Kankakee Times

Village Of Onarga Village Board met Nov. 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 7:00pm.

2. Roll Call

Shane Cultra, Village President; Fred Walraven, Trustee; Angie Martinez, Trustee; Cole Rabe, Trustee, absent; Holly Zirkle, Trustee; Sarah Barnett, Trustee; Russ Geisler, Trustee; Stephanie VonDrehle, Village Clerk; Tim Hamilton, Village Supervisor; Doug Brenner, Police Chief; Becky Morgan, Park Coordinator; Neil Piggush, Village Engineer.

3. Review and approval of Regular Village Board & Executive Session Meeting Minutes of Tuesday October 15, 2019. Martinez motioned to approve the regular & executive session meeting minutes of Tuesday October 15, 2019 as presented. Zirkle seconded the motion. The motion carried.

4. Review and approval of treasurer’s report

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

5. Review and approval of bills to be paid

Walraven motioned to approve the bills to be paid in the amount of $125,815.26 as presented. Zirkle seconded the motion. The motion carried.

There was a discussion on the AT&T bills and Mickey’s. Barnett would like all bills paid this year to review, these bills are very expensive and there seem to be a lot of phones that may not be needed. Cultra would also like the finance committee to look into the Mickey’s bills as well.

6. Public comment

There was no one at the meeting for public comment.

7. Review of correspondence to the board

VonDrehle presented a thank note from the Lion’s Club for the donation the Village made for the digital sign.

8. Review and Possible Action on Ordinances

Ordinance #2019-07- Levy and Assessments of Taxes for Fiscal Year Beginning May 1, 2019 and ending April 30, 2020 Zirkle motioned to approve Ordinance #2019-07- Levy and Assessments of Taxes for Fiscal Year Beginning May 1, 2019 and ending April 30, 2020 as presented. Geisler seconded the motion. The motion carried. A roll call vote was conducted with all Aye votes with exception of Rabe who was absent.

Ordinance #2019-08- Gas Tax Ordinance-This was tabled till the next meeting.

Ordinance #2019-09- Stop Sign Ordinance-This was tabled till the next meeting.

9. Standing Committee reports

9.1 Parks and Recreation (Holly Zirkle, Russ Geisler, Angie Martinez)

Zirkle motioned to approve the Parks and Recreation Committee meeting minutes of October 22nd & 24th as presented. Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Zirkle motioned to approve the purchase of 4 garbage cans for the park in the amount $307.00 plus shipping. Geisler seconded the motion. The motion carried.

There was a discussion on fixing up Harding Field this spring so the park has 3 fields for game play. Hamilton stated he believes this will cost between $6,000-$7,000 and believes this would be very beneficial to the Village. The committee will discuss this with Hamilton and make a suggestion in the spring for this.

Morgan inquired if she needed to be present at every board meeting. Cultra told her that she would only need to be if she had something to present and during the summer months when the pool and park are being utilized. Morgan informed the board a date had been set for a park fundraiser of June 6th. This will take place in the park with Fairchild’s playing music for the event. Donations are still needed so if anyone can think of anyone who might donate please let her know or ask the person and get the donation to her. Morgan already has some donations in place.

Morgan also stated she was thinking of having a Taco Fundraiser for the park as well on May 16th when little league soccer games will be played in the park.

Morgan has set up a park committee that has met and is working together on different events to be held in the park throughout year. They would like to have some kind of event in the park every month.

9.2 Infrastructure (Fred Walraven, Sarah Barnett, Cole Rabe)

Barnett motioned to approve the Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes of November 8th as presented. Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Walraven motioned to approve the hiring of Crane Concrete & Construction to complete the sidewalk repair in front of Behrends in the amount of $15,963. Geisler seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Walraven motioned to approve Gotting Machine Shop to complete the installation of the metal hand railings for handicap accessible ramp in the amount of $2,100. Zirkle seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Walraven informed the board and gave a copy of the objections CN has for the water main repair that is under the railroad. Piggush informed the board that all CN issues are being addressed. He also suggested the possibility of applying for a grant for the repair of this water main, which could cut the Village costs 60%. Cultra asked Piggush to look into this and let the committee know if this is a possibility. Piggush will look into this.

