Sangamon Sun

Village of Pawnee Board of Trustees met March 28.

Here are 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: Brian Whitlow, Steve Gudgel, Patrick Murphy, David Skinner, Troy Squires

• Trustees Absent: Phillip Thompson

• Also in attendance: Treasurer Kelly Haney, Chief Barclay Harris, Candy Kramer with the Pawnee Post, Don Castleberry, Andy Lee, Rich Grooms, Mark Selhime and the Pawnee Boy Scouts

Visitor's Recognition/Comments:

• Mark Selhime and the Pawnee Boy Scouts appeared before the Board. They would like to hide geocaches in town. It is basically like an online scavenger hunt where you give coordinates and people hunt for them. There are rules. They have to be accessible 24/7 to the general public. You'll usually find them on backs of signs or backside of power box etc. They are usually camouflaged to blend in and generally 5-6ft in height. They cannot be buried. They would like to hide them at the police department, North Park, South Washington Street and maybe at the square or library. Consensus was to allow.

• Rich Grooms appeared before the Board. He has a building permit for 2018 that he would like to get renewed. He paid $300 for a variance and everything was approved through the Zoning Board. We will just update it to 2022. Agreed that point forward, they pay the $10 fee.

• Mrs. Duane Albright from 6th and Washington appeared before the Board. They want to build a retaining wall between the sidewalk and street. The gas and water are buried under it. We are going to put in a drain tile/culvert at their expense. This will level out their yard. It has already been done on that block. They will check with Schober before they start. Trustee Whitlow asked if we should have a variance on this since it is over an easement.

• Don Castleberry appeared before the Board. He appreciates the drains we put in last year. Now it seems, multiple people are running their drains to it so it is not keeping up. Last year, prior to the installation of the drains, his yard was always wet, there were mosquitoes and it smelled terrible. The village installed 2 drains but the drains are not keeping up. People are supposed to be draining sumps to the street. He doesn't know what it is but his yard is flooding. He has had to remove trees and bushes because they died because of the water. He stated there are multiple pools on the easements and he thinks that is creating problems also. President Clarke advised that point forward, we will only allow items on easements that are flow through. Trustee Squires advised no one is supposed to pump water onto someone else's property. Trustee Squires asked if Attorney Cravens could create a for 1211 and 1213 7th Street.

Clerk's Report:

• Minutes of March 14, 2022 were presented for review and approval

Motion made by Trustee Squires to approve the minutes of March 14, 2022 as presented

Second made by Trustee Skinner

Roll Call Vote Taken: Whitlow-yes, Gudgel-yes, Murphy-present, Skinner-yes, Squires-yes

Motion Carried: (5-0)

Personnel & Finance Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Skinner

Trustee Skinner presented the bills payable for the week ending March 28, 2022 in the amount of $126,394.87. This includes $35,000 to infrastructure and then $38,000 for a vehicle

Motion made by Trustee Skinner presented the bills payable for the week ending March 28, 2022 in the amount of $126,394.87.

Second made by Trustee Squires

Roll Call Vote Taken: Whitlow-yes, Gudgel-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Squires-yes

Motion Carried: (5-0)

• Treasurer Haney presented the Monthly Budget Comparison Report for the month ending February 28, 2022

Motion made by Trustee Skinner to approve Treasurer Haney's Monthly Budget Comparison Report for the month ending February 2022.

Second made by Trustee Squires

Roll Call Vote Taken: Whitlow-yes, Gudgel-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Squires-yes Motion Carried: (5-0)

Gas and Water Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Squires

• Trustee Squires advised the Board there were 9 shut offs on March 28.

• Trustee Squires wanted to remind everyone they are hydrant flushing April 4 - 29th.

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

• Trustee Whitlow advised they are doing routine maintenance and getting ready to haul out ash

Police Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Skinner

• Chief Barclay Harris advised the Board he is having a medical procedure done April 26. He would like to take 2-3 weeks off, possibly a little longer. Consensus was to allow.

• Chief Barclay Harris advised they have been working on getting everything set up for the side by side ordinance. He also advised with the warming temperatures, he is getting complaints about speeders. They are getting the speed wagon out and going to start giving tickets. He would also like to know about towing vehicles at North Park. Consensus was that he will talk to Jeff Schober about ordering signs that say no parking after park closes and vehicles will be towed.

Sewers and Parks: Committee Chair, Trustee Thompson

• No report.

Zoning Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Murphy

• Trustee Murphy advised we received our first residential home building permit in several years. It is for 700 Washington. He also has a few for pools and decks.

• Trustee Murphy asked Chief Harris if he could look to see if there have been any calls at 915 Lincoln. He is going to try to get the health department involved again and would like to add that to his letter. Last year, the county didn't want to take this hazardous case on it. It just keeps getting worse. The roof is starting to fall in and the back door is wide open. He is going to file a complaint but would like to know if there are any calls on it. Chief Harris will check.

• Trustee Murphy discussed properties with yard cars, yard boats, falling down buildings and yard junk. He wanted to see about getting together with Chief Harris to identify these properties and to give out warnings. Consensus was we will have an officer issue a zoning warning and give a certain number of days to clean it up. If they don't, Attorney Cravens will send a letter.

• Treasurer Thein advised there is a property on the north side of Madison Street by Gary and Suzette Star. The previous owner is in a nursing home and the back now has possession of the house. They are doing nothing with it. There is a tree laying against the roof, possibly holding up the garage. Trustee Murphy will take a look at it.

• Candy Kramer asked about repairs to a deck and if she needed a building permit. If she is tearing down the deck and starting over, she will need a permit. If she is just repairing the deck, she will not need a permit.

Bargaining Committee: Committee Chair, President Clarke

• none

Energy: Committee Chair, President Clarke

• none

Infrastructure: Committee Chair, President Clarke

• none

Unfinished Business:

• none

New Business:

• none

Motion to Adjourn:

Motion made by Trustee Skinner to adjourn Second made by Trustee Murphy Roll Call Vote Taken: Whitlow-yes, Gudgel-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Squires-yes Motion Carried: (5-0)

Meeting adjourned at 7:33pm on Monday, March 28, 2022. The next scheduled meeting of the Pawnee Village Board of Trustees is Monday, April 11, 2022 at 7:00pm at the Village Hall.

https://www.pawneeil.net/uploads/2/4/2/7/24273585/march_28_2022_agenda_and_board_minutes.pdf