Sangamon Sun

Village of Jerome Board of Trustees met March 16

Here are the minutes provided by the board: 

CALL TO ORDER: 

The President and the Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at the Jerome Civic Center, 2901 Leonard Street, Jerome, Illinois. 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 

Christina Smith, Co-Trustee of Public Health

Leigh Irons, Trustee of Public Safety

Dale Lael, Trustee of Building & Zoning

Ralph Irons, Trustee of Water Department

Phil Raftis, Trustee of Public Works

Also Present:

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

Steve Roth, Village Treasurer

Zach Sweet, Village Treasurer in Training

Lisa Cave, Village Clerk

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:

President Lopez asked whether the Board had reviewed the March 2, 2023, Minutes and if they found need for any changes, corrections, or amendments. President Lopez asked the March 2, 2023, minutes would stand approved as presented.

Motion to approve the March 2, 2023, Meeting Minutes as presented by: Trustee Leigh Irons and 2nd by Trustee DeHart

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE; MOTION PASSES.

President Lopez asked whether the Board had reviewed the February 2, 2023, Executive Minutes and if they found need for any changes, corrections, or amendments. President Lopez asked the February 2, 2023, executive minutes would stand approved as presented.

Motion to approve the February 2, 2023, Executive Minutes as presented by: Trustee Ralph Irons and 2nd by Trustee Leigh Irons

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE; MOTION PASSES

President Lopez asked whether the Board had reviewed the February 16, 2023, Executive Minutes and if they found need for any changes, corrections, or amendments. President Lopez asked the February 16, 2023, executive minutes would stand approved as presented.

Motion to approve the February 16, 2023, Executive Minutes as presented by: Trustee Leigh Irons and 2nd by Trustee Lael

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE; MOTION PASSES

APPROVAL TO PAY BILLS: President Lopez asked whether the board had reviewed Warrant List 23-22 dated March 16, 2023, totaling $78,737.06. President Lopez added that of this amount $14,196.83 will be paid from the General Revenue Fund, $45,790.23 will be paid from the Water Account, $15,000.00 will be paid from the ARPA funds and $3,750.00 will be paid from the 1% Fund. President Lopez asked for a motion to approve Warrant List 23-22 as presented. President Lopez wanted to remind Trustees that Jessica is in training and the Trustees need to check your warrants.

Motion to Approve the Warrant List 23-22 totaling $78,737.06 as presented by Trustee Ralph Irons and 2nd by Trustee Lael

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE; MOTION PASSES. 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

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

Clerk Cave reported receiving no emails.

This portion of the meeting closed at 6:37 pm.

REPORTS: 

President Lopez stated there is no movement on Shop n Save, but has a call into Rich Niemann. Civic Center will be unavailable on April 3-4, 2023 for the Election and we will need Public Works to adjust their schedule to make sure someone is here when the open and when they close. President Lopez stated he will probably call a special meeting in April to go over the budget and he would still like to have a town hall meeting for lles Ave. Economic Interest statements are due to Sangamon County by May 1st.

Trustee Smith stated that she has received complaints on people burning garbage in their fire pits. This is not acceptable at any time. Burning in the fire pits are good from April to November only. President Lopez stated he would like letters to residents on lles and Filmore streets and will get Trustee Smith the addresses.

Trustee Raftis stated that he had a call regarding the limb pickup and he told them the week of April 3-7th, 2023.

Trustee DeHart reported the Ryan Electric is finishing up the electricity in the library and Public Works will need to do some repairs behind them. IT project is nearing completion and the meeting with the President, Clerk and Treasurer has been scheduled. Need donations and volunteers for the Easter Egg Hunt. Brandon has installed 5 new swings and the opened the park. Public Works will need to do some painting to cover up any rust spots and Bacon Van Buskirk should have the door replaced to the civic center the week of March 24, 2023. Trustee DeHart stated she will coordinate with Starfleet to upgrade the locking system and will move forward on completing her ARPA projects replacing the chairs and the racks in the civic center. Trustee DeHart asked that a blurb be put on the website that the park is open.

Trustee Lael reported that Wing Stop is not opened and there have been delays due to out of state repair men. President Lopez asked if Trustee Lael could join him meeting with Hunan.

Trustee Leigh Irons stated the Police Department is conducting interviews for the Police Department. Ads are out and folks are still applying. Officer James Winters has resigned and his last day will be on the 18th. Alison is doing well keeping the department moving.

Trustee Ralph Irons stated he met with Dave Friday on the lead and copper surveys and other items needing to roll out.

