001But I'm going to tell you right now, I'm going to say we might as well plan for the port in place because >> it's dry now. Yeah. I mean, we didn't fix the drainage issues, right? >> But we're moving the location. >> Yeah, we moved it. >> So you we're going to be in a place where now we're not going to have that. >> This is parking lot. >> Yeah. >> There is the concession stand. Am I correct in saying that? >> So the baseball field on the northwest corner of the property. Now my >> swing sets would be right about, you know, the weldy walk sign >> like that's right about where that's at. >> Okay. >> Um, and so I know Bethy's idea was kind of to then take the existing playground and
002once we start pulling some of that older equipment out of there, making that into more of a soccer field walking track and maybe even rededicating the Weldy Walk kind of to that. uh shouldn't be a huge e issue either, but you may want to check with our local utility company, make sure that's not going to be an issue with the plans right there. Just >> I don't think they ever really squash anything. I'm just saying that step >> to have plans to build something there and they come in at least last minute. >> Nope. >> No, that's a good point. >> My mistake. I forgotten we were changing location. That's high there. So, you should be >> Yes, that area that we're kind of abandoning there. anything that can be done for drop off the
003buses the something week the mornings. >> Well, I'd actually started talking to the facility committee when we did our walkounds earlier and I I'm waiting to hear back from I've been talking to Dunn and I eventually once I kind of get some rough estimates on things. Um, I'll, you know, be talking to our engineer, but I would, I would like to take that south parking lot and expand it out a bit and use rock to make kind of a I don't want to say a culde-sac, but to kind of do a circle drive back there so that we can get a bus back there to do a turnabout and face back out. And the south lot will be buses only. The north lot will be car riders only, and nobody's behind the building because we
004know that that's a safety concern. We don't want anybody driving back there. from being there every morning and every like morning. I would say 90% of the issues are not the bus drivers, it's the parents. >> It's rough. >> They I mean I can't This morning I about got out of my car and started driving traffic because I was just so irritated. I don't understand how it's that hard. But it >> people get in a hurry. >> Well, then they pulled up. They were parking today up where you guys parked. There was a parent that parked over there. >> Yeah. Then there was I mean it it's just >> it it you just have to witness it to see how dumb it can be. I mean it just it it to me it doesn't seem
005that hard. >> Yeah. >> But it it they make it very hard. >> It's it's bad. >> Two days last week I rolled my window down and honked because the bus could not get through and the parent that was sitting there had no idea that the bus was trying to get reach behind them. They're trying to thread the needle and I think if we separate them and then when they put those power poles in there >> with the lights where they're at during the project that I know Ryan had talked about that that made things much more difficult in terms of the buses and having enough space. And I think if we can eliminate that and have a dedicated spot for the buses to come in, it's going to be safer for everybody. It's going
006to be more manageable. Hopefully changes our car riding situation too. So, get them through there a little quicker. Um, so if I can when I get those preliminary ideas back and start doing that talk, that's something I'll be bringing to you guys. Uh, and I'll actually kind of segus into what I was going to talk about um with the school maintenance grant later. I'll go ahead and talk about it now. Uh, school maintenance grant time will be coming up. And one of the ideas I have is to use that $50,000 from the state uh if you authorize me to do so um towards some parking lot projects uh at the primary and possibly the high school. Um I think it'll be money well spent. I think we'll definitely go over I may also write in
007things like tuck pointing or something like that so that I have more flexibility with the use of those funds just in case they say, "Oh, that's not even going to cost you $50,000." which won't happen, but um just in case, I want to have that. Uh and I found out last year that they said, "Hey, if you don't write it for that, you can't use it for that. We can't let you amend it later. You have to go ahead and just put every project you can think of in from the get-go, and then you can spend it on whatever you like as long as it's a matching grant." So, that's my main project is looking at some parking lot stuff still. Um, bus barn. Uh, I got the contract finalized and signed. Um, I went
