VILLAGE OF SCALES MOUND
Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Stone House
February 27, 2025
7:00 P.M.
The Regular Meeting of the President and Board of Trustees was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 27, 2025. The members present were Nicole Winter, Ruth Foley, Scott Ohms, Kristy Hesselbacher, Janet Werner, and Elizabeth Korte. Garrett Hillary was absent. Village Clerk Deven Morgensen, Village Treasurer Marissa Marquith, Zach Winter, Jerry and Fran Edwards, Bill Foley, Carrie Stier, Dave Hoftender, Bob Wachter, John Sincox, Carrie Miller, Margaret and Steve Townsend, John Rudd, Melissa Soppe, Darin Stykel, Ron Duerr, Tammy Hesselbacher, Sandy Frank, Jim Stower, Kevin Stier, and Dave Fosler were also present.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025
Werner moved; Hesselbacher seconded the minutes of the Regular Meeting January 27, 2025, be approved as read. All voted aye.
TREASURERS REPORT
Treasurer Marquith advised that the water CD had matured, and funds were moved to the Money Market account. Foley moved; Hesselbacher seconded to use Motor Fuel Tax funds to obtain a seven (7) month CD with an interest rate of 4.15%. On roll call vote, all voted aye. Hesselbacher requested shut off notices be sent to residents who are 6+ months past due on their water bill. The Treasurer’s Report was reviewed. Hesselbacher moved; Foley seconded to approve the Treasurer’s Report as presented and to place it on file. All voted aye.
APPROVAL OF BILLS
The monthly bills were reviewed. Ohms moved; Werner seconded that the February bills be approved for payment. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
CITIZENS COMMENTS/COMMUNICATIONS
A) Citizens Comments – 1) Dave Hoftender – Re-Zoning Request for School Parking Lot – Dave Hoftender discussed the plans for the parking lot for the school. Co-Zoning Administrator, Zach Winter advised that it is not necessary to re-zone the parking lot per the ordinance, but setbacks will still apply which will be discussed when the permit is issued. Melissa Soppe asked how the water would be dealt with. Zach Winter advised that there is a storm drain present that does not go into the sewer system. 2) Rock River Energy Services – Municipal Aggregation Contract – This item will be moved to the March 2025 agenda. 3) FOIA Requests – 1) FOIA request received from Mayah Monthrope from Yale School of Public Health requesting documentation regarding Ordinance 2020-001. The Village of Scales Mound responded with the documentation. 2) FOIA request received from Darin Stykel from Fehr Graham requesting various items regarding the subdivision and various items regarding the water and sewer projects. The Village of Scales Mound responded with the documentation. Darin Stykel was present and requested to speak. Darin Stykel advised that he was the Village engineer for years, but this was his first time here. Darin Stykel expressed frustration with the subdivision engineer selection process and regarding not being included in the water and sewer projects. Darin Stykel expressed that Fehr Graham has assisted the village without charging for certain items in the past and that Bridgette from Fehr Graham was not obligated to assist with the grant documentation from 2020, but she did help the prior Village Clerk, Margaret Townsend. However, the Village had been placed on the Illinois “Do not pay list” for grant funding as a result of the audits and documentation not being uploaded timely. Darin Stykel requested the current Village board meet with him outside of this meeting to discuss the relationship moving forward.
B) S.M. Chamber – 1) Carrie Stier advised that Music in the Park will be held on June 7, 2025. 2) Kevin Stier advised that the Christmas Tree in the park will need more bulbs if it is put up next year. The board advised new bulbs were purchased last year as they are the same bulbs as the street Christmas lights.
C) Contact Us Submissions – None.
D) Other – Carrie Stier advised that Jo Daviess County puts out their minutes as a draft to get them out faster. Carrie Stier asked if the board would consider posting draft minutes rather than waiting for them to be approved. Margaret Townsend commented that when she was the Village Clerk, she always posted a draft of the minutes. The board advised they would consider this as an option.
ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS/ADMINISTRATIVE LAW REPORT
1) None.
