Village of Oblong
Minutes
June 2, 2021
5 pm
The Village of Oblong Board of Trustees met in regular session on Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021, in the Farley Room of the Municipal Building.
Members Present: Mayor Teresa Fielder, Clerk Ladora Boyd, Trustee Angie Fear, Trustee Jay Haines, Trustee Dave Hasty, Trustee Bill Burke (arrived at 5:15 pm), Trustee Keith Waldrop, Trustee Jeron Harris and Treasurer Jan Miller,
Others Present: Public Works Superintendent Gary Lanter, Police Chief Chad Pusey, Ben Kirk (Hometown Wireless) and Carrie Hayes.
The meeting was called to order at 5 pm by Mayor Teresa Fielder with everyone standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Regular Board Meeting Minutes of May 5th, 2021, were approved with a motion by Jay and a second by Angie. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.
There were no additions or deletions to the agenda this month.
There were no Delinquent Water Bill customers at the meeting this month.
Angie updated the Board on the South Range Street Projection and that the funding will be from General Funds, MFT Funds and also Bonds. Angie stated that the Preliminary Engineering Agreement for Motor Fuel Tax Funds will start the prep work of surveying and easements. Motion by Jeron, with a second by Jay, to approve the Preliminary Engineering Agreement for Motor Fuel Tax Funds between Connor & Connor, Inc and the Village. Roll call vote as follows: Angie – Abstain, Jay – Aye, Dave – Aye, Bill – Absent, Keith – Aye, Jeron – Aye. Motion carried. Jeron stated that the Bond Company will have a resolution ready by next Board Meeting for the Board to pass. This resolution is good for a year.
Teresa stated that the total amount for the appropriation is $1,629,295. Motion by Keith, with a second by Jeron, to adopt Ordinance #2021-O-620 ‘Appropriation Ordinance”. Roll call vote as follows: Angie – aye, Jay – aye, Dave – aye, Bill – absent, Keith – aye, Jerson – aye; motion carried.
Motion by Angie, with a second by Dave, to adopt Ordinance #2021-O-621 ‘An Ordinance Extending the Authorization to Ameren Illinois Company d/b/a Ameren Illinois Its Successor and Assigns to Construct, Operate and Maintain a Gas Utility System in the Village of Oblong, County of Crawford and State of Illinois” Five (5) ayes, motion carried. This is a thirty (30) year agreement for the gas utilities.
Mayor’s Comments:
Teresa stated that the Village had received a TIF Grant request from the Oblong Branch of the Robinson Public Library District for $3,450 for tuckpointing on the front of the Library. Motion by Dave, with a second by Keith, to give the Oblong Branch of the Robinson Public Library District $3,450 from the TIF Grant Fund. Five (5) ayes, motion carried.
Teresa mentioned that the Village had received the approved Halloween Parade Permit from IDOT for October 30th.
Teresa stated that Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission is still says that the Village should receive an award letter by August, letting us know we are awarded the funds for the sewer dredging. Teresa stated that she sent an e-mail to Fayrene Wright (Crawford County Clerk) requesting any and all invoices that the Village may need to pay. She has not heard back yet.
Teresa mentioned that the Crawford County Collectibles Car Club will be heading through Oblong on Saturday, June 19th around 4:30 pm. Chad will assist with patrol so that they may stay together as a group.
Teresa mentioned that the Oblong Chamber of Commerce has given a copy of their Certificate of Insurance to the Village for the upcoming Hootenanny, which will be June 26th at the Park.
Teresa asked Ben Kirk if he would like to update the Board about Hometown Wireless. He stated that he is still waiting on Metro to complete the permitting process (hopefully soon). He stated that he will have documentation to present to the Village Board also be able to start pricing and services. He stated that he has received more feedback than expected and is planning accordingly.
Teresa stated that there will be a Community Blood Drive on Thursday, June 10th, at the First Christian Church in the gym from 1 – 6 pm. The Red Cross is in desperate need of blood.
Teresa mentioned that Harmon’s Pharmacy will be celebrating 75th Anniversary on Friday, June 25th. She stated that Harmon’s have been a stable part of this community. She encouraged everyone who can to stop by that day and congratulate them.
Teresa stated that the Village had received two (2) letters from Mediacom. One stated that there will be a change to the line-up and the other was their annual customer service letter.
6. Reports of Committees:
Police: Jay stated that he has nothing to report this month. Chad stated that he will be attending the IJOA Conference in Peoria this month.
Building & Park: Keith informed the Board that the garage door has been ordered.
Sidewalks & Lights: Bill stated that he had nothing to report this month.
Street & Alley: Angie stated that she had nothing else to report this month.
Water & Sewer: Dave stated that he had nothing to report this month. Gary stated that weather permitting the guys will be flushing hydrants June 14th through the 18th.
Finance: Jeron stated that he had nothing more to report this month. Treasurer’s Report: Jan stated that ever one had copy of reports for finance. Jan stated that the Auditors will be here June 7th – 11th. Clerk’s Report: Ladora stated that she had nothing to report this month.
Development: Bill stated that he had nothing to report this month. He mentioned that since the TIF 1 (Park Meadow) is expiring this month, maybe there some investors that would be interest in the unsold lots.
Ad-Hoc (Beautification/Ordinance) Committee:
1. The committee met on Wednesday, May 26th at 3:30 pm, and have many delinquent properties concerns that will be addressed. The committee wants to stress that grown up brush around a home is getting to be an issue so they are working towards eliminating that.
2. May Hometown Pride Award winners were Troy & Kim Allen – 205 West Main.
3. The committee recommended to the Board that the Village possibly have a structural engineer to assess the buildings located at 107-109 South Range Street to make sure it is sound and will not be a problem during the South Range Street Project construction. The Village would pay the cost of this from the Beautification Fund (probably $800 to $1,000). There was some discussion about this. Motion by Bill, with a second by Angie, to go ahead and get a structural engineer to come an inspect the buildings located at 107 & 109 South Range Street. All ayes, motion carried. Bill brought up about a property on West Illinois Street. He will look into the status of ownership.
4. Next meeting will be June 30th at 3:30 pm.
5. Dave stated that there will be a meeting on July 19th at 6:30 pm about the 54 Oblong Club.
7. Motion by Jay, second by Keith, 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.
8. There were no other items of business this month.
9. Motion by Jeron, second by Angie, to adjourn the meeting at 5:39 pm. Five (5) ayes and one (1) nay, motion carried.
Respectfully submitted
Ladora Boyd
Clerk