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Sherman board approves tax levy, burning days
extended as well
By Byron Painter
Editor
The Sherman Village Board on Tuesday at an hour-long meeting approved the tax levy and extended leaf
burning days, among other issues.
The first major item of business was in Engineer Dave Booher’s report, as he updated the board on the
Route 66 bidding process.
“All the pieces are in place” for the project to move forward, with every deadline met.
At some point, the village will have to sign an agreement with IDOT, with that expected in January.
He then gave a brief overview of recent building permits and the plan to put Safe Routes to School back on
the front burner.
During Mayor Trevor Clatfelter’s report, the first item of discussion was appropriating $1000 for the Village
Children’s Christmas party, which will be from 9 a.m.-noon Dec. 12 at the Sherman Athletic Club (for children
up to 10 years old). Santa Claus will be making an appearance at the event, and there is hope to add a
magician to the festivities.
The vote to approve the funding, an annual occurrence, was 6-0.
Village Attorney Mark Cullen then spoke about the next agenda item, the tax levy, or “The Ordinance Levying
and Assessing Taxes for Corporate Purposes.”
The general fund levy will be $45,734.54, $2177.79 more than last year.
While the official levy percent is 4.99 percent (the highest allowable without the requirement of a Truth in
Taxation hearing, which kicks in at five percent), that number is intentionally high so the village can capture all
new growth in the EAV (equalized assessed valuation).
The important number, according to Clatfelter, is this: $1.36, which will be the approximate increase in
taxes per household, from the money that goes directly to the village.
The village could have asked for more, the mayor admitted, but with the slow economy, it decided to forgo
the extra money.
The extra money will still offset something, he added, and the village is on the verge of “significant
development items” with the Village Center Development north of Andrew Road.
No matter what the actual levy percent was, the village, by virtue of its location in Sangamon County, is tax-
capped, like the school district is.
The board voted unanimously 6-0 to approve the levy.
Trustee Brian Long reported on some potholes being filled in his report.
Trustee Jeff Mitchell had some items for his report, the first being that the draft form for the Web site (for
events) that was discussed at the last meeting is now being implemented.
He also noted that the village has about $13,000 left in the IDNR Memorial Grant, and the village must
spend that money soon or is in danger of losing the funding.
During Trustee Jay Timm’s report the leaf burning extension was discussed. Because of the incessant
rain in October and the subsequent loss of burn days, there are seven more burning days being made
available (including Dec. 2, the Sun-Times press day).
Other days are the first and third weekends (Dec. 5-6 and 19-20) and the next two Wednesdays (Dec. 9,
16). Burning is not allowed on any other day, and all other provisions of the Ordinance remain in full effect.
There were two new building permits, worth $1875.
Emergency Management Director Mike Moos said that the village’s Storm Ready Application through the
National Weather Service is almost complete; a verification and review meeting set for Dec. 10 will finalize it,
as if the village passes, it will get its own certification.
Trustee Krista Sherrock reminded the board about the tree ceremony in Sharon Miller’s memory Dec. 5 at
Sherman Elementary School starting at 10 a.m.
extended as well
By Byron Painter
Editor
The Sherman Village Board on Tuesday at an hour-long meeting approved the tax levy and extended leaf
burning days, among other issues.
The first major item of business was in Engineer Dave Booher’s report, as he updated the board on the
Route 66 bidding process.
“All the pieces are in place” for the project to move forward, with every deadline met.
At some point, the village will have to sign an agreement with IDOT, with that expected in January.
He then gave a brief overview of recent building permits and the plan to put Safe Routes to School back on
the front burner.
During Mayor Trevor Clatfelter’s report, the first item of discussion was appropriating $1000 for the Village
Children’s Christmas party, which will be from 9 a.m.-noon Dec. 12 at the Sherman Athletic Club (for children
up to 10 years old). Santa Claus will be making an appearance at the event, and there is hope to add a
magician to the festivities.
The vote to approve the funding, an annual occurrence, was 6-0.
Village Attorney Mark Cullen then spoke about the next agenda item, the tax levy, or “The Ordinance Levying
and Assessing Taxes for Corporate Purposes.”
The general fund levy will be $45,734.54, $2177.79 more than last year.
While the official levy percent is 4.99 percent (the highest allowable without the requirement of a Truth in
Taxation hearing, which kicks in at five percent), that number is intentionally high so the village can capture all
new growth in the EAV (equalized assessed valuation).
The important number, according to Clatfelter, is this: $1.36, which will be the approximate increase in
taxes per household, from the money that goes directly to the village.
The village could have asked for more, the mayor admitted, but with the slow economy, it decided to forgo
the extra money.
The extra money will still offset something, he added, and the village is on the verge of “significant
development items” with the Village Center Development north of Andrew Road.
No matter what the actual levy percent was, the village, by virtue of its location in Sangamon County, is tax-
capped, like the school district is.
The board voted unanimously 6-0 to approve the levy.
Trustee Brian Long reported on some potholes being filled in his report.
Trustee Jeff Mitchell had some items for his report, the first being that the draft form for the Web site (for
events) that was discussed at the last meeting is now being implemented.
He also noted that the village has about $13,000 left in the IDNR Memorial Grant, and the village must
spend that money soon or is in danger of losing the funding.
During Trustee Jay Timm’s report the leaf burning extension was discussed. Because of the incessant
rain in October and the subsequent loss of burn days, there are seven more burning days being made
available (including Dec. 2, the Sun-Times press day).
Other days are the first and third weekends (Dec. 5-6 and 19-20) and the next two Wednesdays (Dec. 9,
16). Burning is not allowed on any other day, and all other provisions of the Ordinance remain in full effect.
There were two new building permits, worth $1875.
Emergency Management Director Mike Moos said that the village’s Storm Ready Application through the
National Weather Service is almost complete; a verification and review meeting set for Dec. 10 will finalize it,
as if the village passes, it will get its own certification.
Trustee Krista Sherrock reminded the board about the tree ceremony in Sharon Miller’s memory Dec. 5 at
Sherman Elementary School starting at 10 a.m.
Issue Date: Dec. 3, 2009