Village of Orion Village Board met Feb. 17.
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, Nelson, Mitton, Hancock, Dunlap, and Drucker. Absent: Newman.
President Cooper called the meeting to order and led the board in the Pledge of Allegiance. He said Trustee Newman was absent due to work obligations.
It was moved by Drucker, seconded by Hancock to approve the minutes of the meeting held February 3, 2020. Ayes: Nelson, Mitton, Hancock, Dunlap, and Drucker. Noes: None. Absent: Newman.
It was moved by Drucker, seconded by Mitton to approve the bills for the month: General Fund- $27,391.88, Recycle-$3,060.61, Water O&M-$3,199.41, Water Depr.-$46.07, Sewer O&M- $6,124.81, Sewer Depr.-$555.00, Sewer Cap. Impr.-$11,022.60, Sewer Surplus-$140.00, MFT- $2,193.85. Ayes: Nelson, Mitton, Hancock, Dunlap, and Drucker. Noes: None. Absent: Newman.
President Cooper thanked Trustees Hancock and Dunlap, Roger Peterson, Ron Thompson, Park Supt. Arnie Sandberg, and Orion High School students for taking down the Christmas tree in Central Park.
Trustee Nelson said the street supt. is pricing a pole saw, hydraulic cylinders, and a tailgate spreader for purchase. Trustee Drucker interjected and said another department recently purchased a pole saw and the two departments could share.
A contract was signed with Hutchison Engineering in order to get the 5th Street drainage project started. A rough estimate of $586,000 was given for a 24’-wide street with partial curb and sidewalk. Other ideas discussed were extending improvements one more block north and including an 8’-wide walk/bike path, which could potentially continue east on 15th Avenue and south on 7th Street. Trustee Drucker disagreed with the 8’ walk/bike path and wanted to keep the aesthetic of the street. Trustee Hancock was opposed to the path and suggested extending sidewalks instead. Trustee Nelson noted infrastructure improvements such as water and sewer were not included in the estimate. He said sidewalks and the safety of the public must be taken into consideration, though Trustee Drucker said the public has to bear some responsibility for its own safety. He has seen people walking and running in the dark, with dark clothing, and running/walking in the street where sidewalks are available, and runners/walkers with their backs to traffic. Approval of funds to facilitate sketch plans for 5th and 7th Street improvements was tabled until the next meeting.
It was moved by Mitton, seconded by Hancock to approve Main Street Orion street closure requests: 4th Street between 10th & 11th Avenues from noon-11 p.m., Sept. 19, 2020 for Eat in the Street, and 11th Avenue at the 4th Street intersection from 4-5 p.m., October 30, 2020 for the Halloween Hustle parade. Ayes: Nelson, Mitton, Hancock, Dunlap, and Drucker. Noes: None. Absent: Newman.
It was moved by Nelson, seconded by Mitton to approve the landscape waste site dates: Mondays from 1-3 p.m.-April 6 & 20, 2020, May 4 & 18, 2020 and Saturdays from 8-10 a.m.- April 4 & 18, 2020 and May 2, 16 & 30, 2020. Ayes: Nelson, Mitton, Hancock, Dunlap, and Drucker. Noes: None. Absent: Newman.
Trustee Hancock said Sewer Supt. Chris Lundburg helped with meter reading and is working on the FY 2021 budget.
A meter reader applicant has submitted an application. Another person picked up an application but has not yet submitted it.
Trustee Dunlap said he is beginning to get a list of suggestions for use of the new acreage purchased at Love Park.
President Cooper is seeking an estimate for netting to use at the dugouts at Love Park. Someone other than a village employee removed the previous material and did not replace it. Trustee Mitton said those doing maintenance in the park should first contact village employees or officials. Material that was taken off the dugout could possibly have been reused.
Trustee Nelson said the Orion Little League bought two scoreboards last year and three foul poles. The items will be installed when time can be found to do so and electricity can be extended to the sites.
Trustee Drucker said third quarter revenue and expenditures were reviewed and it was found that 84% of projected revenues have been received and the budget is at 70% of projected expenditures. He said revenue and expenditures will most likely be right on budget by the end of the fiscal year.
Trustee Mitton is looking at different options for a village hall. Trustee Drucker asked if he was still considering an addition to the existing building, to which Trustee Mitton said it was on hold. President Cooper said other locations are being explored and cost estimates are being obtained.
It was moved by Drucker, seconded by Mitton to approve Main Street Orion liquor licenses for September 19, 2020 (Eat in the Street) and August 1, 2020 (Cruise In). Ayes: Nelson, Mitton, Hancock, Dunlap, and Drucker. Noes: None. Absent: Newman.
Since an entity in Orion gained a state kennel license, village attorney John Ames drafted an ordinance outlining regulations for a village kennel license. President Cooper asked the board to review the draft and be prepared to act on it at the next board meeting. Trustee Mitton said an animal kennel is typically used for boarding animals for profit, not personal use to be able to harbor more pets than what village code allows. The license fee and a limitation on the number of animals in the kennel were discussed. Trustee Drucker suggested checking with other like- size municipalities for license fee comparison. Attorney Ames said the size of the cage determines the number of animals, according to the state statute. It is yet to be determined how strict the Illinois Department of Agriculture will be in its inspections and oversight. President Cooper said the village spent time and money to rectify a cat hoarding situation and tried to be compassionate toward the offender’s aging dogs. He said the people involved in acquiring a state kennel license are trying to back-door the village’s ordinance in order to keep cats in excess of the number allowed by ordinance. Trustee Mitton said the pair described the love they had for their animals, while the condition of a house where the hoarded cats were kept was terrible. He noted the village is owed for attorney and veterinarian fees associated with the case. The proposed ordinance will be discussed at the next meeting.
The school board meets Wednesday and President Cooper is hopeful it will approve partial funding of flashing crosswalk signs.
There being no further business to come before the meeting it was moved by Drucker, seconded by Mitton to adjourn. Ayes: Nelson, Mitton, Hancock, Dunlap, and Drucker. Noes: None. Absent: Newman.
https://orionil.org/government/meetings/2014-03-09-05-52-59/1204-minutes-2020-02-17-pdf/file
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