East Central Reporter

City of Villa Grove City Council met July 11.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

CALL TO ORDER - ROLL CALL

The City Council of the City of Villa Grove met in regular session in Council Chambers. Mayor Eversole-Gunter called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Roll call found the following members present: Alderman Blaney, Johnson, Garrett, Cheely, Pangburn Hooker. City Administrator Athey, Clerk Osborne, PW Director Lake, PD Chief Rea, Zest for Life Center Director Melanie Brooks were also present. Council followed all COVID 19 protocols for social distancing.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - The Mayor stood and led all attendees in The Pledge of Allegiance.

CONSENT AGENDA (ITEMS FOR SINGLE-VOTE APPROVAL WITHOUT DISCUSSION) - Alderman Blaney motioned to approve the full consent agenda. Alderman Garrett seconded the motion. Roll Call: Blaney, yea, Johnson, yea, Garrett, yea, Pangburn, yea, Cheely, yea, Hooker, yea. Motion approved.

1. Minutes of the regular City Council meeting, held June 11, 2022

2. Minutes of the regular Committee of the Whole meeting and closed session minutes, held June 27, 2022

3. Authorization for the Payment of Bills

4. Revised Financial Reports for the month ending April 30, 2022

5. Cash Balance Report for the month ending June 30, 2022

PUBLIC COMMENTS - Bruce Allen from the Ag Days Committee was present to go over the Ag Days schedule and some needs for that weekend of August 5-6, 2022. Council approved his requests and thanked him for the hard work and planning. Kaleb Miller also presented his Eagle Scout project for a fish habitat at the John Leon reservoir. Council consented and also will donate $200 to the cost of the project materials.

ENGINEERING REPORT - No updates presented.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR/OTHER REPORTS

CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT - Jacki Athey reported: Illinois American Water (ILAW) wants to have a public meeting at the Zest for Life Center, modeled as an open house, for the community from 6-8 pm on August 30, 2022. The audit will begin next week. August 13 will be the groundbreaking with UP for the Community Center at Richman Park and will take place at 10 am. We have received 2 grants from Ameren for the Community Center as well. Jacki also spoke with the Douglas County Board Chairman to get clarification on the spending of the ARPA funds as was previously reported. It turned out there was a rule change after the initial announcement and the federal government changed projects that were eligible for funding. This resulted in different projects being chosen and no projects were solicited from any villages. These were based upon needs that met the updated requirements.

DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS - Public Works: Director Randy Lake reported they fixed a leak on Walnut Street. The Sewer plant lift station is down and we have a loaner pump installed for now. He will be meeting with ILAW this week to discuss items that will remain with the city and those that won't be for the sale. The library Book Walk boxes have been completed and are ready to be installed this week. There is a sinkhole on Main Street located in front of the basketball court area. It is large and he is working with vendors to determine what needs to be done.

Police report: Chief Rea no report.

Zest for Life Center Director: Melanie Brooks reported the Senior Center Peace Meal program served 401 meals in the month of June 2022. Sarah Bush Lincoln has also provided some second meals for people who are at high risk for nutritional needs with the ARPA funds they have received. SBL has also provided the center with a new Keurig machine, Iced Tea Maker, Bulletin board, board games, BINGO, among some items. We are appreciative of their support with these items. Ms. Brooks reports the signage for the front of the building will cost around $400 and she plans to have it completed very soon. As previously discussed, the council encouraged her to seek support from the Library to see what programs they could offer together.

MAYORAL REPORT - The Mayor discussed some ideas on location of a Splashpad at Richman Park due to having an anonymous donor giving to create one.

BUSINESS

1. Approve new Intergovernmental Ambulance Service Agreement - Alderman Hooker motioned to approve the new IG Ambulance Agreement with Carle. Second was given by Alderman Garrett. Roll Call: Blaney, yea, Johnson, yea, Garrett, yea, Pangburn, yea, Cheely, yea, Hooker, yea. Motion approved.

2. Approve new copier/scanner purchase - Alderman Hooker motioned to table this for more information. Alderman Garrett seconded the motion. They were instructed by the mayor to return at the next meeting with the additional information they were seeking. Roll Call: Blaney, yea, Johnson, yea, Garrett, yea, Pangburn, yea, Cheely, yea, Hooker, yea. Motion to table was approved.

3. Approve new Quadient postage machine lease - Alderman Pangburn motioned to approve the lease of the postage machine. Alderman Garrett seconded the motion. Roll Call: Blaney, yea, Johnson, yea, Garrett, yea, Pangburn, yea, Cheely, yea, Hooker, yea. Motion approved.

4. Approve attendance to IML Conference (September – Chicago) - Alderman Hooker motioned to approve attendance to the IML Conference. Alderman Cheely seconded the motion. Roll Call: Blaney, yea, Johnson, yea, Garrett, yea, Pangburn, yea, Cheely, yea, Hooker, yea. Motion approved.

5. Approve attendance to ILCMA Downstate Meeting (August – Normal) - Alderman Blaney motioned to approve City Administrator to attend the ILCMA Downstate Meeting. Alderman Hooker seconded the motion. Roll Call: Blaney, yea, Johnson, yea, Garrett, yea, Pangburn, yea, Cheely, yea, Hooker, yea. Motion approved.

6. Approve attendance to ICMA Annual Conference (September – Columbus OH) - Alderman Blaney motioned to approve City Administrator attending the International City Manager’s conference in Ohio. Second by Alderman Garrett. Roll Call: Blaney, yea, Johnson, yea, Garrett, yea, Pangburn, yea, Cheely, yea, Hooker, yea. Motion approved.

7. Approve hazard pay from ARPA funding for 2020-21 COVID work - Alderman Pangburn motioned to approve hazard pay to employees for the work during COVID from the ARPA funding received. Second was given by Alderman Garrett. Roll Call: Blaney, yea, Johnson, yea, Garrett, yea, Pangburn, yea, Cheely, yea, Hooker, yea. Motion approved.

8. Support of VG Schools special needs workforce program - Alderman Blaney motioned to support the school’s program. Seconded by Alderman Johnson. Roll Call: Blaney, yea, Johnson, yea, Garrett, yea, Pangburn, yea, Cheely, yea, Hooker, yea. Motion approved.

CLOSED SESSION - Alderman Garrett motioned to go into closed session at 7:15 pm according to section 2(c)(1) of 5ILCS/120/2 Exceptions to Open Meetings Act for the discussion of appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees. Alderman Hooker seconded the motion. Roll Call:

Alderman Blaney, yea, Johnson, yea, Garrett, yea, Cheely, yea, Pangburn, yea, Hooker, yea. Motion carried. Council returned to open session at 7:46 pm.

ADJOURNMENT - With no further business, Alderman Pangburn motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:51 pm. Alderman Garrett seconded the motion. Roll Call: Blaney, yea, Johnson, yea, Pangburn, yea, Cheely, yea, Garrett, yea, Hooker, yea. Motion carried.

https://villagrove.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Copy-of-2022_0711_CC-Minutes.pdf