Trustee John Veres guided members of the Board of Trustees through the extensive details of the projected work to five sanitary sewer manholes in the Village of Wilsonville. The project was unanimously approved.

Members of the Village of Wilsonville Board of Trustees on Monday night approved $24,187.74 in expenditures to make extensive improvements to a series of five sanitary sewer manholes at the southeast edge of the village. Trustees viewed a brief Power Point presentation detailing the project presented by Trustee John Veres before voting unanimously to green light the work. The manholes, some of which are located in the flood plain of a nearby creek, are deteriorating and are subject to storm water infiltration. The manholes are located along a sewer main that feeds into the troubled Liberty Street Lift Station, also located on the southeast side of the village.

The expenditures approved Monday night include $13,756 for purchase and installation of SpectraShield manhole liners from SpectraTech, Noblesville, Ind. The seamless liner is designed to protect against water infiltration and protect the concrete structure of the manholes themselves. Citing on of the slides in his presentation, Veres said white residue appearing on the concrete interior of a manhole was actually an accumulation of grease.

“When grease gets into the concrete, it starts to deteriorate it,” he said. “So installing SpectraShield will make the manhole last longer.” He said SpectraShield liners already are being used in communities such as Carbondale and Vandalia. He said the Village of Wilsonville expects to coop with the City of Virden, which also plans SpectraShield installations, to cut down on travel expenses charged by the Indiana company.

Also approved was $6,859 for Ranger Excavating, Gillespie, to provide and install three five-foot risers and two three-foot risers to raise the level of the manhole covers to a point that is above anticipated flooding in the area. The Trustees also approved $3,049.74 for new locking Pamrex manhole covers for the renovated manholes from Schulte Supply, Inc., Edwardsville. Schulte also will provide 20 utility markers at a cost of $529 that will be installed in conjunction with the renovated manholes and at other locations to mark the village’s sewer lines.

[pullquote]Veres said attempts were made in the past to raise the level of the manholes by installing concrete rings, but those rings have deteriorated and are allowing excessive amounts of storm water to enter the sewer system.[/pullquote]

Veres said attempts were made in the past to raise the level of the manholes by installing concrete rings, but those rings have deteriorated and are allowing excessive amounts of storm water to enter the sewer system. Flood water from the nearby creek have eroded soil from around some of the manholes, Veres noted, and city workers plan to excavate around those manhole openings and install rip-rap to protect against future erosion. In one location, where the creek comes exceptionally close to the manhole, workers plan to slightly reroute the creek away from the manhole. Village labor and the cost of rip-rap are not included in the expenditures approved Monday night.

Asked whether the cost of the project could be partially covered through a grant, Veres said the Village can include the cost in a future grant application but initially will have to bear the total cost of the project. Moreover, completion of the project can be a factor grant administrators can consider for future grant applications.

“We’re coving the cost right now,” Veres said. “But we’re showing that we are investing in our infrastructure.”

Noting that the Village is receiving a grant to help subsidize the cost of a new emergency siren, Village President Anetta Veres said she has been informed the Village may be eligible for additional USDA grant money as a result of the village’s efforts to make improvements. Even recent improvements to the Village’s Community Center can enhance the Village’s chances of securing grant money, she said.

Following Trustee Veres’ presentation, the manhole project expenditures were unanimously approved on a motion by Trustee Pam Zaksas, seconded by Keith Mohr.

The board also approved a follow-up motion made by Veres to formally hold the Village responsible for repairing any damage to the Robert Wilhoit property during the project. Veres said installers for the SpectraShield project are likely to need access to Wilhoit’s property and his motion ensures that any damage will be repaired at the city’s cost.

[pullquote]We’re showing that we are investing in our infrastructure.[/pullquote]

Earlier in the meeting, Veres reported the EPA has given the Village permission to install larger pumps in the Liberty Street Lift Station in part because of the community’s commitment to control storm water infiltration into the system.

