| The Sun-Times Serving Williamsville and Sherman |
 | |  | |  | |  |
Registering contractors discussed at W’ville board
meeting
By Linda Hughes
Williamsville Mayor Tom Yokley told village board members Monday that the board should think about registering
contractors and subcontractors who plan to do work in the village, and about enhancing building inspection reports.
Yokley said his concern arose after receiving several complaints about contractors and shoddy work, some work the
result of the tornado and some not.
Zoning Director Rick Smith agreed that the village should be more stringent about requirements it already has, among
them, a site plan drawn to scale, a foundation plan, floor plan and roofing plan.
Smith further suggested that the names and addresses of all contractors and subcontractors be registered, that the
village ask for licenses of roofers and that the site of the proposed structure be staked out – and that all that be done prior to
a building permit being issued.
Smith suggested that several inspections take place during construction and that there be a final inspection and an
occupancy permit be issued. He said that the village engineers could review building permit applications. He often sends
those applications to the engineers if he thinks there may be a problem.
“There is nothing here to prevent a person from doing his own work,” Yokley said, as long as he doesn’t do it for anyone
else.
“Now we have experienced some pretty shoddy work,” Yokley continued. “People came in and took advantage of folks,”
particularly of some elderly.
Yokley said he would like for the zoning people to take a look at the suggestions and give their input.
The village needs to go more by what the present laws say, the mayor said. New regulations will call for new ordinances.
Yokley also suggested having contractors post bonds so as to provide homeowners with an avenue to recover costs.
“If they know someone is looking over their shoulder, they are less likely to take advantage,” Smith said.
In other matters, Yokley told Todd Smith, county board member who represents Williamsville and who attended the
meeting, that the newly revised Freedom of Information Act is going to cost small villages a lot of money, suggesting that he
convey those feelings to the county board. “It’s way overkill,” he said.
Yokley urged board members and others in village government to read the new FOIA and to get the training. Village
attorney Randy Segatto will discuss it at the next meeting. The mayor postponed assigning Freedom of Information officers
until the second week in February.
Jenna Hansen, representing the high school service group IMPACT (I’m a Positive Active Challenge-Seeking Teen) 15
told the board her group would like to undertake service projects in the village.
Trustee Valerie Patterson, who heads up Economic Development, said she would be happy to talk with Jenna and could
suggest various things having to do with economic development and downtown.
Trustee Mike Barnett mentioned that the annual community cleanup would be this spring.
“We appreciate your offer,” Yokley said. “We have a lot of work.” He specifically mentioned expanding the city park and
building another soccer field.
Patterson said she would set a meeting with the group about working on the Buy Local campaign, including graphic
design.
Yokley asked Patterson to coordinate everything, and the village would provide as much work as the group wants.
Barnett reported on a fax sent to the mayor from Preferred Tank and Tower, which painted the water tower in Sherman.
There are still pending issues, he said. The issue of the prevailing wage is still out there. (That issue is under investigation
by the Department of Labor).
“I personally think we shouldn’t do anything until everything, especially the Department of Labor is dissolved,” Barnett
said. (The village is withholding some payment until the DOL completes its investigation). The board will discuss the matter
with Segatto at the next meeting.
Yokley said that, according to village engineers Greene & Bradford, work on the water tower ran 79 days over the agreed
upon completion date. Preferred wants to be paid for 32 of those days. He said the board might want to give Barnett and
himself the authority to negotiate those days, with the engineers. The board will give Greene & Bradford the go-ahead to start
negotiations.
In a related matter, board members approved a service agreement with the engineering firm. The agreement is on an
ongoing basis and on a time and expense basis.
Trustee Scott Butterfield some people are not getting Nixle alerts and he has sent a letter to the company.
Trustee Lisa White said she has installed a basic counter so officials can see how many hits the new Web site is getting,
and it is getting 10 to 15 visitors a day.
The Illinois Department of Transportation is requiring new traffic control signs by 2015 that are highly reflective and highly
visible, Trustee Mark Esker said. The new signs will cost $300 to $400 apiece. The village will begin phasing them in.
