Village Of Carbon Cliff Village Board of Trustees met Nov. 19.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
Members President: Todd Cantrell, Keith Curry, Robert Dreher, LeeVon Harris, Alma Neels, Larry Scott
Members Absent: None
Others Present:
Michelle David, Village Resident; Curtis David, Village Resident; Raymond Spindel, Village Resident; Dan Clark, Village Head Maintenance Operator; Brandt Schultz, Village Maintenance Operator; Nick Gottwalt, Director of Community & Administrative Services (D.O.C.A.S.); & Karen L. Hopkins, Village Clerk
Village President Hintz read the Truth in Taxation Hearing Notice as published in the Dispatch Newspaper on November 8, 2019.
Notice of Proposed Property Tax Increase for the Village of Carbon Cliff.
I. A public hearing to approve a proposed property tax levy increase for the Village of Carbon Cliff for 2019 will be held on November 19, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at Carbon Cliff Village Hall, 1001 Mansur Avenue, Carbon Cliff, Illinois.
Any person desiring to appear at the public hearing and present testimony to the taxing district may contact Karen L. Hopkins, Village Clerk / Budget Officer, 1001 Mansur Avenue, Carbon Cliff, Illinois. Phone number 309-792-8235 Opt 2.
II. The corporate and special purpose property taxes extended or abated for 2018 were $179,504.16.
The proposed corporate and special purpose property taxes to be levied for 2019 are $192,248.96. This represents a 7.1% increase over the previous year.
III. The property taxes extended for debt service and public building commission leases for 2019 were $0.00.
The estimated property taxes to be levied for debt service and public building commission leases for 2019 are $0.00. This represents a 0.0% decrease over the previous year.
IV. The total property taxes extended or abated for 2018 were $179,504.16.
The estimated total property taxes to be levied for 2019 are $192,248.96. This represents a 7.1% increase over the previous year.
Budget Officer / Village Clerk Karen Hopkins went over the tax levy. Explaining the 7.1% raise will amount for just over $12,000.00 in a year with ever property paying. Final Estimated Evaluations are not in from the County, they are currently hearing property tax appeals.
Informed everyone that currently Comfort Inn is requesting a $304,000.00 reduction in their assessed valuation, if this is granted Comfort Inn’s annual property tax from over $63,000.00 to $30,000.00.
Budget Clerk Karen Hopkins & Village President Hintz asked if there are any questions. No one had any question or testimony to discuss on the Truth In Taxation Hearing.
Motion 1: Motion by Scott to close Truth In Taxation Public Hearing. Second by Cantrell. Motion carried by the following vote:
Cantrell-yes; Curry-yes; Dreher-yes; Harris-yes; Neels-yes; Scott-yes 6-yes; 0-no; 0-absent
Public Hearing closed at 7:08 p.m.
Village President Hintz called the Regular Meeting of the Carbon Cliff Board of Trustees to order at 7:08 p.m. & had roll call taken.
Members President: Members Absent: Others Present:
Todd Cantrell, Keith Curry, Robert Dreher, LeeVon Harris, Alma Neels, Larry Scott None
Michelle David, Village Resident; Curtis David, Village Resident; Raymond Spindel, Village Resident; Dan Clark, Village Head Maintenance Operator; Brandt Schultz, Village Maintenance Operator; Nick Gottwalt, Director of Community & Administrative Services (D.O.C.A.S.); & Karen L. Hopkins, Village Clerk
Hearing of the Citizens:
Village Resident Michelle David was present and had requested to read a letter.
In the letter she requested elected officials to immediately dismissal of Clerk Karen Hopkins or force her (Karen) to retire.
Michelle David stated the following items in the letter:
• Karen Hopkins is rude and hard to deal with, and that other residents feel the same about Karen Hopkins.
• Karen Hopkins is refusing to answer her emails.
• Karen Hopkins did not do anything about replacement of the sidewalk in front of her house needing replaced due to a slant and she is handicapped.
• Karen Hopkins finally did something about the sidewalk after I (Michelle David) contacted the Village Attorney. (Footnote: It turns out Michelle had not contacted the Village Attorney, she found in minutes a reference to a Special Counsel for the Village.)
• Karen Hopkins did not do anything about the exposed gas main (from the 2019 Street & Drainage Project).
• Karen Hopkins was rude when their (Michelle & Curtis David) first water bill was late. The bill was only $14.00, Michelle stated she spoke with Karen Hopkins, that she did not receive her bill. Michelle states
Karen Hopkins answered it could have been in a magazine and that by being late she lost her $175.00 deposit.
• Karen Hopkins stated the Village was not fixing her Public Sidewalk in front of her house at 112 1st Avenue because we did not have enough money.
• Michelle David stated she was in Village Hall when Karen Hopkins was yelling and scream at Maintenance
Operators Dan Clark & Brandt Schultz, treating them like dirt. Michelle said the Maintenance Operator should not be talked to and treated in that manner, Brandt should be able to hold his head high and proud in his job.
• States the Residents of this Village feel it is time for the Elected Office to stand up remove Karen Hopkins from her job and take back the Village.
