Cerro Gordo, Illinois

NOVEMBER 19, 2007

The monthly meeting of the President and the Board of Trustees met at 7:00 pm on Monday, November 19, 2007 in the Municipal Building. Those present include President Jim Morgan, Trustees Brad Williams, Lyle Shoraga, Carol Huff, Ron Price, and Mike Songer. Trustee Rod Forbes was absent, as was Treasurer Cris Perry. Also in attendance were Atty. Colette McCarty, D.P.W. Rob Bratton, P.C. Pat Carter, and Clerk Linda Ash.

The meeting was called to order and the Public Forum conducted. The first speaker was Scott Primmer who questioned the actions of the Police Department in regards to ordinance violations of inoperable vehicles on property. All vehicles have to be licensed and be operable.

Randy West informed the Board that the Fire District received a travel trailer from FEMA and it will be equipped and used as a command center for any agency that needs it. The Fire Department would also like to decorate the Commons area for Christmas.

Lowell Yowell also had a question about the vehicle ordinance. He also has a vehicle that runs but is not licensed. He needs to license it and then it can stay.

There were no additions or corrections to the Oct. 15th and Nov 7th minutes and stand approved.

NEW BUSINESS

Representatives for Veolia were present to discuss the contract with the Village for service. Trustee Williams heard of a supposed proposal from another carrier but there is no one here from that carrier to present a proposal. This is not a bidding situation as it is a licensing operation. The Village has the option of a one year or three year contract. There will be a 3% rate increase each year. Commencing Dec. 1, 2007 the rates will increase to $17.32 and then 3% each year. Pick-ups will remain the same. Residents have the option of weekly or twice weekly. Senior citizen stickers will increase $.05. Stickers will increase from $2.20 to $2.25 beginning December 1, 2007. Pick up will be provided to the parks, fire station, ambulance service, village shed/garage, village hall, and the commons area. Veolia will pay a business license fee of $125.00 per year. The insurance premiums are the same. There was no further discussion and a motion was entered by Trustee Shoraga to approve the contract for three years and with changes made. Second by Trustee Songer, all yeas

Matt Williams was present and requested a donation for the local Cub Scout troop in its quest to purchase a Pinewood Derby Track. They are in the process of using fund raisers for the project. The Scouts largest fundraiser is the popcorn sale and proceeds from this project also help the scouts attend camp. The track is all aluminum and the basic track cost $500. Trustee Songer suggests $200. Trustee Williams made a motion to help contribute $250(half the cost), with a second by Trustee Huff, all yeas.

Resident Jerry Morris is looking at the option of annexing his property on Franklin Street into the Village. It is currently zoned agricultural in Macon County and may annex in as commercial or industrial. He will look into what best suits his needs.

Clerk Linda Ash has attended a census workshop for the 2010 census.

OLD BUSINESS

TIF Atty. Dan Schuering was present and informed the Board that the last three steps of the TIF are close to being done. The public hearing has occurred; he has researched property to be annexed and will have the final plans in the next few days. Engineer Dave Happ is working on the map, this is step one. Step two is the passing of the Ordinance to implement the TIF plan, and step three is to get the certification to the County Clerk by Dec. 31, 2007. The TIF plan will be available for viewing on the web site www.salawyer.net.

There are four parcels of land to annex and these will all be on a pre-annexation agreement. If the TIF is not adopted, they can pull out. There will be a public hearing on each annexation-sometime after the week of Thanksgiving to get all the certification done. The meeting should only take about thirty (30) minutes. The Board can schedule a Special Meeting or use the regularly scheduled meeting in December to add those properties and approve the ordinances. There already seems to be some interest to the parcels of property being considered for annexation.

Superintendent of Schools Brett Robinson spoke next about the TIF and the impact on the schools. His concerns with the TIF involve declining enrollment and the concern of EAV being frozen. Mr. Robinson distributed information to show how it impacts the school. There are four (4) groups affected by the TIF-city, developers, TIF administrators, and taxing bodies. Sixty-five (65%) percent of money lost in the TIF will be made up in state aid. The school Board seeks an intergovernmental agreement between the Village and the school district. He further pointed out agreements between Bethany and their school district where 25% of all TIF funds go to the schools each year and Mechanicsburg has a floating rate. Mr. Schuering does not advise implementing 25% contracts. Schools or any taxing body should not rely on TIF for income. An agreement could be great but a TIF is no sure source of income. If there is no development in the areas, the TIF would be dissolved after a five year period. This comes down to a policy decision to be made by the Village Trustees.

Atty. McCarty will send a letter to the County in regards to the Edwards property. Also still trying to talk to the legal department at Mediacom in regards to the rental agreement.

CLAIMS REPORT

No additions to be made. A motion was made by Trustee Williams, second Songer, to approve claims. All yeas.

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS REPORT

Rob has a signed contract with Water Tower Paint and Repair for painting the inside and outside of the tower. These are two separate contracts. This is $30,574 for the outside and $38,090 for the inside. There is a proposal is to take care of OSHA deficiencies-new ladder, roof ladder, raise the catwalk for $21560. This is a proposal that needs to be completed in 2009 but we need to lock in the contract now as the price of steel keeps going up. The tower was last painted in 1996 or 97. We have to bid out the work if over $20,000 so Rob will talk to the company. We‘ve always had a good relationship with this company and there are not many tower companies out there.

Rob also received two bids for tearing down the old Vulgamott Building. As weather permits, he is putting up new signs. The trucks are inspected and the plow is on one of the trucks.

CHIEF OF POLICE REPORT

Pat handed out stats for the month and a breakdown of Cisco work.

The ordinance committee, Atty. McCarty, and Pat met in regards to nuisance of storing inoperable items. The ordinance will be changed to include commercial, business or industrial zones. This is article 9.105 G in the Code of Ordinances.

There is no grant available for a squad car this year. He will wait for the next bid cycle.

TRUSTEES REPORT

Trustee Songer was approached by former Trustee Don Ritchie about using the Village Hall for fair Board meetings and if he could keep his key. He is to return the key and personnel will make sure the Board is able to have access to the Hall when they have a meeting.

A motion was entered for the Board to go into a liquor session to discuss the renewal of a liquor license for Cerro Gordo Foods. All paperwork is in order and signed. Motion to approve license was made by Trustee Williams, second Shoraga, all yeas. Motion to return to regular session made by Trustee Williams, second Songer, all yeas.

A motion was entered at 9:30 for a closed session to discuss purchase of property by Trustee Williams, second Huff.

Regular session resumes at 9:42. P.C. Carter states that the trailers at the fairgrounds are in violation of the ordinance and the trailers will need to have plates. May cost $60 at most for these plates. He will inform the Fair Board of this.

Motion to adjourn at 9:58 on a motion by Trustee Shoraga, second Huff, all yeas.
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Village Clerk 11/19/07