Sheridan's Village Board unanimously approved the appointment of Maggie Cimbalista to the zoning board. The board also approved the appointment of Jason Crose but with a condition.
Finance Committee Chairman Randy McMurray raised an objection.
"I don't believe we can have people on any board who owe money to the village," McMurray said. "Mr. Crose owes the village $397.34 for a past due water bill. Perhaps we can approve his appointment with the stipulation that he pay this bill before he is officiallly appointed.
"These past due bills have been an ongoing battle for the last 10 years," McMurray added. "Right now we have an outstanding balance of about $13,000 and it's really time to figure out how we can solve this problem. We've had to increase the late fee from 1 percent to 2.5 percent and that doesn't seem to be a deterrent. This money affects the way we're able to repair and maintain our village's 50-plus-year-old sewer infrastructure."
The board approved Crose's appointment with the conditionall past due water/sewer bills be paid up to date.
Since June 2015, the village has had a problem with sewer usage delinquiencies that have totaled anywhere between $9,000 and $13,000. The village has offered a $10 discount as an incentive for residents who want to pay the yearly amount of $120 ($10 per month). Because the entire village uses wells, shutting off water is not an option.
To combat the issue, Sheridan placed liens on roughly 17 homes at a village cost of $620.50 ($36.50 per home). Once the water bills were paid, the lien was removed at the same cost of $36.50 per home.
In accordance with Illinois statute, the village has the ability to collect past due water bills through a home lien. But over the last several years, the liens weren't working and the delinquency problem continued and continues to grow.
Sheridan participates in the Illinois Local Debt Recovery Program, giving the village authority to collect water bill delinquencies from an individual's state tax refund.
Besides delinquent water bills, the December 2012 law gives municipalities the ability to collect other delinquent debts such as parking tickets and even library fines. Once individuals are notified by the state about possible refund reductions, they have 60 days to respond. To be a part of the program, the village had to remove liens.
Since the 1950s, Sheridan has had a sewer system water treatment plant that processes about 500,000 gallons of wastewater per day. Sheridan also has about 20 miles of sanitary sewer lines and two pumping stations that move wastewater to the sanitary district.
Every year, the village's aging sewer collection system (a clay pipe infrastructure) has been becoming more expensive to maintain while available funds are dwindling.
By 2009, Sheridan's village engineer informed the village it needed to invest more money into the almost 55-year-old system to correct problems that included invading tree roots, sewer line collapses, cracks and rain water infiltrating into the sanitary sewers, which the village has done throughout the years.
The village was left with the problem of where to find that additional repair money. During 2009-2010, there were several public hearings before the board voted to impose a $10 monthly sewer use charge (which has not increased in the last eight years). The Sanitary District also implemented a $45 user charge to help defray their costs.
New communications tower at school
Based on a recommendation from the Zoning Board of Appeals/Plan Commission, the Sheridan Village Board approved a special use request from Community Unit School District 2 that would allow a new communications tower at Sheridan Grade School.
"The school has said that the new tower will be available for other community needs," said village attorney Richard Burton. "Within six months, the tower will be dismantled and removed from the school's property."
Golf Cart ordinance amended
Sheridan has an ordinance that governs snowmobiles, ATVs, motorized scooters and golf carts. An amendment now states children have to be seated in a facing forward seat and secured with a lap belt, seat belt or any other safety restraint.
Chief honored for D.A.R.E.
Sheridan Police Chief Chuck Bergeron has taught the D.A.R.E program to Sheridan's school children since 2001. This week, Mayor Shelly Figgins, on behalf of the village, presented him with a plaque, congratulating him on his 18 years of service.
"I started this program because there were no programs for our kids and with all the temptations and options kids have to make bad choices, I felt it was a program we needed," Bergeron said. "It's different today and kids need to know there are better choices for them.
"I will continue to teach these course for as long as I possibly can. It's truly one of the best parts of my job. The kids are awesome and I really enjoy getting to know them."
Upcoming events
The Community Club will host its annual Memorial Day Cruise Night from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 26.
April financial report
McMurray gave the April financial report. Expenses of $24,341.08 and revenue of $66,056.07 left the village with an ending balance of $1,168,860.22.