The village of Milan Council met Jan. 3 to consider renewing an electric franchise agreement.
Here is the meeting's agenda, as provided by the council:
"The Village Council is comprised of seven members. A Mayor and six Council Members who are elected at large. The length of each term is four years. With overlapping elections terms, only one half of the Village Council is elected every two years. This ensures some carryover in experience and background on the Council at all times. The Village Mayor is elected at-large and separately from the Trustees. The Village Mayor, by statute and ordinance, has additional duties such as holding the position of Liquor Control Commissioner, and serving as official signatory for certain Village expenditures."
VILLAGE OF MILAN COUNCIL MEETING January 3, 2017 Milan Municipal Building 5:30 P.M.
AGENDA
1. Roll Call
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Consideration of the Minutes of December 19, 2016
4. Consideration of the Administrator’s Report
5. Consideration of the Inspectors’ Reports
6. Consideration of the Department Heads Reports
7. Consideration of the Bi-Monthly and Miscellaneous Bills
8. Consideration of an Ordinance Setting Guidelines for Travel Expense Reimbursement
9. Consideration of Renewal of Electric Franchise Agreement with Village of Milan and MidAmerican Energy Corporation 1
0. Committee Reports
11. Citizens Opportunity to Address the Village Board
12. Adjourn
The regular meeting of the Milan Village Board of Trustees was held Tuesday January 3, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. in the Milan Municipal Building. Mayor Dawson presided.
ROLL CALL
Roll call showed present, Trustees Jerry Wilson, Bruce Stickell, Jim Flannery, Jay Zimmerman and Harry Stuart. Trustee Jody Taylor was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Attorney Scott led the Pledge of Allegiance.
CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES
Copies of the minutes of the regular meeting of December 19, 2016 were given to all Trustees. There being no additions or corrections, Trustee Wilson moved to approve them as presented and Trustee Zimmerman seconded the motion. All Trustees voted "Aye". Motion carried.
CONSIDERATION OF THE ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Administrator Seiver stated it has been a slow month. Consideration of the tax rebate payments to new homeowners is in the list of bills to be approved tonight. Although the total rebates from the village portion of the tax bills is about $50,000 it is a good incentive for people to build in Milan. The school also participates in the tax rebate at 40% of their tax charges. The rebates give homeowners a 30-33% reduction in their tax bill. The rebates are a three year program. Right now there are twenty homeowners on the program, some will drop off after the three years with new homes replacing them.
Building Inspector Moller stated there have been ten new homes built in Milan in this fiscal year.
There being no further discussion on Administrator Seiver’s report, Trustee Wilson moved to approve the report as presented and Trustee Flannery seconded the motion. All Trustees voted “Aye”. Motion carried.
CONSIDERATION OF THE INSPECTOR’S REPORT
Trustee Stickell stated this has been a slow month which is to be expected. Inspector Moller prepared an annual report for 2016 showing 482 permits being issued with a valuation of 5.2 million dollars and $66,371 in permit fees collected.
Trustee Stickell commended the inspectors on their work and then moved to approve the Inspectors’ reports as presented. Trustee Wilson seconded the motion. All Trustees voted “Aye”. Motion carried.
CONSIDERATION OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS REPORTS WATER/SEWER
Superintendent Farrell stated there were only two water main breaks so far this winter. He is bracing for the sub-zero weather coming this week.
He mentioned our inspector from the EPA, Mr. Bret Hansen has retired and he has not been notified who will be the new inspector for our district. PUBLIC WORKS
Superintendent Pannell was absent but left his report with the Council. The report showed 14.5 inches of snow fell in December. His crew plowed 124 hours and used about 200 tons of salt plus additive on the roads. POLICE DEPARTMENT
Chief Johnson was absent but left his report with the Council. Camden Centre
Director Pam Skelton was absent but left her report with the Council. It showed fifteen functions in December, three of which had open bars. So far they have twelve functions booked for January with three open bars. They have the holiday decorations down and will have two bridal fairs in January.
