<< Back To Meetings
07/14/10: Minutes - July 14, 2010 - Regular Monthly Meeting
The Hillcrest Village Board of Trustees met in regular monthly session
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at the Hillcrest Village Hall. President Pro Tem
Mecklenburg called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. answering the roll call was
Trustees Jim Mecklenburg, Rich Elliott, Randall Salsbury, and Vicki Stewart.
President Rich Hicks, Trustee Jim McMullin and Trustee Trevor Unger were absent
due to conflicts with their places of employment. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg
informed the public that according to state statue four board members
constitutes a quorum; therefore the Board of Trustees can continue to take care
of Village business.
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg called for a motion to
approve the minutes of the May 26, 2010 budget workshop and the June 9, 2010
regular monthly meeting. The minutes of the May 26, 2010 budget workshop and the
June 9, 2010 regular monthly meeting were approved upon a motion made by Trustee
Stewart; Trustee Salsbury seconded the motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg –
yes, Elliott – yes, Salsbury – yes and Stewart – yes. The motion passed
unanimously.
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg gave the treasurer’s report,
as of June 30, 2010 the general fund had a balance of $143,186.67; motor fuel
tax fund had a balance of $145,042.60 and the water fund had a balance of
$64,471.89. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg informed the Board of Trustees that
the investment company the Village has been working with is closing their doors
which resulted in the liquidation of assets this simply means the Village will
receive $72,997.71 which was the value of the stock as of June 30, 2010.
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated that this money will be deposited in the
general fund. Clerk Adams informed the Board of Trustees that the check from the
investment company had been received and deposited. President Pro Tem
Mecklenburg stated those funds will be reflected in the revenue for fiscal year
2010 – 2011. Clerk Adams stated the Board of Trustees needs to remember this
during the budget process for fiscal year 2011 – 2012 it will appear as if the
Village received a windfall when that is not the case. A motion to approve the
treasurer’s report was made by Trustee Elliott; Trustee Salsbury seconded the
motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes, Salsbury – yes and
Stewart – yes. The motion passed unanimously.
President Pro Tem
Mecklenburg presented the Board of Trustees with the claim sheet. A motion to
approve the bills as submitted was made by Trustee Elliott; Trustee Salsbury
seconded the motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes, Salsbury
– yes and Stewart – yes. The motion passed unanimously.
DEPARTMENT
UPDATES
FINANCE: Trustee Mecklenburg stated the Village is wrapping up fiscal
year 2009 - 2010 and we are putting things together to take to the auditor; when
that report is submitted then the Village will truly know just how bad this past
year has been. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated that in new business there
are a couple of items to discuss concerning finance.
WATER: Trustee
Elliott reported there was no new business to report.
HEALTH &
WELFARE: Trustee Salsbury reported that he has been attending meetings held in
Oregon by the sub-committee that was appointed by the Ogle County Board to
investigate NIMPA and the wind turbine project that they are proposing here in
Ogle County. Trustee Salsbury stated it could take a couple of months before the
sub-committee has a recommendation for the County Board however; he wanted to be
informed since this project could affect Hillcrest in the
future.
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated the last he knew the issue
had been tabled. Trustee Salsbury stated that is correct, the issue has been
tabled until the sub-committee submits a recommendation. President Pro Tem
Mecklenburg stated then the issue has been tabled but, it is not dead. Trustee
Salsbury stated that is correct.
ORDINANCES: No report was available due
to Trustee McMullin’s absence.
STREETS: No report was available due to
Trustee Unger’s absence.
BUILDINGS & GROUNDS: Trustee Stewart
reported there was no new business to report.
POLICE DEPARTMENT: No
report was available.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT: No report was
available.
ATTORNEY COMMENTS: No attorney comments at this
time.
VISITORS: No visitor comments at this time.
