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Village financial statements in order  Share
The Village of Peotone is hanging on financially, even with the economic downturn that started a year ago. And equally importantly, the 2008-09 audit shows that its financial statements are in order. The annual audit, required of all taxing bodies, was conducted for Peotone by Smith, Koelling, Dykstra & Ohm, certified public accounting firm in Bourbonnais. CPA Marci Meents Kolberg made the audit presentation during Monday's meeting of the board of trustees. In summary, the audit showed that the accounting firm ''encountered no significant difficulties in dealing with management in performing and completing their audit'' and that the audit ''did not identify any deficiencies in internal control that would be considered a material weakness.'' Additionally, the accounting firm said ''management posted all adjustments as required by the audit,'' and ''the village's financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of all village activities, each major fund, and respective changes in financial positions in comformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.''
Ending 2008-09 balances in four major village funds were positive: the General Fund ($676,336, up from the previous year's $572,855); Motor Fuel Tax ($367,692, up from '07-'08's $306,341); Water and Sewer Fund ($5,205,648, an increase over '07-'08's $5,171,126) and the Police Pension Fund ($480,698, with the largest increase of all the funds: $208,576 more than 2007-08). Only the village's Capital Improvement Fund is down, by $9,833, after taking a hit because of the housing market decline. Village Treasurer Diane Houser noted that the lower fund balance of $998,365, ''was expected. The revenue for this fund comes from developers' fees when new construction permits are pulled.'' In other business during the meeting, meanwhile, village officials: -Approved a revised leaf collection ordinance that sets an annual leaf collection fee of $13.50 per residential unit (excluding apartment buildings) and for two-flats where the owner pays the fee for both units. If the occupant of each unit of a two-flat pays a separate leaf collection fee, the fee is $6.75. -Heard Village Administrator George Gray report that leaf pick up will begin the week of October 12 and conclude the week of November 30. -Approved a request from Sherri Parker, who sought board permission for Girl Scouts in Service Unit 714 to go door-to-door selling candy and nuts from October 1 through 18. It is a major fundraising effort for the scouts, who also sell Girl Scout Cookies in January. -Heard the concerns of a resident who sought village assistance with an unkempt farm field that abuts his property. The resident said the farmer does not keep the weeds there under control. Village officials said they will check to see if the property is within municipal boundaries, and if it is, the farm property owner will be required, under the weed control ordinance, to mow the weeds. ''If someone could do something to help, I'd appreciate it,'' the resident said. -Set Trick or Treat hours for 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, noting that it is the same date and time as the Peotone Chamber of Commerce Halloween Hot Dog Roast. -Recognized October as Illinois Arts and Humanities Month. Karen Haave is a reporter for Russell Publications.
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