008through it with the attorneys. I went back and forth with FedServe. We've got that all squared away. He is coming next Wednesday. Um, and is supposed to meet with myself and uh, he's trying to also square up maybe some discussion with Bluer. I think Bluer is who he's going to go with to do the structures. >> They were at the Farm Partner show. See Blunir building? I'd never heard that. They've been they've been good to talk to. Um >> I also got word back from our insurance company that they are going to give us $18,000 >> for the lean two that blew away. Um with an option to if we build a replacement, then I believe I can apply with them for an additional um amount of fund. Um not a whole lot, but um
009definitely got through. That was an ordeal, but they just called me yesterday to let me know some of that. Um, so we're going to look at that. I sent you guys the quotes on the demolition I got from four different um folks and Hutchkins came in the lowest um with $4,600. So, um I'm going to proceed with that unless anybody has any um concerns there. I think that uh they'll do a good work and Greg had told me they can probably get it taken down in just a couple days time once we get to that point. Um he'll he said he'll be ready to mobilize whenever I give him the work. Um we are currently cleaning some things up at the old bus barn and then we're going to move the materials over there that
010are good into it. We'll move Mr. FA's desk into the spare classroom down by the office here and have that be the bus office for the time being uh till we can get something new built. I'm hoping to go ahead and at least get a shelter built before winter and get the electricity going to that. Um, we'll see next week where that all lands at and what he thinks our timelines are looking like. Um, but I I'm hopeful for it. So, I will for sure keep you updated on all that. >> Will that be a motion for next month? >> What's that >> on the demolition? >> Uh, we don't actually have to take official action on it. Um, >> because of the cost >> because of the value. So, um, it can just be
011within the board bills then when we do the project. Um, >> I noticed that I know we don't have issues with puns, but everyone else excluded electrical and gas shut off. He did not >> included electrical in the what? >> Excluded electrical and gas shut off and he did not. >> Um, I don't know if that means he's going to take care of >> he does not turn off. No, that has to be utilities. They don't do anything with the utilities and that's what everybody told me. He just denied it specifically. >> Oh, okay. Yeah. No, they all say we don't we don't do that. You have to call your provider and I know one of them even said it could take weeks to get it shut off. So, um just uh we've got to
012talk to Amaran and and then our propane we just basically we can do it, but everything else has to be taken down. But we're going to take the existing AC out of there and the heater out of there and stuff and repurpose that whenever we get the new structure built for at least the maintenance side. And I think we may be able to use it for the break room side. And then I think we've got some mini splits at Ilopoulos. We may be able to utilize one of those for the office. Um, and it'll just be the cost of the labor to do the hookups and stuff. But I've still got to check in on that a little bit. I'm not sure the condition of those ones that we have over there. But they were
013relatively new um when we took them out for the NG project. So they've just been sitting for a few years. One of Bob wanted to use them for the kitchen in the high school and things that he came back and reported again what it would cost for labor to use those certain sets. You might be able to find an idea. >> Okay. Take a look at that. All right. Yeah, we talked about maybe doing uh one at Ilopoulos. We thought that maybe it would work with that. Um I think in here we're okay for the most part um since they ran everything. But I'll look for that again too and see where that's at. Do we use Evergreen this year for >> uh Yes. >> our propane? >> Yes. >> Okay. Cuz they were really
014good. We had some issues. Um and he was out within a day and ran new line. And so he would be a good contact. They have their maintenance guy that would come and >> and take everything out and make sure it's protected for before the demolition. >> Oh, okay. He can do it before that. That would be even better. >> Yes. Um, I know with the water, you know, they said when we're taking the floor out and stuff, like we can shut it off up here at the building. So, um, and then the drain is going to a septic, he says, I can try not to get into it, but sometimes things happen. He's like, just so you can shut the water off somewhere other than right here. That would be great. And Bruce said
015that we do have the capabilities of doing that up near the building. So, um, that would be good cuz I don't believe we're on a separate water line, uh, for the bus barn like we are electric. electric, we have our own meter, but water, it all comes into the high school and then goes out to there. So, that'll make it easier um for sure. But I think we're moving right along with that. We've we had a lot of movement just this week, so um fingers crossed. Um we've we're checking out the boilers as we were trying some stuff with our HVAC. Um, we've had some HVAC issues at Ilopoulos um with those train units that we've been trying to sus out and we getting a little more u um concerned with with how they're operating.
