Sangamon Sun

Village of Pawnee Board of Trustees met July 14

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Call to Order:

• President Clarke called the meeting to order at 7:00pm

Roll Call:

• Village Clerk, Devona Martin called roll

• Trustees in attendance: Dale Walters, Phillip Thompson, Troy Grant, Patrick Murphy, David Skinner, Erika Guess

• Trustees Absent: none

• Also in attendance: Attorney Don Craven, Treasurer Brent Wise, Chief Barclay Harris, Andy Lee, Travis Simpson, Bill Beatty

Visitor's Recognition/Comments:

• Bill Beatty with ESDA appeared before the Board. He provided an update on the radio and sirens. He did run a test last week. It would be easier and more efficient if officers had a handheld radio to activate the sirens. The cost would be $1,400.00. Consensus was to proceed with purchasing. They would also like to move radios from the police dept to the fire dept as there would likely be more people at the fire station than police station. The siren at the school needs replaced and they are looking into grants for this.

Clerk's Report:

• Minutes of June 23, 2025 were presented for review and approval

Motion made by Trustee Walters to approve the minutes of June 23, 2025 as presented Second made by Walter Guess

Roll Call Vote Taken: Walters-yes, Thompson-yes, Grant-yes, Murphy-present, Skinner-present, Guess-yes, Clarke-yes

Motion Carried: (6-0)

Personnel & Finance Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Skinner

• Trustee Skinner presented the bills payable for the week ending June 23, 2025 in the amount of $177,880.21

Motion made by Trustee Skinner to approve the bills payable for the week ending June 23, 2025 in the amount of $177,880.21

Second made by Trustee Thompson

Roll Call Vote Taken: Walters-yes, Thompson-yes, Grant-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Guess-yes

Motion Carried: (6-0)

Gas and Water Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Walters

• Trustee Walters advised IDOL OSHA made a visit at the worksite by the interstate and found us to be insufficient in  a couple areas, including trenching and confined spaces. Andy Lee advised they stopped to do a heat check when it was 105 degrees. They were sufficient with the heat check as they had a tent but advised it is illegal to enter a confined space without manuals or training. Andy Lee advised we've never had training for confined spaces. They only stayed for 10-15mins and advised they would be back at a later date. On July 12, at 12:30pm, Andy Lee and Brent Wise met with them and they stayed until 5:30pm. They want us to be in compliance but would not provide what we were not in compliance on. There is  a loss prevention management company that can come and do our training for $2500 and $500 for policy. Once we receive the letter, we have 30 days to make sure we are in compliance. Andy Lee would like to wait until we receive the letter to schedule any training. Consensus was we would approve the Loss Prevention Management Company to ensure we are in compliance. He can move forward once the letter is received.

Motion made by Trustee Murphy to approve no more than $5,000 to hire a Loss Prevention company to ensure we are IDOL OSHA compliant.

Second made by Trustee Walters

Roll Call Vote Taken: Walters-yes, Thompson-yes, Grant-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Guess-yes

Motion Carried: (6-0)

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

• Trustee Grant advised he spoke with Jeff Schober. They have been painting arrows in front of the school as they received complaints of people driving the wrong direction in front of the school. They are also picking up limbs and doing street cleanup. Trustee Walters asked about painting parking spots on the square. We will check into the summer help painting.

Police Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Skinner

• Chief Barclay Harris presented the Monthly Police Report. President Clarke gave kudos to Officer Bertoni who has been filling in while Chief Harris is  out on medical leave.

Motion made by Trustee Skinner to approve the police report.

Second made by Trustee Murphy

Roll Call Vote Taken: Walters-yes, Thompson-yes, Grant-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Guess-yes

Motion Carried: (6-0)

Sewers and Parks Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Thompson

• Travis Simpson advised he received 3 bids on painting at North Park. Waddell is the cheapest at $7,400.00 but cannot start until the end of October and it will take approximately 3 weeks to complete. He cannot start until October. Cenric is $11,800 and Kutcher was $16,000.00. Travis's only concern was if it takes 3 weeks, how would he leave it if it got too cold. He'll ask a few add'l questions. Cenric would only take 7 days. Currently, it has a lot of green, gray and brown. We would need to pick out a paint color.

• Motion made by Trustee Thompson to hire Mark Waddell not to exceed $8,500.00 to complete the painting at North Park preferably the fall but finish in the spring if needed.

Second made by Trustee Grant

Roll Call Vote Taken: Walters-yes, Thompson-yes, Grant-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Guess-yes

Motion Carried: (6-0)

• Travis Simpson advised they took the boards off the sides of the little pavilion at North Park and they were rotted. Discussed maybe installing metal instead of wood. He received 2 bids. One from Brock Bietel for $3,787.66 and one from Matt Kutcher for $4,600.00.

Motion made by Trustee Skinner to go with the low bidder not to exceed $4,000.00 to install tin on the little pavilion at North Park

Second made by Trustee Thompson

Roll Call Vote Taken: Walters-yes, Thompson-yes, Grant-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Guess-yes

Motion Carried: (6-0)

• Trustee Walters advised the scoreboard at North Park looks great and thanked Treasurer Brent Wise for his work.

