Rockford Sun

Village of Rockton Budget & Finance Committee met March 4.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Chairman Winters called the regular meeting of the Budget & Finance Committee to order at 6:30 pm. Members present: Mayor Peterson, Sally Bennett, Scott Danielson, Connie Kieffer, Jodi May and Dave Winters

Staff present: Dan Barber, Dan Baumgartner, Tricia Diduch (6:40 pm), Chief Hollinger and Atty. Szeto (6:45 pm)

Also present: Dave Bennington

Motion by Ms. May, second by Mr. Danielson, to waive the reading of and approve the minutes of February 18, 2025. All ayes. Motion approved 3-0.

PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

SPECIAL WARRANT CONSIDERATIONS

None.

RECOMMENDATION OF PAYMENT

Bills were reviewed and recommended for approval in the amount of $235,303.02.

MAYOR PETERSON

Mayor Peterson advised the Committee that he signed the agreement with MGT Solutions, Inc. for the Village Administrator recruitment services.

VILLAGE TREASURER, SALLY BENNETT

Mrs. Bennett stated that she had to reschedule her meeting with the auditor from last week and that she’s meeting with them this Thursday.

Mrs. Bennett added that she is also meeting with Jessica from First National Bank this Friday so that the bank has her signature stamp data on file. Mrs. Bennett said that Jessica is also going to bring the bank agreement when she comes to meet with her and inquired if the Committee wanted any changes to the agreement. The Committee advised that they were okay with what is in the current agreement.

Mrs. Bennett stated that she needs to submit the 2023 treasurer’s report to Winnebago County and then she will start working on the 2024 treasurer's report. Mrs. Bennett explained that the annual treasurer’s report is supposed to be submitted no later than six months after the fiscal year ends, but the Village’s audit still isn’t complete.

Mrs. Bennett advised the Committee that she spoke with Don Self, Parks & Recreation Director, about the large amount of cash that comes in from the pool every day in the summer. Mrs. Bennett said that a lot of pool patrons pay with change and that she is going to check with First National Bank to see if the

bank would charge the Village to use their coin counter. Mrs. Bennett didn’t think they would and if the Village did this, it would save a great deal of time on her end.

DAVE WINTERS, CHAIRMAN

Motion by Mr. Winters to approve the payment for Elliott & Company for professional accounting services in the amount of $7,110, second by Mr. Danielson. Mr. Winters stated that the Committee previously approved $5,400 so this is just an amendment to the initial approval. Roll call. All ayes. Motion approved 3-0.

JODI MAY, TRUSTEE

None.

SCOTT DANIELSON, TRUSTEE

None.

VILLAGE COLLECTOR

Ms. Kieffer asked the Committee if she has been providing enough information to them when they are reviewing bills, tracking projects and/or overages. The Committee agreed that they didn’t have any issues with what Ms. Kieffer is providing them. Ms. Kieffer said that a lot of engineering costs are being billed for projects and she wanted to make sure it was okay to pay them. Mrs. Bennett inquired if the Village Board is approving the engineering costs before the project goes out to bid. Mr. Barber explained that the projects are approved expenses in the budget and that when the Village has a project he wants a number for the design engineering and a number for the engineering project itself. Mrs. Bennett commented that the budget is only a guess when it comes to revenue and expenditures. Ms. Kieffer said that she would like some sort of documentation to attach to the overages that the expense was approved by the Village Board to pay. After a lengthy discussion about the process, Atty. Szeto explained that there is approval of those invoices (engineering costs) when the Village Board approves to pay the bills at the Village Board meeting. Atty. Szeto said that the Budget & Finance Committee is reviewing all the bills to be paid. Atty. Szeto stated that some communities have a different level of steps, but this is how the Village approves the bills here.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS ALLOWED BY LAW

None.

ADJOURN

Motion by Ms. May, second by Mr. Danielson, to adjourn at 6:58 pm.

https://rocktonil.gov/vertical/sites/%7B5EFC50B8-A3D6-48DC-ACA0-E05F307CFA0B%7D/uploads/3-4-25_Budget__Finance_Minutes.pdf