Other
Village officials in attendance were Village Administrator
Kevin McNamara, EMS Director Al Metzke, Public Works
Director David Bozarth, Police Chief Tim Henson, and Village
Attorney Gary Neville.
President
Wilkey led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
President Wilkey then administered the oath
of office to Watson McKee, the new police officer for the
Village of Dwight.
A motion was made by Curtis and seconded by
Skinner to approve the minutes of the July 27, 2009 regular
Village Board meeting. Roll call
was as follows: Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye; Skinner-aye;
Airgood-aye; Eggenberger-aye. Motion carried, 5-0.
The bills were presented for payment from the
various funds in the amount of $85,480.45. A motion was
made by Airgood and seconded by Anderson to pay the bills as
submitted and approved by the Village Trustees.
Roll call was as follows:
Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye; Skinner-aye; Airgood-aye;
Eggenberger-aye. Motion carried, 5-0.
Administrator McNamara presented an Illinois
Department of Transportation Resolution allowing the Village
to use $65,000 of Motor Fuel Tax Funds to pay on the
principal of the 2005 G.O. Bonds used for the Waupansie St.
project. A motion was made by Anderson and seconded by
Eggenberger to pass the IDOT Resolution to use $65,000 of
MFT funds to pay on the 2005 Waupansie St. project bonds.
Roll call was as follows: Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye;
Skinner-aye; Airgood-aye; Eggenberger-aye. Motion carried,
5-0.
President Wilkey reported that installation
of the new play equipment at the park was coming along fine.
Administrator McNamara said that the Taste of
Dwight event which was to take place at Stevenson Pool on
Friday, August 7th, had been postponed until
Friday, August 14th due to rain.
Chief Henson reported that arrests had been
made in connection with the stolen vehicles.
EMS Director Metzke reported on repair work
that was done on the older ambulance. He also requested a
Services Committee meeting be scheduled to discuss and clear
up rumors and innuendo concerning decisions Metzke has made
in the ambulance department.
Public Works Director Bozarth requested a
committee meeting to discuss streets in town that people are
complaining about. Bozarth would also like to arrange a
time when trustees who are interested can take a look at the
asphalt zipper machine when it’s in the area.
Trustee Airgood reported that the Ordinance
Committee met prior to tonight’s Board meeting. The agenda
items discussed will be reported and acted upon at the
August 24th Village Board meeting.
A motion was made by Curtis and seconded by
Eggenberger to override the Village President’s veto on the
refinancing and extension of the 1994 water works bond
issue. During deliberation
of the issue, Trustee Curtis commented that
any amount under two million dollars can be done. He didn’t
feel that the water fund could generate enough money to do
any meaningful work. Trustee Skinner spoke against
borrowing money and creating more debt for the Village.
President Wilkey commented that the Village
couldn’t get grant money if we extend the loan, and thought
the Village should wait.
Roll call on the override was as follows:
Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye; Skinner-no; Airgood-aye;
Eggenberger-aye. Motion carried, 4-1.
Gibs Nielsen presented information on
implementing a rent subsidy program through the Village of
Dwight in order to attractive businesses to the downtown
area and help with start up costs. The Dwight Action
Committee, comprised of members of the Dwight Economic
Development Committee, the Dwight Area Chamber of Commerce,
and Dwight Main Street Program, drew up the proposal for the
program. This program was previously discussed at a Finance
& Administration Committee meeting in March. Steve Wilkey
of the First National Bank of Dwight and member of the
Dwight Action Committee spoke in favor of the loan program,
stating that it would create jobs, generate sales tax, and
the downtown would have occupied buildings. Mr. Wilkey
noted that it’s only a 12 month program and the Village
would have the right to approve or deny the loans.
A motion to approve the implementation of the
rent subsidy program was made by Curtis and seconded by
Anderson. Roll call was as follows: Anderson-aye;
Curtis-aye; Skinner-aye; Airgood-aye; Eggenberger-aye.
Motion carried, 5-0.
Steve Wilkey then presented information on a
commercial loan rehabilitation program that would help
“stimulate, promote and assist in the redevelopment and
revitalization of the Village of Dwight’s central business
district”. The Village would be in partnership with the
lending institutions in town. The rehab loan could only be
used for specific capital improvements.
