The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Village Swears In New Clerk/Treasurer

By: Shirley Linder, Quill Editor

Following the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call, at the April 3rd, Village of Stronghurst board meeting, Mayor Brendan Schaley read a letter of resignation from Hollie Allen, effective immediately.

Following the reading of the letter, Mayor Schaley swore in Brittany Smith as the new village clerk/treasurer.

Ronnie Gittings reported there has been 5 trees removed recently. Another tree has blown partially down and he would like the rest of it taken down. He had received a bid of $1200 to have the partial tree taken down and 6 stumps ground. The board unanimously approved the request.

Gittings stated that a motor at the water plant had been shutting off and on and they had found some bad wires in it, which has been rewired.

Gittings also said that every 3 years the EPA comes out and inspects the water plant and then sends him a report. The first report were items that need to be dealt with soon and they included:

1. Install panic hardware on the door that exits the gas chlorine room. He is getting a price quote for that.
2. Take the necessary steps for the implantation of a Nitrification Action Plan.
3. Conduct a cross-connection control survey. He stated surveys will be sent to every water customer.
4. Test manganese every day for both the raw finished water. This will run around an extra $300 a year.

In the other section of the report it is recommended maintenance and routine updating of the materials inventory is conducted. When water main repair or replacement is planned, notification of potentially affected residents must be conducted to provide information regarding potential sediment, possibly containing lead, that may result from the repair or replacement project.

Police Chief Arbry Vancil’s police report for March included: 65 hours worked; 2 training hours; 647.5 miles on squad car; 3 uniform traffic tickets; 4 service calls; and 18 business courtesy checks. Vancil also stated he had been fitted for a new bulletin proof vest at a cost of $990. The carrier for the vest would cost $228 and he will see if there is a grant to cover this cost.

Vancil also stated Sheriff Matt Link and him will be attending a special training session given by the Henderson County State’s Attorney every other month. In May the training will be on DUI.

In other business the board:

• approved the March minutes
• approved payment of the bills
• heard the financial report for March with $59,628.35 to the good due to $53,638 having been received from the COVID Relief Fund.
• had a request from Virginia Ross that the board publish in the paper what items will be picked up on village clean up day, May 12th
• heard from Henderson County Sheriff Matt Link that his office was available to help the village on anything they could

The board entered closed session for the purpose of employee compensation. When they returned to open session they voted to raise employees wages at a rate of Police Chief Arbry Vancil 50 cents per hour; Ronnie Gittings, Matt Hicks, and Jeff Nichols, $1.00 per hour; and Brittany Smith starting salary at $18 per hour.

Present at the meeting were: Mayor Brendan Schaley; Trustees, Mike Bohnankamp, Janice Smith, Paige Torrance, Amanda Van Arsdale, Mike Swisher; Employees, Ronnie Gittings, Brittany Smith, Arbry Vancil; Guests, David Knutstrom, Dough Erickson, Virginia Ross, and Shirley Linder.

The next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 1st.