HUDSON – Hudson resident Brad Lane received an unanimous vote to be seated on Hudson Planning Commission from Hudson Town Council session Tuesday, Nov. 1 at Hudson Fire Station. Upon receiving the unanimous vote, Lane in to his new post by the Town Clerk. Lane has lived in Hudson for close to 15 years or so, he explained. When not occupied with HPC business, Lane is a sales manager at Jack Lewis Jewelers in Bloomington.

Lane explained his interest in taking on becoming involved in civic politics through the Planning Commission began, he said, when friends convinced him recently to consider being involved in local politics through that governing body. “I plan on being here for a while and I plan on doing my best to help improve the community, and I hope I can benefit in different ways that I can,” he said.

He said he had thought about becoming active within the community but up until his appointment, admitted he “hadn’t really pursued it at all. He and his wife, Meghan, who is a Hudson native, wanted to raise their family in the area, the 39-year-old explained.

“There’s opportunities in the Village of Hudson to grow and attract different things and I’m excited to be a part of that, I should say,” he explained as his reason for accepting the new civic opportunity.

He added he looks “forward to being a fresh set of eyes” as HPC looks at projects which would be sent its way.

Five Trustee Positions Open For April 4 Election: The Village of Hudson has 5 trustee positions open in the April 4, 2023 election. Three positions are for someone to serve a 4-year term and two positions are for serving a two-year term. Those persons interested can pick up a candidate packet at the Hudson Water House. All paperwork from candidates needs to be turned in to between December 12-14. If you have any questions, they can be directed to: allison.brutlag@hudsonil.org.

Research On Solar For Village Buildings Continues: Mayor Dave Brutlag informed Town Trustees he continues to research power consumption history for Town-owned buildings which, to this point is contacted StraightUp Solar, a solar company based in Bloomington. He said officials from that company explained rebates for villages are applicable. He said he asked company officials what the Village needed to do to start the process.

Mayor Brutlag said he was informed the company needs to see Village power consumption records to determine if it would be cost beneficial to make some Village-operated buildings to become solar powered. City Hall and Hudson Police Department would be among the Village-operated building being considered making solar powered.

During the meeting, on another subject, Mayor Brutlag circulated a calendar for 2023 for Village Trustees to review for future events. He also said attended a McLean County Disaster Committee meeting, explaining the committee organizes staged disasters for emergency personnel to prepare for actual emergency events. This committee stages a disaster every three years at Central Illinois Regional Airport, Mayor Brutlag explained. He explained the Village will need to pay annual dues to this committee totaling $50.

He said Hudson could also host a staged disaster in the future to help local law enforcement and emergency squads train for such situations.

After the meeting, Mayor Brutlag added the Village is considering other buildings such as the Town Garage Building to make solar powered, as well. He said the Village wants to see if making the building solar powered “will be a cost beneficial decision for the Village.”

DCEO and Grants From McLean County: Mayor Brutlag said he’s still waiting for a response from Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and from McLean County on the status of grants applied for by the Village with those governing bodies. He said he wasn’t sure if the Village had spent any money provided by the County in the last month, but that the Town has already spent about $35,000 with around $55,000 still available for use.

Public Works Report: Town Public Works Superintendent Denny Engel reported to Trustees slightly over 91,000 gallons were used since the last Trustee session, and a total of 2.8 million gallons have been used in the month of October. Engle added a fire hydrant at the Town cemetery has been replaced due to a leakage problem recently reported.

Engel also reported sidewalk replacement in parts of Town “probably will not get done,” as a result of a concrete shortage he has been contending with for the previous three weeks. He also said a leaking fire hydrant at the cemetery has been fixed.

Board members unanimously approved a resolution to standardize fine amounts for various Town ordinances when violated. Mayor Brutlag explained after the meeting that previous to the Board making the change, ordinance violations could have had differing fine amounts to be paid for them. As a result of the Board approving the change, fines will be more standardized. The change takes effect Dec. 1, the Mayor said.

Hudson PD Update: Hudson Police Officer Chris Lane reported the department gave out glowsticks to youngsters on Halloween. He also reported the Town continues to maintain a radar operation on vehicles in town at North-bound and South-bound Broadway Ave. and East-bound and West-bound Franklin St.
Lane also reported a fallen tree Oct. 28 resulted in a power failure at the corner of West Ave. and McLean Sts. The tree struck a wire snapping it from its pole causing the wire to knock down three power poles. The incident occurred around 5:30p.m. Town Street Department blocked off part of the streets involved, Lane said, adding Ameren Illinois was contacted to restore power. Power was restored sometime midnight and 2a.m.Oct. 29, he said.

Village Human Resources Manual In The Works: Trustee Lynne Norris, who oversees contracts for the Board of Trustees, said she is looking into putting together a new group health renewal plan for Village employees. She said she will also be looking to finish work on a human resources manual for the Town with more about that by next month’s meeting.