OLD
BUSINESS
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated under old business we have the
amendment to chapter 14, article II entitled animals in the Hillcrest code of
ordinances. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg asked Attorney Temple to bring the
Board up to date. Attorney Temple stated the ordinance was tabled at the last
two meetings since then there has been some feedback from the Board that has
been incorporated into the ordinance and you have had the opportunity to review
the ordinance. Attorney Temple stated upon the suggestion of President Pro Tem
Mecklenburg he had raised the fine for vicious dogs from $1,000 up to $2,000 and
the fine for dangerous dogs from $500 up to $1,000. Attorney Temple stated he
also gave the Village the authority to prevent a dog from returning to the
community and he also gave the Village Board of Trustees the same authority as
the animal control officer in the event that the animal control officer is not
available.
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg asked a question pertaining to
the section on vicious dogs and the wording “in an approved enclosure by animal
control” does that mean that the animal control officer must be available at all
times; how would a judge interpret this. Attorney Temple stated that a judge
would take the wording literally and he does not want a judge to be able to do
that, so he suggested that the language “or Village Board” be added to that
section. After a brief discussion Trustee Stewart suggested that the words “or
Village Board” be added to the definition of animal control officer that way
there would only be one change. Attorney Temple stated that would take care of
the problem. Attorney Temple stated that he remembered a couple of other changes
he had made in the ordinance and that was to allow for the recovery of attorneys
fees and he also incorporated a section that allowed the Village to recover the
costs of overtime in the event that the animal control officer is called in
outside of his normal working hours. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated that
is good because the Village can’t afford to be going into debt just because
someone opens the door and let’s their dog out. Attorney Temple stated with that
being said the Board can still pass this ordinance tonight if that is what you
want to do. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg asked for a motion. Trustee Stewart
made a motion to accept the ordinance with the words “or Village Board” being
added to the definition of animal control officer; Trustee Salsbury seconded the
motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes, Salsbury – yes and
Stewart – yes. The motion passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
President
Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated the first item under new business is the line item
adjustments for fiscal year 2008 – 2009. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated
that these adjustments are made every year after the audit is concluded at the
suggestion of our auditor, Winebaugh & Associates. President Pro Tem
Mecklenburg called for a motion. Trustee Elliott made a motion to approve the
line item adjustments for fiscal year 2008 – 2009; Trustee Stewart seconded the
motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes, Salsbury – yes and
Stewart – yes. The motion passed unanimously.
President Pro Tem
Mecklenburg stated the next item under new business is the appropriation
ordinance for fiscal year 2010 – 2011 in the amount of $494,455.00 which is
approximately 12% higher than the budget. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg called
for a motion. Trustee Stewart made a motion to approve the appropriation
ordinance for fiscal year 2010 – 2011 as submitted; Trustee Elliott seconded the
motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes, Salsbury – yes and
Stewart – yes. The motion passed unanimously.
President Pro Tem
Mecklenburg stated the next item under new business is the tax levy for fiscal
year 2010 – 2011 in the amount o $34,181.32 which is a 4.999% increase over last
year or approximately a $2,000 increase spread across all of the property in the
Village which is roughly $5.00 per property. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg
called for a motion. Trustee Elliott made a motion to approve the tax levy
ordinance for fiscal year 2010 – 2011 in the amount of $34,181.32; Trustee
Salsbury seconded the motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes,
Salsbury – yes and Stewart – yes. The motion passed
unanimously.
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated the next item under new
business is chapter 55, recycling in the Hillcrest code of ordinances; this is
essentially allowing the Village to bill its customers $1 per month to pay for
the cost of the recycling program. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg called for a
motion. Trustee Salsbury made a motion to approve chapter 55, recycling in the
Hillcrest code of ordinances effective with the next billing; Trustee Elliott
seconded the motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes, Salsbury
– yes and Stewart – yes. The motion passed unanimously.
President Pro Tem
Mecklenburg stated the next item under new business is the amendment to
utilities article II: water in the Village of Hillcrest code of ordinances.
Clerk Adams stated the proposed changes in this amendment are a $25
non-refundable application fee and raising the deposit from $65 to $100 those
changes were discussed during the budget workshops. President Pro Tem
Mecklenburg called for a motion. Trustee Elliott made a motion to approve
amendment to utilities article II: water in the Village of Hillcrest code or
ordinances effective with the next billing; Trustee Mecklenburg seconded the
motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes, Salsbury – yes and
Stewart – yes. The motion passed unanimously.
