Jo-Carroll Depot LRA Board of Directors

Meeting Minutes

DECEMber 1, 2010

 

I. CALL TO ORDER:  Chairman Bill McFadden called the board meeting to order at 3:06 p.m. on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at the Jo-Carroll Depot LRA Conference Room, 3651 Crim Dr., Suite 1, Savanna, Illinois.

 

II. ROLL CALL was answered as follows: Present-Don Crawford, Steve Keeffer, Ed Olds, Bill Wright and Bill McFadden. Present: 5 Ayes: 5. Nays: 0. Absent –Paul Hartman, Bill Robinson and Ron Smith.  Absent: 3. LRA attorney and staff present: Phil Jensen, Mara Roche and Jan Davis.  Guests present: Amiee Malon (RVPR) and Randy Prasse (TCEDA).

 

III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

 

IV. AGENDA ADDITIONS – On the Consent Agenda Item A, dates of minutes need to be changed from November 16, 2010 to November 3, 2010.  Attorney Phil Jensen asked to have pending litigation added to Executive Session.

 

V. CONSENT AGENDA

A.     Minutes of Board Meeting of November 16, 2010 November 3, 2010.

B.     CD transfers approved by Finance Committee, if any.

C.    Bills over $2,500 approved by Finance Committee, if any.

 

A motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Ed Olds, seconded by Don Crawford.  The motion carried by voice vote.

 

VI. EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

A motion to enter Closed Session at 3:10 p.m. as permitted for the following under:

 

5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6).  The setting of a price for sale or lease of property            owned by the public body, and

 

5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11).  Litigation, when an action against, affecting, or on          behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending in a court        or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that such an      action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall     be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting

 

was made by Ed Olds, seconded by Steve Keeffer.  The motion carried by role call vote as follows: Don Crawford, Steve Keeffer, Ed Olds, Bill Wright and Bill McFadden.  Ayes: 5; Nays: 0.

 

Guests were excused.  Attorney Phil Jensen and LRA staff Mara Roche and Jan Davis were present.

 

A motion to return to open session at 4:16 p.m. was made by Ed Olds, seconded by Don Crawford. The motion carried by roll call vote as follows: Don Crawford, Steve Keefer, Ed Olds, Bill Wright and Bill McFadden.  Ayes: 5, Nays: 0.

 

Guests returned to open session.

 

VII. OLD BUSINESS

            A. Committee Reports

                        1. Finance/Personnel Committee

a. CD transfers – Approved in the consent agenda, the committee made a motion to approve keeping the Certificate of Deposit #399795 at THE National Bank, changing the term to 12 months at 0.90% interest.

b. Update on outstanding invoices – report was reviewed and discussed. Attorney Phil Jensen had previously been given permission to take action on RITS and the Savanna Army Depot Military Museum.

c. Parcel 3A platting update

            1. L&M Environmental

d. Property Review – As requested by the Finance Committee, a copy of the report prepared by Mara Roche was provided to all Board members.

                                    e. IIM request – Bill McFadden reported that he had received a personal request from IIM to move the date on their note payment as they are making improvements to their buildings.  The Board discussed this and decided to keep the current dates in place. As per the motion of the November 16, 2010 Finance Committee, a letter has been sent to IIM denying the extension.

                        2. Infrastructure Committee

a. Capital Improvement Plan

b. Water & Sewer fee review

 

A motion to approve a 5% increase of water and sewer charges effective January 1, 2011 was made by Steve Keeffer, seconded by Ed Olds.  The motion carried by voice vote.

 

c. Review of Competitive Bid policy

 

A motion to keep the trigger for competitive bids at $30, 000 was made by Steve Keeffer, seconded by Ed Olds.  The motion carried by voice vote.

 

3. Economic Development Committee – There was no meeting in November.

                                                                                   

VII. NEW BUSINESS

A.                 Bills over $2,500 received since committee met – invoice for attorney fees to Hammer Simon & Jensen was presented.

 

A motion to approve payment of the invoice to Hammer Simon & Jensen in the amount of $4,850 was made by Ed Olds, seconded by Bill Wright.  The motion carried by voice vote.

 

Cindy Irwin (Army) arrived at 4:25pm.

 

B.       2011 Board meeting dates and Holiday schedule

 

A motion to set the Board meeting dates for the first Wednesday of the month in 2011 with the first Board meeting scheduled for January 5, 2011 at 3:00p.m. and to adopt the 2011 Holiday schedule as approved by the 15th Judicial Circuit Court was made by Bill Wright, seconded by Ed Olds.  The motion carried by voice vote.

 

C.       Election of Officers

 

A motion to nominate Bill McFadden as Chairman for 2010-2011 was made by Ed Olds, seconded by Don Crawford. A motion to close nominations was made by Bill Wright, seconded by Steve Keeffer.  The motion carried by voice vote.

 

A motion to nominate Ed Olds as Vice-Chairman for 2010-2011 was made by Bill Wright, seconded by Steve Keeffer.  A motion to close nominations was made by Bill Wright, seconded by Steve Keeffer.  The motion carried by voice vote.