PUBLIC WORKS
A) Monthly Report – 1) President Winter introduced our new Village Maintenance employee, John Rudd. John Rudd reported that he has been working on cleaning up the shop and has taken inventory of tools and equipment as requested by the board. John’s scrap bin is currently full of items. John created a list of tools and equipment that he would need to perform his job. John replaced the fuel filters in the truck but had to borrow tools from Davis Lumber. John reported that he did a walk through the park and noted items that could be improved such as the gazebo needing some new boards and re-stained. John noted that when plowing and salting, there is not a vibrator on the truck to release the salt properly during cold times. John received a quote from Grant County Truck Bodies for $1,229.08 as that is where the rest of the truck equipment was purchased and installed from. Ohms moved; Hesselbacher seconded to purchase the vibrator and have it installed at the quoted price of $1,229.08 to ensure proper salting can be completed. On roll call vote, all voted aye. John also noted that he is still getting used to the roads and sizing, so he appreciates the resident’s patience during snow plowing events.
ZONING
A) Report – 1) Zach Winter reported that the only permit in process is the school parking lot. 2) President Winter advised she forwarded the Zoning Administrators an email regarding a Chicken Coop request. 3) Co-Zoning Administrator, Dave Fosler, posed a question to the board regarding portable buildings and what is considered a portable building and when a permit is required. The Zoning Administrators suggested the board discuss a size limit for portable buildings and make it into a policy. Carrie Stier indicated that historically, the village stance was based on if it could be moved, then it would be considered portable. Zach Winter made the point that he can make anything portable. It was noted that premanufactured buildings have an ordinance already. 4) Co-Zoning Administrator, Dave Fosler, advised that there is not a speed limit sign on Franklin heading North. The speed limit changes when switching from the South to the North side of the train tracks, but the only speed limit sign drivers would see when driving North is the higher (30 MPH) speed limit. The difference in speed limits is due to one being County and one being Village.
OLD BUSINESS
A) Portable Building Placement Agreement with Art Morby – The agreement has been received by the lawyer but information from the board was necessary to finalize the agreement. The board was asked if rent would be charged, which the board decided no rent would be charged. The board was asked the length of the agreement, which the board decided as long as Art Morby owns the property. The board was asked the size of the portable building. Co-Zoning Administrator, Dave Fosler contacted Art Morby during the meeting and advised the building will be 8×12. Melissa Soppe asked who has to pay to remove the building, which the board advised that it states in the agreement that he had to.
B) Repeal of the Grocery Sales Tax – The State of Illinois is repealing the 1% grocery sales tax in January 2026. The village has the option to pass an ordinance to impose the 1% after that date.
C) Water Main Replacement – John Rudd advised that he is still awaiting a response on the quotes he requested for the duck tail pipe from the firehouse to Germain which would consist of 330 ft. of watermain. Quotes are also being received for boring, if it is an option. There is a need for this to be repaired as it could break at any moment.
OTHER COMMITTEE REPORTS
A) Street/Maintenance – None.
B) Sewer/Water – None.
C) Finance – None.
D) Park & Special Projects – None.
E) Public Events & Safety – 1) Easter Party Planning – The Village Easter Party date is set for Sunday, April 13, 2025 at the Town Hall from 4 – 5 PM. Werner requested a budget for party planning and town hall rental of $375. Foley moved; Hesselbacher seconded to approve a budget of $375 for party planning and the town hall rental. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
F) Trees & Sidewalks – None.
G) Ordinance/Policy – None.
H) Development – None.
NEW BUSINESS
- IDOT – Motor Fuel Tax Audit – President Winter advised that Paul S who is contracted with IDOT, conducted the Villages first audit since 2012. During his audit, he located one (1) deposit that was in an incorrect fund from 2017. The finding was sent to the Village Treasurer who corrected the transaction.
- DACRA Update – President Winter advised that there are two (2) possible entities joining the DACRA which would lower the monthly cost for all members who participate.
- Approval of Liquor Licenses – Clerk Morgensen advised that AB Old School Inc and Scales Mound Recreation Association have end of March deadlines with the state and need their village liquor licenses prior to obtaining their state licenses. Hesselbacher moved; Ohms seconded to approve issuing liquor licenses to AB Old School Inc and Scales Mound Recreation Association. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
- Other – John Rudd requested the board revisit his request to purchase equipment as mentioned in the Public Works section of the agenda. Ohms moved; Foley seconded to set a budget of up to $1,000 for John to purchase the tools necessary to complete his job. On roll call vote, all voted aye.
BRAINSTORMING – 1) None.
CLOSED SESSION – None.
ACTION FROM CLOSED SESSION – None.
ADJOURNMENT – Werner moved; Korte seconded that the meeting be adjourned at 8:06 PM. All voted aye.
These Minutes were prepared by Village Clerk, Deven Morgensen.