016We were trying some things with the boilers and we discovered that three of the four boilers are not operational right now um and need some repair work done. Uh, I was talking to Intech because they had just done a rebuild for us uh on the condensate pumps over here and they looked at it and I got crunching the numbers on it. I talked to the facilities committee about they were kind of pitching some TSP um things where they would come in and and uh basically maintain your your boiler system um or air conditioning or things like that. Uh, then that's something I probably want to bid out eventually if I was going to do it on a large scale. Um, when he told me what the approximated repairs were with like the igniter and things
017like that on the boilers, it wasn't much more than what their TSP is. And if we were to go ahead and do the TSP for this year and give it a try, it would take care of those repairs and then also the preventative maintenance of uh flushing them out and doing the other things that may be nice to try. Uh, I think it was ultimately about $12,000. Um, if you guys wanted me to go ahead and bid that out, I could do it. Um, or we could just go with it um for this time, get the repairs made, see how we like the the technical service aspect of it. Um, and then move on from there. >> That's the entire school over there. >> It would be the entire Ilopoulos. >> Anything from the boilers
018to each room's unit? That would just be the boilers. It would not include the boilers. >> How many boilers do we have? >> We have the I believe there's four. There's the the new boilers that are back there behind the cafeteria and then there's the old one. >> Yeah. And there's the old one that's in the old building. Um that I think I remember we replaced a pump on there when I was principal over there. >> One here. >> What's that? >> Is there one here? >> We have two here. >> Two here and none. >> New boiler and an old boiler. There's none at Harristown. Um the ones at Ilopoulos, we have the four um or is it three or four new ones? >> Four. >> And then they are the the one old
019one. So it would take care of all of those boilers over there and not handle anything over here at Heritage Town at all. >> Did they quote you anything about servicing each individual unit inside the rooms and everything? I do have quotes for those as well. Yeah, I got quotes on the whole shebang when I did it earlier this year and then I said I'm going to hold off if we do something maybe we dip our toes into one. But I would also if I was going to do something widespread like that I would also go out and get >> additional quotes as well just to see. >> I was going to say it seems like a opportunity for them. >> Um just as a business owner like I never sell a service contract cuz
020I feel like I'm ripping people off. Um, so I don't know. I that's just where my mind, you know, initially goes. So, um, I guess I'd be interested in seeing what else is out there before we made some kind of commitment to that. >> Sure. >> That's what I'm saying. >> Does school boilers have to comply with fire marshall boiler inspection? >> We have boiler inspections. They come in and everything. They were inspected last year, but I'm guessing the things that tore up on them just didn't we couldn't get three of them to fire up. We were only able to get one of them to go the other day. Um he was back there with Jason and said they got looking at them and were like, "Okay, this is what's going on here, here, and
021here." >> And it's not the new ones. >> They are the new ones. Yeah. Newer ones. >> Any warranty on those? >> No. tail light. >> Oh my gosh. >> So, >> but I can check in on that and then we can also >> I can also quote out the uh additional repairs and stuff as well. >> Okay. >> Orders are the cheapest way to eat a big building. It's expensive. >> It's crazy. >> Yeah. >> They get expensive in a hurry. Yes. >> So, I'm like, "Oh, that's it." >> And how much is that going to cost? Oh, okay. I'm in the wrong business. Um, okay. Sorry. >> Um, and then enrollment report I shared with you pretty well the same as it was in August, we had a few additions. U may have
022a few more additions. Um, but not that many, one or two. Um, and by the course of the year and then by the end of the year when I share an enrollment report with you again, that could change again. So that is the most updated. um we will report to the state on the last day of this month and that will be our numbers. So >> Okay. And can we touch briefly on the gentleman that was here with the solar? >> Yes. Um I have got that in the new business as a consideration of that agreement. It said a three-year agreement I believe in there because that's what he was touting to me when I first met. So yeah, solar three-year agreement. Um, that was before we had the bond rating. I needed to provide
023him with proof of the bond rating. And when I did that is when the 20year or sorry, the 10-year with two 5-year renewals at 20% came out. Prior to that, it was 15% for 3 years. Um, but it was also a one-year notice to cancel, not a 180 day, which is a much better >> much better. Yeah. >> Um, I've been talking to an energy broker about some of this. I also talked to Dr. Curry over at DPS um at length about this and he is going to go with it for one of their buildings. They already have done some solar and things and you can't use it in tandem. Like if we put solar panels up on our building, we couldn't do that and do this. Um so you can pick the community solar