After Michelle David read her letter, Clerk Karen Hopkins asked Village President Hintz if she could have some rebuttal on the matter in the letter:
• Karen Hopkins stated, “I see you Brandt”. He was smiling.
• The Village cannot force me (Karen Hopkins) into retirement, this is against the law.
• I (Karen Hopkins) do answer Michelle’s emails.
• As for the water bill and deposit, I do not remember having this conversation over a year ago. Resident’s never loose their water bill deposits, they are returned as credit to the account after paying on time for eight bills, 2 year with the quarterly billing, or it is applied to Final Bill if house is sold, any amount of the Final Bill is returned to the Resident in form of a Village check.
• I (Karen Hopkins) did not talk to the maintenance department, I go through Nick Gottwalt, D.O.C.A.S. as chain of command.
• Since I (Karen Hopkins) nor Michelle David have evidence to back these statements, I request we gather our evidence and bring to the Administration Committee Meeting December 10, 2019 7:00 p.m. her at Village Hall.
Village Trustee Robert Dreher thanked Michelle David for bringing this to the Board attention and to please come anytime she has a problem.
Village President’s Agenda:
• Budget Officer Karen Hopkins presents the Tentative Budget for Fiscal Year 2020. All these figures will be recalculated and make sure all necessary line items are included and then published in the Proceeding of the Corporate Authorities, and by posting at the Village Hall and the Carbon Cliff Post Office, for at least ten (10) days prior to the passage of the Annual Budget.
• Budget Hearing will be set for 7:00 p.m. on December 17, 2019, at the Village Hall, 1001 Mansur Avenue. • Motion to authorize staff reduction has been removed from the Consent Agenda and will be voted on at the next Village Board Meeting. After more discussion.
Trustee Larry Scott requested the Board going Closed Session to discuss personnel issues and the budget. It was requested that Village Clerk Karen Hopkins not be in the Closed Session. D.O.C.A.S. Gottwalt & Clerk Hopkins stated they could not go into closed session at this Board Meeting, since it is requested the Clerk not attend the closed session, we need to than have Ben Allen, Deputy Clerk present to take the minutes of the Closed Session. The Budget is not an item that can be discussed in closed session.
Closed Session will be done at the December 3, 2019 Board Meeting and Deputy Clerk Ben Allen will be required to be present to take the official minutes of the closed session.
Committee Meetings:
Public Properties Committee Meeting: Chairman Larry Scott read the minutes from the November 13, 2019 meeting. Present were Larry Scott; Todd Cantrell; Robert Dreher; Bill Hintz, Village President; Karen Hopkins, Village Clerk / Budget Officer; Nick Gottwalt, D.O.C.A.S.; and Dan Clark, Village Head Maintenance Operator. The following items were shows as looks good with some discussion: Monthly Maintenance Comp Time Report; Monthly Maintenance Report; Monthly Clerk’s Report; Monthly Treasurer’s Report all for October 2019.
Under new business on the minutes: Question was asked about the Village owned properties we need a game plan on what to do with lots. It was suggested to have a meeting with our local attorney to discuss our options. A meeting will be set up in the beginning of 2020.
NOT ON THE MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC PROPERTIES MEETING, JUST READ OFF CHAIRMAN LARRY SCOTT’S NOTES, NOTHING SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORDERS.
Just Chairman Scott speaking, not on the minutes of the Public Properties Committee Meeting:
Concerned about the skid steer being used at the Sheriff’s Shooting Range, and topsoil dirt given to the Village by the Sheriff’s Office that had to be returned. Had questions about the Clerk’s Report, but he did not have those notes (this had to been done after Committee Meeting it was not discussed at the Public Properties Committee Meeting). Did not think the punch list for the 2019 Street & Drainage Project had been done, D.O.C.A.S. Gottwalt informed everyone the punch list has been done & completed. Does not feel that Anderson in Orion where we get the Illinois State truck inspections done look the trucks over enough. Sewer easement overgrown by trees. Water main easements on Mansur Avenue as overgrown and needed checked for wash out. The easement from 10th Street controls to Old Orchard Pump House need cut. Need to check sewer manholes leaking.
Public Safety Committee Meeting: Chairman Alma Neels read the minutes of the November 13, 2019 meeting. Present were Larry Scott; Robert Dreher; Alma Neels; Bill Hintz, Village President; Karen Hopkins, Village Budget Officer; D.O.C.A.S. Nick Gottwalt and Rock Island County Sheriff’s Deputy Grafton. Deputy Grafton gave the update for the October 2019 monthly calls were 346. All the following reports look good: MUNICES Report, October Maintenance Report, October Clerk’s Report, October Treasurer’s report.
Public Works Committee Meeting: Chairman Keith Curry read the minutes of the November 12, 2019 meeting. Present were Keith Curry; Leevon Harris; Alma Neels; Bill Hintz, Village President; Nick Gottwalt, D.O.C.A.S. and Karen Hopkins, Budget Officer / Village Clerk. All reports presented look good, Collectors, Maintenance Comp Time, Maintenance Report, Clerk’s Report, & Treasurer’s Report all for October 2019. The Budget for engineering in Water will be $150,000.00 for just designing the Water Treatment Plant in 2020. Still working on getting all the information straight and adopted for the Regional Sewer Treatment Plant in East Moline.
