McLean County Times

Village of Dwight Board of Trustees met March 25.

Here are the minutes provided by the .

Pro-Tem Mayor Irvin called the meeting to order at 6:30PM and asked for a roll call.

PRESENT: Marla Kinkade, Trustee; Jenny Johnson, Trustee; Brian Berta, Trustee; and Randy Irvin, Trustee

ABSENT: Paul Johnson, Village President; Justin Eggenberger, Trustee and Pete Meister, Trustee

OTHER Village Officials in Attendance: Crissy Livingston, Village Administrator; Cory Scoles, Public Works Director; Michael Callahan, EMS Chief; Nick Ehrgott, Village Attorney; and Whitney Scott, Village Clerk

The Village Board Minutes from March 11, 2024 were presented for approval. Trustee Berta made a motion, with a second from Trustee Johnson, to approve the minutes as submitted. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.

The Ordinance, Judicial & Licensing Committee Minutes from March 21, 2024 were also presented for approval. Trustee Johnson made a motion, with a second from Trustee Berta, to approve the minutes as submitted. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.

FINANCIAL REPORTS

Payment of the March 25, 2024 bills in the amount of $263,121.03 were presented for payment from the various funds. Trustee Kinkade made a motion, with a second from Trustee Johnson, to pay the bills as submitted. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.

The February 2024 Treasurer’s Report was presented for review. Trustee Johnson made a motion, with a second from Truste Berta, to approve the report as submitted. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.

Village Administrator Livingston presented a request for a fund transfer of $122,338.86 from the General Fund (01) to the Capital Expense Fund (38) for Public Works fire and EMS flood. Trustee Kinkade made a motion, with a second from Trustee Johnson, to approve the fund transfer. Roll Call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.

Livingston also presented a request for a fund transfer of $118.74 from the Water Fund (51) to the Water Bond Fund (41) for bond agent fees. Trustee Johnson made a motion, with a second from Trustee Berta, to approve the fund transfer. Roll Call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.

Livingston also presented a request for a fund transfer of $475.00 from the NHR Fund (36) to the Referendum Bond Fund (47) for bond agent fees. Trustee Kinkade made a motion, with a second from Trustee Berta, to approve the fund transfer. Roll Call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.

PUBLIC FORUM

None

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Pro-Tem Mayor Irvin advised that he did not have any specific updates from President Johnson, but wanted to state that Public Works continues getting the fields ready and the scoreboards from Heritage Prairie look great.

VILLAGE REPORTS

Village Administrator Livingston stated that last week marked her first anniversary with the Village, and she appreciates the support from President Johnson, the Village Board, Department Heads, and all the Village employees that she has received and continues to receive. She stated that Fiscal Year 2024 was one for the books, enduring a catastrophic fire, that thankfully no one was injured in, and a flood in the Village complex that still has EMS unsettled, along with one of the meeting rooms. Despite that, the Village has made huge strides and has received numerous grants, such as the OSLAD and Route 66 Tourism grants. Livingston advised that Public Works spent the winter rehabbing the west bathrooms at Renfrew Park, new scoreboards were put up at Garrett Park, and new playground equipment was installed at Lions Lake. She also shared that a new sound system was installed downtown, many upgrades were completed at Stevenson Pool, and the construction of Williams Street was completed, as well as the bridges on Columbia and Washington Streets. Livingston said that she’s excited to see what the upcoming year will bring, and especially hopes to have Public Works and EMS settled back into their buildings.

Chief Callahan stated that they’d be taking the ambulance back to Ford tomorrow and would be down to one ambulance; hopefully this will be the fix, but they’ll continue checking it daily.

Public Works Director Scoles confirmed that the scoreboards are up, the water is turned on so the restrooms are open, and that the Renfrew Park would be open, including the new restrooms, on Friday, in time for the Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt scheduled for Saturday morning. Scoles also advised that they’d have the new chipper out this week for a test-run and would start their regular schedule on Monday April 1st. Scoles also congratulated Livingston on her One Year Anniversary!

ORDINANCES / RESOLUTIONS

A proposed Ordinance Adopting the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget was presented. Trustee Johnson made a motion, with a second from Trustee Kinkade, to approve the Budget as proposed. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.

A COPY OF ORDINANCE 1510 IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE VILLAGE CLERK COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Resolution 2024-08 Municipal Vehicles, provisioning a municipal vehicle to the Public Works Director and the Police Chief was presented for consideration. Trustee Kinkade made a motion, with a second from Trustee Johnson, to approve the Resolution as proposed. Roll call: Johnson (aye), Kinkade (aye), Meister (absent), Berta (aye), Eggenberger (absent), Irvin (aye). Motion carries, 4-0.