Clerk Cave stated the bulletin has been approved and are being printed and should be delivered the beginning of next week. Reminder to all the Trustees to fill out their Economic Interest Statements that has been emailed to you from Sangamon County.

Attorney Brokaw stated he had nothing to report.

TREASURER REPORTS: Treasurer Roth presented to the Board of Trustees the Financial Status as of March 16, 2023, via email: Revenues: The slight decline continues on in certain funds as it has been all year in the area of Telecom, Sales Tax, and 1%. However, it is offset by the increases in some of the other funds. Funds: There are approximately $1,140,889.22 in the Illinois Funds GRF account before I transferred the revenues for March into the 1% and Cannabis accounts. There is $182,702.70 in the MFT funds. There is approximately $30,752.56 in the INB GRF account and $210,935.46 in the INB Water account. The other bank account balances are as follows: Law Enforcement - DUI -$100.36; Law Enforcement - Vehicle - $661.89; 1% NHR - $346,945.57 (before with the March revenue is included); Road & Bridge - $19,458.78; Police Equipment Fund - $2,893.88, Cannabis Fund - $779.94 (with the March revenue not included); MFT- Rebuild Illinois fund - $109,136.94; American Rescue Funds - $120,991.25. Budget meetings are scheduled for next Monday and Wednesday.

OLD BUSINESS DISCUSSION: Trustee DeHart asked to table the Leasing of the Jerome Civic Center until the next meeting.

President Lopez opened discussion and approval of the Bids on Replacing the Roof on the Police Department. Trustee DeHart received a bid from Illinois Roofing Systems for the roof on the Police Department and it is prevailing wage. Total bid was $17,825.00.

Motion to approve the Illinois Roofing Solutions to replace the Police Department Roof not to exceed $18,000.00, by Trustee DeHart and 2nd by Trustee Leigh Irons

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE; MOTION PASSES.

President Lopez opened discussion and approval on the Water Adjustment for 11 Reed. Trustee Ralph Irons asked to be removed.

President Lopez opened discussion and approval on the Hiring of Police Officers. Trustee Leigh Irons stated she would like to table this at the next meeting as interviews are still ongoing.

President Lopez opened discussion and approval of the Hiring of a Police Chief. Trustee Leigh Irons asked to table until the next meeting.

NEW BUSINESS DISCUSSION: President Lopez opened discussion and approval of Ordinance No. 23-09 Amending Section 602.1 of the Jerome Village Code Regulating Connections with the Public Water Supply System. Attorney Brokaw stated that this is similar to what the Illinois Rural Water Ordinance states on cross connections and addresses some of the new water requirements that are being imposed by IEPA.

Motion to approve Ordinance No. 23-09 Amending Section 602.1 of the Jerome Village Code Regulating Connections with the Public Water Supply System by Trustee Ralph Irons and 2nd by Trustee Smith 

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE; MOTION PASSES. 

President Lopez opened discussion and approval of the Purchase of Lincoln Wire Feed Welder with Cart from Northern Tool. Trustee Raftis stated that the Village has been renting the welder and it is something we use quite often and that is getting to be expensive. The Village should own one.

Motion to approve the Purchase of Lincoln Wire Feed Welder with Cart from Northern Tool not to exceed $1,200.00 by Trustee Raftis and 2nd by Trustee Ralph Irons

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE; MOTION PASSES.

President Lopez opened discussion and approval of the Purchase of Power Screed with 8' and 12' Screed Bar from Home Depot. Trustee Raftis stated that this is to finish the concrete patching that is needed after repairs are made.

Motion to approve the Purchase of Power Screed with 8' and 12' Screed Bar from Home Depot not to exceed $1,700.00 by Trustee Raftis and 2nd by Trustee Ralph Irons

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 Ralph Irons seconded the motion.

The Board went into Executive Session at 7:06 pm.

The Board returned from Executive Session at 7:50 pm.

President Lopez opened discussion and approval adding Authorized Users for MyCWLP for Water Operator Usage. Trustee Ralph Irons stated the Village does not have an online account with CWLP. Creating this account will allow us to monitor the water usages and will help the Water Operator. President Lopez state he recommends Dave and Trustee Ralph Irons to be authorized users.

Motion to approve the adding of Authorized Users for MY CWLP for Water Operator Usage by Trustee Ralph Irons and 2nd by Trustee Smith

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 7:53pm. Motion was made by Trustee Lael and 2nd by Trustee Raftis.

https://www.villageofjerome.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/March-16-2023-Minutes.pdf