After some discussion, a motion to approve
the implementation of the commercial loan rehabilitation
program was made by Curtis and seconded by Airgood. Roll
call was as follows: Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye; Skinner-no;
Airgood-aye; Eggenberger-aye. Motion carried, 4-1.
There was discussion on whether to hire
Bernardi Securities as the underwriter for refinancing and
extending the 1994 water works bonds. Trustee Curtis was in
favor of going with Bernardi since that firm was the one
that originally contacted the Village about refinancing last
year. Curtis said First Midstate didn’t approach the
Village about it.
Trustee Skinner wanted both firms to make a
presentation at the same time on refinancing and extending
the 1994 bonds.
A Utilities Committee meeting was set for
Tuesday, August 18, 2009, at 8:00 a.m. Presentations from
Bernardi’s Securities and First Midstate will be on the
agenda.
A request was made from Watters Dr LLC for
approval of a final plat for the Second Addition to Watters
Commercial Subdivision.
A motion was made by Anderson and seconded by
Curtis to refer the above request from Watters Dr. LLC on to
the Plan Commission. Roll call was as follows:
Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye; Skinner-aye; Airgood-aye;
Eggenberger-aye. Motion carried, 5-0.
A request was made by the Dwight VFW to
solicit funds at the intersection of Rt. 17 and Rt. 47
during their Poppy Days drive on October 30th and
31st, 2009. A motion was made Skinner and
seconded by Anderson to approve this request. Roll call was
as follows: Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye; Skinner-aye; Airgood-aye;
Eggenberger-aye. Motion carried, 5-0.
A request for a sound amplification permit
was made by Shawn Doyle, 320 W. William St., for Saturday,
August 22, 2009, 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The 300 block of
W.William St. will be hosting a block party and will have
musical entertainment during the evening. A motion was made
by Skinner and seconded by Anderson to approve this sound
amplification request. Roll call was as follows:
Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye; Skinner-aye; Airgood-aye;
Eggenberger-aye. Motion carried, 5-0.
The Knight’s of Columbus Council #1282 of
Dwight requested permission to hold their annual Tootsie
Roll Drive the weekend of September 12 and 13, 2009 at the
intersection of Rt. 17 and Rt. 47. A motion was made by
Eggenberger and seconded by Airgood to approve this
solicitation request. Roll call was as follows:
Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye; Skinner-aye; Airgood-aye;
Eggenberger-aye. Motion carried, 5-0.
Dawn Sutton, 307 Julie Dr., was in attendance
and presented information to the Village Board about a teen
center that she and a group of Dwight citizens have been
working to establish in town. The group has worked several
months in laying the groundwork for such a center. Mrs.
Sutton was asking for Village support with the center,
suggesting that it could be part of the Village’s recreation
program. President Wilkey suggested that the matter be
taken up at a future Administration Committee meeting.
Fred Strufe, along with clients Mark and
Kathy Clausen, 124 W. Chippewa St., was in attendance to
request reimbursement of $9002.00 from the Village of Dwight
for property in the 300 block of E. Waupansie which the
Clausen’s purchased from the Village in 1996. Speaking for
the Clausen’s, Mr. Strufe indicated that the Clausen’s had
been misled by a former Village Administrator and Village
Attorney as to what could be built on this property. They
have been unsuccessful in trying to sell the property.
President Wilkey suggested that this matter will also be
discussed further at a future Administration Committee
meeting.
A motion was made by Curtis and seconded by
Anderson to enter into Executive Session under 5 ILCS
120/2(c)(21) to discuss approval of closed meeting minutes
and to conduct the semi-annual review of closed minutes.
Roll call was as follows: Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye;
Skinner-aye; Airgood-aye; Eggenberger-aye. Motion carried,
5-0.
The Village Board entered into Executive
Session at 7:25 p.m.
The Village Board came back into open session
at 7:41 p.m.
There
being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by
Curtis, and seconded by Eggenberger. All voted aye. The
meeting adjourned at 7:41 p.m.
