HOLLIS TOWNSHIP REGULAR BOARD MEETING
THURSDAY, September 18, 2025 @ 7:00 pm
MINUTES
The Clerk announced the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag @ 7:00 pm.
The Supervisor called the meeting to order.
Board Members Present for Roll Call:
Supervisor: Russell L. Zeine ☒ Trustees: Dwayne Allen☒ Rich D. Murray ☒ Rhonda Robbins ☒
Maurice Super ☒ Clerk: Patricia Briggs ☒
Supervisor: Announced quorum present.
Note Attendance: Road Commissioner – Dennis Beckman ☒ Tax Assessor – Alice Dailey ☒
Visitors: None
Corrections or Additions to Agenda: Additions to the agenda may be discussed; however, if action is needed by the Board, such action must be taken at another meeting when the topic is posted on the agenda 48 hours prior to the meeting.
APPROVE MINUTES of Previous Meeting
Prior to tonight’s meeting, copies of Minutes from the Regular Monthly Meeting held on August 21, 2025, were distributed to Board Members for their review.
MOTION to accept the Minutes as presented made by: Rich Murray; second Dwayne Allen.
Motions: Ayes-4 Nays-0
AUDIT CURRENT EXPENDITURES, Investments, Transfer of Funds, Budget Line-Item Transfers:
MOTION to accept payment for all Town Fund Invoices as presented to the Board on the Disbursement Summary September 18, 2025, in the amount of $5,468.83
MOTION Rhonda Robbins Second by Maurice Super
Roll Call: Allen ☒ Murray ☒ Robbins ☒ Super ☒ Zeine ☒
MOTION to accept payment for all General Road Fund Invoices as presented to the Board on the Disbursement Summary September 18, 2025, in the amount of $244,956.43
MOTION Rich Murray Second by Dwayne Allen
Roll Call: Allen ☒ Murray ☒ Robbins ☒ Super ☒ Zeine ☒
MOTION to accept payment for all Joint Bridge as presented to the Board on the Disbursement Summary September 18, 2025, in the amount of $2,254.57
MOTION Rhonda Robbins Second by Maurice Allen
Roll Call: Allen ☒ Murray ☒ Robbins ☒ Super ☒ Zeine ☒
VISITORS ADDRESSING THE BOARD: None
TOWN BUILDING, GROUNDS & EQUIPMENT:
Grass is finally dead!
COMMUNICATIONS & CORRESPONDENCE:
Russ showed tote bags and asked if anyone thought they could be of use. Maurice thought maybe they could be used for giving away turkeys, but they no longer give away turkeys, they do gift cards. Russ didn’t have any idea where we would use them. Maurice suggested using them when we give out turkeys. We gave gift certificates last year instead of turkeys. Russ asked the clerk to put ideas for seniors for this year on the agenda for next month and we’ll get a list together. $30 gift cards per sent out last year. Maurice said a board member from Trivoli thought the gift cards were a really good idea. Russ explained that Aldi’s wouldn’t accept a credit card because it was over the $2,000 credit card limit and checks were not accepted. The board thought they would get more out of a gift card for Aldi’s instead of Kroger’s.
TOWN BUSINESS – Supervisor:
Dwayne Allen is the only board member who will be attending the November conference November 10, 11, and 12. Denny will take care of his own registration and Russ will take care of Dwayne’s. He will take care of room reservations closer to time.
Dwayne said Peoria Lunch and Learn was really good.
Russ said he is getting a price for some new locks and handle levers for doors through S&S Hardware. He thought oiled bronze would match hinges. He asked the clerk to put it on the agenda for October.
CLERK BUSINESS:
The clerk stated that her computer is working fine now that updates were figured out.
ROAD BUSINESS – Highway Commissioner:
Dennis explained that we can get slag to mix with salt which provides good traction in the winter weather. Cost is $10.00 per ton. He has been trying to get millings from work on Route 24. They still have two lanes from Caterpillar to Kingston Mines…one lane on each side and crossover to grind so hopefully we’ll be able to get some.
