March 2, 2026

STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF ) ) Minutes Board of Trustees Regular Meeting March 2, 2026 President Eric Schuler called the first regular monthly meeting of the De Soto Village Board of Trustees to order at 7:02 P.M. Village Clerk Paula Parks was present to record the minutes. Present : Brian Gleason Nichole Galloway Eric Schuler Jennifer Morgan Cristy Desormeaux Rachel Alstat Motion made by Cristy Desormeaux, seconded by Nichole Galloway, to dispense with the reading of the minutes and to approve them. Motion carried. Motion made by Nichole Galloway, seconded by Rachel Alstat, to approve the February Expense report. Motion carried. Motion made by Brian Gleason, seconded by Jennifer Morgan, 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. Since it is time to prepare the 2026-2027 budget, Ronnie Croxell asked the Board to consider updating the east hall and the east hall bathrooms, such as painting over the dated wood paneling and giving the bathrooms a fresh coat of paint. She said the east hall is rented frequently and provides a valuable service to the community. A few simple updates would make the space more modern and likely attract more renters. Board members agreed to get estimates for painting over the paneling or redoing the walls with dry wall as well as painting the bathrooms. President Schuler authorized Mrs. Croxell to get the estimates and bring them back to the Board by the next meeting. Trustee Jennifer Morgan explained that she wanted to hire someone to clean both concession stands so they would be ready for the De Soto Little League ball season. The Little League would be responsible for cleaning them during the season and having the stands clean when the school starts using them. The stands will be inspected at the end of the Little League season and at the end of the school season. Motion made by Jennifer Morgan, seconded by Rachel Alstat, to hire Jodi Tuttle to clean both the east and west concession stands on March 15, 2026, for up to $150.00. Upon roll call vote: Brian Gleason – Yes; Nichole Galloway – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Rachel Alstat - Yes. Motion carried. Cody Fred presented two (2) estimates for fencing at the municipal parking lot as follows: Terrace Fence $14,872.96 360 Fencing LLC. $10,965.00 Trustee Jennifer Morgan proposed asking a Boy Scout to use installing the fence as an Eagle Scout project. The Scout would oversee the project and try to get some materials donated and volunteer labor. He would have a mentor helping him with the project. President Schuler will approach a Boy Scout about using installation of the fence as an Eagle Scout project. Motion made by Nichole Galloway, seconded by Cristy Desormeaux, to suspend the rules to move Agenda Item 6c Hire a Director of Public Works to after Agenda Item 9 Reports of Special Committees. Motion carried. Treasurer Dana Smith’s computer is crashing and needs to be replaced. Motion made by Rachel Alstat, seconded by Nichole Galloway, to purchase a Dell Intel Core Ultra 7-265 computer, running Windows 11 with a two-year warranty for $$1,177.00 to be paid from General, Water, Sewer, Street, Police and Park funds. Upon roll call vote: Brian Gleason – Yes; Nichole Galloway – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes; Rachel Alstat - Yes. Motion carried. Trustee Morgan reported that the Park Committee had met prior to the regular board meeting to discuss plans for the 2026 Party at the Park. The event will be held July 11. Volunteers, vendors and sponsors are needed. Rachel Alstat is in charge of sponsors; Cristy Desormeaux is in charge of vendors and food trucks; and Jennifer Morgan is in charge of activities. Anyone interested can contact one of them, and they will be directed to the appropriate person. Trustee Morgan reported that upon further research, the Zoller Plus AED discussed at the last board meeting can be used for children and adults. Purchase of the AED’s is on hold while the school looks into grants. The school had requested that the Village go in on thirds to purchase new pitcher’s mounds. Since the Village does not have access to the mounds, board members felt the Village should not be responsible for any of the cost. Trustee Morgan had talked with Harold Sheffer about grants. Mr. Sheffer said the grant request should be for a big project. She would like to find a place to build a pickle ball court. Trustee Rachel Alstat reported that the Water and Sewer Committees had met on Thursday, February 26 to discuss meters for the Phase IV project and sludge removal. Representatives from Midwest Meter, Inc. presented an overview of drive by and cellular radio read meter systems. They said the drive by meters are being phased out so cellular meters would be the way to go. The upfront cost for purchasing the cellular meters would be a wash because the Village would no longer have to pay meter readers. The annual fee for the cellular system would be $11,000.00. President Schuler stated the annual cost for the cellular meters would be offset by not paying meter readers $10,000 per year. Not only is the drive by meter system somewhat antiquated, it doesn’t come with the perks offered with the cellular system. The cellular meters are read four (4) times daily- three (3) times during the day and one (1) time around midnight; we get real-time water data that shows leaks, tampering and backflow plus other real time information all going directly to the utility office. In addition, water customers can get an app on their phone giving them access to their own residential usage. Meters will be read in one day as opposed to over a 10-day span so there will be consistency in the water bills; there will be no estimates; there will be no antennas; and meter lids will be flush with the ground in addition to other benefits. Mark Sutton of J. T. Blankinship, Inc. had prepared a spreadsheet breaking down the comparisons and costs showing a cost of $1.01 per meter per month. The $11,000.00 annual fee includes training and unlimited 24/7 customer support. Cody Fred pointed out that the real-time data would reduce water loss. There is a $20,000.00 difference in the hardware cost of the cellular meters as opposed to the cost of the drive by meters. The EPA loan application included the cost of the drive by meters, but there are funds for contingencies built into the application that would cover the extra cost. Trustee Alstat reported that the lagoon sludge removal was discussed at the meeting as well. A meeting will be scheduled with Gary Pearson of the Landfill to discuss funding for the removal of the sludge and replacement of parts. President Schuler asked about offering that the Landfill pay 85% of the cost with the Village paying 15% of the cost. He would also like to propose removing the sludge every 10 years with the same payment agreement. Some board members thought the Village should ask the Landfill to pay 100% because the Landfill had continuously breached the contract with the leachate they have sent the Village’s sewer system thus damaging the lagoon and increasing the sludge. However, since the Village use has added to the sludge, Trustee Alstat felt 15% for the Village would fair. The eventual goal is to ask the Landfill to build a separate cell at their location or at the sewer plant so that the leachate is pre-treated before going into the main cell. President Schuler will ask for 100% and go no lower than 85%. Trustee Rachel Alstat left the meeting at 8:28 PM. The Phase IV Watermain Replacement project is moving forward. Bids are going out, and hopefully, actual construction will begin in June. Cody Fred reported that the water tower needs inspection and cleaning. It would cost about $4,000.00. Also, the water tower should be painted every five (5) years. Mr. Fred will get estimates. Motion made by Nichole Galloway, seconded by Cristy Desormeaux, to go into executive session at 8:31 PM to discuss hiring a Director of Public Works, pursuant to ILCS 102/2(c)(1). Upon roll call vote: Brian Gleason – Yes; Nichole Galloway – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes. Motion carried. Motion made by Jennifer Morgan, seconded by Brian Gleason, to come out of executive session at 9:21 PM. Upon roll call vote: Brian Gleason – Yes; Nichole Galloway – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes. Motion carried. Motion made by Jennifer Morgan, seconded by Cristy Desormeaux, to hire Cody Fred as the Director of Public Works at $21.66 per hour with a six-month probationary period and with a $1.00 per hour raise after successful completion of the probationary period, effective with the last pay period. Upon roll call vote: Brian Gleason – Yes; Nichole Galloway – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Cristy Desormeaux – Yes. Motion carried. The next village board meeting will be held Monday, March 16, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the village hall. Motion made by Cristy Desormeaux, seconded by Jennifer Morgan, to adjourn at 9:28 PM. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Paula J. Parks Village Clerk