Village of Annawan

Regular Board Meeting

October 11, 2011

Attendance

Mayor Franks called the October meeting to order with Gustafson, Rico, Smith, Fulton, and Heitzler present.  Also present at the meeting was Doreen Miller and Cathy Foes.

Previous Month’s Minutes

Fulton, seconded by Smith, made a motion to approve the minutes of the previous meeting.  Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report

Gustafson, seconded by Smith, made a motion to pay the monthly bills. Motion carried.  The balance in the General Fund on September 30, 2011 was $264,815.60.

Police Report

Chief Wise reported 3 citations and 1 warning for the month.  He requested approval for giving a Life Saving Award at next month’s meeting.  Approval was received.  The police department also assisted the Atkinson Police Department, the Annawan-Alba Fire Department, the Henry County Sherriff’s Office and the Bureau County Sherriff’s Office. Bureau County requested aide for the train derailment.  There should be no charge to the Village for this service.

TIF Request from Ince’s Towing

Heitzler, seconded by Fulton, made a motion to approve $28,000 toward the exterior work done by Ince’s Towing.  Motion carried.  Receipts will be required before money is paid out.

Drainage Problem on Pleasant View Drive

Gustafson contacted property owners involved about digging in their yards to allow for pipes to help with the drainage problem. (Lucas, J. Heitzler, Carlson, Wancket, Miller).  Voice approval was given.  Fulton will contact Bill Stewart to write letters for written approval and to get the easement recorded.  Doreen Miller asked for a time line if possible.  She was told that depending on frost the work should be completed before winter.

Overtime Wages for Full Time Employees

The Village clerk asked for an opinion about figuring the overtime wages now that a new contract has been approved.  Full time employees do not receive any overtime pay until they work 46 hours a week.  The question is time and a half figured on 40 hours a week or 45 hours a week?  The clerk was told to use 40 hours per week because that is what the employee is required to work.  Holidays will be paid at the same rate if the employee works on the holiday.  The Employee Handbook needs to be updated.  Franks said that a Saturday morning meeting will be called to address that issue.  No meeting was set.

Update on the New Ball Diamond

Board members agreed that a price for the diamond has to be set before anything more can happen.  A rough estimate has been made by the Booster Club, but it is hard to determine when no one knows how much of the cost will be donated.  Cathy Foes, Henry County Tourism Director, said that she could make connections and get information through the tourism bureau.  Since the Booster Club representative had compared Annawan to Eldridge, Fulton contacted someone who runs tournaments in Eldridge and found out they sponsor one tournament a year.  Franks said that he had been to three tournaments in Eldridge this year so maybe other tournaments are not sponsored by the Village.  Fulton said that entry fees are a wash they pay the umpires with that money.  The teams are charged $100 dollars a day.  They pay high school kids $7 per hour for gate concessions, etc.  The man in Eldridge said that chances are slim the profit figure estimated by the Booster Club would actually happen.  Franks suggested that not all jobs need to be hired.  Parents can be made responsible for all aspects-or-someone can be hired and split the profit from concessions.  The main goal should be for non-residents to see Annawan.  Fulton agreed but said that after seeing the number of residents that located here after the ethanol plant was opened should show that getting new residents is doubtful.  The money should be spent on getting water and sewer facilities to Patriot Way.

New Part-Time Position

Rico, Heitzler, and DeRycke interviewed Denelle Anderson for a part-time position with the Village.  The position would include backing up the Village Clerk and Treasurer.  Heitzler, seconded by Smith, made a motion to hire Anderson at $10.00 an hour, 10 hours a week.  Motion carried.

Ad in 2012 Henry County Tourism Guide

Cathy Foes, Henry County Tourism Director, talked to board members about the new Henry County Tourism Guide.  The guide is a good way to get exposure.  After discussion, Rico, seconded by Smith, made a motion to buy a full time ad next to the table of contents in the guide (Cost-$1500.00).  Motion carried.  Foes will talk to Annawan businesses to get money for smaller ads on that same page and thus reimburse money to the Village.  The money will come from the tourism account.

Motor Fuel Tax Audit

The Board accepted the audit prepared by IDOT auditor William Beals covering the receipt and disbursements of Motor Fuel Tax Funds by the Village for the period beginning January 1, 2009 and ending December 31, 2010.  Financial controls are excellent.  Claim documentation is very good.  The auditor especially thanked Village Treasurer, Marilyn Verdick, for the “outstanding courtesy and assistance extended during the audit”.

Ordinance Number 334

Gustafson, seconded by Heitzler, made a motion to adopt Ordinance #334 (Hiring standards for part-time police officers).  Motion carried.  The ordinance doesn’t change any hiring practices done now.  It is something required by the state.

Other discussion

Sidewalk repair at the corner of Third and Depot - Fulton asked board members to view the site and be ready for a recommendation at the next meeting.  Residents are requested not to burn leaves the afternoon of October 30^th because of Halloween Hours.  EPA Grant pulled due to lack of funds.  Johnson Oil Company will demolish building north of Shell station.

Adjourn

There being no further business Gustafson, seconded by Heitzler, made a motion to adjourn.  Motion carried.

Julie DeSplinter

Village Clerk