President Pro Tem
Mecklenburg stated the next item under new business is the amendment to
utilities chapter 74 article II: water section 63 in the Village of Hillcrest
code of ordinances. Clerk Adams stated that this amendment addresses the issue
of non sufficient fund checks; the amendment basically grants the Village the
authority to terminate the customer’s service immediately without having to send
additional notices. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg called for a motion. Trustee
Stewart made a motion to approve the amendment to utilities chapter 74 article
II: water section 63 in the Village of Hillcrest code of ordinances effective
with the next billing; Trustee Elliott seconded the motion. Vote as follows:
Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes, Salsbury – yes and Stewart – yes. The motion
passed unanimously.
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated the next item
under new business is the amendment to chapter 74 entitled utilities article II,
section 60 in the Village of Hillcrest code of ordinances. Clerk Adams stated
that this amendment pertains to a discussion that took place during the budget
workshop about reinstating the base rate at $10 and the addition of an
availability fee of $2.50 for all residential customers. Trustee Elliott stated
that the availability fee is half of the rate businesses pay. President Pro Tem
Mecklenburg called for a motion. Trustee Elliott made a motion to accept the
amendment to chapter 74 entitled utilities article II, section 60 in the Village
of Hillcrest code of ordinances effective with the next billing; Trustee
Salsbury seconded the motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes,
Salsbury – yes and Stewart – yes. The motion passed
unanimously.
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg called for a motion to enter
into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel, pending
litigation and to review executive session minutes. Trustee Mecklenburg made a
motion to enter into executive session to discuss personnel and pending
litigation and to review executive session minutes; Trustee Salsbury seconded
the motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes, Salsbury – yes
and Stewart – yes. The motion passed unanimously. The Board of Trustees entered
into executive session 7:40 p.m.
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg called
for a motion to return to open session. Trustee Mecklenburg made a motion to
return to open session; Trustee Salsbury seconded the motion. Vote as follows:
Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes, Salsbury – yes and Stewart – yes. The motion
passed unanimously. The Board of Trustees returned to open session at 8:16 p.m.
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated no decisions were made in executive
session. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg called for a motion to approve the
executive session minutes for the June 9, 2010 meeting. Trustee Stewart made a
motion to approve the executive session minutes for the June 9, 2010 meeting;
Trustee Elliott seconded the motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott
– yes, Salsbury – yes and Stewart – yes. The motion passed
unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Ron Arne of 212 Windover Park Drive
addressed the Board of Trustees and asked if there were enough Trustees to hold
the meeting. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated yes, four Trustees make a
quorum. Mr. Arne stated the wanted to speak about the semi-truck and commercial
vehicle ordinance that was passed at last month’s meeting. President Pro Tem
Mecklenburg stated that item is not on the agenda for tonight’s business;
therefore it cannot be discussed. Mr. Arne stated that he would like to talk to
Attorney Temple. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated that Mr. Arne was welcome
to do so after the meeting. Attorney Temple stated that Mr. Arne could speak to
him or any of the Trustees concerning that ordinance or any other
ordinance.
Ms. Terri Gregory of 208 Roy Avenue addressed the Board of
Trustees and asked for clarification concerning the ordinances that were pasted
pertaining to the water department. Ms. Gregory asked about the base rate and
the $1 fee. Clerk Adams explained that the base rate for water service would be
$10 and the $1 fee is not for refuse service it is for recycling. Ms. Gregory
asked if she heard correctly that the tax levy would cost residents $5.
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated that the increase in the tax levy would
cost approximately $5 per property.
There being no further business to
transact a motion to adjourn was made by Trustee Elliott; Trustee Salsbury
seconded the motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes, Salsbury
– yes and Stewart – yes. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at
8:16 p.m. The next regular monthly meeting will be held August 11, 2010 at 7:00
p.m. at the Hillcrest Village Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Teresa
J. Adams,
Village Clerk
Posted: 7/14/2010 |
Updated: 7/14/2010