Generators at both pump houses have had their general inspection and pm service done 11/6/19. Pump House A has 41 hours on generator & Pump House B has 199 hours on generator.
The Village has 1-1/2 years left on the Republic Service trash pick up between the City of East Moline & Village of Carbon Cliff. D.O.C.A.S. & Clerk will start looking at other companies and bids so the Village will have the option of changing.
Administration Committee Meeting: Chairman LeeVon Harris read the minutes of the November 12, 2019 meeting. Present were LeeVon Harris; Keith Curry; Todd Cantrell; Bill Hintz, Village President; Nick Gottwalt, D.O.C.A.S.; and Karen Hopkins, Budget Officer. Committee looked over the reports for October and stated all look good. Discussed the Tax Levy, a 7.1% increase would increase approximate certified to collect by $12,675.23 for the 2020. Discussed the indebtedness of the Village at this time, Orchard Court Drainage Project $168,820.14; 2019 Street & Drainage Project $36,838.65; VCC loan from Water Fund to pay off Village Hall $11,060.00; VCC loan from Sewer Fund to pay off Village Hall $193,146.36; VCC loan from Hotel Accommodation Tax to pay off Village Hall $50,000.00; Loan from Hotel Tax Accommodation to cover funds needed for bills and payroll $65,000.00. Discussed layoff or making one of the maintenance operators part-time due to the budget. Committee recommends at this time laying Brandt Schultz, Maintenance Operator with least seniority off.
Michelle David is asked to bring her evidence to the Administration Committee Meeting December 10, 2019.
Old Business items discussed:
• IMEG has the structural engineering study completed on the Mansur Avenue bridge. Loren Rains, our Village Engineer with IMEG reports to the Village this bridge needs work on the outer edge, and eventually will need the core where cars drive replaced. Currently waiting for the written report.
New Business items discussed:
• Midco Diving still has the Village on the 2019 Schedule to clean the above ground water tower. They will call a day or two out from when they will be here.
• D.O.C.A.S. Nick Gottwalt was appointed as Vice Chairman of the Rock Island County Waste Management. At the Waste Management meeting today, the committee toured the Scott County Recycling Facility.
Motion 2: Motion by Curry to establish the Consent Agenda, as follows:
5. Village President’s Agenda:
b. Publish the Tentative Budget for Fiscal Year 2020, by publication in the Proceeding of the Corporate Authorities, and by posting at the Village Hall and the Carbon Cliff Post Office, for at least ten (10) days prior to the passage of the Annual Budget.
c. Set the Budget Hearing for 7:00 p.m. on December 17, 2019, at the Village Hall, 1001 Mansur Avenue, or at a date set by the Village Board of Trustees.
9. Minutes / Reports / Public Notices:
a. Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of the Carbon Cliff Board of Trustees for Tuesday, November 5, 2019, as presented – approved/filed;
b. Monthly Clerk’s Report for October, as presented – approved/filed;
c. Monthly Collector’s Report for October, as presented – approved/filed;
d. Monthly Maintenance Comp Time Report for October 2019, as presented – approved/filed
e. Monthly Maintenance Report for October 2019, as presented – approved/filed;
f. Monthly Treasurer’s Report for October 2019, as presented – approved/filed;
g. Minutes of the November 13, 2019, Public Properties Committee Meeting, as presented – approved /filed;
h. Minutes of the November 13, 2019, Public Safety Committee Meeting, as presented – approved/filed;
i. Minutes of the November 12, 2019, Public Works Committee Meeting, as presented – approved/filed;
j. Minutes of the November 12, 2019, Administration Committee Meeting, as presented – approved/filed; &
k. I-EPA Notice of Application for Permit to Manage Waste (LPC-PA16). Dated November 1, 2019. Site
Name: Upper Rock Island County Landfill – 17201 20th Avenue North, East Moline, Illinois. IEPA ID#1618100014 - Description of Project: Response to Condition VI.26 which requires an evaluation of dissolved chloride in well G151. – Placed on view for public comment.
12. Approval of Bills / Payroll / Transfers / Voided Checks:
Second by Cantrell. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Cantrell-yes; Curry-yes; Dreher-yes; Harris-yes; Neels-yes; Scott-yes 6-yes, 0-no, 0-absent.
Motion 3: Motion by Scott to approve Consent Agenda as established. Second by Harris. Motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Cantrell-yes; Curry-yes; Dreher-yes; Harris-yes; Neels-yes; Scott-yes
6-yes, 0-no, 0-absent.
Trustee Alma Neels requested the Village to unlock the shed at the park so she can remove the Christmas decorations. She would like this arranged for Wednesday November 27, 2019 or December 1, 2019.
Motion 4: Motion by Scott to adjourn. Second by Curry. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: Cantrell-yes; Curry-yes; Dreher-yes; Harris-yes; Neels-yes; Scott-yes
6-yes, 0-no, 0-absent.
Meeting adjourned at 8:27 p.m.
https://www.carbon-cliff.com/documents/212/111919_BM_Minutes.pdf
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