Sangamon Sun

Village of Jerome Board President and the Board of Trustees met May 5.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER: The President and the Board of Trustees held a regular meeting at the Jerome Civic Center, 2901 Leonard Street, Jerome, Illinois. The meeting was called to order at 6:35 pm by Trustee Lael, followed by Roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL: The following were present:

Christina Smith, Co-Trustee of Public Health

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

Leigh Irons, Trustee of Public Safety

Ralph Irons, Trustee of Water Department

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

Absent:

Mike Lopez, Village President

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Trustee Lael asked whether the Board had reviewed the April 21, 2022, Minutes and if they found need for any changes, corrections, or amendments. Trustee Lael asked the April 21, 2022, minutes would stand approved as presented.

Motion to approve the April 21, 2022, Meeting Minutes as presented by: Trustee Leigh Irons and 2nd by Trustee Ralph Irons

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;

MOTION PASSES.

Trustee Lael asked whether the Board had reviewed the April 7, 2022, Executive Meeting Minutes and if they found need for any changes, corrections, or amendments. Trustee Lael asked the April 7, 2022, executive meeting minutes would stand approved as presented.

Motion to approve the April 7, 2022, Executive Meeting Minutes as presented by: Trustee Leigh Irons and 2nd by Trustee Ralph Irons

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;

MOTION PASSES.

Trustee Lael asked whether the Board had reviewed the April 14, 2022, Executive Meeting Minutes and if they found need for any changes, corrections, or amendments. Trustee Lael asked the April 14, 2022, executive meeting minutes would stand approved as presented.

Motion to approve the April 14, 2022, Executive Meeting Minutes as presented by: Trustee Leigh Irons and 2nd by Trustee Smith Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;

MOTION PASSES.

APPROVAL TO PAY BILLS: Trustee Lael asked whether the board had reviewed Warrant List 23-01 dated May 5, 2022, totaling $44,539.29. Treasurer Roth added that of this amount $21,365.98 will be paid from the General Revenue Fund, $22,675.04 will be paid from the Water Fund, and $115.52 will be paid from the 1% Fund and $382.75 will be paid out of Motor Fuel.

Trustee Lael asked for a motion to approve Warrant List 23-01 as presented. Motion to Approve the Bills to be Paid as presented by Trustee Smith and 2nd by Trustee Leigh 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 May 5, 2022, via email: Revenues: We have received no revenue for May as of yet. Funds: Currently there is approximately $880,636.25 in the Illinois Funds GRF account and $123,588.39 in the MFT funds. There is approximately $25,287.37 in the INB GRF account and $158,537.74 in the INB Water account. The other bank account balances are as follows: Law Enforcement - DUI – $260.00; Law Enforcement – Vehicle - $687.43; 1% NHR - $480,896.78; Road & Bridge - $18,991.94; and Police Equipment Fund - $2,893.88, Cannabis Fund - $3,817.79, MFT-Rebuild Illinois fund – $90,947.45, and the American Rescue Plan Fund $108,185.62. I filed the ARPA report to the Department of Treasury and will update as required.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Trustee Lael opened the Visitors Acknowledgement portion of the meeting at 6:43 pm. Clerk Cave stated she had received no emails.

This portion of the meeting closed at 6:43 pm.

REPORTS:

Trustee Smith was reported she has received new firepit applications, received several complaints and is working with Dave to have the dead trees removed.

Trustee Raftis stated nothing to report, Public Works is currently doing maintenance and inside work till the weather breaks.

Trustee DeHart reported that she will be handing pictures off to Trustee Smith regarding branches that are out. Trustee DeHart is looking at the middle of May to open the library and had one volunteer call into the office, Garage Sales will be June 3 and June 4th, 2022.

Trustee Lael reported that a possible restaurant could be opened at 1501 Wabash, the Wing Stop is working on the inside construction from the fire last year and Trustee Lael stated he attended the Sangamon County Hazard Mitigation Task Force meeting last week and they are asking for extensive paperwork and a survey will be on the website.

