Guilford Township Board Meeting, February 9, 2015
Guilford Township Board Meeting
Guilford Town Hall, 1973 W. Rawlins Road
Elizabeth, Illinois
February 9, 2015, 7:30 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
The Guilford Township Board of Trustees met for business Monday, February 9, 2015, at Guilford Town Hall. The meeting was called to order by Supervisor Wachter. Following the Call to Order, the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited.
ROLL CALL
Present: Supervisor Francis Wachter, Trustees Gary Diedrick, Larry Lomax, Larry Stoneburner and Wayne Wienen. Officials present: Clerk Claire Bersbach and Highway Commissioner Jeff Winders.
MINUTES
A copy of the January 12, 2014, meeting minutes was provided to each Board member prior to the meeting. Trustee Lomax moved the minutes be approved as presented; seconded by Trustee Diedrick. By voice vote, approved unanimously.
BID OPENING
At 7:45 p.m. Highway Commissioner Winders opened the bids for the “new model year 2015 Dump Truck Cab and Chassis” and the Clerk recorded the bids, as follows:
Thompson Truck and Trailer ‒ $79,950.00 outright purchase; Transchicago Truck Group ‒ $80,041.00 outright purchase. On the basis of the bids submitted, Trustee Wienen moved to contract with Thompson Truck and Trailer for the equipment purchase, seconded by Trustee Stoneburner. By roll call vote, approved unanimously.
Bids for the equipment for the dump truck were: Monroe Truck ‒ $46,283.00; Bonnell ‒ $50,832.00; Henderson Truck ‒ $50,146.00; Tri-State Truck ‒ $38,204.00. Trustee Diedrick moved to contract with Tri-State Truck for the dump truck equipment pending review by Highway Commissioner Winders to ensure the bid matches the criteria in the request-for-bid specifications; seconded by Trustee Stoneburner. By roll call vote, approved unanimously.
TREASURER’S REPORT AND APPROVAL OF BILLS
Supervisor Wachter reported that the Township received the statement for the Annual Retainer for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 from attorney Robert Roth in the amount of $350, un-changed from previous years. The bill will be paid in March.
After all bills presented were reviewed by the Trustees, upon a motion made by Trustee Lomax, seconded by Trustee Wienen and unanimously passed by a roll call vote, the Board approved payment of $49,593.63 as shown on the Board Audit Report as well as payment of the bills received after the Board Audit Report was prepared.
REPORTS
Supervisor Wachter reported that the Multi-Township Assessing District Board will meet at Council Hill Town Hall Thursday, March 12th, at 7 p.m., to propose the annual budget and set the meeting dates for the coming year. The meeting is open to the public.
Regarding Redistricting of Assessment Districts, Wachter reported that the Chief County Assessment Officer sent a copy of the Illinois Department of Revenue’s letter dated December 24, 2014, listing the proposed Multi-Township Assessment Districts which will take effect January 1, 2018. District 1 is Apple River and Thompson ‒ unchanged; District 2 is Berreman, Derinda, Pleasant Valley, Stockton, and Wards Grove ‒ a new MTAD; District 3 is Council Hill, Guilford, and Scales Mound ‒ unchanged; District 4 is Elizabeth, Hanover, Rice, and Woodbine ‒ a new MTAD; District 5 is Menominee, Rawlins, and Vinegar Hill ‒ unchanged; District 6 is Nora, Rush, and Warren ‒ also unchanged.
The Annual Township Officials of Illinois Risk Management Association (TOIRMA) Renewal Packet for 2015-2016 coverage was received. The information must be returned to TOIRMA by March 1, 2015. The new premium amounts will be due June 1, 2015. Under Comprehensive General Liability Questions, TOIRMA lists “mandated responsibilities and other responsibilities that an individual township may undertake. Please indicate any involvement in the following.” Question #9 refers to “Operate Cemetery” and states “Be specific on description of involvement i.e. is cemetery maintenance contracted or do you use township employees?” Guilford Township does not own or maintain any cemeteries; therefore, the answer would be “no.” However, the Chief County Assessment Office has listed two cemeteries on the Township’s Annual Certificate of Exempt Property ever since 2012.
The Board was provided with a copy of a letter the Township proposes to send to TOIRMA to make them aware of the Township’s concern regarding possible liability related to the two parcels which are not owned by Guilford Township, but are listed on our Certificate of Status of Exempt Property.