A COPY OF RESOLUTION 2024-08 IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE VILLAGE CLERK

A proposed Ordinance Amending Chapter 14, Article III, Gaming/Gambling by adding a paragraph “f” as follows: “f. Any gambling or gaming devices as allowed pursuant to paragraph “e” above shall be restricted in that video gaming cafes, as defined herein, shall not be qualified to obtain any existing classification of the Village of Dwight liquor licenses and is prohibited from becoming a licensed video gaming establishment within the Village. Any existing licensed video gaming establishment that meets the definition of “video gaming café,” as defined herein, at the time of passage, shall be considered “legal nonconforming” and cannot expand or relocate. Any legal nonconforming establishments that may be sold may continue to operate as a legal nonconforming video gaming café, provided that the establishment cannot expand or relocate.” Trustee Kinkade made a motion, with a second from Trustee Berta, to approve the amendment as proposed. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.

A COPY OF ORDINANCE 1519 IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE VILLAGE CLERK

A proposed Ordinance Amending Chapter 3, Article II, Section 3.2.01 Order of Business, to include Consent Agenda as follows: “i. All matters listed under Item b, Consent Agenda, are considered to be routine by the Board of Trustees and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Trustee or citizen so requests, in which case the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda as part of the General Orders. c. Minutes, Communications, Resolutions, Ordinances, Bills and Treasurer’s Report not otherwise listed and discussed under the Consent Agenda.” Trustee Johnson made a motion, with a second from Trustee Kinkade, to approve the amendment as proposed. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.

A COPY OF ORDINANCE 1521 IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE VILLAGE CLERK

Livingston also presented proposed updates to the Personnel Policy, which had not been updated since 2019. Trustee Kinkade made a motion, with a second from Trustee Berta, to approve the updates as proposed. Roll Call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.

OLD BUSINESS

The Dwight Economic Alliance submitted requested the Village join as a Platinum Member, at a $4,000.00 investment. Irvin, on behalf of the DEA, shared several of their achievements and successes over the past recent years, and urged the trustees to approve supporting the organization. Trustee Kinkade made a motion, with a second from Trustee Johnston, to approve. Roll call. Berta (aye), Eggenberger (absent), Irvin (abstain), Johnson (aye), Kinkade (aye), Meister (absent). Motion carries, 3-0.

NEW BUSINESS

Livingston presented an invoice from Vermeer Sales and Service in the amount of $67,473.58, for the purchase of the new chipper. Trustee Kinkade made a motion, with a second from Trustee Johnson, to approve payment of the invoice. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.

Livingston also presented an invoice from Gordon & Backhus Glass & Lock, Inc. in the amount of $14,072.68, for rekeying the Village. Trustee Johnson made a motion, with a second from Trustee Berta, to approve payment of the invoice. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.

Paul Ferrari, on behalf of Aly Anne’s, submitted a Street Closure Permit, requesting to close Park Street from Friday May 3rd at 5:00PM through Sunday May 5th at 10:00PM. Trustee Kinkade made a motion, with a second from Trustee Johnson, to approve the street closure as requested. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.

Paul Ferrari, on behalf of Aly Anne’s, also submitted a Sound Amplification Permit, behind their building, Friday May 3rd at 5:00PM through Sunday May 5th at 10:00PM to host live music. Trustee Johnson made a motion, with a second from Trustee Kinkade, to approve the request. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.

EMS Chief Callahan presented his recommendation to hire Rikki Damaschke as a part-time EMS Medic, pending clearance of a background check and testing into the Morris Hospital System. Trustee Johnson made a motion, with a second from Trustee Berta, to approve the hiring. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.

Finding no further new business, Pro-Tem Mayor Irvin requested a motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss Section 2 (c) 2 Collective Bargaining. Trustee Kinkade made a motion, with a second from Trustee Berta, to enter executive session at 6:58PM.

The Board returned to regular session at 7:03PM and recommended approval of the Public Works contract. Trustee Johnson made a motion, with a second from Trustee Kinkade, to approve. Roll call. All voted aye. Motion carries, 4-0.

Finding no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by Trustee Johnson with a second by Trustee Kinkade. All voted aye by voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:04PM.

http://www.dwightillinois.org/Board%20Minutes/2024/VBM%202024-03-25%20Minutes.pdf