Trustee Leigh Irons reported that Alison has started classes and will continue for three months. Cody has been riding along with Kyle and he expressed his excitement coming on board to the Police Department. His classes will begin in August 2022. Officer Montgomery is patrolling Iles more to help curb the excessive speeders and Chief Forsythe is working on audit MR16s.

Trustee Ralph Irons had nothing to report.

Clerk Cave stated the Bulletin is being finalized and approved to go out next week. Attorney Brokaw had nothing to report.

OLD BUSINESS DISCUSSION: Trustee DeHart asked to table the Leasing of the Jerome Civic Center until the next meeting. Trustee Ralph Irons and Treasurer Roth asked to table the sewer increase until the next meeting.

NEW BUSINESS DISCUSSION: Trustee Lael opened discussion for the approval of Computer Upgrades by Matrix Systems Group for an amount not to exceed $20,000.00. Trustee DeHart stated that Nate Boyd from Matrix addressed the board at the last meeting to explain the details of the evaluation and the needs of the Village.

Motion to approve computer upgrades by Matrix Systems Group for an amount not to exceed $20,000.00 by Trustee DeHart and 2nd by Trustee Leigh Irons.

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;

MOTION PASSES.

Trustee Lael opened the discussion and approval of Ordinance 23-01 Authorizing Village Expenditures Pending Adoption of Annual Appropriations Ordinance.

Motion to approve Ordinance 23-01 Authorizing Village Expenditures Pending Adoption of Annual Appropriations Ordinance by Trustee Smith and 2nd by Trustee Leigh Irons.

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;

MOTION PASSES.

Trustee Lael opened the discussion and approval for Ordinance 23-02 Making Appropriations for Expenses of the Village of Jerome, Illinois for the Fiscal Year Ending April 30, 2023. Attorney Brokaw suggested tabling the Ordinance to change a typo.

Trustee Lael opened the discussion for Resolution 01-23 Authorizing the Allocation of Certain Tax Revenues to Expenditures Related to the Streets of the Village of Jerome, Illinois.

Motion to approve Resolution 01-23 Authorizing the Allocation of Certain Tax Revenues to Expenditures Related to the Streets of the Village of Jerome, Illinois by Trustee Smith and 2nd by Trustee Raftis.

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;

MOTION PASSES.

Trustee Lael opened the discussion for the advertising for temporary Summer Help. Trustee Raftis would like a laborer for the summer to cut grass, paint hydrants, and small jobs around the Village.

Motion to approve the advertisement of Temporary Summer Help on Indeed by Trustee Raftis and 2nd by Trustee Smith.

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;

MOTION PASSES.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

A motion was made by Trustee Leigh Irons to go into Executive Session to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of a specific employee or legal counsel of the public body (5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1)); minutes of meetings lawfully closed under the Open Meetings Act for purposes of approval by the Body (5ILCS 120/2(c)(21); Trustee Smith seconded the motion.

The Board went into Executive Session at 7:07 pm.

The Board returned from Executive Session at 8:02 pm.

NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED: Trustee Lael asked Treasurer Roth to address the board on the Auditors for the Fiscal Year Ending April 30, 2022. Treasurer Roth stated that he has received the letter for retaining the auditors this year and the cost is $9,775.00 which would be split between water and the board of trustees line items.

Motion to approve the Auditors for Fiscal Year Ending April 30, 2022 in the amount of $9,775.00 by Trustee Leigh Irons and 2nd by Trustee Ralph Irons.

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;

MOTION PASSES.

Trustee Ralph Irons requested the hiring of a water clerk be tabled until the next meeting and asked that the position be advertised on the Indeed website. Treasurer Roth stated he will add positions available to Indeed the temporary summer help, water clerk, secretary and police officers.

Trustee Raftis requested the Fiscal Year 2023 Raises for all Jerome Employees be tabled until the next meeting.

ADJOURNMENT: With no further business, Trustee Lael asked for a motion to close the meeting at 8:03 pm. Motion was made by Trustee Smith and 2nd by Trustee Raftis.

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