VILLAGE OF MACKINAW

PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

January 11, 2010

Village President Craig Friend called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. 

This was a regularly scheduled meeting of the Village of Mackinaw.

I.           ROLL CALL @ 7:00 P.M. 

Present: 5 – Trustees Carolyn Elmore, Jerry Peterson, Lynn Rudin, Mike DeChaney, and Jesse Watkins.

Absent: 1- Trustee Tom Goings.

Also Present:  Deputy Chief of Police Bob Davies, Attorney Pat McGrath, Village Clerk Austen Wood, Chief of Police Gary Hartzell, Stan Whetsell, and Public Works Manager Mike Schopp.

II.        PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III.     CONSENT AGENDA:  The consent agenda consists of approving the previous meeting minutes, recurring disbursements, and reports written by the Public Works Manager, Collector, Police, Deputy Chief of Police/E.S.D.A. Coordinator, and Village Treasurer.

        Trustee Elmore moved, seconded by Trustee Rudin to approve all consent agenda items. On a roll call, the vote was:

      AYES:          5 - Trustees Elmore, Peterson, DeChaney, Watkins, and Rudin

      NAYS:          0

      ABSENT:     1- Trustee Goings

      There being five affirmative votes, the motion carried.

IV.        REPORTS:

A.     PRESIDENT’S REPORT:

Re-Key Municipal Building- President Friend explained to the Board that the issue of re-keying the municipal building was addressed after the last change in administration. Stan Whetsell from COPS Inc. provided a quote for the cost of locks and keys, and will be donating the labor of installing the locks.

Attorney Pat McGrath addressed the fact that since Whetsell is donating the labor, there are no issues relating to prevailing wage.

Whetsell explained that MediCo has a patent on the keys, and that COPS Inc. is the only local business who can sell those patented keys. Therefore the keys cannot be duplicated.

Trustee Elmore moved, seconded by Trustee Watkins to accept COPS Inc.’s bid of $1,690 for the cost of new locks for the municipal building, and to purchase keys at a cost of $10.00 per key for Village employees and officials. On a roll call, the vote was:

      AYES:          5 - Trustees Elmore, Peterson, DeChaney, Watkins, and Rudin

      NAYS:          0

      ABSENT:     1- Trustee Goings

      There being five affirmative votes, the motion carried.

President Friend reported that he set up Public Works Manager Mike Schopp’s laptop and will have it ready for him to use this weekend.

Brenda Hummer arrived at 7:08 p.m.

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B.     CHIEF OF POLICE REPORT: Chief of Police Gary Hartzell discussed the effectiveness of the snow parking ban during the most recent winter storm.

Chief Hartzell also explained that on Veterans Day, November 11, 2009 during the Memorial Ceremony in Veterans Park, he received a call about a civilian who was reported unresponsive on the phone. When Chief Hartzell arrived at the home, there was no response to his knocks. To be sure the citizen was ok, Chief Hartzell kicked the door down to gain entry. Although no one was home, the civilian later expressed great appreciation for Chief Hartzell’s concern, and will not ask the Village of Mackinaw to reimburse him for the cost of replacing his door.

President Friend expressed his appreciation for Chief Hartzell’s actions in this situation.

Chief Hartzell also distributed an update on state laws concerning texting while driving.

C.     E.S.D.A. COORDINATOR REPORT: Deputy Chief of Police Bob Davies reported that he and Chief Hartzell passed the HAZMAT exam. He also informed the Board that the total hours donated by E.S.D.A. for 2009 were 1,082.5, the total calls for 2009 were 892 excluding the calls made to the Village of Mackinaw Office, and the Police Department had 156 traffic stops in 2009, 66 traffic citations, and 90 warnings issued.

Purchase of Portable Radio- Deputy Chief of Police Bob Davies explained that this portable radio is needed for his use away from his car. The new portable radio can activate the sirens during disasters.

Trustee Watkins moved, seconded by Trustee DeChaney to accept Ragan Communication’s price quote and purchase the portable radio from Ragan Communications at a cost of $652.00 for the E.S.D.A. department. On a roll call the vote was:

      AYES:         5 - Trustees Elmore, Peterson, DeChaney, Watkins, and Rudin

      NAYS:          0

      ABSENT:     1- Trustee Goings

      There being five affirmative votes, the motion carried.

