City Council

Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of the Village of Jerome Board CALL TO ORDER: The President and the Board of Trustees held the regular scheduled meeting on Thursday, August 19, 2021 at the Jerome Civic Center, 2901 Leonard Street, Jerome, Illinois via Zoom. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by President Lopez, followed by Roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: The following were present: ` Kathy DeHart, Trustee of Public Property & Co Trustee Public Health Leigh Irons, Trustee of Public Safety Ralph Irons, Trustee of Water Department Dale Lael, Trustee of Building & Zoning Phil Raftis, Trustee of Public Works Christina Smith, Co-Trustee of Public Health Also Present: Lisa Cave, Village Clerk Jason Brokaw, Attorney, Giffin, Winning, Cohen & Bodewes, P.C., Steve Roth, Village Treasurer _____________________________________________________________________________________ APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: President Lopez asked whether the Board had reviewed the August 5, 2021 Minutes and if they found need for any changes, corrections, or amendments. Trustee Lael DRAFT addressed an error in the minutes. President Lopez stated the August 5, 2021 minutes would stand approved as amended. Motion to approve the August 5, 2021 Meeting Minutes as amended by: Trustee Lael and 2nd by Trustee Leigh Irons Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE; MOTION PASSES. President Lopez asked whether the Board had reviewed the July 15, 2021 Executive Minutes and if they found need for any changes, corrections, or amendments. President Lopez stated hearing none, the July 15, 2021 executive minutes would stand approved as presented. Motion to approve the July 15, 2021 Meeting Minutes as presented by: Trustee Leigh Irons and 2nd by Trustee Ralph Irons Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE; MOTION PASSES. APPROVAL TO PAY BILLS: President Lopez asked whether the board had reviewed Warrant List 22-08 dated August 19, 2021 totaling $51,554.33. Treasurer Roth added that of this amount $8,271.57 will be paid from the General Revenue Fund, $6,529.71 will be paid from the 1% Fund, $36,753.05 will be paid from the Water Fund. Treasurer Roth stated the bill for Systemax Corp had the incorrect line item and it should be paid out of line item 11552. President Lopez asked for a motion to approve Warrant List 22-08 as amended. Motion to Approve the Bills to be Paid as amended by Trustee Leigh Irons and  2nd by Trustee Smith. Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE; MOTION PASSES. President Lopez stated that Treasurer Roth will review the warrants this weekend and the checks will go out on Monday August 23, 2021. President Lopez stated with the increase of Covid cases, we will be back to zoom meetings for the near future. TREASURER REPORTS: Treasurer Roth presented to the Board of Trustees the Financial Status as of August 19, 2021, via email. Most of the revenues remained steady, although a few were slightly off the increases they have shown over the past year, including Local Use Taxes and Income Taxes. Gaming Revenues were down from the highs we have experienced for several months but is still outpacing the amounts we have received in the past. Please continue to monitor your accounts and keep our monthly expenditures within budgeted amounts. Funds: There will be approximately $632,782.47 in the Illinois Funds GRF account and $80,960.80 in the MFT funds. There is approximately $21,040.49 in the INB GRF account and $238,263.41in the INB Water account. The other bank account balances are as follows: Law Enforcement - DUI – $305.00; Law Enforcement – Vehicle - $732.43; 1% NHR - $345,753.32; Road & Bridge - $18,518.28; Police Equipment Fund - $2,039.83, Cannabis Fund - $2,214.10; and for the MFT-Rebuild Illinois fund – $72,757.96. DRAFT PUBLIC COMMENTS: President Lopez opened the Visitors Acknowledgement portion of the meeting at 6:38 pm. He noted that during the time when remote meetings are being held public comments must be submitted in writing to the Clerk by email or by placing them in the deposit slot outside the office front door by 6:00 p.m. the day of the meeting. Clerk Cave stated no comments had been received. This portion of the meeting closed at 6:38 pm. REPORTS: Trustee Leigh Irons stated Kyle Forsyth has started in the Police Department. Trustee Raftis apologized for the tree cleanup, overhanging limbs blocking the stop signs that were done prior to the residents receiving their letters. Public Works are done cleaning out the ditches and are regrading and making sure the water is moving properly. Trustee Raftis states he would prefer all contact regarding Public Works goes through him and not the Public Works crew. They have a job to do that is given to them by me. Please direct all complaints or questions directly to Trustee Raftis. Trustee DeHart reported she attended a meeting of the Macarthur Boulevard project on the phase 1 study. Inside the office there is a comment form on the file cabinet for anyone that would like to express their opinion that needs to be returned by 8/25/21. Trustee DeHart stated it was a good turnout. Trustee DeHart is still waiting for the bid from Ryan Electric, recontacting the volunteers at the library to ensure they are still able to help and have reached out the Boy Scouts on the inventory study. Trustee DeHart issued 2 fire pit permits, letters out to vacant homes and problem homes that need to clean up their property. Trustee Lael stated he had nothing to report. Trustee Smith reminded everyone the Sangamon County Department of Public