Public Services Complex, 209 S. Prairie Ave., Dwight, Illinois

September 28, 2009

The Dwight Village Board of Trustees met in regular session at 6:00 p.m. with the meeting being called to order by President Bill Wilkey.  Roll call was as follows:

                                                            Ron Skinner                      Trustee

Other Village officials in attendance were Village Administrator Kevin McNamara, Public Works Director David Bozarth, Police Chief Tim Henson, Village Attorney Gary Neville, and Village Engineer Ryan Hansen.

President Wilkey led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

A motion was made by Anderson and seconded by Airgood to approve the minutes of the September 14, 2009 regular Village Board meeting.  Roll call was as follows: Airgood-aye; Woods-aye; Eggenberger-aye; Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye.  Motion carried, 5 – 0.

The bills were presented for payment from the various funds in the amount of $35,792.58.  A motion was made by Curtis and seconded by Eggenberger to pay the bills as submitted and approved by the Village Trustees.  Roll call was as follows: Airgood-aye; Woods-aye; Eggenberger-aye; Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye.  Motion carried, 5 – 0.

A motion was made by Airgood and seconded by Eggenberger to approve a fund transfer as requested by Village Comptroller Drechsel in the amount of $65,000.00 from the Motor Fuel Tax Fund to the Motor Fuel Tax Bond Fund for the purpose of paying principal on the Waupansie St. bonds.  Roll call was as follows: Airgood-aye; Woods-aye; Eggenberger-aye; Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye.  Motion carried, 5 – 0.

Cheryl Simmons, 224 E. Seminole St., Dwight, was in attendance to voice a concern over the condition of the area by the creek not far from their home around the railroad trestle.  Mrs. Simmons showed pictures of debris in the creek which is prohibiting the free flow of the water through there.  President Wilkey said the Village would take a look at the situation.

Another complaint voiced by Mrs. Simmons and her husband, Ron, was the recently changed sewer loan fee which now includes all apartments.  They own apartments where only one meter takes care of the whole complex and they don’t feel it’s fair for them to pay the fee for apartments that are empty.  President Wilkey, Trustee Curtis, and Administrator McNamara tried to explain that the Board put this new policy into place to try and be fair to everyone.  President Wilkey said the Board will take Simmons’ complaint under consideration.

President Wilkey reported on the following:

�         the electronic recycling drive that was held downtown this past Saturday was a big success.  Bill Flott, organizer of the drive, reported to McNamara that over thirteen (13) tons of equipment had been turned in for recycling;

�         Pamida store’s silent opening will be October 12, with the Grand Opening on October 30^th;

�         Dempsey’s dealership, building and land is being sold to Celozzi Ettleson;

�         Green’s Painting on E. Delaware is closing;

�         talked to Dr. Travis Swink about the house he purchased and is renovating at 100 E. Waupansie St. saying it will be a big improvement;

�         attended the Livingston Co. Mayors’ Association meeting.

Village Clerk Drechsel reported on the Illinois Municipal League Conference she attended this past Saturday in Chicago.  Topics of interest at the Clerk’s Seminar included information on the newly signed Freedom of Information Act bill, the Video Gaming law, and relating to co-workers and residents by way of understanding the difference in generations.  Speakers at the conference included Illinois Governor Quinn and Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of United States Conference of Mayors, Washington D.C.  Drechsel encouraged the Village Board to attend next year’s conference, as there is always a wealth of information presented.

Chief Henson thanked the volunteers, which included students from the Livingston Area Vocational Center, who helped with traffic control at the Harvest Days 5K run/walk and at the parade.  Henson said there were very few incidents to report from Harvest Days weekend.

Trustee Airgood reported on the September 14^th Ordinance Committee meeting.  Discussion included proposed revisions to Municipal Code Chapter 23, including the International Property Maintenance Code; proposed traffic control recommendations; stray and feral cats.

A motion was made by Airgood and seconded by Eggenberger to add the following two-way stop signs to Chapter 10 of the Dwight Municipal Code:

            Delaware St. at Franklin St.

            S. St. Louis St. at Philmar St.

            S. St. Louis St. at William St.

            E. James St. at St. Louis St.

            S. Chicago St. at Susan Dr.

            S. Chicago St. at James St.

            Prospect St. at S. Chicago St.

            Linden St. at S. Chicago St.

            Wilmac St. at S. Chicago St.