024or you can you can go the you know slap them up all over the side of the building. >> Um where they have it, they've already got some of that at some buildings, but then they can use this for I think I think a couple buildings. I can't remember which one specifically he said. Um, to me and everything that I I've looked at and learned about so far, it would be really a no lose situation. I've I've read through the agreement and I've had Jean uh from Gwen Mundorf look it over already. Um, obviously we don't have anything finalized, but I kind of touted it to him as as what was being offered to us. Um, >> and is 20% I guess from what you're seeing cuz I know zero about it. Um 20% is
025that I mean I assume they're one of the big players in the industry. 20% is a good like one of the highest rates you get back or >> I would think so based on what I've learned so far. Um I know Mike said they're only getting 10% out of them but they're a bigger entity than us too. Um so since we fell into a certain bucket of the amount of money that we spend on utilities um we had access to these options. based on the farms that they are getting ready to go live with. Um, it's all kind of still new to me, but I'm learning more about it every day. Um, it seems like a pretty good deal if, you know, pending a good contract negotiation. Um, and so I think that this is
026much better deal than what I was looking at initially with the 180day cancellation ability. Um, that was my only hangup on it was the one-year cancellation, but it's really not. I mean, we're not paying anything unless they're we're using what they're what they're pushing out in terms of creditalities to like finance the next. >> Yes. Because they have to provide a certain number of credits to these municipalities or businesses before they are allowed to build further. and it's part of the policy, the way the policyy's in place. Um what um I do know is that our comparison on our utilities bills, July this year, we spent approximately $24,000. July last year, we spent $7,000 on our utilities. Now, I spoke to a um contact I have in the Illinois Senate. They've been getting a lot
027of calls on this because the bills and they said that one thing was Amarind is frontloading their rate increases over a 3-month period which just happens to fall in July, August, September. They said in October we should see things come down but they're still going to be higher than they were last year. >> So, have you looked into the delivery rate? Cuz I did that at the house just some guy at Sam's or whatever. And I am getting like half of the rate now through NRG. Yeah. And it is on the same bill like have we >> we constellation and it's on the same bill. I believe it's called constellation still. Um there's constellation a we have NRG uh they had home for a while but it jumped so I've gone back to just hammering
028right now. >> Okay. >> And they sell different >> um they sell we have an energy broker I guess that we worked with that I didn't even know him until he reached out when I started speaking to this other energy broker and says I want you to know I want your business. Mhm. >> And I said, "Okay." So, I've been kind of in the discussions with um them and I said, "Well, whoever gets the best rates, who we will go with um because I have to do what's best for the district financially." Um and and that's just where where we're at. It's the bottom line. So, um the other folks I've been talking to have been very responsive and and wanting to look our bills over and try to see what they can get as
029the best deals. I think October is one of the times when some of that starts um shaking loose. >> So, does anybody have any concerns or or reasons why we wouldn't do this? I guess >> I don't I'm okay with it. As long as my concern I don't he jumped from 10% to 20%. I had a problem with that. It seems kind of like a Ponzi scheme, but I think it's really more using municipalities to finance. you know, a guaranteed 20% rate return on your investment is kind of like >> if it's too good to be true. >> And then as long as we don't have to pay them anything when we are not getting credits on the bill because of some active whatever for whatever reason it is, >> you know, there's no charges
030to us whatsoever. We would be paying Amaran in that case because Amaran wouldn't be getting the credits is my understanding of it. >> So if we would just be paying our normal power bill >> with no credits and then they're not asking because we're not going to finance you if you're not. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> As long as it's I mean obviously that stipulation and then um that was what I was going to say. There's absolutely no anything in their contract that indicates there's any cost to us. >> Not that I have not that I've seen. And if if we decide to move forward, I would say, you know, that's pending a successful contract negotiation. And we would let Jean and Barney go through it with a fine tooth comb just to make sure.
