Kankakee Times

Village of Loda Village Board met Oct. 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Village of Loda Board of Trustees held their regular meeting at the Village Hall. Present were President Carol Areseneau, Trustees: Cathy Tittle, JR Ptacek, Jon Boone, Gene Breeden JR, Teresa Reck and Village attorney Dale Strough. Clerk Regina Ptacek. Absent: Ronda Breeden. Meeting called to order at 7pm, all spoke the Pledge of Allegiance.

Minutes, Jon approve & waive reading of the September minutes, JR second, all in favor

ERH- work report, no questions

Tom Water Tower- Mayor has loan offer letter, we signed notice of intent to award, they then prepare notice of award. Total for $1,287,515.12, We did ask them to fund all the design from previous and the loan for financing. Mayor need authorizing to sign and award to Schomburg. Then they will continue with notice to proceed and schedule meeting with village, contractors, ERH and go over formalities with contract and schedule for starting project with deadlines. Carol verified in the letter from IEPA, states loan for small community rate and reduce loan to .083. The state can adjust it if necessary. Myles verified have not disbursed money yet, Tom verified that is correct. Myles said there was a deposit and Carol verified rules on what we can spend that funding on. We must account for what we use it for and no discrimination.

Teresa motion to accept the loan agreement and giving Carol permission to sign, 2nd by Gene, roll call, all ayes. Motion passed.

Gene motion to award to Schomburg construction $975,160.31, 2nd Teresa, roll call, all ayes, motion passed.

Teresa motion to authorize Carol to sign agreement and notice to proceed after documents are returned from Schomburg, 2nd Cathy, roll call, all ayes, motion passed.

Teresa motion to approve FEHR $55480.00 bill and to sign letter for EPA disbursement and previous design engineering, 2nd Cathy, roll call, all ayes, motion passed.

Jon motion for loan disbursement request, 2nd Gene, roll call, all ayes, motion passed.

Tom said board will have board approve a disbursement at each meeting as project progress’.

OLD-

Snyder privacy wall: he finished the wall; Carol had sent him application and he filled out and he returned with a check, and he thought that was approved. It is a 5-panel privacy wall on the back of the house, Carol stated we really don’t have a privacy wall in ordinance, it really isn’t a fence. Board says it is a fence. Carol said that he did send 75.00 for fence. Checking with board and advised it will not go any longer, later if does fence will do a new application. Discussed by Board that next time he knows he needs approval before building.

JR made motion to approve privacy fence & payment, Cathy second. All in favor, all ayes.

New building permit for buildings on Mulberry in line with current Pole buildings, a previous lot was divided and going to put a pole building. Carol believes zoned commercial and able to do pole building as it is not residential. Carol will verify and we will go over at next meeting.

Committee-

Roads- Carol need approval to have 2 blocks road chopped up and graveled then settle over winter, Mulberry & Walnut Street. Need approval to get gravel.

Jon motion to approve gravel for road and to have road chopped up in preparation for winter. 2nd JR Myles verified come from General fund. Carol will verify with township. Motion carried

Mowing- concerns with weed eating not getting complete, Cathy has not had chance to discuss. Carol verifies contract end on 10/15 and need to do around maintenance building.

Teresa motion to extend mowing contract for time needed to finish. Jon 2nd motion carried

Gene will advise with Ronda for getting park winterized.

Treasure- Audit, Neil Kuester, Kim did most of the work. No issues or disagreement during audit. Letter with findings for lack of departments with limited people, authorized check signers, recommend that the person that does book doesn’t sign checks, salaries with ordinance: treasure pay increase, but the ordinance has not been updated. Trying to get a capitalize policy, mainly for on books, everything over $5000.00 will be depreciated. For audit purpose we need to capitalize things. Making sure forms are correctly being filed and upkept. Verified with Tax Levy that getting all used and in area that is being spent appropriately. Operating agreement with ERH and all money comes out of water fund, need to amend to say that some is coming out of the General Fund. Fee for next year, with new project coming up that may have increased fee with audit. Tom verified there will be special auditing with EPA loan. Kuester state fee is estimate. Audit report is good, general fund is not losing money. Motor fuel tax depends on the project. Water fund is showing profit which is good and especially with coming project. There is a 5 yr trend on tax levy, tax rate has increased a bit but being spent on areas being used. Books balance.

JR question with change water rates per increase, there was a $30 min bill w/ $10 gallon after, now change with currently everyone in city pays flat $32 fee then water usage. Kim was shocked that we don’t apply the infrastructure fee to everyone, and since then the city has lost money because we don’t spread the infrastructure fee evenly. Why are we not collecting that money? Neil verified that is set by the board. JR verified not charging churches, library, Fire dept. JR made a motion to reconsider, lawyer verified can reconsider one time. JR decided not to make a motion at this time. He feels that everyone should be charged evenly for the water infrastructure fee. No further questions.

Tax Levy- Dale went over information in Tax Levy

Gene motion to approve Tax Levy 2021-10, 2nd Teresa, roll call, all ayes, motion carried

Bills- no questions, Jon motion to pay, Teresa 2nd roll call, all ayes, motion carried

NEW

Halloween Hours 10/31 Sunday 5p-7p, Gene motion, 2nd Teresa, JR no. Verified those that want trick or treaters that need to have porch light on.

Property next door for sale, Brent has asked village if interested. Dale said that if village doesn’t want to have publicly then can have closed meeting. Differ discussion to end of meeting.

Resident call about village paying ½ in removing a tree for Wishcer, east of where water tower will be. Village will do the back trees, but resident has a tree in front and if we would pay half. Tree is north of sidewalk, but it is clearly in front of the addition of the house. Carol understands if it was closer to boarder but its not so more his responsibility to have removed. Board declined to pay ½. Carol going to advise that it is not on property and would be homeowner’s expense.

Railroad- Grants available for communities along rail lines 50% grant. If there is something like to do along can apply for grant, deadline 12/1/2021. Verify going thru Clifton and they did a nice job. Verified tree options. Remember that if we do put in areas then they must be weed controlled and watered.

Nicor Gas- install 1570 feet of 2” gas main service, need to get more clarification on location.

Committee-

Park spreading mulch- check with Watseka need public service hours or Lincolns Challenge

House with Couch’s sitting at roadside for couple weeks. Also, another location with mattresses. Will have Teresa help to do letters for clean-up.

Public-

Jose for Starting tree service business for emergency work or limits, Carol verified liability insurance. They can also do private residence for tree trimming.

Ron- discussion on flags, discussed with Legion for flags. Legion will take care when need half mass etc., but Village will replace when torn, Murdock does flags on pole.

Loda Truck Tractor- How often is ERH flush hydrants? Jr responded twice a year, did flush recently. Concern with across from Coffey with 2 five-foot holes and leaving it. Discussion on location at Fire hydrant is County, we can send letter to get filled. Will add to letters with Carol and Teresa to complete.

JR clarified not against Halloween and on Sunday, last time we did on Sunday the other areas did on Friday, so Loda was flooded. It was verified to have lights on if want to have treaters.

Motion for executive session for properties and pending litigation for Owl’s nest. Gene motion. Jon 2nd.

EXECUTIVE Session:

8:31

Gene motion return to regular meeting, out of executive at 8:43p, Jon second. Cathy motion to adjourn, Jon second.