Homer Township Board of Trustees met May 14.
Here is the minutes provided by the Board:
1. Call to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America
3. Roll Call
4. Matters from the Public:
a. none.
5. Public Hearing:
A. Motion by Trustee Kalas, second by Trustee Offord to commence public hearing of Homer Township Road District and Homer Township Budget and Appropriation Ordinances for Fiscal Year 2017-18. All-Yes, Motion Carries.
B. Open the floor for Public input regarding the budgets- none was given
1. Attorney Sramek advised Commissioner DeVivo to state the changes he wished to make from his tentative budget draft to the final. Commissioner Devivo explained that he did not receive final numbers from the county regarding actual levy amounts instead of estimates until after the posting. Income is an additional $280 which is corrected in the final presented this evening.
C. Motion by Supervisor Meyers, second by Trustee Kalas to adopt FY 2018-19 Homer Township Road District Ordinance Number HTRD-05142018 Budget And Appropriation with amendments to the income line, adding an additional $280. All-Yes, Motion Carries
D. Motion by Trustee Kalas, Second by Trustee Offord to adopt FY 2018-19 Homer Township Budget and Appropriation Ordinance Number HT2018-0514-ORD1. All-Yes, Motion Carries.
E. Motion to close Public Hearing and return to regular meeting by Trustee Offord, Second by Trustee Fijan, All-Yes, Motion Carries.
6. Accounting
A. April , 2018 account payables and receivables
1. Motion by Trustee Fijan, Second by Trustee Kalas to approve, per discussion, April 2018 account payables and receivables. Roll Call- All, Yes. Motion Carries.
7. Highway Commissioner Mike DeVivo Report:
A. Commissioner DeVivo reported that the paving should begin in the next few weeks. Doing grinding and cutting- areas needed to patch are being marked. 1.8 million was the original cost of what has quoted in the winning proposal based on the bid specifications, however the district needed to pull an entire subdivision from the program due to costs. Commissioner DeVivo met with the Villageregarding his concerns that we are falling behind on paving. Most of our paving is done for maintenance, not necessity. We spend less per square yard than other communities, but the maintenance is falling behind. We are only doing 4 or 5 miles yearly. We would like to do 100 miles of road in the next 10 years. DeVivo stated he is hoping the Village will provide additional funding so more roads can be completed yearly in the pave program. DeVivo warned that if the village does not assist financially a referendum may be necessary.
8. Assessor Karen Szynkowski Report: Assessor Szynkowski reported that currently there are 496 permits this year pulled for new construction in our community. Assessor Szynkowski also reported a great increase in those who were able to take advantage of the Senior Freeze on their property taxes as the financial threshold for qualification to freeze dropped this year.
9. Clerk Linsey Sowa Report
A. Minutes: (Note: Approved Township minutes available online at www.homertownship.com)
1. Motion by Trustee Fijan, second by Trustee Kalas to approve, April 9, 2018 Regular Board Meeting Minutes. Roll Call: All-Yes, Motion Carries.
2. Motion by Supervisor Meyers second by Trustee Kalas to approve without release the Executive Session Minutes of April 9, 2018. All-Yes Motion Carries.
3. Motion by Trustee Kalas, Second by Supervisor Meyers to approve the Special Board Meeting Minutes of May 7, 2018. All-Yes Motion Carries.
B. FOIA Report: Clerk Sowa stated that the April tracker was included in packets for board members information.
10. Supervisor Pam Meyers Report:
A. Status Report Administration
1. Residents billing concerns with IAW/ ICC:
a. Supervisor Meyers prepared a letter to the Illinois Commerce Commission copying Homer Township legislators/representatives as directed by Town Board.
1. Supervisor Meyers stated she received phone call from ICC Chairman and a written response from the ICC.
b. IAW scheduled a community meeting April 30, 2018 to address concerns with a representative of ICC in attendance.
1.Supervisor attended the meeting, and stated that resident attendance was incredibly low.
2. Annual Employee Wage Review
a. Board members will discuss employment in executive session
3. Facility use policies, ordinance and agreements
a. Pending: Supervisor continues working with Committee Chairs and staff to develop drafts to be presented to the Board, legal and insurer review in the future.
4. Township website
a. Pending: Working with staff input assessing planning, structure and development of new website. Upon completion, meeting with IT representative will be scheduled.
B. Financial/ Accounting:
1. TOIRMA:
a. Supervisor Meyers stated that she met with Sean Richardson from TOIRMA to review Township inventories, review coverages and values. Supervisor Meyers stated that TOIRMA will be sending a representative out for park inspection soon.
