Kankakee Times

Village of Herscher Board of Trustees met Jan. 16.

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, Jacob Wagner, Mike Bruner, and Andy Cotter. Gayle Landeck and Skip Grigas were absent. Also, Village Clerk Heather Meredith, Police Chief Kurt Quick, Public Works Employee Keith Witheft, and Residents Mike and Kelli Bonomo.

Mike Bruner moved to approve the Regular minutes of January 2, 2024; Shannon Sweeney seconded. Motion carried. 2-0-3

STREETS:

Jacob Wagner said the trees on S Elm in easement between 55 S Elm and 105 S Elm will be removed by JD Tree Trimming. Our contract is up for the Christmas lights on the poles on Main Street. Jacob said he will be looking at other companies. He is waiting to get with Al to discuss street work for FY 24-25 Budget. Jacob says that a Village owned street pole was hit in Park Place, Fritz Electric will be taking it down and giving us a quote to replace it. Heather will be turning it into insurance.

FINANCE:

Mike Bruner presented the Accounts Payable Report totaling $140,408.82 to the Board for payment. Mike Bruner moved to accept the accounts payable as presented. Jeremy Bauer seconded. Roll call taken Mike Bruner-aye, Andy Cotter-aye, Skip Grigas-absent, Jeremy Bauer-aye, Jacob Wagner-aye, and Gayle Landeck-absent. All in favor; Motion Carried.

Payroll presented totaled $20,325.50. Mike Bruner moved to accept payroll as presented, Jacob Wagner seconded. Roll call taken Jacob Wagner-aye, Mike Bruner-aye, Andy Cotter-aye, Gayle Landeck-absent, Skip Grigas-absent, and Jeremy Bauer-aye. All in favor; motion carried.

Mike Bruner added:

-The Regular Sales Tax from October is in at $35,190.57.

-The 1% Non-Home Rule Sales Tax is in from October at $12,868.37.

-The Telecom Tax is in from October in the amount of $1,161.23.

-The Local Share of Income Tax collected in October is at $24,259.11.

-The Local Share of the State Use Tax is in from October in the amount of $5,200.66.

-The Local Share of Cannabis Use Tax collected in December is in at $191.92.

-The Local Share of Video Gaming Tax collected in December is at $2,930.12.

-The Local Personal Property Replacement Tax in in at $13,607.37

-Illinois Funds Daily rate today was 5.394%

-Would like to have a first budget meeting with someone the week of January 22.

-Worker’s Comp report is finished and will be submitted by February 1

-EPA report is done and will be submitted soon

-Heather Meredith completed the recertifications of the Village boundaries for the census that are due on February 3

PARKS:

Andy Cotter spoke with the Soil and Water Conservation about the Prairie Path. He thinks it would be best to combine the 2 paths before doing any landscaping. President Sweeney asked that we still move forward with the burn of the creek and investigate planting Kankakee Mallow. It is a native plant only to Kankakee County.

WATER AND SEWER:

Jeremy Bauer said that the IL EPA was here and did an inspection of the water plant. We received a letter with some deficiencies. One major deficiency they said is not having a gas scrubber. Keith had IL Rural Water draft a letter to dispute the request of having a gas scrubber.

Jeremy explained a new text program that he would like to implement for the Village. It would notify residents of information of urgent matters. The estimate he received from Txt Squad was $2,646 annually.

Jeremy Bauer moved to approve Txt Squad for the Village text communication in the amount of $2,646. Jacob Wagner seconded. Roll call taken Mike Bruner-aye, Andy Cotter-aye, Skip Grigas absent, Jeremy Bauer-aye, Jacob Wagner-aye, and Gayle Landeck-absent. All in favor; Motion Carried.

ORDINANCE:

Nothing to report

POLICE:

Chief Quick says that have a new part time officer. He is an Iroquois County Deputy. He is wanting to work midnights 2-3 days a week. Our current roster we have 3 full time officers and 9-part time officers. He mentioned that he is working on his list to start preparing for budgets. He has one car ordered but said we could really use 2. He would like to keep the silver Tahoe as a spare verse trading if possible.

OLD BUSINESS:

Jacob asked if Hardware Hanks sells do, we offer the Grant to the new owners. President Sweeney says yes, we would have to approve their plans as we did with the other applicants. We will keep all Grant money in budget for 1 more year and if businesses do not apply it is gone.

NEW BUSINESS:

President Sweeney was contacted by Heritage Prairie Wind Farm about extending water and sewer to Union Hill. The Board does not think it is a good idea. They agreed President Sweeney will reach out and hear what they have to say.

OPEN TO THE FLOOR:

Kelli Bonomo asked the Board about Mia Bellas having a pizza delivery a few times this winter. She has trailers in storage to follow the ordinances. They pay sales tax on everything they sell. At this point the Board is not opposed to the local pizza delivery.

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

https://herscher.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bd-Minutes-January-16-2024.pdf