Village of Sublette addresses busy August agenda

By Brandon LaChance, Editor
Posted 8/20/24

SUBLETTE – Per usual, the Village of Sublette Board had a lengthy agenda and many topics to talk about at its monthly meeting on Monday, Aug. 12 at the Ellice Dinges Center.

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Village of Sublette addresses busy August agenda

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SUBLETTE – Per usual, the Village of Sublette Board had a lengthy agenda and many topics to talk about at its monthly meeting on Monday, Aug. 12 at the Ellice Dinges Center.

The Mendota Sweet Corn Festival Parade on Sunday, Aug. 11 gave the Sublette Village float the Friendship Award. Ethan Orzech will be taking the float to Amboy’s Depot Days this weekend.

Village Economic Development Coordinator Don Dinges let the board know the Sublette Farmer’s Market has done well in the last two weeks with more vendors bringing more vegetables. Instead of 3-6 p.m., the vendors have asked to stay open 3-7 p.m. to increase sales and exposure.

Dinges also spoke about possible grants. One grant idea is to pave the bike path and another grant proposal is for a new business program, which would help build a building for a new, ensuing business. Both are in the blueprint process to see what information would be needed and if they are feasible.

Fliers for the Sublette Country Car Show (10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14) have been distributed and there is a lot of interest and enthusiasm. Also, Hops & Harmony, Pullin’ in the Park and the celebration of Sublette’s 170th Anniversary September 7-8 are catching steam.

In his president’s report, Sublette Village Board President John Stenzel said the well at the Sublette Elevator was pulled out and would have to be sealed.

Sublette’s attorney Dana Considine was in attendance and spoke on ordinance violations. The Bonnell residence has been issued a warrant for failure to appear in court and ordinances have not been paid, the Vasquez residence has been ordered to pay $350 a month for ordinances, and the Truckenbrod residence made a payment toward violations and the village has agreed to not file a lien against the property.

Two properties in Sublette borders will receive letters from Considine’s office with a summons of fines of $500 a day for junk cars loitering front and back yards. The letters will include a 10-day notice before the ordinance violations will mandate. The definition of junk cars is those that are not licensed and not operable.

Stenzel said he has sent both properties letters about cleaning up the junk cars and they have either been ignored or haven’t responded.

Both of the LED speed limit signs the village were able to purchase thanks to federal grant money have been installed. The village agreed to buy speed limit signs, $35 each, to put closer to the LED signs to help drivers realize the speed zone. There are signs currently, but they’re a distance from the LEDs and can’t be moved because they are owned by Lee County.

Stenzel said there has been good feedback on the LED signs from the community.

There was a special committee meeting held on Wednesday, Aug. 7 and included discussion of making changes to the maintenance contract which is up for renewal.

The current three-year contract with Rick’s Lawn & Property Maintenance has cost Sublette $45,000 a year with a $100 lease for equipment.

At the committee meeting, the changes the village wants to make include adding removal of garbage cans at Centennial Park twice a week, mowing the walking path, recording how many times they mow and shovel, washing trucks and tractors, requiring a copy of driver’s license for all village equipment operators, and no storing of equipment inside or outside of village property.

Sublette is accepting bids from maintenance providers.

Trustee Julie Kessel made a motion to purchase four children playing signs to be displayed in busy neighborhoods. Trustee Larry Ellis seconded, and Scott Hanson and Richard Klaser agreed.