Kankakee Times

Village of Onarga Board of Trustees met June 14.

Here are 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, via phone; Russ Geisler, Trustee; Stephanie VonDrehle, Village Clerk; Tim Hamilton, Village Supervisor; Doug Brenner, Police Chief; Becky Morgan, Park Coordinator; Gilman Star; Jeff Meyer; & David Ebert.

3. Review and approval of the Regular & Executive Session Village Board Minutes Monday May 10, 2021.

Zirkle motioned to approve the regular & executive meeting minutes of May 10, 2021 as presented. Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried.

4. Review and approval of treasurer’s report

Walraven 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

Walraven motioned to approve the bills to be paid as presented in the amount of $109,119.84. Zirkle seconded the motion. The motion carried.

6. Public comment

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

Jeff Meyer spoke to board on the tree wood carvings that have been completed in the Village. Meyer recommended that Village board come up with a Tourism plan and have more of these carvings completed throughout the Village as a way to get people to visit Onarga. Meyer recommended possible carving competitions once a year, to also bring people in. Meyer asked the board to consider this as an option for more tourists coming to Onarga.

David Ebert addressed the board on the possibility of rezoning some of his property in order for him to build a 72x152 machinery shed. Ebert stated he would follow any state requirements he would need to, to add this shed to his property. The board stated they would have a committee meeting to discuss this but would also need to check with the neighboring homes as well to see if they agreed to this.

Hamilton stated that all infrastructures are located where Ebert would like to build this shed.

7. Review of correspondence to the board

There was no correspondence to the board.

8. Review and Possible Action on Ordinances

There were no ordinances to be approved.

9. Standing Committee reports

9.1 Parks and Recreation (Holly Zirkle, Angie Martinez, Sarah Barnett)

Morgan stated the pooling is doing very well. The Village was awarded the Mary Helen Roberts grant in the amount of $4,000 which was used to fix the White Field Light. Morgan also stated the swimathon brought in just under $5,000 in profits.

Morgan inquired if vendors were going to be allowed in the park for the 4th of July? The board decided for this year due to timing and lack of village employees that this year vendors would not be allowed, however next year will be back to the norm.

Morgan stated the lifeguard chairs need replaced. She looked online and did not have any luck with finding any replacements. The board recommended she contact Randy Lizzio, to see if he could possibly fix them.

9.2 Infrastructure (Russ Geisler, Holly Zirkle, Cole Rabe)

Geisler motioned to approve the Infrastructure Meeting minutes of May 16, 2021 as presented. Zirkle seconded the motion. The motion carried.

9.2.1 Evergreen Street Repair

Geisler stated there is nothing new on the Evergreen Street Repair at this time.

9.2.2 Bore & Jack Project

Geisler stated there is nothing new on the Bore & Jack Project at this time.

9.2.3 Sidewalk Project

Geisler met with Clarage and 3 of the people with previous bids that were made on trying to cut costs by using gravel to fill. The companies will be providing new bids.

9.3 Safety, Security, & Enforcement (Angie Martinez, Russ Geisler, Cole Rabe)

Martinez motioned to approve the Safety, Security, & Enforcement Meeting minutes of June 7, 2021 as presented. Geisler seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Martinez discussed issues on properties in the Village, and thanked Hamilton and his staff on mowing all properties and making the Village look nice.

Martinez stated the Village is looking for another part-time officer, however Brenner stated Lehmkuhl might start working for the Village again on weekends.

9.4 Finance (Shane Cultra, Russ Geisler, Holly Zirkle)

Geisler motioned to approve the Finance Meeting minutes of June 8, 2021 as presented. Zirkle seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Cultra stated he wanted to add $10,000 to the budget for wood carvings. $5000 from 2020 and another $5000 for 2021. Barnett inquired why it needed to be $10,000.

Geisler motioned to approve the addition of $10,000 to the budget for wood carvings in the Village. Zirkle seconded the motion. A roll call vote was conducted with the vote being 4 to 2. The motion was not carried. Geisler motioned to approve adding $5,000 to the budget for wood carvings in the Village. Zirkle seconded the motion. The motion carried with a roll call vote being conducted with all Aye votes.

9.5 Local and Intergovernmental Communications (Sarah Barnett, Fred Walraven, Cole Rabe)

9.6 Building Standards (Cole Rabe, Fred Walraven, Sarah Barnett)

The board had a request from Tom Kanosky asking if he could have a semi-trailer on his property, which is not allowed in the Village, due to another property owner in the Village having one. The committee will look into this and get back to Kanosky.

9.7 TIF Committee (Shane Cultra, Holly Zirkle, Russ Geisler)

Geisler motioned to approve the TIF Committee Meeting minutes of June 8, 2021 as presented. Zirkle seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Cultra stated Best’s Supermarket had asked for the Village to help with them need to add a new roof to their building. Cultra explained this would be paid out of TIF monies and the Village would enter in a 5 year agreement with Best’s Supermarket.

Rabe did not believe this money should be given and Barnett questioned whether there was a process written up for these types of inquiries. Barnett stated maybe the committee needs to come up with some criteria on these types of requests, mainly due to the fact of how do you help one business and later down the road another Village Business comes along and for some unknown reason the Village does not have the funds to help. Barnett then further stated she thinks that the board should figure out what the sidewalk project is going to cost prior to making a decision on Best’s.

Zirkle stated the committee will table this discussion until the new bids on the sidewalk project are opened and reviewed.

10. Old business

Rabe discussed the committees and how he does not feel Cultra should be the chairman of any committee. Cultra stated in the ordinances it states he can be and he would prove that to Rabe. Cultra then stated elections have consequences and this is one of them. Both Rabe and Barnett exclaimed their anger towards these appointments. Cultra then stated he would meet with the board and get their input on the committees.

Rabe also questioned Cultra on statements he made to Martinez and her chairing a committee. Martinez stated Cultra told her she could be chair of the Safety Committee as long as she would sometimes sway her vote to agree with Geisler and Zirkle some of the time. Rabe stated that he was going to contact the Edgar County Watchdogs because guidance like this should not be stated.

11. New business

Walraven motioned to approve the spending of $1299.00 to purchase a new HP Pro Desk Computer for the water desk. 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. 

Zirkle motioned to open executive session at 8:13pm. Walraven seconded the motion. The motion carried. Walraven motioned to close executive session at 8:24pm. Martinez seconded the motion. The motion carried.

13. Possible action on any executive session item

Walraven motioned to approve the spending of $1594.00 on a purchase agreement for 2 properties in the Village. Zirkle seconded the motion. The motion carried.

14. Adjournment

Walraven motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:26pm. Zirkle seconded the motion. The motion carried.

http://www.villageofonarga.com/2021%2014%20June%20OVB%20Minutes.pdf