| The Sun-Times Serving Williamsville and Sherman |
 | |  | |  | |  |
Sherman Village Board discusses sewer rates,
high speed rail concerns
By Byron Painter
Editor
The Sherman Village Board on Tuesday approved a new community information system, discussed
concerns about the high speed rail project and also debated sewer rates.
Village Engineer Dave Booher examined the last 12 months of bills for sewer rates, noting that there was a
net $15,620.38 receipt over the year period, but a $19,147.63 negative balance for the last four months, with
almost $37,000 in purchases playing a role ($9250 for a backhoe, $12,741 to Petersburg Plumbing and
Heating for a bill and $14,690 for grinder pumps).
Currently, residents pay $11.18 for the first 2000 gallons for water, with every 1000 gallons thereafter an
additional $3.75. The average usage is about 5300 gallons, which correlates to a bill of $23.56 per month.
There is currently a $6200 bond payment made every month, and the Sewer/Revenue Fund ended
September with a $76,527 balance.
There was discussion about raising sewer rates, though the board and Mayor Trevor Clatfelter are not
anxious to do so.
Projected costs over the next year are not as favorable, based on past usage, so Booher presented four
options to help the village cover its costs, including various times to raise water rates and also lower the
monthly bond payment.
There might be excess money in the bond fund, noted Trustee Kevin Schultz, so putting $6200 per month
in the fund may not be necessary.
Revenues are sufficient to carry the village through for a while, noted Clatfelter.
The preventative maintenance program put in place by the Public Works Department regarding grinder
pump replacement also affects the fund balance.
No decision was finalized at the meeting, and Clatfelter encouraged the trustees to digest the information
and be prepared to take action at some point in the future.
Trustee Jay Timm brought up septic systems, which some subdivisions still use, and to make sure that
the village is not being charged by the Springfield Metro Sanitary District for sewer rates for those customers.
He estimated at least $1000, which is a “significant” amount.
The next topic of conversation was the village’s response to IDOT about high speed rail.
The village submitted a 21-page letter, complete with 16 pages of maps, discussing 15 separate concerns
about the project, from the extra track that could ‘bisect’ the village and severely hamper emergency efforts
and adding turn lanes at Business 55 and Andrew Road to concerns about, if either the Andrew Road or Wolf
Creek Road crossings are closed, how Meredith Drive could handle the extra traffic flow (and in fact additional
upgrades would be necessary on that road as a result), and noise and vibration worries on houses that are
completely in the railroad right-of-way.
“The Village of Sherman is concerned that because the proposed project and right-of-way in controlled by a
private enterprise rather than a public entity, standard construction criteria may not be followed in order to
save costs and avoid taking additional right-of-way,” the letter also stated.
The Village also has had difficulties getting timely responses from the railroad about drainage and
maintenance issues, and there are significant concerns about drainage problems that could be exacerbated
by an expanded railroad (the hydraulic study discussed this at length).
The final concern mentioned is the planned park at Business 55 and Andrew Road at the northeast corner,
which has a remnant of the original Route 66 pavement.
Village Administrator John Swinford noted that “corrective measures” are being taken on the South
Sherman Boulevard property.
Halloween trick-or-treat hours are Oct. 31 from 5-8 p.m.
The board unanimously approved the new codification of ordinances; the hefty book will be sent off for
official codification.
One change is that peddlers licenses will now cost $150.
There will be a service day Oct. 30 from 9-10:20 a.m. for WJH sixth graders in Sherman, according to
Trustee Krista Sherrock.
There were three new building permits, which brought in $1830.
An armed robbery occurred Tuesday at Illini Bank; Police Chief Eric Smith has been in contact with Decatur
authorities and also the FBI; there is reason to suspect the perpetrator also robbed a Decatur bank earlier in
the week.
The final main topic of discussion revolved around the new community notification system, sponsored by
nixle.com, which the village approved.
There is no cost to those who sign up, though if they choose to receive notification by text message,
standard rates will apply.
The school district and Sherman Fire Protection District are not participants in the program, though the
Village of Williamsville is. See the story on this page for more information.
The system is used in several large metropolitan areas, including Tucson, Az. and Minneapolis-St. Paul,
and Chief Smith noted it is expanding rapidly in Texas.
