The Norris City Village Board held their regular monthly meeting Monday night. Scott Mareing was there and has this report…
The board voted to approve continuing employee health insurance with Blue Cross/Blue Shield. The renewal is in June with premiums to be $20,147, up about 8% from last time, which is not a very big increase compared with other companies. There will be no change in coverage.
The village will proceed with starting the process on Phase IV of the Water Project with work to be done by Brown and Roberts. The cost is $1.8 million total, with a $1.2 million grant and $609,000 from the Illinois EPA as a forgivable loan. They will accept comments from the public for 30 days.
John Schofield is asking for $21,000 in TIF money for the building on Main Street next to the old bank time and temperature sign for a new roof and to square up the building. Schofield’s wife was as the meeting and made a presentation to the board members about the business they would put in there, selling machines for freeze drying foods, to be called Village Prepper. The board gave Mayor Skip Land permission to talk to the TIF committee and make a decision whether to agree to the proposal at the June village board meeting.
The village has received the lease agreement with the Norris City Chamber of Commerce and the Museum, as was brought up at last month’s board meeting.
The board agreed to pay the $75 a year membership fee for each of the 20 village employees and board members to join Air-Evac at a cost of $1,500 a year.
The village will purchase a Western Tornado Salt Spreader with agitation, and it will be fit onto the one-ton truck for $9,810. Also, there is a concrete area at the sewer plant to store the salt.
The board turned down a request from Sharp’s Landscape to put in an extra area of concrete in front of the building, saying if they did it for one business, then they would have to do it for another. Anyone would need board approval to do the work themselves.
The village will pursue a contract with C & C Pumps for confined space equipment for the sewers to be used on an “as needed” basis for $855.
Insurance for the gas meters saw an increase of $3 per meter, effective on April 1st. The village will cancel their deal with Barnett Insurance.
Mayor Land will get prices on modifying the garage door at City Hall.
There is now a $35 fee on returned checks.
The City Wide Rummage Sale will be on May 5th and 6th, and City Wide Clean-up Week will be May 8th to the 12th.
A banner for the ball field will be put up at Dale Park and Brandon Stone will provide materials to do work on the ball fields at no cost to the village.
The village has now obtained the deed to the building on 506 North Division Street and the board voted to have the building torn down.
Concerning the Credit Card Policy, employees must turn in receipts from their purchases and there is a limit of $250.
The board agreed to donate the same amount they do every year for the High School Graduation on May 12th.
The village still has $78,000 in COVID relief funds they can spend.
Because of malfunctions due to switching services, the weather sirens have not been working properly, so the sirens will go back to Police Department phones. The sirens are tested every month.
Board member Judy Daubs will be Mayor Pro-Temp from April 22nd to 29th while Mayor Land is on vacation.
In the Police Report for March, there were 15 reports written, one accident report, seven arrests, ten traffic stops and warnings, and 75 dispatch calls.
The board adjourned at 8:25 PM. The next meeting of the Norris City Village Board will be on Monday, May 1st at 7 PM.
