Illinois Valley Times

Village of Seneca Village Council met Feb. 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Seneca Village Council held a regularly scheduled Council meeting at Seneca Village Hall on February 6, 2024 and the meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.

Roll Call:

Present: Mayor Olson, Commissioners Higgins, Peddicord and Weber

Absent: Commissioner Victor

Also Present: Village Clerk Jennifer Peddicord, Attorney Bob Russo and Engineer Casey McCollom

All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.

A motion was made by Comm. Peddicord and seconded by Comm. Higgins to approve the January 16, 2024 council meeting minutes as presented.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord and Weber

Nays: None

Absent: Victor

A motion was made by Comm. Peddicord and seconded by Comm. Higgins to approve the payment of bills as presented.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord and Weber

Nays: None

Absent: Victor

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT PRESENTATION:

None.

COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS, REPORTS AND ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS:

Additional Agenda Item: Mayor Olson: New: Discussion regarding ordinance creating façade program.

OLD BUSINESS:

Commissioner Peddicord:

A motion was made by Comm. Peddicord and seconded by Comm. Higgins to approve the adoption of Ordinance 24-01, Ordinance Regulating Solar Farm Placement, Construction and Operation Within the Village.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord and Weber

Nays: None

Absent: Victor

Mayor Olson:

A motion was made by Comm. Peddicord and seconded by Comm. Weber to approve the adoption of Ordinance 24-02, Ordinance Creating Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the Village Code Pertaining to Vacant Commercial Buildings.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord and Weber

Nays: None

Absent: Victor

A motion was made by Comm. Higgins and seconded by Comm. Weber to approve the adoption of Ordinance 24-03, Ordinance Providing for Regulation of Unscheduled Intercity Buses.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord and Weber

Nays: None

Absent: Victor

COMMISSIONER'S REPORT AND NEW BUSINESS:

PUBLIC PROPERTY, WATER & SEWER - WEBER:

A motion was made by Comm. Weber and seconded by Comm. Higgins to approve an expenditure to Hawkins, Inc. in the amount of $4,879.13 for water treatment plant chemicals. Comm. Weber noted that a large amount of Tonkazorb was purchased to get a better discount.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord and Weber

Nays: None

Absent: Victor

A motion was made by Comm. Weber and seconded by Comm. Higgins to approve an expenditure to Chamlin & Associates in the amount of $2,100.00 for engineering services for completion of Water & Sewer Master Plan. This amount represents 20% of the total cost.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord and Weber

Nays: None

Absent: Victor

Comm. Weber announced that over $7,000.00 in donations have been received towards water accounts. Comm. Weber thanked Chevron/Renewable Energy Group for making a considerable donation towards that amount.

ACCOUNTS AND FINANCE VICTOR:

Due to the absence of Comm. Victor, Mayor Olson presented his agenda item.

A motion was made by Comm. Higgins and seconded by Comm. Weber to approve an expenditure to Wex Bank in the amount of $3,035.98 for fuel expenses.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord and Weber

Nays: None

Absent: Victor

STREETS - HIGGINS:

A motion was made by Comm. Higgins and seconded by Comm. Peddicord to approve an expenditure to D Construction in the amount of $13,317.86 for final payment for 2023 Motor Fuel Tax street program. This was less than the original bid.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord and Weber

Nays: None

Absent: Victor

Mayor Olson asked Engineer Casey McCollom for an update regarding obtaining road grindings due to false accusations made by Comm. Weber that Mayor Olson made a backdoor deal to sell the grindings. Casey McCollom advised that there had been a breakdown in communication during the beginning of the street program and the Grinding Foreman at D Construction had made his own arrangements for the disposal of the grindings. Casey has been working on making new arrangements to obtain grindings for the village.

A motion was made by Comm. Higgins and seconded by Comm. Peddicord to approve an expenditure to Chamlin & Associates in the amount of $14,761.18 for engineering services regarding 2023 Motor Fuel Tax street program.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord and Weber

Nays: None

Absent: Victor

A motion was made by Comm. Higgins and seconded by Comm. Peddicord to approve an expenditure to Bob Ridings Fleet Sales in the amount of $40,642.00 for purchase of 2024 Ford F250 pickup. This amount will be shared between Streets and the Water Department. A plow will be included for use by the Streets Department. Jim Applebee will be the employee driving the truck. The topper is being removed, so the amount of purchase will be reduced by $2,795.00.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord and Weber

Nays: None

Absent: Victor

PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY - PEDDICORD:

None.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS - OLSON:

A motion was made by Comm. Peddicord and seconded by Comm. Higgins to approve an expenditure to D Construction in the amount of $137,000.00 for village parking lots. Comm. Peddicord stated that he has heard a lot of compliments regarding the new parking lots.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord and Weber

Nays: None

Absent: Victor

A motion was made by Comm. Peddicord and seconded by Comm. Higgins to authorize Attorney Bryan Wellner to send a letter objecting to the Illinois & Michigan Oil project. The village received a letter from Illinois & Michigan Oil stating that they would be placing mooring pins and a barge wall in the river, so didn't believe they need the village's permission for their project.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord and Weber

Nays: None

Absent: Victor

A motion was made by Comm. Peddicord and seconded by Comm. Weber to approve the Electric Service Agreement with Dynegy Energy Services, LLC and authorizes Mayor Olson to execute same. The rate in the agreement is lower than originally quoted and includes $2,000.00 in Greenbacks.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord and Weber

Nays: None

Absent: Victor

Mayor Olson announced that there is a need for Shipyard Days Committee members. Treasurer Mary Anderson recently stepped down. Shipyard Days will take place September 19-21, 2024. If anyone is interested in volunteering, please contact village hall.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Randy Irvin, Legislative Liaison for State Representative Jason Bunting introduced himself and advised that he and State Representative Bunting are available for anything the village might need.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

A motion was made by Comm. Peddicord and seconded by Comm. Higgins to enter into executive session at 6:22 p.m. to discuss semi-annual review of closed session minutes (5 ILCS 120/(c)(21)).

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord and Weber

Nays: None

Absent: Victor

A motion was made by Comm. Peddicord and seconded by Comm. Higgins to adjourn the council meeting at 6:34 p.m.

Roll Call: Ayes: Olson, Higgins, Peddicord and Weber

Nays: None

Absent: Victor

https://cms5.revize.com/revize/seneca/Docuemnt_Center/Agenda%20and%20Minutes/Mayor%20and%20Village%20Council/2024/Minutes/Minutes_2024_02_06.pdf