1. 2. 3. The July 11, 2013 Board meeting was called to order by Supervisor Kupar at 7:40 p.m. at the Community Center. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Clerk Johansen called the roll with Supervisor Kupar and Trustees Stutesman, Vandiver, and Murphy present. Trustee VanZandt was absent.
4. Reports:
Highway Commissioner – Sam Gallucci: Commissioner Gallucci’s report stated the Highway District continued to trim back trees on Town Hall Rd. (extension), Campton Hills and Beith Roads, and the Fox Mill subdivision. Mowing was completed on Connor, Kendall, McDonald, and Lenz Roads for the Village of Campton Hills in Plato Township. There was completion of road and drainage projects that consisted of digging out culvert ends, culvert openings, replacing culverts, catch basins, and 3” to 4” drain tiles. Also soil and seed was used to shape ditches for the installation of landscape matting and rip/rap. In addition, shoulder gravel and landscaping work was completed on Arrowhead, Old Burlington, Beith, and Brown Roads; Whirlaway, Prairie Valley, and Bridle Creek Drives; Citation and Trotter lanes; and Retreat and Council Courts. All roadway ditches were mowed and weed trimming completed around street signs, intersections, guardrails, and large culverts throughout Campton Township and the Village of Campton Hills in Plato Township. All grates and storm drains were cleaned of debris throughout Campton Township and the Village of Campton Hills; all stop lines and crosswalks throughout the Township and Village were repainted; potholes were repaired with cold patch throughout the Township and Village; all intersections in the Township and Village were swept on a weekly basis; all stop signs throughout the Township and Village were checked on a weekly basis and damaged or missing ones replaced; and roadways were assessed for drainage problems, pot holes, and to check for the issuance of culvert permits throughout the Township and Village. Ongoing maintenance of Township vehicles and equipment was performed in house by Highway District staff.
Assessor – Alan D. Rottmann: On vacation.
Solid Waste District – Debbie Ballot: Solid Waste District President Ballot stated the Waste Management contract expires next year. For now the Solid Waste District is meeting every other month. Solid Waste District Trustee Betty Wine’s term expired. She was the District’s Treasurer. Trustee Jeff Huske resigned. We have two openings. We recommend one be filled by Mark Gordon who is here tonight. Dave Phillips will be recommended at the next Board meeting. Clerk Johansen asked why is there a third Waste Management truck on garbage pick up day when we have only garbage and recycling to pick up? Answer was during the summer the third truck is for yard waste that cannot be picked up by either of the first two trucks. That will stop in the fall when Waste Management is not picking up yard waste.
Financial Report – Louise McKay: Finance Director Louise McKay stated the Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) report was completed and forwarded to the auditors. Campton’s MD&A is included in the audited financial statements for the year ending March 31, 2013, which was audited by Sikich LLP. Station Film Company paid $3,250 to the Township for the use of Gray Willows for filming of the Steak and Shake TV commercial. Additional monies were paid for added services such as rest rooms, use of the gator (4 wheel all terrain vehicle), and extended filming time. The funds were divided between Town and Open Space and deposited June 21st. The Wasco Girls Fastpitch Softball league field fees for the Poynor Park fields were paid to the Township at the end of May and deposited on June 3rd; the revenue receipt is reflected in the June Revenue and Expenditure Report for Open Space. Town Fund in total is within budget. Maintenance at Town Hall is over budget due to an emergency tree removal. Salaries for Park were over budget for June due to extra mowing and wages for Community Center and Town Hall maintenance and repairs. This month the Town Hall learning center grand opening generated a one time increase in hours. Road and Bridge had overages due to unexpected events – PC replacement and truck number 9 engine rebuild. Road’s total for the year is under budget. Open Space and Capital Improvements are both within budget. Kane County Supervisor of Assessments forwarded the Burlington Road property tax exemption application with their recommendation to approve to the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) in Springfield for final approval. IDOR sent their approval, dated June 20, 2013 for 100% exemption of the 2013 assessment year. Director McKay stated she attended a Ride in Kane meeting on June 4th and the participating sponsors agreed there is a need to raise the riders’ fare from $3.00 to $4.00 per ride. It was requested the sponsors’ representatives obtain their board’s approval to be able to vote at the next Ride in Kane meeting on September 3rd. The Grand Prairie Gateway Project held an informational meeting for governmental entities on June 26th. Their project consists of a new 345kv (high voltage electrical line) supported by single pole steel structures (125 feet tall, 210 foot easement width) for the transmission of electricity between ComEd’s existing substations near the communities of Byron and Wayne. ComEd is asking for community input for alternative environmental / aesthetic routes. There are several informal public open houses being held in July, August and September. Their time line is to file with the ICC prior to year-end 2013, have the ICC decision by July 2014, and the line in service by June 2017.