9.2.1 There was nothing new at this time for flooding relief.

9.2.2 There was nothing new at this time for East Seminary Drainage.

9.2.3 There was a meeting conducted prior to this meeting on the Evergreen Street Repair process.

9.2.3.1 Walraven motioned to approve the adoption of Resolution #2019-08-Resolution of Support and Commitment of Local Funds as presented. This replaces Resolution #2019- 03. Geisler seconded the motion. The motion carried. A roll call vote was conducted with all Aye votes, with exception of Rabe who was absent.

Walraven motioned to approve the purchase of a Boom Mower in the amount of $5,000 to mow the drainage ditches. Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Hamilton stated he was contacted by Donna Cultra on being charged for garbage pickup when she has never had her garbage picked up due to them having a dumpster. Cultra asked for this charge to be removed going forward, which Hamilton did remove but she asked for a possible reimbursement from years prior due to them not using the service. The trustees said no to this and asked the VonDrehle to send a letter stating this information.

9.3 Safety, Security & Enforcement (Russ Geisler, Angie Martinez, Holly Zirkle)

9.3.1 Geisler motioned to not approve the Iroquois County EMS Department Communications Contract. Barnett seconded the motion. The motion carried.

9.3.2 The Board decided to table the Cannabis Sale & Taxation Discussion until next meeting.

9.4 Finance (Sarah Barnett, Fred Walraven, Cole Rabe)

9.4.1 The Board tabled the discussion on the Farm Lease until next meeting.

9.4.2 The Annual Financial Audit Discussion & Approval was tabled pending the finalization of the report.

VonDrehle asked the board what Saturday they would like Sansone to work and the board decided the third Saturday of every month would be the best. VonDrehle will have the hours posted at the Village Hall and on the Website.

9.5 Local and Intergovernmental Communications (Angie Martinez, Holly Zirkle, Russ Geisler)

9.6 Building Standards (Russ Geisler, Holly Zirkle, Angie Martinez)

Geisler spoke with Keith McGrath who owns Home Plate and he had asked if he could be paid $1,000 of the previously approved $6,000 the Village is going to pay him once he completes the renovations on his building due to the demolition of the Village building next to his. This had been approved previously however no funds were to be paid until the job was completed.

Geisler motion to approve paying Keith McGrath $1000 before all renovations had been completed. Barnett seconded the motion. The motion carried.

9.7 TIF Committee (Fred Walraven, Sarah Barnett, Cole Rabe)

9.8 Litigation Committee (Shane Cultra, Fred Walraven, Sarah Barnett, Matt Clark, and Mike Tilstra)

10. Old business

11. New business

VonDrehle inquired if the Board did in fact want to have its Annual Christmas party and which date was the best for all employees, December 11th or 18th. The trustees decided on December 18th to be the Annual Christmas Party date. VonDrehle inquired if the Board wanted to present employees with the $40.00 gift certificate to Best’s as had been done previously at Christmas.

Walraven motioned to approve the gift of $40.00 to Best’s Supermarket for all Village employees. Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried.

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.

Walraven motioned to open executive session at 8:06pm. Barnett seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Walraven motioned to close executive session at 8:17pm. Barnett seconded the motion. The motion carried.

13. Possible action on any executive session item

Zirkle motioned to approve the hiring of Kenneth Hertel as the full time Park Employee beginning November 1st at an hourly rate of $12.00. Walraven seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Zirkle motioned to approve a pay increase for Chris Jaworski from $12.75 to $14.00 effective November 1st. Walraven seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Zirkle motioned to approve the hiring of Salvador Varela to work on the brick streets beginning November 1st at an hourly rate of $20.00, which will be paid out of the TIF Department. Walraven seconded the motion. The motion carried with Martinez abstaining from the vote.

Zirkle motioned to approve David Alvarez to work on the brick streets beginning November 1st at an hourly rate of $11.50 which will be paid out of the TIF Department. Walraven seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Cultra appointed Susan Tungate to be the new Village Attorney. Geisler consented to Cultra’s appointment of Susan Tungate as Village Attorney. Barnett seconded the motion. The motion carried.

14. Adjournment

Zirkle moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:27pm. Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried.

http://www.villageofonarga.com/2019%2012%20November%20OVB%20Minutes.pdf