The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Board Hears About Spray Park Problems

By: Shirley Linder, Quill Editor

At the regular board meeting of the Village of Stronghurst, Ronnie Gittings reported they had problems getting the spray park up and running. A couple of the solenoids, of which there is about 9 or 10, didn't get completely drained last fall, froze and cracked the housing.

Bryan Bohnenkamp ordered new ones and got them put in. It worked for a day or so and quit again. They think the actuator you step on has gone bad and have ordered a new one.

Michael Bohnenkamp, acting as mayor pro tem, in the absence of Mayor Brendan Schaley, opened the meeting leading in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Jens Notestein-Media Township Supervisor asked if there was any objections by the board to residents east of the highway putting up blue 9-1-1 address signs if they so choose. The board has no problem with this.

Bob Manning was present to request, in writing, that his present fence is grandfathered in. The ordinance is not in affect as yet as it hasn't been sent to codifier. The clerk will give him a copy of the minutes.

Lori Taylor, representing the Stronghurst Booster Club requested for a donation for flowers to be planted in the flower pots at the park and uptown.

The board voted to give $171, same as last year. She also passed around a drawing of a monument the Booster Club would like to build between the spray park and the memorial bricks. This would be constructed only if they have the funds to do so and it has not been decided if it would have water in it or flowers.

The MSA representative was not present but had sent a time line for the water tower. Work will begin in June 2017 with the completion date of October 2018.

Police report for May: 165 hours; 922 squad car miles; 11 traffic stops; 8 verbal warnings; 2 written warnings; 1 uniform traffic ticket; 2 assists Henderson County; 11 service calls;1 arrest; and 32 business courtesy checks

In other business the board:

• Gave Randy Jarvis permission to clean out the ditch to the culvert at his place as long as he checked with Gittings or any of the street committee on the work he was doing.
• Gittings reported the tower work would start with the foundation and they would start on the actual steel in January. When the weather warms then next year they should be ready to paint the tower.
• Gittings asked for a policy on repairing septic tanks as they become a problem. Board agreed he should go ahead and fix them as needed and not wait until the next board meeting.
• Jerry Nortrup asked if police could start their duty at 7 p.m. instead of 3 p.m. Arbry Vancil responded most of their calls are between 3 and 8 p.m
• Danny Moore had hit a deer with the squad car but it was still drivable. They had the sirens, lights, and radio working again. It has been turned into the insurance company. During the time it is out of service for repair they will borrow a car from the Sheriff's Department if one is available.
• Heard the Hubbard family would like to purchase a white ash oak tree for the park in memory of Pamela Hubbard. The board approved the purchase.
• There will be a finance meeting held on June 20th, at 5:30 p.m.
• Danny Moore and Bryan Bohnenkamp would like to purchase new work boots. It was decided Moore's would come from the police clothing allowance and that would be decided at the next police committee meeting. Bohnenkamp would need to wait until the next meeting as Schaley has all the paper work pertaining to clothing allowance.
• Board members signed bank forms
• Jerry Nortrup brought up the issue if trustees do not attend meetings they should not be paid. Following much discussion no final action was taken.
• David Vancil said there are potholes to be fixed and ditches need cleaned.
• Dustin Rankin, village employee, has started school and is only available to work one day a week, which is Friday.
• Randy Jarvis told the board he was willing to pour his own sidewalk, at the new house he is building, if the village will pay for the concrete. The board voted to allow this and they would pay for the concrete
• Heard Jerry Nortrup and Brendan Schaley had given Bryan Kane permission to mow his 4 lots down by school for hay, one time. It was also noted there is junk on the property.
• Heard Chase Gibb is on vacation and the restaurant deal had not gone through due to mold in the basement. He will talk with Schaley when he returns on the status of the purchase.
• Tabled the McIntyre property update
• Tabled the Annexation update
• Tabled the liquor license and ordinance
• Tabled passing the Appropriation Ordinance

The board voted to go into executive session at 8:15 to discuss the current water bill. Bruce Caldwell asked that they consider raising the minimum usage from 2000 to 3000 gallons. (This could cause an additional raise in the minimum water usage.) No decisions were made.

Attending: Trustees, Mike Bohnenkamp, (Mayor pro tem), Bruce Caldwell, Jerry Nortrup, David Vancil, Amanda Kane, Shane Reed (arriving at 7:10 p.m.). Employees, Morgan Lewis, Arbry Vancil, Ronnie Gittings. Guests, Virginia Ross, Jens Notestein, Bob Manning, Randy Jarvis, Lori Taylor, David Knutstrom, Shirley Linder. Mayor Brendan Schaley and Attorney Bill Rasmussen absent.

The next board meeting will be held Wednesday, July 5th at 7 p.m.