Davies reported that both of the laptops in the squad cars are malfunctioning, and also will not work with the new 9-1-1 CAD system. Tazewell County is buying rugged laptops for their squad cars. The cost of these rugged laptops is approximately $1345.00, and covers a two-year warranty.

President Friend informed the Board he cannot fix the malfunctions on the laptops the Police Department currently uses, and the Police Department may have to purchase new laptops before the next Board meeting in the event the two current laptops become inoperable. 

D.    TREASURER’S REPORT:  Report on file.

Non-Recurring Disbursements- Trustee Elmore questioned the amount of the sidewalk replacement bill. Public Works Manager Mike Schopp explained the amount was actually a reimbursement through the sidewalk reimbursement program.

Trustee Elmore moved, seconded by Trustee Watkins to approve the non-recurring disbursements. On a roll call the vote was:

      AYES:          5 - Trustees Elmore, Peterson, DeChaney, Watkins, and Rudin

      NAYS:          0

      ABSENT:     1- Trustee Goings

      There being five affirmative votes, the motion carried.

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            New Account Balance Report- Village Treasurer Scott Eidenmiller explained the new Investment Report and Account Balance Report.

            Eidenmiller explained to the Board that the Village has a CD for police equipment in the amount of $5,000 for emergency use if money is needed to replace the laptops.

E.     PUBLIC WORKS MANAGER’S REPORT: Public Works Manager Mike Schopp reported the department is currently working on plowing and maintenance repairs.

Mike Schopp discussed the continuing problems with infiltration into the sanitary sewer system. Schopp explained his beliefs that illegal sump pump hookups are primarily to blame for the infiltration. Schopp explained his plan to begin addressing illegal sump pump hookups. Mike Schopp explained the process of properly setting up surface-draining sump pumps.

Christmas Tree Mulching Site- The Tazewell County Health Department collects Christmas trees to shred from communities within the county. Public Works Manager Mike Schopp would like to have a tree drop-off point behind the recycling bin next year.

Schopp also informed the Board he received notification from IDOT for grants to replace highly reflective regulatory signs throughout the county. IDOT will pay up to $25,000.00 to replace these signs. Schopp is working with the Village Engineer, Patrick Meyer, to create a list of signs that need to be replaced to send to IDOT.

Schopp reported that King Tree Specialists has cut down the two trees he requested, and citizens are pleased with the trimming of the third tree.

Village Clerk Austen Wood showed the Board the progress of the Records Retention project, and explained the expected progress for the future of this project.

V.           EXECUTIVE SESSION – At 7:55 p.m., Trustee Peterson moved, seconded by Trustee Elmore to go into executive session to discuss pay raises, to allow Village Attorney Pat McGrath and Village Treasurer Scott Eidenmiller to remain for the executive session, and for Attorney Pat McGrath to serve as special recording secretary and record the minutes for this session only. On a roll call, the vote was:

      AYES:          5 - Trustees Elmore, Peterson, DeChaney, Watkins, and Rudin

      NAYS:          0

      ABSENT:     1- Trustee Goings

      There being five affirmative votes, the motion carried.

VI.    ROLL CALL @ 8:55 P.M. - RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION: 

         Present: Trustees DeChaney, Elmore, Peterson, Rudin, and Watkins.

Also Present:  President Friend, Attorney Pat McGrath, Treasurer Eidenmiller, Public Works Manager Schopp, Chief of Police Hartzell, Deputy Chief of Police Davies, and Village Clerk Wood.

Trustee Watkins moved, seconded by Trustee Elmore to table the executive session discussion regarding pay raises until the February 8, 2010 meeting. On a roll call the vote was:

      AYES:          5 - Trustees Elmore, Peterson, DeChaney, Watkins, and Rudin

      NAYS:          0

      ABSENT:     1- Trustee Goings

      There being five affirmative votes, the motion carried.

VII.     NEW BUSINESS: President Friend informed the Board the Mack-ca-Christmas was a success, even with the low temperatures that evening.

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VIII.  ADJOURNMENT @ 8:56 P.M.: There being no further business to come before the Board, Trustee Elmore moved, seconded by Trustee Watkins to adjourn, motion carried.

I, Austen Wood, Village Clerk of the Village of Mackinaw, Illinois do hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the regular meeting held on the above date, as the same appears on the records of the Village now in my custody and keeping.

                                                                        Austen Wood, Village Clerk    Posted: ________