Kankakee Times

Village of St.Anne Village Board met March 11.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

President O’Connell called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Deputy Clerk Sutherland called the roll, and the following trustees answered present: Wendt, Abrassart, Farber, O’Connell, Grubbs and Jennings. Deputy Clerk Sutherland reported the roll, and President O’Connell declared that a quorum existed for the transaction of public business. Attorney Meyer, Treasurer Leveque, Clerk Ken Blum, Public Works Director Don Leveque, Building Inspector Jim Hudson, Interim Police Chief Henry David, David Skelly, and local residents Savannah Blake, Laura Wendt, Tony Soucie and Jerry Stam were also present.

Tony Soucie reported that he had met with Deputy Clerk, Chris Sutherland, about renting the park pavilion on 2 future dates for his organization, Illinois Strongman Association, to hold competitions. He assured the Board he would provide necessary documentation that his organization carries their own insurance. He was given permission to use the facility on May 4. 2019, but that he would be ‘on hold’ regarding September 21, 2019 until the Pumpkin Festival committee makes their plans. Savannah Blake spoke on behalf of the newly formed Pumpkinfest committee that there was a 7member committee in place to take charge of the Pumpkinfest for 2019.

President O’Connell asked if there were any questions or corrections to the minutes of the Feb,11, 2019 regular meeting. Hearing none, he asked for a motion to approve them. It was moved by Trustee Jennings and seconded by Trustee Abrassart that the minutes be approved. Upon voice vote, all trustees present voted favorably, and President O’Connell declared the motion carried. The President then asked if there were any questions or corrections for the Special Meeting, March 7 minutes. Hearing none, he asked for a motion to approve the Mar.7 Special Meeting minutes. Motion was made by Trustee Farber, seconded by Trustee Wendt, and after voice vote, all trustees voting favorably, the motion was carried. to be approved. The President then asked if there were any questions or corrections for the Special Meeting’s Executive Session March 7 minutes. Hearing none, he asked for a motion to approve the Mar.7 Executive Session minutes. Motion was made by Trustee O’Connell, seconded by Trustee Abrassartt, and after voice vote, all trustees voting favorably, the motion was carried.

Treasurer Leveque reported the fund balances. President O’Connell then asked if there were any questions or comments on her report. Hearing none, he asked for a motion to approve the report. It was moved by Trustee Abrassart and seconded by Trustee Jennings that the treasurer’s report be approved. Upon roll call vote, all trustees present voted favorably and President O’Connell declared the motion carried.

Deputy Clerk Sutherland requested that the dates for the 2019 Village Garage Sales be set for May 17-18 and August 9-10. Motion was made by Trustee Jennings, seconded by Trustee Farber, and after a voice vote where all trustees present voted favorably, the motion to accept the suggested dates was made. Deputy Clerk Sutherland then requested for the help of 2 trustees to assist her and Clerk Blum in reviewing all executive minutes. Trustee Abrassart and Trustee Farber agreed to assist with this task.

At this time Trustee O’Connell made a motion to amend the agenda in order to address the Pumpkinfest committee issue. It was seconded by Trustee Jennings and after a voice vote, where all present voted favorably, the motion was carried. President O’Connell went on to ask for a motion to approve Savannah Blake and her committee to move forward with their efforts to direct the Pumpkinfest for September 20-22, 2019. Trustee Abrassart made the motion, seconded by Trustee Jennings, and after a voice vote, where all trustees present, voted favorably, the motion was carried. Trustee Wendt agreed to be the liaison for the festival committee.

President O’Connell distributed a handout to outline topics for discussion. (copy to follow) President O’Connell has spoken to Mike Lambert and was assured that the FS road project is still in their plans for May 2019. President O’Connell reported he had been in contact with a party that is serious about purchasing the lot on Sheffield where a condemned house sits. He would like to move forward with the legal action in order for the village to tear the house down. The President asked if the instructions were in hand for the donated playground equipment. Trustee Wendt said it was and they were ready to move forward with this project when the weather was better. President O’Connell asked if it was possible for board approval for village expenditures up to $1,000 to be made by the president without the need of a special meeting. Attorney Meyer advised this could not be done without an ordinance

Attorney Meyer reported she is working with Stirling Codifiers on getting the Village Code Book up to date.

