve $1,361.00 payable to Springfield Overhead Doors to purchase 3 units of overhead garage doors with motors and keypads. The motion was seconded by Trustee Lael.

Roll Call Vote: 

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

The motion carried.

C. Discussion and Consideration of FY22 Budget Draft

Tabled to the next meeting.

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)) and minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the Open Meetings Act for purposes of approval by the Body (5 İLCS 120/2(c)(21)). Trustee L. Irons 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 7:11 pm.

The Board returned from Executive Session at 8:08 pm.

Clerk Cave called the roll. 

Present: 

President Mike Lopez 

Trustees Kathy DeHart, Leigh Irons, Ralph Irons, Dale Lael, Philip Raftis, Christina Smith Clerk Lisa Cave Attorney Jason Brokaw Treasurer Roth

President Lopez asked Trustee DeHart to report back with a timeline on when the park can reopen, estimated date, what issues we have for the kitchen, rest rooms and library with the guidelines from the Governor.

Adjournment

A motion was made by Trustee Lael 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 8:11 pm.

https://www.villageofjerome.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/03182021-VillageBoardMinutes.pdf