The most important item for the Village is the "2010 Census". It is at the top of my agenda for the Village of Southern View. Myself, along with the Clerk have been working on the "2010 Census" for 18 months. We have added 31 addresses to the count that had been omitted. The way we receive some of the Village's Revenue from the State of Illinois is through a population count. A dollar amount is placed on a tax. That dollar amount times our population is an estimated amount the village will receive for that tax. Somehow, Southern View lost an estimated 300 people in the 2000 Census. So for the last 10 years, the Village of Southern View has come up short of receiving its fair share of the tax revenue that is generated in the State of Illinois. The government needs an accurate count of our population to disperse all the money that you as residents pay into. So, let Southern View get its fair share. In the Bulletin you will find a sample form of the "2010 Census". "In Southern View Everybody Counts"

Thank you all for being so patient in the transition into the your New Village Hall. With the help from Brian Young has his crew, the move into the new hall went very smooth. I was fortunate to find a 4 piece almond desk set, 13 black leather conference chairs, and 6 inter-locking conference tables for $845.00. Thanks to Brian the village received a tabletop podium free. Tom Day Business donated a paper shredder, Crowder Corp. donated a refrigerator, and Trustee Jim Foster donated a stove. The Village did have to purchase 10 new banquet tables and 85 chairs for the meeting room. So for about $2000.00, I furnished our whole building.

The Open House on December 22, 2009 was a huge success. After a short business meeting, residents toured the new facilities and enjoyed homemade cookies, coffee and punch. A special thanks to Joyce Hashman, Kay Van Fossan, Leroy Solomon, Dawn Foster, Jim Foster and Gary Petrosky for putting in so many hours getting everything set up for this event. The leftover cookies and Poinsettias were taken to St. Joseph's Home by resident Jim Campbell. Greg and Joyce Hashman donated the Poinsettias. Cookies were made by Louise Seaver, Deb Poani, Trustee Dave Fox, Trustee Gail Rister,

Kay Van Fossan, Connie Bourland, Martha Kurtz and myself. Thank you all for your time and generosity.

I was informed in December 2009 by Congressman John Shimkus office, through a "Congressional Ear-Mark Funding" the Village of Southern View will receive $100,000.00 for Police Equipment and Training. An application form will be sent to the village to request the equipment and training needed. Once reviewed and processed by the proper agency, the Village will receive a check to purchase these items. This process should be completed by late summer 2010. What a great start to the New Year!!

Thank You, Congressman John Shimkus for all your hard work and support for the residents and the Village of Southern View.

The sidewalk in the 2800 Block of 4th Street were completed in December. Grading and seeding will be done weather permitting in the Spring. This project was redone at no extra cost to the village.

A Letter from the Sangamon County Department of Public Health was received in late December. Southern View will again be the recipient of Free Disposal Coupons. These coupons are used to dispose of our residents unwanted items during our Spring and Fall Village Wide Cleanup Days. This save the Village about $4,000.00.

I am working with Sangamon County on updating our Commercial Building Codes and Permit.

Mike Ashenfelter attended our January board meeting to discuss different options for the village.

Hopefully, by late summer the village will have an agreement set in place with Sangamon County.

The Neighborhood Watch chairpersons Kay Van Fossan, Adam Pallai and Anna Berkley, along with Chief Kurt Taraba has been working diligently developing this program. I appreciate all the time they have spent on this program. Still Block Captains are needed for several blocks in the village. Being a block captain is an important part of this program. Please consider being a Block Captain.

For several months I have been working on rental agreements for board approval. At the first meeting in February the agreements were approved. If you have any occasion that you need a hall for, consider renting the Village Meeting Room. Rental Fees are:

Plus a: $50.00 Refundable cleanup fee – once cleanup is done and key returned.

Also, agreements were approved for Non-Residents who would like to reserve the Village Pavilions or Gazebo. Fees for these are:

The Village has entered into an agreement with BLH Computer, Inc. on Stevenson Drive to accept unwanted computers and electronic equipment. The cost of this service to the Village is $339.00 per year. Village residents and businesses are able to take their unwanted items to BLH for FREE.

Items Accepted: Desktop and Laptop Computers, CRT and LCD Monitors, Printers, Computer Peripherals (keyboards, mice, etc.), Satellite and Cable Equipment, Projectors, VCR s & DVD Players, Video Game Consoles, Radios, Cell Phones, Telephones(including PBX equipment), Networking Equipment and Cables, Mail room Equipment, POS Equipment, Pagers, Cameras, Camcorders, Power Tools(including batteries), Fax Machines, Answering Machines, Battery Backups and Uninterruptable Power Supplies(UPS), Surge Suppressors and Power Strips, Audio and Video Cassettes, CDs and DVDs, Power and Accessory Cables, Walkie-talkies, and if its not on the list call BLH Springfield at 217-585-1580.

Judy Gordon was appointed Treasurer in January.

Walgreen's has inquired about a liquor license.

If you cannot make the Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Southern View Board and you would like to be more informed on the activity and issues the Board is handling. You can come by the Village Office and pick up a copy of the approved minutes. There is no charge and no FOIA to fill out.

One last comment: Understanding the process, for a newly elected official is sometimes difficult to understand. Most of the time misinformed information is passed on to residents. If any resident ever has a concern, question or issue about the governing of the village, please do not hesitate to contact me at 380-3690.

I hope this update has been informative for you. Lots of good things are happening in Southern View -

A New Village Hall – with a New and Positive Direction.

Your President,

Nora Petrosky