Supervisor Wachter talked with Township Attorney Robert Roth regarding this. Mr. Roth commented this has been happening everywhere; talk to the people who maintain these cemeteries; form cemetery boards.
Per the agenda for the February 10, 2015, Jo Daviess County Board meeting, the Board will consider an Ordinance Proposing the Establishment of Jo Daviess County Special Service Area Number Six to provide financial funding to defray the necessary expenses of the Galena Area Emergency Medical Services District, a not-for-profit organization referred to as Galena EMS. Nancy Schamper, Guilford Township’s representative on the Galena Area EMS Board, mentioned the EMS Board had been considering this.
Guilford Township congratulates three area citizens who recently completed First Responder Training at Elizabeth and were awarded checks from the Richard Peterson EMT Endowment Fund. Thomas Szynkowski is a member of the Scales Mound Fire Protection District and their Dive Team and is also a member of the Jo Daviess County HazMat Team. Matt Kelly was a student of Les Virtue’s (teacher and SMFPD member) for four years at Scales Mound High School. He was a member and officer of Future Farmers of America and received numerous awards. He joined the Scales Mound Fire Protection District when he was a senior in high school. Beverly Williams is a Chaplain/Firefighter who lives in Apple Canyon Lake. She joined the Scales Mound Fire Protection District in 2014.
Supervisor Wachter concluded his report by noting the Education District 7 Program will be held July 16 in Rockford. Topics include The Legendary Review of Township Government in Illinois; Solid, Surprising and Sublime: An Insider’s Look at the Illinois State Capitol; and Engaging Your Township with Social Media. Advance registration is $50 per person.
Highway Commissioner Winders reported that a purchase price of $2,120.00 has been agreed upon with Joe Krakowa, Regional Engineer for the Bricton Group, and Tom Ruhs, Eagle Ridge General Manager, for the purchase of additional right-of-way around the proposed new cement box culvert to be placed on Eagle Ridge Drive. Jo Daviess County Highway Department will make the initial payment of which Guilford Township will be expected to share 50% of the cost.
Longwood Drive has been the focus of brush removal during the past month. A mile-long trek through the wooded hills and dales of Guilford on the Longwood Drive road surface can now see the light.
Wide temperature variations were on tap bringing freezing fog, drizzle and snow events throughout the month.
Highway Commissioner Winders concluded his report by noting the past couple of weekends had been spent removing newly fallen snow. The first weekend of February lent itself to the first major storm of this winter season. Over a foot of powdery snow fell which then led to blowing and drifting following the storm.
Clerk Bersbach reported that she filed the Township’s Certificate of Status of Exempt Property, a copy of Trustee Diedrick’s Official Oath, a copy of the Warrant of Ap-pointment to the Township Board of Trustees (to Fill a Vacancy), and the Statements of Economic Interest at the County Courthouse on January 13th.
Bersbach advised Erin Valentine at Township Officials of Illinois of the newly appointed Trustee and updated the Home page and the Officials page on the Township’s website.
Attorney Ron Leinen reviewed the Disclaimer that will preface the typed material from the first Township record book and advised by return e-mail January 15, “The disclaimer looks fine to me.”
In the past month Bersbach consolidated all the meeting minutes from 2014 into one file and posted that on the Township’s website.
Clerk Bersbach concluded her report with the reminder that the Township’s Annual Meeting will be on Tuesday, April 14. The regular Township meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by the Annual Meeting at 7:30 p.m.
Trustee Diedrick, who is also a member of Jo Daviess County’s Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals, advised the Township Board that the County’s Zoning Ad-Hoc Committee has been reviewing 19 Zoning Ordinances and is down to one final item related to permits for single events.
Diedrick also commented that Jo Daviess County did not receive any of the licenses issued to permit growing medical marijuana.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Regarding Parcel Number 80-000-333-01 listed in The Flash December 17, 2014, with a $1,1038 assessment, the parcel should be tax exempt. Highway Commissioner Winders stated County Engineer Steve Keeffer advised the appropriate information had been sent to State.
NEW BUSINESS – None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS – None.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to conduct, Trustee Stoneburner moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Trustee Diedrick. By voice vote, approved unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:57 p.m.
Approved by the Board of Trustees: March 9, 2015
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