Trustee Jennings gave the police report. He read the report as follows: 6 traffic citations, 29 written warnings, 1 ordinance ticket, 1 accident report, 4 general case reports, 29 miscellaneous reports, and 10 agency assists. Officers worked 553 regular hours, 0 holiday hours and 33 overtime hours. In doing so, they drove 3,190.5 miles. There were $0 reported in fines, $0 for the vehicle fund, $4.00 in e-citation funds for a total of $220.37 total disbursement deposited with the treasurer. Trustee Jennings asked for a thank-you gift and card be sent to Grant Park Police Chief Carl Frey for his assistance with the village police chief search. President O’Connell requested a motion to send a thank you card, along with a $250Visa card to show the village’s appreciation to Chief Frey. Motion was made by Trustee Jennings, seconded by Trustee Farber, and after a roll call vote, where all trustees present voted favorably, the motion was carried.

Trustee O’Connell reported that the Publics Work committee had met and that all sewer mains will be considered village sewer mains. There are not any private mains. A motion was made by Trustee Jennings, seconded by Trustee Wendt to reimburse homeowners Gary Leveque and Lucas O’Connell with $500 toward the cost of their hook up to the village sewer main. After a roll call vote, where 5 of the trustees present voted favorably, the motion was carried. Trustee Abrassart voted against the motion.

Trustee Farber reported there was not a building permit report this month. The committee has learned that Ralph Wilkening, the property owner, is getting bids to tear down the remains of the apartments on Chicago Avenue that he owns that were destroyed by fire on Chicago Avenue.

Trustee Wendt said that he has been working with the Publics Work Department making plans to install some of the donated playground equipment in the area west of the pavilion at the park ponds. He said they have the manuals. He went on to request $600 to purchase some nice trees for the pond area. Motion was made by Trustee Grubbs, seconded by Trustee O’Connell, and after roll call vote, where all trustees present voted favorably, the motion to purchase the trees was passed. Trustee Wendt went on to request $300 to purchase fish for the village ponds. Motion was made by Trustee Farber, seconded by Trustee O’Connell, and after roll call vote, where all trustees present voted favorably, the motion to purchase fish was passed. Trustee Grubbs reported he was still working on the installation of lighting for the park pond area.

Trustee Abrassart opened discussion on the condition of the village’s backhoe. There are features on the backhoe that no longer work properly, and Public Works Director Don Leveque stated various ways the backhoe is used.

Trustee Grubbs reported that the bills had been examined by committee and recommended approval for payment. It was moved by Trustee Grubbs and seconded by Trustee Farber that the above recommendation be approved and the bills authorized for payment. Upon roll call vote, all trustees voted favorably, and President O’Connell declared the motion carried.

Trustee Jennings made a motion to go into executive session at 7:53 to discuss the police chief search. Motions was seconded by Trustee O’Connell and after a voice vote, where all present trustees voted favorably, the motion was carried.

When asked if there was any new or any unfinished business , Trustee Farber said that he had been approached by some members of the St. Anne Youth Group about hosting Fourth of July festivities as a fund raiser for their organization. He said they would get their ideas together and present at the April Board Meeting.

President O’Connell then asked if there was any further public business to come before the board. Hearing none, he asked for a motion to adjourn. It was moved by Trustee Jennings and seconded by Trustee Wendt that the meeting be adjourned. Upon voice vote, all trustees present voted favorably, and President O’Connell declared the motion carried. The President then adjourned the meeting at 8:15p.m.

http://villageofstanne.com/pominutes3-11-19,%20minutes.pdf