Sangamon Sun

Village of Jerome President and the Board of Trustees met Sept. 7.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of the

Village of Jerome Board

CALL TO ORDER: The President and the Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on Thursday, September 7, 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

Leigh Irons, Trustee of Public Safety

Dale Lael, Trustee of Building & Zoning

Ralph Irons, Trustee of Water Department

Phil Raftis, Trustee of Public Works

Christina Smith, Co-Trustee Public Health

Zach Sweet, Village Treasurer

Also Present:

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

Lisa Cave, Village Clerk

Steve Roth, Executive Assistant

Alison Tolley, Chief of Police

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: President Lopez asked whether the Board had reviewed the August 17, 2023, Minutes and if they found need for any changes, corrections, or amendments. President Lopez asked the August 17, 2023, minutes would stand approved as presented.

Motion to approve the August 17, 2023, 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: President Lopez asked whether the board had reviewed Warrant List 24-09 dated September 7, 2023, totaling $65,724.41. Treasurer Sweet asked the Board to remove the Webby charge for the website, as the Village paid the bill via credit card. Treasurer Sweet added that of this amount $47,309.54 will be paid from the General Revenue Fund, $1,357.74 will be paid from the 1% Fund and $17,057.13 will be paid from the Water Account. President Lopez asked for a motion to approve Warrant List 24-09 as amended.

Motion to Approve the Warrant List 24-08 totaling $66,682.52 as presented by Trustee Leigh Irons and 2nd by Trustee Ralph Irons

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE;

MOTION PASSES.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

President Lopez opened the Visitors Acknowledgement portion of the meeting at 6:34 pm.

Clerk Cave reported receiving no emails.

President Lopez introduced Robin with Pehlman & Dold P.C. they are the auditors for the Village. Robin stated that with the help of the staff, the audit was conducted and there were no findings. Robin reported that funds have increased this fiscal year. President Lopez asked the Board if they had any questions for Robin and after hearing none, she thanked the Board and left the meeting.

Sharon Masterson asked the Board who has taken over Shop n Save and what they are doing there and is still concerned about the house across from her on Homewood. President Lopez stated Shop n Save was bought by Niemann Foods and they are being tight lipped about it. President Lopez also stated that when Shop n Save closed the Village thought we would not survive, but we are, and we are thriving. Attorney Brokaw stated that the home on Homewood has been sent over to Sangamon County Public Health and they are taking it from here.

Heather Piepenburg, resident, stated she just wanted to come to the meetings.

Penny & Joe Canella, residents stated they are just visiting.

Teresa Sample, with Senator Doris Turner’s Office, attended the meeting for Senator Turner’s outreach program.

Steve Hemp, resident of Filmore, stated he has pictures of a yellow house on his block that does not mow the yard, grass and weeds are overgrown, they refuse to mow the ditch, he brought pictures to the Board for review.

Susan Langmeier, also a resident of Filmore, stated she gave this neighbor a mower with gas in it hoping that they would take initiative to mow, they stopped 8 ft from the ditch. The neighbors have tried to help but this has been going on for 4 years and they have all had enough.

Steve Hemp also stated that his pipe runs North and everyone keeps their ditches clean but the street is still flooded with heavy rain and everything stops at the yellow house. They do not keep their ditches clean. The Village spent over $275,000 to redo the street and water drainage and the street is ok but the one neighbor in the whole block stops the drainage. President Lopez asked if he could come by Steve’s on Monday and speak with him and discuss all the issues.

Dorothy Keys, resident, stated she likes coming to the meetings.

President Lopez is still waiting for a time for the meeting with Springfield Fire Department, City of Springfield, himself, Dave Wilken and the Attorney Brokaw regarding the flushing of the hydrants that occurred May and June of 2023. President Lopez is still entertaining creative ideas for the Iles Ave and should have something to present in 30 days, Legacy Point is breaking ground on September 20 and will generate a lot more funds for the City of Springfield and for the Village of Jerome, they are anticipating it bringing in $25,000 per weekend in sales and tax revenues. President Lopez is looking into a possible TIF program to help the businesses. Jerome Methodist Church has reached out that on September 18, 2023, at 9:30 they are celebrating 75 years in the Village of Jerome and has invited the Board and residents to attend. President Lopez also wanted to thank Chief Tolley for follow ups and is doing a great job.

This portion of the meeting closed at 6:53 pm.

REPORTS:

Trustee Smith stated she is still going through the 250 ordinance violations and issues on the property.

Trustee Smith wanted to thank Dave for his work on them and verifying properties have been taken care of. Trustee Smith is also finishing up the fire pit inspections.