Village of Campton Hills – President Patsy Smith: Absent.
Open Space Staff Report – Kristin Bilar: Parks and Open Space Coordinator Bilar was absent. The open space staff report was given by Jack Shouba and Denise Morgan. Open Space Development Coordinator Shouba stated the monthly volunteer workday is scheduled for July 20th at Anderson Park. There has been mowing/weedwhacking on all properties including the trails. Playground safety signs were installed at Anderson and Poynor Parks and the Headwaters Conservation Area. Open Space Coordinator Bilar is being provided with a new laptop, which is being prepared with software, file transfer for photos, etc. K. Bilar attended a meeting with the Kane County Forest Preserve, the Kane County Department of Transportation (KDOT), Dundee Township, and Fermilab on results from the Wild Chervil survey done by the Kane County Forest Preserve. We have requested for Campton Township Open Space to have a booth at National Night Out on August 6th. Sikich and ImageSmith Creative have provided quotes for the Open Space website. We are waiting for one or two more quotes. J. Shouba will lead a prairie walk at the Headwaters Conservation Area on August 1st from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. We herbicided the gravel parking lots and trails. At Anderson Park we are weeding the garden at the entrance. At Burlington Park we have installed electric service to the barn. At Corron Farm we continued weeding around trees, in the prairie, and in the wetland garden. We reherbicided poison ivy along the Goldenstein fenceline. Our church volunteer group weeded in the hazelnut area on June 30th. We have been spraying for bees/wasps in the hired mans house, picnic shelter, etc. The Corron Farm Preservation Society funded project of brick pillars has been completed. Erosion control work on the woodland gully is scheduled to begin in a week or two. At the Community Center new blinds were installed to darken the room for presentations. Trails were mowed at Gray Willows. At Harley Woods a $2000.00 grant was received from the Illinois Wildlife Fund. We finished weeding around shrubs and trees along the Torchie boundary and trimmed dead branches out of oak trees. The damaged Plexiglas has been replaced. There has been damage to the gatepost. We contacted Chris Rainieri with the Village of Campton Hills and requested yearly mowing of teasel and poison hemlock by the neighbors on either side of the Headwater entrance on Bowgren Circle. At the Headwaters Conservation Area the parking lot islands have been weeded. At Poynor Park we continue to weed the parking lot islands. At Town Hall an emergency tree removal had to be done on the elm tree in back of the property because a split in the tree was aimed directly at the building. At our Town Hall open house on June 22nd approximately 30 people were in attendance. There was no report on Brown Road Meadows, LaFox Fields, or Mongerson Park. Denise Morgan, landscape and plant ecologist, continued the open space staff report by stating at the pig roast benefit for repair of the Corron Farm dairy barn roof, we served 191 people and sold a lot of raffle tickets.
Educational Opportunities at Campton Properties – Vickie Vandiver: Trustee Vandiver stated she and Jack Shouba will meet with scout leaders. They will tour Corron Farm, Gray Willows, and the Headwaters Conservation Area. Jack will lead with a 15-minute presentation on each park. All scout and cub leaders are of the Three Fires Council. We will make flyers for kids to take home. Secondly, we can become a part of the Village of Campton Hills emergency civilian response. This could involve an event for community emergency training.
