Cerro Gordo, Illinois

APRIL 21, 2008

The monthly meeting of the President and the Board of Trustees met at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 21, 2008 at 231 East South Street in Cerro Gordo, Those present include President Jim Morgan, Trustees Brad Williams, Lyle Shoraga, Carol Huff, Mike Songer, Treasurer Cris Perry, Atty. Colette McCarty, and Clerk Linda Ash. Also present were ASST. D.P.W. Mark Blickensderfer, and P.C. Pat Carter.

The meeting was called to order with the Public Forum held first. There were many speakers tonight and all wanted to talk garbage. The Village has an exclusive contract with Veolia to provide service to the town. United Waste was picking up several customers and was notified by Veolia’s attorneys that they had to pull out. At the November meeting, prices for the service were discussed. Several questions were asked about advertising for bids for the service. This is a non-bid contract as it is a licensing contract. Commercial service is not covered by Veolia so anyone with commercial needs can have service from United.

Atty. McCarty explained that when Mr. Young began picking up some customers in town, Veolia did not have an exclusive contract with the Village. When the new contract was signed,Veolia asked for an exclusive contract and the Village obliged. The law does allow one carrier to have an exclusive contract and one of the benefits from that is the number of large trucks on the roads and the noise from these trucks as well. At the most, United can request a proposal in three years when the current contract is up. Among the items the Village will be looking at will be free recycling, town clean-up, senior citizen program, service to parks, fire department, ambulance, and Village offices. All items are listed on an agenda and it is not up to Village personnel to contact individuals to see if they are interested in a contract with the Village. The current contract calls for a 3% increase each year of the contract. It also was noted by the attorney that when a resident decides to live in any town, you are agreeing to live by their ordinances.

The ordinance can be amended to include different haulers; however, the current contract cannot be amended before 2010. The lease concerns with Mediacom (that were asked about) deals with the building that Mediacom keeps some equipment in. The Village has a franchise agreement with Mediacom.

Randy West, with the Regional Development Committee, announce some plans for the annual Fathill Fest to be held June 20, 21. There will be an antique car show on Friday evening, and a band, and on Saturday there will be games, band, afternoon shows. As always, money is needed to help with this celebration. The lunch buffet went over very well. Randy is asking for a donation from the Village to help with cost. $1000 has been budgeted for this and a motion was entered by Trustee Shoraga, second Huff to release those funds. Roll call vote: Trustees Williams, Shoraga, Huff, and Songer all yeas.

At the March meeting the resignation of Rod Forbes was accepted with regret. At this meeting, the Mayor would like to appoint Terry Lovekamp to fill the remainder of Rod’s term which expires in 2009. A motion was made by Trustee Shoraga, second Songer to appoint Terry Lovekamp as Trustee for the Village of Cerro Gordo until 2009. Roll call vote: Trustees Williams, Shoraga, Huff, and Songer, all yeas.

Tim Allen presented a copy of an ordinance to allow the use of golf carts on Village streets. Two towns that allowed them have reported no problems with them. Operators must have a valid driver’s license, are 16 or 18 years old and must be registered with in the town at a price of $25-$50. The Board will take this into consideration.

Minutes were read and approved.

CLAIMS REPORT

These are the last bills to be paid as the fiscal year ends on April 30, 2008. There were no claims to be added. Motion to approve claims made by Trustee Williams, second Songer, all yeas.

TRESURER’S REPORT

Cris checked with the Bank in regards to outstanding checks. All checks drawn up on our bank and not cashed within 6 months are not valid. The auditor wants us to void the checks but re-issue them. Collette is waiting for a call from the state in regards to unclaimed property and to make sure we have no obligation to re-issue these checks. Several cd’s will be up for renewal in July

There are 8 adjustment requests this month. The first was David Wright on Jackson Street. There was a major leak this winter. The Village did not turn on the water but someone found the meter and turned it on. A motion was made by Trustee Songer, second Williams to remove the sewer charges but no adjustment on the water. The other adjustments were for Hayes. McCarty, Snyder, Beiler, Durham, Hanaver, and Buckley. Of all these McCarty and Snyder are the only ones who have not signed for their adjustments. Motion to approve all adjustments subject to signatures made by Trustee Williams, Songer. Motion to approve treasurer’s report made by Trustee Williams, second Songer, all yeas.

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REPORT

Born Park restrooms will be opened for the season this weekend. The basketball court and tennis courts will have some work done on them. A tile in the North end of town was worked on. A vent was put on it.

The left station on Madison is still having some minor problems. Working on communication problems and a heater to evaporate moisture. Signs are 30-40 % done.

POLICE REPORT

Police reports for Cerro Gordo and Cisco were handed out. Currently working on a pest situation on Carmi Court.

OLD BUSINESS

TIF The first project is underway. Dennis Ridgeway Enterprises is putting up a building. It will need to be re-zoned commercial as all properties when annexed into the Village were annexed in as residential. Also to be re-zoned is the Price property. The Village asks that the districts be changes. The zoning board will hold a hearing on the sites and then will give their recommendation to the Village. The next step is for the Board of Trustees to vote on the action. A motion was made to amend the ordinances for these two properties by Trustee Williams, second Shoraga, all yeas.

MEDIACOM They are writing a new contract. Colette is asking for a raise in the annual fee and for Mediacom to remove the satellite dishes.

NEW BUSINESS

The Senior Citizens Transportation group is asking for a $500.00 donation to help off set some of their costs. Motion to approve Trustee Shoraga, second Songer, all yeas.

The budget is ready except for salaries. If we spend our entire budget, we will have a deficit.

The Board will be looking at sidewalks to replace and new ones to build.

TRUSTEES REPORT

Trustee Williams brought in a piece of brickwork that is falling off the front of Flaugher’s building. A committee can look at this or the Village can contact Phil Flaugher. Trustee Songer will contact Flaugher.

Trustee Shoraga was asking if the Fire Department ever sent the condemnation letter to Galen Handley for the old Vulgamott building on Monroe Street. The electricity is off.

The attorney reported that she has contacted the County treasurer in regards to the old Edwards property. Their office has hired a company to take care of tax forfeitures. The property could be up for a scavenger sale. Currently the taxes are over $47,000 for the old Edwards property on Jackson Street.

A motion was made to move to closed session for compensation 120/2 C-1 and purchase of property 120/2 C-5 by Trustee Shoraga, second Huff at 8:48 P.M.

Regular session resumed at 10:04 P.M. A special meeting will be held on May 5 to discuss ordinance violations, junk properties, salaries, and TIF. Motion made by Trustee Shoraga, second Lovekamp for the Board to go into the liquor commission, all yeas. An application for Casey’s for a liquor license has been received. Everything is in order. Approval will be made contingent upon proof that they are the owners of the property. A copy of the deed will be needed. Motion to approve made by Trustee Williams, Songer, all yeas. It would be of interest to see what other towns our size charge for a liquor license. Motion to return to regular session made by Trustee Williams, Songer, all yeas.

No further business was discussed and a motion to adjourn at 10:10 P.M. was made by Trustee Songer, Huff, all yeas.
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Village Clerk 4/21/08