REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TAMPICO – August 5, 2014
7:00 PM
Reagan Community Center
Mayor Kristine L. Hill called the regular meeting of the Tampico Village Council to order at 7:00 PM.
Commissioners Toby Johnson, Bruce Hill, Mary Jo Sigel and Derrick Maupin were present. Also present was Police Chief Terry Strike. Village Clerk, Kathy Leathers, recorded the digital and written minutes.
Mayor Hill led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The minutes of the July 15, 2014 Regular Meeting were approved as presented.
Mayor Hill recommended the council approve appointing Julie Deetz to the Tampico Historic Preservation Advisory Committee. Mayor Hill advised she would like Deetz appointed before the next meeting of the advisory committee, tomorrow, August 6th. Commissioner Sigel asked what time the meeting was. Mayor Hill told her 4:15, here at the Reagan Community Center. A motion was made by Commissioner Sigel, second by Commissioner Maupin to appoint Julie Deetz to the Tampico Historic Preservation Advisory Committee. “Yes” votes were Johnson, Hill, Sigel, Maupin and Mayor Hill. The motion carried. Mayor Hill stated she thinks Deetz will be fantastic on the committee..
Council discussion turned to making a donation to the Tampico Fire Department’s Women’s Auxiliary. The group will be holding a book fair and fun day to raise funds to purchase I-Pads for the elementary school. Mayor Hill advised council members they have it in their budget to make donations. She asked them what they would consider donating. Mayor Hill asked about costs for I-Pads. Commissioner Maupin advised anywhere from $300.00 to $500.00. Mayor Hill suggested donating $200.00 now as a start and maybe add to it later if needed. Mayor Hill hopes the donation would help get the word out there so people could donate as well. A motion was made by Commissioner Johnson, second by Commissioner Hill to donate $200.00 to the Tampico Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary Book Fair and Fun Day fund raiser to help purchase I-Pads for the Elementary School. “Yes” votes were Johnson, Hill, Sigel, Maupin and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
Discussion was held on Motor Fuel Tax Project costs. Commissioner Sigel stated the first estimate she had was less than the estimate provided recently. Sigel wanted to know if they are doing more alleys or something or did the price of the seal go up. Mayor Hill explained the first quote was the estimate and the more recent quote is the total cost. Leathers advised the council, Superintendent Pierce is hauling gravel to level off the alleys at this time. A motion was made by Commissioner Sigel, second by Commissioner Maupin to approve Resolution No. R03-14-08-05 to use Motor Fuel Tax Funds to pay an invoice for gravel in the amount of $213.84 for the general maintenance of streets and alleys. “Yes” votes were Johnson, Hill, Sigel, Maupin and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
Building permits issued by Zoning Administrator, Ron Kuepker, were 405 E. Market Street for a new porch and 315 S. Main to replace a storage shed roof.
Reports of Village Officials
Commissioner Johnson reported he would like to block off the use of the ball diamond for September 27 for the whole day for a recreation committee fundraiser, “Beef & Bags”, a cook-off competition with a bags tournament. He also stated he needed to get a few documents on the website such as a registration form, a flyer and information needed for the event. Mayor Hill advised Johnson to e-mail them to her and she would forward to the website administrator, Dana Fellows. Johnson also advised he and Commissioner Maupin will be placing flyers of the event throughout the surrounding area. Commissioner Maupin reported they will also be seeking “celebrity” judges from the area for the event. Maupin said they are allowing only 25 participants for the event. Commissioner Hill advised Johnson, the water pump at the ball diamond works now. He got it straightened around. Mayor Hill advised she will also hold the gym for that day just in case of rain. Commissioner Johnson advised the event is free to the public and may include bounce houses, etc., stuff for the kids to do. Johnson and Maupin reported the bags tournament will run after the cook off. They would like to finish with the tournament under the lights.
Mayor Hill reported State Representative Mike Smiddy would be having a town hall at the Old Towne Pub and Grub this Thursday. She advised those interested in attending should RSVP by tomorrow. She stated for right now there are about fifteen (15) people attending with the final count expected to be around twenty (20) people so it’s easy to talk to him since he is very personable. Mayor Hill said people can either e-mail Christine at Smiddy’s office, the mayor herself or they can call the restaurant. Mayor Hill said the town hall was at first going to be here at the Reagan Community Center, but then she thought why not promote the new business in town and it just happened to be “Taco Night”. Smiddy told Mayor Hill he would buy the tacos if those attending would buy their own beverages.
Mayor Hill also talked about a handout given to council members from the County-wide Emergency Mitigation meetings. She stated the handout will give the council an idea of what the county is compiling at this point and what is going on. Mayor Hill told council members being a part of the process will qualify the village to be eligible for grants and other funding for emergency or disaster preparedness.
Clerk Leathers asked council members if they were aware of the National Lawn Mower Race to be held out at Farm and Track. She told them she has had a few e-mails from people asking about things to do in the area.
Communications: Clerk Leathers advised the council of recent news from the Illinois Municipal League. Apparently, there has been a federal class action suit regarding the telecommunications tax the state collects and disburses to municipalities. The lawsuit was brought against AT & T Mobility for the collection of state and local taxes on customers’ mobile data plans from November 1, 2005 to September 7, 2010. The portion of the telecommunications tax that was challenged was the portion that applied only to the data plans during the time period, not the entire telecom tax. The lawsuit contended the tax that applied to their mobile device data plans violated the federal Internet Freedom Act of 1998. A federal judge approved the $1 billion settlement finding it fair, reasonable and adequate. Even thought the State of Illinois protested, AT & T will be required to re-imburse customers after receiving reimbursements from state and local officials. Illinois collected the telecom tax from AT& T and distributed it to local taxing bodies. The State will seek to have local taxing bodies repay the telecom tax that applied to data plans. Beginning in August 2014, the state will be subtracting the amount each municipality needs to return from future distributions of the telecom tax. Leathers advised she would keep the council informed as to what effect, if any, the suit settlement may have on the village.
Bills were ordered paid on a motion by Commissioner Johnson, second by Commissioner Hill. “Yes” votes were Johnson, Hill, Sigel, Maupin and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
Mayor Hill advised Superintendent Pierce had someone come down from Water Solutions to help determine the cause of brown, rusty water in the Village. Mayor Hill said the water is safe and compliant. The dark color of the water appears to be a result of the freeze/thaw and “scouring” over the harsh winter. It should be clearing up more and more. Commissioner Sigel stated hopefully the village could get grants for it. Mayor Hill told Sigel the village has already considered it. Mayor Hill said replacing water lines is already on the list compiled earlier by village engineers. Commissioner Hill said it’s hard to imagine how deep the frost was and how much movement of the water lines occurred from the constant freezing and thawing.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:23 PM. The next regular meeting of the Tampico Village Council will be Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at 7:00 PM in the Reagan Community Center located at 202 W. Second Street.
Kathy A. Leathers
Mayor
Kristine L. Hill
Clerk
MINUTES APPROVED THIS _2nd ___ DAY OF ___September_________, 2014
**These minutes are not official until signed, dated and sealed by the Village Clerk**
