Village of Oblong

September 4, 2013 Minutes


Draft Minutes

The Village of Oblong Board of Trustees met in regular session on Wednesday, September 4th, 2013, in the Farley Room of the Municipal Building.

Members Present: Mayor Randy Rich, Clerk Ladora Boyd, Trustee Rick Catt, Trustee Joe Campanella, Trustee Ken Russell, Trustee Tony Madlem, Trustee Debi Wilson and Treasurer Jan Miller.

Absent: Trustee Jay Haines.

Others Present: Police Chief Chad Pusey, Public Works Superintendent Gary Lanter, Tom Compton (Daily News), Chris Forde (WTYE/WTAY), Tim Attaway and Mike McReynolds.

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Mayor Rich; then everyone stood and faced the flag to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.

The Regular Board Meeting minutes of August 7th, 2013 were approved with a motion by Joe and a second by Ken. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

There were no additions or deletions to the agenda this month.

There was one water bill customer at the meeting this month. Mike McReynolds came before the Board to ask if he could pay the last half of his late water bill on Friday (9/6/13). The Board granted his request.

Randy stated that the Board will need to approval the following invoice for the North Range Street Project.

Motion by Rick, with a second by Joe, to approve payment to A. J. Walker Construction Co. on what has been completed in the amount of $301,556.13 less $15,077.81 (Retainage amount) and $148,102.62 (Pay Estimate #1) for a total check amount of $138,375.70. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

Randy stated that Keith Waldrop had asked if the Shriners could use the 4-way stop to pass out their newspapers and collect donations on September 14th, 2013 from 8:30 am to 11:30 am. The Board granted the request.

Tim Attaway came before the Board to ask permission to use the Park for “Oldies in the Park”, sponsored by the Oblong Community Service Club, on September 14th, 2013, from 5 pm to 9:45 pm. The Board granted the request.

Motion by Tony, with a second by Debi, to adopt Ordinance #2013-O-555 “Tax Levy Ordinance”. Five (5) ayes, motion carried

Rick stated that Chris and Kim Reeves (Reeves Kids Investments, LLC) have submitted a Revolving Loan Application. Rick stated that the Revolving Loan Committee members Phil Boyd and Todd Musgrave have looked over the application and recommend that the Board approved the loan for the amount of $23,000.00 to be paid back in five(5) years. Motion by Rick, with a second by Joe, to loan $23,000.00 from the Oblong Revolving Loan Fund to Reeves Kids Investments, LLC (Chris and Kim Reeves). Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

Randy mentioned that some issues had come up with the TIF #2 property taxes, but it has been resolved. Due to the issues the payment to Westmore Equity for their 75% of the property taxes that they have paid will be paid from the Village’s 25% of TIF #1 property taxes.

Motion by Tony, with a second by Debi, to pay Westmore Equity the amount of $44,216.93 (amount includes both 2011 and 2012 Property Taxes) and the TIF #2 will repay TIF#1 for this amount. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

Mayor’s Comments:

Randy stated that Jan and Ladora were approach by Lucy Johnson/LJ Grooming about the Village allowing the Wabash Valley Mobile Veterinary Clinic to park in the lot behind the business on the south side of the 100 block of East Main Street for one or two days a month. The Board did not see any problems.

Randy stated that he has received several comments of praise for both the employees of A J Walker Construction and the Public Works on how they are handling things with the North Range Street Project.

Randy stated that he had been approached by Oblong Community Service Club about having LED rope lights along the tops of buildings in the downtown area, with the permission from the business owners. The electric for the lights would come from the Village’s light poles. They would only be up from Friday after Thanksgiving until after New Year’s Day. The Board gave the okay for the club to go ahead and look into this matter.

Randy stated that the Village had received a Thank You card from Patricia Burk for what was sent for Chad’s Grandmother, Martha Burk’s passing.

Randy mentioned that the Village had received a letter from MediaCom stating that there was a new address for their legal department.

Randy mentioned that the Village had received a second letter from MediaCom regarding changes in channel numbers on/around September 23rd. MediaCom had enclosed the letter that would be sent to all their Oblong customers.

Randy stated that the Reeves are hoping to be up and going with the grocery store by September 20th barring any problems arising. He stated that there are applications available on the Reeves’ facebook page for anyone interested.

12. Reports of Committees:

Police: Joe read the monthly report for August. He stated that Chad has received a letter from the High School regarding the job shadowing program. Chad stated that it would be a dayshift with him. Joe stated that the Committee will be interviewing three candidates for possible Part-time Patrol Officers tomorrow evening (9/5/13). One candidate has already taken the Part-time officer training. The other two will need some additional training. The Village will pay for the Part-time Academy, but when they have completed the training the Village will be reimbursed. Chad stated that he has been in contact with IDOT’s Legal Department. They suggested that he wait to send in a request for a speed limit reduction until after the new CMH Oblong Clinic has opened up. They stated that the request would be approved then.

Building and Park: Debi stated that she has received several calls about the condition of the Lake. She stated that Gary has been in contact with a company that can take care of the problem, but it would be best to start next spring instead of now. Randy stated that Gary would like to get permission from the Board to go ahead and get an estimate from the company for the treatment of the lake and the other two ponds that are in the Park Meadow Subdivision. Randy stated that the Village has received a draft copy of an agreement between the Village and Roger Colmark (TIF #1) to review which will also need wording added for Mr. Colmark or the future property owners to be responsible for the cost of treatment for the other 2 ponds, that are connected to the lake. Randy stated that the Finance Committee will be calling a meeting to go over the agreement. The Board told Gary to go ahead and get an estimate for the clean-up of the lake and 2 ponds.

Sidewalks and Lights: Gary stated that he has received some plans for an approach on South Range Street, but still needs to meet with the contractor yet.

Street and Alley: Tony stated that he did not having anything more to report this month. Gary stated that the Chip-N-Seal of the streets is scheduled for Monday, September 9th, 2013. It will be very minimal this year.

Water and Sewer: Ken stated that he had nothing to report this month.

Finance: Rick stated that he had nothing to report this month. Jan stated that she had received the AFR from the auditors and would be finishing the Treasurer’s Report to be published in the newspaper. Ladora stated that Jan and she had the SECICTA quarterly meeting on September 12th, 2013.

Development: Tony stated that there looked like there some progress with the
new clinic.

13. Motion by Joe, with a second by Tony, to pay the bills that were on the warranty list and any utility bills, bills that will incur a late charge or reimbursements to employees. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

14. Motion by Debi, with a second by Tony, for the Board to go into executive session at 7:32 pm for Personnel. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.

Motion by Tony, with a second by Rick, for the Board to come out of executive session at 8:12 pm. Five (5) ayes, motion carried. Randy stated that there will be no action taken at this time by the Board.

15. There were two other items of business this month.
a. Debi stated that she would like to thank Chad as a representative of the Crawford County Law Enforcement on the handling and capture of the escape prisoner. She also complimented the news media for their reporting’s on this matter.

b. Gary mentioned that Billy Burke had approached him about using the parking lot across from the municipal building for an auction on Saturday, September 7th, 2013. The Board had no problem with the use of the parking lot.

16. Motion by Rick, with a second by Debi, to adjourn the meeting at 8:16 pm. Five
(5) ayes, motion carried.

Respectfully submitted

 

Ladora C. Boyd