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01/12/11: Minutes - Regular Monthly Meeting - January 12, 2011
The Hillcrest Village Board of Trustees met in regular monthly session
Wednesday, January 12, 2011 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, Jim McMullin, Trevor
Unger and Vicki Stewart. President Rich Hicks was absent due to a conflict with
his place of employment.
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg called for a
motion to approve the minutes of the December 8, 2010 regular monthly meeting.
The minutes were approved upon a motion made by Trustee Stewart; Trustee
McMullin seconded the motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes,
Salsbury – yes, McMullin – yes, Unger - yes and Stewart – yes. The motion passed
unanimously.
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg gave the treasurer’s report,
as of December 31, 2010 the general fund had a balance of $167,494.44; motor
fuel tax fund had a balance of $160,280.70 and the water fund had a balance of
$102,780.63. A motion to approve the treasurer’s report was made by Trustee
Elliott; Trustee Unger seconded the motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg – yes,
Elliott – yes, Salsbury – yes, McMullin – yes, Unger - 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 for December 2010 was made by Trustee Stewart; Trustee Elliott
seconded the motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes, Salsbury
– yes, McMullin – yes, Unger - yes and Stewart – yes. The motion passed
unanimously.
DEPARTMENT UPDATES
FINANCE: Trustee Mecklenburg reported
that he is working with the auditor to finish up the audit for fiscal year 2009
– 2010. Trustee Mecklenburg stated that he is processing the W2’s and the 1099’s
and would have those available as soon as possible; however he reminded everyone
that the deadline to have them in the mail is midnight on January 31,
2011.
WATER: Trustee Elliott reported a water main at 320 Errett Road
broke December 24, 2010 and it has been repaired.
HEALTH & WELFARE:
Trustee Salsbury reported there was no new business to
report.
ORDINANCES: Trustee McMullin reported that he is in the process
of removing abandoned vehicles from people’s property. Trustee McMullin stated
there were some trailers in a person’s front yard and we have taken care of
that. Trustee McMullin stated that he is in the process of going through the
ordinances trying to make sure everyone is following the ordinances; but it
would take some time.
STREETS: Trustee Unger stated the white plow truck is
in the shop reverse gear is slipping and when he finds out more he will inform
the board of trustees how much it will cost. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg
stated that means that the blue plow truck will have to do double duty until the
white plow truck can be fixed and considering the age of the blue plow truck the
village could be looking at additional repair costs. President Pro Tem
Mecklenburg asked Trustee Unger if he had any idea how much this would costs.
Trustee Unger stated that he was given a rough estimate of $3,000 to $5,000.
BUILDINGS & GROUNDS: Trustee Stewart reported the hot water heater
in the men’s restroom stopped working; however a new hot water heater has been
purchased and installed.
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 the first agenda item under old business is T6 Broadband and he asked the
board of trustees if there was any further discussion on the subject. Trustee
Elliott stated that the board of trustees decided to table the issue until the
attorney gets a chance to look at the contract. After a brief discussion the
board of trustees decided to table the issue. Trustee Elliott made a motion to
table further discussion of T6 Broadband until the February meeting; Trustee
Salsbury seconded the motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes,
Salsbury – yes, McMullin – yes, Unger - yes and Stewart – yes. The motion passed
unanimously.
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated the next item on the
agenda is the animal complaints that we had a special meeting for last night and
I know that there people waiting for a decision concerning this matter; however
it has been brought to my attention by our village attorney that in speaking
with members of the board there seems to be some aspects of the situation that
are unclear. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated I am asking the board of
trustees to table this issue on the advice of our village attorney. Trustee
Stewart made a motion to table the dog complaints until the February meeting;
Trustee Unger seconded the motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott –
yes, Salsbury – yes, McMullin – yes, Unger - yes and Stewart – yes. The motion
passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated
that Mr. William Beals from Illinois Department of Transportation had concluded
the village’s motor fuel tax audit for January 1, 2008 through December 31,
2009. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated the board needs to approve the audit.
Trustee Unger made a motion to approve the motor fuel tax audit for January 1,
2008 through December 31, 2009; Trustee Elliott seconded the motion. Vote as
follows: Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes, Salsbury – yes, McMullin – yes, Unger
- yes and Stewart – yes. The motion passed unanimously.
