Happy 2026.
The village board will be discussing an extension of the RFP for the sanitary sewer system, letting board members vote remotely and some TIF stuff.
American Illinois Water is asking for an extension to provide a RFP to purchase the sanitary system to Feb. 6. The village approved it.
The department of revenue had an issue with ordinance passed for the grocery tax and the non-home rule sales tax. The village had the lawyer make the requested changes. Page is saying it is a housekeeping item.
Lawyer saying a model ordinance by the IML was used and Lawyer believes it is correct. Department of Revenue has asked for corrections, corrections have varied municipality to municipality. “I don’t have an explanation for you,” Miller said.
The remote voting updates the village’s ordinance from Covid. You can’t be on vacation but you can do it when you are sick. Art is asking for clarification.
In Illinois, municipality trustees can vote remotely (by video/audio conference) if local ordinances allow. It usually requires advance notice, and it has to be for illness, employment or an emergency and it usually requires a majority vote of physically present trustees to approve it.
They approved it.
They are discussing an amendment to the TIF district. They are removing the transformers on Peters that are by the daycare.
Discussing going out for mowing bids at the park again. Joe said the teams didn’t give us any feedback at the sports complex. The soccer teams gave positive feedback for Hackler park. $44,000 was spend in 2024. That is not an all in staff figure, it’s a straight wage Joe said. It’s higher because it doesn’t include benefits.
“It’s comparable and its one less thing.” Page said.
Art talking about how the mowers kept breaking and they needed to purchase another mower.
Andrea was asking if they had the equipment but just needed to hire seasonal workers for it.
Joe saying lots of municipalities bid for it.
Apparently there are other areas the village currently mows. Joe saying the areas are “unique” and could pose challenges to hire out. Like the burn pile, the sewer plant and near the rail trail.
They are going to bid the parks again for mowing.
Now they are discussing field treatment RFPs. Joe said a few years ago they made the decision to split the treatment and one company does the baseball fields and the other company does the other portions.
“This is extremely subjective,” Joe said. Joe saying they have gotten no feedback.
Discussing animal control contract. They stopped contracting in May 2018-2019.
They are bringing it up again because Champaign County Animal Control has revamped their contract system and is based on per call basis. The village was paying 2365 per year and they came out no matter if you had 5 or 50 calls. Now they will pay per call.
Art discussing how when he first came on the board they went from paying the county $600 to very high.
Hot take: This seems kinda like an unnecessary expense since we haven’t had it in six years and no one seems to care.
Art saying they should budget $5,000 to $10,000 for this.
You can read the proposal here.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kShL7zM_t6Iw0B5UFskuYI2IUf1aJQy-
They want some clarification on some things.
Art now giving a history on the sports complex and how the telecommunication tax doesn’t cover enough out there and the parks are supplemented by the general fund. (this happens in numerous communities so that’s not a unique situation.) but he’s pointing out that they don’t have enough money in the parks to pay for things.
I think he’s talking about how the village could be on the line for the community building.
“This is one of the worst decisions this board has ever made. I will stand firm with that.” “You guys have made a decision to put this village in jeopardy.” Art’s saying they don’t have $1.9 million they actually just have a bunch of pledges.
Talking about how the community building could effect local businesses and gave the example of “The Gathering Place” closed.
Walsh is saying he thinks people will flock to the St. Joseph Community Building for weddings. I am curious to see what other community organizations rent it.
Art asking what the other community building charge. Page saying the St. Joseph Rec Foundation has that data. Page saying it won’t cost $300,000 to maintain it.
Art thinking that the village and the tax payers will be on the hook for the community building.
It looks like in 2020 Sidney cost $100 per night. Is that right? That’s so cheap!
They went into closed session.
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