July 1, 2026 Meeting Minutes

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

ROLL CALL: Mike Funke, Lisa Nordstrom, Ben Strand, Mike Keup, Jim Nolan, Carsen Meyer, Sharon Wexell & Terri Wigant were all present. Patrick Light was absent.

MINUTES: Nolan motioned to accept the June minutes, seconded by Nordstrom. Voice vote, motion carried.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Strand motioned to accept the Treasurer’s Report, seconded by Keup. Voice vote, motion carried.

PAY BILLS: Strand motioned to pay bills including the correction of $4,400 to Blue Jay Lawn & Tree Service, seconded by Nolan. Voice vote, motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS:

            Cameron Meyer said the 10 new stop boxes came in for the new water services on Olson St. We will start next week or the following week installing them.

            Wigant said the East road in the cemetery had sod removed and new gravel put down, also five different areas of bushes and trees have been cut down and/or trimmed up. Wigant also reported  that she, Wexell and Jeff Olson, from the OSA, will be meeting with Lacky company on Friday the 5^th to make plans for the monument for unmarked graves.

            Funke said Mike Rabas will be on the Zoning Board. Brenda Dehler who is currently on the Zoning Board stated she would stay on the Board. Nolan said he still needs at least one more person, the count should be 3 more people.

            Board tabled the 180^th Old Settler’s Parade discussion.

NEW BUSINESS:

            The Village webpage renewal with Wix.com LTD is coming due soon and the company is offering a 3-year contract for $388.68, that would save the Village $423, which would be $141 saved per year. Strand motioned to pay the 3-year contract, seconded by Nordstrom. Voice vote, motion carried.

            Patrick Light could not attend the meeting but asked Wigant to approach the Board for permission to close N. Park Street July 26, 2026 for the Old Settler’s annual car show. Nolan motioned to let the OSA close the road, seconded by Strand. Voice vote, motion carried.

            Wigant had a Resolution for IDOT (Ill Dept of Transportation) requesting to close the highway on September 12^th, 2026 for the OSA parade, for the 180^th anniversary of the founding of Bishop Hill. Keup motioned to pass IDOT’s Attachment 6.D Resolution, seconded by Nolan. Voice vote, motion carried.

            Wigant talked to Jeremy Nelson, owner of the Colony Inn, about closing Bjorklund Street for a street dance Friday September 11^th celebrating the 180^th anniversary of Bishop Hill. The Board said he could close the road after 2:00 p.m. when P.L. Johnson’s restaurant closed. Meyer made the motion to let Nelson close Bjorklund St. after 2 p.m., seconded by Keup. Voice vote, motion carried.

            At the June meeting the Board said to have a resolution made stating that the Bishop Hill Trustees were against Galva burying CO2 in the ground, if it would leak, it would contaminate our water supply also. Wigant showed the Board Resolution 2026-03 against the CO2 in Galva. Strand motioned to pass Resolution # 2026-03, seconded by Keup. Voice vote, motion carried. Side note, days earlier Wigant emailed the resolution to Light for review, he said he would vote yes to pass it.      

            A resident in Bishop Hill passed away and a relative is cleaning out the house. Wigant had sent a letter/bill for the estate, stating that the estate owed for water & garbage for April, May and June. The relative sent a check for $60, when Wigant called her to say they still owed $120, the relative asked Wigant if she could get a discount on the water/garbage bill because no one lives there. The Board said no discounts, she can have the water turned off. Funke said he would call her and tell her the water has been shut off, her bill for May and June will be forgiven, if she wants the water back on, she will have to pay $25 and $60 for each month it is on.

            Funke said that Bjorklund St. keeps washing out from the rain, we have had complaints. We need to oil and chip it to keep the gravel from washing away and making huge ruts.       

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