Kankakee Times

Village of Onarga Village Board met Dec. 9.

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; 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, absent; Jan Elliot, Gilman Star; Rod Copas, Eric Raymond, John Shure, and Edgar County Watch Dogs.

3. Review and approval of the Public Hearing of North Evergreen, Regular Village Board & Executive Session Meeting Minutes of Tuesday November 12, 2019.

Geisler motioned to approve the public hearing, regular & executive session meeting minutes of Tuesday November 12, 2019 as presented. Walraven seconded the motion. The motion carried.

4. Review and approval of treasurer’s report

Zirkle motioned to accept the treasurer’s report as presented. Martinez 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 $114,039.37 as presented. Geisler seconded the motion. The motion carried.

6. Public comment

Walraven motioned to open public comment. Zirkle seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Rod Copas informed the board of the history of the 911 Dispatch. Copas stated that the fees the dispatch are asking to be paid are not necessary and illegal.

John Shure stated that the fees are not illegal and such fees are asked for statewide.

Geisler inquired if the fees are not paid does that town no longer have dispatches? Geisler had heard a rumor this was going to happen. No answer to his question was formally given.

Edgar County Watch Dogs stated that these fees fall under the False Claim Act and that these fees are double taxation for Villages. They stated the Illinois State Police will be taking this service over next year.

Cultra stated that this need to be discussed at the county board meeting not an individual town’s meeting and once the county can show that this fee is legal the Village of Onarga will pay.

Edgar County Watch Dogs then asked the Village Police Department to review audio before accusing a person of something. Cultra stated that the Village Trustees are well aware of what happened in this police situation and everything was handled properly.

Eric Raymond, 911 Dispatch Director passed out materials hi-lighting what 911 dispatch completes and what would not be offered if fees are paid. Cultra asked if Raymond was wanting to collect illegal monies from the different communities. Raymond stated he cannot say one way or the other if the fees are actually illegal.

7. Review of correspondence to the board

VonDrehle presented a thank note from the Mona Gerdes for the flowers the Village sent.

8. Review and Possible Action on Ordinances

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)

9.1.1 Walraven motioned to approve the Farm Lease at the same rates as approved 3 years prior, which will again be a 3-year lease. Zirkle seconded the motion. The motion carried. 9.2 Infrastructure (Fred Walraven, Sarah Barnett, Cole Rabe)

Walraven motioned to approve the Infrastructure Committee Meeting Minutes of November 25th and December 3rd as presented. Geisler seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Walraven stated the water main issues are Jackson are being discussed and that all issues with CN Railroad have been corrected. The Village will be filling out a Revolving Loan Fund application which will forgive 60% of the total cost.

9.2.1 Walraven stated the Evergreen Street Repair will be going out for bid in March.

9.2.1.1 Walraven motioned to approve the North Evergreen Street Improvement Project

Request for Expenditure/IDOT Invoice NO. 6/PEI Invoice NO. 2444. Geisler seconded the motion. The motion carried.

9.2.2 Walraven motioned to approve the EPA Water Supply Revolving Loan Fund Application for the Jackson Street Repair. Barnett seconded the motion. The motion carried. 9.3 Safety, Security & Enforcement (Russ Geisler, Angie Martinez, Holly Zirkle)

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

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

Barnett motioned to approve the Finance Meeting Minutes of December 3rd as presented. Zirkle seconded the motion. The motion carried.

9.4.1 Barnett motioned to approve the annual audit as presented. Walraven seconded the motion. The motion carried.

9.4.2 Barnett motioned to approve the adoption of Resolution #2019-09-Additon of Samantha Sansone to Village Accounts at Federated Bank. Zirkle seconded the motion. The motion carried. A roll call vote was conducted with all Aye votes.

9.4.3 Barnett motioned to approve the adoption of Resolution #2019-10-Additon of Samantha Sansone to Village Accounts at First State Bank of Forrest. Walraven seconded the motion. The motion carried. A roll call vote was conducted with all Aye votes.

9.4.4 Barnett discussed the AT&T Bills. For the current Fiscal year $11,024.77 has been paid in phone bills. Barnett stated the internet pricing is reasonable and needs to be maintained in all locations it is currently at. Barnett suggested the elimination of 4 lines that the Village does not need per conversations with Hamilton. Barnett stated the Village is also not paying a business rate and this needs to be discussed with AT&T and changed. She asked to get Sansone on the phone with AT&T to remove these 4 phone lines not being utilized and negotiate the current rates the Village is paying.

Zirkle motioned to approve the removal of the 4 phone lines that are not being utilized. Geisler seconded the motion. The motion carried.

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

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

Geisler motioned to approve the Building Standards Meeting Minutes of December 3rd as presented. Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Geisler motioned to approve the hiring of NBC Demolition to demolish the structure located at 208 N. Oak in the amount of $7800. Walraven 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

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.

Geisler motioned to open executive session at 8:13pm. Walraven seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Martinez motioned to close executive session at 8:19pm. Barnett seconded the motion. The motion carried.

13. Possible action on any executive session item

None

Cultra inquired on the Mickey’s bill for the rugs and Barnett stated it is actually pretty cheap for these rugs and better in the long run for the Village not having to buy rugs and keep them clean with all the rocks and debris.

Cultra discussed the possibility of next year for Christmas somehow lighting up the business’s on Seminary to bring in people and revenue for the Village Businesses. Even possibly do something at Durham Park. Cultra wants everyone to think about this and what can be completed in the next year.

14. Adjournment

Barnett moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:32pm. Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried.

http://www.villageofonarga.com/2019%209%20December%20OVB%20Minutes.pdf