The meeting adjourned 92 minutes after it began.
high speed rail concerns
By Byron Painter
Editor
The Sherman Village Board on Tuesday approved a new community information system, discussed
concerns about the high speed rail project and also debated sewer rates.
Village Engineer Dave Booher examined the last 12 months of bills for sewer rates, noting that there was a
net $15,620.38 receipt over the year period, but a $19,147.63 negative balance for the last four months, with
almost $37,000 in purchases playing a role ($9250 for a backhoe, $12,741 to Petersburg Plumbing and
Heating for a bill and $14,690 for grinder pumps).
Currently, residents pay $11.18 for the first 2000 gallons for water, with every 1000 gallons thereafter an
additional $3.75. The average usage is about 5300 gallons, which correlates to a bill of $23.56 per month.
There is currently a $6200 bond payment made every month, and the Sewer/Revenue Fund ended
September with a $76,527 balance.
There was discussion about raising sewer rates, though the board and Mayor Trevor Clatfelter are not
anxious to do so.
Projected costs over the next year are not as favorable, based on past usage, so Booher presented four
options to help the village cover its costs, including various times to raise water rates and also lower the
monthly bond payment.
There might be excess money in the bond fund, noted Trustee Kevin Schultz, so putting $6200 per month
in the fund may not be necessary.
Revenues are sufficient to carry the village through for a while, noted Clatfelter.
The preventative maintenance program put in place by the Public Works Department regarding grinder
pump replacement also affects the fund balance.
No decision was finalized at the meeting, and Clatfelter encouraged the trustees to digest the information
and be prepared to take action at some point in the future.
Trustee Jay Timm brought up septic systems, which some subdivisions still use, and to make sure that
the village is not being charged by the Springfield Metro Sanitary District for sewer rates for those customers.
He estimated at least $1000, which is a “significant” amount.
The next topic of conversation was the village’s response to IDOT about high speed rail.
The village submitted a 21-page letter, complete with 16 pages of maps, discussing 15 separate concerns
about the project, from the extra track that could ‘bisect’ the village and severely hamper emergency efforts
and adding turn lanes at Business 55 and Andrew Road to concerns about, if either the Andrew Road or Wolf
Creek Road crossings are closed, how Meredith Drive could handle the extra traffic flow (and in fact additional
upgrades would be necessary on that road as a result), and noise and vibration worries on houses that are
completely in the railroad right-of-way.
“The Village of Sherman is concerned that because the proposed project and right-of-way in controlled by a
private enterprise rather than a public entity, standard construction criteria may not be followed in order to
save costs and avoid taking additional right-of-way,” the letter also stated.
The Village also has had difficulties getting timely responses from the railroad about drainage and
maintenance issues, and there are significant concerns about drainage problems that could be exacerbated
by an expanded railroad (the hydraulic study discussed this at length).
The final concern mentioned is the planned park at Business 55 and Andrew Road at the northeast corner,
which has a remnant of the original Route 66 pavement.
Village Administrator John Swinford noted that “corrective measures” are being taken on the South
Sherman Boulevard property.
Halloween trick-or-treat hours are Oct. 31 from 5-8 p.m.
The board unanimously approved the new codification of ordinances; the hefty book will be sent off for
official codification.
One change is that peddlers licenses will now cost $150.
There will be a service day Oct. 30 from 9-10:20 a.m. for WJH sixth graders in Sherman, according to
Trustee Krista Sherrock.
There were three new building permits, which brought in $1830.
An armed robbery occurred Tuesday at Illini Bank; Police Chief Eric Smith has been in contact with Decatur
authorities and also the FBI; there is reason to suspect the perpetrator also robbed a Decatur bank earlier in
the week.
The final main topic of discussion revolved around the new community notification system, sponsored by
nixle.com, which the village approved.
There is no cost to those who sign up, though if they choose to receive notification by text message,
standard rates will apply.
The school district and Sherman Fire Protection District are not participants in the program, though the
Village of Williamsville is. See the story on this page for more information.
The system is used in several large metropolitan areas, including Tucson, Az. and Minneapolis-St. Paul,
and Chief Smith noted it is expanding rapidly in Texas.
The meeting adjourned 92 minutes after it began.
Issue Date: Oct. 22, 2009