FINISHING UP … Members of the Fayette Village Council are shown at the conclusion of the February 22 meeting. (PHOTO BY ANNA WOZNIAK, STAFF)
By: Anna Wozniak
The February 22nd, 2023 Fayette Village Council Meeting started at 6 p.m. with a prayer, the pledge of allegiance, and roll call.
Mayor Dave Borer and Councilors Suzette Boesger, Bryan Stambaugh, Rodney Kessler, and Chris Meeker were all present, and were later joined by Councilor Kim Priestap.
The meeting started with an approval of the council minutes for the February 8, 2023 meeting, the Public Works/Finance Committee meeting of February 15, and the public hearing of February 15.
Next, Heather Sarnac, Director of the City of Morenci’s Community and Economic Development Committee, gave an impassioned speech on how to orient conversation in the community around positive things going on in their town.
Since Morenci no longer has a paper, citizens have found themselves feeling disconnected from the community.
Along with city beautification, part of what Sarnac does is inform community members of important events through a letter in their water bill.
Sarnac offered her services to Fayette in the event that they set up a team to do things similar to what she does for the City of Morenci.
The mayor then read his report. Fayette Opera House is having the Musical Tandem of John & Jenn Saturday, February 25th at 7 PM.
Doors open at 6:15 PM. Tickets cost $15 for general admission, $12 Seniors 60 years old and up, and $10 for students. There will be a meet and greet following the concert.
Fayette Opera House is also doing a free will donation Souper Coffee House March 9, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Featured artists include Heidi Paxton, Dust 2 Dust, Dennis Wasnich, Don Holsinger, John Dunkel, Steve Snider, The Grandpas, and Quinn Mitchell.
Normal Memorial Library is having a Cook the Book Club March 23, 2023 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The theme is “I saw it on television,” and participants will pick and prepare a recipe from a cookbook from a television show and bring the dish in.
Normal Memorial Library Crochet & Knit Night will be March 9, 2023 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Bring something you are working on or learn something new and join in fun discussion.
The Fayette Garden & Beautification Club are putting together a Celebration Cookbook for the sesquicentennial anniversary of Fayette.
They are asking for old family recipes to be submitted by April 15, 2023 to fayettegardenglub@gmail.com.
Fayette Garden & Beautification Club is also doing a sesquicentennial celebration T-shirt fundraiser and asking for the public’s help to design the shirt.
Anyone interested in participating please submit your design by May 30, 2023 to fayettegardenglub@gmail.com.
Submissions will be voted on via the “What’s Happening in Fayette” Facebook page.
The Fayette CDC sesquicentennial committee held a meeting on February 23 as plans continue to made for Fayette’s 150th birthday celebration.
The Fayette American Legion post #143 Ladies Auxiliary just put out military banner applications for 2023-2024 year.
Applications can be picked up in the Village office or by contacting Kris Keiser at (419) 572-1184, or Connie Wagner at (419) 262-0577.
Applications must be turned in no later than March 1, 2023 for consideration.
Fayette’s Royal Bull Thistle Arts Festival committee is having their second Annual Thistle Run 5K on April 29, 2023.
Registration and waiver forms are available at the Fayette post office for anyone wanting to participate.
The Village of Fayette is working on a water service line survey so that anyone with lead lines can get them replaced.
Flyers are located around town with the survey, and the same flyer will be added to March’s sewer/water bill.
Mayor Borer then spoke on Jim Hoops’ support of the TechCred program, endorsing his want to support businesses coming into Fayette by making sure there is a qualified workforce.
There are also grants available for businesses to help further their development. Lisa Beecher, from Northwestern University, is a business coach that is here to help people set up successful business plans.
Ric Beals gave the administrator’s report, reporting that he has attended several meetings this week and plans on working in the future to increase community interest in jobs having to do with wastewater, as many of those currently employed in this field are reaching retirement age.
The mayor and administrator’s reports were unanimously accepted by the council.
Ordinance 2023-02, which allows for a cooperative agreement between the Village of Fayette and the OWDA for Phase II of the Water Distribution Project, was left on its first reading.
Ordinance 2023-01, amending temporary appropriations for 2023, was approved in a motion moved by Stambaugh, seconded by Boesger, and passed unanimously by council.
A motion to approve the renewal of parcel 19-039524-01.000 without modification as part of the Agricultural District was made by Kessler, seconded by Boesger, and approved unanimously.
A motion authorizing Administrator Ric Beals to sign an agreement with Arcadis for the engineering, bidding, and construction of Phase I of the Water Distribution Project was carried unanimously by council after a motion to approve was made by Kessler and seconded by Boesger.
The Fayette Garden & Beautification Club announced that they have priced this year’s planters at $200, and anyone wanting to sponsor a planter should contact them at fayettegardenglub@gmail.com.
A motion to adjourn was made by Stambaugh, seconded by Wheeler, and unanimously approved at 6:51 p.m.
Anna can be reached at anna@thevillagereporter.com