March 16, 2026

STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF ) ) Minutes Board of Trustees Regular Meeting March 16, 2026 President Pro Temp Brian Gleason called the second regular monthly meeting of the De Soto Village Board of Trustees to order at 7:00 P.M. Village Clerk Paula Parks was present to record the minutes. Present : Brian Gleason Nichole Galloway Jennifer Morgan Cristy Desormeaux Rachel Alstat Absent: Eric Schuler Motion made by Cristy Desormeaux, seconded by Jennifer Morgan, to dispense with the reading of the minutes and to approve them. Motion carried. Motion made by Rachel Alstat, seconded by Cristy Desormeaux, to approve the February Revenue report. Motion carried. Motion made by Jennifer Morgan, seconded by Nichole Galloway, to pay the list of bills. Upon roll call vote: Brian Gleason – Yes; Nichole Galloway – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Rachel Alstat - Yes. Motion carried. Eagle Scout Joseph Morgan asked permission to build the fence at the municipal parking lot next to the railroad as a Scout project. President Pro-Temp Gleason stated that Director of Public Works Cody Fred had submitted an estimate of the cost of the materials for the metal fence. Mr. Morgan said his group is to be formed. He will give his proposal to the Scout Board for their approval. The Scouts will be responsible for labor and installation of the fence with the village employees helping. As a Scouting activity, Scout insurance covers the project. Once Eagle Scout Morgan gets approval from the Scout Board, he will pick a date that is convenient for the Village and the Scouts. Motion made by Cristy Desormeaux, seconded by Jennifer Morgan, to approve the building permit for Matthew Leutik to build a barndaminum at 408 E. Jackson St. Motion carried. Motion made by Cristy Desormeaux, seconded by Rachel Alstat, to allow the Jackson County Board to use the east hall as a polling place for the Primary Election on March 17, 2026, and for the General Election on November 3, 2026, and to waive the fee. Upon roll call vote: Brian Gleason – Yes; Nichole Galloway – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Rachel Alstat - Yes. Motion carried. Motion made by Jennifer Morgan, seconded by Cristy Desormeaux, to approve the budget for the Village’s fiscal year beginning May 1, 2026, and ending April 30, 2027. Upon roll call vote: Brian Gleason – Yes; Nichole Galloway – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Rachel Alstat - Yes. Motion carried. Police Chief Ben Doan reported that the Fire Chief had asked if the Village would activate the old siren. The new siren would not work properly during the storm last night and will have to be repaired. Chief Doan will ask Walker Communication to look at both sirens. He will get an estimate for repairing both. Trustee Nichole Galloway had estimates for painting the east hall. Trustee Galloway will talk to the two lowest estimates to firm up the project; confirm the prices; and check availability to get the project finished by April 30, 2026. She will bring the information back to the board. Trustee Morgan reminded the Board that Clean Up Day at the park will be held March 25, 2026, beginning at 3:30 PM. The Park Easter Egg will be held Saturday, April 4 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The De Sot Grade School Beta Club will hold a pancake breakfast beginning at 9:00 AM in the park pavilion. Trustee Cristy Desormeaux reported that Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) had approved Tri-State Tornado Historical marker signs for the Village. The Village is eligible for four signs – two advance information signs and two directional turn signs. Trustee Rachel Alstat reported that the Sewer Committee had met with Harold Sheffer, Village Engineer, David Vasbinder, Environmental Engineer for Southern Illinois Regional Landfill and Gary Pearson, General Manager for Southern Illinois Regional Landfill. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the removal of the sludge from the sewer lagoon; renovation of the wastewater treatment system; and the cost thereof and who was going to pay for what. Also, the Village needed to determine if President Schuler would sign the Landfill’s renewal application for a permit to send leachate to the Village’s wastewater treatment system depending on what the Landfill was willing to pay for the sludge removal and repairs. President Schuler explained to Mr. Pearson and Mr. Vasbinder that some on the Board members felt the Landfill should pay 100%, and some felt the Landfill’s part should be at least 85%. The cost was estimated to be $150,000.00 for the sludge removal and $230,000.00 for replacing the moving parts. Mr. Pearson stated that the Landfill had been involved with the Village for years and had helped with many projects, and he felt the Landfill should not be responsible for all of it. Mr. Vasbinder said two consultants had reviewed the documents and reported that the Landfill was responsible for 15% of the sludge. However, Harold Sheffer reported that based on the test results, the Landfill was responsible for 90% of the organic volume of the sludge due to the solids that they were sending to the sewer system. He stated that the leachate that was coming from the Landfill was detrimental to the sewer system. The Village is in violation with the EPA due to the Landfill being in violation of their contract with the Village in regard to the leachate they are sending to the sewer system. Mr. Sheffer said it might be possible to reduce the cost of the $230,00.00 to replace the moving parts. The Village and the Landfill reached a tentative agreement that the Landfill would pay 85% of the cost of removing the sludge and the updated cost of repairing the sewer system. The large cell would be done this year and the small cell would be done next year. Mr. Sheffer would get updated estimates for Mr. Pearson, and he will take the tentative agreement back to the corporation. President Schuler signed the permit application; however, the Village would still have the option to terminate the agreement with the Landfill allowing them to send their leachate if they continue to be in violation. The Water, Sewer and Street Committees will meet in closed session on Thursday, March 19, 2026, to interview applicants for the city worker position. The next village board meeting will be held Monday, April 6, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the village hall. Motion made by Jennifer Morgan, seconded by Nichole Galloway, to adjourn at 8:23 PM. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Paula J. Parks Village Clerk