Roscoe Trustees still not in agreement on police department building

By Jean Seegers

REPORTER

Roscoe Trustees continued to debate moving forward on approving the village police department at the July 19, village meeting.

Village Administrator Pat DeGrave urged the board members to make a decision or file the plans away for the future.

Trustee Lindsey Swanson wanted to know how it will be paid for. De Grave said interest rates are good right now and it is a good time to borrow money.

Trustee Carol Gustafson wanted to know what the engineering scope is before making a final decision on the reconstruction.

The telecommunication tax instituted several years ago was to have been a source of revenue.  However, with fewer residents using land telephones, revenue has dropped off, according to President Dave Krienke. Another source is gaming revenue.

“We need to hire someone to tell us if money from gaming will last,” he said. “The possibility of casinos in the area would affect gaming revenue”

“”There is $700,000 saved for this (Police Department) project right now. We need a building. We have to make a decision,” Gustafson said.

Trustees Kevin Muradian and Rob Baxter were absent at the July 19 meeting. It was suggested that a vote should be taken at the Aug. 16 meeting, when all members will be present.

“It’s gonna be a 3/3 vote, and you know I will vote against it,” Krienke said.

In other business:  a settlement agreement was reached between former public works employee Jeffrey Ball and the Village of Roscoe. At issue was the termination of Ball’s employment in 2009.

The terms of the settlement agreement will be a payment of $97,500.000 to Ball and Harrison Law Office, P.C. from Trident Insurance.

The Village will pay $10,000.00 to Ball and Harrison Law Office, P.C.

Gustafson questioned De Grave about garbage payments.

“Is there a way to pay in advance?”  De Grave said billing will be in three month increments. A late fee of one percent will be charged.

Several items on the agenda were laid over until the Aug. 16 meeting, including: approval to exempt the reimburse Harlem-Roscoe Fire Department from franchise fees applied by Rock Energy;approval of a resolution concerning the replacement plan for lighting on Kenstone Bike Path; and approval of an ordinance for a special use permit regarding the construction of a cellular communications tower in an IH Heavy Industrial Zoning District.

The annual Roscoe Police Department National Night Out will be held August 2, according to Chief Jamie Evans.

The next Village meeting and Committee of the Whole meeting will be held Aug. 2, beginning at 6:30 p.m.