HOLLIS TOWNSHIP ~ PEORIA COUNTY ~ ILLINOIS
MINUTES ~ REGULAR MONTHLY BOARD MEETING
THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012
After the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, the Supervisor called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. @ the Hollis Town Hall, 6430 West Wheeler Road, Mapleton, Illinois 61547-9615.
Board Members Present:
Supervisor Gary W. Thomas; Clerk Harry L. Sweet, Jr.; 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.
APROVE MINUTES of Previous Meetings:
1. Prior to tonight’s meeting, copies of Minutes from the Regular Monthly Meeting held on Thursday, July 26, 2012 were distributed to Board Members for their review.
MOTION to accept the Minutes as presented made by Brian Fengel; second Tal Beckman. The
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 30, 2012.
Motion Jim Bailey; second Bill Gerdes. The motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
2. MOTION to accept for payment all General Assistance Invoices as presented to the Board on the Disbursement Summary August 30, 2012.
Motion Brian Fengel; second Tal Beckman. The motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
3. MOTION to accept for payment all Road & Bridge Fund Invoices as presented to the Board on the Disbursement Summary August 30, 2012.
Motion Tal Beckman; second Bill Gerdes. The motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
4. MOTION to accept for payment all Joint Bridge Fund Invoices as presented to the Board on the Disbursement Summary August 30, 2012.
Motion Jim Bailey; second Tal Beckman. The motion passed with all ayes on a roll call vote.
TOWN BUILDING, GROUNDS & EQUIPMENT:
Trustee Bailey mentioned that the direction of the downspout on the southwest corner of the machine shed needs to be changed so that water doesn’t run on the sidewalk and parking lot in front of the office building. The water freezes in the winter and creates ice in those areas. The Tax Assessor had asked about this earlier in the year when ice was an issue in the parking lot.
The Road Commissioner will take action to change the routing of the water.
COMMUNICATIONS & Correspondence:
1. Lisa Madigan, Illinois Attorney General’s Office ~ Hollis Township received a confirmation letter regarding our request under the Freedom of Information Act with regard to information on the Carri-Scharf Materials plant located in Hollis Township on Route 24 and Cilco Lane. Prior to receiving the letter, the Supervisor also received a telephone call from the Freedom of Information Officer for the Attorney General’s Office.
2. Recent electrical power outages for some Hollis Township residents: ~ Some Tuscarora Road area residents have reported loss of electrical service on August 16, (10 hours) August 23 (4 hours) and August 26 (12 hours).
It has been suggested that residents call the Illinois Commerce Commission to report these frequent outages.
3. Direct Energy has contacted Hollis Township to ask us to sign up for cheaper rates on our Township and Maintenance Building electrical use with Ameren.
On a recent invoice, we calculated the difference in what we are paying now and what we would pay with the new cheaper rate; the total savings would be approximately $6.00 per month on each invoice (Town Fund and Road & Bridge Fund).
No action was taken. The Board expressed NO INTEREST in pursuing a contract with Direct Energy.
.
ROAD BUSINESS ~ Highway Commissioner:
1. The Peoria County Court has ordered a Kingston Mines resident to perform 30 hours of community service by picking up litter along the roadsides. We do not know the nature of his offense and do not believe there is a connection with Hollis Township; however, the Road Commissioner is responsible for monitoring and reporting his hours to the Court.
2. The Road Commissioner gave a 3 hour deposition last Thursday, August 23, 2012 regarding the alleged accident and injury which was reported to have occurred on Terminal Road in June 2010.
It was June of 2011 when Hollis Township was contacted regarding this incident.
3. Ghelardini, Inc. has completed framing the walls and roof for the salt shed: They are now waiting for the steel roof and siding pieces to be custom cut to enclose the structure.
4. One of our part time employees, Dick Ringwald may be able to return to work in October.
5. McCullough Road has lots of trees that need to be trimmed or removed. The Road Commissioner may hire a tree-removal business to cut some of the most difficult tree tops. Our road crew can clear lower limbs and brush.
6. The Peoria County Highway Department Motor Fuel Tax Report for Hollis Township /
We do not have a report for August 2, 2012 which would give us an update for the month of July.
TAX ASSESSOR’S OFFICE / Alice Dailey reporting:
1. There are two new houses being built in Hollis Township; one on McCullough Road and one on Stranz Road. In addition, some homes priced under $100,000. have been sold in Hollis Township.
2. This month, Alice has received many phone calls from residents who have had increases in their property assessments. They are calling for an explanation regarding those assessment updates. Also, some residents have had appraisals of their property and the appraisals are lower than the assessment.
3. One very complicated situation involves a resident, who built a pole barn on property which they thought they owned; however, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) believes the pole barn is on IDOT property. There appears to be no record of a building permit or any building inspection regarding this pole barn after it was completed. The resident is looking for more information to verify their ownership of the property in question. More information will follow as it becomes available.
OLD UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Township Officials of Illinois ~ Annual Educational Seminar November 11-13, 2012: With our Board Audit, August 30, 2012, Dennis Beckman, Tal Beckman and Bill Gerdes have been registered to attend this conference.
NEW BUSINESS:
MOTION to adjourn made by Jim Bailey; second Brian Fengel. The motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 7:59 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Harry L. Sweet, Jr. Town Clerk