Mayor Dawson stated if there were any questions regarding the reports, the department heads would be available tomorrow to answer them.
Trustee Stuart moved to approve the reports as presented. Trustee Zimmerman seconded the motion. All Trustees voted “Aye”. Motion carried.
CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE THE MISCELLANEOUS AND SEMI-MONTHLY BILLS
Mayor Dawson stated the semi-monthly bills include larger bills for the annual liability insurance premium, property tax rebates, road salt and water meters.
There being no questions regarding the bills, Trustee Zimmerman moved to pay the bills in the amount of $219,407.25. Trustee Stickell seconded the motion. Roll call vote showed Trustees Stickell, Flannery, Zimmerman, Stuart and Wilson voted “Aye”. Motion carried. The bills will be paid from the following funds:
General Fund 127,192.68 Garbage Fund 4,523.41 Motor Fuel Tax 26,275.20 Camden Centre 15,724.71 Special Tax Allocation I 6,456.14 Insurance Reserve 14,284.34 Water & Sewer 24,950.77 TOTAL $219,407.25
CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE SETTING GUIDELINES FOR TRAVEL EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT
Mayor Dawson stated the State has mandated that an Ordinance be passed by each municipality regarding Travel Expense Reimbursement. Attorney Scott has prepared a draft ordinance to be considered. The Ordinance has to be passed in January 2017.
Trustee Zimmerman stated his concern with the Ordinance is that it allows spouses to travel in a village vehicle with an employee. He is wary of letting spouses ride in a village vehicle due to liability risks.
Attorney Scott stated of course there would be more risk for the village if there were an accident. There is no torte immunity for the village if the accident were caused by the employee or if the vehicle had not been maintained.
He stated Section three are reimbursement amounts according to East Moline rates, if Council would like to set different amounts that can be changed.
Administrator Seiver stated he will be calling a finance meeting in a week or so and the ordinance can be discussed more thoroughly there.
Mayor Dawson stated no action will be taken on this ordinance at this time.
CONSIDERATION OF RENEWAL OF ELECTRIC FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH VILLAGE OF MILAN AND MID-AMERICAN ENERGY CORPORATION
Mayor Dawson introduced Mr. Mark Reinders of Mid-American Energy Co. He is attending the meeting to ask for a renewal of Milan’s Mid-American Franchise for electricity. The current electric franchise expires January 2017.
Mr. Reinders stated the gas franchise does not expire until 2023 but Milan could include the gas franchise with the electric franchise if they so desire.
Mr. Reinders explained the franchise allows Mid-American Energy Co. the right to acquire, construct, erect, maintain and operate in the Village of Milan an electric system and communications facilities and to furnish and sell electric energy to the village and its inhabitants for a period of 25 years from the date of the passage of the ordinance so allowing.
Mr. Reinders stated by the year 2018 80% of its electricity will be provided by wind rather than coal. At this time Mid-American has no electricity produced by wind in Illinois, but has 2,020 turbines in Iowa.
Questions regarding rates led Mr. Reinders to comment that hopefully the use of wind will keep rates as they are. Mid-American has no plans to ask for a rate increase until 2029.
Mayor Dawson asked if Mid-American provides energy audits. Mr. Reinders stated they do them for any consumer who asks. Mayor Dawson thanked Mr. Reinders for his presentation and invited him back to the February Council Meeting after the Council has had time to review the draft ordinance.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mayor Dawson stated 602 West 8th Avenue has been sold at the annual tax sale. The new owner would like to know if the village could help him by releasing any liens there may be on the property. Mayor Dawson stated it has been the policy to release liens on tax sales since now the property goes back on the tax role.
Clerk Lee will check to see if there are any liens against the property.
CITIZENS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE VILLAGE BOARD
There were no comments.
ADJOURN
There being no further business to come before the Board, Mayor Dawson asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Trustee Wilson moved to adjourn the meeting and Trustee Zimmerman seconded it. All Trustees voted “Aye”. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
_____________________________________________ Barbara L. Lee, Certified Municipal Clerk
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