Sangamon Sun

Village of Jerome Board of Trustees met Jan. 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER: The President and the Board of Trustees held the regular scheduled meeting at the Jerome Civic Center, 2901 Leonard Street, Jerome, Illinois via Zoom. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by President Lopez, followed by Roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL: The following were present:

` Mike Lopez, Village President

Kathy DeHart, Trustee of Public Property & Co Trustee Public Health

Leigh Irons, Trustee of Public Safety

Ralph Irons, Trustee of Water Department

Christina Smith, Co-Trustee of Public Health

Dale Lael, Trustee of Building & Zoning

Phil Raftis, Trustee of Public Works

Also Present:

Lisa Cave, Village Clerk

Jason Brokaw, Attorney, Giffin, Winning, Cohen & Bodewes, P.C.,

Steve Roth, Village Treasurer

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: President Lopez asked whether the Board had reviewed the December

16, 2021 Minutes and if they found need for any changes, corrections, or amendments. President Lopez asked the December 16, 2021 minutes would stand approved as amended.

Motion to approve the December 16, 2021 Meeting Minutes as amended by: Trustee Leigh Irons and 2nd by Trustee Smith

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE,

MOTION PASSES.

APPROVAL TO PAY BILLS: President Lopez asked whether the board had reviewed Warrant List 22-17 dated January 6, 2022 totaling $23,464.48. Treasurer Roth added that of this amount $6,971.45 will be paid from the General Revenue Fund, $16,095.04 will be paid from the Water Fund, $223.76 will be paid from the 1% Fund and $174.23 will be paid from Motor Fuel Tax Fund.

President Lopez asked for a motion to approve Warrant List 22-17 as presented. Motion to Approve the Bills to be Paid as presented by Trustee Smith and 2nd by Trustee Ralph Irons.

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;

MOTION PASSES.

TREASURER REPORTS: Treasurer Roth presented to the Board of Trustees the Financial Status as of January 6, 2022, via email. Revenues: We have received none of the revenue for January yet. Funds: Currently there is approximately $734,189.00 in the Illinois Funds GRF account and $103,213.22 in the MFT funds. There is approximately $29,521.44 in the INB GRF account and $202,001.58 in the INB Water account. The other bank account balances are as follows: Law Enforcement - DUI – $280.00; Law Enforcement – Vehicle - $707.43; 1% NHR - $406,345.43; Road & Bridge - $18,991.94; and Police Equipment Fund - $3,039.83, Cannabis Fund - $2,854.43, MFT-Rebuild Illinois fund – $72,757.96, and the American Rescue Plan Fund $108,115.11. The Village received Road and Bridge Funds in the amount of $18,891.94.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

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

He noted that during the time 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 Cave stated she had received no comments by email.

This portion of the meeting closed at 6:35 pm.

REPORTS:

Trustee Smith stated she is sending out letters to residents that have big leaf piles and bags in front of their home. There have been a few complaints received and Trustee Smith and Trustee DeHart will be investigating the complaints moving forward.

Trustee Raftis stated that the Public Works Department has been getting the trucks ready for snow. Trustee Raftis also reminded the board that we have always provided a Christmas tree pickup and unfortunately this was not on the agenda, although we have always done the pickup. The Village will be picking up the Christmas trees.

Trustee DeHart stated the Christmas decorations are down. Trustee DeHart also took some photographs of the complaints received and will be passing it on to Trustee Smith to get letters out to the residents.

Trustee Lael stated he has nothing to report.

Trustee Leigh Irons stated we received an application for part time officer and will schedule a time in the near future to get him in for an interview. Trustee Leigh Irons asked to continue watching out for your neighbors.

Trustee Ralph Irons stated Dave has received some of the water testing supplies that were ordered a few months back, they are coming in slowly.

Village Clerk Cave had nothing to report.

Attorney Brokaw had nothing to report.

President Lopez wanted to thank everyone at the village for working through the pandemic. Wear mask, social distance, sanitize areas and wash hands often as we are still dealing with the coronavirus. Today there was 925 positive cases today. President Lopez has instructed Dave to do an inventory of cleaning supplies and sanitization items, President Lopez has authorized him to order some new sprayers to sanitize the work areas to save funds for the Village. President Lopez wants to get the bulletin out this month for the Village residents. All liquor licenses have been renewed and only one has not been delivered. Treasurer Roth will provide all trustees in February the budgets for this year and next.

OLD BUSINESS DISCUSSION: President Lopez asked Trustee Ralph Irons and Treasurer Roth to present discussion and approval of E-Pay System for the Water Accounts. Trustee Ralph Irons stated he is excited about this program. Trustee Lael asked if when you pay through this E-Pay system where does the funds go? Treasurer Roth stated he is hoping it is set up directly to our water account. President Lopez asked how long will it take to be operational, 30 to 60 days? Treasurer Roth stated that the State Treasurer’s Office will need to set the website up and then we will put a link on our website that residents will click on, and it will take them to the new website to pay their water bill. Treasurer Roth would recommend a letter going out to all residents explaining the program and request for their email address so that we can send out their bills electronically even if they don’t utilize the program for payment, we can save money on postage on sending out the monthly bills. Treasurer Roth stated that it should be operational within 30 days. President Lopez would also like to put this in the bulletin. Trustee Smith stated that it is a no brainer that there are no costs to this compared to Invoice Cloud.

Motion to abandon Invoice Cloud and approve E-Pay System from the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office and allow the President to sign the merchant service agreements for collection of water accounts by Trustee Ralph Irons and 2nd by Trustee Smith.

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;

MOTION PASSES.

NEW BUSINESS DISCUSSION: President Lopez asked Trustee Raftis to present discussion and approval of drainage retrofit at Iles and Leonard Street. Trustee Raftis stated that there are trouble spots and water pooling at Iles and Leonard due to an undersize pipe that was installed by a homeowner years ago with a 3” tile. The water flows through an inlet on a City of Springfield residents’ property. Dave Wilken stated that the 3” tile is undersized, and it is causing potholes, pooling of water and mosquitos in that area. Dave would like to dig that up and put an 8” tile from Leonard and the crossroad on Iles from South to the North and should eliminate 75% of the water issues. Public Works would come back in the spring and grade and seed it. Nate Bottoms with the City of Springfield, the resident of Springfield and the Jerome residents are all in agreement with the work being done and Dave will provide a one-week notice. Trustee Raftis stated that with materials and possibly renting an excavator would be $2,480.00. Clerk Cave asked if doing this work on Iles will affect the grant the Village applied for on Iles work. Trustee Raftis believes that this part of the road is not in the plans we submitted to DCEO but Trustee Raftis and Treasurer Roth will verify this prior to work being done.

Motion to approve the revision of drainage at 1601 and 1605 W Iles in the amount not to exceed $2,500.00 by Trustee Raftis and 2nd by Trustee Ralph Irons.

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;

MOTION PASSES.

President Lopez presented discussion and approval the Proclamation Declaring and Continuing State of Local Disaster. Attorney Brokaw stated this will be in effect until March 3, 2022. President Lopez has asked Dave Wilken to order additional masks and sanitizing solutions and Dave is still waiting to receive the masks at this time. President Lopez read the Proclamation Declaring and Continuing State of Local Disaster.

Motion to approve the Proclamation Declaring and Continuing State of Local Disaster by Trustee Leigh Irons and 2nd by Trustee DeHart.

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;

MOTION PASSES.

ADJOURNMENT: With no further business, President Lopez asked for a motion to close the meeting at 7:12 pm. Motion was made by Trustee Leigh Irons and 2nd by Trustee Raftis.

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