DeKalb Times

Village of Shabbona Board of Trustees met July 24.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Regular Meeting of the Shabbona Village Board was called to order by Village President Donald J. Goncher on Monday, July 24, 2023 at 7:00 P.M. in the meeting room at Village Hall, 206 S. Blackhawk Street, Shabbona IL. The following were present:

Title	Name	Present	Not Present		Title	Name	Present	Not Present
President	Donald J. Goncher	x			Trustee	Marc Cinnamon	x
Treasurer	Cindy Barnes	x			Trustee	Denny Sands	x
Clerk	Jen Morrison	x			Trustee	Allison Kidd Probst	x
Attorney	Keith Foster	x			Trustee	David Simpson	x
Engineer	Aaron Full	x			Trustee	Joy Fay	x
Public Works	Bud Forrer	x			Trustee	Geoff Cooker		x

OPENING OF MEETING/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/ ROLL CALL

Roll Call Vote: Marc Cinnamon-aye, Allison Kidd-Probst-aye, Denny Sands-aye, Joy Fay-aye, David Simpson aye, Geoff Cooker-absent. 5 present, 1 absent.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA - none

APPROVAL OF AGENDA – David Simpson motioned to approve the agenda, Joy Fay seconded. All in favor vote aye, motion carried.

CITIZENS ADDRESSING THE BOARD:

205 N Hiawatha Street – Noisy animals and chickens: Brandy and Laura Haseman addressed the board with concerns over letter they received regarding chickens and noisy animals. Laura asked about certain rules for chickens – like can they house the chickens in the garage. Laura asked for an extension on chicken permit application – 30 days extension granted by Board. Brandy said that they have gotten complaints about their noisy macaw, and they have dealt with Sheriff’s department because they have had issue with someone harassing them – Don responded by reading the ordinance about noisy animals and said that the Sheriff patrol responds but doesn’t really do anything because patrol is not witnessing the noise. If someone requests a citation, then one can be issued by the Sheriff. Laura asked about barking dog, Jen said that she rarely hears their dog bark and Cindy said they she uses a bark collar that works well and it doesn’t hurt dog. Asked about filling out chicken application, yes they need to and submit to B&F Construction Codes. Brandy asked about fencing in yard for the chickens to be loose, Don said they need to put thru to B&F Construction Codes.

REPORTS and ACTION

A. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP, LTD – TIF AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS: HERB KLEIN: Jacob & Klein LTD and are a law firm that does all the legal work for TIF and Business Development Districts in Illinois. They have done more than 350 TIF districts. The Economic Development Group LTD does the research and studies for establishing TIF and Business Development Districts. Denny Sands asked what other towns Jacob & Klein are associated with – over 90 towns, Cortland, Maple Park, Ogle County (Oregon, Polo, Rochelle), LaSalle/Peru. They represent developers in city of DeKalb. Denny asked for an explanation of what a TIF district is: TIF district is a geographic area that the Village determines, if not annexed in then would need to be. TIF district applies if improvements are made to property (build or renovate eligible for TIF monies), if the tax rate grows and the increase comes to the Village under the TIF plan. TIF is to improve economic development and businesses. When establishing a TIF it can last for up to 23 years, all properties will have base assessed value and the growth over that is returned to Village Board, initial taxes (base) continue to be distributed to all the taxing bodies as they do now. Denny asked how presenter would get paid, the Village would get paid. Denny asked for an estimate for the cost to establish TIF district – There are a lot of things that have to happen before TIF district can be established, approximately $30,000-$40,000. Once the TIF is established and producing increment, can repay general fund for the cost of establishing TIF district. With TIF district, need growth and there is a year delay due to real estate taxes being paid for prior year and TIF does not get taxed on real estate tax bills, lag is why 20 years of financing is available. Instead of advancing TIF funds, developers/property owners get reimbursed at an established percent on an annual basis. The idea is to make the designated area eligible to provide an incentive. TIF concepts work anywhere, any size community. A lot of communities use TIF district to try to attract businesses to downtown, developers, and to improve infrastructure. Marc said that there are a number of empty buildings that are assessed very low, how do you know if owners are going to sell property – if property isn’t improved, there is no growth. Property owners are not willing to improve or sell property, can sit down and explain to them and they are unmotivated sellers. Don asked if TIF district affects current property assessment, no EAV is assessed annually after TIF district is established. Better to establish the district early in the calendar year so that there is increment for the entire year. 4-6 month process to establish TIF district. Other taxing bodies have an advisory vote and are included in the process to establish TIF district, they don’t determine if the Village is establishing district though. Difference between TIF and BDD – TIF is real estate taxes, BDD established up to another 1.0% on sales tax and other taxing bodies not involved, vertical new construction only.

B. VILLAGE ENGINEER: Chastain & Associates - Aaron Full

1. RUN-OFF @ JOE PERKINS MEMORIAL PARK: nothing back from Shabbona Fire Protection District on intergovernmental agreement. Need that before anything will proceed.

2. PROJECT UPDATES:

a. Apache Street Project: getting ready to submit to IDOT for review and would like to bid this year. No work can be done to start the project either after harvest or before planting per easement agreement with property owner.

b. Shabbona Road Water Project: some of the projects ahead of this project on draft list in June have been removed from intended list and now Shabbona Road Water Project is now on the funding list. Loan application being finalized and submitted by end of week, still haggling with IDOT and DeKalb County on permits. Hoping to get approval for bidding this fall. Currently 50% forgiveness. Right now, IEPA has it listed as a $600,000 loan with $300,000 forgiveness. Aaron is revisiting the numbers. Direct ARPA $100,000 + County ARPA $100,000 impacted that loan amount.

