Village of Orion Village Board met Aug. 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. via the Zoom electronic app (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) in lieu of Village Hall, 1202 4th Street, Orion, Henry, Illinois. The following members were present: Cooper, Drucker, Dunlap, Hancock, Mitton, Nelson, and Newman. Absent: None.
President Cooper called the meeting to order and led the board in the Pledge of Allegiance.
It was moved by Drucker, seconded by Mitton to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held August 3, 2020. Ayes: Drucker, Dunlap, Hancock, Mitton, Nelson, and Newman. Noes: None. Absent: None.
It was moved by Drucker, seconded by Nelson to approve the bills for the month: General Fund- $48,974.07, Recycle-$3,082.24, Water O&M-$2,178.50, Sewer O&M-$10,969.76, Sewer Cap. Impr.-$75.00, Sewer Surplus-$200.00, MFT-$2,443.17, and Fines-$58.18. Ayes: Drucker, Dunlap, Hancock, Mitton, Nelson, and Newman. Noes: None. Absent: None.
The drop box on 10th Avenue has been completed and work is underway to replace sidewalk across from C.R. Hanna Grade School, as reported by Trustee Nelson. Also, Street Supt. Neil Dahl has lined up dirt to be hauled to the village’s property at 1410 14th Avenue A, in order to fill a hole caused by the demolition of the former bowling alley. Due to a storm with strong winds that passed through Orion, Street Supt. Dahl has been managing debris brought to the landscape waste site. President Cooper thanked him for his efforts.
It was moved by Mitton, seconded by Dunlap to approve landscape waste site dates: Saturdays from 8-10 a.m. on 09/19, 10/03, 10/17, 10/31, 11/14 and Mondays from 1-3 p.m.on 09/21, 10/05, 10/19, 11/02, 11/16. Ayes: Drucker, Dunlap, Hancock, Mitton, Nelson, and Newman. Noes: None. Absent: None.
Board members were asked to contact the village clerk to volunteer manning the landscape waste site during open hours on Saturdays.
The board discussed whether employees should pick up landscape waste after future storms. Most trustees did not want to subject employees to injury and take them away from their other duties. Trustee Drucker insisted that firm guidelines be set if employees are expected to pick up waste, but he didn’t feel the village had the manpower to do the job. Others likened picking up brush to picking up junk during Clean-Up Week, which was canceled due to the potential for injury and exposure to COVID-19. Trustee Drucker suggested high school students wishing to volunteer form a contingent to help those who don’t have the ability to transport their waste to the village’s disposal site. Trustee Nelson was opposed to putting employees in the position of picking up landscape waste or junk, but Trustee Ryan said the village used to perform that type The minutes of August 17, 2020 continued:
of work and he remembered doing it in 2008 as a summer employee. President Cooper said the landscape waste site was open last week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for use by residents. He said the issue of providing pick-up service after major storm events would be revisited in one month.
Mrs. Morgan Matson, track coach for Orion schools, asked the board for permission to have track students run the hill on 12th Avenue between 5th and 7th Streets on five days. She said she would block off the street with traffic cones and she and another coach would be present during the runs. Mrs. Matson also volunteered track students to help with landscape waste clean-up, as discussed earlier in the meeting. Trustee Newman asked to be put in charge of the street use request. He reminded all that he was concerned about runner and walker safety and would be pleased to meet with Mrs. Matson to work out options. Trustees were concerned with the timing of the runs, proposed to be held from 7-7:30 a.m. on some days and 3-3:30 p.m. on others. Talk of switching the route to 11th Avenue was discounted due to it being a truck route. Trustee Drucker asked the board not to over complicate the issue, since the runs will only take place five times. Trustee Dunlap requested the entire street be closed to ensure the students’ safety. Trustee Hancock suggested barricades be provided in lieu of traffic cones. Trustee Newman will meet with Mrs. Matson tomorrow morning to iron out details.
Trustee Dunlap will meet with Mr. Mark Lee from Klingner & Assoc. tomorrow to review the Love Park parking lot design.
Trustee Newman gave a brief report about a presentation by Mr. Andrew Kim, Director, at PMA Securities, a public financial advisory service. An advisor helps the village get the best price when shopping for a bond issue. Bernardi Securities, an underwriter, was used to restructure the village’s debt several years ago. If an advisor was used, several underwriters would be contacted in order to obtain the best deal for the village. The advisor’s fee is $14,000 for a bond issue of $1million. Trustee Newman said he learned a lot from the presentation, which could be applied if the village sought future bond issues for major projects. Trustee Drucker noted the presentation was unsolicited. Trustee Hancock suggested looking at the Revolving Loan Fund, which offers low interest rates.
Trustee Newman said quarterly revenue and expenditure reports indicate the budget is staying on target. Sales tax revenue continues to be strong and housing prices in the Quad City area are on the rise.
Police department personnel will move the radar sign to 15th Avenue. The street department will assist. In other police business Trustee Newman said vehicle windows were broken around town and the responsible juvenile has been identified.
Security cameras in Central Park have been repaired and are operating but remain out-of-date. Trustee Mitton will consider a new system in next year’s budget. He asked Trustee Newman to have the footage of vandalism suspects shown again to school officials for possible identification.
Trustee Mitton and President Cooper met with Mr. Mike McNeil, who worked with IMEG when the proposed addition for the village hall was designed. They asked Mr. McNeil to find cost savings in the original plan. Mr. McNeil no longer works for IMEG.
President Cooper and village attorney John Ames will talk with Mr. Michael Fries from Klingner & Assoc. regarding an option to hire a company to design/build a village structure.
The village board did not go to Cambridge’s fire department to view the metal structure. The Cambridge fire board denied the visit due to COVID-19 concerns.
There being no further business to come before the meeting it was moved by Drucker, seconded by Mitton to adjourn. Ayes: Drucker, Dunlap, Hancock, Mitton, Nelson, and Newman. Noes: None. Absent: None.
https://orionil.org/government/meetings/2014-03-09-05-52-59/1265-minutes-2020-08-17-pdf/file
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