 

D.       Sale or lease of property –

 

A motion to sell Lot 6 of parcel 3A (1.16 acres) to L&M Environmental to meet their 5 acre requirement for rezoning at $3,500 per acre for any acreage over 5 was made by Don Crawford, seconded by Bill Wright.  The motion carried by voice vote.

 

A motion to allow Eastland Feed & Grain to exercise their Option to Purchase and enter into an agreement that allows them to move forward with the water main extension prior to closing on the property; credit will be applied to purchase price for extending the water main; the LRA will complete the water main loop to Shinske Road.  The Executive Director is authorized to obtain proposals for the extension and move forward if the amount does not exceed $30,000; any proposals over that amount are subject to Board approval was made by Ed Olds, seconded by Steve Keeffer.  The motion carried by voice vote.

 

C. Staff Reports       

            1. Executive Director

a. Monthly report / issues update – 3A Plat - Mara Roche reported that Attorney Phil Jensen drafted an agreement with Washington Township.  The Township will take B & C Streets if we agree to help them pay for the plowing and the once-a-year mowing along the roadsides until the LRA is out of existence.  Washington Township did add comments regarding maintenance on the agreement.  Phil will review and revise document.

Mara Roche updated the board with the progress being made by Speer Enterprises (cleanup), Riverport Railroad (truck scale), Savanna Stables (re-roofed stables and inquired about having sewer run to Stables and water run to barracks), Eastland Feed & Grain (completed the first portion of the water main extension) and L&M Environmental (continuing with work on their addition).          

b. Correspondence – from Riverport and the LRA to the Army regarding Rescar’s expansion project in parcel 17 was reviewed and discussed.

A report from the IEPA regarding inspection of the water treatment plant that was conducted in December 2009 was reviewed.  The report showed no violations, no O&M deficiencies, and one recommendation on the dilutions of influent and effluent on the labs.

                                    c. Property Transfers – Mara Roche presented a report as of December 1; since our last meeting, no properties have been transferred and no properties have been received from the Army. However we do have pending sales to Scott Lombardo, L&M Environmental, Ka-Ching, Roger Coulthard, and Riverport Railroad.

d. Employment reports – Employee numbers for the month of November were 69; last month was 63.

                        2. Bookkeeper

                                    a. Bank account balances/funds on hand - As of November 30, 2010 the grand total of LRA money is $1,766,516.76.  Two Certificates of Deposit will be coming due before the next Finance meeting. Current rates were reviewed; taking longer terms, leaving funds in the money market was discussed.

 

A motion to approve moving Certificate of Deposit #396659 currently held at THE National Bank to Mount Carroll Banking Center for a 6 month, 0.85% Certificate of Deposit was made by Bill Wright, seconded by Don Crawford.  The motion carried by voice vote.

 

b. Cash Flow – November cash flow was as follows: $12,935.77 income, $10,603.63 expenses indicating a difference of $2,332.14.

c. Budget Update – Twelve months into the budget year, revenue was $229,166.06 and $242,183 was budgeted, and expenditures were $273,401.12 with $613,122 budgeted.

D. Board of Directors Report

1. UMRI Port Authority – Mr. Ed Olds had no report.

2. Foreign Trade Zone #271 – Mr. Don Crawford had no report. 

3. Jo-Carroll Enterprise Zone – Mr. Don Crawford had no report.

                        4. Other director’s reports – Bill Wright reported that Mara Roche gave a presentation to the Rotary Club membership.  He commented that she did a nice job and thanked her for her time.

            E. Attorney’s Report

1. Recommendations – Per the Illinois Telecommunications Act a Certificate of Public Convenience or Necessity, or a Certificate of Service Authority is required by Century Tel.  Phil Jensen will check with the Commerce Commission to see if Century Tel has a certificate and what their requirements and obligations are.

            F. Other new business – None

 

VIII. OTHER REPORTS TO THE BOARD

A.  Commander’s Rep – Written report was reviewed.  Cindy Irwin (Army) reminded the Board that the Installation Action Plan workshop is December 7–9. All LRA Board members are welcome to attend.

B.  Depot Park Tenants – No reports.

C.  US Fish & Wildlife Service – No one present; however Mara Roche reported that the latest US Fish & Wildlife newsletter is included in the packets.

D.  Guests – Randy Prasse (TCEDA) submitted a written  report and announced that TCEDA will be temporarily moving their office to the Savanna Depot Park, into Riverport Railroad’s building 21, as they will be working with the Foreign Trade Zone on a couple of projects.  This may lead to a long-term, more permanent move.  Randy Prasse has been working with the Carroll County Board to get their 2011 funding renewed; they have been successful at getting $20,000 of their original funding restored.  As Jo Daviess County has fragmented investments related to economic development, Randy Prasse has been in contact with the Mayors of Jo Daviess County and is encouraging any influential individuals or organizations in the county to contact their county board members to show their support of funding TCEDA for 2011. The Board discussed this and will have the Executive Director submit a letter of support from the LRA. 

 

IX. PUBLIC COMMENTS – None. 

 

X. ADJOURNMENT

A motion to adjourn was made at 5:05p.m. by Ed Olds, seconded by Steve Keeffer.  The motion carried by voice vote.  

 

_________________________

Jan Davis, LRA Board Secretary