HOLLIS TOWNSHIP ~ PEORIA COUNTY ~ ILLINOIS
MINUTES REGULAR MONTHLY BOARD AUDIT MEETING
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014
After the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, the Supervisor called the meeting to order @ 7:00 P.M. at the Hollis Town Hall, 6430 West Wheeler Road, Mapleton, Illinois 61547-9615.
Board Members Present:
Supervisor Gary W. Thomas; Clerk Kelsey A. Archer; Trustees: William J. Gerdes, Tal B. Beckman, James E. Bailey and Brian B. Fengel.
The Supervisor announced a quorum was present.
The Road Commissioner, Dennis R. Beckman and the Tax Assessor Alice B. Dailey attended
this meeting.
There were no visitors.
APROVE MINUTES of Previous Meetings:
1. Prior to tonight’s meeting, copies of Minutes from the Regular Monthly Meeting held on Thursday, July 31, 2014 were distributed to Board Members for their review.
MOTION to accept the Minutes as presented made by Tal Beckman; second Brian Fengel.
Motion passed unanimously with all ayes.
AUDIT CURRENT EXPENDITURES, Investments, Transfer of Funds, Budget Line Item Transfers:
1. MOTION to accept for payment all Town Fund Invoices as presented to the Board on the Disbursement Summary August 28, 2014.
Motion Bill Gerdes; second Brian Fengel. The motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
2. MOTION to accept for payment all Road & Bridge Fund Invoices as presented to the Board on the Disbursement Summary August 28, 2014.
Motion Tal Beckman; second Bill Gerdes. The motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
TOWN BUILDING, GROUNDS & EQUIPMENT:
Dennis Beckman had underground services located on the hillside along Wheeler Road on the Hollis Township Property. He would like to be able to cut the hillside down and landscape an entrance which would make the Township Buildings more visible from Wheeler Road.
At some time, the Road Commissioner will contact Ameren Illinois to see what cost may be involved to move the power source lines to allow excavating that area. Information will be provided as it becomes available.
TOWN BUSINESS ~ Supervisor:
1. Supervisor Thomas attended a meeting Friday, August 22, 2014 at 5:30 P.M. at the Mapleton Village Hall; Hollis Township Trustee Jim Bailey and Administrative Assistant Joleen Bailey also attended this informational meeting.
East Peoria Attorney Fadi Rustom, who is also a managing member of the Illinois Therapeutic Health Center, presented information regarding the proposed purchase of the old antifreeze building on Wheeler Road at the intersection of Powell Road.
The State of Illinois will be choosing the Team of individuals who will be growing medical cannabis as well as producing other related medical products. The location and building purchased by each team will be a considerable part of the State’s decision. Only one Team will be chosen for District 8 which includes Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Marshall, and Stark Counties
Relying on his researched knowledge, Mr. Rustom feels there should be no environmental issues resulting from having the facility at this proposed location. [ The building on Wheeler Road has been for sale for the past 2 ½ years. ]
Mr. Rustom’s organization has already purchased a location on Willow Knolls Road that will be used for the pharmaceutical distribution of medical cannabis.
2. The Supervisor reported on some information which was presented at the Township Officials of Illinois Supervisors Zone II Educational Workshop on Friday morning, August 22, 2014 in East Peoria. One topic discussed was the disposal of old Township records and the process required.
CLERK BUSINESS / Business & Comments:
Clerk, Kelsey Archer offered some information she obtained at the Illinois State Fair regarding grants which may available from DCEO for building improvements and updates. Trustee Brian Fengel was asked to investigate this possibility.
ROAD BUSINESS ~ Highway Commissioner:
1. Pipevision Products, Inc. has finished re-lining the culverts designated as part of the contract with Hollis Township. It was a more difficult procedure than Pipevision had anticipated; they had a 6 man crew.
Our employees were working with Pipevision to help find the culverts; some were obscured by dirt and rocks, and some of the culvert interior walls were collapsed. During this process, we discovered that many more of our culverts are in need of repair and replacement; these may have been in place for 30 years or more. The Road Commissioner will research costs and report at a later date; this will be another large expense for the Road District’s Joint Bridge Fund.
Now, our road crew will work on getting the reject rock around the culverts that were relined to help prevent washout situations.
2. The Saturday morning rain and wind knocked down a lot of trees onto our roadways. The trees have been removed from the roads; however, some debris is still along the roadways for additional cutting and cleanup work by our road crew.
3. Central Management Services has forwarded our Joint Purchasing Program registration and number needed to get purchasing prices and other information from contract vendors.
4. Peoria County Board Member, Brad Harding called Denny and asked him to attend a meeting which was held yesterday at the downtown Peoria Museum regarding the allocation and distribution of the Motor Fuel Tax Funds from the State of Illinois.
The Illinois Soybean Producers will be required to pay 5 cents per bushel which goes to the Motor Fuel Tax Fund. Mr. Harding wanted to have some local elected officials present to help influence the distribution of these funds to the downstate areas.
5. Peoria County Highway Department Motor Fuel Tax: Hollis Township Report dated August 7, 2014 which contains the June allotment $2,692.21 and interest .77 cents for a July 1 total $46,652.35.
The July allotment is $3,017.89 and interest .79 cents for an August 5 total $49,671.03.
TRUSTEES/ Information / Business:
Trustee Bailey gave an update on the 3 Member Audit Committee and noted that a time will be set up when the 3 members can get together to complete the audit.
TAX ASSESSOR’S OFFICE / Information / Business:
1. Alice has received at least a dozen telephone calls from Hollis Township residents after the recent mailing of Property Tax Assessment Notices.
2. RP Lumber has filed an Amended Commercial Appeal with the State of Illinois – Property Tax Appeal Board for Assessment Year 2013. This tax objection involves a change in assessed valuation of $100,000. or more.
Alice will look into the issue and determine which building they are referencing.
OLD UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS OF ILLINOIS ~ 107TH ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE
November 9 ~ 11, 2014
The expenditure for reservations was approved at our Regular Monthly Meeting July 31, 2014.
Reservations will be made for the following Board Members: Trustees, William J. Gerdes,
Tal B. Beckman, and Road Commissioner, Dennis R. Beckman.
NEW BUSINESS:
MOTION to adjourn made by Jim Bailey; second Brian Fengel. The motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:10 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Kelsey A. Archer, Town Clerk