March 13, 2007 Regular Meeting Mayor Franks called the March meeting to order with Sturtewagen, Gustafson, Curran, Killelea, Fulton and VanKerrebroeck present. Present at the meeting as guests were Judd Hulting, Ben Rosenberg, Gene Griffith, Bud Osborne and two representatives from Shive-Hattery. Killelea, seconded by Curran, made a motion to accept the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried. Fulton expressed a concern about the rising rate of the utility bill. Ameren IP will be reimbursing money paid by the village for gas since January. The account was not credited with 6500 free therms at that time. Information is still being received concerning the possibility of finding another supplier in order to save money. Curran, seconded by Sturtewagen, made a motion to pay the monthly bills. Motion carried. Tim Wise gave the Police Report showing 4 citations and 10 warning for the month. He told board members that a grant had been awarded by the ILEAS association for an in-car computer. The village will only have to pay for installation. The county board will not be charging dispatching fees at this time. Wise was asked to make sure that semis are parking in the proper places in the village. Residents are once again reminded that there is a village ordinance requiring cats and dogs to be on leashes. Tracy Diehl gave the Economic Development Report. There has still been no decision on the EDP Grant. Diehl heard from Denise Todd that the ethanol plant may not create enough jobs to warrant the grant. T.I.F. 2 attorney Kathleen Orr will be sending a list of what is or is not a T.I.F. related expense for any future expenses. Diehl again mentioned that a form is needed for businesses to ask for T.I.F. money. The form will be ready by the June meeting. Ice Miller will be sending forms to sign for the bonds issued by the village for development of the ethanol plant. Closing is expected to take place on March 20th. Diehl then told board members that she checked into switching her computer to the one previously used by the village clerk. She was advised that her computer should have Windows XP instead of Windows 98. Sturtewagen, seconded by Curran, made a motion to upgrade the computer at an approximate cost of $300-$400. Motion carried. The team for the Smartest City in Henry County is as follows: Bill and Robin Gustafson, Jenny Franks, Tony and Juliet VanOpdorp, Sherri DeSplinter, Janeane Minnaert, and Julie DeSplinter. An update of the extension of Lathrop Street was given by representatives of Shive-Hattery. A public meeting had been held on February 13th and it was felt that most comments were favorable. They waited two weeks for more comments, but didn't receive any. Now the information will be summarized and included in the environmental study. Engineers from Missman-Stanley will be hired to do the water-sewer work for the street extension. It is expected that the environmental report will be sent for federal review in two weeks. Harpole hopes that a video conference can assure approval by the state and federal at the same time. Trustee VanKerrebroeck expressed concern about the seemingly slow progress especially after the village paid $27000 of its own money to get things underway. Mark Harpole of Shive-Hattery was only able to say that paperwork and the state approval was not happening as fast as first expected. He was told by board members to be as adamant as possible so that the street gets built. Mayor Franks asked about a right turn lane on Route 78 being included in the project now that People's Bank will have an entrance from Route 78. The turn lane will be included in the idea analysis. Killelea then presented committee work prepared by the garbage committee showing a current yearly loss of $23,400 with the garbage rates at $8.00 per household. Discussion was held about the increase of fuel costs, tipping fees, salaries, etc., over which the board has little control. Discussion was also held about having only one garbage pickup per week. Curran, seconded by Gustafson, made a motion to raise the monthly garbage fee $5.00 per household, effective May 1, 2007, subject to an ordinance being prepared. Motion carried. A letter to residents about the garbage rules will be prepared. Curran presented committee work prepared by the sewer and water committee. VanKerrebroeck, seconded by Killelea, made a motion to raise the monthly water rate fee from $10.00 to $11.50 per household for 0 to 2000 gallons of water and from $2.00 to $2.50 per 1000 galloons after that, effective May 1, 2007, subject to an ordinance being prepared. Motion carried. The baseball lights have to be ordered and should be installed by April 20th. A bid was received from Paul Specht to repair the curb on North State Street at a maximum of $750.00.Nobody knows for sure who damaged the curb. No action was taken. The date for shingling the shelter house at Howes Park has been changed to April 28- 29th. Killelea presented figures from Menard's and ABC Supply. Menard's bid was $1700, all inclusive. ABC Supply was $1500, all inclusive. The shingles will be purchased from ABC Supply with no delivery charge. The Booster Club will be contacted to help with the shingling. Curran, seconded by Killelea, made a motion to raise the yearly township garbage fee to 90% of what they are currently paying, the same percentage that village rates were raised, effective May 1, 2007. A letter will be sent to the townships. VanKerrebroeck, seconded by Curran, made a motion to accept a bid from Anderson Enterprises for mowing Howes Park at a cost of $5000. Motion carried. Discussion then turned to Henry County Development yearly dues of $250.00. The Henry County group pays the Quad City Development Committee $33,000 yearly. The county pays half of that sum. The rest is divided up among the towns of Henry County. Mayor Franks pointed out that he feels we do not receive enough benefits from them to warrant the dues. Killelea, seconded by Sturtewagen, made a motion to pay the dues for 2007, with a letter to be drafted by Tracy Diehl, expressing the concern of the village board. Motion carried. (5 ayes, 1 no) Killelea contacted four companies for bids for street signs. The lowest bid was from Newman Traffic Signs at approximately $68.00 per sign (Two street names and a post). None of the bids included shipping costs. VanKerrebroeck, seconded by Curran, made a motion that new street signs be purchased for the entire village, with as much money being paid for with T.I.F. funds as possible. Motion carried. Killelea, seconded by Sturtewagen, made a motion to change the name of the street on the west side of the Miller Subdivision from West Street to Baker Street. Motion carried. There were several water problems in the village after the last rain when the ground was still frozen. New storm drains are necessary. No action was taken. Caution signs and speed limit signs (40 MPH) will be placed on 2900 East due to the construction. That is now a village street. A new generator is needed for the village. The generator in use now has to have a tractor to make it usable. The village doesn't have a tractor. Board members agreed that the village has been lucky not to lose power for any length of time. Almost all of the surrounding towns have. No action was taken. Mayor Franks received a call from Mike Gritten to say that he is no longer working for Missman-Stanley. Gritten is involved each year in the decision as to what streets to blacktop with Motor Fuel Tax funds. He wants to continue working for the village. Board members decided to talk to Missman-Stanley to find out who is now working in Gritten's place before a final decision is made. There being no further business, Sturtewagen, seconded by Gustafson, made a motion to adjourn. Motion carried. Julie DeSplinter Village Clerk