2. Audit:
a. Township Officials and Staff are working with Auditor in preparation of conducting the audit. Supervisor Meyers stated that the auditors will start in the Township Admin office tomorrow morning.
C. Status Report Facilities/ Property Management:
1. All Properties
a. Supervisor Meyers reported that the mosquito abatement program has resumed.
b. Supervisor Meyers stated that the new truck approved by Board delivery has been delayed, now expecting by end of month.
c. Supervisor Meyers reported that weather conditions and limited staff are presenting challenges as we resume lawn maintenance and other repair projects. Resuming after winter the conditions with weeds, trimming, paths and weather are always challenging in spring. We are asking for patience and understanding until we can get caught up for the season.
d. Supervisor Meyers commented that a TOIRMA representative will be scheduled to perform property/park inspections.
2. Senior Housing Facility
a. Supervisor Meyers reported that all rents are up to date.
b. Supervisor Meyers stated that she and staff are working with previous tenant to resolve outstanding balance due for court awarded judgement and damage charges.
c. Insurance claim filed for water damage to 14761 kitchen because of a leaking hot water tank
1. Awaiting delivery of replacement cabinets and other associated work is scheduled.
3. Irrigation Systems
a.Proposal received from Razor Edge to continue maintenance of the athletic fields irrigation systems
1. Motion by Trustee Kalas, second by Trustee Offord to approve irrigation maintenance system proposal. All-Yes, Motion Carries.
4. Town Center Park
a. Supervisor Meyers reported that improved weather conditions have allowed the water supply restored and concession stand reopening at the complex.
b.. Supervisor Meyers reminded that The Township Road District paving bids have been awarded. The cost to perform the overlays for both parking lots at the sports complex are estimated at approximately $63,836.30. A sufficient amount has been budgeted based on the Board’s direction last year.
1. Motion by Trustee Offord, Second by Supervisor Meyers to authorize the acceptance of the bid results and perform the resurfacing work in both parking lots. All-Yes, Motion Carries.
c. Supervisor Meyers reminded that the resurfacing work does Not include restriping of both parking lots. In light of safety concerns with the high use of the lots for sporting events and the upcoming Homer Fest, it is important that the striping be scheduled as soon as possible. The Board solicited proposals last fall for striping of its other parking lots so we should have current pricing.
1. Motion by Trustee Offord, second by Trustee kalas to authorize the Supervisor to expedite the lot striping by seeking a proposal from the lowest bidder of the fall striping proposals, Mrs. B’s. All-Yes, Motion Carries.
2. Motion to authorize the Supervisor to schedule and hire the lot striping if the proposal is returned within our budgetary parameters. All-Yes, Motion Carries.
3. Commissioner DeVivo stated that the Township may also be able to collaborate with the district on the striping bid- Meyers and DeVivo to discuss tomorrow, as there is a need for expediency due to baseball season, as well as the need to use the lots for parking for the fest.
5. Yangas Park
a. Contractor is awaiting appropriate weather conditions before work associated with the storm damage/insurance claim damage from tree falling on fencing & tennis courts. The contractor has indicated that the repairs to court can’t be performed until after temperatures reach a consistent daily minimum of at least 50 degrees and consistent dryness occurs. Work will be scheduled ASAP after contractor, US Tennis Courts is confident. Supervisor Meyers stated that a few complaints have been received from a man who keeps calling insisting that a township representative promised him that the courts at Yangas could be striped for pickle ball and would be done so this season. Trustee Kalas stated that he invited a representative from the local pickle ball group to attend a parks and recreation committee meeting to express his concerns, but he never showed up.
6. Culver Park/ IEPA Grant
a.. Supervisor Meyers reported that H R Green is resuming it professional services contract to begin the IEPA grant work and preparation of bids. The final drawings, a timeline and bid documents are in process. They submitted an invoice after the list of bills were prepared; therefore, Supervisor is requesting the approval of the latest invoice so that the contractor can be paid prior to waiting for our next meeting in June.
1. Motion by Trustee Offord, Second by Trustee Kalas to approve invoice from H R Green in the amount of $1,908. All-Yes, Motion Carries.
7. Open Space Program
a. Supervisor Meyers reported that the license and first payment for the Welter Open Space Parcel for 2018 and 2019 have been submitted.
