Village of Andalusia Village Board met Feb. 6.
Here is the minutes as provided by the Board:
CALL TO ORDER
The Board of Trustees met in a public meeting on Monday February 6, 2017 at the Village Hall.
The meeting was called to order by President Curt Morrow at 7:00 pm. He led the pledge to the flag.
ROLL CALL
Present: President Morrow, Trustee Neece, Trustee Einfeldt, Trustee Woeber
Absent: Trustee Killian, Trustee Kolls, Trustee Stropes
Staff: Shelly Hoffman, Village Clerk; Vickie Powell, Village Treasurer; Justin Parchert,
Public Works Director, Joe Dungan, Maintenance Department.
TRUSTEE EINFELDT MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES FROM THE JANUARY 23, 2017 BOARD MEETING. SECONDED BY TRUSTEE NEECE. VOICE VOTE.
AYE: TRUSTEE EINFELDT, TRUSTEE NEECE, TRUSTEE WOEBER
NAY: NONE
MOTION CARRIED: 3-0 (3 Absent)
TRUSTEE NEECE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BILLS FOR JANUARY 23, 2017 IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,577.59 SECONDED BY TRUSTEE EINFELDT.
VOICE VOTE.
AYE: TRUSTEE NEECE, TRUSTEE EINFELDT, TRUSTEE WOEBER
NAY: NONE
MOTION CARRIED: 3-0 (3 Absent)
A payment to PSN for the Gateway fee was recorded on the bills as well. Paid February 3, 2017 by autopay, $39.95
GENERAL FUND $ 3,447.56
GARBAGE FUND $ 4,588.05
POLICE DEPT FUND $ 6,253.21
WATER FUND $ 4,122.55
SEWER FUND $ 3,666.22
SEWER PROJECT FUND $ 6,000.00
TIF 01 1ST ST & 6TH AVE $ 2,500.00
TRUSTEE WOEBER MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE TREASURERS REPORT FOR JANUARY 2017 SECONDED BY TRUSTEE NEECE. VOICE VOTE.
AYE: TRUSTEE WOEBER, TRUSTEE NEECE, TRUSTEE EINFELDT,
NAY: NONE
MOTION CARRIED: 3-0 (3 Absent)
John Vezzetti from Bernardi Securities was present at the meeting. He informed the Board that the third and final step toward obtaining the loan for the Sewer Revenue Bonds is to pass Ordinance No. 2017-02-01- An ordinance authorizing the issuance of General Obligation Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source), Series 2017 of the Village of Andalusia, Rock Island County, Illinois, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1,3000,000 for the purpose of financing various sewer system related projects and paying for costs related thereto, and providing for the levy of a direst annual tax for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds. Mr. Vezzetti told the board that once this step is complete, he can get to work on creating and selling the bonds. His projected closing date is the end of February to the beginning of March. He also told the Board that he doesn’t foresee any problems with the Village getting the loan as the Village has a strong credit rating. He estimated that the interest rate will be approximately 3.5% – 4.0%. The estimated cost per year will be approximately $90,000 - $95,000. Mr. Vezzetti told the Board that all the fees associated with getting this bond loan will come out of the bond itself, including his fee. Trustee Einfeldt asked Mr. Vezzetti if the Ordinance authorizes the Village to levy property tax because she feels as though the Village will have to, to pay the payment. Mr. Vezzetti informed Trustee Einfeldt that if in the event the other tax revenues dry up; the Board would have the authority to levy taxes.
Mayor Morrow laid out his plan to repay the loan without having to levy taxes. The $6.00 increase in Sewer rates will bring in approximately $35,000 and the balance will come from the General Fund, from the taxes the Village already receives. Revenue Share Tax brings in approximately $141,000/yr. and Sales Tax Approximately $100,000/yr. The Mayor wants to pay the additional $60,000 from those revenues. His plan is to not have to levy taxes at all to pay for the bonds. He doesn’t want to do it, but he said if it comes down to it, he would rather raise sewer rates another $5.00 a month instead of raise taxes.