031But with a 180day separation, um, you know, that's much better than the one year I was planning for, >> which was my biggest hang up on it is to me and from what I've garnered from talking to like Dr. Curry who's dealt with this in the past before and a few other folks, it's really kind of a no- lose situation. And and yeah, it's I agree with you. It's the solar business is a little different cuz somebody's always handing money or getting money or whatever. It's kind of a shell game. All the companies go out of business all the time. We can't get anybody to maint. It's our government. >> Mhm. >> They take stuff away. I'm not getting personal with this, but it's all right. They take stuff away. They give money. They push
032this stuff. That's why our state's the way it is. That's why you have a lot of solar companies that are in the state of Illinois, windmill companies, is because >> that's what's being driven on. Yeah. >> I mean it on the back side of it, it does look good to us >> because it's a savings. >> It looks good to me cuz we don't actually have to maintain the panels or >> on the front side of it. They've started the nominal falling. >> That's what it comes down to. >> So the attorney, I would also ask them to verify within that 10-year contract that there's no clauses in there that says that they can change that 20%. Correct. And if so, what >> what is that timeline that they have? because it should be at
033least 180 days. >> Correct. And that's what that's what somebody said um as I was doing factf finding on this said make sure it's a set rate and it can't be a variable rate based on production or whatever. It has to maintain the rate that they promise you say it would change based on our consumption. >> So yes the 20% will remain the same but the amount of money you get >> is what will be very we get less money. >> Correct. You're sticking the 20%. >> The discount remains the same or what you net out from the >> after you pay the 80% back. >> Yes. >> So there's an offer >> still the same. >> There's an offer for a threeyear. >> There's still an offer for that's off the table. Come on.
034Well, the way I understand where I'm getting >> where I'm getting at, >> you don't want to do that because it had a year to it was a year to get out of it. a year and the other ones. So even if because what I was thinking when he was saying that 3 years down the line a better solar company comes along has a better deal >> we can get out of this in 180 days is what he's telling us >> right at any point at any point in 10 years >> for any reason >> we just have to give them 180 days notice >> entire 10 years that wasn't from the getgo >> yeah it was a one year before the bond unrating is what changed those percentages and numbers. >> And then Josh,
035what were you going to say? >> So the way I understood what he was saying is we're part of a project that's goal is to hit the megawatt consumption. If the total users in that project drop below the usage amount, then they're going to look at that project and say, "Hey, you're not hitting this target." So the the 20% could technically change but if our energy consumption >> the consumption all falls for the group >> I figure they'll project our bucket >> they'll put more people in that group >> to keep it up >> they want the money so I think there's that's another thing that they need to make sure that the contract states that they're going to >> it's not going to falter because of that they can add to the >> So
036there's a lot of things here. >> Yeah. >> And there was u I know that there was one stipulation he says like it's not just like one like we won't just be part of one farm. He said it's typically like three or four that we have a piece of each in different spots. So I don't know if that like >> Yeah, it's wherever they can pull from in order they to make their kilowatt hours is where they're going to shove you I guess. >> Yeah. And so then they have x amount going online at this point going to that. So I think within looking at those things I think they're all very good points. >> So in any standpoint there's no negativity that can fall back upon us besides the rate can fall or the
03720% will remain but if we lower consumption lower returns for us >> is the only downside to this whole thing that he's even preaching. >> There's no upfront cost. There's no expense to us during it. Well, somebody says, >> "Give us >> 5 acres here, 5 acres in here, 10 acres in." >> Yeah. >> At three 3,000 and you're we can't we can't do that cuz we need this. That's the only downside, right? >> What was that again, Jim? >> Somebody wants to rent our ground to actually put panels up. >> Oh, yeah. >> That would be the only downside. >> Well, then we've got 180 days to get out. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, if you decide Yeah. Can't do both. So, what is Ilopoulos doing? Because they're doing a a thing on
