Carrier Mills woman brings complaints to village board

Carrier Mills-- A Carrier Mills woman brought her complaints about what she says is the village's failure to alleviate a drainage problem affecting her property to the village board May meeting.

Tina Reed, who owns a house in the Bethany Hills subdivision, says she has had a problem with rainwater flooding and damaging her property for the last several years. She said she feels the drainage problem has reached a critical point and fears her home will be severally damaged or destroyed.

Reed said the property owner directly north of her has installed a grating over the inflow site of the drainage pipe. This has caused the inflow to be blocked and rainwater to flood Reed's property each time it rains.

"I want to know what, if anything, is being done by the village to fix this problem," Reed said at the meeting.

Mayor Louis Shaw responded by saying the village set aside funds from the Motor Fuel Tax in 2013 and 2014 to attempt to correct the drainage problem causing flooding on Reed's property. Shaw said Reed, however, failed to sign legal documents that would have agree to give the village an easement on the property, thus allowing the Motor Fuel Tax money to be used on the project. The mayor added that the cost of correcting the drainage issue was currently beyond the capability of village funding.

"The village engineer has told me it will be a huge project, on the order of $40,000," Shaw said. "We just can't afford it."

In response, Reed said, "I've got a $50,000 home that is going to sink into the ground if this isn't fixed."

Village Attorney Fred Turner said his research showed that the village might not be responsible for correcting the problem or even responsible for any drainage systems in the subdivision at all.

"I don't know if the village has any obligation to maintain the area," Turner said. "If we had an easement, then it would be a different matter."

Reed responded by saying that the neighbor behind her house owned up to "creating the drainage problem," adding, "What good is it to have a city council if no one helps you? I am a middle class person who has worked my whole life. What am I going to do about this?"

The village attorney said Reed might have cause for a civil case against her neighbor, but that the village was unable at this time to assist her. Mayor Shaw told Reed that the village would reexamine the situation and seek a solution to the problem.

"We will discuss it again and see if we can help you," Shaw said.

Board member Tracy Felty asked Reed if she would be willing to assist financially with any repair work to the drainage system.

"Are you willing to put some money into this?" Felty asked.

"I don't have any money to put in," Reed responded.

The board then moved on to other items.

Re-elected board members Bill Jensik and Tracy Felty were sworn in by village clerk Rita Diefenbach and the board tabled action on appointment of the seat left vacant by David Kyle, who did not run for re-election. The board also tabled action on committee reassignments for the board members until after a new board member is appointed. Action on these items will be taken at the June board meeting.

Outgoing board member Kyle was presented a commemorative plaque by the board, in appreciation for his eight years service to the village on the board.

Mayor Shaw reminded the community that the annual Springfest would be held on May 28 through 30. Along with the usual food and craft vendors, live musical entertainment and nightly wrestling matches, Brady Amusements will bring their entire collection of carnival rides this year.

"It should be the best carnival we have ever had," Shaw said.

The board approved the issuance of $1,944,000 in municipal bonds to pay for the complete renewal of the village water and sewer system. A grant from United States Department of Agriculture will pay for the remainder of the $3.1 million project. Mayor Shaw that the project would include new pipes for the water and sewer system, electronic water meters and complete repair and refurbishment of the village water tower.

"The installation of modern pipes and other material should bring our water and sewer system into very good condition and should serve the village well for the next 40 years," Shaw said.

Board member Greg Prince again urged property owners to keep the grass on their properties mowed as the village will continue to issue citations for building and property ordinance violations.

In other action the board:

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<li>Approved the purchase of a used police car for the village. One of the village's three police cars needs a new transmission and the board decided to replace rather than repair it. A 2008 Crown Victoria will be purchased from Vitto Enterprise of Sycamore, Illinois and will have a total cost of $7,063. Jennifer O'Neal cast the only no vote in this matter.</li>

<li>Approved the acceptance of the budget for the next fiscal year. Mayor Shaw stated that it would be the same as the old budget and board member Tracy Felty commended the village department heads for keeping costs down for the village.</li>

<li>Approved acceptance of the prevailing wage ordinance. This is required by the state and provides that any work done for the village by outside workers will be paid at the current minimum wage.</li>

<li>Approved a revision of the Saline County Enterprise Zone ordinance. This revision was occasioned by the previous ordinance being nullified by the fact that the state disallowed the qualification of several of the properties that were proposed for inclusion in the enterprise zone. </li>

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