VILLAGE OF MILLSTADT
VILLAGE HALL
MAY 20, 2013
7:00 P.M.
The meeting was called to order by Mike Todd, with the following trustees answering to roll
call: Ralph Bowley, Ray Famula, Mike French, Al Lehr, Kurt Pellmann, and Mark Todd. The
Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
A motion was made by Ralph Bowley to approve the May 6th minutes. Ray Famula seconded
the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
COMMUNICATIONS OR CORRESPONDENCE: Crissy Wegescheide stated the Village
received a thank you card from the Millstadt Community Consolidated Schools for the donation
to their 19th Annual Dinner Auction.
COMMITTEE ON ACCOUNTS: Ralph Bowley stated he reviewed the bills. Ralph Bowley
made a motion to pay the bills. Mike French seconded the motion. The motion carried
unanimously.
PERSONNEL: Ralph Bowley stated there would be an Executive Session to discuss personnel.
PUBLIC WORKS:
SEWER: Al Lehr stated everything is fine at the sewer plant. Brian has been pumping
water back in from the lagoon.
Mayor Todd stated that two estimates came to fix the sewer on Liederkranz Drive
in Alpine Meadows. It is in the Village’s best interest to fix it right now. Village
Attorney Brian Flynn is looking into the situation because it may be the home owner’s
responsibility. Ralph Bowley asked if what the Village pays will go back to the home
owner. Mayor Todd answered that is why the attorney is looking in to it. He stated it
would be more costly to wait to fix it, according to TWM. Al added the situation has
been going on for two months. Al Lehr made a motion to have the sewer fixed by
Hank’s Excavating. Ralph Bowley seconded the motion. The motion carried
unanimously.
WATER: Al Lehr stated Brian has two bids for a new panel board for the ground storage
tank to keep it from running over.
REFUSE: Al Lehr stated Dan Hannah from Waste Management wanted to discuss the
refuse contract that is up in the fall. Dan stated that he came up with two options. The
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first is to continue with the same contract that the Village has currently. There would be
no increase in cost the first year, a twenty cent increase the second year, and no increase
the third year if the fourth and fifth year option is taken. The second option is to include
curbside recycling for everyone which would add $3 to the current rate. Each household
would be provided a recycling cart at no cost. The Village can use the amount from the
recycling towards any charitable contribution. Mayor Todd stated right now 75 homes
participate in curbside recycling. Township recycling costs $295 each month. Recycling
pick-up would be every two weeks. Ralph Bowley asked when bids for the contract
would be due. Mayor Todd answered the first of September. Al added the current
contract runs out the first of October. Dan Hannah stated that Waste Management would
like the Village to renew with them without going out for bids. Ralph asked if that was a
possibility. Mayor Todd answered yes. Kurt Pellmann asked how many other
communities Waste Management provides curbside recycling. Dan answered two or
three other communities participate and a few others do container drop-offs at a recycling
center. Al asked if we would have to let Waste Management know before the Village
goes out for bids. Dan answered they would like to know so that they can prepare. Mike
French asked when was the last time the Village went out for bids for refuse pick-up.
Tracy Holmes answered six years ago. Dan suggested the Board remember the quality of
service that was provided then. Ralph answered that it wasn’t very good.
MOSQUITO CONTROL: none
STREETS, ALLEYS AND SIDEWALKS: Kurt Pellmann stated the sidewalk was put in
behind the Library. The total cost was $2,550. Because it was a joint project, the Library
paid $1,275. Kurt stated that anyone interested in participating in the 60/40 project
should contact the Village Hall.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS, MAINTENANCE, AND EQUIPMENT: Kurt Pellmann stated
prices came in on a new lawn mower. It was purchased and replaced the X Mark at the
sewer plant that was broken.
CABLE SERVICES AND CELL TOWERS: Mark Todd stated he, the Mayor, and Don Traiteur
met with Charter Communications to discuss the contract. The Village would like service
extended out to the Briars and at the pool. In January, Charter gave an estimate of between
$6,000 and $7,000 for installation at the pool. The representative from Charter said they would
waive the construction fee. The Village would pay a $90 installation fee and $65 a month.
Mayor Todd stated the service will help the police department monitor the park cameras so it is
worth the $90 to have it installed.
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: none
ANNEXATIONS: none
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PARKS, POOL AND RECREATION: Ray Famula stated the concrete for the new basketball
court has been poured. They are now waiting on the net to be put up. The chair lift at the pool is
almost done and will be ready for the opening on Saturday, May 25th. Ray stated they are
waiting on Laura Schaefer for a date for the Park Board meeting this month. Ray stated that
even with the rain the manicuring is being kept up at the parks.
CEMETERY: Ray Famula stated the grass cutting is being kept up and there aren’t any
problems that he’s aware of currently.
COMMUNITY CENTER: Mark Todd stated that due to the power surges this morning, the
elevator panel board and the air conditioner were fried. Tracy Holmes stated it can be an
insurance claim. Mark stated it should be fixed by the end of the week.
Senior Center Director Patty Evansco gave her annual report. She thanked everyone for
allowing her to make a difference in the lives of seniors. She listed the Center’s
accomplishments of the past year, where revenue are coming from, and the Center’s goals for
next year.
