Village of Dwight Board of Trustees met June 13.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
PRESENT: Paul Johnson, Village President; Marla Kinkade, Trustee; Chuck Butterbrodt, Trustee; Randy Irvin, Trustee; and Pete Meister, Trustee
ABSENT: Justin Eggenberger and Jenny Johnson, Trustees
Other Village Officials in Attendance: Mike Nolan, Michael Callahan, Cory Scoles, Sarah Tutterow, Austin Haacke, Kevin McNamara, Whitney Scott
President Johnson called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm and asked for a Roll Call.
The Village Board Minutes from May 23, 2022 were presented for approval. Trustee Kinkade made a motion, with a second from Trustee Butterbrodt, to approve the minutes as presented. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.
FINANCIAL REPORTS
Payment of the June 13, 2022, bills in the amount of $132,239.30 were presented for payment from the various funds. Trustee Irvin made a motion, with a second from Trustee Meister, to pay the bills as submitted. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.
PUBLIC FORUM
Randy Irvin, as DEA President, shared a community-wide invitation to attend the annual Buzz the Gut Saturday June 25th – food trucks, a bounce house, Tommy Edwards singing, and all of the downtown shops open later evening hours will be available alongside the car show. He also shared on behalf of the DEA 4th of July Committee a new fundraising campaign that would provide a yard sign for every $25 donation to support this year’s fireworks show.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT:
President Johnson stated that he had spoken with a representative from CMS regarding the previous years annual costs associated with the former Dwight Correction Center; he confirmed that approximately $215,000 was allocated to administrative/man hours, $38,750.00 was for landscaping expenses (state contract at prevailing wage rates), $13,050.00 for facility inspection(s), and approximately $500.00 for cleaning. President Johnson summarized as less than $35,000.00 annually for groundskeeping. He also advised that Farnsworth Group had recently been out to the DCC site, and that Illinois EPA will be out soon, and expects a report from both summarizing their findings.
VILLAGE REPORTS:
Finance Director Austin Haacke advised that he had received the 2021 third and fourth quarter GEMT invoices (billing for June – December 2021) and that he was working with the billing company to research and obtain a breakdown of the amounts due.
Public Works Director Cory Scoles said he had recently learned the truck that was ordered last year is expected to be delivered in mid-July. Sara Tutterow announced Cory’s recent 20-year anniversary with the Village and rounds of applause and thanks were shared with Cory. President Johnson also took a moment to recognize his leadership of the department and success at building a great team and congratulated him on the achievement.
EMS Chief Callahan stated that the new ambulance had arrived (and offered a tour after the meeting), explaining that they have started to prep and stock, and that it should be in service late-June or early-July, depending on IDPH Inspections and licensing wait-times. He also explained that the new ambulance does have a weight class restriction, and he is certified to train those needing to update their licenses. Callahan also advised that the cardiac monitors had been serviced by the manufacturer and everything was back to spec and working well. He confirmed that EMS is technically fully staffed, but there is still a bit of OT while covering one employee off due to an injury (non-work-related). Trustee Irvin inquired about the status of the second re-chassis ambulance project. Callahan confirmed they are expecting a mid- to late July ship date of the new chassis. President Johnson thanked Chief Callahan for taking on the re-chassis projects midway through and running with it.
Police Chief Nolan stated that there had been a recent break-in at the former DCC, and CMS is currently providing security. He shared that the four new recruits are doing well, starting weeks 8 and 4 in training respectively. The first group is starting scenario-based training, while the second group is still undergoing power point presentations this week; everyone is progressing on schedule. Nolan also advised that the squad car ordered last year is ready to be picked up from the radio installer and he will be making arrangements for striping, and then will start working on this year’s squad car order in the next few weeks.
OLD BUSINESS:
Trustee Irvin inquired about possible resolutions for the great number of geese (and their mess) at Lions Lake. Scoles advised that he will research this further and see if we’re eligible for a nuisance permit and how best to resolve. Trustee Irvin next inquired about the railings for Franklin Corner and Trustee Kinkade confirmed it is at the painters now. The trustees also discussed the pending agreement with Odell regarding EMS Services, confirming that it is nearing a year and still hasn’t been signed – will be further discussed at next meeting with Village Attorney in attendance for his recommendations for resolving.
RESOLUTION/ORDINANCES:
RESOLUTION 2022-06: A resolution for providing for a feasibility study on the designation of a portion of the Village of Dwight as a redevelopment project area and to induce development interest within such area designated as Project Area No. 3. Trustee Kinkade made a motion, with a second from Trustee Butterbrodt, to approve the Resolution as proposed. Roll call. Johnson (absent), Kinkade (aye), Meister (aye), Butterbrodt (aye), Irvin (aye), Eggenberger (absent). Motion carries, 4-0.
