PLATO TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING Plato Town Hall, Plato Center, IL November 16, 2017, 7:00pm

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1 PLATO TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING Plato Town Hall, Plato Center, IL, 7:00pm CALL TO ORDER Supervisor Crocetti called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. ROLL CALL Present: Supervisor Mitch Crocetti; Trustees: Jim Cartee, Matt Clark, Tim Maroder, and Ron Straub; Assessor Janet Roush; Highway Commissioner Larry Trainor; and Township Clerk Beth Gehrke. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Supervisor Crocetti led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD Several citizens were in attendance and expressed concern in regard to township taxes. Also, an explanation in regards to the corporate and special purpose tax rate was requested. Crocetti explained. It was suggested that agendas and budgets be placed on the website. Crocetti explained that there is no full time person operating the website. Agendas are posted outside the town hall at least 48 hours before scheduled meetings. Budget hearings are published in the Herald at least 30 days prior to the hearing as required by law. Tentative budgets and appropriations ordinances are available for inspection during this time at the town hall and by contacting the township clerk. The approved budget and appropriation ordinances are also available by asking the supervisor or clerk. Citizens have experienced problems reaching the supervisor by phone and by . Crocetti said he is working on getting the supervisor's s forwarded to his regular address; the phone answering machine issues are also being addressed. It was reported that lights at the park and the light illuminating the flag at the town hall are not functioning properly. A photo eye for the flag light was suggested. Crocetti will have them repaired. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion to approve the minutes of the October 19, 2017, regular board meeting was made by Maroder, seconded by Cartee. Motion carried. SUPERVISOR'S REPORT Financial Reports, Warrants, & Pay Bills Supervisor Crocetti provided the board with balance sheets, warrants, statements of income and expenses, paychecks, and working budget detail for the township and the township road district. Total Assets: Plato Township $449, Road District $575, A motion to approve the warrants and financial reports subject to review was made by Clark, seconded by Maroder. Motion carried. Park The park has been winterized and grass cutting has been completed for the season. Crocetti will check if the concession stand is emptied. Signs have not been taken off of the baseball field fences. Next year's contract will stipulate there be no advertising signs placed at the park. Crocetti asked the board for permission to have all 3 locks at the park replaced or rekeyed and to have one master key for all locks. Approximate cost is expected to be $800-$900. The board agreed by consensus. Clark reported the high school has service clubs which are looking for service projects. He will work with the groups to set up a cleanup day in the spring. Page 1 of 5

2 HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER'S REPORT The board was provided with a written report from Commissioner Trainor which is attached. Trainor also reported that this harvest season has created considerable mud on the roads from farm equipment. The department scrapes the mud off of the road, but he reminded citizens that this is farming country and to be patient. If there are issues, citizens can call the department to come and clean it up. He also requested citizens report any suspicious activity in regards to dumping along the roadways. A motion to recess the Plato Township Board meeting for the purpose of holding the Public Hearing in Regards to Tax Levy Ordinances was made at 7:17pm by Maroder, seconded by Clark. Motion carried. A motion to reconvene the Plato Township Board meeting was made by Straub, seconded by Clark at 7:47pm. Motion carried. ASSESSOR'S REPORT Assessor Roush reported she is finished with 2017 and starting on She does not yet have information on next year's projected factor. CLERK'S REPORT Nothing to report OLD BUSINESS Plato Park Electronic Gate The photo cell and battery for the gate have been purchased. Hopefully the gate will be completed within the next month. Signs for where to stop to allow the gate to open still need to be made. Student Trustee Concept Clark reported the student trustee concept has been approved by the Student Council. Information has gone out to the juniors and seniors. It will be posted in the school stating student trustees must be 16 years old or over. Permission slips are needed for interviews and participation, Clark will develop. Ideally the student trustees would be Plato Township residents. Phone System Crocetti reported if the Fire District board declares their used phone system surplus property, the township may then be able to use it. Crocetti will talk to Comcast concerning the price and options. NEW BUSINESS Ordinance Township Tax Levy Ordinance A motion to adopt Ordinance Township Tax Levy Ordinance was make by Maroder, seconded by Clark. Motion carried. Roll call: Crocetti - aye, Cartee - aye, Clark - aye, Maroder - aye, Straub - aye Ordinance Road District Tax Levy Ordinance A motion to adopt Ordinance Road District Tax Levy Ordinance was make by Maroder, seconded by Straub. Motion carried. Roll call: Crocetti - aye, Cartee - aye, Clark - aye, Maroder - aye, Straub - aye Ordinance Cemetery District Tax Levy Ordinance A motion to adopt Ordinance Cemetery District Tax Levy Ordinance was make by Maroder, seconded by Clark. Motion carried. Roll call: Crocetti - aye, Cartee - aye, Clark - aye, Maroder - aye, Straub - aye Resolution IMRF Participation Resolution A motion to adopt Resolution IMRF Participation Resolution was make by Maroder, seconded by Cartee. Motion carried. Roll call: Crocetti - aye, Cartee - aye, Clark - aye, Maroder - aye, Straub - aye Page 2 of 5

3 A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Cartee, seconded by Straub at 8:12pm. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Beth Gehrke Plato Township Clerk Approved by: Mitch Crocetti, Supervisor Jim Cartee, Trustee Timothy Maroder, Trustee Matthew Clark, Trustee Ron Straub, Trustee Page 3 of 5

4 Road District Report for November 2017 All snow removal equipment is operational and ready for service. The first batch of salt has been treated an mixed and the chemical tanks are full. The Snow removal meeting with the city of Elgin and surrounding Townships went well. The City of Elgin will continue to plow all of Nesler Rd and will plow McDonald Rd from Dittmann Rd to Corron Rd. We have been using the plows to scrape mud off the roads from the ongoing harvest. This is an annual hazard that the traveling public will have to grow accustom to as this is an agricultural based county and the hazards occur on other roadways besides Plato s. All off season equipment has been winterized and placed into cold storage. We repaired a few more low spots on the shoulders and cleared the yard of any remaining shoulder material so as to accommodate ice control sand if we need. We will be starting phase 1 engineering on Muirhead Bridge late this winter. The timeline shows the bridge and Muirhead Rd from Plato RD to Plank Rd to be replaced in 2020/2021 depending on Illinois government budget issues. Part of the road resurfacing will use federal dollars and coincide with the bridge reconstruction. Water Resources will be walking Montague Forest sometime this month to examine the drainage issues through the subdivision all the way to the Fitchie Creek. The Bowes Bend drainage meeting went well questions and concerns were addressed and tentative plans were discussed along with the timeline for resurfacing the streets in Bowes Bend which would follow the drainage repairs. Page 4 of 5

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