Kankakee Times

Village of Onarga Village Board of Trustees met March 12.

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

1. Call to order at 7:00 p.m.

Cultra called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

2. Roll Call

Shane Cultra, Village President; Fred Walraven, Trustee; Andy McCann, Trustee; Angie Martinez, Trustee; Matt Clark, Trustee; Holly Zirkle, Trustee; Claudia Ramirez, Trustee: Stephanie VonDrehle, Village Clerk; Tommy Davis, Village Treasurer; Tim Hamilton, Village Supervisor, Stephanie Wilson, Park Coordinator; Doug Brenner, Police Chief; Wendy Davis, Times Republic; Gilman Star.

3. Review and approval of minutes of the Village Board Meeting Minutes of Wednesday 14, 2018.

Zirkle motioned to accept the meeting minutes of Wednesday, February 14, 2018 as presented. Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried.

4. Review and approval of treasurer’s report

Clark motioned to accept the treasurer’s report as presented. Zirkle seconded the motion. The motion carried.

5. Review and approval of bills to be paid

Clark motioned to approve the bills as presented in the amount of $43,542.21. Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Clark asked the Treasurer to email these ahead of time instead of just receiving them at the meeting.

6. Public comment

There was no public comment to the Board.

7. Review of correspondence to the board

VonDrehle presented a letter from the Federated Bank on wanting to plant trees for the Village of Onarga. The letter was given to McCann for the Parks and Recreation Committee to work with the Bank on.

8. Review and Possible action on Ordinances

Clark moved to adopt Ordinance #2018-01-Golf Cart Ordinance. Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried. A roll call vote was conducted with all Aye votes.

9. Standing Committee reports

9.1 Infrastructure (Andy McCann, Holly Zirkle, and Claudia Ramirez)

McCann informed the board Ahern Keller gave has resigned and gave his 2 weeks’ notice. Keller’s last day will be March 16th. The committee and Hamilton believe Kevin Newman can take over Keller’s responsibilities with exception of the licenses Keller holds.

McCann motioned to approve Kevin Newman an increase in pay from $11.75 to $15.00 effective March 26th, to take over the responsibilities of Keller. Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried.

McCann motioned to hire Ahern Keller as an independent contractor to pay him $250 per month to continue his sewer duties, due to him having the Class 2 Sewer License that is needed to conduct these duties. Walraven seconded the motion. The motion carried.

McCann motioned to hire Roy Hurtado back at $11.76 per hour effective April 2nd. Clark seconded the motion. The motion carried.

McCann spoke to the Board on damages done to ditches on Plum and Pine streets. Hamilton has spoken with the tenants of one property, Dakota & Zach Borchers and asked Cultra to speak with the other tenants on the damage, Todd & Clifford Cook.

McCann spoke on the Ash Trees that have been previously treated and will bring more information to the Board in April’s meeting.

The meeting minutes from the Infrastructure meeting held on February 22nd, were distributed. McCann moved to approve the Infrastructure committee meeting minutes of February 22nd. Walraven seconded the motion. The motion carried.

9.1.1 McCann met with Ikins from the drainage district on some 15-inch tile that is clogged due to a tree on one of the Incobrasa properties in Onarga. Incobrasa told the village and Ikins to go ahead and cut it down at their cost.

There is also another tree on Goldenstein’s property that needs cut down. Ikins asked if the Village would pay half of the amount to get this tree removed. The cost for this would be $375. McCann motioned to approve the spending of $187.50 to remove the tree on Goldenstein’s property and split the whole total fee cost with the drainage district. Ramirez seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Clark stated he was concerned on the Village paying half of all these tree removal fees when technically it is the drainage districts job to clear these ditches.

9.1.2 There was nothing new currently on Evergreen Street Project.

9.1.2.1 VonDrehle disbursed the outstanding invoices from Piggush Engineering. McCann stated he would speak with Piggush on these invoices and find out exactly what was going on with this.

9.1.3 There was nothing new currently on the Evergreen Seminary Drainage.

9.2 Safety, Security & Enforcement (Matt Clark, Fred Walraven, and Angie Martinez)

The meeting minutes from the Safety, Security & Enforcement meeting held on February 21st, were distributed. Clark moved to approve the Safety, Security & Enforcement committee meeting minutes of February 21st. Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Brenner informed the board there are items that need to be purchased for the squad car and an active shooter vest and pouch that stays in the squad car, all items costing $1800. Brenner also informed the board that the tile in the police station needs repaired.