11. Township Liaison Reports:
A. Homer Glen Area Chamber of Commerce Liaison Representative Lynn McGary had no report.
B. Military & Veteran Affairs Liaison Representative Karen Szynkowski had no report.
12. Township Committee Reports
A. Community/ Special Events: Chairman, Clerk Linsey Sowa
1. Homer Community Festival and Parade
a. Clerk Sowa stated that board members have received her letter of resignation from the Parade and Festival Committee. Clerk Sowa stated that she wishes to remain chairperson for the other events and task forces.
b. Supervisor Meyers stated that she wished to thank Linsey for her years of service for this committee over the years and the amount of work she has done.
c. Motion by Trustee Offord, Second by Trustee Fijan to accept Clerk Sowa’s resignation as Township Co-Chair of the Joint Parade and Festival Committee. Fijan, Offord, Kalas- Yes. Meyers- No. Motion Carries.
2. Committee appointments
a. Supervisor Meyers stated that she has received notice from Trustee Kalas that he wishes to serve as the Township’s co-chair on the Community Festival and Parade joint committee
b. Meyers stated that in keeping with the Township’s Committee Ordinance, she advises the board accept Mr. Kalas’ request for appointment to the position.
1. Motion by Trustee Offord, second by Trustee Kalas approving the appointment of Ed Kalas as Co-Chair of the Joint Community Festival and Parade Committee. All-Yes, Motion carries.
c. Recommendation from Ed Kalas to appoint Mike DeVivo to the Joint Community Festival and Parade Committee.
1. Trustee Fijan inquired why we would appoint Mike, after last month when we decided not to appoint him because his application was late. Supervisor Meyers stated that because there was a vacancy due to resignation, and we do not go out for all new applications when someone resigns, that technically its not the same as last month'’ situation.
2. Motion by Trustee Kalas, second by Trustee Offord to approve Kalas’ recommendation. Fijan- Abstain, Meyers, Offord, Kalas- Yes. Motion Carries.
B. Open Space: Chairman, Tom Fijan
1. Chairman Fijan recommended that the board remove from table status, and approve the appointment of Kathy Pecora to the Open Space Planning and Operations Committee.
a. Motion to approve Fijan’s recommendation by Supervisor Meyers, second by Trustee Offord. All-Yes, Motion Carries.
2. Advisory motion brought from committee recommending the Board direct its Supervisor to solicit proposals and/or budgetary estimates for roof and/or shingle replacement of the Trantina Farm historic granary building. The Committee further advises that the solicitations scope of work include: (a) replacing the roof with similar existing shingles; (b) also seeking alternate pricing on replacement with a galvanized, standing seam metal roof; (c) alternate pricing with and without cupola replacement
a. Motion by Supervisor Meyers, second by Trustee Kalas to approve the recommendations of the committee. All-Yes, Motion carries.
C.Park & Recreation: Chairmen, Trustees Ed Kalas and John Kruczek
1. Trustee Kalas reported that the LWSRA reached out and are going to host the Party in the Park August 20, 6-7:30 at Sendra. Trustee Kalas stated that the 7 old pieces of exercise equipment need to be evaluated at Sendra Park, Trustee Kalas to bring more information to the next meeting.
D. Senior Citizen & Special Needs Advocacy: Chairman, George Offord
1. Trustee Offord reported that while members did convene at the Old Town Hall, there was not a quorum. However committee members that were in attendance along with some residents who attended briefly discussed a few issues in the special needs community. Trustee Offord also stated that he would like to have one meeting inviting representatives of the special needs community to discuss needs, and a separate meeting with representatives of the senior citizen community to discuss needs specific to the senior population.
1. Chairman Offord stated the Senior’s Club newsletter was provided in the board packets.
13. New Business:
A. Correspondence from Illinois State Historical Society inviting participation and application for nomination of award recognizing organizations continually in the State for 100 years or more.
1. Motion by supervisor Meyers, second by Trustee Offord to designate Clerk Sowa to complete and submit the application, and approval of the application fee. All-Yes, Motion Carries.
14. Old Business:
A. Status Report Caton Farm/ Bruce Road SRA:
1. No update
15. Executive Session: Motion by Trustee Offord to enter into executive session at 7:50pm to discuss matters pertaining to exception C-1 employment/compensation, Second by Trustee Fijan. All-Yes, Motion Carries.
A. Motion to adjourn executive session and return to the regular meeting at 8:30 by Trustee Kalas, second by Trustee Offord. All-Yes, Motion Carries.
16. Action outside of/ as a result of Executive Session
A. Motion by Trustee Offord, Second by Trustee Kalas to give a fifty-cent raise to all current employees. All-Yes, Motion Carries.
17. Adjournment: Motion by Trustee Kalas, second by Trustee Offord to adjourn at 8:35 pm. All-Yes, Motion Carries.
http://www.homertownship.com/minutes/2018/townboardmins.5.14.18.pdf
Alerts Sign-up