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November 13, 2007 Mayor Franks called the meeting to order with Gustafson, Curran, Fulton, and VanKerrebroeck present. Curran, seconded by Fulton, made a motion to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried. VanKerrebroeck, seconded by Curran, made a motion to pay the monthly bills. Motion carried. The appraisal bid from Hutchinson Real Estate will be paid and turned in for possible reimbursement by grant money or TIF money. Bids were opened for a new backhoe. Martin Equipment of IA-IL, Inc.’s bid was $65,350. Altorfer, Inc.’s bid was $60,500. VanKerrebroeck, seconded by Gustafson, made a motion to table accepting a bid until the December meeting and get a 5-yr. lease plan. Motion carried. The Altorfer bid was not on a backhoe with specifications set by the village. If the bid was on the same specifications as Martin’s the bid would be about the same. Board members also wanted to talk to Larry and Mark to get their input after test driving. Teresa Welch, of Blucker, Kneer, & Associates was present at the meeting to present a clean audit for the village for the 2006-2007 fiscal year. Curran, seconded by Gustafson, made a motion to accept the audit. Motion carried. Welch reported that the village is better off than it was last year. Net assets changed in total by a $54,481 increase or 8%. Tim Wise gave the police report showing 8 citations and 15 warnings for the month. Tracy Diehl gave the Economic Development Report. She said that Burbon’s place is hoping to open in November. $1090 was realized from the Junk in the Trunk sale and will be donated to the new concession stand. Another sale is scheduled for spring. The Annawan Banking Center had its grand opening. She said that the Quad City Development Group had contacted her about a possible new business being located in the village. More meetings will take place. Lori Wilson of the Annawan Banking Center was present at the meeting. VanKerrebroeck, seconded by Fulton, made a motion to set up an account at the Banking Center which will allow its patrons to pay their water bills. Motion carried. Wilson had requested that at the October meeting. Curran gave an update on the new concession stand. Letters were sent to all village and rural residents asking for donations. Several donations have been made and are appreciated. The list of donors is available on the village website. Curran thanked Terry Lancaster and his Ag classes for painting the shelter house in Howes Park. The shelter house is in need of eave spouts and new light bulbs. Franks said that he has screens to put over the lights. No action was taken on tree removal bids. Chad and Jennifer Storm were present at the meeting to ask permission to trim a village tree in front of their house. Secondary power lines run though the tree. Curran, seconded by VanKerrebroeck, made a motion to give him permission. Motion carried. A Christmas Lighting Contest will once again be held in the village with tentative judging to be on December12th. Prizes will be given to 4 households and 1 business. The village will pay for 3-$50 prizes. The Chamber of Commerce will pay for 2-$50 prizes. Gustafson is in charge of finding judges. Curran, seconded by VanKerrebroeck, made a motion to give Christmas bonuses of $100 to full time employees and $50 to part time employees. Motion carried. VanKerrebroeck, seconded by Fulton, made a motion to pay dues of $250 to the Henry County Economic Development Partnership. Motion carried. The money from the towns in Henry County will help fund the University of Illinois Unit Educator position cost on a prorated basis, according to population. The HCEDP believes the position will be a valuable tool, an excellent investment, and a key factor in the development of Henry County. Research will be done before dues are paid next year to make sure that development has taken place. VanKerrebroeck presented board members with a tentative tax levy for 2007. Now that the village belongs to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund a tax can be levied for that. It was not on last year’s tax levy. After discussion it was decided to set the IMRF rate at .9. This will allow for a levy of $116,851, based on an estimated EAV of $12,484,365. A Truth in Taxation Hearing will be held before the December board meeting. Notice of the meeting will be published in the Geneseo Republic. The Tax Levy will be on the December board meeting agenda. Board members then discussed Christmas lights on Route 6 from the funeral home to the west end of town. When the electrical utilities were buried during Route 6 reconstruction nothing was done to allow lights in that area. Before next year new solar lights will be looked into for that area. VanKerrebroeck was told to go ahead with getting 4 seasonal banners at a cost of $20-$25 apiece. Bids were then opened for a new truck. Wight Chevrolet-$23,387; Turpin’s-$22,120; Mike Mooney, Inc. -$23,705. Fulton questioned why there was no information on a state bid. Board members also asked why only a Chevrolet had been asked for in the specs. With Mark’s truck having transmission trouble and a possibility of snow before the December meeting, Curran, seconded by Gustafson, made a motion to accept Turpin’s bid, pending whatever was found out about a state bid. Motion carried. Curran suggested that the Finance Committee make the final decision. A thank you was received from Grove Killelea for flowers sent during his hospital stay. He was not present at the meeting due to being in the hospital again. Gustafson reported that Beth VanVooren is willing to help with beautification in the village. The new village sign is up on the west end of the village and looks very nice. The hotel was sold. Board members agreed that it is now time to start collecting the hotel tax. Also present at the meeting were Jerry Sheldon, Mark Bitting, the DeRyckes, Don Sierens, and Francis Sierens. There being no further business Curran, seconded by Gustafson, made a motion to adjourn. Motion carried.
Julie
DeSplinter
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