He also mentioned that the Village has completed two major projects in the last year, the Water Meter Project and the Dike Tube Project. Both were costly. Now that they’re done, the Village can use that money as well. Mayor Morrow assured the Board that the Village is in a stable financial position. He told them that the General Fund only had $85,000 in it when he became Mayor, now it has approximately $250,000.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Water and Sewer: Trustee Neece informed the Board that there are 7 meters left to install. He said that there are a few people holding out and do not want to call back to make the appointment for the meter change. Trustee Neece spoke with other Villages and was informed that the Board could introduce an Ordinance that allows the Village to discontinue water service to those residents until they are willing to cooperate and let the maintenance crew change out the meter. Mayor Morrow told the Board that there is a project at the tower that needs to be addressed. He told the Board that the cost for that project will be $7,420. Mayor Morrow also informed the Board that the Fancy Creek lift station also needs some work. His estimate for that project is $2,500. Streets and Alleys: Trustee Woeber proposed a plan to get the most bang for the Villages buck for the road repairs that need to be done. The Village has to have the project engineered if they’re using Motor Fuel Tax to pay for it. His suggestion is to do the seal coating in house and to pay for it out of the General Fund. That way there would be no engineering cost which will allow the Village to address more of the roads that need repair.
Finance and Audit: No Report
Building and Grounds: No Report
Parks and Recreation: Trustee Woeber told the Board that he would like to see a solid poured concrete edge around the memorial. He informed the Board that it looks nice and the contractor can even put colors in the concrete to make it even nicer. The Board asked Justin Parchert to look into what it would cost for the edging. Trustee Neece informed the Board that the Villages’ flags are in poor shape. The Christmas lights are also in need of repair or replacement. He wants the Board to give the go-ahead to begin replacing them, the Board agreed. He also suggested that the Village only put flags and Christmas lights on the main thoroughfares. Tax Increment Finance: No report Police: Officer Rasso informed the Board that the Village has an Ordinance case due to go to court on February 16th. He also stated that he has not issued any recent citations. Officer Rasso would like to remind all Andalusia Citizens to lock their doors and to take any valuables with them when they leave their cars. The warmer weather will be upon us before we know it and he doesn’t want the same kind of trouble that the Village has last Summer. He also wants to remind our younger residents that there is a curfew of 11:00 pm.
REPORTS OF OFFICERS:
Village Clerk: Clerk Hoffman told the Board that the Village hit a milestone on February 1, 2017. We took our first ever credit card payment. Clerk Hoffman has also been in contact with Bi-State Regional Commission. The goal is to get the Villages Code of Ordinances Book in order. The goal is to remove outdated language and Ordinances and to insert any new Ordinances that have yet to be added to it. Bi-State sent two ladies out to see what it will take to get things in order. They informed Clerk Hoffman that it could take 10 months or more before everything is finished. They plan to have an estimate of the costs involved by the February 20, 2017 Board meeting. Department of public works: Justin Parchert reported that he did some seal coat work around Berhankes’ road. He scarified it, added 50 ton of rock, and reshaped the area. He would like to keep the area rock. Justin also told the Board that since it’s been warmer than usual this winter, he would like to begin working on the alleys in town. He also has other projects on his list of things to do. He has ditches that need to be dug, a man hole that needs to be put in, a water loop and fire hydrant that need to be to be addressed as well. Justin also has been working on a plan to address some of the drainage issues in Fancy creek. He informed the Board that something needs to be done. He has a plan to try to divert the water coming off the hill. The work will be done in house to keep costs down.
Mayor: No Report
NO MOTION WAS MADE, HOWEVER THE VILLAGE BOARD ADJOURNED INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 8:07 PM TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL. TRUSTEE WOEBER MADE A MOTION TO RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION AT 8:35PM, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE EINFELDT. TRUSTEE NEECE MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:36 PM. SECONDED BY TRUSTEE EINFELDT.
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