Open Space Staff Report, continued – Neal Anderson: N. Anderson handed out a proposed Master Plan for the Dairy Barn at Corron Farm, a list of proposed Goals and Objectives for Corron Farm, and the Corron Farm Open Space Master Plan that was adopted in April 2003. The Master Plan of the Dairy Barn is to serve as a museum of farming equipment and farming education, and to allow limited use of the south section only. The vision is to install a new steel roof, repair framing, flooring, walls, windows & doors, paint the exterior, and update the electric. The first goal is stabilization by repairing the roof of the original barn (the south section), repair or replace damaged framing, repair windows, doors, and large openings in walls. The steps to achieve these results are for volunteers to salvage barns from the former Dexter Norton farm on Silver Glen Road and use the salvaged materials to repair the Corron Farm dairy barn. Campton Township needs to approve the agreement with the Kane County Forest Preserve to salvage the Dexter Norton barns. Further steps to refurbish the Corron Farm dairy barn are to obtain bids or commitments to take down the north (gambrel roof) section and install a north wall. Then to repair or replace main framing, sub-framing, walls, and flooring with donated materials, and materials from the Dexter Norton barns. Install a new steel roof. Repair or replace windows and doors, paint the exterior, and update or replace the electric. Finally, the proposed master plan for the dairy barn includes working with the Corron Farm Foundation with possible 50/50 financing of repairs, and the Foundation working with volunteer groups. Campton Township continues financial support and prepares educational materials on the barn. A possible end goal of the Dairy Barn Master Plan is for a Campton Township and Corron Farm Foundation Partnership of the farmstead that would allow limited control of the farmstead by the Corron Farm Foundation and a Foundation run museum that would educate residents on history. We can ask people at Prairie Fest for their opinions on taking down the north addition with the gambrel roof. The Corron Farm Foundation wants to work with Campton Township. J. Kupar stated first we need to get Prairie Feast organized. Then to educate the public we need additional information on the extent of the problem by getting financial estimates of what it will take to preserve the north addition with the gambrel roof versus taking down that addition. For the August meeting have an outline of what we can do to educate the public. The Goals and Objectives for Corron Farm are as follows: Corron Farm consists of two areas each with its own goals. First the farmstead which includes all of the buildings and is unencumbered by the Open Lands Trust grant. Second, the land which includes the woods, pastures and fields and which is encumbered by the Open Lands Trust grant. The primary goal of the farmstead is to preserve and restore the farmstead as a museum and cultural center of learning, to help our citizens explore and gain knowledge of the farming and other historical experiences in Campton Township and the Fox River Valley since the early 19th century. Also to act as a gateway for our citizens to experience surrounding presettlement land conditions. The objectives are to maintain the farmstead as a historic entity, to preserve and interpret the history of agriculture, dairy farming, the Corron family, and Campton Township. To interpret the natural history and conservation of the surrounding land. The Corron Farm Open Space Master Plan adopted in 2003 provides a detailed, well thought out, 32-page plan that continues to guide Campton Township’s activities for this site.
Joint Environmental Resource Management Committee – John Kupar, Rob Linke, Greg VanZandt: J. Kupar stated the Committee had a meeting this month.
Supervisor Report – John Kupar:
· Supervisor Kupar stated a film production company came to Campton Township to produce three commercials for Steak and Shake. The filming took place at Gray Willows farm. Over 75 people were on site for the filming. Their location manager was very impressed with Gray Willows as well as with other sites the Township owns. Their production company would like to use Gray Willows and our other properties for future filming opportunities. Campton Township received $3,500.00 for one day’s use of Gray Willows.
· The Township received $4,524.00 from V3 for the sale of 1.13 acres of wetlands credits.
· Campton Township was notified by Kane County Board member Barb Wojnicki that we will receive a riverboat grant in the amount of $30,000.00 for the repair of the horse barn at Gray Willows Farm. The estimated cost for roof replacement is $76,000.00. We had $26,000.00 budgeted as the Township contribution. The addition of the riverboat grant provides us with $56,000.00 in total. We will have to find the $20,000.00 balance.
