Cerro Gordo, Illinois

AUGUST 20, 2007

The monthly meeting of the President and Board of Trustee for the Village of Cerro Gordo met at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, August 20, 2007 at 231 East South Street in Cerro Gordo. 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 D.P.W. Rob Bratton, P.C Pat Carter, Atty. Paul Stephanides, Treasurer Cris Perry, and Clerk Linda Ash.

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

CLAIMS REPORT

There will be some corrections and additions to the claims report. There were some problems with the checkbook program and several entries were removed. The Trustees will receive a corrected claims report. Motion to approve claims with corrections completed and copies given to all Trustees made by Trustee Williams, second Shoraga, all yeas.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Cris will be a little late but there were no questions concerning the treasurer’s report. A motion to approve the treasurer’s report was made by Trustee Williams, second Huff, all yeas.

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS

Oct. 13 is the date set for clean-up in the Village. This service is offered to all current Veolia customers. All items are to be at curbside by 6:A.M. Items not to be included are paints, oils, tires, batteries, building materials, and yard waste.

A large tree in Born Park is splitting. Bramel Tree Service came and put a cable in it and trimmed it up. The door at Scout Hall has been replaced and the equipment at Born Park and the welcome sign will be painted. The streets have been oiled. There were two bids for the handicap ramp in front of Judy’s Kitchen. The high bid was for $1405 and the low bid was $700. The bid was awarded to A & C Concrete on a motion by Trustee Price, second Songer, all yeas. They will wait for cooler weather and the locates from J.U.L.I.E.

CHIEF OF POLICE REPORT

Work has begun on Village ordinance enforcement-starting on the South side of town. Saturday, Pat accompanied the juveniles responsible for the tire slashing incident and had them pay restitution to all those involved. Everyone has been repaid with the exception of two individuals and arrangements will be made with them.

OLD BUSINESS

All items on the agenda are on hold until Colette gets back to works. The old Vulgamott building is getting cleaned out. The water committee has been working on the water rate increase. This will be added to the agenda for Aug. 30 for the Special Meeting. The water committee will meet one more time to discuss some issues. The rate increase will be very nominal.

TRUSTEES REPORT

Trustee Williams-there were some concerns with the tuck pointer. In regards to lack of guttering on the Municipal Building, Brad has received one bid for 6 inch guttering for the back of the building The owner of the tuck pointing business explained several things to the committee. He suggest a complete regrind within the next several years. It will be needed in the future. A motion was made by Trustee Songer, second Williams to send final payment to T-N Tuck pointing, all yeas.

PUBLIC FORUM

Blake West-a PA system is needed as it is hard to hear in the audience. The board has one but it needs some fine tuning.

Tom Hyde-has some questions for the TIF attorney

Randy West- Fire Department is holding a truck muster for Fire Prevention Week on Oct. 6 and would like to close off the main street for this. There will be entertainment in the evening. Also would like to see animal control stepped up.

Jerry Mosback-Would like to know what is contained in the nuisance ordinance. There is nothing published on the web site.

Harold Hiser-complaints of water standing in front of his house and the road is rough. Road pack washes out with the rain. According to Rob, rock was placed on Village property and as a result, the water cannot run off. Farm trucks going up and down that road are contributing to the state of that road.

Deb Smalley-two dogs around her are barking all night, they are caged and seldom seem to have food or water. Also the neighbor attempted to build a shed on her property and then tore the shed down and left all the debris laying there-on her property.

Gary Shaffer-presented the Board with a petition from 86 people opposed to serving Cisco.

Chief Carter-There has been no tax increase for the police department since 1968. The Village needs the revenue for the police department and this is one way to make some money without taxing the Village. An officer will be assigned Cisco patrol for only 5 hours a week, and this is only for traffic enforcement. Any other incident will be up to Piatt County Sheriff’s Department. The contract is for a three month trial period and can be terminated at any time by both parties if agreeable. A motion was entered to approve the contract subject to forming a subcommittee in case we need to make changes. Motion made by Trustee Shoraga, second Forbes. Roll call vote: Trustees Williams, yea, Shoraga, yea, Forbes, yea, Huff, nay, Price, nay, Songer, yea.

TIF

Atty. Dan Schuering passed out a statistical summary of the blight study. The map has not changed but the number of parcels has changed from 123 to 139. In all parcels studied they found inadequate utilities-storm water drainage, older Ameren power plant. Recommended plan for TIF is to improve water and sewer mains, Ameren Plant, and storm drains.

The study will be available for public inspection for 10 days. A special Board meeting will be held on Aug. 30th at 7:00 P.M. Need to pass an ordinance and appoint a joint revue board. This will consist of one Board member and a citizen. All notices will be sent by Schuering’s office. Property annexations will come in as tract land.

Trustee Williams made a motion that a Special Meeting be set for Aug. 30th at 7:00P.M. and the TIF information be on public file, second Shoraga, all yeas.

Motion to adjourn at 8:55 for a closed session-120/c-2 for personnel made by Trustee Williams, second Songer, all yeas.

Regular session resumes at 9:35 P.M. and adjourns on motion by Trustee Williams, Second Songer.
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Village Clerk 8/20/07