Village of Montgomery Village Board met Sept. 28.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
President Brolley called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m.
Roll Call
Trustee Gier Yea Trustee Betsinger Yea
Trustee Sperling Yea Trustee Jungermann Yea
Trustee Lee Yea Trustee Marecek Yea
Also present: Administrator Jeff Zoephel, Attorney Laura Julien, Director of Public Works Mark Wolf, Director of Finance Justin VanVooren, Director of Community Development Rich Young, Engineer Peter Wallers, Chief of Police Phillip Smith, Clerk Penny Fitzpatrick. Members of the Press and others.
President Brolley advised that the Board Meeting was being held both in person and remotely due to the Governor’s Executive Order regarding the Covid-19 Pandemic. Trustees Lee, Betsinger and Sperling were present for the meeting via video conference.
Public Participation
A. Public Comments.
President Brolley inquired and Administrator Zoephel confirmed that no Public Comments were received for this meeting.
Consent Agenda
A. Minutes of the Village Board Meeting of September 14, 2020.
B. Executive Session Meeting Minutes of September 14, 2020.
C. Accounts Payable through September 24, 2020 in the Amount of $717,493.59.
D. Proclamation for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October 2020.
E. Appointment of Dr. Neil Schlupp to the Montgomery Development Fund Committee to Fill a Vacancy through September 30, 2021.
Trustee Marecek moved to approve Items A-E of the Consent Agenda. Trustee Gier seconded this motion.
6 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Marecek, Trustee Betsinger, Trustee Gier, Trustee Sperling, Trustee Lee and Trustee Jungermann
voting yea.
Trustee Sperling read the Proclamation declaring October 2020 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the Village of Montgomery.
Items for Separate Action
A. Resolution 2020-023 Authorizing the Release of the Blackberry Crossing West Subdivision Bond.
Director Young noted this Resolution was a cleanup item for the Blackberry Crossing West Park. He summarized that the turf for this park had been established and shared it was appropriate to release the bond and turn the property over to the Fox Valley Park District. President Brolley inquired and Director Young clarified that Ryan Homes was the developer for this subdivision and the park improvements had been accepted by the Park District.
Trustee Jungermann moved to approve the Resolution 2020-023 Authorizing the Release of the Blackberry Crossing West Subdivision Bond. Trustee Marecek seconded this motion.
6 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Jungermann, Trustee Marecek, Trustee Betsinger, Trustee Gier, Trustee Sperling and Trustee Lee voting yea.
B. Replacement of Two Police Vehicles.
Police Chief Smith summarized the replacement of two Police vehicles and noted these units were budgeted for using the Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Fund. Trustee Jungermann inquired and Chief Smith clarified that the units to be purchased were Ford Explorer Utility Vehicles.
Trustee Marecek moved to approve the Replacement of Two Police Vehicles. Trustee Gier seconded this motion.
6 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Marecek, Trustee Betsinger, Trustee Gier, Trustee Sperling, Trustee Lee and Trustee Jungermann
voting yea.
C. Purchase of a Ford F550 Truck with Knapheide Forestry Body.
Director Wolf summarized that the purchase of a Ford F550 Truck came in under budget utilizing the Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Fund. Trustee Jungermann inquired and Director Wolf explained how this specialized truck body would allow the Public Works Department to handle chipping operations while utilizing onboard tool storage and would not be used for plowing operations. Trustees Sperling and Betsinger asked and Director Wolf explained that this unit would be purchased utilizing the Suburban Purchasing Cooperative Program with Sutton Ford and would be upfitted by Bonnell Industries in Dixon, IL. Trustee Jungermann inquired and Director Wolf noted this unit’s availability for use would be determined and reported on this week after approval was granted.
Trustee Sperling moved to approve the Purchase of a Ford F550 Truck with Knapheide Forestry Body. Trustee Gier seconded this motion.
6 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Sperling, Trustee Lee, Trustee Jungermann, Trustee Marecek, Trustee Betsinger and Trustee Gier voting yea.
D. Ordinance 1891 Authorizing and Supporting the Continuing Rebate of Residential Property Taxes (First Reading).
Administrator Zoephel noted the prior ordinance regarding this program had expired and shared the Board had expressed support to continue this property tax rebate program at its current level for another five-year term. Trustee Gier raised questions regarding the length of this agreement and the staff time and postage costs necessary to implement this program. He requested consideration to amend or streamline the program and asked that the ordinance language be altered to refer to residential property owners. Trustee Gier also advised that the application form for this rebate program could be accessed via a link on the Village’s website for processing.
