MINUTES
PALESTINE VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
August 1, 2019

Palestine Board of Trustees met on July 11, 2019, at 6:00 PM.  Trustees answering the roll call were J.R. Dunlap, Mary Michael, Gene Purcell, Mary Michael, Twilla Davis and Brian Nethery.

Staff Members present:  Shirley Adams, Village Clerk, Patricia Schofield, Mayor’s Consultant, and Kathy Clark, Superintendent of DPW.  

Visitors present:  Nancy Jenkins, Chris Dewitt (WTYE) and Tom Osborne (Robinson Daily News).

Meeting called to order by Mayor Rob Byrley

The meeting began with all present reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Minutes were taken by the Village Clerk.

The Minutes of July 11, 2019, were accepted as presented. 

OLD BUSINESS:

1. Update-Bridge repairs/replacement on South Main St.  Still waiting on title work to be completed

2. Official approval of (Phone Poll of July 12, 2019) Palestine Chamber of Commerce’s request for their Special Use Permit for the Labor Day Beer Tent.  Gene Purcell made a motion to approve their Special Use Permit for the Labor Day Beer Tent.  J.R. Dunlap seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.

3. Discussion –Update – Gatter Brewing to change licensure.    They are in the process of trying to get a Federal License for brewing. It will then be called a Brew Pub.  It has already been approved that they can sell wine so the ordinance will need amended to include the wine.

4. Update – Engineering report for Lagoon upgrade. The PER report has been completed and submitted to Rural Development. We should know something in a couple months. Colin will notify us at that time what the split of the grant/loan might be.

NEW BUSINESS

1.  Discussion-Approval of 2019 Tax Levy Ordinance. Brian Nethery moved to approve Ordinance 2019-O-03, the 2019 Tax Levy.  J.R. Dunlap seconded motion. Motion carried unanimously.

DPW REPORT:  Kathy Clark. 
They had a very successful street repair on West Grand Prairie.

The Fire Department’s “No Parking” sign was installed in the back of the Community Facility.

The PER is complete and sent to Rural Development, along with our application for lagoon improvements loan/grant split.

Chip and seal applications are scheduled to be done the first week in August. They will do Rush St., Perry St. and the alley behind the Village Inn.  Perry Street will be a double seal as it was damaged by constant semi-trucks.

Kathy has started traffic markings.

POLICE REPORT:  Chief of Police, Jeff Besing. 
Mayor Bryley read Chief Besing’s report as he could not attend the Board Meeting.

It was a busy month for both traffic and criminal incidents.

Chief Besing assisted multiple agencies on Tuesday morning with the manhunt of an armed robbery suspect when he was taken into custody at appx. 8:00 pm that evening.  Officer Bowen provided coverage for the Village during that time.

The Chief will be greeting kids at the grade school on the first day of school.  It is a tradition that he started when he first came to Palestine and the kids seem to love seeing a police officer there to open the door for them.

The Officers will be strictly enforcing the school zone speed limits once school is in session.

They are preparing for the upcoming Rodeo Weekend.

PIONEER ROOM/COMMUNITY FACILITY – AUGUST - GENE PURCELL

FYI:  Fall Clean-up:  October 23, 24, and 25th.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Budget Committee:  Shirley Adams, Chairman.  No financials at this time.  Carol Holbart is scheduled to be at our Sept. Board Meeting to present the FY 2019 Audit.  

Bldg Regulations, Permits, Maintenance: Harry Gene Purcell, Chairman.  Two permits were issued. One for a fence and one for a building.

Employee Relations Committee: Harry Gene Purcell, Chairman.  

FOIA Officers:  Shirley Adams, Chairman.  FOIA/OMA Certifications are complete. 

Ordinance Committee: Pat Schofield.  

Streets, Sidewalks, Alleys Committee: Tim McDaniel, Chairman.   

Sewer/Lagoon Committee: Brian Nethery, Chairman.  

Other Business:

Nancy Jenkins requested that the Labor Day Main St. committee be able to use the Pioneer Room on Sunday of Labor Day.  The consensus was that they would be allowed to use it.

J.R. said that he is waiting for a design drawing of the LED sign that we’ve been discussing.

J.R. was happy to report that the 101st Airborne Division Band will be performing in our Labor Day Parade again this year.

With no further business to discuss Gene Purcell moved to adjourn. J.R. Dunlap seconded motion.   Meeting adjourned at 6:25 PM.

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  	   PRESIDENT					      CLERK