City of Virginia
May 9th , 2022
Regular Meeting Minutes
Meeting Called to Order: 7pm
Roll Call: Pratt, Bowman, Wulf, Knous, and Cox all answered present.
Mayor would like to add a line to New Business. The Park Board would like to appoint Josh Ayres.
Agenda Approval: Alderman Cox made a motion to approve the agenda and Alderman Bowman seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
Minutes Approval: Alderman Pratt made a motion to approve the agenda and Alderman Knous seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
Approval of Monthly Bills: Alderman Wulf made a motion to approve monthly bills and Alderman Pratt seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
Guests:
Terry Ayres, Janet Martin, Valery Pratt-Medina, Anthony Miller, Mike Lowe
Treasurer’s Report
Public Comment
Anthony Miller: Mr. Miller presented the council with information regarding the Motor Fuel Tax. The Motor Fuel Tax program totals $215000. This includes all East and West streets in town, stock pile aggregate, various concrete work, and mixed asphalt to be laid down on Myrtle St in front of the church. Miller stated that this is similar to a few years ago. The North/South streets were done in 2019. Alderman Wulf asks if it would include Jackson St. Mayor states no this is for primary streets, that’s a secondary street. Valery Pratt-Medina asks if anything will ever be done to Jackson St. Mayor states this summer we will put blacktop around the alleys and around the square. Janet Martin asks about Villa Dr., is that an east/west? Mayor states he thinks it on the list. Mayor states the ones that didn’t get it before will get it this year. Miller states we need a motion to approve the resolution which includes most of the motor fuel tax and the additional money through Rebuild Illinois. Alderman Wulf asks when this will start? Miller states once the council approves then it will be sent to IDOT to be approved. Once approved, we will set a bid date which will hopefully be late Summer/early Fall. Pratt-Medina asks if it will all be paid through Rebuild Illinois, Miller states just part of it but it is all Motor Fuel tax dollars.
Mr. Miller then stated that he also came tonight to discuss potential improvement to the square through a program called Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program. Some of the work that has been done in the program includes downtown Jacksonville, Mt. Sterling, Rushville, and Macomb have also utilized this program. ITEP funds historic downtown projects but also does bike paths, streetscape projects, historic lookouts, and other categories. It’s a federal program but it is administered by IDOT. There is an application process. The last cycle there was close to 300 applicants with 293 million available, state selected 99 for 105 million. A lot of the money was for bike paths but we did attain downtown project for the city of Mt. Sterling in that cycle. It is a long process to go through but its an 80/20 program. Grant pays for 80, local agency pays for 20. There are certain things that are not included and some that have different funding levels. Mr. Miller stated that you have the county as a potential partner in the process since they have interest in the square too. He added that he has spoke with Cox, Bowman, and Pratt. There has been discussion about improving sidewalks and draining system. Everything will have to be made ADA compliant, getting a grant like this it could build your downtown sidewalks up to be ADA compliant in elevation. Applications are scored by the people they serve and how serious the community is about putting together an application. In order to complete the application, you will have to invest some money in engineering to get a plan design. We have found that these types of projects lead to improving storefronts and getting them full as well as attracting more business. Mayor asks how much is the cost would be to complete the plan. Miller states he thinks that total cost would be 3 million to complete the whole project. There is a 2-million-dollar cap on this project, someone will have to come up with about 1 million dollars so that is where the downside is. Miller states it would depend on how in depth you want your plan. It’s a 15–18-month process. Martin asks if there is a deadline. Miller states it is on a 2-year cycle. Before they had announced it early summer and the applications were due in the fall, then they announce at the end of spring. Mayor asks about safe route to school. Miller states he thinks it’s on a 2-year cycle, you have to plan a route to your school and it has to connect to a route that is already existing. That is a $200,000 cap. Usually this includes signage, sidewalks, etc. Miller distributes a document of ITEP projects that they have done that have been awarded. Alderman Wulf asks so you are saying $200,000-$250,000 would be needed to get the engineering done for the application? Miller states yes. Alderman fWulf asks about Jacksonville being on the document 4 times. Miller states the project was staged in 3 phases.
Terry Ayres: how many permits been issued with the UTVs? Mayor replied that there have been 11 or 12 have been issued. Ayres stated that he still sees ATVs at the park and flying down the street. There are also mini bikes running the streets on the North end of town. Mayor states we don’t have police right now and county doesn’t do ordinance violations. We are in the process of finding police coverage.
Monthly Reports
Public Works no report
Police Chief no report
Fire Chief no report
Zoning Officer no report
Park Board Alderman Cox states he went to the board meeting last month. Got all the frames up for the shelters over the bleachers, just got to get the roofs on. They will put a back on them too. Rich and Deb Krohe will plant a tree. Pool admission will be $4 and pool should be open Memorial Day weekend. All the donation from the Virginia Open will go towards new lights on the big diamond. New lights on the basketball court. Pleasant Plains will be back again to swim. Next meeting is May 18th.
