PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
LANNON … Patrick Lannon is sworn in by acting Mayor Theis as one of the village’s newest part-time police officers.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
The Fayette Village Council held their meeting on Wednesday, June 12th. The meeting began at 6:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer.
Minutes from the May 22nd council meeting were approved next, along with minutes from the June 5th Safety Committee meeting minutes and Governmental Affairs Committee meeting minutes.
With no visitors present to address council, councilors Brittany Theis and Brenda Shoemaker held up new signs the Fayette CDC will be putting up around the village park. The mayor’s report was then delivered by Theis.
The garden club is still selling 150th cookbooks. The Men’s Softball League is back this year and will be playing at the park.
The Fayette Methodist Church will be holding its free community meal on June 19th from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Family Life Center. The Normal Memorial Library will be holding a tween night on June 21st which will run from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The next Fayette Board of Education meeting will take place on June 24th at 6:30 p.m. The comment was also made that the splash pad is open and ready for visitors. Moving on to the village administrator’s report, phase 1 of the water project with Bryan Excavating is currently ahead of schedule.
Now, only the alleyways throughout town will need lines installed, along with residential service lines.
When lines are finished the company will move on to repave what was cut. Everything is expected to be complete in September of this year.
Administrator Bryan Stambaugh shared his appreciation for members of the crew and stated they have been looking out for the best interest of the community. The administrator’s report was then approved, before moving on to hear a report from the village fiscal officer.
It was reported that RITA, the “Regional Income Tax Agency” used by the village for tax purposes, has been performing their annual cost allocation. This has resulted in the village receiving a refund for over $7,000.
VFO Karin Sauerlender explained that RITA has been extremely cost-effective. Additional items pertaining to upcoming legislative actions were then discussed before council moved to approve the VFO report.
Bills were then paid by council in the amount of $58,929.81 before moving on to hear a report by Police Chief Richard Bingham.
Bingham spoke about the increase in arrests, including felony arrests, the department has been experiencing. This includes an individual who was arrested recently on attempted murder charges out of Mississippi.
The individual in question has already been arrested and detectives from Mississippi will be coming up to conduct various activities. Bingham also stated that the victim in question is on life support and may not make it.
Additionally, two big felony arrests for Methamphetamine were conducted in the span of three days within the last two weeks, according to Chief Bingham. Numbers over last year have continued to rise as time goes on.
Also, the $30,000 donation did come in and the K9 vehicle is now property of the Fayette Police Department.
Another pledge for $10,000 has come in, along with a pledge for $2,500 moving forward. A donation of $1,000 will also be obtained for vet services. A new E-ZPass was obtained and will be billed at no charge. This will help keep costs low when the officer travels for training with the dog.
Radios purchased through a grant should be arriving on the 15th of June and unfortunate news came in regarding the K9 puppies.
FOOR … Kelly Foor is sworn in by acting Mayor Theis as one of the village’s newest part-time police officers.
Three were born but one was stillborn and the other two were already spoken for. Fayette is now first in line for the next set of puppies that will be born at the end of the month. Names have also been discussed, with some finalists possibly being Thor, Odin, Ace, and Jax, if the dog is a boy.
Twelve new professional-grade earplugs have come in after using grant money to obtain them. Also, two new M4 rifles have been acquired, as well as two 9mm handguns and eight new Magpul magazines.
Bingham then moved on to talk about an email he sent out about tasers. A phone call was received from American Township, located by Lima, which resulted in three tasers being sent to Fayette. This department had three that was being rotated out which was perfect for the department and managed to save $2,000.
Next, the department has received the Excellence in Law Enforcement Award with Bingham stating it takes a good team to get this award.
Chief Bingham then spoke about zoning laws, new part time officers and the K9 donation box made by councilor Brenda Shoemaker.
Council then moved on to approve the following legislative actions. The first reading of Ordinance 2024-07 to amend income tax reciprocity for the village. The first reading of Resolution 2024-3 declaring the necessity of an election on the question of approving the passage of an Ordinance, to provide for an increase of .25% in the existing income tax, with said income tax to provide funds for Police Operations. The second reading of Ordinance 2024-06 for appropriation modifications.
The following additional motions were also approved. A motion to hire Jeff Romes, Patrick Lannon, and Kelly Foor, as a part-time police officer, and a motion to hire Jessica Swander as Tax Administrator part-time effective June 12th, 2024.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.