Kankakee Times

Village of Herscher Board of Trustees met Nov. 20.

Here are the minutes 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: Jeremy Bauer, Mike Bruner, Andy Cotter, and Skip Grigas. Gayle Landeck and Jacob Wagner were absent. Also present, Police Chief Kurt Quick, Village Clerk Heather Meredith, Attorney Chris Bohlen, Public Works Keith Witheft, Janet Mau from the Herscher Pilot, residents Joe and Lauren Ruel.

Andy Cotter moved to approve the Regular minutes of November 6, 2023; Mike Bruner seconded. Motion carried. Skip Grigas and Jeremy Bauer abstained since they were absent from the last meeting.

STREETS:

Andy Cotter informed the Boad a quote in the amount of $15,000 was received for a new well at the sewer plant for the proposed new public works shed. We seem to be having an issue with leaves intentionally being blown into the streets. We should probably add leaves to the grass clipping ordinance. It is a state statute to not blow leaves into a roadway.

Village President Sweeney said that our IT person Jason Hamende from Advanced Computer has some concerns about the new camera system we are having installed by MDI Securities. He says the brand they are using is a Chinese company that has had issues with security and the National Defense. Shannon informed him we were going to look further into it.

FINANCE:

Mike Bruner presented the Accounts Payable Report totaling $54,469.89 to the Board for payment. Mike Bruner moved to accept the accounts payable as presented. Skip Grigas seconded. Roll call taken: Jacob Wagner-absent, Mike Bruner-aye, Andy Cotter-aye, Jeremy Bauer-aye, Skip Grigas-aye, and Gayle Landeck-absent. All in favor; Motion Carried.

Payroll presented totaled $19,633.64. Mike Bruner moved to accept payroll as presented, Skip Grigas seconded. Roll call taken: Jacob Wagner-absent, Mike Bruner-aye, Andy Cotter-aye, Jeremy Bauer-aye, Skip Grigas-aye, and Gayle Landeck-absent. All in favor; Motion Carried.

Mike Bruner added:

- The Treasurer’s Report for October shows a total in all accounts of $2,342,540.86.

- The Regular Sales Tax from August is in at $32,872.36.

- The 1% Non-Home Rule Sales Tax is in from August at $11,835.51

- The Telecom Tax is in from August in the amount of $1,191.44.

- The Local Share of Income Tax collected in October is in at $17,754.28.

- The Local Share of the State Use Tax is in from August in the amount of $4,618.42.

- The Local Share of Cannabis Use Tax collected in October is in at $189.53.

- The Local Share of Video Gaming Tax collected in September is in at $1,191.44.

- The Illinois Funds Daily rate today was 5.5%

President Sweeney suggest we look at adding a municipal tax or a franchise agreement with Surf Internet. The Board agreed to that, and Attorney Bohlen will investigate it.

PARKS:

Andy Cotter said he has reached out to the Illinois Soil and Water Conservation and Pheasants Forever about Grants on helping with the walking trails. He is looking for help with switch grass and wildflowers. He asked the fire department about burning the creek banks and they said they could do it in the spring. He also found someone to hire to spray the creek banks with a drone.

WATER AND SEWER:

Jermey Bauer moved to approve Engineering Design to be started at the Sewer Plant for a new Splitter Box. Skip Grigas seconded. Roll call taken: Gayle Landeck-absent, Jeremy Bauer-aye, Mike Bruner-aye, Skip Grigas-present, Jacob Wagner-absent. Andy Cotter-aye. All in favor; Motion carried.

Jeremy Bauer reported that the water project on Maple Street should be completed next week. We received a quote in the amount of $19,000 for doing a water line replacement in the park. After discussion it was decided that as long as it is done to the buffalo box, we could do the rest next year.

ORDINANCE:

President Sweeney says that Trustee Landeck received a letter from a resident on N Vernon with a complaint about cats ruining landscaping. The resident suggest we add cats to the dog leash ordinance.

President Sweeney was informed by Trustee Landeck that we may have an ordinance stating that residents must bring their garbage can to the road but nothing about bringing the garbage can back to the house. It causes issues with garbage and cans blowing around and it just looks bad. We could work on an ordinance stating that the garbage cans must be brought back to house within 24hrs of pick up.

Not doing lights at Village Hall to expensive.

POLICE:

Skip Grigas moved to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Village of Buckingham for police coverage. Mike Bruner seconded. Roll call taken: Gayle Landeck-absent, Jeremy Bauer-aye, Mike Bruner-aye, Skip Grigas present, Jacob Wagner-absent. Andy Cotter-aye. All in favor; Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS:

Clerk Meredith says that we have not received reimbursement for the press box when it was backed into. It was decided we would reach out and see if payments would be easier.

NEW BUSINESS:

Mike Bruner moved to donate $595 for 35 wreaths to Wreaths Across America. Skip Grigas seconded. Roll call taken: Gayle Landeck-aye, Jeremy Bauer-aye, Mike Bruner-aye, Skip Grigas-aye, Jacob Wagner-absent. Andy Cotter-aye. All in favor; Motion carried.

Clerk Meredith said that she met with Don Deveraux on to go over the policy. She informed the Board that he is suggesting we increase our deductible from $1,000 to $10,000. The Board agreed with Clerk Meredith.

OPEN TO THE FLOOR:

Nothing to report.

Motion to adjourn by Andy Cotter. Seconded by Mike Bruner. All in favor. Motion carried.

https://herscher.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Bd-Minutes-November-20-2023.pdf