Library Board no report
Economic Development no report
Cemetery no report
Attorneys Report Attorney Veith states we have the 1st reading for authorization of TIF funding for road repairs on Gridley/County Shed Rd.
TIF no report
Aldermanic Reports
Cox no report
Knous Alderman Knous states a few citizens complaining about yards. One neighbor brought him a picture and so he will show it to the council. The council reviews the picture. Mike Lowe states he has complaint as well. He asks who is the ordinance officer? Alderman Wulf states we don’t have one, it is usually the Police Chief. He also mentions that people are burning stuff that smells really bad. Lowe states there is a dog that gets on the roof and barks and goes to the bathroom. Alderman Knous states he did call dispatch about the dog on the roof. Dispatch stated that it was normal and an officer had already been down there. Mayor states he will come down to Mr. Lowe’s house tomorrow to discuss more. Lowe states this has been going on for 3 or 4 years. Alderman Knous states the other house was the Merriman house on Job St. Attorney Veith, does anyone know where she has moved to? We took her to court and she has disappeared. Mayor stated he was riding around town, wrote down addresses, and will be sending letters. Attorney Veith states we can issue letters without police presence, once they have received it, at that time an ordinance complaint can be issued. Alderman Knous asks do we send it certified? Attorney Veith stated yes, you can send it certified.
Wulf Alderman Wulf stated there were two complaints about trees. He stated one on Myrtle, it s dead and limbs are falling on vehicles. The other is on Springfield between Cass St and 5th St, right across from the funeral home. The individuals wanted to know if there is anything we can do. Alderman Wulf added that the county is getting ready to go for a paperless system for their officers were they can issue tickets from their squad cars. This will streamline everything; it could cost $2000 for initial set up. Animal control is working on getting a new building. There has been discussion about getting a bigger area for the animals.
Bowman no report
Pratt no report
City Clerks Report
Nothing to report
Mayors Report
Mayor stated that the beautification committee of Virginia was going to give us $2000 to repair the bandstand. I don’t think we need to take money from them because they are trying to make things look better around town. We got an insurance check to fix the gazebo. Alderman Wulf asks we have an estimate for what the flooring would cost. Mayor states not yet, if you want to find someone, we can get bids. Mayor just thought they could get spend that somewhere else to spruce up the town, the city can handle the bandstand. Mayor asks the council what do they think, if you guys want to accept the money. Alderman Wulf states put it on hold til we see what the cost is. We have until September. Concensus amongst the council is to table it.
Unfinished Business
- 2nd Reading of Appropriation Ordinance 22/23
With nothing further to discuss, Alderman Knous made a motion to approve the 2nd reading of the Appropration Ordinance 22/23, Alderman Bowman seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
- Hiring of Personnel
Mayor states we discussed about hiring Kayla and Amy for the front office. Hire Kayla James as Deputy Clerk and Amy Knous as Water Collector. With nothing further to discuss, Alderman Cox made a motion to approve the hiring of personnel and Alderman Bowman seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
New Business
- Approve the 2022 MFT Street Maintenance Program
With nothing further to discuss, Alderman Pratt made a motion to approve the 2022 MFT Street Maintenance Program and Alderman Wulf seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
- 1st Reading of an Ordinance Authorizing the Expenditure of TIF Funds for Road Repairs on Gridley and County Shed Roads
With nothing further to discuss, Alderman Wulf made a motion to approve the 1st reading of an Ordinance Authorizing the Expenditure of TIF Funds for Road Repairs on Gridley and County Shed Roads and Alderman Knous seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
- Approval of the Appointment of Janet Martin to fill Jason French’s vacancy in Ward 3
With nothing further to discuss, Alderman Cox made a motion to approve the appointment of Janet Martin to fill Jason French’s vacancy in Ward 3 and Alderman Wulf seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Alderman Martin was sworn in by Mayor McClure.
- Park Board Appointment of Josh Ayres
No vote can be taken tonight since it was not on the original agenda, this will have to be tabled until next month.
Lowe asks what about security for the BBQ. Pratt-Medina asks if we have any prospects for new officers. Martin asks if it has been advertised for police. Mayor states we will be advertising in the newspaper and on Blue Line. Ayers asks if we can put a sign on the door about UTV registration. Mayor states that it was on the bulletin, it had to be in there 30 days before they could be ticketed.
With nothing further to discuss, at 753pm, Alderman Cox made a motion to adjourn the council meeting and Alderman Knous seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
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Randy McClure, Mayor Ashley Cox, City Clerk