She added she is looking to receive new quotes from Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Co. for health insurance, as Village policies are up for renewal. Mayor Brutlag added the policies from Blue Cross Blue Shield need to be reviewed on an annual basis

Holly Jolly Hudson Chair Addresses Public Comment: Bobby Dicken, head of the annual Holly Jolly Hudson campaign approached Trustees in the meeting’s public comments section, asking if the Trustees would consider making a donation toward that effort. He explained the campaign “would like to get some commercial grade lights for the Town’s trees in the downtown district and in the trees in the Town park. He said a company will be hanging the lights for Holly Jolly Hudson, and is hoping to be able to purchase lights “that will last several years.” He said he knows getting such lights cost more.

Dicken said the group is looking for help so that Holly Jolly Hudson can also purchase electrical cords and some fencing.

Town Trustee Kathy Brooks asked if Town Trustees had voted to donate $500 to that group last year. Mayor Brutlag replied, “I believe so, yes.” He told Dicken the Town would earmark that amount for payment by Trustees at next month’s meeting. After Dicken thanked Trustees, Mayor Brutlag thanked Dicken for his group’s efforts “because I think a lot of people had a lot of fun last year.”

Halloween Committee Thanked: Mayor Brutlag thanked the Town’s Halloween Committee and Town businesses for their efforts when they participated in having a successful “Trunk Or Treat” event on Oct. 29. “I heard it was well done by all the organizations and businesses and well attended by the citizens. And so, I want to thank the folks for organizing Halloween and thank the residents who put up decorations this year.” Numerous residents did decorate their places for the event, the Village President mentioned.

HUDSON – The memories of swimming, hiking, making crafts, and doing things all Girl Scouts do when at camp while cementing lifelong friendships still resonate with the women who attended a set of special farewell ceremonies at Camp Peairs on Lake Bloomington Saturday. For decades, the rustic surroundings and tents played host to many Girl Scouts who were in kindergarten through 12th grade five decades.

For Nancy Kelly Brady, being a Girl Scout and attending Camp Peairs as a result had some historic significance. Her late mother, Loretta Hundman Kelly, had the distinction of being the first Girl Scout leader of McLean County in the 1940s. Kelly’s debut troop had just three girls of which Brady was the youngest, she explained. The other girls in the fledgling troop were Brady’s sisters, Mary Kelly and Pat Kelly Pence. Hundman Kelly said she remembers being age 7 when the troop made its debut.

“I just wanted to come over and see the place because it was such a big part of her life,” Brady said, referring to her mother.

Anna Watkins Richmond is now in her 60s but can share similar experiences of her times being at Camp Peairs. She said she attended the camp as a Brownie troop member and all the years growing up after that. Once she became an adult, she became a troop leader, too. She said she benefitted from the experience because “I learned how to cook outside, I learned how to camp, and I learned more about nature.” Those experiences, she said, included swimming in the lake and even signaling to the Boy Scouts at Camp Heffernan across the lake with flashlights.

“We always kept busy,” Watkins Richmond remembered. “We’d do a lot of crafts and we’d take hikes, and we’d do our own cooking. And we earned a lot of badges out here.” Watkins Richmond said she still has her Scout Sash as proof of the badges she earned as a girl.

Watkins Richmond called coming out to Camp Peairs a final time very tough for her.

Chloe Machula, director of programs for camp and events for the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois, anchored a camp closing ceremony, one of three scheduled for the day. The ceremony included mention of all the things girls received from being at the camp: Increased confidence, bonding with other girls which forged lifetime friendships, girls singing favorite camp songs, and interest in potential career choices.

The ceremony finished with the women gathering for a “friendship circle,” but with social distancing being a priority due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ladies used yarn to maintain their distance while still maintaining their close bonds. As they gathered together, although distantly, the women sang another camp song, “Make New Friends.”

Machula said it will be tough to not have Camp Peairs to be available to future Girl Scouts to share the same experiences the girls and women at the ceremony have had, but she said there are three other camps in central Illinois, including in East Peoria. Machula added for girls who were able to come here, “It was more about the people that you knew here and the memories you made rather than the property itself.” At its height, a number of camp sessions were held over eight weeks with potentially as many as 50 campers per session.

Kevin Kothe, public works director for the City of Bloomington, explained that, last year, representatives for the local branch of the Girl Scouts were interested in getting out of the lease they had with the City for the camp.

Up until the closing on Saturday, the local Girl Scouts organization had leases with the City since 1969, explained Kelly A Day, Chief Operating Officer for Girl Scouts of Central Illinois.

Kothe said the City had always owned the property and always had a lease with the Girl Scouts. He added representatives with the Girl Scouts approached the City about the purchase explaining they sought to get out of their lease and there had been improvements made upon the 88 acre camp facility located 15 miles from the Twin Cities and situated on Lake Bloomington.

