Village of Shannon Board of Trustees Meeting

The president and board of trustees of the Village of Shannon met in regular session on Tuesday December 1, 2009, at 7:00 P.M. at Village Hall to discuss any and all business that might come before them.

In attendance was Bonnie Heckman-Foust presiding. Trustees present: Atherton, Stevens, Gaul, and Curtis, with Lessman and Alvey absent.

Employees present were Jason DeMichele and Chief Troy Randall.

Others present were Atty. Kipp Meyers, Deb Meeks, Mark Penticoff, Robert Smith, Darrell Janssen, Adam Holder, Fehr-Graham, Larry Lyons, Scott Sturtz, Deb Schreiner, and Steve Collman.

There were no building permits issued in November, and one issue pending for zoning. The Blarney Stone received a complaint of not being handicapped accessible. They need a concrete ramp that is 4’ wide installed. Maintenance manager Jason DeMichele will approve the ramp on the north side of the building and will also remove the curb at that intersection for handicapped accessibility.

The November 2009 water report showed pump #1 pumping 1,691,900 gal/mo., and pump #2 pumping 1,499,500 gal/mo., for a total of 3,191,400 gal/mo. The November 2009 wastewater treatment plant report showed 3,409,268 gallons treated, for an average of 113,642 gal/day, a maximum of 394,830 gal/day, and a minimum of 75,830 gal/day.

DeMichele gave the Maintenance Dept. report. They continued leaf pick up through yesterday, November 30th last day. The park is cleaned up, all leaves removed, and port-a-potty gone. The work on the Case back hoe is completed, and all trucks are ready for winter. DeMichele received approval to dig a hole with Village equipment in Lions Park for a free standing water fountain that the Lions Club is installing.  

The November 2009 police report showed 10 traffic citations, 1 verbal warning, 5 complaints, 10 service calls, 865 miles driven, 104.8 Gallons of fuel used, 176 full time hours, and 87 part time hours.

An ice skating pond will be researched for next year, since it is too late to get up and running for this season.

Adam Holder and Larry Lyons presented progress on well #3. Lyons will camera-view the holes in casing to make sure they are not clogged, but the quantity of water flow is not what it should be. At 400-700 ft. deep, 200 gal/min. is normal. He will check quantity in test well #2 to see if we can net that much.

The long range plan should include an income survey in case the Village qualifies for some grant funds depending on income levels in the Village. For time and materials Fehr-Graham should be able to complete the survey for under $3000. The Board approved the survey to be completed in March or April. Lyons will work up some figures for what it will cost to finish abandoning well #3, and cost on expanding test well #2 into a working well.

Deb Meeks and Mark Penticoff addressed the board to request that they amend the liquor ordinance to allow a 4th liquor license in Shannon. President Foust is opposed to this idea. It would take a few months to even consider it. The issue would have to be on the agenda for next month’s board meeting, and then board would have to approve attorney Kipp Meyers’ drafting of an amended ordinance. Mark Curtis said that would take entirely too long, and that we just lost another business in Shannon.

Scott Sturtz, Deb Schreiner, and Steve Collman are representing several truckers in Shannon. Steve presented a proposal that no commercial vehicles be allowed to park on any city street, but that you may park a truck or trailer in your own driveway or cement pad in your yard on private property. There may be a possibility of off-road parking at the old Linker Oil property. The owner is considering the request. For now, truckers will have to follow the ordinance that is in place, with no on-street parking of trucks, except on Badger Street. This issue will continue to be looked at and considered.

At the special meeting some ideas for the Village’s Capital Improvement Plan were discussed. The board came up with some main priorities. They are as follows:

- Codification of ordinances;

- Formation of a Park District;

- Future well development;

- Dredging the sewer pond;

- Acquiring Lions Park from the Eastland School District.

Adam added that you can apply for funds without a Park District through the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources.

Board discussed the U.S. Post Office mailbox issues. Village Board feels that a solution would be to make Locust Street a one-way for one block in front of the post office, between Market and Hickory Streets. A motion by Atherton, 2nd by Gaul, “to make North Locust Street a one-way street heading north for one block between Market and Hickory Streets effective January 1st, 2010.” All present voted yea. A notice of this will be put on December water bills.

Foust said she has two people interested in the treasurer’s position, and will try to get someone hired after the 1st of the year.

In a motion by Atherton, 2nd by Curtis, the Village passed and approved Ordinance #331, the annual levy for fiscal year 2009-10. All present voted yea.

Foust also passed along Tri-County Economic Development Alliance’s thanks for Village of Shannon monetary support.

The Board approved Christmas bonuses of $100, the same as last year, for four employees. 

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