Village of Andalusia Village Board met April 3.
Here is the minutes as provided by the board:
Call to Order
The Board of Trustees met in a public meeting on Monday April 3, 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 Stropes, Trustee Einfeldt, Trustee Woeber, Trustee Neece
Absent: Trustee Killian
Staff: Shelly Hoffman, Village Clerk; Vickie Powell, Village Treasurer; Justin Parchert,
Public Works Director, Joe Dungan, Maintenance Department.
Trustee Woeber Made A Motion To Accept The Minutes From The
March 20, 2017 Board Meeting. Seconded By Trustee Neece. Voice
Vote.
Aye: Trustee Stropes, Trustee Woeber, Trustee Einfeldt, Trustee Neece
Nay: None
Motion Carried: 4-0 (1 Absent)
Trustee Woeber Made a Motion to Approve the Bills for March 20, 2017 with the Exception of the Sewer Bond Fund. The amount approved was $33,352.06 Seconded by Trustee Einfeldt. Voice Vote.
Aye: Trustee Woeber, Trustee Neece, Trustee Stropes, Trustee Einfeldt,
Nay: None
Motion Carried: 4-0 (1 Absent)
General Fund $ 3,220.34
Garbage Fund $ 4,588.05
Police Dept Fund $ 6,253.21
Water Fund $ 6,582.26
Sewer Fund $ 3,588.20
Sewer Project Fund $ 6,620.00
If Dist 01/1st St & 6th Ave $ 2,500.00
Sewer Bond Fund (21) was not approved since the amount was not on the Appropriations Ordinance. The amount was $903,173.56
Mayor Morrow began the meeting by giving a timeline of the Lagoon Cell 1 Project. The events that led up to today are as follows:
In June 2012, the IEPA notified the Village that we were in non-compliance. The Lagoons had to be cleaned. At that time, we proceeded. We only did half of the work because we ran out of money.
In June 2016, the gentleman from the IEPA called Mayor Morrow and told him that the Lagoon must be emptied immediately. Mayor Morrow explained that the Lagoon couldn’t be emptied immediately because it had to be engineered and put out for bid according to state regulations. The Gentleman from the IEPA agreed and told Mayor Morrow to start the process.
The Village got a bid for 1000 tons of dry sludge from the Lagoon. After a week into the removal process, the 1000 tons had already been reached. The engineer refigured the project and as it turned out there was an additional 7000 tons of dry sludge left in the Lagoon. As a result, the cost went from $278,000 to $988,000.
There would be no relief from the State. No aid from the state. The IEPA explained again that this needed to be emptied now. The Mayor and Trustees went to Black Hawk State bank and asked for the additional funds. Unfortunately, they couldn’t loan the Village $1 Million. Gerry Huiskamp suggested revenue bonds to pay for the project. The firm of Bernardi Securities out of Peru Illinois was recommended.
The Village contacted Bernardi Securities and after a 3-month process, they agreed to give the Village the money. During this process, the Village was represented by the Village Attorney, Mike Halpin and were overseen by Black Hawk Bank and the Security Firm. Mayor Morrow continued by stating that every i was dotted and every t was crossed. No laws were broken.
Mayor Morrow heard a comment that the project probably should have been delayed for 2 or 3 years. However, it had already been delayed for 4 years at this point. There was no more delaying, the Lagoon was full.
Had the Lagoon not been emptied, the Village would not have been in compliance. There would have been absolutely no building permits issued to the Village. The bond rate is 3.77%. The sewer rates were raised $6.00 a month, that money and existing revenues from the sewer fund will pay for the bonds, which are $80,000 a year.
Mayor Morrow open the floor for questions.
Marty Yakovich: There are very poor people in this town, and very rich people in this town.
The Village raised everyone’s sewer rates the same. He believes that the rates should have been raised by percent. He stated that the rates for everyone were raised the same, yet the poor people are using 10% and the rich people are using 90%. Trustee Stropes questioned how Marty established his calculations. Trustee Woeber questioned if Marty was saying that rich people use more water than poor people. Again, Marty stated that the rates should have been raised by percentage.
Nancy Mccannon: What happens if the Village couldn’t afford to clean out the Lagoon? What would the state do?
Mayor Morrow stated again that the Village wouldn’t get any building permits. Which means that the Village would be shut down from any future expansions. Trustee Stropes stated that the Village isn’t the only entity going through this process. He also stated that this process in the past would have been half funded by the state, however these days the state only hands down the mandates. There are no such things as funded mandates anymore.
Nancy Mccannon: Asked if the rates will be raised again.
