Board Meeting Minutes 03/12/25

Page 1 of 3 Village Board Minutes VILLAGE OF HAMMOND BOARD MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, March 12, 2025 7:00 p.m. Village Hall, 105 East 1st Street, Hammond, IL 61929 Call to Order at 7:00 pm Roll Call: President Marsha Burgener-here, Don Chenoweth-here, Kim Gee-here, Lauren Molby-here, John Drummond-here, Kelsey Wells-here, Billie Larkins-here. Acknowledgement of videographer: To the Board’s knowledge, no one was videoing. Adopt agenda: Don made the motion to adopt the agenda, with a 2nd by John. All in favor; motion carried. Public Comment: Melissa Miller asked the Board to revisit the street lighting, as some streets are dark. The curve north of the Village is dark. An LED light may work. She would also like the Board to revisit putting a small food container for public use. She stated this falls under the Illinois Good Samaritan Act and the Village wouldn’t be liable for any issues. She also asked about if there is another power outage for days at a time if the Community Building could be opened for people to use. She asked how to find out if there were any openings within the Village. She was told to contact the Village Hall. Rob Larkins was present and Marsha introduced him to the Board and the visitors. Rob has applied for the Animal Control Officer position. Clark Cameron from Illinois Rural Water Association was present to review and explain the recent Rate Study he performed for the Village. He went over the recommendations for the water and sewer rates. The minimum water rate would be $25.00 up to 1,000 gallons; for every 1,000 gallons thereafter, a charge of $15.00 would be applied. He also recommended a 3% increase each year to try to keep up with rising costs. A rate study should be done at least every three years to make sure our rates our keeping up with the expenditures. Donna Sanders was present to propose her “Random Acts of Kindness” initiative. She has a Facebook page that she will post any upcoming events. She asked for the Community Building for April 5, 2025, to do a rock painting project. Everyone is invited to attend. There is never a charge for the building if it’s something for the community. A roll call vote was taken for this action: Don-yes, Kim-yes, Lauren-yes, John-yes, Kelsey-yes, Billie-yes. Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve the February 19, 2025, Board Meeting Minutes made by Kim, with a 2nd by Don. All in favor; motion carried. Motion to approve the March 5, 2025, Personnel Committee Meeting made by John, with a 2nd by Kim. All in favor; motion carried. Financials: Motion to approve made by John, with a 2nd by Kim. Roll call vote: Kim-yes, Lauren-yes, John-yes, Kelsey-yes, Billie-yes, Don-yes. 6 ayes; motion carried. Page 2 of 3 Village Board Minutes Water Superintendent Report: Per EPA requirements, the drum containers are installed along with the MSDS on each tank. The window has been installed in the chlorine room door. All hazard signs are posted. The aerator at the detention tank has quit (only three years old). It has been replaced. He has been filling holes on the side of the roads and will be filling holes in the street once he gets what he needs to do so. He’s putting together a list of the sidewalks that need to be replaced/fixed. Has been replacing the small meters. There are nine left to go. There are seven big meters that need to be installed. Those will be done last. All the parts to replace the bad hydrants has been received. He’d like Mike Butler back as the part-time summer help to begin April 7, 2025. Village Clerk Report: Presented the shut off listing for February. There is not an updated ordinance violation listing. Once updated, it will be emailed to the Board. Dave Schaab with WM has been emailed again about the annual town clean-up day and about the accounts that aren’t showing up on their report, but the residents have service. New Business: • Billie made the motion to change the Board meeting date(s) to the 2nd Tuesday of each month, beginning May 1, 2025, with a 2nd by Kelsey. All in favor; motion carried. • Kim made the motion to approve Resolution #2025-001, “Resolution for Maintenance Under the Illinois Highway Code”, with a 2nd by Billie. Roll call vote: Lauren-yes, John- yes, Kelsey-yes, Billie-yes, Don-yes, Kim-yes. 6 ayes; motion carried. • Lauren made the motion to raise the minimum water rate up to 1,000 gallons to $25.00 and to raise the rate to $15.00 per 1,000 gallons thereafter, per the Rate Study recently done, with a 2nd by Don. Roll call vote: John-no, Kelsey-yes, Billie-yes, Don-yes, Kim- yes, Lauren-yes. 5 ayes, 1 nay; motion carried. • Kim made the motion to leave the sewer rates as is, with a 2nd by Kelsey. Roll call vote: Kelsey-yes, Billie-yes, Don-yes, Kim-yes, Lauren-yes, John-yes. 6 ayes; motion carried. • Kelsey made the motion to approve Ordinance #2025-02, “An Ordinance to Regulate and Control the Keeping of Animals Within the Corporate Limits of the Village of Hammond”, with a 2nd by Lauren. Roll call vote: Billie-yes, Don-yes, Kim-yes, Lauren- yes, John-yes, Kelsey-yes. 6 ayes; motion carried. Old/Unfinished Business: None Executive Session: Kelsey made the motion to go into Executive Session at 8:06 pm, with a 2nd by Billie. All in favor; motion carried. The following will be discussed: 5ILCS 120/2 (c) (11): Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting. 5ILCS 120/2(c) (1): Discuss employee issues- the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of the public body or legal counsel for the public body. Kelsey made the motion to exit Executive Session at 9:10 pm, with a 2nd by John. Page 3 of 3 Village Board Minutes Action on Executive Session: • Lauren made the motion to continue litigation, with a 2nd by John. All in favor; motion carried. • Kelsey made the motion to appoint Rob Larkins as Animal Control Officer with compensation of $25.00 per visit and $50.00 per transport, with a 2nd by Don. Roll call vote: Don-yes, Kim-yes, Lauren-yes, John-yes, Kelsey-yes, Billie-abstain. 5 ayes, 1 abstention. Motion carried. • Kelsey made the motion to revisit a raise for the Water Superintendent in October 2025, with a 2nd by John. All in favor; motion carried. • Kim made the motion to pay the Village Clerk 30 hours of banked time with the remaining time banked to be used before May 1, 2025, with a 2nd by John. Roll call vote: Kim-yes, Lauren-yes, John-yes, Kelsey-yes, Billie-yes, Don-yes. 6 ayes; motion carried. • Kim made the motion to send the list of things to be done to the Village Building Inspector to be reviewed in 30 days, with a 2nd by Billie. The list is to be emailed and sent regular mail. • There will be an ad placed in the local newspaper, as well as, on the Village Facebook page, and the Village website for the opening for a part-time Village Clerk. The job description and the hourly rate will be included. The hours will be determined. Anyone interested should submit a resume to the Village Hall by March 31,2025. President/Trustee Comments: Lauren requested the previous rate study that was done several years ago. Adjournment: Billie made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 pm, with a 2nd by Kelsey. All in favor; motion carried. Marsha Burgener Brenda Sebens Village President Village Clerk