Cerro Gordo, Illinois

OCTOBER 15, 2007

The monthly meeting of the President and the Board of Trustees was held on Oct. 15, 2007 at 7:00 pm in the Municipal Building located at 231 East South Street. The following members were present: President Jim Morgan, Trustees Brad Williams, Lyle Shoraga, Rod Forbes, Carol Huff, Ron Price, and Mike Songer. Also present were Atty. Colette McCarty, P.C. Pat Carter, D.P.W. Rob Bratton, Treasurer Cris Perry and Clerk Linda Ash.

The meeting was called to order and minutes were read and approved on a motion by Trustee Williams, second Shoraga, all yeas.

PUBLIC FORUM

Resident Lonnie Grider was present and asked about the farm equipment that he has on his property. All of his equipment is operable and is used. His property is zoned commercial. Colette will confer with Pat and no citations were issued. There was a question in regards to the ordinance that no farm equipment be allowed in the Village.

Randy West announced that the Regional Development Committee will be hosting a parade for family and pets on Oct. 27. There will also be a wiener roast and no charge for any one that wants to come. The town is welcome.

Tracy Cavner bought a home on Oakley Road that is not hooked up to the sewer system. It is currently on a septic system and ownership has changed 3 or 4 times. She would like a letter from the Village to the mortgage company she bought it from in regards to having to hook up to the sewer. Collette will take care of this and she (Tracy Cavner) would also like a copy of the sewer ordinance.

CLAIMS REPORT

The only addition to the claims report is the Ameren IP bill. The Village also received their bill from IMLRMA for their liability insurance. That payment is not due until November 16, 2007 but Clerk Ash would like permission to pay that before the next Board meeting to take advantage of the savings for paying early. Motion to pay claims and early IMLRMA bill made by Trustee Lyle, second Price, all yeas.

The Village received a letter from Ameren IP in regards to the street lights. They are changing all lights to energy saving sodium vapor lights and the Village could be eligible for a certain amount of free exchanges. There may be a percentage of lights to be exchanged. The mayor will fill out the form but D.P.W. Bratton says our lights are already switched over.

TREASURER'S REPORT

Cris passed out penalty calculation list. Colette informed the Board that the maximum a municipality can charge for penalties is 18% and so the committee can not raise late fees to a flat rate. They do still recommend that the reconnect fee be increased from $25 to $50. Hopefully, this will decrease the number of shut offs we have each month. Colette will prepare the necessary documents for this and leave penalties at 10%.

There was one adjustment. Motion to approve the adjustment was made by Trustee Williams, second Price, all yeas. The new water rates are in the computer and ready to go at the end of the month.

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS

The town cleanup went really well. The crew started at 6:00am and was finished by 10:00 am. There was only one roll off full and the rest went on the trucks.

Rob replaced one culvert on Oakley Road and is in the process of changing signs throughout the Village. The restrooms at the park will be winterized before long.

CHIEF OF POLICE REPORT

Pat presented police reports for the month. The number of calls and the number of arrest are down. The number of citations is up. He also presented a Cisco report. The number of citations is down for them. As of November 1, the Board needs to set up a special meeting to discuss the conditions of the contract with Cisco. Our contract was on a 90 day trial period and that will be up at the end of November. The Village made almost $500 again this month after expenses. The fine money the Village received this month was also over $1100. Pat received a grant packet for a new squad car. The last car cost the Village $2500. If the Village applies for a grant, receives it but decides not to use it, they will have a hard time getting approved for another one. The Chevy would be replaced the next time. It was in the shop last month and there was a $1300 repair bill for that. The Board wants Pat to apply for the grant. There is no guarantee that the Village will be awarded one this time.

OLD BUSINESS

Nothing on the alley. The old Vulgamott Building needs to be discussed in closed session. The Edwards property-Colette will ask the current clerk in Monticello to provide proof of bankruptcy. The TIF Review Board met this afternoon and will meet on Oct. 29 to finalize there plan at 3:00 p.m. in the Village Hall. November 7 is the date of the open meeting at the Masonic Hall in which the TIF plan will be explained to any one who wants to attend and ask questions. So far, all the taxing bodies represented have been positive about the TIF except for the school.

No live body to talk to Mediacom about the contract. Colette needs a meeting with the Ordinance Committee to finalize the ordinance dealing with fines for tickets.

NEW BUSINESS

Trailers at Fair-Colette is working on this. According to our ordinance, the trailers are only a nuisance if zoned residential which is how the fairgrounds are zoned. May need to change the zoning for the fairgrounds from residential to commercial.

Veolia-Ed Woker was at the meeting to see if the Village would need any changes or any complaints about the service. There were some issues about service with a particular worker but they have been resolved and that person is no longer working for them. There are currently 16 customers that requested twice a week service. A question was asked about extra garbage that won’t fit into the can-Veolia will pick up the extra, not just what is in the tote. If anyone has any problems, the Village request that they be contacted. Someone in the office can contact our local hauler and see if the problem can be rectified. Clean up went really well. The company is pleased with that. The current contract expires at the end of November. Veolia and Colette will participate in contract negotiations. Veolia serves 535 customers in Cerro Gordo. The Village may put the contract out for bid.

Trick or Treat hours will be from 5-7 pm on Oct. 31 and the Legion party will be from 7-8 pm..

The Red Hat ladies will conduct a change for the cure on Oct. 21 from 1-4 pm. All money collected goes to Piatt County Race for the Cure

Ed Horton requested the Village Board look at the new bookkeeping program. For some unknown reason, the checks do not match up in payroll. They do in claims. The Board will wait on this. They want to know if the new program is going to be Vista compatible as XP is outdated.

No Trustees reports

ATTORNEY’S REPORT

Colette would like a closed session 120/2 c-5 for discussion of property.

Motion to end regular session at 8:25 pm for closed session made by Trustee Songer, second Huff, all yeas.

Regular session resumes at 8:40pm on a motion by Trustee Shoraga, second Huff. The attorney set a date for the Ordinance Committee to meet-Oct. 24 at 6:30 pm.

In regards to the Cisco contract, if Pat and Cisco are satisfied with the contract, unofficially we can keep the same terms.

Motion to adjourn, Trustee Shoraga, second Huff.
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Village Clerk 10/15/07