The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Stronghurst Board Sets Trick Or Treat Night

by: Shirley Linder, Quill Editor

At their regular board meeting held on Monday, October 7th Village of Stronghurst board members set Thursday, October 31st from 6:00-8:00 p.m. as Trick or Treat night for Stronghurst.

As in the past, they requested residents do not burn leaves that day in order to keep the children safe from being burned or walking through ashes.

An application requesting a liquor license had been received from Garrett Fisher of Fisher's Food Center in Stronghurst. After receiving the attorney's approval that the application was in order, Deb Hale made a motion to issue the license, Betty Waterman seconded it, and the members voted unanimously in favor of the license. The $1200 license fee will be pro-rated due to the year being from July 1 through June 30th.

The police report for September included: 81 hours worked; 785 miles on the squad car; 3 traffic stops; 1 verbal warning; 2 written warnings; 2 uniform traffic tickets; 4 service calls; 3 agency assists; 1 village ordinance ticket; 2 arrest; and 20 business checks.

Yvonne Knapp introduced Nathan Cobb of Western Illinois Regional Council who talked with the board about helping acquire some grants for projects they would like to do. They discussed the possibility of a grant for a new water tower and a generator.

They also discussed changing the lights in the park and elsewhere on village property, as there are rebates available from Ameren for such projects.

President Gary Root had received two bids for adding a light on the basketball court in the park.

After the discussion of the grants and rebates it was decided to look into these options, then ask the two bidders to resubmit their bids from specific specs.

In other business:

• Ronnie Gittings reported the new contract from Test, Inc. had gone down in price by $265 since he is now licensed and in charge of the sewer plant.
• The board voted to purchase a new sump pump for use when replacing hydrants, etc.
• Tabled the painting of the water tower at a cost of $34,000 until spring while they look into available grants for replacing the tower.
• Heard the new truck with the V snow blade has arrived.
• Gittings said he had made a list of some of the sidewalks in town that are in need of repair. Following a lengthy discussion on how this project could be implemented, it was decided Brendan Schaley and Tony Anderson would take a look at the sidewalks on the list and bring a recommendation back to the board.
• Gittings will get bids for the removal of a tree in town affected with ash beetles.
• Heard the triangle park will be done this month.
• Heard the village park has been trashed again and that graffiti was painted on the slide.
• Heard police officer Colton Smith has finished his gun course and he will now be utilized in the village.
• Discussed that now the concealed gun law has passed would it be possible to hold classes at the village gun range for the public. No decisions were made due to not enough information available.

On a motion by Mike Bohnenkamp, seconded by Betty Waterman the board entered closed session at 8:45 p.m. for employee relations.

Following closed session the board raised Ronnie Gittings wages to $15.77 per hour.

Those present at the meeting included: President Gary Root; Trustees, Mike Bohnenkamp, Deb Hale, David Vancil, Betty Waterman, Brendan Schaley, (Tony Anderson, absent); Employees, Lou Ann Nortrup, Ronnie Gittings, Mike Nelson, Attorney Bill Rasmussen, Arbry Vancil; Guests, Yvonne Knapp, Nathan Cobb, Shirley Linder.

The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, November 4th at 7:00 p.m.