Milledgeville Board Briefs

The regular Board meeting of the Village of Milledgeville was held Tuesday, August 24, with President Galen Wirth and Trustees Bill Stage, Gary Geirnaeirt, Gene Behrens, Stan Eads, Terry Schmidt, and John Helms present.

In Old Business, Greg Miller, Maintenance Supervisor, stated that a previous quote of $3000 from Peterson & Matz for a pump repair was incorrect. The quote was actually $4200. With the cost of a new pump between $14-$17,000, a motion was approved to repair the current pump for $4200.

Ag Use Area

Under New Business, Chastity Welch, CCFB Manager, and Brad Smith were present to ask the Board to consider labeling an area outside of the Village as an Ag use Area. The basic premise is to label it as such to make it possible to keep development closer to the center of town. Smith explained that the Board would be stating that the best use for the area is for agriculture. If in the future the Board decided to develop the area, they would simply have to remove the proposed area from the Ag Use Area.

The proposed area currently includes 350 acres of farmland to the northwest outside of Milledgeville, and includes land owned by the Smith’s and Daw Acres. A Trustee asked what would happen if the Board objected to the map. Smith stated that if the Board didn’t want a certain area(s) included, the map would be redrawn with possibly other areas included instead. Welch said the Board has 30 days to consider approving the area. Schmidt asked to have the item tabled in order to review the information presented by Welch and Smith, as well as ask other communities that have approved such measures about their experience. Smith said that Jersey County in Southern Illinois now has an Ag Use Area in place. Pres. Wirth said the item will be tabled and discussed at the Sept. 7 meeting.

In other New Business, Wirth told the Board that Mediacom has requested that the Village approve a new franchise agreement. The current agreement is good through 2013, but Mediacom can ask for renewals up to 3 years early. Wirth said the Village currently receives about 5% back on residents that subscribe to Mediacom services. On a roll call vote, the Board unanimously approved a new 10-year franchise agreement.

Several landlords were present to ask why they are now getting notices on delinquent water bills incurred by their renters, with some being more than a year old. Wirth stated that the Village cannot afford to absorb the unpaid bills left by renters that move out of the area, and that this is the only way to insure that water rates don’t increase for everyone because of a the delinquent bills. With the landlords agreeing, and after much discussion, the Board determined that they will notify landlords in the future as soon as a bill is delinquent. Notices will go out to both the renter and the landlord (if known).

In a related matter, Eads stated that the Village Ordinances say that when no water bill payment is received by the due date, late charges will be added. If still not paid within 10 days of the late notice, a shut off notice will be issued, giving them 3 days to pay. The Board instructed Clerk Christy Ottens that bills need to be paid in full, and that no payments will be accepted.

At the Sept. 7 meeting, it will be discussed whether or not to raise the water deposit to $100 for renters. This will be closer to the actual bill than the current $50 collected.

Wirth was also granted permission to renew a $50,000 CD out of the TIF fund for another 6 months, as well as purchase another CD from the Debt Service account for $50,000 for 15 months, both from the Milledgeville State Bank.

During Employee Reports, Miller said he has been flushing hydrants to try to remove rust from the system. They are also trying to get the corner of 4th St. torn up in order to replace a drainage tube. Beside keeping up with mowing, the Village also has some leaking hydrants. Miller said he has two in stock, and that he plans to replace 2 this year. He will present a cost estimate to the Board for related work.

The Board approved Miller to purchase a used 1000 watt portable generator for $125.

In other business, Stage reported that in some areas mowed by residents, the grass is being thrown into the road, a recurring problem. Residents are reminded that this action violates Village ordinance, and they will be warned, then ticketed if they don’t stop.

Miller mentioned that since Carroll County was declared a disaster area due to the July flooding, financial assistance toward the sewer plant wages should be coming.

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