Kankakee Times

Village of Ashkum Board of Trustees Met March 23.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The Ashkum Village Board met Tuesday, March 23, 2021 @ the village hall. Present were Paul Heideman, Donna Schmitz, Ed Tholen, Shannon Meier, Angie Gray, Jeremy Beherns, Russ Hull, and April Lyons. Treasurer Krystal Alberts, Jeff Glenn, Gary Cailteux, and Ryan Meister were also present.

President Heideman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Clerk Donna Schmitz, read the minutes of the March 1, 2021 meeting. Russ Hull moved to approve the minutes as read, seconded by Jeremy Beherns and the motion passed.

NEW BUSINESS/VISITORS

President Heideman recognized Jeff Glenn, who, along with Gary Cailteux and Ryan Meister members of the Planning Commission, were present to discuss the following:

• The Nuisance Property Ordinance violations the village board had requested several months ago. Jeff distributed copies of the violation list they compiled and reported several other properties had been added since the last time it was reviewed. Jeff reported he didn’t feel any of us would be qualified to report whether a property was structurally sound just from looking at it from the road, but that it would take a structural engineer or an architect to do that. The current list is more detailed as it lists the address, owner, ordinance violation and what the village expects the owner to do to correct the problem. Ryan Meister reported if we use an architect, he has contact information for one we could call. Gary Cailteux asked if we could put pressure on the village attorney to write up something that there would be a daily fine if something is not done to correct the violation? President Heideman said he would contact the attorney for his opinion.
• Jeff reported on the ground classification project they are working on and said the Planning Commission is dividing the village into seven quadrants with each member taking a section. Jeff reported reclassification is not the issue, but the lot lines will be and it will take a lot longer to complete the project. Trustee Russ Hull asked about rental properties needing two entry/exit doors. Jeff will check into it, but he thinks that only applies to basements.
• Randy Wilken contacted Jeff about whether the property (5 acres) Trinity Church intends to build a church on is in the village limits. The person who sold the property said it wasn’t but after checking, Dave Tyson from Tyson Engineering said it is. President Heideman will contact Randy regarding the matter.
• Are properties coded R2 considered multi-family dwellings and is the village wanting to get rid of the classification. Anything coded R2 will remain as multi-family dwellings until further notice.
• Jeff will contact Ellen Mikeworth about the cost of the fence and tables discussed at previous meetings.

President Heideman recognized Jeremy Beherns, who was present to discuss the name change of Mugshots to Monkeyworks DBA Mugshots. Everything else remains the same but he needed the board’s approval on the name change for when they apply for a liquor license from the state. The information on the liquor license referencing the name change was in order, and Ed Tholen moved to approve the name change, seconded by Angie Gray and the motion passed.

President Heideman recognized Treasurer Krystal Alberts who gave the treasurer’s report for February 2021. Shannon Meier moved to approve the report as read, seconded by April Lyons and the motion passed. Ed Tholen moved to present the bills to the Finance Committee, seconded by Shannon Meier and the motion passed. Finance Chairman Ed Tholen reported expenditures of $15,752.89 in the General Fund; expenditures of $10,459.10 in the Water Works Fund; and expenditures of $5,994.59 in the Motor Fuel Tax Fund. Total expenditures in all funds were $32,206.58. Ed Tholen moved to pay all February bills in the usual manner, seconded by Russ Hull and the motion passed.

President Heideman brought the following before the board for discussion and/or action:

• Turftreet Order forms for the park and sign landscape bed area were received. Ed Tholen moved to request application #2 Fertilizer & Broadleaf weed control for dandelions, clover, and creeping Charlie for both locations, seconded by Shannon Meier and the motion passed. Order forms must be received by March 31st to recognize a 10% discount.
• A letter from the Iroquois County Republican Women offering American flags made domestically. They are doing this as a fundraiser to support numerous programs they support. There was no action taken as we have a source for the flags we purchase.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Trustee April Lyons inquired about our dog ordinance. There was a dog that got loose and went after another dog that was properly contained. April asked who could call Animal Control and was advised anyone could. President Heideman reported he would contact Jim Lehmkuhl about the situation.

Trustee Russ Hull reported the Ordinance Committee met and suggested changes they would like to be made to the golf cart ordinance. Russ reviewed the changes to be made and asked if the board agreed with them if they could be sent to the village attorney. Ed Tholen moved to approve the changes the Ordinance Committee suggested and to send them to the village attorney, seconded by April Lyons and the motion passed.

Trustee Jeremy Beherns had no report.

Trustee Angie Gray had no report but said the dinner at the Longbranch was very good. Everyone who attended agreed with her.

Trustee Shannon Meier had no report but would like to have Nick Ponton’s contact information to put information on our web page regarding a new way of paying water bills. Clerk Schmitz will get the information to her.

Trustee Ed Tholen had no report.

Clerk Donna Schmitz had no report.

Trustee Russ Hull commented on how nice the village pictures look on the wall. Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Hanson put the pictures in frames and hung them, and President Heideman reported Jeff should be paid for all the frames. A thank you letter should also be sent to Jeff to show our appreciation for his work.

Krystal Alberts had a report from Jerry Alberts regarding a water bill for the coliseum. Krystal reported the coliseum had been completely shut down and the water bill had gone from the normal $20 to $156, and then back down to $20. Krystal asked why that would happen and if the village would work with the township on the billing. Ed Tholen advised Krystal the float valve could have been the problem, especially since the next bill was a normal one. Krystal asked if the board could at least forgive the late fees. After discussion, April Lyons moved to forgive $156, seconded by Shannon Meier and the motion passed.

Treasurer Krystal Alberts reported when we received our audit, the auditors do not like Team Software’s reports and wanted us to change to Quick Books because of better reporting. She contacted Team Software and advised them our reports need to have all the information and look like the previous programs. They were able to make the necessary changes but it will cost the village $500. The board approved the expense.

As there was no further business to come before the board, Ed Tholen moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 p.m., seconded by Shannon Meier and the motion passed.

The next scheduled meeting will be Monday, April 5, 2021 at the village hall.

http://www.ashkum.net/pages/subpages/minutes.htm