Agendas & Meeting Minutes
Village of Mt. Zion
Mayor and Village Board of Trustees Meeting
Monday, December 19, 2011
VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MEETING MINUTES
December 19, 2011
Mayor Don Robinson called the Meeting of the Mt. Zion Village Board of Trustees to order at 5:15 p.m. The following Board Members were present for roll call: Matthew Trusner, Dean Otta, Cathy Derby, Rick Bright, Donna Scales, and Kevin Fritzsche. Also present were Jerry Potts, Village Administrator, Chief Doug Dunn, Grant Corum, Director of Public Works, Julie Miller, Village Treasurer, Matt Foster, BGM Engineering, and Tammy Mense, Village Clerk.
Pledge of Allegiance
Consent Agenda: A motion was made by Trustee Scales to approve the Consent Agenda as amended with typo regarding numbering on the Agenda, seconded by Trustee Trusner. A breakdown of Fund Warrants for the period ending December 19, 2011 is as follows: General Fund - $29,699.62, Convention Center - $20,349.56, Motor Fuel Tax Fund - $391.38, Water Revenue Fund - $2,381.22, Sewer Revenue Fund - $27,667.94, and Risk Management - $1,775.82. A roll call vote was taken: Otta-yea, Trusner-yea, Bright-yea, Derby-yea, Fritzsche-yea, and Scales-yea. Motion carried 6-yea, 0-nay, 0-absent.
Mayor Appointment to the Police Pension Board: Mayor Robinson asked for the unanimous concurrence of this appointment of Nick McKinney, Senior Accounting Supervisor, at ADM. A bio was submitted of Mr. McKinney’s qualifications. Mr. McKinney was present for appointment. Treasurer Miller has scheduled the first meeting of the Pension Board for January 2012.
A motion was made by Trustee Bright to approve the appointment of Nick McKinney as presented, seconded by Trustee Fritzsche. A roll call vote was taken: Fritzsche-yea, Derby-yea, Scales-yea, Bright-yea, Trusner-yea, and Otta-yea. Motion carried, 6-yea, 0-nay.
Ordinance Rezoning Lot 2 of Robertson Gardens: Administrator Potts presented the request for rezoning for Joe Flies of Forsyth, IL, to build apartments on Lot 2 of the Replat of Lot 1 and part of Lot 2 of Robertson Gardens. The lot is currently zoned VB-2 Community Shopping, the requested rezoning is VO-1 Apartment Zone. The Planning & Zoning Commission held a Public Hearing on December 6, 2011, the Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval to the Village Board. The required notices to adjacent property owners were sent, the Village received no objections to this rezoning request. Phil Cochran, Cochran Engineering, was present and reiterated Mr. Potts presentation; with the addition of fencing and berm’s between properties, felt this would be a good transition for the property. The development proposal if approved would include two apartment buildings of 8-units each. One apartment building has 3-bedroom apartments, and the other will be 2-bedroom, with 32 parking spaces.
Mayor Robinson gave an overview of the adjacent duplex development; Trustee Bright expressed concerns about the construction of more apartments and future upkeep; Trustee Derby stated she felt apartments did not have the same feel as duplexes.
A motion was made by Trustee Derby to approve the Ordinance Rezoning Lot 2 in the Replat of Robertson Gardens from VB-2 Community Shopping to VO-1 Apartment Zone as presented, seconded by Trustee Bright. A roll call vote was taken: Fritzsche-nay, Derby-yea, Scales-yea, Bright-yea, Trusner-yea, and Otta-yea. Motion carried, 5-yea, 1-nay.
Change Order Number 1 & 2 – Henderson Phase 2: Administrator Potts stated that work is complete on Henderson Street Improvements, has been inspected and approved by IDOT, and $330,000 of the grant money from DECO for this project has been received. The final contact $628,213.50 is $45,918.25 over the original contract estimate. A number of drain tile, waterline service adjustments, and the discovery of unsuitable sub grade dirt under the proposed pavement had to be replaced with rock to support the new concrete pavement. Matt Foster, Engineer with BGM reiterated Mr. Potts statements for the need of rock for a good base for the road construction.
A motion was made by Trustee Scales to approve Change Order Number 1 & 2 and final contract amount of $628,213.50 to Otto Baum Company, Inc., as presented, seconded by Trustee Fritzsche. A roll call vote was taken: Fritzsche-yea, Derby-yea, Scales-yea, Bright-yea, Trusner-yea, and Otta-yea. Motion carried, 6-yea, 0-nay.
Ordinance Approving 2011 Tax Levy:
Treasurer Miller presented the 2011 Tax Levy Ordinance for approval. Miller stated the levy was based on a stable rate and to capture the dollars associated with the additional growth. A public hearing was not necessary this year as the Village is not levying more than 5% over the previous years levy. Police Pension will be included in the Budget for 2012. The Tax Levy Ordinance must be approved or the Village does not receive tax funds. The Truth in Taxation limit is equal to last year’s levy total minus the amounts levied for debt which includes bonds and lease purchases. This year’s Truth in Taxation limit is $751,967. The proposed levy’s taxation amount minus debt is $700,602. As long as the projected EAV ($107,636,011) is close, the Village’s tax rate should be lower than the previous year’s tax rates.
A motion was made by Trustee Bright to approve the proposed Tax Levy Ordinance for 2011 as presented, seconded by Trustee Trusner. A roll call vote was taken: Fritzsche-yea, Derby-yea, Scales-yea, Bright-yea, Trusner-yea, and Otta-yea. Motion carried, 6-yea, 0-nay.
Ordinance Abating Tax Levied for Debt Service - $3,515,000 G.O. Bond (Alternate Revenue Source): Treasurer Miller presented the ordinance abating the property tax levy to re-pay the $3,515,000 General Obligation Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source) for 2011. Abating taxes does not extend on the tax bill. Bonds were issued in March 2009 for Fletcher Park and the Lewis Redevelopment Project. The Village pledged utility tax revenues as the source for the repayment of the bonds. The Village has sufficient utility tax revenues and the bond payment will be budgeted next year as such. The Ordinance will be filed with the County Clerk, Steve Bean.
A motion was made by Trustee Bright to approve the Ordinance Abating the Tax Levy for the Debt Service on $3,515,000 in General Obligation Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source) as presented, seconded by Trustee Otta. A roll call vote was taken: Fritzsche-yea, Derby-yea, Scales-yea, Bright-yea, Trusner-yea, and Otta-yea. Motion carried, 6-yea, 0-nay.
Public Forum: Five (5) people were present; no one wished to speak at this time.
Administrator & Staff Items: Director Corum stated his Department is currently reconstructing “Old” Village Hall into the new Police Department quarters and continuing with water meter installation.
Chief Dunn mentioned the remodel project for his Department, and the grant for the squad car has been approved and awaiting dealership information from the State.
Clerk Mense wished everyone a Happy Holiday!
Mayor & Trustee Items: Trustee Bright thanked Staff for the top notch work on the Volunteer Appreciation Social, and Merry Christmas/Happy New Year!
Mayor Robinson repeated Trustee Bright’s sentiments and reminded everyone to check out the Village website for the Holiday Greeting designed by Administrator Potts.
Adjournment: A motion was made by Trustee Bright to adjourn the December 19, 2011, Village Board meeting, seconded by Trustee Scales. A voice vote was unanimous; motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 5:47 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Tammy Mense
Village Clerk