Clark motioned to approve the spending of $1800 on the items that are needed for the police. McCann seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Clark asked if Brenner or Hamilton could get a quote on the repairs that need to be made to the police station and bring those to board.

Brenner stated there have been a lot of burglaries in town and wanted to remind the Village to lock their home doors and car doors.

9.3 Parks and Recreation (Andy McCann, Holly Zirkle, and Angie Martinez)

Wilson stated the Thirty-One Basket Bingo is scheduled for April 22nd. She will be handing out the tickets to sell at the next board meeting. She informed the board that the 20 baskets cost a total of $783. Wilson is currently looking for sponsors.

Wilson also informed the board that the lifeguard recertification class is April 20th at the YMCA this year as Nexus will no longer be conducting these classes like has been completed in the past years. Hamilton reminded the board that there were 2 leaks in the pool liner at the end of last year and that he will be trying to fix himself but cannot guarantee anything.

9.4 Finance (Matt Clark, Fred Walraven, and Claudia Ramirez)

Clark distributed the meeting minutes for the Finance committee meetings of February 28th and March 5th. Clark moved to approve the Finance meeting minutes of February 28th and March 5th as presented. McCann seconded the motion. The motion carried.

9.4.1 Clark informed the board, there was a review of the sewer, water, and garbage rates. At this time what the Village is paying for these rates is only enough to cover Gene Mays annual contract fees, which excludes the extra fees paid for the town wide cleanup days and the leave pickup. The committee recommends that the town now put their leaves in garbage sacks and the Village will pick up those.

Clark motioned to approve the raising of sewer, water, and garbage rates. The garbage rates will increase $2.00 a month, the sewer base rate will increase by a $1.00 and the per thousand rate will increase by a $1.00, and the water base rate will increase by $.50 and the per thousand rate will increase by $.50. This will not be effective for a few months, due to an ordinance needing to be written up and approved. Walraven seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Clark also wanted to remind everyone to work on their budgets.

9.5 Local and Intergovernmental Communications (Angie Martinez, Andy McCann, and Holly Zirkle)

9.5.1 There was nothing new currently for the Onarga Digital Sign

9.6 Building Standards (Matt Clark, Fred Walraven, and Claudia Ramirez)

9.6.1 There was nothing new at this time with 117 N. Chestnut Demolition.

9.6.2 There was noting new at this time with 131 N. Chestnut Demolition.

9.6.2.1 Cultra informed the board he had been contacted by 2 people on salvaging some of the items that are in 131 N. Chestnut, specifically the tin roof and 2 iron pieces by the front door for the Historical Society. Clark is concerned with safety and liability of letting someone enter this building due to the current despair of this building. Hamilton stated he could open the door and let the people look in but did not believe they could even walk on the floor. Cultra will get the key and take a look at the building and decide what to do.

9.7 TIF Committee (Matt Clark, Angie Martinez, and Andy McCann)

Clark informed the board the TIF committee needed to have a meeting. There is a proposal for a house going to be built near the school. Clark explained that the Village usually gifts the tenant the land and the water and sewer for building.

9.8 Litigation Committee (Shane Cultra, Matt Clark, Andy McCann, Angie Martinez, and Mike Tilstra) Clark stated there was a meeting and minutes will come later.

10. Old business

11. New business

Clark motioned to open public comment. Walraven seconded the motion. The motion carried. David H. Penny introduced himself to the board. He is running for County Board and wanted to inform the board on different things he would like to do to improve the county.

12. Executive session (if needed) for any lawful purpose including but not limited to: Appointment, employment, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees; Salary schedules for one or more employees; Selection of person to fill a public office or discipline, performance or removal of the occupant of a public office; Purchase or lease of real property or setting of a price for sale or lease of village property; Litigation, pending or probable.

13. Possible action on any executive session item

14. Adjournment

Clark moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 pm. Walraven seconded the motion. The motion carried.

http://www.villageofonarga.com/2018%2012%20March%20OVB%20Minutes.pdf