Meeting Minutes: March 15, 2011

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS:

Council called to order by Mayor Amy Joseph on
Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 7:30 pm at the Rockford Village Hall.

Invocation was given by Gene Steiner
Pledge of Allegiance
Those present: Gehle, Steiner, Hodge, Pontsler, Searight, Heitkamp

Also attending: Judy Koesters, Jeff Long, Sergeant Stetler,
Amy Kronenberger of the Daily Standard, Tom Rogers, Nancy Leighner, Marty Lentz

Motion Steiner. Second Searight to accept Agenda as orders of the day. Pontsler called for the question. Steiner = y, Searight = y, Pontsler = y, Gehle = y,
Hodge = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.

Motion: Searight Second Heitkamp to accept the minutes from the
March 1, 2011 meeting as presented. Gehle called for the question. Searight = y, Heitkamp = y, Gehle = y, Steiner = y, Hodge = y, Pontsler = y. Passed 6 yes.

Visitors to Address Council:

Tom Rogers spoke: members of the Splash Pad Board held a meeting last Thursday and elected officers for the Splash Pad Board. The Board has opened their own banking account. The down payment for the splash pad has been sent with remaining balance due upon completion and satisfaction. Nancy Leighner gave report on the Quarter Auction last Sunday. The auction went very well and funds have been deposited in the bank. $2500 made from auction and $200 more in food sales. Tom will be getting with the Lions Club and the Eagles for donations. The goal is to purchase fencing and sidewalk around the splash pad to make it safe. The Legion has donated another $1,000. We are on our way as soon as the weather breaks. The Board will keep Council up to date with various activities and reports. A representative from Council will attend their meetings. The next Splash Pad meeting will be March 28th at 6:30 pm. Gene Steiner to represent Council. Approval of officers to be during the Service report.

Mayor to Board – Thank you. Thank you. You have done a fantastic job working and getting the splash pad to become a reality ! You have been an awesome example as community leaders ! Good job.

Mayor’s Report and Correspondence:

Reminder – Randy Long presentation of Aflac programs will be on Friday at 2 pm. All employees and council are encouraged to attend.

Village Administrator’s Report – Jeff Long

Meeting scheduled with Moser Construction on Friday. We will be doing the final review of the Water Treatment Plant. One major problem left to be done is the floor. Paint not adhering to the floor. Maybe bring in someone (expert) to see what actually needs to be done. Will probably need to be sanded and repainted. We don’t want to schedule the Open House until the floor is complete. There are several minor details we are continuing to work through.

Waterline and sanitary sewer lines to splash pad will be started once the weather breaks – maybe even later this week. The materials have been delivered. We are using a 4” line to a 2” line for volume. We will be using a 2” meter instead of the 4” meter – saving $1,000. The 2” meter allows flow to 120 gal. per minute. We are in good shape.

Springers will be in the park soon taking down 5 trees that are marked with red X. Tops are dead and those would have needed removed in the near future anyways.

Market street report — with all the rain and melting snow, the street did not have any major problems. There was water standing for a brief period, but that is to be expected as fast as the rain was coming and the snow was melting.

Committee Reports:

Finance Committee – Steve Gehle

Motion Searight. Second Steiner to pay the bills as submitted by the
Fiscal Officer in the amount of $19,381.43. Bills include DP & L, salt, Fanning Howey, fuel, and normal expenses. Gehle called for the question.
Searight = y, Steiner = y, Gehle = y, Hodge = y, Pontsler = y, Heitkamp = y. Passed 6 yes.

Motion Pontsler. Second Heitkamp to accept the Mayors Court pay in of $726.00. Searight called for the question. Pontsler = y, Heitkamp =y, Searight = y, Gehle = y, Steiner = y, Hodge =y. Passed 6 yes.

Service Committee: Gary Hodge

Service meeting was held before Council. The upcoming sidewalk plan was discussed: Village Hall to Main St, East Pearl St, East St, Franklin St. from Front to Bridge St. and review other areas in need of repair.

Motion Steiner. Second Pontsler to approve the Splash Pad officers:

Nancy Leighner – President Barb Pedroza – Vice President Tom Rogers – Treasurer Marty Lentz – Secretary

Gehle called for the question. Steiner =y, Pontsler = y, Gehle = y, Hodge = y, Searight = y, Heitkamp = y, Passed 6 yes.

Safety Committee: Ron Searight

The next Safety Committee meeting will be after Council on March 15th at 8 pm.

Economic Development Committee: Eugene Steiner

Council Economic Development will be re-establishing the business, retail and manufacturing visits.

Public Utilities Committee: Greg Pontsler

There were several water shut offs for non payment. Two accounts are still shut off. We will be holding off on the Wastewater treatment plant – with new representatives we may be able to buy some time.

Rules Committee: Chris Heitkamp

Rules committee meeting scheduled on March 15th after Safety Meeting.

Old Business

We will be having Clean Up day — date to be scheduled with Marhargs then we will be making a public announcement.

New Business

Information regarding budget numbers came from the Governor’s office this afternoon. Our local government will be cut 25% this year and another 25% next year. We will need to monitor our budget closely.

Searight asked if we are paying overtime — Yes we have had to pay some overtime this year because of winter weather.

Meeting adjourned 8:05 pm.