Macon Reporter

Village of Forsyth Board of Trustees met April 2.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Jim Peck called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL

Upon a call of the roll, the following members were physically present: Mayor Jim Peck, Trustee Dave Wendt, Trustee Lauren Young, Trustee Marilyn Johnson, Trustee Jeremy Shaw, Trustee Jeff London

Absent: Trustee Bob Gruenewald

Staff Present: Village Administrator Jill Applebee, Public Works Director Darin Fowler, Planning and Zoning Director Ryan Raleigh, Village Clerk Cheryl Marty, Village Treasurer Rhonda Stewart, Village Engineer Jeremy Buening, Village Library Director Melanie Weigel, Village Attorney Lisa Petrilli

Others Present: Bill Krueger

CONSENT AGENDA

1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 19, 2024

2. APPROVAL OF MACON COUNTY SPRING CLEANUP RECYCLING GRANT

3. APPROVAL OF WARRANTS

MOTION

Trustee Johnson made a Motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented and Trustee Wendt seconded the Motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 5 – Wendt, Shaw, Young, Johnson, London

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 1 – Gruenewald

Motion declared carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT: At this time, the public has the opportunity to express views or make comments to the Mayor and Board of Trustees on agenda items or any other Village issue. Comments must be limited to not more than three (3) minutes.

A brief Board discussion was held regarding complaints of early morning garbage pick-up and excessive noise from the garbage trucks. Village Attorney Petrilli suggested to identify it as a nuisance and either change or limit the hours to after 5:00 a.m. Several Board members had concerns about regulating one business which could lead to others and become more of a problem. All Board members agreed with that point and agreed to take no action.

ADMINISTRATION REPORTS

1. Law Enforcement Report

Sheriff Deputy Hale reported several unpermitted storm chaser companies showing up in the Village after the weekend storm. Golf cart registration has been a success. Retail thefts are still up in the Village. He confirmed that there has been a small increase in accidents on Route 51 due to the road construction. Administrator Applebee said the park restrooms were recently vandalized but the parent and his son came in to admit the son’s responsibility in the vandalism.

2. Village Staff Reports

Mayor Peck left a phone message with Kevin Greenfield County Board Chairman regarding the Phillips Pipeline clean-up status. Public Works Director Fowler confirmed that Metro Fiber plans to be finished by the end of April. Administrator Applebee encouraged everyone to check out the History section on the Forsyth Public Library site as Tina Horve has done a tremendous amount of work. Public Works Director Fowler met with Chastain & Associates and Dunn Company regarding Grayhawk I patchwork being started on April 15. He explained a $29,000 savings was gained by using a mill overlay approach. A short discussion ensued on this topic.

OLD BUSINESS

1. DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION REGARDING AVALON BLVD. RECONSTRUCTION REBIDDING PROCESS (VILLAGE ENGINEER JEREMY BUENING)

Village Engineer Buening explained that Chastain & Associates recommends this project be rebid as asphalt pavement in conjunction with Prairie at Tallon and the Grayhawk projects. Doing so will provide the Village with estimated savings of $50,000 to $75,000 over all for the project depending on unit prices at the time bids are received. A short discussion ensued and all agreed for Village Engineer Buening to move forward in that direction.

No Motion needed.

2. DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION REGARDING VILLAGE OF FORSYTH INVESTMENT POLICY (VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR JILL APPLEBEE)

Resident Bill Krueger spoke about brokered Certificates of Deposits and the pros and cons of this choice for the Village. Brokered CDs are paying more than local banks so it would be wise to consider this option. He gave his opinion regarding the pros and cons. The Board was grateful for his unbiased professional opinion and found the information to be very helpful. A Board discussion ensued on the topic and all agreed to include this option in the investment policy.

No Motion needed.

3. DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION REGARDING FORSYTH STRATEGIC PLAN (VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR JILL APPLEBEE)

This topic was discussed last in the meeting due to the length of the conversation. Discussion began with Forsyth Park, then Sports and Nature Park and lastly Prairie Winds with the focus being on which elements should be included in that area then assigned to which budget year.

No Motion needed.

NEW BUSINESS

1. DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION REGARDING CLEANUP DAY RATE INCREASE (VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR JILL APPLEBEE)

Village Administrator Applebee shared the information received from Waste Management regarding our annual Village clean-up days to be held in May. There is a huge cost increase for this and all garbage service. The Board discussed this as well as the decision to retain door to door service or implement a roll-off service. The challenge is the Board only has one month to decide and then inform the residents of the decision. The Board discussed the pros and cons of the three (3) options. After a lengthy discussion, the Board agreed to go to a roll off container option which best meets budget requirements. Public Works Director Fowler suggested the gated area at the water plant could be used to place the roll-off dumpsters as it has a circle drive. This would help eliminate any non-resident dumping garbage.

