Dec 15, 2025

STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF ) ) Minutes Board of Trustees Regular Meeting December 15, 2025 President Eric Schuler called the second regular monthly meeting of the De Soto Village Board of Trustees to order at 7:08 P.M. Village Clerk Paula Parks was present to record the minutes. Present : Brian Gleason Nichole Galloway Eric Schuler Jennifer Morgan Rachel Alstat Absent: Cristy Desormeaux Motion made by Rachel Alstat, seconded by Nichole Galloway, to dispense with the reading of the minutes and to approve them. Motion carried. Motion made by Brian Gleason, seconded by Jennifer Morgan, to approve the November revenue report. Motion carried. Motion made by Nichole Galloway, seconded by Jennifer Morgan, to pay the list of bills. Upon roll call vote: Brian Gleason – Yes; Nichole Galloway – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Rachel Alstat – Yes. Motion carried. President Eric Schuler explained that there would be no appointment at this time for the board trustee vacancy because of an issue with the residency requirement. Motion made by Nichole Galloway, seconded by Brian Gleason, to table the appointment of a board trustee until the residency requirement is met. Motion carried. Mark Sutton of J. T. Blankenship Inc. was present to discuss funding for the Phase IV Watermain Replacement Project. He explained that the Village did not receive funding with the first scoring of the applications in July. The EPA project manager for Phase IV had asked if the Village intended to proceed with the project if funds became available. However, it is not known whether the funds would come with forgiveness. With 30% forgiveness, the annual payment would be $58,056.00 versus an annual payment of $82,937.00 with no loan forgiveness. If the Village declared the intent to proceed, there would be no obligation to go ahead with project if the Board determined it was not affordable. Motion made by Jennifer Morgan, seconded by Brian Gleason, to declare intent to proceed with the Phase IV Watermain Replacements Project at 0% loan forgiveness. Upon roll call vote: Brian Gleason – Yes; Nichole Galloway – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Rachel Alstat – Yes. Motion carried. Trustee Rachel Alstat reported that the Water Committee had met to interview the three applicants for water meter reader position. The Committee recommended that Todd Holder be hired. Motion made by Rachel Alstat, seconded by Nichole Galloway, to hire Todd Holder as a water meter reader at $1.00 per meter, effective immediately. Upon roll call vote: Brian Gleason – Yes; Nichole Galloway – Yes; Jennifer Morgan – Yes; Rachel Alstat – Yes. Motion carried. Motion made by Nichole Galloway, seconded by Rachel Alstat, to approve the 2026 Regular Meeting Schedule. Motion carried. Motion made by Brian Gleason, seconded by Rachel Alstat, to approve the 2026 Holiday Schedule with the village hall being closed on such days. Motion carried. No one was present from Solar on Earth. Trustee Jennifer Morgan thanked everyone who helped with Christmas at the Gazebo and Milk and Cookies with Santa. Both events went well. Trustee Morgan announced that March 25, 2026, would be clean-up day at the park. Trustee Rachel Alstat reported that she and President Schuler had met with Gary Pierson of the Landfill and Harold Sheffer of J. T. Blankinship Inc. in regard to sludge removal of the lagoon. The Village will get the sludge samples dried and tested to make sure it can be either land applied or taken to the Landfill. Sludge removal may start in the summer. The Landfill might pay some of the cost of the sludge removal. The next village board meeting will be held Monday, January 5, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the village hall. Motion made by Jennifer Morgan, seconded by Brian Gleason, to adjourn at 8:15 PM. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Paula J. Parks Village Clerk