Down three board members, Enfield Village leaders forged on Tuesday night with just Jim Bolin, Terry Harrison, Billy Bob Merrick, and Mayor Maury Black in attendance. The board set Trick or Treating hours for 4-8pm on October 31st. The Masonic Lodge Trunk or Treat is anticipated to be held from 6p – 8pm the same evening. The village will close a portion of Main Street for it’s Car Show on October 21st as well.
CPA Justin Dartt presented the village with it’s annual year end audit. He says the inspection went well.
“Everything came out good on the audit; all the numbers looked good. Of course, we’re not a forensic auditor, but as far as fairly stated, everything is fairly stated according to our reporting requirements.”
Gas and sewer funds were all in good shape. Dartt said water ran an operating deficit of more than $33,000 for the year despite a rate increase in the past 6 months. Dartt says the village may need to institute another increase.
“So it might be something you guys need to look at. Your loss isn’t great there, but it could add up over time.”
The board approved the audit findings and voted to retain Dartt for the coming year.
Village attorney Jonathan Turpin presented the Fiscal Budget and the tax levy.
“On the tax levy which is the important part, I earned my keep, a little less than $5,500 extra coming out of the whole fund for all the taxes in White County, not just us so it doesn’t make our taxes collectively any higher. If we don’t take it, we don’t get it. So, anyway, I paid for myself and a little more I do believe.”
Following that, Turpin would square off with a few visitors, namely one in particular who allegedly goes by the name Perfecto who lived in a home that burnt and subsequently set up a tent on the property afterward. The village wants the property cleaned up.
Ultimately, Turpin would explain that as long as progress is being made, he felt, as the legal representative of the village, that the board would be cooperative and flexible on the time frame and deadline for the cleanup to be completed.
Beverly Thompson gave an animal control officer report and turned over $105 from a fundraiser she held to repair the dog pens. Police Chief Mark Wheeler says his department has made a handful of arrests over the last month and that Mule Day went really well.
Board member Bolin warned the village they should be preparing for the April 8th eclipse. Through his work with EMA, he says he’s concerned the village’s infrastructure and law enforcement may not be prepared for the influx of individuals descending on the area.
“I’m more so being prepared on you guys’ [law enforcement] end and just on the village itself. You could overload your sewer systems, your water systems. I mean some people don’t think it’s going to happen, but it could be an issue. I went to an EMA meeting just the other day and they’re telling us to prepare for an increase of up to 2 million people just in our viewing area through southern Illinois.”
The board went into what was expected to be a brief executive session at 8:04pm. No action was to follow.
