Minutes
VILLAGE OF NEPONSET
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Community Building @ 7PM
March 18, 2020
Attending board members: Mandy Donovan, Sue Aldred, Sid Dev, Ken Snyder, Gene Costin and Mayor Dave Mueller. Absent Barb Safiran
Meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call.
February Board Minutes, February Treasurers’ Report and March Invoices payable
Motion to approve Gene Costin, 2nd Sue Aldred, roll call vote all ayes.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Finance, Insurance, License & Fees – Ken Snyder – Ken Snyder made a motion to cancel the Easter Egg Hunt, 2nd Sid Dev. All ayes.
Water and Sewer – Sid Dev/Markus Chapman – Everything is running fine. We will be doing asbestos testing.
Community Events & Building Permits – Barb Safiran – No permits. Trivia night made $1,513.
Ordinances and Garbage Collection – Sue Aldred – Nothing to report.
Police, Emergency Plan – Mandy Donovan – Police department is continuing to work on the vehicles that haven’t moved. Discussion on the Emergency Plan/Risk Assessment.
Public Works – Gene Costin – A link on the plow truck was repaired.
Contractor bids – Opened bids on March 6th at 9am. Phone/email vote on March 6th to accept the bid from Kirk Dana for $7,650.00 for 120 Maple Street. all ayes.
MAYOR’S REPORT
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG Grant) – $23,000 left for demolishing houses. The grant ends in May 2020.
Housing Grant – We haven’t heard anything this month.
Burn Pile –Will be open Saturday, April 18, 2020. The fence has been put up around the burn pile.
Shelter in the Park –The project has been discussed on the Kewanee Radio, articles in the Star Courier and the Bureau County Republican. There will be fund raising events in the future. Paint Class on April 26 and Sheffield golf outing in June. We’ve raised on the GoFundMe page $1,700 for the park and $675 for the memorial. We’ve raised $13,000 so far. Our goal is $50,000.
Solar – is running very well.
Budget 5/1-4/30/2020 – we are working on the budget to be submitted to the board for approval in April.
Census – Please make sure to fill out and mail your census. The Village receives money for each person.
Corona Virus - The Village of Neponset will be waiving the late fees or penalties for non-payment or late payment of Water/Sewer/Garbage bills for the April 2020 payment due 4/15/2020. We understand that COVID-19 has impacted many of our customers financially, and we are doing our part to ease that burden. Those who are working and able to pay their utility fees are asked to please do in order to help the Village meet our obligations, which include managing operations, paying employees, paying bills and all of the other working parts that go into operating the utility systems we provide.
Since we have no way to know which households are impacted and which one aren’t, we are working on the honor system. If you can make your payment you may do so via the drop box at the Village office. If you are unable to make your payment, please contact the Village off 309-594-2201, before 4/15/2020 to set up a payment schedule.
In light of all the information and advice we are getting from physicians and scientists and wanting to take proactive steps to flatten the curve and protect high risk residents, the Village Office will be closed to the public until further notice.
You will still be able to contact our clerk by email (neponsetclerk@gmail.com) & by phone (309-594-2201). Bills due can be mailed or left in the drop box. Please understand that our main concern is the health and safety of our little town.
Handicapped parking – We are getting prices on a handicapped accessible parking sign that is in cement. We will paint the street in front of the bank and the Community Building for handicapped parking.
Motion to Adjourn made by Gene Costin, 2nd Ken Snyder, motion carried.