Nuisance complaint, ordinance updates among business at first Raymond board meeting

RAYMOND (Heartland Newsfeed) — A nuisance complaint and updates to the village’s code of ordinances took up most of the Raymond Village Board’s shortened session on Monday, Feb. 5. Resident Kristy Sowarsh spoke before the board with a complaint regarding certain individuals who are riding their four-wheelers up and down the ditches along East Shirley Street at or near Elm Street, voicing concerns that mud was being thrown everywhere and that damage to the ditches could impede the water flow in the spring. Village president Dennis Held stated that someone would speak to the involved parties. A resolution from Illinois’ codification services department called for the update of the village’s code of ordinances. An in-depth review of the book that contains the village’s currently imposed ordinances will need to take place in order to remove outdated and obsolete ordinances and add those that still need to be included. The resolution was tabled for future discussion before a full village board. A brief discussion took place regarding the condition of a 2002 Ford F250 pickup truck used by the streets and alleys department, which is in need of extensive repairs and may not be cost-effective to make such repairs. Discussion ensued involving purchase of another truck and the board decided to ponder a list of options and features based on necessity for discussion at a later meeting, which may include potentially going for a USDA Rural Development grant with assistance from the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, similar to Coalton’s situation. Among other business:

• Water superintendent Rick Broaddus stated that plans were moving forward with Hurst-Rosche Engineers regarding the development of the village’s seventh well.
• Meeting minutes from the Jan. 15 meeting was approved.

With no further business in discussion, the meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m. set to reconvene on Monday, Feb. 19. Present at the meeting were village president Dennis Held, village clerk Susan Greenwalt, streets superintendent Mike Masten, golf course superintendent Tom Irwin, water superintendent Rick Broaddus, Raymond Police Department chief Valerie Sheldon and trustees Scott Pinkston, Joe Martin, Bruce Poggenpohl and Greg Bernhardt.