Water tower, fire hydrant, well cleaning bulk of business in Raymond village board meeting

RAYMOND (Heartland Newsfeed) — Discussions continued regarding cleaning of the water tower and cleaning and repainting of the fire hydrants among other items of business in an abbreviated session of the Raymond Village Board on Monday, October 2. Following approval of the meeting minutes from the September 18 meeting, Trustee Greg Bernhardt asked the board for a moment of silence to remember the victims of a shooting in Las Vegas, which occurred the prior night. The meeting resumed as Trustee Bruce Poggenpohl reminded the board of prior discussions regarding the cleaning of the water tower, as well as the cleaning and repainting of the fire hydrants. A bid was received from Devin Bedinger for $865 using his own labor and equipment to clean the water tower, which does not include the lift. Poggenpohl added that he had contacted a company who rents out Caterpillar lifts, who quoted a rental cost of approximately $1,800. Water Superintendent Rick Broaddus added that he had inquired through Sunbelt and United and received similar quotes. Bedinger’s bid was approved by the board for the water tower cleaning. Bedinger also submitted a bid in the amount of $915, which includes labor, materials and repainting them back to their previous color. The board also approved this bid. Poggenpohl also mentioned prior discussion regarding the John Deere 210 tractor at the last meeting and he has since received product information regarding a tractor that is similar, noting that a new 2017 4×4 model tractor/loader with a 93-horsepower motor, air conditioning and heat, ride control, work lights and a 1.25 yard budget with no trade-in and at government cost would run roughly $93,000. Trustee Kathy Summers stated that the level of usage should justify the cost, in which the board agreed. No further consideration was given, so discussion was tabled to sometime in the future. The cleaning of well number 6 should be taking place within the next week or two, according to Broaddus, and noted that well number 5 has been holding up well during cleaning. Trustee Robert Pennock announced the third quarter payout totals for recycling, in which Boy Scout Troop #77 received $200 and the Raymond Baptist Church youth group received $150 for their help. Building permits, or lack thereof, were also discussed and reminds residents that a permit is required for any building or addition, per village ordinance. Some nuisances regarding tall grass and weeds on a couple properties were also discussed. Village President Dennis Held noted that he had received a couple inquiries for information regarding the lots currently up for sale. Held also added that the village has received a check from Ameren Illinois for the gas franchise. With no additional business presented before the board, the meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m., set to reconvene Monday, October 16 at 7 p.m. Present at the meeting were Village President Dennis Held, Village Clerk Susan Greenwalt, Village Treasurer Sally Broaddus, Raymond Police Department Officer Anthony Telford, Shoal Creek Golf Course superintendent Tom Irwin, Water Superintendent Rick Broaddus, Street Superintendent Mike Masten and Village Trustees Joe Martin, Bruce Poggenpohl, Greg Bernhardt, Kathy Summers, Scott Pinkston and Robert Pennock. This article is scheduled for republication in the October 11 edition of the Nokomis Free Press-Progress and The Morrisonville Times.