Live at St. Joseph Village Board, March 28, 2023

I am here so you don’t have to be.

Here are the big items on the agenda.

Intergovernmental Agreement – SJOHS and Village of St. Joseph –Approval– Exhibit #3
New Business:
Public Hearing: ILEPA Project Summary and Preliminary Environmental Impacts
Pavlov Media – Request to provide internet services.
Awarding Grants to three qualifying applications through the Commercial Building Improvement
Program – Exhibit #4
FY23/24 Budget Conversation: VERF Funding Strategy – Exhibit #5

They are going into closed session at the end of the meeting to discuss the following issues:

Motion to enter into Executive Session for the limited purpose of discussing the purchase or lease
of real property for use by the Village pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (6).

#1 Motion to enter into Executive Session for the limited purpose of discussing the employment,
compensation, and performance of one or more Village Employees Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)
(1).
#2 Motion to enter into Executive Session for the limited purpose of discussing the employment,
compensation, and performance of one or more Village Employees Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)
(1).

We are jumping around and diving into Clark Dietz and a Public Hearing on the ILEPA Project Summary and Preliminary Environmental Impacts. This is a formality. You have 10 days to comment on it if you are so inclined. I am not.

Intergovernmental agreement time. “At the last meeting you had some comments and revisions, we put the revisions in and the high school agreed to it,” Joe said.

Clark Dietz is wanting to efficiently drain the ox bow into the salt fork, ect. Sean from Clark Dietz is here, you may know him as the mayor of Mahomet.

Dan Davis has a question. Regarding the surge impact in the Salt Fork and “our neighbors to the south.” Sean is saying there probably isn’t anything to be worried about. Dan says he wants to avoid the “Why didn’t they look at it part of it.”

Basically, this is just a very simple agreement saying the village will work with the high school to address this drainage issue. It passed 6-0.

Brian Brooks from the High School is explaining that the district plans on having this project done by next fall. #footballonturf #socceronturf Brooks said the district told the project managers they needed to look at drainage a year ago and are frustrated that they just recently came to the village. Clark Dietz approached the High School to partner with the village to address the drainage tile, not the other way around.

New Business- Mark Sheldon is here to discuss Pavlov Media. It’s a high-speed internet company out of Champaign. They got an influx of cash and are expanding to St. Joseph with fiber internet. 1 gig speed.
Hoping to happen this year.
Go here to read more. https://pavlovmedia.com/

It will take a year to cover the whole town. They will start in a month.

Here’s what they are discussing next: The zoning board sent the village board a letter about the commercial business grant program. Here’s the letter.

Per your direction in the Fall of 2022, we have undergone an intentional process to construct,
facilitate, and score applications for a Commercial Business Grant program. At the regular
Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on March 16th, 2023, we concluded our part of this
program by scoring the three submitted applications and issuing recommendations for
reimbursement. During this process, some general observations arose which are noteworthy
while you are considering our recommendations:

There was a general displeasure that 2 out of 3 applicants did not fully complete the
applications as requested in the Grant Program announcement. In the future, the
Commission desires to hold applicants to a firm deadline. The Commission believes that
should more funds become available, there is a very real possibility that the number of
applicants will increase dramatically. Out of respect for staff time, and for the integrity of
the grant program and the tax dollars funding it, we will make clear that future
applications will be considered competitive only if submitted both on time and complete.
The Commission indicated that the size and scope of the projects submitted are at a
scale that is too much for the $10,000 allocated for this FY.
The Commission desires to continue updating the scoring sheet for future funding
cycles. The Commission will hold a follow-up meeting soon to review the application and
scoring sheet.
Given the smaller amount of funding for this cycle, the PZ commission requested
information on the specific costs for each applicants’ top projects. Based on this, the
Commission issued a funding recommendations based on the scores of the applications
as well as the size of the narrowed down list of projects.
The Commission likes the idea of having a business grant program but are motivated to
see a different revenue source funding the grant program. The Commission would like to
learn more about incentive district options.

Our final results for the 2023 grant cycle are as follows:
Roch’s Place – $2,000 recommended match amount.
• Total score from all PZ commissioners is 383
• Asked to pick the top project for matching funds and indicated painting, which includes
some outdoor painting. Project estimate: $4,750
• Did not submit photos or requested resume when the application was submitted.
• The amount selected for the match will be an “up-to” amount, not to exceed. Funds will
not be distributed to the recipient until proof of payment and work completed has been
provided.

Gallo Dance Studio – $2,000 recommended match amount.
• Total score from all PZ commissioners is 355
• Asked to pick the top project for matching funds and indicated outdoor lighting and
painting. Total project estimate: $5,000
• Did not submit photos and other required materials when the application was submitted
and to the date of writing this memo, still has not.
Southern Charm – $6,000 recommended match amount.
• Total score from all PZ commissioners is 391
• Asked to pick the top project for matching funds and indicated her deck and windows
improvements were urgent. She also indicated that she needs a fence because of
privacy/safety concerns. Deck and windows Estimate comes in at $6,800. The fence is
more costly on top of that amount, making the total estimate near $15,000.
• This is the only application that submitted a complete application.
The Commission recommends this funding on a reimbursement basis, with the Village
Administrator only being authorized to release funds upon proven completion of the project and
official receipts. The funding amounts indicated should be viewed on a “up-to” basis, meaning
that the full amount will only be released if receipts add up to twice the reimbursable amount.

Discussed what it will look like in the future, ect.

Talking about the super secret spring that pops up on Locust again.