No Motion needed.

2. DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION REGARDING REPAIR OF PUMP (PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR DARIN FOWLER)

Public Works Director Fowler explained the need to repair the #1 high-speed service pump which is 19 years old. He said that Decatur Industrial Electric provided a repair quote of $24,026.36 with a lead time of six (6) weeks. D.I.E also quoted the purchase of a new high speed pump at $43,400.00 with a 22-week lead time. No quote has yet been received by Bodine Electric for both the repair and the purchase of a new pump.

MOTION

Trustee Wendt made a Motion to approve the $24,026.36 pump repair as presented and Trustee London seconded the Motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 5 – Wendt, Shaw, Young, Johnson, London

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 1 – Gruenewald

Motion declared carried.

3. DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION REGARDING I.G.A. EMPOWERING DUATS 2024 (VILLAGE ATTORNEY LISA PETRILLI)

Village Attorney Petrilli explained this is a new intergovernmental agreement to coordinate land use in the Decatur metropolitan area. This agreement involves Macon County, City of Decatur, Village of Forsyth, Village of Mt. Zion and IDOT District 7. A short discussion Board ensued.

MOTION

Trustee Wendt made a Motion to approve the I.G.A. empowering DUATS 2024 as presented and Trustee London seconded the Motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 5 – Wendt, Shaw, Young, Johnson, London

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 1 – Gruenewald

Motion declared carried.

4. DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION REGARDING PURCHASE OF UTILITY TRUCK (PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR DARIN FOWLER)

Public Works Director Fowler explained the need to purchase a new utility truck. Quotes were obtained from Bob Ridings (2024 Ford F150 2WD Regular Cab, $36,498) and from Miles Chevrolet (2024 Chevrolet 1500 Silverado 2WD Regular Cab, $38,465). A brief discussion was held after the recommendation to accept the quote from Bob Ridings.

MOTION

Trustee Young made a Motion to approve the purchase of the 2024 Ford F150 2WD Regular Cab for $36,498 as presented and Trustee Wendt seconded the Motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 5 – Wendt, Shaw, Young, Johnson, London

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 1 – Gruenewald

Motion declared carried.

5. DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION REGARDING FORSYTH PARK ADA SIDEWALK (VILLAGE ENGINEER JEREMY BUENING)

Village Engineer Jeremy Buening explained Chastain & Associate’s contract for proposed playground equipment within Forsyth Park to make it ADA accessible. The contract is not to exceed $30,800. The Board had concerns about the high cost but Village Engineer Buening explained the reasons for the scope of the project.

MOTION

Trustee Young made a Motion to award the ADA sidewalk proposal to Chastain & Associates and not to exceed $30,800 and Trustee Wendt seconded the Motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 5 – Wendt, Shaw, Young, Johnson, London

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 1 – Gruenewald

Motion declared carried.

6. DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION REGARDING PLAYGROUND RESURFACING (PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR DARIN FOWLER)

Public Works Director Fowler explained that pricing was lower for resurfacing and why it was so. A brief discussion was held.

MOTION

Trustee Wendt made a Motion to approve the proposal from Stillwater Mulch for $16,730 assuming the tax is taken off from the quote and Trustee Young seconded the Motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 5 – Wendt, Shaw, Young, Johnson, London

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 1 – Gruenewald

Motion declared carried.

7. DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION REGARDING RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF FINAL PLAT FOR MINOR SUBDIVISION (DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ZONING RYAN RALEIGH)

Director of Planning and Zoning Raleigh explained the issue in Shadow Ridge neighborhood. Both neighbors agreed to sell the property so it becomes one owner and merges two (2) pieces of land back into one. All legal documents have already been filed and approved with Macon County.

MOTION

Trustee London made a Motion to approve the final plat as presented and Trustee Johnson seconded the Motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 5 – Wendt, Shaw, Young, Johnson, London

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 1 – Gruenewald

Motion declared carried.

MOTION

Trustee Wendt made a Motion to move to Closed Session and Trustee Johnson seconded the Motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 5 – Wendt, Shaw, Young, Johnson, London

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 1 – Gruenewald

Motion declared carried.

CLOSED SESSION: Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5): The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired.

5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6): The setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21): Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under this Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section 2.06.

CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS ARISING FROM CLOSED SESSION

ADJOURNMENT

Trustee Wendt made the Motion to adjourn and Trustee Johnson seconded the Motion. All Board members agreed by voice vote, and the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 P.M.

https://forsyth-il.gov/vertical/sites/%7B18717005-44FD-438D-B0BC-B86101984F4F%7D/uploads/External_Meeting_Packet(76).pdf