City of Virginia
Regular Meeting Minutes
March 8th , 2021
Mayor Brunk called the meeting to order at 7:02pm. Roll was called. Alderman French, Pratt, Bowman, Wulf, and Cox all answered present. Alderman Behrends was not present. This month’s agenda was presented to the council. Alderman Cox made a motion to approve the agenda and Alderman Bowman seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Alderman Wulf made a motion to approve the February minutes and Alderman Bowman seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Monthly bills were reviewed and Alderman Wulf made a motion to approve monthly bills, Alderman Bowman seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Barrett stated that he has been working on getting the budget finalized to be presented tonight which will be discussed later in Unfinished Business. We will be putting local CURE money for some projects and things we need. The VRWS meeting was last month and the water rates will be staying where they were. We will continue to save up money for future repairs that was recommended by the IL Rural Water Association.
Guests: Mike Finn: Jim Butler and his wife, Kim, are purchasing the Caraway Seed building will open a pub and grill. They couldn’t attend tonight but they wanted it to be known when the time came and the lot next to their building is available, they would be interested in purchasing it. Mayor Brunk stated they had talked about it after they were approved for the liquor license. He stated he wasn’t sure if the Butler’s wanted the whole lot or just a piece of it. Finn stated he would take part but that Butler wanted the whole lot if possible. Mayor Brunk stated that it would take a few months before the purchase could be discussed.
Attorneys Report
Attorney not present
Monthly Reports
Public Works (McClure):McClure stated that there were two main breaks, the crew has been picking up brush around town from the storm that we had, and they will be going around town fixing some holes in the roads and potholes around town
Police Chief (Fanning): not present
Fire Chief (Reynolds): 2 calls for accidents but was called off, 1 field fire, and still looking for the brush truck as we talked to before. There is a place up by Wisconsin that has one for sale, hopefully we can get it for under 30k.
Zoning Board(Merriman): nothing to report
Library Board: Mayor stated they submitted their budget it is in the packet if there is any questions.
Economic Development: nothing to report
Cemetery Board: Mayor stated they submitted their budget it is in the packet if there are any questions.
Park Board: Alderman Cox stated that all construction work done, Gibby is cleaning up the mess left over from the
construction right now, and when it gets warm enough, he is going to get it hosed down. Next meeting: March 17th at 730pm at City Hall.
Aldermanic Reports
French: Alderman French asked McClure if there were problems with a well? McClure stated yes well #5, the
motor gave out in it and we have to replace the motor and pump. Alderman French also asked if the snow plow
was down during the snow storms. McClure stated that the blade was messed up and they had to order another
one. Alderman French stated that he thought it was maybe a maintenance issue with the snow plow. McClure
stated that it wasn’t packing the snow down and not clearing it off.
Pratt: nothing to report
Bowman: nothing to report
Wulf: Alderman Wulf asked when does the does the park open? The barricade is still there. Treasurer Barrett
stated that he couldn’t remember the date that they usually open it up but he knows that there have been several
people up there walking the track. Alderman French asked if there was an official date every year? He also stated
that it would be nice to have like an opening day every year for the community or something. Alderman Wulf also
asked about Jackson St behind the square. He stated that here are potholes. He asked McClure if they will be
filled in? McClure stated that the roads will be taken care of first and then they will fill the potholes in the alleys.
Cox: Alderman Cox asks what is going to be done about Veltens building on the square? He asked Mike Finn what
he thought that we could do about it. Finn stated he doesn’t have answer. Alderman Cox asked we just let it sit?
Mayor stated its still up for tax bid and we cant make contact with the owner, other towns are in the same
situation with the same owner.
Behrends: not present
City Clerks Report
Clerk Cox stated that the council will need to complete their Statements of Economic Interest and return them to
the Cass County Courthouse before May.
Mayors Report
Mayor states he has some things that he will discuss next month because he has to get clarification on them.
Unfinished Business
none
New Business
A. FY 21/22 City Budget (f t Reading)
Treasurer Barrett stated that he has sent all this out by email so that everyone can review it. He stated that he met with
McClure and discussed projects. The budget this year is a little higher than last year but we have the money to allot to the
increase. We had extra MFT money which constitutes for some of the increase. Treasurer Barrett stated that if the council
wanted he can go through it in as much detail as the council would like. He also stated that the projected net loss is
about$30148.98 which will be made up by reserves. We have set some money aside to help the Fire Dept with the brush truck
and there are water/sewer projects we are trying to do. Treasurer Barrett stated that he is not anticipating a whole lot more tax
levy money although we may receive more TIF. Treasurer Barrett stated there is roughly around $30000 left in the TIF fund and
last year we received $110000. Hopefully this year we will receive more than that. There will be a TIF meeting coming soon.
There are several businesses that have stated that would like to apply for TIF funds. One of them being Growmark, they want
to repair that road so we might have to look into doing a multi year payout so it doesn’t wipe out the whole fund. There is also
the possibility of having to demolish another building again if we cant get the owners to cooperate. We are current on the
city’s water and we are in a better position with that as we are not behind, which is the first time that this has happened.
Treasurer Barrett states that hopefully we will recover from the losses due to COVID and we will regain video gaming revenue
and maintain a good amount in sales tax. With nothing further to discuss, Alderman Cox made a motion to approve the FY
21/22 City Budget and Alderman Wulf seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
B. Cemetery Budget/Agreement
The council reviewed. With nothing further to discuss, Alderman French made a motion to approve the Cemetery
Budget/Agreement and Alderman Pratt seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
C. Park Budget/Agreement
The council reviewed. With nothing further to discuss, Alderman French made a motion to approve the Park
Budget/Agreement and Alderman Bowman seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
D. Library Budget
The council reviewed. With nothing further to discuss, Alderman Pratt made a motion to approve the Library
Budget/Agreement and Alderman French seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
At 725pm Alderman Wulf made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Alderman Cox seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
Reg Brunk, Mayor Ashley Cox, City Clerk
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