On snow removal, “our guys did a pretty good job,” Esker added.
meeting
By Linda Hughes
Williamsville Mayor Tom Yokley told village board members Monday that the board should think about registering
contractors and subcontractors who plan to do work in the village, and about enhancing building inspection reports.
Yokley said his concern arose after receiving several complaints about contractors and shoddy work, some work the
result of the tornado and some not.
Zoning Director Rick Smith agreed that the village should be more stringent about requirements it already has, among
them, a site plan drawn to scale, a foundation plan, floor plan and roofing plan.
Smith further suggested that the names and addresses of all contractors and subcontractors be registered, that the
village ask for licenses of roofers and that the site of the proposed structure be staked out – and that all that be done prior to
a building permit being issued.
Smith suggested that several inspections take place during construction and that there be a final inspection and an
occupancy permit be issued. He said that the village engineers could review building permit applications. He often sends
those applications to the engineers if he thinks there may be a problem.
“There is nothing here to prevent a person from doing his own work,” Yokley said, as long as he doesn’t do it for anyone
else.
“Now we have experienced some pretty shoddy work,” Yokley continued. “People came in and took advantage of folks,”
particularly of some elderly.
Yokley said he would like for the zoning people to take a look at the suggestions and give their input.
The village needs to go more by what the present laws say, the mayor said. New regulations will call for new ordinances.
Yokley also suggested having contractors post bonds so as to provide homeowners with an avenue to recover costs.
“If they know someone is looking over their shoulder, they are less likely to take advantage,” Smith said.
In other matters, Yokley told Todd Smith, county board member who represents Williamsville and who attended the
meeting, that the newly revised Freedom of Information Act is going to cost small villages a lot of money, suggesting that he
convey those feelings to the county board. “It’s way overkill,” he said.
Yokley urged board members and others in village government to read the new FOIA and to get the training. Village
attorney Randy Segatto will discuss it at the next meeting. The mayor postponed assigning Freedom of Information officers
until the second week in February.
Jenna Hansen, representing the high school service group IMPACT (I’m a Positive Active Challenge-Seeking Teen) 15
told the board her group would like to undertake service projects in the village.
Trustee Valerie Patterson, who heads up Economic Development, said she would be happy to talk with Jenna and could
suggest various things having to do with economic development and downtown.
Trustee Mike Barnett mentioned that the annual community cleanup would be this spring.
“We appreciate your offer,” Yokley said. “We have a lot of work.” He specifically mentioned expanding the city park and
building another soccer field.
Patterson said she would set a meeting with the group about working on the Buy Local campaign, including graphic
design.
Yokley asked Patterson to coordinate everything, and the village would provide as much work as the group wants.
Barnett reported on a fax sent to the mayor from Preferred Tank and Tower, which painted the water tower in Sherman.
There are still pending issues, he said. The issue of the prevailing wage is still out there. (That issue is under investigation
by the Department of Labor).
“I personally think we shouldn’t do anything until everything, especially the Department of Labor is dissolved,” Barnett
said. (The village is withholding some payment until the DOL completes its investigation). The board will discuss the matter
with Segatto at the next meeting.
Yokley said that, according to village engineers Greene & Bradford, work on the water tower ran 79 days over the agreed
upon completion date. Preferred wants to be paid for 32 of those days. He said the board might want to give Barnett and
himself the authority to negotiate those days, with the engineers. The board will give Greene & Bradford the go-ahead to start
negotiations.
In a related matter, board members approved a service agreement with the engineering firm. The agreement is on an
ongoing basis and on a time and expense basis.
Trustee Scott Butterfield some people are not getting Nixle alerts and he has sent a letter to the company.
Trustee Lisa White said she has installed a basic counter so officials can see how many hits the new Web site is getting,
and it is getting 10 to 15 visitors a day.
The Illinois Department of Transportation is requiring new traffic control signs by 2015 that are highly reflective and highly
visible, Trustee Mark Esker said. The new signs will cost $300 to $400 apiece. The village will begin phasing them in.
On snow removal, “our guys did a pretty good job,” Esker added.
Issue Date: Jan. 14, 2010