Sangamon Sun

Village of Pawnee Board of Trustees met May 9.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Call to Order 

President Clarke called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 

Roll Call 

Deputy Clerk Cynthia Kramer called roll 

Trustees in attendance: Brian Whitlow, Phillip Thompson, Patrick Murphy, and Troy Squires 

Trustees Absent: Steve Gudgel, David Skinner Absent also: Clerk Devona Martin Also, in attendance: Treasurer Kelly Haney, Pawnee Police Officer Eric Bertoni, Supervisors Andy Lee, Jeff Schober, Steve Haney, visitors Pastor Don Castleberry, Jerry Madsen, and Jay Smith. 

Recognition/Comment/s of Visitor's 

Pastor Don Castleberry- He attended the board meeting to personally thank trustees and Mayor Clarke for finding a solution to his back yard surface water problem/s. 

Jerry Madsen-Spoke to trustees about vehicles parked on roadway. He asked if no parking signs could be installed to prevent parking of vehicles as street/road is not as wide as others in the village. Board members replied that the village does have options, however, trustees determined first option would be to have police speak with person/persons parking on street for remedy. 

Jay Smith, Proprietor Locals - Locals purchased the building formerly housing the old Dance N Flip studio. Smith would like to open a new venue, very different from Locals beer garden, by utilizing a café style format. As the village has liquor license open for the village square because Jessica Leach moved her venue off the square, trustees opted to okay Smith's request. However, they did so with the following stipulations; Smith can retain package service, follow regulations pertaining to live music, 12 a.m. closing. Smith agreed and stated he would take several months before the new business could open. 

Clerk's Report 

The minutes of April 25, 2022 were presented for review and approval. Motion made by Trustee Murphy to approve as presented the minutes of the April 25, 2022 Village Board Meeting. Second by Trustee Squires Roll Call Vote Taken: Whitlow-yes, Thompson-present, Murphy-yes, Squires-yes, and Clarke-yes Motion Carried (5-0): 

Personnel & Finance Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Skinner 

Bills payable of $129,791.50 for the week beginning April 25 and ending May 9, 2022 was presented for review and approval. Motion made by Trustee Squires to approve bills payable for April 25 through May 9, 2022, in the amount of $129,791.50 Second by Trustee Murphy Roll Call Vote Taken: Whitlow-yes, Thompson-yes, Murphy-yes, Squires-yes Motion Carried (4-0) 

Gas and Water Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Squires 

Ordinance 22-07, Approving Water and Sewer Rate for the Village of Pawnee. This ordinance provides for a language change from sewer line to sewer tap. Motion made by Trustee Squires to approve Ordinance 22-07. Second by Trustee Thompson Roll Call Vote Taken: Whitlow-yes, Thompson-yes, Murphy-yes, Squires-yes Motion Carried (4-0) 

Streets, Alley and Sidewalk Committee Report: Committee Chair, Pat Murphy 

Employees gearing up for large project north of Route 104. 

Police Committee Report: Committee Chair, President Clarke 

No report 

Sewers and Parks: Committee Chair, Phillip Thompson . 

No report 

Zoning Committee Report: Committee Chair. Trustee Murphy 

No report 

Unfinished Business 

North Park restrooms and Village burn pile. After brief discussion, trustees decided to have police close gate to burn when restrooms are closed. Village President Jeff Clarke asked about weekends with Trustee Squires stating that he wants better signage pertaining to what items are allowed at burn pile, video surveillance, and usage by Pawnee residents only. The police will lock up on Saturday, while village employees will lock up on Sunday. The burn pile was closed due to the dumping of materials other than yard waste. The burn pile will reopen after June 1. However, if the abuse of materials continues, the village could permanently close the burn pile or issue fines of $375 minimum for the first offense, increasing proportionately for each additional offense. 

New Business 

Resolution 22-02. Motion made by Trustee Murphy to approve Resolution 22-02, stating that the Pawnee Village Board authorizes the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission on behalf of the Village of Pawnee to prepare the Sangamon-County Multi-Jurisdictional Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan which shall be reviewed by the Pawnee Village Board upon completion. By adopting the plan, it would provide eligibility for the village to receive federal hazard mitigation grant funding. Second by Trustee Thompson Roll Call Vote Taken: Whitlow-yes, Thompson-yes, Murphy-yes, Squires-yes Motion Carried (4-0) 

President's Comments 

While President Clarke did not have a comment or question, Treasurer Kelly Haney did. She asked Zoning Committee Chair Trustee Pat Murphy if there were any movement pertaining to several abandoned properties within the village. Murphy replied no. 

Motion to Adjourn: 

Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Murphy Second by Trustee Thompson Roll Call Vote Taken: Whitlow-yes, Thompson-yes, Murphy-yes, Squires-yes 

Motion Carried (4-0) Meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m. 

 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qv8rE3GZxHwEXCQjSF2hHXsTcKyI1sQMYFzNBvkbCgc/edit