A COPY OF RESOLUTION 2022-06 IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE VILLAGE CLERK
RESOLUTION 2022-07: The VILLAGE shall reestablish a citizen’s commission which shall be known as the “Dwight Economic Development Commission” for the purpose of structuring sound economic development programs. Trustee Kinkade made a motion, with a second from Trustee Meister, to approve the Resolution as proposed. Roll call. Johnson (absent), Kinkade (aye), Meister (aye), Butterbrodt (aye), Irvin (aye), Eggenberger (absent). Motion carries, 4-0.
A COPY OF RESOLUTION 2022-07 IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE VILLAGE CLERK
The By-Laws of the Dwight Economic Development Commission were presented for final review. Trustee Butterbrodt made a motion, with a second from Trustee Kinkade, to approve the amended by laws as presented. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.
NEW BUSINESS:
Livingston County Assessor Shelly Renken addressed the board, explaining that the 2023 Quadrennial Assessment, with the assistance of Vanguard Appraisals, is scheduled to start later this summer. She explained that the Assessor’s Office does not set tax rates or collect taxes, they use a 3-year average to assess property values. They’re scheduled to begin in Pontiac the first week of July and will spread throughout Livingston County from there; property owners have been mailed a notice and the Police Department will be notified when they’re scheduled to be in Dwight.
Nancy Norton with the Grundy County Economic Development Council also addressed the board, reviewing their current projects and their significance to the area. She provided an update on the Blue Sky Solar project, stating that construction is tentatively scheduled to begin Spring of 2023 and be fully up and running by end of 2024. They’re currently working on updated site plans, showing the exact acreage to be utilized and the impacts to both Gardner and Dwight Fire and School districts. Ms. Norton advised that the annual investment is set at $0.50 per resident, and based on 2020 US Census reports, the annual Investment would be $2,016.00
Trustee Irvin made a motion, with a second from Trustee Kinkade, to approve annual investment to the GCEDC. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.
Seth Gans, 529 Carriage Court submitted a Curb Cut application for his property located at 529 Carriage Court to expand his current driveway (30” on the right side, 12’ 6” on the left side) at the cost of $50/lineal foot. Trustee Irvin made a motion, with a second from Trustee Meister to approve the application as submitted. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.
Village Administrator McNamara and EMS Chief Callahan presented the next new item of business regarding the proposed IGA with Allen Township Fire District. McNamara explained that AMT, the firm currently providing ambulance services to Streator and Ransom will be terminating those services November 1st, possibly even October 1st, of 2022. The City of Streator is researching options to guarantee EMS coverage, but Allen Township Fire had reached out to Chief Callahan inquiring if Dwight EMS as a backup could provide primary response service to their district as needed. The proposed coverage area would be east of Rt. 170 and south of Rt 17 to Blackstone. Callahan estimated 5-10 calls for this year annually, at a proposed cost of $500 per call and $300 per refusal. He also explained that Dwight had provided mutual aid three times so far this year and entering this proposed IGA would allow us to bill Allen Township Fire District for reimbursement. Trustee Kinkade made a motion, with a second from Trustee Meister, to approve the recommended IGA with Ransom Fire. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.
The final two items of new business were the St. Louis Street Watermain and St. Louis Street Reconstruction projects. Bids for both projects were publicly opened and read, all bids meeting the intent of the proposal documents.
Three bids were received for the Watermain project. They are Conley Excavating, Inc. $117,390.00, Scanlon Excavating & Concrete, $128,850.00 and Opperman Construction Co, $129,273.00. It was recommended to award the St. Louis Street Watermain to Conley Excavating, the low, responsive, responsible bidder. Trustee Meister made a motion, with a second from Trustee Butterbrodt, to award this project to Conley Excavating in the amount of $117,390.00. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.
Two bids were received for the Street reconstruction project. They are D Construction, Inc. $348,698.70 and Tobey’s Construction & Cartage, Inc. $385,121.35. It was recommended to award the St. Louis Street Reconstruction to D Construction, the low, responsive, responsible bidder. Trustee Butterbrodt made a motion, with a second from Trustee Kinkade, to award this project to D Construction in the amount of $348,698.70.00. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.
Confirming no further new business on the agenda, President Johnson requested a motion to leave Regular Session to enter into Executive Session. Trustee Irvin made a motion, with a second from Trustee Kinkade, to leave Regular Session at 7:44 pm. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.
The Village Board entered Executive Session to discuss Section 2(c)11 Litigation and Section 2(c)2 Collective Bargaining.
A motion to adjourn the Executive Session at 8:11 pm was unanimously approved, and the Board returned to Regular Session at 8:11 pm. No action items came from Executive Session.
Finding no further new business, President Johnson asked for a motion to adjourn. Trustee Kinkade made a motion, with a second from Trustee Irvin, to adjourn the meeting at 7:11 pm, all voted aye.
http://www.dwightillinois.org/Board%20Minutes/2022/VBM-22-06-13.pdf
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