Trustee Raftis stated PH Broughton will be out to repair the roads on Homewood and Maple. Street Sweeper has some parts that are on backorder. Final limb pick up for the Village residents will start October 2 through October 6, 2023. President Lopez stated that the June 29, 2023, storm had 100 loads taken out to Evans by the Public Works Department and that IEMA/FEMA reimbursement for the disaster was sent in and it could be years before the Village receives any funding from that. We anticipate receiving 75% of the expenses back to the Village. President Lopez thanked Clerk Cave and Dave Wilken on their help getting the information for the reimbursement.

Trustee DeHart stated that she is gathering bulletin items and submitting them to the Clerk. Out of 10 projects that had been approved using ARPA funds, there are only 2 projects left to do. Finishing the security master lock system and the pavement on the agenda. Trustee DeHart stated after all the updates to the library, she anticipates having the library open by the end of September with at least 5 days being open all during daylight hours. The florescent bulbs are being replaced with LED lights and the Halloween Trick or Treating will be on October 31, 2023, from 4 pm to 8 pm.

Trustee Lael stated he received a call from the architects that are employed by Niemann Foods regarding the history of the Shop n Save building. It appears when they closed, they did not leave any plans, so all the history is gone. After speaking with Joe Petty, the architect, he stated that there will be various businesses that are in the works at that location.

Trustee Leigh Irons stated Bingo will being for January February and March of 2024 on the 3rd Sunday.

October 14, 2023, will be the dumpster drop off for the Village from 8 am to 12 pm.

Trustee Ralph Irons stated roads are being repaved from the main breaks prior to August and that there were two hydrants that have failed, and they were from 1959 and 1960. The CCR has been submitted and accepted by the IEPA, EPAY started a little slow, but the Village had $12,000 come in through EPAY last month. The Village is still accepting the Cross Connection Surveys, the Village has received 236 paper copies, 118 online surveys and we are still in need of the remaining 250 customers to send in their survey.

Clerk Cave stated she needs all bulletin items by noon on Tuesday.

Attorney Brokaw reported to Sharon that he looked it up in the County records and they have inspected the home on Homewood and have sent a letter to the financial institution and has a deadline of October 19, 2023.

TREASURER REPORTS: Treasurer Sweet presented to the Board of Trustees the Financial Status via email for September 7, 2023. Revenues: We have not received the revenue for August yet. Funds: Currently there is approximately $1,109, 966.03 in the Illinois Funds GRF account and $217,582.61 in the MFT funds.

There is approximately $45,875.97 in the INB GRF account and $123,378.23 in the INB Water account. The other bank account balances are as follows: Law Enforcement - DUI – $70.36; Law Enforcement – Vehicle - $631.89; 1% NHR - $444,220.02; Road & Bridge - $19,458.78; and Police Equipment Fund - $2,893.88, Cannabis Fund - $1,884.94, MFT-Rebuild Illinois fund – $109,136.94, and the American Rescue Plan Fund $58,341.45.

OLD BUSINESS: President Lopez opened discussion and approval of the Contract for Paving and Concrete Work for Municipal Complex to meet ADA Requirements. Trustee DeHart asked to table that until the next meeting, they are needing additional bids as the only bid they received exceeds our budget.

NEW BUSINESS DISCUSSION: President Lopez opened discussion and approval of Time Management App.

President Lopez asked to table this until the next meeting.

President Lopez opened discussion and approval of the Large Item Drop Off. Trustee Leigh Irons stated that the date is October 14, 2023, and will be from 8 am to Noon. Cleetons will be the vendor as they are who the Village used last year, and it went very smoothly. Trustee Leigh irons will be contacting the County to see if there are any dump tickets we could obtain to help with the expenses.

Motion to approve the Large Item Drop off on October 14, 2023, from 8 am to Noon from Cleetons by Trustee Leigh Irons and 2nd by Trustee DeHart

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 Raftis seconded the motion.

The Board went into Executive Session at 7:18 pm.

The Board returned from Executive Session at 8:18 pm.

NEW BUSINESS DISCUSSION CONTINUED: President Lopez opened discussion and approval for the FY 23 Audit.

Motion to approve the FY 23 Audit from Pehlman & Dold P.C. by Trustee Leigh Irons and 2nd by Trustee Raftis

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE,

MOTION PASSES.

President Lopez asked for the discussion and approval of the Employee Compensation to be removed from the agenda.

President Lopez opened discussion and approval of the Advertising for Police Positions.

Motion to approve the Advertising for Police Positions both full and part time by Trustee Leigh Irons and 2nd by Trustee Lael

Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE,

MOTION PASSES.

President Lopez opened discussion and approval of the Hiring of Seasonal Employee(s).

Motion to approve the Hiring pending background check of Nicholas Cody for $15.00 per hour no benefits by Trustee Raftis and 2nd by Trustee Ralph Irons

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 8:21 pm. Motion was made by Trustee Raftis and 2nd by Trustee Leigh Irons.

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