3. Have been assisting Buddy with Well #6 and have things ironed out now.

C. PUBLIC WORKS REPORT-BUD FORRER: Well #6 been working and been working on things in it. Well #5 is now fixed and back up well. John sprayed weeds around town. School has connected to Shabbona Road water main. Water Tower Park pavilion support pieces were rotting, got supplies and repaired pavilion.

D. COMMITTEE REPORTS:

1. SHABBONA PATHWAY—MARC CINNAMON: Don received email back from Nathan Schwartz regarding pathway along Shabbona Road, Nathan is saying County frowns about putting kids on right of way and they won’t approve it. Right now, kids are in the road instead of on a pathway. Keith Foster recommended talking to Brian Gregory with DeKalb County.

2. SHABBONA HORTICULTURAL COMMITTEE—MARC CINNAMON: Cleaned up around west and east welcome signs. Marc asked Bud to look at the solar lights as they have sunk and need to be pulled up. Will probably need to do tree work, including maintenance pruning this fall. Marc will get pricing for fall tree work.

3. INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE-MARC CINNAMON: Don talked to Bud about sidewalks to look at potentially doing this year.

4. FINANCE COMMITTEE-ALLISON KIDD PROBST: Allison and Marc will talk about setting date for Finance meeting.

5. DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE-ALLISON KIDD PROBST:

a. PLANNER/ENGINEER FOR PURDY PARK PROJECT: 501c3 is moving along well. Purdy Park is the first project that Building Shabbona Together will be doing. Allison said that the committee does not have a lot of money. In order to apply for grants and do fundraising, a complete project plan needs to be done – engineering and cost estimates. Don asked for a motion to approve him getting quote from Stephanie Brown, Chastain & Associates, who was our Village Planner and is familiar with the Purdy Park project. Allison said that since she started with first drawing, it would be beneficial to bring her in to do engineering. Don is looking for approval to go ahead and talk with Stephanie to get an engineering estimate for Purdy Park project. Joy said they the Village needs to do something. All in favor-aye. Don will contact Stephanie.

b. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2023 – FIRST READING: Allison asked for any input or discussion. Consensus is to move forward with scheduling Public Hearing in front of Zoning Board/Planning Commission for recommendation.

6. PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE-DAVID SIMPSON: 4th of July festival was very successful. Next meeting 8/2 at 6pm to recap 4th of July and start planning Winter Festival.

E. DEKALB COUNTY SHERIFF – reviewed Sheriff’s report for June 2023

F. VILLAGE CLERK

1. APPROVAL OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES FROM JUNE 26, 2023-Allison Kidd Probst motioned to approve the minutes of the Board Meeting from June 26, 2023, Joy Fay seconded. All in favor vote aye, motion carried.

2. APPROVAL OF SPECIAL BOARD MEETING MINUTES FROM JULY 10, 2023-David motioned to approve the amended minutes of the Special Board Meeting from July 10, 2023, Joy seconded. All in favor vote aye, motion carried.

FINANCIALS

A. APPROVAL OF BILLS AND PAYROLL – David motioned to approve July 2023 bills and payroll, Marc seconded. Roll Call Vote: Allison Kidd-Probst-aye, David Simpson-aye, Denny Sands-aye, Marc Cinnamon-aye, Joy Fay-aye, Geoff Cooker-absent. 5 aye – 1 absent, Motion carried.

B. TREASURER’S REPORT – Allison motioned to accept the Treasurer’s report, Joy seconded. Roll Call Vote: Joy Fay-aye, Allison Kidd-Probst-aye, Denny Sands-aye, David Simpson-aye, Marc Cinnamon-aye, Geoff Cooker-absent. 5 aye-1 absent, Motion carried.

C. UTILITY BILLING: One resident is protesting their bill – 205 N Mohawk, Cindy is working with Bud on it. 804 W Comanche has asked why she pays sewer and is on septic, Cindy will contact resident as they are not paying for sewer.

OLD BUSINESS

A. PROPERTY NOTICES/VIOLATIONS UPDATE: Keith had no update. West Comanche is now selling cars on property.

B. VACANT BUILDING ORDINANCE:

1. POTENTIAL VACATED BUILDING REPORT FROM B&F CONSTRUCTION: There are some properties that should not be on the report and there are a couple of missing properties. Don has started drafting a letter regarding registration and what deficiencies need to be addressed. He has also drafted a memo to B&F instructing them to focus on buildings on Comanche Avenue and requests an in-depth building/property inspection report including detail of what violations exist. Vacant building ordinance – register it, fix it, sell it, demolish it. Allison said that need to go through the report tonight and make the list tonight. Board consensus is no residential at this time.

• 115 &117 W Comanche

• 106-1/2 W. Comanche

• 102 Nokomis

• 103 W Comanche

• 104 W Comanche

• 210 W Comanche

• 300 E Comanche

• 402/404/406 W Comanche

• 502 A/B West Comanche

• 102 N Illini

• 100/102/104 S. Illini

• 106 E Comanche – property maintenance

All will be inspected for maintenance of property and buildings as well as vacancy.

2. ENFORCEMENT OF VACANT BUILDING ORDINANCE: Storage is not allowable use in ordinance – have to use for zoned use or apply for variance. We are not collecting sales tax. Joy said that to her vacant buildings are those with absolutely no use or occupancy. Allison said that the problem is how do you go after some and not all. Need to encourage property owners to improve their property/building. Storage – put on the next agenda to discuss how to address.

ADJOURNMENT: Allison Kidd Probst motioned for adjournment at 8:43 PM, Joy Fay seconded. All in favor vote aye, motion carried.

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