Zoning Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Murphy

• Trustee Murphy advised 6 Brenda Drive has a building permit pending.

• Trustee Murphy gave words of thanks for the San Terra grass enforcement.

• Trustee Murphy advised we received a letter from the Capital Development Board advising we are required to have a 30 day cushion before implementing changes.

Bargaining Committee Report: Committee Chair, President Clarke

• No report

Energy Committee Report: Committee Chair, President Clarke

• No report

Infrastructure Committee Report: Committee Chair, President Clarke

• No report

Unfinished Business:

• Treasurer Brent Wise presented the Treasurer's Report for May 2025.

Motion made by Trustee Skinner to approve the Treasurer's Report for May 2025.

Second made by Trustee Walters

Roll Call Vote Taken: Walters-yes, Thompson-yes, Grant-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Guess-yes

Motion Carried: (6-0)

New Business:

• Trustee Thompson advised they opened the bids for the turf at North Park. The only bid was from J&L Strawn in the amount of $113,557.50 + $2,500.00 bond fee. This is for both playgrounds. The fence will be removed. Engineer recommended we budget for $120,000.00. Нe will also look at the Memorial here on the square. We currently have approximately $80,000 from the Ameren franchise. They can start August/September.

Motion made by Trustee Thompson to move forward with J&L Strawn Construction not to exceed $120,000 to do the turf at North Park

Second made by Trustee Skinner

Roll Call Vote Taken: Walters-yes, Thompson-yes, Grant-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Guess-yes

Motion Carried: (6-0)

• Motion made by Trustee Guess to purchase a pickup truck for the gas department not to exceed $36,000.00

Second made by Trustee Thompson

Roll Call Vote Taken: Walters-yes, Thompson-yes, Grant-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Guess-yes

Motion Carried: (6-0)

• Motion made by Trustee Thompson purchase of a golf cart not to exceed $9,800.00

Second made by Trustee Grant

Roll Call Vote Taken: Walters-yes, Thompson-yes, Grant-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Guess-yes

Motion Carried: (6-0)

• Treasurer Brent Wise advised we received a letter from RMA, our insurance company requiring that all members have a return-to-work policy.

Motion made by Trustee Murphy to approve Resolution 25-03 - A Resolution on Return-To-Work Policy

Second made by Trustee Thompson

Roll Call Vote Taken: Walters-yes, Thompson-yes, Grant-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Guess-yes

Motion Carried: (6-0)

• President Clarke advised we have received some complaints regarding decorations on the square. Discussed having a new adhoc committee. Trustee Guess and President Clarke will lead the committee along with a few residents. Trustee Guess will chair the committee. Her committee will have a plan and bring to the board. We would likely have to rent a boom.

• Discussed 2025 Village Fireworks. President Clarke advised that next year is our 250-year celebration. He would like to go bigger. He would like the Village to donate $15K and will talk to Gregg Bandy about a UTV ride to pay for the difference. He would like a $20K display. This year was $14,000.00. This would all be in contract and the increase would be a 1-year increase.

Consensus was to proceed.

• Lydia Megginson, 2025 Miss Pawnee Prairie Days is going host a Popsicle in the Park fundraiser on July 28 from 5pm -7pm. This is for 2025 school supplies.

• Discussed selling the old truck. It is a 2015 with 105K miles. It will need a transmission.

Consensus was to put $4,500 as the reserve.

• Discussed the ESDA truck. Consensus was to put $500 as the reserve.

Motion made by Trustee Murphy to Exit Regular Session

Second made by Trustee Walters

Roll Call Vote Taken: Walters-yes, Thompson-yes, Grant-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Guess-yes

Motion Carried: (6-0)

Motion made by Trustee Guess to enter Executive Session for Personnel

Second made by Trustee Skinner

Roll Call Vote Taken: Walters-yes, Thompson-yes, Grant-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Guess-yes

Motion Carried: (6-0)

Motion made by Trustee Skinner to Exit Executive Session

Second made by Trustee Guess

Roll Call Vote Taken: Walters-yes, Thompson-yes, Grant-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Guess-yes

Motion Carried: (6-0)

Motion made by Trustee Murphy to Re-Enter Regular Session

Second made by Trustee Walters

Roll Call Vote Taken: Walters-yes, Thompson-yes, Grant-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Guess-yes

Motion Carried: (6-0)

Motion to Adjourn:

• Motion made by Trustee Murphy to adjourn

Second made by Trustee Walters

Roll Call Vote Taken: Walters-yes, Thompson-yes, Grant-yes, Murphy-yes, Skinner-yes, Guess-yes

Motion Carried: (6-0)

Meeting adjourned at 8:35pm on Monday, July 14, 2025. The next scheduled meeting of the Pawnee Village Board of Trustees is Monday, July 28, 2025 at the Village Hall.

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