Rock Island Today

Village of Orion Village Board met June 18. 

Here is the minutes as provided by the board:

The regular meeting of the President and Board of Trustees was held at 7:00 p.m., June 18, 2018, at Village Hall, 1202 4th Street, Orion, Henry, Illinois. The following members were present: Cooper, Peterson, Mitton, Hancock, and Drucker. Absent: Newman and Lawson.

The meeting was called to order by President Cooper, who led the board in the Pledge of Allegiance.

It was moved by Drucker, seconded by Hancock to approve the minutes of the meeting held June 4, 2018. Ayes: Peterson, Mitton, Hancock, and Drucker. Noes: None.

Absent: Newman and Lawson.

It was moved by Drucker, seconded by Peterson to approve the bills for the month: General Fund-$36,430.11, Recycle-$1,936.79, Water O&M-$1,429.57, Water Depr.- $89.32, Sewer O&M-$3,303.30, Sewer Depr.-$10,225.44, Sewer Cap. Impr.-$2,210.00, and Phase II Loan Retire.-$475.00. Ayes: Peterson, Mitton, Hancock, and Drucker. Noes: None. Absent: Newman and Lawson.

Mrs. Louise Nelson expressed gratitude for past use of the landscape waste site and asked the board that it be opened for summer. She said it would cut down on individual burning and allow lawns to look nicer. The board noted the site isn’t available when Dumpsters are needed for Clean Up Week or when trees from village property are cut down and burned. Village employees need to be consulted prior to making a decision. Mrs. Nelson and others present at the meeting volunteered to man the site during open hours. Questions of liability arose. The issue will be discussed again at the next meeting.

It was moved by Peterson, seconded by Hancock to approve an intergovernmental agreement with the Henry County Highway Department, a Municipal Estimate of Costs, and the Engineering Agreement for the Motor Fuel Tax program. Ayes: Peterson, Mitton, Hancock, and Drucker. Noes: None. Absent: Newman and Lawson.

It was moved by Drucker, seconded by Mitton to approve closure of parts of 8th Street, 13th Street, 11th Avenue, and 12th Avenue on July 3, 2018 for the Fourth of July Fireworks Lighted Parade (rain date July 6, 2018). Ayes: Peterson, Mitton, Hancock, and Drucker. Noes: None. Absent: Newman and Lawson.

Discussion was held about the schedule of work on 13th Avenue Crt. It was noted a drainage issue surfaced at the intersection of 12th Avenue and 13th Street, which required the street superintendent’s attention. President Cooper will contact the street superintendent about his schedule.

The board agreed employees did a great job with Clean Up Week and thanked them for their efforts.

Trustee Drucker said increased water usage recorded at the pumphouse is due to a spate of hot weather.

Mr. Zachary Kline and other scouts have begun to work on the park bench project. Benches were torn apart and old wood was hauled away. One bench has been completely reassembled and looks good. There is a total of 24 benches to be rehabbed. Plaques are available for purchase at a cost of $50 each to be mounted on the benches.

Trustee Peterson will meet this week with Mrs. Lori Dhabalt, representing the Orion Lions Club, and a playground equipment representative. They will review possibilities for new equipment to replace some of the existing equipment. The OLC will donate funds for the project.

Conflicts arose between baseball leagues using the new diamond in Love Park. The leagues were told to work problem out among themselves. The village will not schedule use of the diamonds. It was noted dugouts have not been finished. President Cooper will try to coordinate completion of work on the structures.

Trustee Drucker reminded the board of a Finance Committee meeting set for Wednesday, June 20th at 4 p.m.

It was moved by Drucker, seconded by Hancock to approve an agreement with Tom Engelmann to audit village records for FY 2018 at a cost of $5,850, with an additional $650 if procedures are required by the receipt of grant monies. Ayes: Peterson, Mitton, Hancock, and Drucker. Noes: None. Absent: Newman and Lawson.

There was discussion about the juveniles who damaged flags in Central Park. At least one was also involved in the damage done to Christmas tree light bulbs. The juveniles involved in the flag incident were reported by someone who lives by the park and verified on security cameras. Trustee Mitton said one of the security cameras was adjusted to include the flag in the center of the park.

President Cooper said he, Trustee Drucker, and Clerk Sampson met with Jim & Kathy Massa and Kim Herold, developers of the Prairie Knoll subdivision. The meeting was held to determine a way to get lots sold and houses built in the subdivision. The developers were asked to participate in the cost of extending the TIF district, which they declined. Instead, the developers lowered the price of each lot by $13,000 and advertised the benefit of building permit and water and sewer connection fee waivers, as offered by the village. President Cooper also suggested a cash incentive of $10,000, shared between the village and the developer. He said the developers share could be deducted from the TIF benefit at the end of each year, but the developers were not interested. Ames Law will be in contact with Tom Jacob regarding the extension of the TIF district, and President Cooper will have additional meetings with the developers of Prairie Knoll.

It was moved by Drucker, seconded by Hancock to adopt Ordinance #2018-4, Prevailing Wages. Ayes: Peterson, Mitton, Hancock, and Drucker. Noes: None. Absent: Newman and Lawson.

There being no further business to come before the meeting, it was moved by Drucker, seconded by Mitton to adjourn. Ayes: Peterson, Mitton, Hancock, and Drucker. Noes: None. Absent: Newman and Lawson.

http://orionil.org/government/meetings/2014-03-09-05-52-59/997-minutes-2018-06-18-pdf/file