“One reason EPA went along with this,” he said, “is that we have a plan to seal our manholes and prevent water infiltration.”

COMMUNITY CENTER BIDS

In other action, the board accepted nearly $20,000 in low bids to complete work on bringing bathrooms at the Wilsonville Community Center into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act:

• On a motion by Trustee Veres, seconded by Mohr, the board approved a bid of $3,379.71from Reid Electrical, Gillespie, to complete electrical work on the bathrooms, including installation of new lights, outlets, exhaust fans and air duct fixtures.
• The board also accepted a $6,660.83 bid from Reid to complete electrical work, including wiring and installation of LED lighting and other amenities, in a hallway and reception area at the Community Center.
• Board members unanimously accepted a bid of $576 from R-Factor Insulation, Carlinville, to install blown-in insulation in the bathrooms, and a bid of $1,800, also from R-Factor, to insulate the reception area.
• A bid of $1,020.82 from Quality Flooring, Gillespie, also was accepted for the bathrooms. Owner Andy Houser also agreed to donate baseboard materials and other materials for the project.
• Board members accepted R.P. Lumber’s bid of $5,090.65 for materials, including three pre-hung steel doors.
• A bid of $2,600 from HHH Contracting, Sawyerville, also was accepted for installing the doors and other construction work.

Village President Veres noted that there is some urgency to complete the pending construction project since it has to be finished before election day for the Consolidated Election on April 4.

In a related matter, the board agreed to pay a bill of $2,385 from Lee Garrison Contracting, Gillespie, to repair a portion of the Community Center roof after a leak was discovered following recent storms in the area.

MOTOR FUEL TAX PROGRAM

The board approved the Village’s annual Motor Fuel Tax street maintenance program in the amount of $37,646 for the current fiscal year. The plan tentatively projects purchasing 4,000 gallons of road oil and two tons of rock chips for resurfacing streets this summer. The plan identifies specific streets for resurfacing, but President Veres said that the list of streets to get attention could change depending factors such as the price of road oil at the time of resurfacing and the amount of Motor Fuel Tax money the Village spends on snow removal and other projects.

“This is not set in stone,” Veres said. “Most of these are very needed, but it can change.”

CULVERT REPLACEMENT

Board members voted unanimously to accept bids from Ranger Excavating and Hawkeye Steel, Mount Olive, to remove and replace deteriorated culverts on Wilson, Callie and Liberty streets, and near the Chapman residence on Stemme Street. Ranger’s bid also includes removal of a culvert on Fisher Street, which will not be replaced. Ranger offered a bid of $1,735 in total for labor, and Hawkeye provided a bid of $1,665.52 for materials for the projects. Funding will come from the Village’s motor fuel tax fund.

VILLAGE BACKS AWAY FROM PROPERTY ACQUISITION

On a motion by Trustee Veres, seconded by Zaksas, the board rescinded its earlier action to acquire property at 115 Marcia Street for back taxes. President Veres reported that the property has not yet been released for redemption at this time and that the original owners have four more years to recover the property before another party can petition for a tax deed.

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Earlier in the meeting, the board met in executive session for seven minutes to discuss property acquisition and possible litigation.

OTHER ACTION

In other action, the board:

• Accepted bids totaling $1,300 to replace a faulty sewer line at the Chapman residence on Stemme Street. Trustee Veres said the original line was installed incorrectly and the new installation will correct problems with the grade and will include creation of a swale to carry water away from the nearby Liberty Street Lift Station.
• Gave permission to use the Community Center for the Village’s annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 8 and agreed to donate $125 from the General Fund for the event.
• Gave permission to use the Community Center for the annual Veterans Caravan luncheon on April 22.
• Agreed to purchase a new POW flag to replace the Village’s current flag at a cost of $40 to $50.
• Agreed to pay $99 to renew the City Clerk’s certification as a Notary Public.

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