St. Jacob residents need to complete service line material form
by Stephanie Malench
ST. JACOB — The St. Jacob Village Board met on Aug. 21 with the majority of discussions and votes on ordinance and finance topics.
There were no reports from community development, water and sewer, or streets and lanes/motor fuel tax.
Public Works Director Nick Timmons reported to the board that forms were mailed out to all water service customers in the village asking them to provide information on the material of the water service line materials. The forms are required as part of a recently revised lead and copper rule for community drinking water issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The form is to be completed and returned to Village Hall or the water department as soon as possible. Water customers who do not complete and return the form will be contacted by the village reminding them to complete the mandatory evaluation.
The highlight of the treasurer’s report was at the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year for the village, there is a $64,000 surplus in cash over what was budgeted through the first three months.
For the first time in 10 years, the board approved the creation of an ordinance to raise the pay of the village board members and mayor elected at the April 1, 2025, election. Ordinance and Finance chair George Gavlick said he hopes that increasing the pay from $80/regular meeting attended to $100/attended meeting and special meeting pay will increase from $50/attended meeting to $100/attended meeting and the mayor’s pay to $7500 will encourage residents to run for the three open trustee seats and mayor. The ordinance approving the pay increases will be voted on no later than September 30. Petition packets are available now at Village Hall.
JD Kirkpatrick’s promotion to a full-time public works department employee was approved by the board and Paul Jones was hired to fill the part-time position that Kirkpatrick held.
Police Chief Gary Kukla reported that since the July 17 meeting, 28 tickets were written and $1214 in fines and fees were collected. He also informed the board that officer Justin Hewitt has begun his additional role as Student Resource Officer and DARE instructor for St. Jacob and Marine Elementary Schools for the 2024-2025 school year.
The board approved a bid from Big Timber for $4,600 to remove a tree from the Activity Center property and grind out the stump.
The next Village Board meeting will be held Sept. 4, 2024 at 6:30 pm.