038board. >> It's been going on for so long, I don't know where it stands. >> The last bit of information from a lot of the meetings I attended is that they are in talks. Every little dot that they've had to fill in has been filled in as far as state stuff, federal, all that stuff. And that they're supposed to be pushing towards construction inside the old property. the what he map is got to be the the solar farm is already being built >> betweenville and it's further to the west. >> Okay. >> If he's indicating that on his map in his pamphlet, >> didn't it say Morgan Road? >> It did, but that's there still further further up that way. Okay. >> Yep. >> Right next to the tank farm. >> Yeah. Right next to
039Tank Farm. >> It's theirs. >> It's their property. Oh, I know. I'd heard about it. >> Did they buy the ground or did they ground? >> Did they buy it? >> The solar company. Do they come in and buy the ground? They just >> Most of these places never buy ground. They lease the ground. >> Same thing with the windmill farm. >> That's why I say everything's a money maker right now with this situation. >> Your rates are going to federal government. All right. Can we go back business and receive? >> Sure. >> Yes. >> I'm still I Okay. Yes. >> Uh Sentinel subscription. Um they have provided us with the same rate, $21 per household per subscription. Um I'd recommend that we go ahead and renew that for this year. >> Okay. Do we
040have a motion to renew the Sentinel subscription for 25 years? Yep. I'm sorry. >> Motion made by Jessica Browning. Is there a second? Was that Campbell? >> Lorie Campbell. >> Call roll, please. Tilbert, >> yes. >> Leaper, yes. Stall, >> yes. >> Wood, >> yes. >> Brownie, >> yes. >> Campbell, Carrera, >> yes. >> Table, the international tractor, but I do have uh a couple people may be interested. So hopefully I have something for you next meeting. >> Okay. Um >> now we can go on to >> Yep. new business. So, at this point, we've done went over the budget. We had the budget hearing. I need a motion to approve the fiscal year 2526 school district budget as presented. >> So, moved. >> Motion made by Martha Leaper. Is there a second? >> Was
041that Wood? >> Yes. >> Matt, call roll, please. Stall, >> yes. >> Wood, yes. >> Brownie, yes. >> Campbell, yes. >> Guerrero, >> yes. Gilbert, >> yes. >> Leafer, yes. usual uh business this time of year uh for destruction of closed session audio recordings. Um these would be for those before April of 2024. >> Okay. Is there a motion? So move. >> Motion made by Jessica Browning. I'll second. Call roll, please. >> Wood, >> yes. >> Browning, >> yes. >> Campbell, >> yes. >> Guerrero, >> y >> Leaper, yes. Stall, >> yes. Uh we discussed last time about the activity shuttle which is what we run between here and Tri City and Meridian and uh going ahead and increasing that back up to $45 per trip. >> Okay. Is there a motion to increase the
042activity shuttle driver pay back to $45 a trip? >> Motion made by Matt Wood. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Filbert, call roll, please. >> Browning. >> Yes. >> Campbell, yes. >> Guerrero, >> yes. >> Filbert, >> yes. >> Leaper, yes. Stall, >> yes. >> Wood, >> yes. I don't know what Tri City's paying Matt, so you're out of luck there. Um, next one we have the uh 8 through 12 fine arts trip to Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. Miss Mrs. Moore talked to you about and that's during the summer of 2027 at no cost to the district. >> Okay, I'll make the motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Lori Campbell. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes 70. Um, next item is the FY26 school maintenance grant in the uh, matching
043grant, which is for the amount of $50,000. I want to use that for parking lot repairs throughout the district during the summer 2026 or I'm sorry, fiscal year 2026 27. >> Can I ask one question? Yep. >> Is there when you're talking to whomever about the parking, is there a way to do it? Um, you know, you have your north parking lot, you have your south. >> Mhm. >> Can we do a circle drive can, you know, just where buses could pull in and out and drop kids? >> I had I had talked about a lane um that would be in the front of the school and it's going to be a lot more cost. >> I do know that because that's going to be a lot of excavation and then to pave that and
044everything else. >> So, it seems like that would be so nice. >> And our doors aren't on the front. I thought about that, too. But the doors are on the front. >> Just a little sidewalk. >> Put sidewalks going around. Yeah, motion need to say and tuck pointing, whatever, too. >> Um, you could say and tuck pointing as well, just to be on the up and up. For sure. >> School maintenance grant for the amount of $50,000 for parking lot repair work and tuck pointing throughout the district during the summer of 2026, 2027. >> Yep. >> Is there a motion? >> Matt Wood. Is there a second? Second Brownie call, please. >> Okay, pause a minute. >> It's going to take two summers or just summer >> of the summer of 2627. So that's fal
045year 26 27. >> Summer of 26 or do you want >> fiscal year 2627? >> So you can just say 26 and it's the same difference. So >> Okay. So >> uh Guerrero, yes. Hilbert, >> Leaper, yes. Stall, yes. Wood. >> Yeah.