Mayor Morrow reminded Nancy that other utilities go up every year, It’s not just the water/sewer rates. Trustee Woeber assured Nancy that the decision to raise the rates was not a decision the Board took lightly. There was a lot of discussion before the rates were raised. The rates were raised when there was absolutely no choice. Vickie Powell the Village Treasurer explained to the room that she has been taking 45% of the revenues to put in the sewer fund. What the fund was needed for has been taken care of, so now the Board suggested that she takes that 45% and put it into the sewer bond fund instead to help pay for the bonds.
Darryl Anderson: Where does the Village stand compared to other cities as far as the water/sewer rates? Compared to other cities, we have lower rates. Other cities pay much more for their rates.
Matt Kuster: As far as non-compliance and not receiving a building permit, what does that mean?
Mayor Morrow told him that you couldn’t even put a new roof on your house if that were to happen.
Darryl Anderson: How will the Village be financially if faced with an emergency and to meet the improvements needed?
Mayor Morrow told Darryl, that as strapped as we are, the Village has $262,000 in the General Fund. The Funds are very strong. Darryl asked if any loans were coming due. Mayor Morrow informed him that we have 2 loans that will be paid off in 2 years. The Auditors told the Village that on a scale of 1-10 the Village is a 7 or 8. The Bonding people said that the Village is “fine shape”. Mayor Morrow concluded by saying that he is very confident that we are in fine shape.
Committee Reports:
Water and Sewer: Trustee Neece reported that the clay liner at the Lagoon Cell 1 is being worked on. Streets and Alleys: Trustee Woeber reported that there was work done at the Flaherty residence. The repair work is complete.
Trustee Woeber stated that the Village will be spending money from the general Fund on seal coat this year. The Motor Fuel Tax Fund will not be touched for a couple of years so it can build up for the bigger projects.
Finance and Audit: Trustee Einfeldt reported that she has been working with Treasurer
Powell on the Appropriations Ordinance for the new fiscal year.
Building and Grounds: Trustee Stropes reported that the Maintenance crew has been organizing the Municipal Building. Trustee Stropes has encouraged the Trustees to take the time to go look at the work they’ve done.
Parks and Recreation: Justin Parchert reported that the edging at the memorial will be put in place weather permitting. Justin and his maintenance crew will be putting in the landscaping. If anyone is interested in volunteering to help with the mulch, please let either Justin or Shelly know.
Tax Increment Finance: There have been no requests for TIF funds according to Trustee Stropes.
Police: Officer Rasso has drawn up a letter to the residents regarding the summer months and keeping property safe. The letter will be put in the April Water Bills.
Reports of Officers:
Village Clerk: Clerk Hoffman reported that the Village has received a letter from the Rockridge School District, asking if the Village would be willing to match the donation from last year of $100.00 for the Academic achievement awards. The Board has agreed to make the donation.
Clerk Hoffman spoke with Whitney from the State with regards to the property located at 109 2nd Ave East, formerly Papa Joes Tavern. The state will take possession of the property in August. The state will be conducting an auction in September. If the Village is interested in purchasing the property, then it won’t even be put in the auction. The property will be available for purchase at $600.00 plus a recording fee of $58.00 in the fall. No action has been taken at this time.
Department of public works: Justin Parchert gave a list of the projects the maintenance crew has been working on as well as future projects that will begin as the weather permits. The sewer manhole will be installed on 3rd Street East when weather permits.
Fancy creek tile project will also continue as the weather permits.
The concrete in Fancy creek will be installed shortly, Justin called in a couple people to help with the install.
The sidewalk at the Little Store and the curb replacement at the Pate residence on 8th Street West will both be completed once the weather clears.
Sewer cleanouts with EMS out of Davenport will happen again when weather permits. Joe and Wayne have been cleaning out ditches and culverts.
The crew has been doing cold patching & working on the alleys and are ready to mow next week.
All but one of the flood pumps are down.
Mayor: Mayor Morrow gave his report at the beginning of the meeting
Old Business: Trustee Neece presented Ordinance No 2016-04-01- weight limit exemptions for possible approval by the board. The Ordinance was presented for a first read it will be re-presented for approval at the next board meeting on April 17, 2017.
New Business:
Citizen Comments: Dennis Begyn has asked if he could get a copy of all the Villages MidAmerican Energy bills. He believes he has a plan to lower our utility bills.
Mike Chillemi was interested in finding out if his business is in the TIF District. The Board wasn’t sure and instructed Clerk Hoffman to look into it and let Mike Know in the morning.
Trustee Woeber moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 pm. Seconded by Trustee Neece
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