Sangamon Sun

Village of Pawnee Board of Trustees met Sept. 8

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

• Trustees Absent: Erika Guess

• Also in attendance: Attorney Don Craven, Village Administrator Brent Wise, Chief Barclay Harris, Jeff Schober, Travis Simpson, Jade Ishmael, Colleen Walraven

Visitor's Recognition/Comments:

• Jade Ishmael appeared before the Board to advocate for Halloween on the square. She is with Collena's closet. They would like to have it on Oct 25th from 10am - 3pm. They will involve local businesses, get vendors, have a Halloween costume contest, and have vendor trick-or-treating. She provided a copy of their proposal. She will invite businesses and invite the community. They will also have a haunted closet escape room. It will be inspected for safety. They'll also have music and entertainment. They would like to use the pavilion and have vendors set up throughout the square. The Village will provide port-a-potties and hand washing station. Consensus was to allow. They advised the Escape Room is the only charge and that money will go back to the community. They will consider a rain date. They will also contact Marsha Gehrs with Pawnee Prairie Days.

Clerk's Report:

• Minutes of August 25, 2025 were presented for review and approval

Motion made by Trustee Skinner to approve the minutes of August 25, 2025 as presented Second made by Trustee Murphy

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

Motion Carried: (5-0)

Personnel & Finance Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Skinner

• Trustee Skinner presented the bills payable for the week ending September 8, 2025 in the amount of $129,445.81

Motion made by Trustee Skinner to approve the bills payable for the week ending September 8, 2025 in the amount of $129,445.81

Second made by Trustee Murphy

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

Motion Carried: (5-0)

Gas and Water Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Walters

• Trustee Walters advised last week we went through a 3-day audit with IL Commerce. It was a 1-day visit and 2 days looking over records. They found no issues.

• Trustee Walters advised that they have been installing the new gas services on Henkle Dr. They have also been flushing hydrants on due to lack of usage.

• Trustee Walters advised that we received the OSHA letter last Friday. We had 6 violations but no fines or penalties. Andy Lee and Village Administrator Brent Wise are working on responses and training. The training is scheduled for this Wednesday and Sept 24th, All of our training will be completed by the response date of October 3.

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

• Jeff Schober advised that our current skid steerer is 20yrs old. The bucket has lots of holes and is currently getting repaired. He obtained a price on a replacement skid steerer with Bobcat. The cost is $73,980. 59 with our trade in. Our trade is $11,500 without attachments. We have to stay with bobcat brand due to the attachments that we have. President Clarke was thinking we could add this to the next budget in May 2026. Attachments are universal from old to new. The attachments aren't interchangeable between brands. If we bought this, it would be split between 3 departments.

Police Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Skinner

• Chief Barclay Harris presented the Monthly Police Report

Motion made by Trustee Skinner to approve Chief Barclay Harris's Monthly Police Report

Second made by Trustee Murphy

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

Motion Carried: (5-0)

Sewers and Parks Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Thompson

• Trustee Thompson discussed issues we are having with the lift station on 104. A letter will be sent out to area residents.

• Travis Simpson advised turf at North Park was completed last Thursday. He called Reese and they will be out there this week and will be done this week.

Zoning Committee Report: Committee Chair, Trustee Murphy

• Trustee Murphy advised that there will be a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on September 22, 2025 at 6pm. This is for a request for a variance to rezone designation and oversize building approval for a 104 x 30 pole barn for Midwest Garage at 12th and 104. Part of their property is still zoned R1.

• Trustee Murphy advised the mattress on Washington Street is resolved and 4th Street house is still moving forward.

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:

• No report

New Business:

• Village Administrator Brent Wise advised that we must have a conflict-of-interest policy required by the grant for the water main project

Motion made by Trustee Skinner to approve Resolution 25-04- A Resolution Adopting Conflict of Interest Policy

Second made by Trustee Walters

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

Motion Carried: (5-0)

Motion to Adjourn:

Motion made by Trustee Murphy to adjourn

Second made by Trustee Thompson

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

Motion Carried: (5-0)

Meeting adjourned at 7:35pm on Monday, September 8, 2025. The next scheduled meeting of the Pawnee Village Board of Trustees is Monday, September 22, 2025 at the Village Hall.

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