Williamsfield discussing strategic plan

By NICK VLAHOS
For The Weekly Post

WILLIAMSFIELD – With village finances finally in order, Williamsfield officials believe it’s time to make some plans. Or one big plan, to be more precise.
During the Village Board meeting Monday night, trustees discussed formulating a strategic plan. Village President Robert Johnson emailed them a list of ideas that might be part of such a plan.

Among proposals are new street signs, stormwater abatement, water-tower inspection, sidewalk repairs and creation of a tax-increment-financing district. TIFs divert property-tax dollars to a fund used for infrastructure improvements that can lead to area redevelopment.

Less-expensive and less-complicated items can be tackled early and quickly, Trustee Luke Leckrone suggested.

“Sidewalks and street signs might be low-hanging fruit for us,” he said.
Colleague Nancy Everett volunteered to solicit estimates from street-sign manufacturers. Funding for that and other items could come from the village’s share of Illinois Motor Fuel Tax money. About $200,000 is available. Johnson indicated the board might meet soon to craft an official plan.

The strategic-plan discussion earlier this week followed board approval of a village financial policy. Village auditors requested it, according to Johnson.
“The village had been managing finances by the ‘seat of our pants’ approach, and that is not an effective way to govern, especially in 2025,” Johnson wrote in his strategic-plan email to trustees.

Among policy tenets is a requirement for a balanced budget. That is the current budget status, according to Village Treasurer April Bouchez, whom the board hired in October.

“We were off 90 dollars, but we found it,” a smiling Bouchez said. “We have two transactions we’re trying to figure out what they were for. But everything is categorized and balanced.”

The policy also states the village will be aggressive in collecting revenues. Utility services will be discontinued for non-payment, in accordance with established policies and ordinances.

Leckrone asked whether a timeline would be implemented regarding water-system disconnections. Village Clerk Tori Courson said a $30 late fee is assessed first, then after two months a red notice is affixed to the front doors of delinquents.

“We used to mail letters, but the red note seems to get people’s attention,” Courson said.

Johnson reported the village received no bids for a 2007 GMC pickup truck the maintenance department was using before it was replaced recently. The vehicle has a faulty transmission and between 90,000 and 100,000 miles on it. Barring anything unforeseen, it probably will be donated or sold for scrap.
The board agreed to accept pickup-truck sealed bids when it met last month. It also authorized purchasing from Uline of Pleasant Prairie, Wis., a new desk for the village hall. The cost was $625.