April 2, 2025 Meeting Minutes

     Village of Bishop Hill                web page: bishophillil.gov

     County of Henry

     State of Illinois

The regular meeting of the Village of Bishop Hill Board was held at the Municipal Bldg. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Mike Funke at 6:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL; Mike Funke, Patrick Light, Lisa Nordstrom, Ben Strand , Mike Keup, Jim Nolan, Amanda Laub, Sharon Wexell & Terri Wigant were all present.

MINUTES;  Nolan motioned to accept the minutes, seconded by Keup. Voice vote, motion carried.

TREASURER’S REPORT; Nordstrom motioned to accept the Treasurer’s Report, seconded by Laub. Voice vote, motion carried.

PAY BILLS;  Wigant stated that Meyer had an additional $20 charge, making his total $520, Laub motioned to pay all bills plus Meyer’s extra amount, seconded by Keup. Voice vote, motion carried.

            Tracy Parrish and Kevin Louis, representatives from Mid-Century Communications, were at the meeting, therefore, Funke let them speak first. Parrish and Louis came to congratulate Bishop Hill for being designated a NTCA (National Telephone Cooperative Association)- The Rural Broadband Association, Smart Rural Community. Bishop Hill has fiber-optic communications, which is a big advancement in technology for a small town. Wigant said we have had some new families move into town, a few that work from home, and they were very happy that we offered fiber communication. Parrish had a plaque to hang up in the Municipal, decals with their logo, pens, pads, etc. and the Board took their offer of receiving a few signs to be posted around town. Parrish also wanted a picture of the whole Village Board. Parrish and Louis stated that Bishop Hill is in a dead zone for cell service, so in the very near future Bishop Hill would be getting town-wide Wi-Fi. Calix software which uses the whole town as a modem, will help the residents with their cell service and when tourists come into town they will automatically connect to it. The Board was very happy to hear that news, cell service in Bishop Hill has always been terrible. Parrish and Louis were done with their presentation, the Board thanked them for coming, and the two left.

OLD BUSINESS;

            Whittington could not come to the meeting, but passed on this information. Rock River Electric came and checked Well #2, they found the VFD had 2 or 3 bad fuses, a bad auxiliary contactor, and 2 failed fans. Rock River fixed the fuses and auxiliary contactor; however, the fan motors have relays that power the VFD off once fan signal is lost. That said, we have to purchase the fan motor assemblies from Phase Technologies who only sell to the well contractor, who is Municipal Well & Pump. So, Whittington is waiting on a quote and how long it will take to get them. When we receive them Rock River Electric will come and install and reset them. The meter for Well #1 is on its way and Whittington will install it soon. Unfortunately one of the chlorine scales broke, so he ordered one of those through Water Solutions, it will cost between $500 and $600. Whittington will also be flushing hydrants soon.  When Wigant talked to Whittington, she asked about replacing the broken hydrant on E. Main St. He said he would purchase the hydrant and get a couple valves. We do have to call someone to install it. He could call the company that he uses for his other water sites, Funke called Dooley Plumbing, but hadn’t heard back from him.   Wexell said when we get all the bills for Well #2 she will send them into the insurance company.

Wexell had the 2025/2026 Appropriation Ordinance #2025-01 for the Board to review after last meeting adjustments. Light motioned to pass Ordinance No. 2025-01, seconded by Keup. Roll call was taken: Light – Aye, Nordstrom – Aye, Strand – Aye,

Keup – Aye, Nolan – Aye, Laub – Aye. Motion passed. 

NEW BUSINESS;

               The Board received a one-year contract from Larry Rhodenbaugh for the Multi-Flo septic system at the Old Town Hall/Rental, 204 Johnson St. The cost was $400 for March 31,2025 to March 31, 2026, it includes 2 service calls, the first one includes maintenance and if there are no problems the rest of the year, the second visit will be a routine inspection. Pumping the unit will require the Village to hire a pumping service company. Wigant said if we don’t go with the contract, it is more expensive to get work done. Wigant put it on the bills list so it could be paid right away, if the Board chose to go that route. Strand motioned to accept the contract, seconded by Nordstrom. Voice vote, motion carried.

Wigant had 4 Liquor license renewal applications and 1 Gaming license renewal application. All of them were the same information as last year, H. Wyatt, Krans Kafe, and Colony Inn. Jennifer Jude, new owner of P.L. Johnson’s had a half year license in 2024. Light motioned to allow the 4 applicants to renew for another year, seconded by Laub. Voice vote, motion carried. Laub motioned to let the Colony Inn, Inc. to renew their Gaming License for another year, seconded by Light. Voice vote, motion carried. 

Wigant reported that a tree in the park has grown into one of the baseball field lights and the wind blew the branches and broke off one of the lights, it fell to the ground. Keup said he would ask Shane Kaiser if he would help us trim the tree back. Funke said we will have to call someone to fix or replace the fixture and put in a new bulb.

Ron from Ron’s Tree Service called Funke and said he had some major health problems and could he wait another couple of weeks to try and take down the trees at 209 Kronberg St. (they are on the Village right-of-way). Funke told the Board he said, “Yes.”  Ron has always been good to us, we could wait. Funke said if Ron can’t do it, we will get a second quote.

Light was sending out a village text to remind people that the cemetery clean-up day was April 5th, rain date April 12th. Strand said the 4-H group will be there to help.

Wigant wanted to review the ordinance for tree planting rules. The Village can’t afford to cut down all these trees that people have planted on the Village right-of-way. Can we add to the ordinance that these alley ways that have never been used and are part of people’s yards, that the Village will not pay for those to be cut down. Keup asked if we can close the alley ways, Nolan said several alleys/roads have buildings on them and Wigant said the Board looked into closing them a while back and it was very expensive. Funke said the ordinance says not to plant trees on the Village right-of-way. I guess if we see someone doing that, we have to inform them they can’t plant there.

There was no further business Strand motioned to adjourn, seconded by Keup. Voice vote motion carried.