Village of Orion Village Board met March 2.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
The regular meeting of the President and Board of Trustees was held at 7:00 p.m., at Village Hall, 1202 4th Street, Orion, Henry, Illinois. The following members were present: Cooper, Newman, Nelson, Mitton, Hancock, and Drucker. Absent: Dunlap.
President Cooper called the meeting to order and led the board in the Pledge of Allegiance.
It was moved by Drucker, seconded by Hancock to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held February 17, 2020. Prior to a vote, Trustee Drucker said the paragraph approving the minutes of February 3, 2020 listed Newman as seconding the vote. It should be Hancock, as verified by Clerk Sampson’s written notes from the meeting. The motion to amend the minutes as such was called for a vote. Ayes: Newman, Nelson, Mitton, Hancock, and Drucker. Noes: None. Absent: Dunlap.
LED lights have been installed in the maintenance garage and the street superintendent is still in the process of buying a new spreader. The street superintendent will soon be sweeping streets.
A plan to tear out and replace 5th Street, install 4’ sidewalks on both sides of the right of way, curb, a new water main, and a 50’ wide street tapering narrower at points, is estimated to cost $2.3 million. Lesser plans are being considered. Engineering fees were estimated between $146,000 and $400,000, depending on the type of improvements. Seventh Street improvements were estimated at $1.1 million. Trustee Drucker questioned the need for curb and pointed out improved streets where none had been installed. Though Trustee Nelson and Street Superintendent Neil Dahl were working to decide the extent of improvements to present, Trustee Newman pressed them to provide some type of drawing that would show a breakdown of all parts along with costs. He also asked that more sidewalk be considered for walker safety. He provided a map to the board titled Safe Walkway Plan. The plan was developed from feedback obtained through a request in The Nosy Neighbor newsletter.
Survey work has begun for the 5th Street drainage project. Pipe may or may not be purchased this fiscal year. Easements still need to be obtained.
Sewer Superintendent Chris Lundburg said work is being performed on the influent pumps and he will meet with Trustee Hancock in a week to put together a budget for FY 2021.
It was moved by Drucker, seconded by Newman to offer the position of meter reader to Mr. Ken Cook, 1317 13th Street, Orion, with the alternate being Mr. Dennis Lehr. Ayes: Newman, Nelson, Mitton, Hancock, and Drucker. Noes: None. Absent: Dunlap.
Trustee Mitton announced Mr. Dan Ford, the employee who mowed the parks the past two years, has resigned. President Cooper will contact the other applicant who applied when the job was initially posted, to see if he is interested in the position.
It was noted storm drainage needs to be attended to before building a parking lot on new acreage in Love Park. Park Superintendent Arnie Sandberg said a line will need to be bored on the west side of the park and a retention pond might be required. He recommended engineers be involved in the process. It was moved by Mitton, seconded by Newman to ask Trustee Dunlap to seek engineered drawings for a plan for the 3.58-acre parcel recently annexed to Love Park, at a cost not to exceed $60,000. Ayes: Newman, Nelson, Mitton, Hancock, and Drucker. Noes: None. Absent: Dunlap.
Netting for both dugouts in Love Park was found in Eldridge, Iowa at a cost estimated around $200, half that of a product found online. It will be purchased and installed in the near future.
Budgets are to be completed and turned in by Friday, March 13th. The Finance Committee will set its monthly meeting at the March 16th meeting of the village board.
Trustee Newman spoke with Henry County Deputy Chad Baze about walker safety. It seems a lot of walkers voluntarily use the street instead of sidewalks. The police budget has been completed and submitted to the village clerk.
Trustee Mitton said he is looking at the option of purchasing a property owned by Mr. Dan Diamond at 1410 14th Avenue and working with a construction company on a plan to erect a building. President Cooper said the property is being considered for a new village hall, number one because the existing building is an eyesore and needs to be torn down, and number two because the property offers adequate space of two acres. He noted the property could be purchased after the owner tears down the building in order to prevent the village from having to pay prevailing wages. President Cooper said if the property turns out to not be adequate for a village hall it should be purchased for development. The board discussed other issues about the property such as the lack of a sewer connection and the need for a lift station. Trustee Drucker said Clerk Sampson began the process of seeking more space for record keeping and improving security and did so by consulting with her committee chair, Trustee Mitton. The initial plan to add on to the existing village hall was shelved after receiving a cost estimated at $840,000. Trustee Drucker asked that the board revisit a smaller remodel of the existing village hall. He said the village clerk had been left out of discussions on the Diamond property though she has spent a lifetime in the existing building and has knowledge of what is needed. Clerk Sampson told Trustee Mitton that he cut her out of the conversation. He implied she was not included because she is just a secretary. Clerk Sampson informed him she is an elected official. Trustee Mitton refused to discuss it further and said the board would be presented with all options at a later date.
President Cooper announced April 2, 2020 to be Junior Achievement Day.
President Cooper prefaced action on the proposed kennel ordinance by saying he felt his job as village president was to follow through on the cat issue and do what is in the best interest of the village. The proposed ordinance includes a provision that kennels not be allowed within 450’ of any structure used as a residence and that kennels be used for commercial purposes only. A license fee of $500 for the first year and $250 each year thereafter is also included in the proposed ordinance. President Cooper found most communities don’t allow kennels. Discussion was held on the possibility of allowing a variance to the 450’ requirement but it was noted the machinery to allow for that was not practical due to its health and safety nature. It was moved by Mitton, seconded by Newman to adopt Ordinance #2020-1, amending Chapter XII of the Municipal Code of the Village of Orion entitled Animals, regulating kennel licenses without special use provisions. Ayes: Newman, Nelson, Mitton, Hancock, and Drucker. Noes: None. Absent: Dunlap.
There being no further business to come before the meeting it was moved by Drucker, seconded by Newman to adjourn. Ayes: Newman, Nelson, Mitton, Hancock, and Drucker. Noes: None. Absent: Dunlap.
https://orionil.org/government/meetings/2014-03-09-05-52-59/1206-minutes-2020-03-02-pdf/file
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