Camp Peairs Started in 1969: Camp Peairs was named for Myra Peairs, born Myra Anne Long in Milwaukee in 1906. According to an obituary on legacy.com, she graduated from Normal Community High School where she was active in girls’ athletics and a member of the national Junior and Senior Honor Societies.

She graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1937, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She obtained a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Southern California.

Peairs’ marriage to Canadian Fred A. Long in September 1941 lasted 46 years until he died in 1987. She died on Jan. 19, 2007 at the age 100.

At a June 24 meeting, Bloomington City Council members approved an ordinance allowing the City to purchase the Camp from the Centrillio Council of Girl Scouts of Bloomington for $40,000. The ordinance also terminated the lease of the camp the Girl Scouts had with the City. Since 1969, the Girl Scouts have leased approximately 70 acres from the City at Lake Bloomington for the camp. The facility served an overnight camp for the Scouts.

The City’s water department oversees the Lake Bloomington property, and a memo presented to City Council members stated that due to “increased financial restraints,” the Girl Scouts approached the City in 2019 to discuss possibility dissolving their current lease.

McLean County Easter Seals Crippled Children’s Camp Was Here, Too, For Three Years: It wasn’t just the Girl Scouts who had fun at the lake and enjoyed being outside with friends here. For two weeks each year during the summers of 1972 through 1974, the McLean County Crippled Children’s Camp, as it was known then, operated by Easterseals, brought roughly 40 kids and 60 counselors and staff to enjoy two weeks together while their camp’s original home base since the 1950’s, Boy Scouts’ Camp Heffernan across the lake, was undergoing renovations.

NORMAL – Could Normal Fire Department emergency medical technicians be coming to the aid of someone in Hudson needing to get to a Twin City hospital? That could happen under discussions between Normal Fire Department and Hudson Fire Protection District (HFPD). NFD Chief Mick Humer told Normal Town Council members during a work session prior to the May 4 Council session NFD officials had discussions with Hudson Fire officials last summer which began mentioning the possibility of NFD entering into a contract with Hudson Fire Protection District to respond to emergency calls within the district.

If an agreement between the parties is worked out, this would be the second smaller community NFD EMT units would respond to, as Towanda began receiving such service in 2014. HFPD responds to calls covering roughly 50 square miles, including the Village of Hudson, Humer told Council members. Their territory includes Lake Bloomington, Lake Evergreen, and surrounding areas, Humer explained.

In 2019, Humer said, there were between 140-150 calls for assistance made to HFPD, of which NFD lent assistance 47 times assisting with “paramedic-level transport.” He said if the patient required IV’s or medication, NFD was able to assist, in addition to getting the patient to a hospital.

“We’re only talking about 100 more calls per year,” if this is agreed to, Humer told Council members. He added Hudson receives money courtesy of a tax levy for emergency medical services of roughly $300,000. He said Hudson would need to use some of those dollars for training new EMTs, equipment, and manpower. He said depending on which part of Hudson or the county a call comes from, it could take anywhere between 12 to 18 minutes to respond. NFD Station #3, located on Raab Rd. on Normal’s north end, would get to Hudson in 12 minutes, He added.

NFD and HFPD “are still in the process of negotiating the contract, and we’re very close,” Humer told Council members, with cost being the current sticking point between the two sides. He added patients would be billed for transportation to the hospital, adding HFPD billed patients for trips to hospitals for close to $65,000 total. Of that total, roughly $42,000 was recovered through private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid.

For NFD, the additional service would not involve an increase in manpower, Humer said. He added ambulance calls for Normal residents will feel no difference in response times with other NFD stations in town able to respond should there be a call to Towanda.

Normal City Manager Pam Reece told Council members the Town would propose to HFPD an initial three-year agreement. She added NFD receives over 5,000 calls for EMT service annually. “If Hudson has 140 to 150 calls a year, the number of new calls for us to respond to would be about 100. That sounds like a lot of calls, but when you’re doing over 5,000, it’s basically not a significant impact to our calls for service.”

Humer added that when a contract is finalized, a clause which would see the fee Hudson pays for the service would go up three percent annually during the life of the contract. Reece said the Town “is proposing a relatively short term agreement which gives us chance to see how this works.”

Reece added the Town would make sure Hudson maintained its first responder program. Once an agreement between NFD and HFPD is worked out, it will be sent to Normal Town Council members for a vote.

In discussion which followed, Council Member Kevin McCarthy verified with Humer whether he was not anticipating any staff changes as a result of what was proposed to which Humer and Reece confirmed. Council Member Stan Nord added he would like a mechanism be put in place by NFD in case a retirement community were to be place in the Hudson area, so that additional calls from there could be handled.