VG council makes final water plant payment Sept. 9

The Villa Grove City council met on Monday, Sept. 9 for their regularly scheduled meeting, with all members present, minus Alderman Blaney.

After all in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance, Mayor Cassandra Eversole-Gunter asked for approval of the minutes from the regular and closed session meetings of Aug. 12, and all approved.

The minutes from the Aug. 26 Committee as a whole meeting were also approved unanimously.  

Next, Eversole-Gunter asked for approval of claims in the amount of $553,550.30. This amount included the final payment to the contractor for construction of the new water treatment facility, and the motion passed unanimously.

The mayor then asked for approval of financial statements and approval of the Treasurer’s cash balance reports for the month of August 2019 and this motion also was passed unanimously.

Eversole Gunter then asked for public comments, found none, and then stated that there would be no engineering report.

The next item on the agenda was for reports from the committee as a whole, and Hooker asked that they explore either moving or finding a cabinet for the a/v equipment in the center of the council chambers. 

Next, city administrator Athey gave her report. The main item of interest was the fact that the annual audit had begun on Sept. 9. She also noted that she had met with representatives from Fehr-Graham to discuss the future city scape project for the main street corridor. An engineer from the Rockford office who specializes in the type of project joined Athey and Fehr Graham engineer Andy Kieser for a tour of the Main Street area.

Under questioning from Alderman Allen, Public Works Director Scott Arbuckle noted that everyone involved was continuing to make adjustments to the water treatment plant to alleviate the odor that occasionally emanates from the new facility.  

Next up, Mayor Eversole Gunter reported that several high school organizations, including the yearbook staff and FFA, have agreed to participate in the fall festival. The Festival committee continues to look at having games, snacks and a movie for kids, with copyright issues being the main concern of the city. The Mayor then asked about the status of the military signage on Main Street, and Arbuckle stated that his department was looking into metal signs that could be purchased to replace the current type of signs. Alderman Hooker agreed to maintain a spreadsheet of active duty military personnel for those who wish to be recognized.   

Eversole Gunter then moved the meeting on to new business.  

First, the council unanimously approved ordinance no. 2019 MC11, approving a contract to sell real estate (North Third Street) for the city of Villa Grove. 

The council then unanimously (Allen recusing himself) approved payment in the amount of $257.37 to Bud’s Auto.

The council then unanimously approved the purchase of Christmas trees for re-sale at the Christmas Tree Lighting Festival, approved a quote for window flex shades at city hall ($1,780), approved Athey’s attendance at the IMTA institute and to the NGMA Grants Conference and approved Arbuckle’s attendance at the WEFTEC 2019 conference.  

Next, the council unanimously approved the purchase of a new salt auger spreader ($2823.53), and approved the purchase of a new hot tack sprayer and trailer ($20455.68) 

The council discussed the leaf pile relocation, with Arbuckle reporting that Mike Mullins from the EPA informing him that the leaf pile could be left in its current location but would need to be incorporated into the ground.

Finally, the council unanimously approved the implementation of a consent agenda for future meetings.

The council then moved to closed session, where they remained until 7:39 p.m., when they returned to the regular session and adjourned with no further action.