Denny said that the lights on Cameron Lane are messed up. When you go to turn left it turns green on Cameron Lane and green for 24.
Denny explained that the Operating Engineers are wanting to take over Schoolhouse – He didn’t think we had anything on Schoolhouse Road, but we are still getting some Motor Fuel tax for it. He is not sure if it is a good deal or not. This came up previously with the asphalt road to the levy and salt was stockpiled on it and totally ruined it. It was a pain to even have the road and asked if we’d like to get rid of it but Ameren had a right of way on it. We did get rid of the road, but we didn’t get any money. Mapleton has had discussions with them as well. They own clear to the creek and Hinman’s Line North. Powell Road and turn left.
We have a problem at the sharp bend on Powell Road. The hillside is sandy soil and washed sand down. Told the county we need an agreement to maintain the road clear to the creek and we need to get an attorney and have them agree to pay all the attorney’s fees.
Denny said he talked to the engineering firm for the solar farm on Hurst Lane who want to take all equipment up Hurst Lane and he’s refusing because it is a one lane road. We’ll probably make them get a $600,000 bond to replace the road if damaged. There is a road off Tuscarora and County said they could use that gravel road, but they don’t want to.
Denny said they will start patching tomorrow. They finished concrete gutters on S. Lafayette and were going to do another project further up on Lafayette. They went up Hurst and it is washing out bad so will have to finish up there and on Powell Road. They poured 27 yards in 93-degree heat and concrete was setting up too fast. The right-hand side looks good, but the left was left rough to slow the water down.
Denny did buy the new truck from Rush Trucking, just the cab and chassis, not all the equipment that goes with it. Cost was $116,339.17. We saved $22,000 on it. It is an International with a Cummins engine and an automatic Allison transmission. The rest of the emergency equipment needed, a spreader, plow, dump body and emergency lights is $114,605.68. The total will be $230,944.85. We won’t get it right away. We’ll have to get through the winter with what we have. Checking to see if we can get the engine fixed or get a new engine. It would cost $50,000 to put a new motor in the old truck. He is going to check into the cost of rebuilding it. When it was running it was only worth $25,000 to $30,000 so it doesn’t make sense to put a $50,000 engine in it.
TRUSTEES / Information / Business:
Dwayne said training went very well. A program to provide safety glasses and other safety equipment that you can have at no charge is available.
Jim Donovan has insurance partnership with park board and fire department to get a discount. But Russ said it does not apply to us.
Dwayne said to make sure stop signs are clean and if there is an accident, call TOIRMA and they will document it for us.
Human relations officer – Denny handles guys and Russ everyone else. Russ asked the clerk if a recent FOIA request sent out ever got anything back after responding and was told thing else had come through.
TAX ASSESSOR’S OFFICE / Information / Business:
Alice attended the levy meeting. Everyone with property in the levy district was looking for her. The tax rate will go from 1.09 to 1.06 on their property. The levy district got the farm increase. Our supervisor at the courthouse is supposed to give them credit for what the levy district bills them. Not sure the adjustment got taken off. The power plant went to $800,000 this year, down 21% and Alice has asked why?
The solar farm went down because we don’t have anything to compare it to. Revalued new parcel from $9,500 to $10,170. Russ doesn’t understand why we don’t know what we’re getting from the solar farms. Zoned agriculture to solar… is it a different, higher percentage
All the houses are being sold over value which is making everyone’s taxes go up.
OLD UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Denny has talked about the possibility of getting a bus to take a tour of the roads. Russ will check to see what he can come up with. If we limited it to the board, we could rent a 9-passenger van.
NEW BUSINESS: None
MOTION to adjourn made by Rich Murray; second by Dwayne Allen.
The motion passed.
The Meeting Adjourned at 8:28 pm.
Minutes by Patricia Briggs, Hollis Township Clerk