PLANNING COMMISSION & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: none
TIF: none
PUBLIC SAFETY:
Police Department – Police Lieutenant Alan Hucke presented Officer Joe Wagner with a
pin from IDOT for his 50th DUI arrest. Lieutenant Hucke read a letter from IDOT and
thanked Officer Wagner for his enforcement of the law. He reminded everyone that DUI
also includes drugs and some recent arrests have included that.
Lieutenant Hucke presented Gavin Wilhite with the $1,000 DARE Scholarship.
The funds come from the fundraisers that are held throughout the year. Gavin is a
graduate of MCS, an Eagle Scout, and will be attending Purdue University in the fall
majoring in engineering.
Emergency Service and Disaster Agency – Travis Jones stated he gave the trustees a
packet on Code Red. With the severe storms like the ones that hit Oklahoma, Travis
highly recommends this program. It would cost $4,400 per year and residents would be
allowed to have two phone lines that can receive calls for emergencies. Kurt Pellmann
asked if it would only be for storms or if it would also include boil orders and other
alerts. Travis answered it is just for storms. Mayor Todd asked how much extra it would
cost to add in all alerts. Travis answered around $7,000. Tracy asked if the price would
drop if more cities joined. Travis answered yes, if St. Clair County voted to include the
program. Mayor Todd stated Smithton uses Global Net which includes all the alerts for
the same price Code Red charges for just storms. Travis stated he would talk to his guy
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to see if he could make a deal to include everything. Ralph Bowley asked if the Village
could go with the same company as Smithton. Travis answered yes but if the County
goes with Code Red the cost to the Village would be cheaper. Mayor Todd stated if
Global Net provides multiple alerts it would be better. Travis answered he will find out if
Code Red would be available for cheaper and will also get the numbers for Global Tech.
Travis stated that the Village needs to think about getting generators for the
Village buildings, especially after extreme power outages that happened this day. The
Community Center, Police Department, and Village Hall should all be on a generator.
Mayor Todd answered that he will start looking for grants. If none are available, he will
look into budgeting it into next year or if there is any extra money available this fiscal
year.
Fire Department – none
BUILDING COMMISSIONER: Steve Muskopf stated the following permits were issued:
Westhoff
618 West Elm Street
Carport
Crockett
5948 Saxtown Road
Single Family Residence
Winkel
426 East Laurel Street
Detached Garage
Rickard
203 West Oak Street
Room Addition
Mac Corporation
1 West Washington Street
Interior Remodel
Luczak
403 East Washington Street Storage Shed
Mueller
839 M&O Station Road
Fence
OLD BUSINESS: Al Lehr stated he attended the electrical aggregation meeting on Wednesday,
May 15th. Homefield got the bid with the lowest price. The new pricing will go into effect in
July. If anyone has questions, there will be a number to call on the Village website. All
customers are in but have the option to opt out.
Mayor Todd thanked Barb Meadows-Scott and the Civic Club for landscaping around the
Village Hall and Police Department.
NEW BUSINESS: Mayor Todd read his list of appointments. He will add the Zoning Board
appointments at the next Village Board meeting.
Mayor Todd read the committee assignments.
Mayor Todd stated the Village paid $40 for a half page ad in the Historical Society
calendar last year. He asked if the Board would like to take part in this again for the current
year. Ray Famula made a motion to pay $40 for a half page ad in the Historical Society
calendar. Mark Todd seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Todd stated there have been some issues with properties on the 300 block of West
Harrison Street and the 400 block of East Laurel Street. They are both in foreclosure. Mayor
Todd has talked with the banks and they are aware of the situations. It will take some time to fix
completely but Zoning Administrator Steve Muskopf, the Police Department, and soon the
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maintenance department will be taking care of the situations as well. Mike French asked if the
resident who sent an email to the Board has been responded to. Mayor Todd answered yes.
Mayor Todd stated the bid for grease removal went out again. The bids will be in by the
first Village Board meeting in June. The contract is for three years this time so it doesn’t need to
be done every year. In 2011, the Village received $400 for the grease. In 2012, the Village
received two payments of over $300.
Mayor Todd stated he is having a community Facebook page created. It will only be to
get information out and no comments will be allowed.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Tracy Holmes stated that the Treasurer’s Report had been
submitted. Ralph Bowley made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report. Ray Famula
seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
CLERK’S REPORT: Tracy Holmes stated that the Clerk’s Report had been submitted. Ralph
Bowley made a motion to approve the Clerk’s Report. Mark Todd seconded the motion. The
motion carried unanimously.
CITIZENS COMMENTS: none
Ralph Bowley made a motion to go into Executive Session for Personnel. Al Lehr seconded the
motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Ralph Bowley made a motion to adjourn from Executive Session. Al Lehr seconded the motion.
The motion carried unanimously. Ralph Bowley made a motion to accept the collective
bargaining agreement between the Village of Millstadt and the International Union of Operating
Engineers. Mike Todd seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT: Ralph Bowley made a motion to adjourn the general Village Board meeting
and was seconded by Al Lehr. The motion carried unanimously.
________________________________
Crissy Wegescheide, Clerk
________________________________
Mike Todd, Mayor
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