Live at St. Joseph Village Board, August 27, 2024

I am making my triumphant return to the live blog. On tap tonight, approving the women’s club Christmas Parade, maybe deciding on the solar farm… and reports.

Public Works Supervisor Mike Peters said they are going through and checking the sidewalk work throughout town.

Discussing the special events permit for the Christmas Parade. They are doing it on Dec. 14, 2024. It’s approved.

They are still discussing solar services on the farm ground. #week456 #ihonestlydontknowhowlongtheyhavebeendiscussingthis #itjustfeelslikeawhile

Tammy Vallee says she can’t get on board with tying up that much ground at the sports complex and she doesn’t want to agree to a purchase that big with the purchase she just agreed to. Terri said she agreed. They are discussing whether they would be in a crunch for money if they buy the solar panels instead of lease the land. Art saying the sewer plant project and the street project- “I think we are going to be in the situation where we can’t do anything else.”

Elm Street and the Sewer plant is a 22-23 million project.

They have 8 million dollars left in borrowing power, basically. If they do this and there is an emergency they could be really in a pickle.

They are discussing how St. Joseph is too wealthy to be approved for a lot of grants.

Angela saying that they may not have other opprotunities to bring in that extra income to the village.
Tammy asking if they have any set ways of knowing this is basically, not too good to be true.

They want to know how much other villages are making before committing to anything. #thatissuchagoodcall

Max saying his gut feeling is that they aren’t going to end up doing anything and the village will end up relying on tax dollars “Like it has always been”

“You aren’t reinventing the wheel by doing this deal,” Max said.

Tami saying “if it looks to good to be true it probably is true.”

Tami saying none of them are experts on solar and a lot of them don’t even have it on their roof top. Max is probably the only one who has it on their roof top.

Butch from one of the solar places is saying they could put the solar panels on top of the maybe going to happen, probably will happen community building.

Angela saying either way residents won’t be happy with their decision.

Will discuss more next month and hope to have a final decision by end of October.

Discussing Public Work’s work list.

Talking about the big train coming through.

https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/transportation/largest-steam-locomotive-to-pay-a-call-to-villa-grove/article_21a1dc92-59bf-11ef-8447-2f0170896733.html

They will post details on the village facebook page as well.

It will probably be here around 7.

CIMOA is coming here in September.

Going into closed to wrap up whatever they talked about at the last meeting. #Ihavenoideaforreal