Village of Oblong
Minutes
December 1, 2021
5 PM

The Village of Oblong Board of Trustees met in regular session on Wednesday, December 1st, 2021, in the Farley Room of the Municipal Building.

Members Present: Mayor Teresa Fielder, Deputy Clerk Jan Miller, Trustee Angie Fear, Trustee Jay Haines, Trustee Dave Hasty, Trustee Carrie Hays, and Trustee Jeron Harris. Absent, Ladora Boyd, Clerk, and Trustee Keith Waldrop.
Others Present: Police Chief Chad Pusey, Public Works Superintendent Gary Lanter, Resa Shaner (Executive Director of Crawford County Development Association), Angela Downing (Daily News), Nick Hinterscher and Alyssa Fielder.

The meeting was called to order at 5:05 pm by Mayor Teresa Fielder with everyone standing and saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Regular Board Meeting Minutes of November 3rd, 2021, were approved with a motion by Jeron and a second by Jay. All ayes, motion carried.

There were no Additions or Deletions to the agenda.

There were no Delinquent Water Bill customers present.

Nick Hinterscher came before the Board to request an extra hour for the local taverns for New Year’s Eve, on Friday, December 31st. Last call will be at 1:00 am (December31th) and everyone out by 1:30 am (January 1st). The Board granted the request. All ayes.

Updating the Employee Guidelines was tabled to this December meeting. There was Discussion on two extra Holidays included in Ordinance #2021-0-624 Amending Chapter 11 “Entitled ‘ Employee Policies’, that was passed at the September 1, 2021 board meeting.
Amending the minutes will not correct the matter, the ordinance will have to be amended and approved at the next board meeting, with an individual trustee vote in not
accepting the State of Illinois State and National approval of these two additional Holidays.

STEP & HALF SIBLINGS, AND STEP PARENTS was added to the SICK LEAVE & PERSONAL DAYS/PERSONAL LEAVE section of the EMPLOYEE GUIDELINES.
In accordance with IMRF policy, the chart for UNUSED/UNPAID sick days was also added.

UNDER INSURANCE:
AFLAC, DENTAL AND EYECARE INSURANCE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL VILLAGE EMPLOYEES AT THE EMPLOYEES EXPENSE, AND CONTINUES AFTER RETIREMENT, TO KEEP THE PREMIUMS DOWN FOR THE REST OF THE EMPLOYEES.

IF AN EMPLOYEE SUFFERS AN ACCIDENT DURING THEIR LINE OF WORK, WHICH RESULTS IN WORKMAN’S COMP, THE EMPLOYEE ONLY RECEIVES FROM WORKMAN’S COMP A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR SALARY.

THE EMPLOYEE SHALL ENDORSE THE WORKMAN’S COMP CHECK TO THE VILLAGE TREASUER AND THE VILLAGE OF OBLONG WILL THEN FULLY REIMBURSE THE EMPLOYEES FULL BASE SALARY UNTIL THE EMPLOYEE IS RELEASED TO COME BACK TO WORK ON A FULLTIME BASIS.

An updated EMPLOYEE GUIDELINE POLICY will be distributed to all employees and included in the December 1, 2021 minutes. Motion by Dave, second by Jay to accept these changes.

Discussion on changing the Building hours and office hours was also discussed. Motion by Angie, second by Dave, all ayes, to change the clerk and treasurer’s hours to 7am to 1pm. The the public work hours will remain the same, 8am to 1pm, and the building will be closed at 1pm. These hours will take effect on January 1, 2022.

Mayor’s Comments:
a. The sale of the Bill Mashburn property is complete. Frank will take care of filing deed and other and will send an itemized bill upon completion to the Village.

b. We received the Environmental Release letter from the Department of Commerce, and it seems the Revolving Loan for our Sewer Lagoon Project is very close to being awarded to the Village.

c. Connor & Connor is submitting the estimate information for the South Range Street Grant
and the letters of support have been sent to Greater Wabash Valley. (Deadline is December 3, 2021)

d. Bart Nation, has opened a new business @ 108 W. Main, “The Toy League Collectibles”.

e. The Village of Oblong, Christmas dinner is Tuesday, December 14th at Mildreds, at 6pm.

f. The Municipal Building will be closed Thursday & Friday, December 23rd & 24th for Christmas, and Friday, December 31st for New Year’s Eve.

g. Remember that animals need proper shelter and food during the winter months, anyone
can contact the Animal Control, through the Dispatch in Robinson, to report improper conditions of outside animals.

14. Reports of Committees:
Police: Chad will be off until January 6, 2022.

Building & Park: Committee meeting discussing Santa House and/or a storage building on concrete pad where old train set in park. Committee decided it wasn’t feasible at this time.
Committee brought to the board a motion to accept a donation from Tony Madlem, T Graphics, of a programable sign. The parts are obsolete but he could use parts from additional signs and could program and install sign for $3,000 to be paid out of the Cares Act Funds. Motion to accept from Dave, second by Angie, All ayes.

Also, the cameras that were ordered will be installed next Monday at the Maintenance Building.

Sidewalks & Lights: Nothing to report.

Street & Alley: Nothing to report.

Water & Sewer: Gary stated that he had nothing to report this month.

Finance: Jeron had nothing to report. Jan submitted her monthly reports to the Board. Clerk was absent.

Development: Teresa stated that there was nothing to report this month.

Ad-Hoc (Beautification/Ordinance) Committee:
Teresa stated that the Committee will start back meeting in the Spring. Working on one property for cleanup.

15. Motion by Jay, second by Angie, 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. All ayes, motion carried.

16. There was one other item of business this month. Teresa went over the committee cards, the
Chairman is the contact, to call a Committee Meeting, and let the Clerk/Treasurer’s office know to post the meeting, which needs to be posted 48 hours in advance. Minutes of each Committee meeting should be given to the clerk, and any decision brought to the full board for approval. This is the correct procedure to schedule and conclude a committee meeting.

17. Motion by Jeron, second by Angie, to adjourn the meeting at 5:39 pm. All ayes, motion carried.

Respectfully submitted

 

Jan Miller,
Deputy Clerk