Minutes of January 4, 2007
Village of Palestine Board of Trustees Meeting

The Palestine Board of Trustees met in regular session on January 4, 2007, at 6:00 PM. Trustees answering the roll call were Gene Purcell, Greta Dennison, Walter Fritchie Larry Surrells, and Larry Miller. David Branson was absent.

Margaret Littlejohn and Chief Jim Clark were present.

Visitor present was Bob Taylor

The meeting began with all in attendance reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

The minutes of the December meeting were unanimously approved as corrected.

OLD BUSINESS

It was announced the Caucus of the Peoples Party will be held on January 22, 2007 at 6;30 PM in compliance with Illinois Law. The meeting will be held in the Pioneer Room of the Palestine Municipal Building. Official notice will be published before January 12, 2007.

A quotation from Global Technical Systems, Inc. to upgrade the new alarm warning system has been received. The bid amount was $33,984.55. A credit of $9,320.14 would be given for exchanged parts. This leaves a net cost of $24,664.41. The bid was taken under advisement.

NEW BUSINESS

Larry Miller, chairman of the Building Regulations Committee moved that in accordance with the State of Illinois Manufactured Housing Code, the following should be added to the end of Section 1 of Ordinance No. 2006-0-01.
       "The term, “Mobile Home” shall only include homes constructed prior to June 30, 1976, not in accordance with the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standard Act of 1974. Compliance with this standard is indicated by a 2 inch by 4 inch metal plate attached to the exterior tail light end of the manufactured home.
       All manufactured (Mobile) homes constructed after June 30, 1976, as with all residences, shall have a minimum 4/12 pitch roof with residential style siding and roofing, six (6) inch minimum eave overhang, and shall have a minimum living area of not less than nine hundred (900) square feet. Provided that any such structure resting on a permanent foundation with wheels, tongue, and hitch permanently removed shall not be construed as a “manufactured mobile home,” but shall be an “immobilized manufactured home.” This term implies that, once affixed to a permanent foundation, the destruction of said foundation would be necessary in order to move the dwelling to another location.”
The motion was seconded by Greta Dennison. The motion passed unanimously.

The matter of radio communication has been resolved. Police Chief, Jim Clark has taken the equipment to a communication specialist in Effingham. All that was need was minor repairs and a new battery in the radios. Communication is now back to normal.

Chief Clark reported that due to the December holiday season, he had only received one bid for a new police car. More bids are expected this month.

Ameren has proposed a significant rate increase that is being opposed by the Illinois Legislature. Village action will await the results of this finding.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Budget Committee

Chairman Floyd Fuller reported that the proposed Village budget will be worked up in February.

Building Regulations, Permits, and Maintenance

Chairman Larry Miller reported that an unused trailer was being dismantled and would soon be completely removed from the lot in question.

Streets, Sidewalks and Alleys Committee

Chairman Larry Surrells reported that 5838 of sidewalk had been replaced and that the remainder of the scheduled replacement will be completed this month.

Chief of Police, Jim Clark.

Chief Clark could not present his annual report as his computer hard drive had gone down and he could not put his report together.

He did report that some significant drug manufacturers and dealers had been arrested and are expected to be incarcerated for 10 years. This has had considerable positive effect on the drug problem.

Larry Miller moved to adjourn.

By consensus the meeting adjourned at 6:32 PM.

Patricia Schofield, President
Floyd M. Fuller, Clerk

OLD BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

COMMITTEE REPORTS