The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Board Swears In Van Arsdale As Trustee

By: Shirley Linder, Quill Editor

At the Village of Stronghurst board meeting on Monday, June 1st Amanda Van Arsdale, was sworn in by Clerk Hollie Allen. Van Arsdale will fill the position of the late David Vancil, until the term expires April, 2021.

Mayor Brendan Schaley opened the meeting and led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Guest Sara Evans Brown thanked the board for her liquor license which was extended for the next year without pay. She also told the board they were all working for the same purpose to make the town better and she felt that everyone should play by the same rules. She also addressed the board regarding the sidewalk on the north side of her business, saying that when they were digging post holes there was a big hole under the sidewalk. They filled it with gravel, but Ronnie Gittings will meet with her and take a look at what is going on.

Guest Dennis Day was present to clear the issue of a storage unit on his property. While there is no specific ordinance at this time on storage units, his will be grandfathered in when the zoning committee looks at an ordinance.

Doug Erickson of Benton & Associates reported on the School Safety Project, saying the contract has been awarded. He also told the board he will be the resident inspector of the project. Work should probably being within the next month or so and should be finished by the time school starts. IDOT does all the hiring and everyone has to play by IDOT specifications. He also discussed other grants, and projects the board could look into for grant money or low interest rate loans.

Ronnie Gittings reported on the new instruments installed at the pump house. Also said the repair to the sidewalk in front of the post office was completed, but he had been advised to let it dry for a while before replacing the ramp back in front of it. He also reported too much salt and not the correct kind of salt was being used at the post office and also at Eagle View Medical Center. A letter will be sent to the businesses regarding this issue.

Police report for May included: 76 hours worked; 4 training hours; 420 miles on squad car; 2 traffic stops, with 1 verbal warning and 1 written warning; 2 uniform traffic tickets; 9 service calls, 2 assist Henderson County; 2 arrests and 20 business courtesy checks.

In other business the board:

• Approved the minutes and payment of the bills
• No financial statement for the month
• Heard the zoning ordinances need to be updated. This will be done and brought to the board for approval
• Decided there would be no credit given on water bills for the filling of individual's swimming pools
• Heard the Feedlot is giving customers only a place to sit. All food and drinks must be picked up at the window and drinks may not be opened until they are in the back yard.
• Mike Swisher inquired if the no dumping signs had been posted on the East side of Porter Street. They have not.
• Kevin Box of Stronghurst Grain and Merchandise had requested the pot holes on the streets by the elevator be taken care of.
• Discussed hiring summer help since Matt Hicks will be off until the 22nd, but decided since it was not on the agenda he would be back to work before they could hire someone.
• Lee Tree Service ground 18 stumps for $1600 and there are 4 more trees to be cut down.
• Decided to start up the spray park and make sure it works, but it will not be opened to the public due to COVID19.
• Said the playground equipment cannot be used in the park but if persons want to use the shelter house or just spend time in the park it is permissible.
• Discussed having two large dumpsters brought in for clean up since Waste Management cannot schedule a cleanup day due to the CORONAVIRUS. This will be discussed at the next board meeting
• Mayor Brendan Schaley said due to a new trustee he had shuffled some of the committees around.

Present were: Mayor Brendan Schaley; Trustees, Mike Bohnenkamp, Jerry Nortrup, Shane Reed, Amanda Van Arsdale, Mike Swisher, (Randy Jarvis absent); Employees, Hollie Allen, Ronnie Gittings, Attorney Mariah Wallace; Guests, David Knutstrom, Dennis Day, Karen Day, Lori Hamilton, Sara Evans Brown, Doug Erickson of Benton & Associates, and Shirley Linder.

The next meeting will be held on Monday, July 6, at 6 p.m.