I am here so you don’t have to be. But if you have an opinion on the village hiring an interim public works director you should be so you can tell the board.
Anyway, they are honoring Mike Peters tonight.
The Spring garage sales are May 7, 8, 9 by the way.
Thank you to the St. Joseph DQ for sponsoring this post. #greatserviceallthetime.
On the agenda tonight is an update on the Community Festival Commission, an intro to the fund balance policy and discussing discretionary budget items.
Mike is going up. Huge applause. To sum up the proclamation: Mike started working for the village in 1972. Mike has consistently demonstrated dedication to the village, he has a huge base of historical knowledge, he has dedicated himself to serving the village and its residents and the village is very, very grateful.
#WELOVEMIKE #FORREAL
On March 31 there will be a small reception at village hall to honor Mike. #CAKE
Public comment time.
BRIAN MARTIN- Discussing the discretionary spending listing of a parks and recreation director. Talking about the salary that would be $65,000. The median salary in the state for that job is $52,000. Martin saying this could be handled by a part time employee.
MGT agreement: WOW, what a read! Martin said. “The fact that this is being submitted for consideration is mind blowing to me,” Martin said. “This is an astronomical waste of money to the tax payer.”
Martin is quoting my interview with Joe.
Saying both current public works employees- Josh Reese and Stuart Purcell are qualified. “This is a boots on the ground position, this is not a desk position.”
Saying current public works employees have the skills needed and are dedicated to the community.
“Please ask your self is this is the best decision for the village or an attempt to cover up previous shortfalls,”” Martin said.
Tyler Marsh- “We sit here and talk about how we don’t have money. There is no money for parks, there is no money for anything.”
Marsh is bringing up Joe’s raise that the last board voted in before the new board was seated. Saying he doesn’t know if Joe brings issues up to the board or the board brings issues up to Joe. Talking about how they should hire internally.
Dave McCormick- I have lived here for 60 years. The last 10 years, I have watched things spiral out of control. Talking about how Christmas isn’t done right. Sounds like Dave wants to be on the Christmas Committee.
Tiffany McElroy–Smetzer is speaking. She is asking the village what they will be paying for hotels, ect. Page saying they aren’t engaging. Tiffany is saying she is asking the question for consideration. “We have considered,” Page said.
McElroy-Smetzer saying it is a slap in the face to every current employee.
“This is not a fiscally responsible decision,” McElroy-Smetzer said.
Heather Stevenson- “You need to hire from within. It helps morale and it boosts morale. As as a tax payer it is money we don’t have to spend. It is fiscally irresponsible. If any of you vote yes, it will be one of the most fiscally irresponsible decisions you have ever made.”
Meghan Althoff- “If we have a $130 per hour to pay why weren’t we paying Mike $130 per hour?”
Althoff- saying her trust in the mayor has severely dwindled. The way this town is going right now is not a place families want to come.
New Business:
Joe saying that this represents extending the search for the permanent position. “The recruitment will be resumed soon,” Hackney said.
Jim saying he can’t talk about personnel issues. “If I get up here and talk about Josh and his qualifications to be public works director I could get in trouble, the village could get in trouble.”
“I am telling you that you are uninformed,” Page said when someone in the audience said he was telling them that they were wrong.
Jim saying that the money isn’t just going to the person they are hiring, it’s going to the company. Person in the crowd says that doesn’t matter because the village is still paying it out.
“He is going to give us an assessment where we are as a public works department,” Page said.
“I want a different perception to come in and give us a different opinion,” Page said.
Page saying that municipalities do this all the time.
Page is saying this is not a permanent hire.
Page saying that no one in the room has the experience the hire has.
Page saying this was his idea, not the administrator’s.
“I want someone to come in and give us an assessment. We are talking about selling the sewer plant. He has run sewer plants. I want outside advice,” Page said.
Saying they did it with the sewer plant consultant. “We paid him a lot,” Page said. “because that is what it takes to get an expert.”
“I am frustrated because of all the hate,” Page said. “Coming up here and personally pointing Joe out is beyond the pale for me.” Some people in the public commented talked about how the village doesn’t need an administrator and how the administrator doesn’t handle things correctly, ect.
Page saying he is not going to be in here 40 hours a week and that’s the purpose of the administrator.
“I am not BJ and I am not Tami. I am not going to be in here talking to Mike about what ditches need to be dug out,” Page said. “I am not doing that.”
“This was my idea and my responsibility,” Page said.
Page is talking about how the school population goes down and a community member is saying that the high school population hasn’t went down.
This is true, the high school population has been very steady. Page says that elementary school has went down and it’s coming to the high school.
This is kinda true but its more nuanced than this. Here’s a pretty interesting article I read on the issue.
School populations have went down across America for a variety of reasons, it’s not unique to St. Joseph. St. Joseph’s issues are increased due to the housing issues and the fact that families don’t move from the houses they had when their kids are in school though.
Terri made the motion to approve the interim public works director, Art seconded the motion.
Peters- No
Childers-Yes
Cummings- yes
Walsh- Yes
Rapp- yes
Motion passed 4-1. So Julian Hansen is your new interim public works director.
The crowd was…. unhappy. I would classify them as unhappy.
ART IS TALKING about the general fund supplementing the PARKS.
Villages that don’t have park districts usually supplement from the general fund. This talking point is kinda old at this point honestly. Park Districts are their OWN taxing bodies. Otherwise, villages without park districts have to pay for things at the park.
There is an executive session for sale of land.
No motion after the executive session.
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