Village of Ladd Village Board met Feb. 14
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The Ladd Village Board met in regular session on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, in the Village Hall. Village President Frank Cattani called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm and led the pledge of allegiance to the American flag.
Roll Call: Present: Trustees Jim Manning, Dave Margherio, Jan Martin, Dan Nelson, Molly Thrasher, and Mike Urbanowski (6)
In Attendance: Clerk Bezely, Atty. Pat Barry, Treasurer Julie Koch, Superintendent Doug Englehaupt, & Engineer Adam Ossola
Manning motioned/Urbanowski second to accept January 24, 2023, regular meeting minutes, and January 27, 2023, special meeting minutes as presented.
Ayes: Manning, Margherio, Martin, Nelson, Thrasher, Urbanowski – Motioned carried 6-0
Margherio motioned/Thrasher second to authorize payment of the bills in the amount of $250,037.69. Ayes: Manning, Margherio, Martin, Nelson, Thrasher, Urbanowski – Motioned carried 6-0
Correspondence: None
Public Comment: None
Committee Reports: None
Superintendent’s Report: New Business: Geopolymer Manhole Rehab at Chestnut & Route 89: Cattani asked Englehaupt to explain the situation at the corner by the old Lanuti’s. Cattani stated this manhole needs repair. There are cracked bricks and leaking in various places. This pipe has about 6 inlets in and out. Hoerr Construction was contacted for options on the repair of this pipe. The quote for Geopolymer spray lining was provided to the council. Cattani would like to get this scheduled as soon as possible. Hoerr stated they could return in March to make this repair. This spray lining has a 50-year life expectancy. This is the most cost effective way to repair this manhole.
Martin motioned/Nelson second to approve the Geopolymer Manhole Rehab at Chestnut & Route 89. Ayes: Manning, Margherio, Martin, Nelson, Thrasher, Urbanowski – Motioned carried 6-0
Engineer’s Report: Ossola stated the Village is to do a seal coat project this year. He would like the council to allow him to put together a scope of work so we can put it out for bid. We are looking at redoing the streets we did in 2017 along with possibly the areas we haven’t gotten to in the past. The STU funds we are receiving by 2026 are allocated to Cleveland Street and possibly some curb and gutter repairs on East Cleveland. Bezely reminded the council that they asked her to bring up the curb and gutter on East Cleveland in February 2023. Last year there were a lot of complaints about the shape of the curb and gutter with crumbling and weeds growing out of the curbing. The council felt this will be addressed in 2026.
Manning motioned/Martin second to hire Chamlin Engineering to move forward with the 2023 Motor Fuel Program project tar & chip and also explore areas of spray patching.
Ayes: Manning, Margherio, Martin, Nelson, Thrasher, Urbanowski – Motioned carried 6-0 New Business: Pay application No 3 for Superior Excavating and Change Order No 4 for Alley Water Main Project: Ossola explained the alley will be black-topped as soon as the weather changes. Martin asked if anything can be done about the holes in the Main Avenue alley. She mentioned the alley behind Rip’s has some large potholes.
Nelson motioned/Urbanowski second approval of the Change Order No 4 for a reduction of $-33,198.49 and Pay application No 3 for Superior excavating for $112,611.25.
Ayes: Manning, Margherio, Martin, Nelson, Thrasher, Urbanowski – Motioned carried 6-0
Police Chief: Frund updated the council on how the numbers are up quite a bit on all police duties in Ladd which shows the additional protection that has been provided to Ladd residents. Frund also told the council that Ladd police performed a Special Response Team drill at NC Bank Ladd & Hennepin going over drills and scenarios and also at the Ladd School. They were very thankful for the drill and sent a card of thanks. Frund will be doing a Canine program at the Ladd Library. Body cameras are coming and Ladd is going to have to spend the money. We are waiting on the grant program through the State of IL. Frund has looked into a company in Colorado regarding the cameras and the storage of the footage. We also need to get 3 new vests for the new police officers we’ve hired. We will look into a vest grant. Frund told the council the phones have not been working correctly and we’ve reached out multiple times to Troy Phones. They’ve adjusted things a hundred times with no solution or service tech coming to the Village to work on things. We’ve had to use our cell phones due to the poor quality of the calls. Calls drop and it’s been very frustrating. Frund contacted Ficek Communications and they have come out a couple of times to look at our system and give pricing on a phone system. They are providing a quote for the removal of all the antiquated wiring and equipment down the basement to modernize our system and bring us a great phone system. The quote they’ve provided has more features than the Troy phones. Callers will be able to text the Village of Ladd on our regular number. Fax machines will no longer be needed due to the ability to e-fax. We no longer have to spend time trying to contact Comcast – Ficek will do this for us. Ficek’s monthly cost is a little bit more than Troy but we don’t have a system that works. Ficek’s monthly cost is $140.00 with all the additional features and a working system. Ficek’s system will allow Rhonda and Julie to text residents and receive text messages from residents without using their personal phones and numbers. Comcast billing will be reduced by $118.00 per month due to combing the Clerks and Police Offices into 1 bill. We currently have two separate bills. Ficek is also investigating our whole system before they sell us anything. The council wants this placed on the next agenda to formally authorize moving forward with Ficek Communications. Manning cautioned Frund to make sure anything Ficek implements can be moved if we decide to make a location change for the Clerk’s Office and Police Department.