· The Supervisor was interviewed by a reporter with the Northwest Quarterly Magazine for an article about Campton Township. She said we are a hidden gem.
· The Supervisor spoke with resident Mark Travers of the Environ Foundation that is looking at giving a grant to Campton Township for environmental restoration.
5. Approval of Minutes:
a. Board Meeting June 11, 2013: T. Stutesman moved the Board approve the minutes of the meeting of June 11, 2013. V. Vandiver seconded the motion. In a voice vote Supervisor Kupar and Trustees Stutesman, Vandiver, and Murphy voted aye. Trustee VanZandt was absent. The motion passed.
b. Special Board Meeting June 6, 2013: T. Stutesman moved the Board approve the minutes of the Special Board meeting of June 6, 2013. E. Murphy seconded the motion. In a voice vote Supervisor Kupar and Trustees Stutesman, Vandiver, and Murphy voted aye. Trustee VanZandt was absent. The motion passed.
c. Special Board Meeting June 19, 2013: E. Murphy moved the Board approve the minutes of the Special Board meeting of June 19, 2013. T. Stutesman seconded the motion. In a voice vote Supervisor Kupar and Trustees Stutesman, Vandiver, and Murphy voted aye. Trustee VanZandt was absent. The motion passed.
6. Citizens’ Comments: None.
7. Old Business – Presentation and Discussion for Action:
a. Review and Act Upon Use of Gray Willows Residence for Veteran Use: Kane County Board Representative Barb Wojnicki stated she spoke with Mr. Zimmerman, the County Veterans Affairs officer, who said we can put a notice on their bulletin board informing veterans of this possibility but that the County can not be involved in the selection process. They can create an 8.5” by 11” notice that a house is available. E. Murphy gave direction that this be discussed with Township Attorney Britz and then we revisit it regarding legality and tax-exempt status. N. Anderson stated he would work on heating, plumbing and electric as needed. E. Murphy moved the Board table this item. V. Vandiver seconded the motion. In a voice vote Supervisor Kupar and Trustees Stutesman, Vandiver, and Murphy voted aye. Trustee VanZandt was absent. The motion passed.
b. Review and Act Upon Amendments to Campton Township Ordinance No. 96-1T Property Rules and Regulations: E. Murphy moved the Board table this item. V. Vandiver seconded the motion. In a voice vote Supervisor Kupar and Trustees Stutesman, Vandiver, and Murphy voted aye. Trustee VanZandt was absent. The motion passed.
c. Review and Act Upon Intergovernmental Agreement between Campton Township and the Kane County Forest Preserve for Township Volunteers to Dismantle Existing Barns at the Former Dexter Norton Farm on Silver Glen Road: N. Anderson stated the proposed agreement from the Forest Preserve says the dismantling of the barns on the former Dexter Norton farm will be done by volunteers. It is agreed the volunteers act on behalf of Campton Township. He said he has two men that have taken down barns before and the three of them can do the job. We need to be sure we are covered by insurance: TOIRMA (Township Officials of Illinois Risk Management Association) and that we comply with OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) rules. E. Murphy moved the Board approve the Building Removal Volunteer Services Agreement subject to Township liability insurance being available for two months at a cost not to exceed $2,500.00 without Board approval. The motion was seconded by T. Stutesman. In a roll call vote Supervisor Kupar and Trustees Stutesman, Vandiver, and Murphy voted aye. Trustee VanZandt was absent. The motion passed.