            S. Prairie Ave. at South St.

            W. Delaware St. at Lincoln St.

            N. Washington St. at Taylor St.

Roll call was as follows: Airgood-aye; Woods-aye; Eggenberger-aye; Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye.  Motion carried, 5 – 0.

Trustee Eggenberger reported on the September 22^nd Utilities Committee meeting.  Discussion included the updated preliminary engineer’s estimate for water main replacement with the top five projects estimated at $1,604,793; painting of the west and north water towers; replacement of hydrants; update on SparkPlug antenna at the S. Columbia St. property; emergency generator at Well 8/filtration plant.

A motion was made by Eggenberger and seconded by Airgood to have Christopher B. Burke Engineering draw up plans for all the proposed water main projects so they are “shovel ready”.  Roll call was as follows: Airgood-aye; Woods-aye; Eggenberger-aye; Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye.  Motion carried, 5 – 0.

A motion was made by Anderson and seconded by Airgood to request that Attorney Neville inform SparkPlug right now that the contract between them and the Village of Dwight will not be renewed when it expires in 2015.  Also, if SparkPlug still wants to move the antenna before the contract expires, the Village would request tower information, construction specs, maintenance issues and liability.  Roll call was as follows: Airgood-aye; Woods-aye; Eggenberger-aye; Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye.  Motion carried, 5 – 0.

In old business, Dawn Sutton was in attendance to say she is still planning to move forward with opening the Teen Center.  President Wilkey apologized for not getting back with her sooner about having an Administration Committee meeting, and said he would be attending a couple of meetings to try and get grants for her.  Wilkey stated she has his blessing to move ahead with the center, and also indicated that Mike Hahn, owner of the building where the Teen Center would be located, is 100% behind the idea.

A motion was made by Anderson and seconded by Eggenberger to replace the fencing by the Columbia St. bridge.  Roll call was as follows: Airgood-aye; Woods-aye; Eggenberger-aye; Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye.  Motion carried, 5 – 0.

A motion was made by Curtis and seconded by Airgood to approve solicitor’s permits for Rodney Perkins and Felicia Anderson representing M & M Distributing of Davenport, Iowa to sell Kirby vacuums.  Roll call was as follows:  Airgood-no; Woods-no; Eggenberger-no; Anderson-no; Curtis-no.  Motion did not carry, 0 – 5.

A motion was made by Woods and seconded by Anderson to set Trick or Treat hours for Saturday, October 31, 2009, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  Roll call was as follows: Airgood-aye; Woods-aye; Eggenberger-aye; Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye.  Motion carried, 5 – 0.

A motion was made by Anderson and seconded by Airgood to approve a request by the Dwight Township High School Student Council to hold the annual homecoming parade on Friday, October 9, 2009 at 2:45 p.m., with the parade route going north by the grade school on Columbia St., proceeding to the downtown area, and back to the high school on Franklin St.  Roll call was as follows: Airgood-aye; Woods-aye; Eggenberger-aye; Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye.  Motion carried, 5 – 0.

The next item under new business was a Rent Subsidy request from Jack Fitzpatrick for a proposed resale store located at 401 W. Waupansie St., Dwight.  Discussion centered around the language of the subsidy program indicating that it was intended for downtown businesses only.  Trustee Curtis felt that although the majority of the vacant businesses are located in the downtown area, the Rent Subsidy program should be open to any business within the Village.  Trustees Woods and Airgood agreed that anyone opening a business is a good thing.  Trustee Anderson had a concern with the language in the program.  President Wilkey is not in favor of the program.

An Administrative Committee meeting was then set for Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. to continue the discussion of the Rent Subsidy program, along with some other issues still pending.

Trustee Anderson read the results of the bid opening for Waupansie St. repairs that took place September 25^th at 11:00 a.m.  The results were as follows:

            Lovell Excavating, Inc.           $29,120.00

            H. J. Eppel & Co., Inc.           $30,500.00

            Riber Construction, Inc.         $38,750.00

The Engineer’s estimate of the work was $26,000.00.

A motion was made by Anderson and seconded by Woods to award the contract for the Waupansie St. repairs to Lovell Excavating, Inc. at a cost of $29,120.00.  Roll call was as follows: Airgood-aye; Woods-aye; Eggenberger-aye; Anderson-aye; Curtis-aye.  Motion carried, 5 – 0.

There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by Woods and seconded by Airgood.  All voted aye.  The meeting adjourned at 6:59 p.m.

APPROVED:

Bill Wilkey, Village President

ATTEST:

Patricia E. Drechsel, Village Clerk