| The Sun-Times Serving Williamsville and Sherman |
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Movies in the Park program cancelled until
further notice
By Linda Hughes
Williamsville residents are being informed in the July Newsletter that Movies in the Park are cancelled
until further notice. Mayor Bill McCarty and Trustee Janice Beyers said they hope the village can show
another movie in August or September.
McCarty said at the board meeting Monday that the village received multiple calls from Swank Motion
Pictures, which issues licenses for public performances, informing the village that it needs a license in
order to show movies. He explained that because the village is the sponsor and the movies are a public
presentation, the Williamsville Community Foundation — the actual sponsor — needs a license. The
license would cost $250 per showing, based on the crowd.
The mayor recommended that Movies in the Park continue, but that only two showings be held a year, at
a cost of $500. “It’s a nice service,” he added.
Beyers said she would look for people to help sponsor the movies and pay part of the license cost.
“It’s a great thing. People appreciate it,” she said.
In another matter, Trustee Norval Melton presented bids to replace doors at the police station. The
difference between the two lowest bids is $658, he said, while the high bid was $8,313. Midwest Garage
Door Co. of Pawnee and Overhead Doors By Hart of Springfield were the low bidders, both at $5,000 plus.
Public Works Director Kent Thompson said the village has dealt with Overhead Doors before and that they
service their work. Trustee Mark Esker agreed.
McCarty cautioned that while law allows going with the next lowest bid when two bids are close, and
when a governmental body has worked with that firm before, it might send a message to companies in the
future that it is a waste of their time to bid on village projects. He suggested that Melton ask Midwest for
references, as the village has not worked with the company before, and also ask Overhead Door if it can
do any better on its bid.
The mayor said he drove around town Saturday after the village received four inches of rain in 30
minutes.
“We were lucky,” he said, noting that villages around Williamsville did worse. “All our water drained.”
He said he noticed the intersection of Main and Williams need better drainage, as well as along
Casson Street and Birch Lane. Trustee Larry Barregarye said those areas should be done as general
maintenance to clean out the drain clogs. McCarty also suggested putting culverts on both ends of Lake
Williamsville.
The mayor said at an earlier meeting that the village would undertake major drainage projects next year.
Of the July 4 Celebration, Beyers, who heads the Community Relations and Services Committee, said
“All in all, we had a good day.” She said, though, that a backup plan is needed in case of rain again. The
committee would like to get a contract with Chapter 6, the musical group that performed this year, to
perform again next year, she said. The committee has reviewed this year’s celebration and talked about
next year’s.
“We’ll keep trying different things,” she noted.
Trustees also kicked around some plans.
The mayor gave Barregarye information on an Energy Efficient Grant program, recommending an
energy audit of village buildings and saying that funds might be available for upgrades. “We might as well
take advantage,” he remarked.
McCarty noted that he has talked with Norm Sims, head of the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional
Planning Commission, who will work with Williamsville on planning.
further notice
By Linda Hughes
Williamsville residents are being informed in the July Newsletter that Movies in the Park are cancelled
until further notice. Mayor Bill McCarty and Trustee Janice Beyers said they hope the village can show
another movie in August or September.
McCarty said at the board meeting Monday that the village received multiple calls from Swank Motion
Pictures, which issues licenses for public performances, informing the village that it needs a license in
order to show movies. He explained that because the village is the sponsor and the movies are a public
presentation, the Williamsville Community Foundation — the actual sponsor — needs a license. The
license would cost $250 per showing, based on the crowd.
The mayor recommended that Movies in the Park continue, but that only two showings be held a year, at
a cost of $500. “It’s a nice service,” he added.
Beyers said she would look for people to help sponsor the movies and pay part of the license cost.
“It’s a great thing. People appreciate it,” she said.
In another matter, Trustee Norval Melton presented bids to replace doors at the police station. The
difference between the two lowest bids is $658, he said, while the high bid was $8,313. Midwest Garage
Door Co. of Pawnee and Overhead Doors By Hart of Springfield were the low bidders, both at $5,000 plus.
Public Works Director Kent Thompson said the village has dealt with Overhead Doors before and that they
service their work. Trustee Mark Esker agreed.
McCarty cautioned that while law allows going with the next lowest bid when two bids are close, and
when a governmental body has worked with that firm before, it might send a message to companies in the
future that it is a waste of their time to bid on village projects. He suggested that Melton ask Midwest for
references, as the village has not worked with the company before, and also ask Overhead Door if it can
do any better on its bid.
The mayor said he drove around town Saturday after the village received four inches of rain in 30
minutes.
“We were lucky,” he said, noting that villages around Williamsville did worse. “All our water drained.”
He said he noticed the intersection of Main and Williams need better drainage, as well as along
Casson Street and Birch Lane. Trustee Larry Barregarye said those areas should be done as general
maintenance to clean out the drain clogs. McCarty also suggested putting culverts on both ends of Lake
Williamsville.
The mayor said at an earlier meeting that the village would undertake major drainage projects next year.
Of the July 4 Celebration, Beyers, who heads the Community Relations and Services Committee, said
“All in all, we had a good day.” She said, though, that a backup plan is needed in case of rain again. The
committee would like to get a contract with Chapter 6, the musical group that performed this year, to
perform again next year, she said. The committee has reviewed this year’s celebration and talked about
next year’s.
“We’ll keep trying different things,” she noted.
Trustees also kicked around some plans.
The mayor gave Barregarye information on an Energy Efficient Grant program, recommending an
energy audit of village buildings and saying that funds might be available for upgrades. “We might as well
take advantage,” he remarked.
McCarty noted that he has talked with Norm Sims, head of the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional
Planning Commission, who will work with Williamsville on planning.
Issue Date: July 17, 2008