Kankakee Times

Village of Herscher Board of Trustees met March 4.

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: Mike Bruner, Andy Cotter, Gayle Landeck, Jacob Wagner. Jeremy Bauer and Skip Grigas. Also present, Village Clerk Heather Meredith, Chief of Police Kurt Quick, Attorney Chris Bohlen, Public Works Superintendent Keith Witheft, and Janet Mau from The Herscher Pilot (Zoom).

Andy Cotter moved to approve the Regular minutes of February 20, 2024; Jeremy Bauer seconded. All in favor. Motion carried.

STREETS:

Jacob Wagner went over his plan for street paving. He says he is okay with us taking out a loan to catch up on streets.

Jacob Wagner moved to purchase a use truck from Pilot Township Road District in the amount of $13,000. Andy Cotter seconded. Roll call taken Jacob Wagner-aye, Mike Bruner-aye, Andy Cotter aye, Jeremy Bauer-aye, Skip Grigas-aye, and Gayle Landeck-aye. All in favor; Motion Carried.

FINANCE:

Mike Bruner presented the Accounts Payable Report totaling $15,192.35 to the Board for payment. Mike Bruner moved to accept the accounts payable as presented. Skip Grigas seconded. Roll call taken Jacob Wagner-aye, Mike Bruner-aye, Andy Cotter-aye, Jeremy Bauer-aye, Skip Grigas-aye, and Gayle Landeck-aye. All in favor; Motion Carried.

Payroll presented totaled $23,735.95. Mike Bruner moved to accept payroll as presented, Skip Grigas seconded. Roll call taken Jacob Wagner-aye, Mike Bruner-aye, Andy Cotter-aye, Jeremy Bauer-aye, Skip Grigas-aye, and Gayle Landeck-aye. All in favor; Motion Carried.

Mike Bruner added:

- Received the first payment from the Wind Farm in the amount of $60,000

PARKS:

Andy Cotter says we need to get a new score board for Pilot Park and the flag needs to be taken down and replaced. He spoke with last summer’s park crew, and they are all good and want to work this year. He added that we will be painting the curbs and if the parks guys do not do it AJ Cotter will since he is still an employee.

WATER AND SEWER:

Jeremy Bauer presented the 2024 N. Elm Street Water Main and Storm Sewer Replacement Bid Tabulations worksheet. The lowest bidder was from Scanlon Excavating Inc. in the amount of $456,236.00. Jeremy Bauer moved to accept the bid from Scanlon Excavating Inc in the amount of $456,236.00. Andy Cotter seconded. Roll call taken Jacob Wagner-aye, Mike Bruner-aye, Andy Cotter-aye, Jeremy Bauer-aye, Skip Grigas-aye, and Gayle Landeck-aye. All in favor; Motion Carried.

ORDINANCE:

Gayle Landeck said that 195 S Elm has foundation issues and building inspector Jeff Fieldman instructed the property owner on what needs to be done.

POLICE:

Chief Quick said that the lights came in for the new squad truck. He hopes to have them all installed and have the truck on the road quickly. He added that the old Tahoe is in the shop for the week with unknown issues.

Jacob Wagner said that he has had several complaints of people being pulled over and ticked for going 2 mph over the speed limit. Chief Quick says that he will investigate it. He said all the citations he has seen have been good.

OLD BUSINESS:

President Sweeney presented an agreement with Landmark dividend, a company that would lease the Verizon Antenna on top of the water tower and seek other leases. The Board was not in favor of doing anything different then what we have.

NEW BUSINESS:

Mike Bruner moved to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement with Kankakee County as administrator of $100,000 from IL Deco for General Infrastructure Improvements. Gayle Landeck seconded. Roll call taken Jacob Wagner-aye, Mike Bruner-aye, Andy Cotter-aye, Jeremy Bauer-aye, Skip Grigas-aye, and Gayle Landeck-aye. All in favor; Motion Carried.

The Board asked Heather Meredith to send a letter to the property owners on 115 across from BP reminding them of the burn hours. They were burning on a Sunday.

OPEN TO THE FLOOR:

Chief Quick said that he has not had any complaints made to him. He added that once lights are activated on the squad the in car and body cameras turn on.

Janet Mau asked about the hardware store being sold. She was told we hope to have information at the next Board Meeting.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Mike Bruner made a motion to enter Executive Session (7:49pm) to discuss appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the Village of Herscher and potential Litigations. Jacob Wagner seconded. Roll call taken Jacob Wagner-aye, Mike Bruner-aye, Andy Cotter-aye, Jeremy Bauer-aye, Gayle Landeck-aye, and Skip Grigas-aye. All in favor; motion carried.

Mike Bruner motioned to exit executive session at 8:10p.m. Andy Cotter seconded. All in favor motion carried.

Mike Bruner moved to approve the following raises for all employees

-Chief Quick $72,240.00 a year.

-Officer Sara Meister $57,778.00 a year

-Officer Paul Berge $50,500.00 a year

- Keith Witheft $73,710

-Chad Scanlon $65,285.78 a year

- Part time Officers $25/ hour

- Seasonal workers $16.25/ hour

- Vannessa Weaver $20.88/ hour

- Heather Meredith $26.40/ hour

-Meeting pay for Clerks $45

-Inspectors $75 per inspection

-Village Treasurer $2,500

-Village President $3,000

-Liquor Commissioner $300

Jacob Wagner seconded. Roll call taken Mike Bruner-aye, Andy Cotter-aye, Skip Grigas-aye, Jeremy Bauer-aye, Jacob Wagner-aye, and Gayle Landeck-aye. All in favor; Motion Carried.

Motion to adjourn by Andy Cotter. Seconded by Gayle Landeck. All in favor. Motion carried. 

https://herscher.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Bd-Minutes-March-4-2024.pdf