Kankakee Times

Village Of Onarga Village Board met Oct. 13.

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, absent; 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; Jim Clarage, Building Code Administrator; Neil Piggush, Village Engineer; John Elliot, Gilman Star; Robert Pfister; & Elena Sparenburg. 

3. Review and approval of the Regular & Executive Village Board Minutes Monday September 14, 2020. Zirkle motioned to approve the regular meeting & executive session minutes of Monday September 14, 2020 as presented. Geisler seconded the motion. The motion carried.

4. Review and approval of treasurer’s report

Barnett motioned to approve the treasurer’s report as presented. Geisler seconded the motion. The motion carried. 

5. Review and approval of bills to be paid

Martinez motioned to approve the bills to be paid as presented in the amount of $141,221.25. Zirkle seconded the motion. The motion carried.

6. Public comment

Martinez motioned to open public comment. Zirkle seconded the motion. The motion carried. Robert Pfister addressed the board on his property located at 419 N Evergreen. Currently there is a curb sitting right in the middle of his driveway and he is wanting this removed. Piggush stated it would be moved right away and apologized for any inconvenience.

Elena Sparenburg whose address is 317 N Evergreen addressed the board on the Evergreen Street Repair. Sparenburg read a letter that addressed many grievances she has with this repair. Specifically she addressed the fact that no guidance was given out to the residents that reside on this street on how to get to the residents homes, garbage pick-up, even a boil order that was in effect that was not told to residents. Sparenburg was excited for this repair however since that repair has taken place has been very disappointed with the Village and very stressed.

Hamilton addressed the boil order comment and stated that it was specifically only for the middle school and that was why residents were not made aware of this, he stated if it was for other residents, they would have been made aware. Piggush apologized on the lack of access to residents’ homes and that should no longer be an issue going forward. Cultra apologized on the Boards behalf on lack of communication and promised to do a much better job on any coming projects.

Sparenburg stated she hopes this can be a learning experience for any other projects that are to be completed. 

7. Review of correspondence to the board

There was no correspondence to the board.

8. Review and Possible Action on Ordinances

9. Standing Committee reports

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

Zirkle stated Small ball diamond has been completed. The Freed Grant has been extended and the decision should be made in the next couple of weeks if we are awarded this grant.

Cultra stated that the whale is broken at the park. Hamilton said he would take a look at it. Cultra stated that he believes that the park should be improved as much as possible. Piggush stated there are grants that can be applied for to pay up to 50% of improvements. Piggush will get the information to the committee.

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

9.2.1 Evergreen Street Repair

Piggush stated this project is going well and very timely. Once Nicor was finally finished the project has really gone fast. IPC stated all should be completed by the end of the year and paving should be completed by the end of the month.

Cultra inquired about the revolving loan fund monies. Piggush said it should be coming and will need to go into a separate bank account. Piggush stated the Village will find out about the other grant by the end of November or December.

9.2.1 Barnett motioned to approve the recommendation of payment #2-to Iroquois Paving Corporation as presented. Zirkle seconded the motion. The motion carried.

9.2.2 Bore & Jack Project

Piggush stated they are just waiting on the Village Attorney to finalize documents for the Bore & Jack Project. Once these documents are finalized the project can go out for bid.

Cultra thanked Piggush and told him what a great job he has been doing.

9.2.3 Sidewalk Project

Clarage showed the board the plans for the sidewalk project.

Geisler motioned to approve the sidewalk project plans as presented. Rabe seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Hamilton stated the retaining wall and curb on South Evergreen is being completed. The board asked if this expense could be paid out of TIF.

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

9.3.1 Barnett stated there has not been much guidance on Trick or Treating, however it does state to social distance. The board set Trick or Treating hours for Saturday October 31st 5-7pm.

Geisler stated that he spoke with Bill Kraft from the Gilman Board and the County Sheriff on the police. Geisler and Cultra then spoke with Shear from the county on police as well. Both discussions were based upon Gilman and Onarga sharing police staff and the possibility of the County providing police staff. Cultra stated to have an Officer on duty from 4pm to 2am 7 days a week it would cost $58,000.

Brenner stated that he did not believe this information to be accurate and questioned as to why he was not involved in these meetings. As the Chief of Police for Onarga he should be involved in such conversations. Martinez inquired as to why Brenner was not involved in these conversations nor was the committee. Barnett also inquired as to why Brenner was not involved and then stated a meeting on a street repair would not be held without Hamilton and a meeting on police should not be held without Brenner either. Geisler stated the meetings were last minute, so himself and Cultra just made an appearance. Rabe then stated going forward the Board wants Brenner involved in every meeting dealing with Police.

Cultra apologized to Brenner for not asking him to be involved and said going forward he would be. Cultra also stated that he believes the Village should hire a Code Enforcer, which would stop the Police from doing such work.

Brenner stated the cameras are up and running at the park. Three issues have already been addressed. Brenner thinks it would be beneficial to get another camera added to the pavilion.

Brenner stated the new phone has been set up and he will send out the number to everyone. Cultra asked to see the police schedules and hours worked each month. Brenner will put hours worked in Cultra’s box at the end of each month going forward.

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

9.4.1 Barnett motioned to approve the opening of a new checking account at Federated Bank for the revolving loan funds. Martinez 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 stated that the Behernds building brick work should start the week of the October 12th. Geisler stated that there are 6 properties that can be purchased from the county in the amount of $797 each. Four of these properties are lots that the Village has paid to have the structure on that property demolished. Once purchased the Village will own these properties with clear title.

Geisler motioned to approve the spending of $4,782.00 to Iroquois County for the purchase of 6 properties. Rabe 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 8:30pm. Barnett seconded the motion. The motion carried. Geisler motioned to close executive session at 8:47pm. Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried. 13. Possible action on any executive session item

Barnett motioned to approve the increase in Village Clerk pay from $6000 annually to $7200 beginning May 1, 2021. Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Zirkle motioned to approve the increase in Village Trustee pay from $50 each regular board meeting attended to $100 and from $25 each committee meeting attended, and meeting minutes approved in regular board meeting to $50 beginning May 1, 2021. Barnett seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Geisler motioned to approve the increase in Village President pay from $5000 annually to $6000 beginning May 1, 2021. Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried.

14. Adjournment

Geisler motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:58pm. Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried.

http://www.villageofonarga.com/2020%2013%20October%20OVB%20Minutes.pdf