At a recent meeting of the Wayne City Village Board, trustees voted to table a proposed camping ordinance for another month. Ordinance 628, which came under discussion after a homeless individual was found camping in Wayne City Park this past summer, remains under review.
Some trustees, including Steve Buxton questioned whether it was necessary at all, given the recent hiring of Police Chief Jason Settle. With Chief Settle now providing law enforcement in Wayne City, the board suggested that loiterers or potential squatters could be managed without additional regulations.
The proposed ordinance—based on language from the Illinois Municipal League—would prohibit public camping on all village-owned or maintained properties. It would also ban overnight sleeping in vehicles within city limits, potentially impacting camper and RV use, including temporary accommodations during home renovations and any permanent stays.
After further discussion, the board agreed to table the ordinance for continued review at next month’s meeting.
In other business discussed by the board, trustees also tabled a decision to loan $7,350 to the Village of Sims to purchase or upgrade its Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, which is vital for monitoring and troubleshooting municipal waterworks. Sims previously borrowed just over $5,000 from Wayne City for a similar purpose five years ago and repaid the loan early. Concerns were raised about Sims’ internet reliability, as the new SCADA system requires a stable connection to report water system issues. Trustees discussed a possible repayment plan of $100 monthly over six years with interest and asked staff to continue monitoring the situation.
The board also reviewed ongoing discussions regarding Wayne City’s potential acquisition of the Keenes sewer system. The Village of Keenes is experiencing maintenance challenges after the departure of its last worker, but an existing loan with Rural Development is complicating the transition.
Trustees approved the purchase of Flex Read software for a new Android tablet, enabling village workers to remotely read municipal systems. The board also agreed to put the village’s 2002 Dodge Dakota pickup up for bid. This vehicle was previously at the center of public scrutiny involving former Police Chief Anson Fenton; trustees confirmed the vehicle is safe for sale.
City workers reported the completion of recent roadwork and repairs to local leaks. Trustees considered a $4,200 proposal from Mid-South to inspect the southwest water tower, which was painted a year ago under a two-year warranty. With the water tower valued at over $200,000, the board agreed to the inspection, likely to occur in the spring and include any necessary maintenance by Mid-South.
Police Chief, Jason Settle received approval to use $8,000 in insurance funds to replace essential police firearms, including a shotgun and a rifle. Trustees emphasized that all purchases should be transparent and properly documented with receipts.
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