8. New Business – Presentation and Discussion for Action:
a. Review and Act Upon Solid Waste District Trustee Appointment Mark Gordon: T. Stutesman moved the Board appoint Mark Gordon Trustee of the Solid Waste District. E. Murphy seconded the motion. In a voice vote Supervisor Kupar and Trustees Stutesman, Vandiver, and Murphy voted aye. Trustee VanZandt was absent. The motion passed whereupon Clerk Johansen swore in Mark Gordon as Trustee of the Solid Waste District.
b. Discuss and Act Upon General Fund Balance Policy: E. Murphy moved the Board table acting on a General Fund Balance Policy. The motion was seconded by V. Vandiver. In a voice vote Supervisor Kupar and Trustees Stutesman, Vandiver, and Murphy voted aye. Trustee VanZandt was absent. The motion passed.
c. Discuss and Act Upon Scheduled Review of Purchasing Policy: Supervisor Kupar stated the policy says a review is scheduled every two years. The review is due now. T. Stutesman moved that no revisions are necessary. V. Vandiver seconded the motion. In a roll call vote Supervisor Kupar and Trustees Stutesman, Vandiver, and Murphy voted aye. Trustee VanZandt was absent. The motion passed.
9. Claims and Demands Authorized for Payment:
a. Town Fund: V. Vandiver moved the Board approve the claims and demands on the Town Fund. E. Murphy seconded the motion. In a roll call vote Supervisor Kupar and Trustees Stutesman, Vandiver, and Murphy voted aye. Trustee VanZandt was absent. The motion passed.
b. Open Space Fund: T. Stutesman moved the Board approve the claims and demands on the Open Space Fund. E. Murphy seconded the motion. In a roll call vote Supervisor Kupar and Trustees Stutesman, Vandiver, and Murphy voted aye. Trustee VanZandt was absent. The motion passed.
c. Capital Improvement Fund: E. Murphy moved the Board approve the claims and demands on the Capital Improvement Fund. V. Vandiver seconded the motion. In a roll call vote Supervisor Kupar and Trustees Stutesman, Vandiver, and Murphy voted aye. Trustee VanZandt was absent. The motion passed.
10. Executive Session – Review Executive Session Minutes of May 14, 2013 and June 6, 2013; Personnel; Land Acquisition: T. Stutesman moved the Board go into Executive Session for the purpose of reviewing Executive Session minutes of May 14, 2013 and June 6, 2013; personnel; and land acquisition. The motion was seconded by E. Murphy. In a voice vote Supervisor Kupar and Trustees Stutesman, Vandiver, and Murphy voted aye. Trustee VanZandt was absent. The motion passed and Executive Session began at 9:20 p.m.
11. New Business Continued: Supervisor Kupar reconvened the regular session at 9:30 p.m.
d. Discuss and Act Upon Approve Executive Session Minutes of May 14, 2013 and June 6, 2013: T. Stutesman moved the Board approve the Executive Session minutes of May 14, 2013 and June 6, 2013. E. Murphy seconded the motion. In a voice vote Supervisor Kupar and Trustees Stutesman, Vandiver, and Murphy voted aye. Trustee VanZandt was absent. The motion passed.
e. Discuss and Act Upon Hourly Rate Increase for Maintenance and Operations Manager: T. Stutesman moved the Board approve an hourly rate increase of .10% (ten per cent) for the Maintenance and Operations Manager. E. Murphy seconded the motion. In a roll call vote Supervisor Kupar and Trustees Stutesman, Vandiver, and Murphy voted aye. Trustee VanZandt was absent. The motion passed.
f. Discuss and Act Upon Bonus for Finance Director: T. Stutesman moved the Board approve a $2,000.00 bonus for the Finance Director. E. Murphy seconded the motion. In a roll call vote Supervisor Kupar and Trustees Stutesman, Vandiver, and Murphy voted aye. Trustee VanZandt was absent. The motion passed.
g. Discuss and Act Upon Land Acquisition: V. Vandiver moved the Board table agenda item 11. g. E. Murphy seconded the motion. In a voice vote Supervisor Kupar and Trustees Stutesman, Vandiver, and Murphy voted aye. Trustee VanZandt was absent. The motion passed.
12. Adjournment: V. Vandiver moved the Board adjourn the meeting. T. Stutesman seconded the motion. In a voice vote Supervisor Kupar and Trustees Stutesman, Vandiver, and Murphy voted aye. Trustee VanZandt was absent. The motion passed and the meeting adjourned at 9:37 p.m.
Richard Johansen
Clerk