Board discussion was had and questions were raised regarding the original intent and application of this property tax rebate program. Trustees Sperling, Marecek and Jungermann shared concerns with changing this program from what was originally presented to the voters as a property tax rebate benefit. President Brolley encouraged future Boards to continue to support and renew this rebate program every five years and shared it was scheduled to coincide with the handling of the Five Year Road Program.
President Brolley noted that the tax rebate amount could be increased, if the Board chose to make that change in the future, and he hoped to encourage more residents to participate and take advantage of this property tax rebate program. Administrator Zoephel noted this was First Reading of Ordinance 1891. President Brolley directed staff to amend the ordinance language as discussed and noted that Board consensus was reached after discussion to add this item to the Consent Agenda at a future meeting.
E. Professional Services Agreement with Engineering Enterprises Inc. for Design and Construction Engineering for Water Well No. 14 Rehabilitation.
Director Wolf summarized this item regarding the Design and Construction Engineering PSA with EEI Inc. for the Water Well No. 14 Rehabilitation in the Foxmoor Subdivision. He noted this work was needed due to a drop in pumpage levels and the service agreement with Layne Christensen Company would likely be utilized to complete this work. He noted the project schedule was anticipated to be planned over the winter months when the demand for water was minimized. Trustee Sperling inquired and Director Wolf clarified that this rehabilitation work applied to Water Well 14, as the Well 15 rehabilitation work had previously been completed.
Trustee Gier moved to approve the Professional Services Agreement with Engineering Enterprises Inc. for Design and Construction Engineering for Water Well No. 14 Rehabilitation. Trustee Jungermann seconded this motion.
6 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Gier, Trustee Sperling, Trustee Lee, Trustee Jungermann, Trustee Marecek and Trustee Betsinger voting yea.
Items for Discussion
A. Audit Presentation.
Director VanVooren introduced Jennifer Martinson from Lauterbach and Amen, LLP who conducted the Audit Presentation. She thanked Director VanVooren for his hard work completing the audit during the Covid-19 Pandemic and shared that a clean, unmodified audit opinion had been issued. She further explained the introductory, financial and statistical sections of the audit report, shared that the Village had received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for Fiscal Year 2019 and noted the same award for Fiscal Year 2020 was anticipated.
Principal Martinson shared financial highlights and a summary of the report regarding major revenues and expenditures, general, water and refuse fund balances, long term debt and capital assets and also noted that ten years of trend information was provided in the report for review. She noted that no audit difficulties were experienced and one management letter comment was communicated to the Board. Trustee Jungermann inquired and Director VanVooren addressed how the general fund balance was affected when water bill assistance was provided to residents during the pandemic. President Brolley thanked Principal Martinson for her audit presentation.
New or Unfinished Business
Trustee Sperling shared that sixty volunteers from Rotary Club and Friends of the Fox River worked together to clean up a section of the Fox River. Director Young noted that thirty-five orange refuse bags full of debris, two televisions and a bench car seat were extracted from the river and its banks. President Brolley thanked everyone for their hard work with this event. Trustee Sperling noted two more upcoming Rotary Events in October to watch for were a Disabilities Awareness Panel and a Superpowers Workshop for Kindergarteners and First Graders.
Future Meetings
A. Plan Commission – Thursday, October 1, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
B. Village Board Meeting—Monday, October 12, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
C. Historic Preservation Commission – Monday, October 19, 2020 (Canceled)
D. Committee of the Whole Meeting – Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. – (May Be Canceled) E. Beautification Committee – Wednesday, October 21, 2020 (Contest Judging)
F. Intergovernmental Committee Meeting—Monday, October 26, 2020 (Canceled)
G. Village Board Meeting—Monday, October 26, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
Executive Session: None
Adjournment: 7:52 p.m.
Seeking no further business to come before the Board, it was moved by Trustee Jungermann and seconded by Trustee Lee to adjourn the meeting.
6 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Jungermann, Trustee Marecek, Trustee Betsinger, Trustee Gier, Trustee Sperling and Trustee Lee voting yea.
https://ci.montgomery.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09282020-476
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