VILLAGE OF SCALES MOUND
Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Scales Mound Town Hall
March 29, 2021
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, March 29, 2021 by President Davis. Members present were John Duerr, Ruth Foley and Bernard Trebian. Members absent were Nicole Busch, Shannon Driscoll and Lindsey Duerr. (With Jim Davis present, a quorum was realized.) Also present was Steve Stadel, Village Treasurer, Margaret Townsend, Village Clerk, Brandon Behlke with the Galena Gazette and Scott Nevins and Steve Syler with Caliber Communications.
Trebian moved, Foley seconded that the Minutes of the February 22, 2021 Regular Meeting be approved as read. All voted aye.
The Treasurer’s Report was reviewed. Foley moved, J. Duerr seconded to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented and to place it on file. All voted aye.
The March bills were reviewed. Trebian moved, Foley seconded that the March bills, with the following additions: 1) Charles Davis – $500.00 reimbursement for Environmental Bond for new house built on Jackson Street; and, 2) Thistle Group – $21,111.91 for construction work done at the Stone House, be approved for payment. On roll call vote, J. Duerr, aye; Foley, aye; Trebian, aye; Davis, aye. Motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARINGS/CORRESPONDENCE
A) S. M. Chamber – No Report
B) Scott Nevins, Caliber Communications – Discuss Other Internet Options – Scott Nevins and Steve Syler presented information on a high-speed internet option they have available for the Village. They have performed a speed test in the Village and said most of the residences already qualify for their service. They stated that T-Mobile has received a grant from the FCC to provide internet to rural areas. The highlights are: No annual contract, no price hikes or hidden fees, no hardware costs, simple self-setup, no professional install needed, high-speed internet, and, no data caps. Cost would be $60 a month with AutoPay and $65 a month without. The consensus of the Board was to allow them to continue to go door to door in the Village with their presentations.
C) Other – Nothing
PUBLIC WORKS
A) Monthly Report – President Davis updated the Board on the proposed communications system for the water and wastewater systems. The operator will be able to see through the computer how everything is operating. The system in place now runs off phone lines and is not efficient. Brian from Fehr Graham will price out the system and get some numbers back to Ron and Jim.
B) Operation/Maintenance/Streets Committee Report – No Report
C) Sewer & Water Operations Committee Report – No Report
ZONING REPORT – No Report
Minutes – Regular Meeting, March 29, 2021 – Page 2
ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS – Nothing
OLD BUSINESS
A) Information on Grants for Infrastructure – Foley/L. Duerr – Davis will ask Ron Duerr to check with Lindsey Duerr to see what she found out from Bridgette Stocks.
B) Update on Low Interest Rate Loan from Economic Development Funds/Dittmar – Nothing further.
C) Input on Putting Together a Written Policy for Low Interest Rate Loans – The Board will continue to work on this.
D) Other – Nothing
OTHER COMMITTEE REPORTS
A) Finance – No Report
B) Park & Special Projects – No Report
C) Public Events & Safety – No Report
D) Trees & Sidewalks – Discussion was held on the tree replacement project. As a lot of trees are needed, it was agreed to look into the cost and availability of bare root trees. Ruth Foley will check with Redfearn Tree Service.
E) Ordinance/Policy – No Report
F) Stone House Committee Pro Tem – 1) Update on Construction – Still waiting on carpet installation.
G) TIF/Subdivision Committee Pro Tem – No Report
NEW BUSINESS
A) Discuss Need for new Computer for Public Works – Davis explained that the computer Ron uses has Windows 10 as an operating system and it should work with any printer. The new communication system being discussed for Public Works will come with its own screen. Clerk Townsend will check out the copy machines at the Stone House to see if either of them has printing capabilities.
B) Other – Nothing
BRAINSTORMING – Nothing
CLOSED SESSION – Nothing
ADJOURNMENT – Foley moved, J. Duerr seconded that the meeting be adjourned at 8:05 p.m. All voted aye.
These Minutes are subject to approval at the next Regular Board Meeting. Minutes are also available online at www.scalesmound.com
__________________________________
Village President
ATTEST: _____________________________________
Village Clerk