WALNUT— Walnut Village Board President Dennis Grobe presented to the board an ordinance authorizing the sale of the Liberty and Main building property (formerly the Fritz building).
This ordinance was approved by the board as well as a proposed notice to be published in the local newspaper for sealed bids for this sale. The notice will be published for three consecutive weeks, and then the sealed bids will be opened by the village board.
Kevin Cox, the new Walnut Police chief, presented the board with a report of the recent police work done in the village.
He also stated that he has contacted the village attorney, Rob LeSage, regarding a vacant property that the village crew has been mowing. The village has submitted a bill for each of the mowings, but no payment has been received. A lien will be placed on the property for the cost of the mowing.
Cox informed the board that he is reviewing numerous policies and procedures within the police department and he will be emailing proposed changes to all the board members.
Village Superintendent Carl Minks updated the board on the status of the fire-damaged village sweeper. The sweeper is currently housed at Standard Equipment in Chicago. The insurance company, as Minks had shared at the last meeting, has increased its settlement to $17,000, which takes into account the current condition of the sweeper. Repairs for the sweeper to return it to the condition it was in before the fire are estimated to be $41,000.
It is Minks’ recommendation that the sweeper be brought back to Walnut for storage with the idea that there may be a market for some of the parts of the sweeper. The insurance will pay the $17,000, and the village will retain possession of the sweeper.
Even though the board is aware there will be a charge for the return of the equipment, it was agreed that the sweeper will be brought back. Minks will be finding the most cost-effective way to get this done.
Law and Order Committee Chairman Ryan Rosenthal requested that a meeting of this committee be held at 6 p.m. Monday, July 22, in the village meeting room.