Building Inspector: Absent
Village Attorney: Atty. Barry read the letter he sent to the owner of the old furniture store and her response. The council feels that Atty. Barry needs to stay aggressive with the owner. It is unknown how this building in its current condition will sell. A discussion was extensive on what the Village’s options are. The owner stated that she recently paid for insurance on this building for the year. The possibility of a grant was discussed and there are currently no grants available for commercial property. Cattani reminded the council of the roofing and other building materials being blown all around. Atty. Barry suggested the council allow her a week or two or a month to see if she gets any offers on the building. Then the Village would take up the issue with the new owner.
Old Business: Video Gaming Terminal fees: Atty. Barry refreshed the board on the Video Gaming fees that are allowed to be charged. You can charge any amount between 0 and $250.00 per machine annually. All surrounding towns implemented the maximum of $250.00 per machine except the City of Oglesby. They decided to have a gradual increase annually. President Cattani reminded the board that any fees charged would go into the general fund. He also detailed the additional police coverage is coming out of the general fund, the possibility of new Christmas decorations for Main Avenue would come out of the General Fund, and that the balance of the water main project would also come out of the general fund. We need to be cognizant of these costs. Margherio is not in favor of implementing video gaming fees. Margherio wondered why the state didn’t increase the 5% and did not allow additional fees for each gaming machine. Manning is fine either way but remembered waiving fees last year due to Covid 19. Manning feels like we ask residents to fund projects all the time. Charging a fee would help replenish the general fund. The council was reminded the business owner will pay ½ of the fee and the terminal owner would pay the other ½.
Nelson motioned to Implement a $250.00 fee per machine annually. Motion died due to lack of a second. The council feels we need to increase it in increments. $200 per machine was discussed. The council felt it was too high. Discussion ensued.
Urbanowski motioned/Manning second to implement a Video Gaming Fee of $125.00 per machine this year and re-visit this again in 2024.
Ayes: Manning, Thrasher, Urbanowski, Cattani
Nays: Margherio, Martin, Nelson
Motion passed 4-3 with President Cattani casting the tie-breaking vote
Atty. Barry will prepare the ordinance for video gaming fees that will be implemented on May 1, 2023. We will pass this ordinance at the February 28, 2023 meeting.
New Business: Social Media Ordinance & Policy: Tabled until February 28, 2023. Atty. Colin Barry was ill tonight and will have it at the next board meeting.
Donation to BPart: Council members feel this is an excellent service many people utilize. Thrasher motioned/Nelson second to donate $250.00 to BPart.
Ayes: Manning, Margherio, Martin, Nelson, Thrasher, Urbanowski – Motioned carried 6-0 Donation to Central States Baseball Tournament: No action was taken
Auditing Service Proposal: Nelson motioned/Manning second to Authorize President Cattani to sign the proposal from Hopkins & Associates to perform an annual audit for the Village of Ladd.
Ayes: Manning, Margherio, Martin, Nelson, Thrasher, Urbanowski – Motion carried 6-0
Announcements: The total funds raised for Save our Soldier were distributed to the council. The 2022 Music in the Park income and expenses were distributed to the council and Bezely asked permission to move forward with securing the 2023 Music in the Park dates and entertainment. Heidi Templeton and Julie Koch will assist with the events. Also distributed were the top priorities for the Village of Ladd that were sent to NCICG. The Easter Egg Hunt is fast approaching and the board authorized the recreation committee to spend up to $500.00 for the Easter Egg Hunt and also for the Halloween Parade and Party. An Electronics Recycling Event has been scheduled for Ladd Residents on May 6, 2023, from 8 am – 12 noon or until the 20-yard dumpster is full. The council decided the first 3 items are free and additional items will be $10 each to help defray the cost of the dumpster. We probably could schedule electronics recycling every 3 years. The council was in agreement that the Community Center could be rented for a Yoga class at $50/hour. A resident requested approval to install curb and gutter in front of his home. The council agreed that this would be allowed but this is Village property therefore; the owner must pay to have the Village’s Engineer involved and be responsible for all costs associated with the design and installation of the curb and gutter. A new business is coming to Ladd. It is an Eye Lash Technician. The Village Council happily welcomes all businesses to Ladd.
Thrasher motioned/Nelson second to adjourn.
Ayes: Manning, Margherio, Martin, Nelson, Thrasher, Urbanowski – Motioned Carried 6-0 The meeting adjourned at 7:55 pm
https://www.villageofladd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023-02-14-MINUTES.pdf
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