Cerro Gordo, Illinois

March 16, 2009

The monthly meeting of the President and the Board of Trustees was called to order at 7:00 pm on Ma. 16, 2009 in the Municipal Building located at 231 East South Street. Among those present were President Jim Morgan, Trustees Brad Williams, Lyle Shoraga, Terry Lovekamp, and Ron Price. Also present were Atty. Colette McCarty, D.P.W. Rob Bratton, P.C. Pat Carter, Treasurer Cris Perry, and Clerk Linda Ash. Trustees Carol Huff and Mike Songer were absent.

PUBLIC FORUM

Randy West stated that this year’s Fathill Fest will be held on June 12 and 13. He would like permission to close some streets at that time for vendors and the car show.

M. Woolen asked if something can be done with the property at 115 S. Adams. The house has been empty for some time and when the people left they filled the garage with garbage. It's still there and causes rodent problems.

Kevin Huffman attended the meeting and gave the financial report for the 07/08 fiscal year. The opinion letter is standard and the audit shows revenue up for the year.

Ron Hunt attended the meeting and gave an insight in the TIF district in his town. Ron is the mayor of Villa Grove. In their TIF district, they have plans in place, or have built an industrial park, sports complex, and downtown renovations. The subdivision part of the plan is dormant because of the economy. He states that as far as business is concerned, Villages need to maintain what they have currently. Their TIF has been in effect for 10 years and they are just now seeing any financial windfall.

Minutes were read and approved. Discussion was brought up concerning the Scout hall. Last month, the American Legion asked the Village take over payments for utilities for Scout Hall. Currently, the Village pays part, and the Legion pays part. Motion that the Village assume responsibility for all utilities at the Scout Hall was made by Trustee Shoraga, second Williams, Roll call: Williams, Shoraga, Lovekamp, and Price all yeas.

Claims Report

Il. Power bill has not been received yet so Clerk Ash would like permission to pay when it comes in. Motion to approve made by Trustee Williams, second Price, all yeas.

Treasurer's Report

No adjustments for water bills this month. Motion to approve treasurer's report made by Trustee Williams, Shoraga, all yeas.

Director of Public Works

Rob needs a new water line indicator. The one we are currently using is over 20 years old and is not accurate. He is trying one out now. The price for this indicator is $2825 and is from IL. Meter. Motion to purchase indicator made by Trustees Williams, Lovekamp. Roll call vote: Trustees Williams, Shoraga, Lovekamp, and Price, all yeas.

Rob has ordered the sand and media needed to change the filter at the water plant. He will pay for the media out of this year's budget and the work will be budgeted for next year. Water lines have been run to Casey's. They are getting ready to lay brick. The water line was damaged when the wall blew down. and they will repair that when they need to run water.

Chief of Police Report

Calls are back up most likely due to warmer weather. Cisco report-worked 14 hours, billed $560 for a profit for $358.96. Traffic is picking up in Cisco also.

A CIMOA meeting is being held on the 19th of March and a Piatt County enhancement meeting for 911 is also being held. Piatt Co. has invited DeWitt and Moultrie Counties to join in the grant quest. Trustee Williams and Pat will attend this meeting.

Pat handed out the appraisal report for the damaged squad car. Pat reported that a possession of drug paraphernalia fine is $750 and the county gets to keep all of that. Pat would like to find a way that the Village could receive some of this.

Grant application for the new squad car is 75/25. This will be budgeted for the 2009-10 year.

One officer is down due to a hurt leg. Officer Mudd has been covering his shift.

New Business

Zoning for fair-the zoning board met on March 11 to discuss the issuance of a special use permit to the fair. The board needs to decide to pass an ordinance for the special use. This will be voted on at the April 20 meeting. An ordinance amending section Q of the zoning ordinance was passed that gave a definition of the fairgrounds. A motion by the zoning board passed 4-1 to add the definition. A motion was filed by Trustee Williams, second Shoraga to approve the zoning board's recommendation.

Security cameras for the police department will be figured in next year's budget.

Casey's liquor license needs to be updated for the board to consider. The board can have a special meeting if it needs to be approved before the April meeting.

Old Business

Edwards property-The office has made some progress in the archives. That property filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy which is re-organization. In this, you are told what you have to do. It could have been converted to Chapter 7 and could be that we are waiting for a document that doesn't exist. The banks wouldn't foreclose because they didn't want it. The bankruptcy dates back to 1990. Colette has talked to the assessor and the state's attorney and hopefully the property will be put on the scavenger roll.

Drainage-no report

Water grant-survey is nearly done

Library drainage-no report

The water committee met with the engineer regarding out of town service for some residents. The first thing is to get easement right of ways.

Colette would like a closed session to discuss final negotiations on the TIF agreement with Dennis and Deborah Ridgeway.

Trustees Report

Trustee Williams asked if Chief Carter was looking to hire another officer. Pat is looking into an auxiliary force as possible hires. The Baue property was already discussed in the public forum and Colette will find out the real owners of that property,

Trustee Shoraga has had a lot of inquiries about the Casey's store.

There will be a budget meeting on march 25 at 10:30 am for the finance committee and heads of departments. This will be a preliminary meeting. Motion to end regular session made by Trustee Shoraga, second Lovekamp.

Motion to move to closed session at 8:47 was made by Trustee Shoraga, second Lovekamp. Regular session resumed at 9:04 on a motion by Trustee Price, second Shoraga.

A redevelopment agreement between Ridgeway and TIF, and what expenses are going to be reimbursed by the Village and TIF was discussed. There needs to be an understanding of whether water and sewer fees are reimburseable. If the Board wants to approve the agreement, it has to be done in ordinance form, and a motion is needed to waive the tapping fee for water and sewer.

Motion to approve redevelopment agreement between the Village and Dennis Ridgeway was made by Trustee Lovekamp, second Price, all yeas. Motion was made to pass Ord, 535-authorizing execution of TIF with Dennis and Deborah Ridgeway by Trustee Lovekamp, Williams, all yeas. A motion was made to waive tapping fees by Trustee Lovekamp, Shoraga, all yeas.

No further business was discussed and the Board adjourned at 9:12 pm.
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Village Clerk 3/16/09