President Pro Tem
Mecklenburg stated the next agenda item is building permit fees. Building &
Zoning Administrator, Casper Manheim addressed the board of trustees and stated
that he looked at the building permit fees for all of the municipalities that he
deals with and it was apparent that Ashton and Hillcrest have the lowest
building permit fees in the area. Building & Zoning Administrator, Casper
Manheim asked the board of trustees look at the comparison table that he
presented them with and suggested that they considering raising costs to the
amounts that were handwritten on the worksheet. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg
asked the board of trustees to review the comparative table that Building &
Zoning Administrator, Casper Manheim presented and to at least consider his
suggestion. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated that the village needs to be
competitive while remaining fair to our residents. Building & Zoning
Administrator, Casper Manheim suggested that if the board of trustees chooses to
raise the building permit fees that they take action before
spring.
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated the next agenda item is Kim
Whalen concerning ordinance violations. Kim Whalen of 104 Roy Avenue addressed
the board of trustees concerning ordinance violations and she asked the board of
trustees if there is written ordinances that address the issue of residents
maintaining their front yards and she wanted to know if there was an ordinance
that addresses inoperable vehicles. Ms. Whalen stated that some people have
recliners and couches in their front yards there is enough stuff out there to
fill a shed, is there something in writing to address this situation. President
Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated yes, there is something in writing to address the
issues that you have mentioned come in to the village hall during normal
business hours to the clerk’s office to get copies of these ordinances.
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated enforcement can be difficult we should have
a police department to enforce the ordinances; however in a community this size
this is too large of a financial burden and elected officials don’t have any
police powers to make an arrest. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated unless the
issue is health or safety related it tends to go by the wayside, I would hope
that neighbors would talk to their neighbors and common sense would
prevail.
Ms. Whalen stated you said after a complaint is made; are you
saying that nothing can be done until a complaint is made even though the
village is aware and everyone else sees that cars are parked in people’s front
yards nothing can be done until a complaint is filed. Trustee McMullin stated
no, I take care of ordinances and the individual that you are talking about he
has been addressed concerning the issue and one of the trailers has been moved.
Trustee McMullin stated there is a procedure that needs to be followed and that
takes time; but we are working on getting these issues resolved.
Ms.
Whalen stated this is a huge safety issue due to the fact that the trailer
obstructs your view and this intersection is a bus stop; something needs to be
done your maintenance personnel are plowing around it. Trustee Salsbury stated
he is worried about EMS vehicles being able to get in and out. Trustee McMullin
stated he was not aware of that and he would take care of the
issue.
Trustee Stewart stated in the past when residents have had items
in their front or side yards that do not belong there they have been written a
citation and taken to court in Rochelle by the attorney. Trustee Stewart stated
that she knows that things can be done. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg asked for
clarification. Trustee Stewart stated when she first moved into the village she
was given a citation by a former board member over health and welfare and
instead of going to court in Oregon court was held in Rochelle; I know there are
rules and regulations on the books; so that these situations can be handled.
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated but at the same time we do not want to have
to go door to door looking at every little corner of a person property, then we
are just looking for trouble. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated there are two
extremes here; but there has to be a balance and common sense should prevail.
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated in fact this ordinance shouldn’t even be
necessary. Trustee Stewart stated that people are not going to listen to their
neighbor telling them that they need to clean up their yard. President Pro Tem
Mecklenburg stated then that is when the village will have to get
involved.
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 Unger made a motion to enter
into executive session to discuss personnel and pending litigation and to review
executive session minutes; Trustee Elliott seconded the motion. Vote as follows:
Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes, Salsbury – yes, McMullin – yes, Unger - yes
and Stewart – yes. The motion passed unanimously. The Board of Trustees entered
into executive session 7:28 p.m.
President Pro Tem Mecklenburg called for
a motion to return to open session. Trustee Unger made a motion to return to
open session; Trustee Elliott seconded the motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg
– yes, Elliott – yes, Salsbury – yes, McMullin – yes, Unger - yes and Stewart –
yes. The motion passed unanimously. The Board of Trustees returned to open
session at 7:44 p.m. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg stated the action taken was
to accept the executive session minutes. President Pro Tem Mecklenburg made a
motion to approve the executive session minutes for the October 13, 2010,
November 10, 2010 and December 8, 2010; Trustee Stewart seconded the motion.
Vote as follows: Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes, Salsbury – yes, McMullin –
yes, Unger – yes and Stewart – yes. The motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment at this time.
There being no
further business to transact a motion to adjourn was made by Trustee Elliott;
Trustee McMullin seconded the motion. Vote as follows: Mecklenburg – yes,
Elliott – yes, Salsbury – yes, McMullin – yes, Unger – yes and Stewart – yes.
The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:50 pm. The next
regular monthly meeting will be held February 9, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the
Hillcrest Village Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Teresa J.
Adams,
Village Clerk
Posted: 1/12/2011 |
Updated: 1/12/2011