Meeting Minutes: August 8, 2023
Council called to order by Mayor – Amy Joseph on August 8, 2023
at 7:30 pm.
Invocation – Ron Searight
Pledge of Allegiance
Those present: Marcas Heitkamp, Ron Searight, Luke Stephenson,
Rick Shindeldecker, Mary Beougher, Chris Heitkamp.
Also attending: Ross Finke, Francis Schaffner, Cheif Stetler, Patrolman May, and Abby Miller of the Daily Standard.
Motion Beougher. Second Stephenson to accept the agenda as orders of the day. M Heitkamp called for the question. Beougher = y, Stephenson = y, M Heitkamp = y, Searight = y, Shindeldecker = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.
Motion Searight. Second Stephenson to accept the minutes from the August 1 , 2023 council meeting as presented. Heitkamp called for the question. Searight = y, Stephenson = y, Heitkamp = y, M Heitkamp = y, Beougher = y, Shindeldecker = y. Passed 6 yes.
Visitors to Address Council:
* Note deadline for council agenda the Friday before council at 4 pm. *
*** time limit 5 minutes ***
Mayor’s Report and Correspondence:
Community Announcements and events:
Monday – August 21st – Welcome back to School – Students and Administration – Make it a great one Panthers !
Saturday – September 9 Fire Department – reverse raffle/chicken dinner
Dinner starts @ 5:00. Raffle @ 7:00
Saturday, October 28th – Rockford Trick or Treat 5-6:30 pm with Costume Judging at the Fire Department at 7 pm.
Tuesday – November 7th – General Election – Voting at Community Building
Village Administrator’s Report – Aaron Temple
North tower – 1 more coat of paint then lettering. Should be hooking up electrical by end of August. On schedule for original completion date.
South tower – started blasting. Project should be done in 2 – 3 weeks.
Installed a transfer pump at WWTP.
Have been working on getting all the brush caught up from storms.
WWTP process — will hold up from buying more product for another couple of weeks and see how things are going.
Craig – Access Eng – still researching the cover idea. Would be better to spend $170,000 one time than $100,000 yearly cost.
Received an offer to purchase on the last lot in the subdivision — was less than half price and rather offensive. Quickly rejected.
Waiting on estimates for park pond pavilion.
Questions / comments — trash can needed at pond area. Might have one we can relocate.
Shanes Park — parking lot / entrance – haven’t had time to focus on that yet.
Committee Reports:
Finance Committee: Ron Searight – President
Motion Stephenson. Second Shindeldecker to pay the bills as presented $74,350.17. Beougher called for the question. Stephenson = y, Shindeldecker = y, Beougher = y, M Heitkamp = y, Searight = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.
Motion Stephenson to approve the renewal of Public Funds Deposit Agreement with Peoples Bank Co. through 08/22/2025. (need 3 signatures) Second Shindeldecker. Heitkamp called for the question. Stephenson = y, Shindeldecker = y, Heitkamp = y, M Heitkamp = y, Searight = y, Beougher = y. Passed 6 yes.
Reminder – November General Election — Rockford Levy – renewal only — VOTE YES for general operating expenses that generates estimated $40,000.
2024 Budget Commission hearings were held on August 7th — the village local government fund rates will decrease by $1,830.06 or -5.03%. Another reason why we need our levy to pass.
Quarterly transfer to Franklin St. Fund — 3rd quarter – September 5th meeting. We will review finances and make decision.
Rules Committee: Marcas Heitkamp
Service Committee: Mary Beougher –
Would like to congratulate Aaron Temple and Blair Shaffer – each have 16 years of service to the Village. Many times and often their work and dedication goes unnoticed and underappreciated. Thank you for your dedication to the village. Congratulations on behalf of the Council. We appreciate all the Village Employees — all do a good job.
Safety Committee: Chris Heitkamp
Safety meeting scheduled for September 5th at 7 pm.
Economic Development Committee: Rick Shindeldecker
Motion Searight to suspend the rules and pass Ordinance 03-23 as an emergency measure. Second Stephenson. Beougher called for the question. Searight = y, Stephenson = y, Beougher = y, M Heitkamp = y, Shindeldecker = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.
ORDINANCE 03-23
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION OF MERCER COUNTY, AS AN AGENT FOR THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, TO SELL AND CONVEY REAL PROPERTY WHICH IS OWNED BY THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD.
Motion: Searight. Second Stephenson. Heitkamp called for the question. Searight = y, Stephenson = y, Heitkamp = y, M Heitkamp = y, Beougher = y, Shindeldecker = y . Passed 6 yes.
Motion Searight to approve the sale of (4) properties located in the Village of Rockford – set pricing and restrictions. Lot prices – 70 x 150 lots $29,000 and 170 x 75 lots $33,000. The following restrictions– 18 months to build. Single family dwellings. These restrictions align with our current subdivision covenants. 2 off sets, 30 % natural materials. Sidewalks installed within 1 year. Attached garage. Fencing would be regulated through the zoning ordinance already in place. Second Stephenson. M Heitkamp called for the question. Searight = y, Stephenson = y, M Heitkamp = y, Beougher = y, Shindeldecker = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.
RESOLUTION 07-23
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS RELATIVE TO THE SALE OF LOTS OFF BRDIGE STREET.
Motion Beougher. Second Searight. M Heitkamp called for the question. Beougher = y, Searight = y, M Heitkamp = y, Stephenson = y, Shindeldecker = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.
Public Utilities Committee: Luke Stephenson
WRKD – New station Sales Rep is Amber McDonough.
Public encouraged to get in touch with Amber for Fall Sports underwriting!
Her contact information will be coming soon on the WRKD Facebook page.
Welcome to the team😊
Motion M Heitkampto approve Amber as the Sales Rep. Second Shindeldecker. Searight called for the question. M Heitkamp = y, Shindeldecker = y, Searight = y, Stephenson = y, Beougher = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.
Old Business:
Motion Searight to give Parkway Schools Exclusive use – Police Golf Cart during the term of the School Resource Officer Agreement at a rate of $5,000. Need to include insurance and void #3 on the agreement. Second Shindeldecker. Stephenson called for the question. Searight = y, Shindeldecker = y, Stephenson = y, M Heitkamp = y, Beougher = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.
New Business:
Thanks to Chief Stetler for the Police activity log. Will be giving monthly updates to council.
Meeting adjourned 7:56 pm
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Mayor Fiscal officer
