Kankakee Times

Village of Herscher Board of Trustees met Feb. 6.

Here is the agenda provided by the board:

Village President Shannon Sweeney called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The following Trustees were present: John Branz, Bob Voss, Jacob Wagner (Zoom), Mike Bruner, and Andy Cotter. Skip Grigas was absent. Also, Village Clerk Heather Meredith, Police Chief Chad Scanlon, Public Works Employee Keith Witheft, Janet Mau from The Herscher Pilot (Zoom), and Attorney Chris Bohlen. Proposed gaming café owners Frank Cassar, Casey Cassar, Adam Pate, Jesus Andrade, Valeria Andrade. Herscher Youth Football Board Members Nick Larkins, Michelle Larkins, Tim Ghidotti, and Jake Krumwiede.

Bob Voss moved to approve the Regular minutes of January 17, 2023; John Branz seconded. All in favor; Motion carried.

STREETS:

Bob Voss said that he is working on his budget. He said he is waiting on estimates for resurfacing N Oak, Clyde, and Second Street from Main to Oak.

FINANCE:

John Branz presented the Accounts Payable Report totaling $32,582.56 to the Board for payment. John Branz moved to accept the accounts payable as presented. Bob Voss seconded. Roll call taken Mike Bruner-aye, Andy Cotter-aye, Skip Grigas-absent, John Branz-aye, Jacob Wagner-aye, and Bob Voss aye. All in favor; Motion Carried.

Payroll presented totaled $19,387.05. John Branz moved to accept payroll as presented, Mike Bruner seconded. Roll call taken Jacob Wagner-aye, Mike Bruner-aye, Andy Cotter-aye, Bob Voss-aye, Skip Grigas-absent, and John Branz-aye. All in favor; motion carried.

John Branz added:

- The Treasurer’s Report for January 2023 shows a total in all accounts of $2,234,680.59

- Passed out Budget Performance for 5/1/22 through 1/31/23

- The Work Comp Report for 2022 was posted by February 1, 2023

- We re-certified the Village owned properties to the Kankakee County Chief Assessment Officer

- Have been working on Budgets for FY 23-24. Have done the first run through of Parks with Andy and Streets/MFT with Bob. Jacob has sent over the administration Budget. Will be working through that this week.

- The Illinois Funds Average rate for January 2023 was 4.217%

- The Illinois Funds Daily rate today is 4.44%

PARKS:

Andy Cotter presented the Dog Park Bid Tabulations worksheet. The lowest bidder was C&D Fence and Deck in the amount of $32,000.00, The other bids were from Osterhoff Fence Inc in the amount of $61,273.20, and A Plus Home Improvements by Tousignant Inc. in the amount of $41,100. Andy Cotter moved to accept the bid from C&D Fence and Deck for the Dog Park fencing at Pilot Park. Mike Bruner seconded. Roll call taken Jacob Wagner-aye, Mike Bruner-aye, Andy Cotter-aye, John Branz-aye, Skip Grigas-absent, and Bob Voss-aye. All in favor; Motion Carried.

WATER AND SEWER:

Mike Bruner reported that we are having some kinks worked out with getting the new generator installed at the water plant. We need to think about the maintenance program that was presented before the meeting. Mike added that all the projects he had planned are way off on the original estimates with inflation and will need to be adjusted.

ORDINANCE:

Jacob Wagner moved to accept resignation of Plumbing Inspector Troy Graveline as of March 15, 2023. Bob Voss seconded. All in favor; Motion Carried.

Jacob said he has a few phones calls out to some people about the position. He added the installation guy will hopefully be out to give us an estimate soon and he spoke with the camera guys to hopefully get the project going before the end of the Fiscal Year. He said we sent the Zoning Code to the codifiers, and it will be roughly $3,400-3,700 to codify it and implement it into our current code book. The board agreed we should start the process.

Jacob Wagner moved to place Ordinance #23-02 on its final passage and pass, Liquor License Amendment. John Branz seconded the motion. Roll call taken Jacob Wagner-aye, Mike Bruner-aye, Andy Cotter-aye, John Branz-aye, Skip Grigas-absent, and Bob Voss-nay. Motion Carried.4-1-1

POLICE:

Chief Scanlon said that the school is keeping them busy. Village President Sweeney said that the Mayor of Buckingham asked about Herscher PD covering in Buckingham. Until we get more manpower it is not doable.

OLD BUSINESS:

John Branz informed the Board that he had a conversation with Kevin McNamara from the Dwight Village Board about what they decided with the wind farm. They have a representative named Kelly O’Brien. We need to set up a meeting with our new representative.

NEW BUSINESS:

John Branz moved to donate $100 to the Herscher Music Boosters. Bob Voss seconded. Roll call taken: Bob Voss-aye, John Branz-aye, Mike Bruner-aye, Skip Grigas-absent, Jacob Wagner-aye and Andy Cotter-aye. All in favor; Motion carried.

OPEN TO THE FLOOR:

Janet Mau had a few clarification questions.

Tim Ghidotti and Michelle Larkins from Herscher Youth Football wanted to discuss their place on maintaining the Youth Football Field. The field has a fungus that needs to be taken care of before it gets worse. They are willing to do whatever they are allowed to do with out stepping on toes. Andy Cotter said he will get together with them and come up with a plan.

Motion to adjourn by John Branz. Seconded by Bob Voss. All in favor. Motion carried.

https://herscher.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Bd-Minutes-February-6-2023.pdf