Health along with the Village of Jerome will be hosting a COVID Vaccine Clinic on Friday August 20th from 10 am to 1 pm at the Jerome Civic Center. Trustee Smith is still working on a possible Flu Clinic in October. Trustee Smith apologized to any residents that the Public Works had trimmed the overhangs that were 12 feet from the roadway before the residents received a letter from the Village. No fines or fees will be assessed on the work done; it was a miscommunication in our office. Trustee Smith wants to remind residents that grass/weeds cannot be over 10 inches in length and to be mindful of landscape that is encroaching into your neighbor’s property. The Village will not have any other pickups this year for branch pickup, nor will there be a large item pickup. Letters are out to those residents that have piles in front of their home and ones with large items. Trustee Lael asked how the intersections were coming along? Trustee Smith states good, we have Park, Calhoun, Leonard, and Jerome left. Trustee DeHart helped with the Public Health issues the last two weeks. Trustee Smith thanked her for her help. Trustee Ralph Irons stated he is still awaiting an invoice for Wabash. Village Clerk Cave had nothing to report. Attorney Brokaw stated that AARPA can be used for loss revenues, but the Board should look at the DRAFT Water, Sewer, Broadband, infrastructure of the Village and possibly leak detections. President Lopez wanted to remind everyone that we are back to zoom due to the spike in positive Covid cases. The Vaccine Clinic is scheduled for tomorrow August 20, 2021 10 am to 1 pm. President Lopez does not expect a high turn out as when he spoke with Sangamon County Public Health Department earlier today, they have not received any calls or messages regarding the clinic. When the Booster comes out for COVID-19 vaccines, he would like to host another clinic for the boosters. President Lopez stated he will reach out to Nieman Foods next week so that the property does not start to deteriorate any more. President Lopez asked the Village Trustees to keep an eye on that property and the Putt Putt also to make sure they keep that property up also. All bulletin items need to be sent to President Lopez and Clerk Cave by the 3rd week of September. President Lopez would like the bulletin out in October. President Lopez wanted to state that Matt Turner has done a great job this summer working with Public Works and has been a godsend to us! President Lopez would also like to commend Debbie and Diane for cleaning, sanitized and keeping up with the delinquent bills and making sure the office is wiped down, we appreciate both of them. OLD BUSINESS: President Lopez presented Ordinance 22-04 Allowing Food Trucks in the Village of Jerome. President Lopez would like to table this until the end of summer due to staffing issues with the Village businesses. NEW BUSINESS DISCUSSION: President Lopez asked for discussion and approval of Ordinance number 22-06 An Ordinance Authorizing the Disposal of Surplus Property Owned by the Village of Jerome, Illinois. Attorney Brokaw stated that this is standard to surplus the 2009 GMC to allow us to trade the truck into Bob Ridings when the new truck arrives.  Motion to approve Ordinance 22-06 Authorizing the Disposal of Surplus Property Owned by the Village of Jerome, Illinois by Trustee Lael and 2 nd by Trustee Raftis. Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE; MOTION PASSES. President Lopez asked for discussion and approval of Rekeying the locks at the Police Department and upgrading the locks to a more secure master key system. Trustee DeHart stated Starfleet Lock and Safe Inc. changed the locks at the Jerome Police Department due to recent personnel turnover. Motion to approve expenditure of $830.00 to Starfleet Lock and Safe, Inc. for changing the locks at the Jerome Police Department by Trustee DeHart and 2nd by Trustee Leigh Irons Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE; MOTION PASSES. President Lopez asked for discussion and approval of Ordinance No. 22-07 an Ordinance Authorizing & Approving a Lease Purchase Agreement for the Purpose of Financing a Truck and Various Equipment. Attorney Brokaw stated this was formalizing the approval of the finance terms on the lease purchase agreement that shows a 2.86% interest. There is no prepayment penalty and looks like the first payment will be on August 27, 2022 for $17,726.51 Motion to approve Ordinance No. 22-07 an Ordinance Authorizing & Approving a Lease Purchase Agreement for the Purpose of Financing a Truck and Various Equipment by Trustee Raftis and 2nd by Trustee Lael DRAFT Upon roll call vote, all voted AYE; MOTION PASSES. President Lopez stated that last week there was 611 new cases of COVID with 45 being hospitalized and this week 117 new cases. The next two meetings will be by zoom. President Lopez would like to plan for future boards with upgrading to audio equipment with microphones and recording for future meetings that are held in the hall that possibly could be streamed. President Lopez asked Trustee DeHart to report back on the T-Mobile Community Grant that is due soon. Trustee DeHart stated she is still waiting on estimates and may reach out to fellow trustees to see what other priorities they could request funding for. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business, President Lopez asked for a motion to close the meeting at 7:17 pm. Motion was made by Trustee Leigh Irons and 2nd by Trustee Raftis. PREPARED BY: Lisa Cave, Clerk DATE APPROVED: September 2, 2021 _____________________________________ Village Clerk _____________________________________ Date