REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TAMPICO

September 16, 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. Police Chief Terry Strike was also present. Village Clerk Kathy Leathers recorded the written and digital minutes.

Mayor Hill led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The minutes of the September 2, 2014 were approved as presented.

There were no public comments.

Mayor Hill led the discussion of approving a continuing franchise agreement with Mediacom. Mayor Hill stated after she read over the agreement, she is not sure the Village even needs the agreement at all. Mayor Hill thinks the document is outdated. Commissioner Maupin asked if they could keep operating without it. Mayor Hill said the village has all sorts of different agencies in here, such as Dish, Direct TV. Mayor Hill thinks the agreement is more for allowing basic cable service for entities such as the schools and the fire department. Mayor Hill suggested the council hold off on signing the agreement now. The company keeps promising they will provide internet to their customers and nothing has been done. Mayor Hill would like to see better service. The council discussed several other companies that could possibly offer more to residents. Mayor Hill said she would like to weigh the options before the village enters into something that isn’t needed or if the village wants to do something different. Council members agreed and the matter will be tabled for now. Commissioner Maupin advised he is trying to get in touch with Mediacom’s business relations contact..

Mayor Hill recommended the council approve the appointment of Dana Fellows to the Tampico Historic Preservation Advisory Committee. She told the council Fellows manages the village’s website and has been involved with Lee County Historic Preservation and their website. Mayor Hill told council members Fellows will be a huge asset to the board. On a motion by Commissioner Johnson, second by Commissioner Hill, approval was given for the appointment of Dana Fellows to the Tampico Historic Preservation Advisory Committee. “Yes” votes were Johnson, Hill, Sigel, Maupin and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.

Council discussion next turned to electrical service contract rates for the Water and Sewer Accounts. Rock River Energy Services, Co. has advised the village that the current electric service contract for Water and Sewer facilities will expire soon. Rock River Energy has forwarded current rates as follows: Constellation, the current provider, offers a 36 month contract at $0.06803 per kWh, Homefield/Dynegy Energy at $0.06339 per kWh, Energy.ME at $0.06418 per kWh, Nordic Energy at $0.06632 per kWh, KONA Energy at $0.06446 per kWh and Direct Energy at $0.06431. The Village currently pays $0.04863 per kWh with Constellation. ComEd rates are currently at $0.07634. Mayor Hill advised the council, Rock River Energy Services, Co. has never steered the village wrong and she is confident they would not recommend the list of providers unless they agreed with their policies.

Commissioner Maupin stated the list does not give him any reason not to choose the cheapest rate. A
motion was made by Commissioner Maupin, second by Commissioner Sigel to approve a 36-month
energy provider contract with Homefield/Dynegy Energy as the most economical provider rate. “Yes” votes were Johnson, Hill, Sigel, Maupin and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.

Clerk Leathers advised she has been in touch with Arlyn Bush of the Union Special Drainage District. The village has had a 20-year agreement with the drainage district for use of the Branch M drainage ditch as an outlet for the discharge from the Waste Water Treatment Plant. In addition, Village storm water run-off is allowed to drain into a private ditch that empties into Coon Creek #2 and into another storm drain that empties into the Hahnaman Road Ditch. Both subsequently empty into the Branch M drainage ditch. She advised them the village does have a perpetual use agreement, or easement, with Doug Mitchell for the storm water system. The previous agreement with the drainage district called for a payment of $250.00 per year. She said Mr. Bush informed her they have raised the drainage district tax, used for maintenance of the drainage ditch, two and a half times since the initial agreement with the Village. They are asking for $650.00 per year for the next ten year agreement. Commissioner Sigel asked if this was the only drainage ditch the village has access to. Mayor Hill explained how this has been done since the Waster Water Treatment Plant had been built. Commissioner Maupin stated it’s really not a lot of money for the yearly cost. Commissioner Sigel asked if the agreement was for ten years. A motion was made by Commissioner Maupin, with a second from Commissioner Sigel to approve the new 10 year agreement with a yearly payment of $650.00. “Yes” votes were Johnson, Hill, Sigel, Maupin and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.

The council next learned that membership dues for NAIER, a surplus merchandise outlet, are due again. Mayor Hill explained she has heard from Public Works Superintendent Tom Pierce that fewer and fewer companies are contributing to NAIER and that the Village has not able to get higher dollar items as in previous years. Mayor Hill advised that Pierce suggested the village forego the membership at this time. Mayor Hill stated the village could always renew at a later time.

A building permit was issued by Zoning Administrator, Ron Kuepker, to 101 – 103 E. Kimball Street for new siding.

Reports of Village Officials

Commissioner Johnson and Commissioner Maupin advised the Recreation Committee Board has canceled their event scheduled for September 27, 2014 with the Bags Tournament and Cook-Off, due to lack of interest and participation. Johnson and Maupin advised the Recreation Committee Board will meet again on September 17, 2014. The group had originally planned to have the bags tournament and the cook off event with activities for children such as bounce houses and fire truck rides. Discussion was held on canceling the bounce house activities and whether or not the group would be able to. Mayor Hill asked if they were not allowed to cancel the bounce house activity, whether or not the date could be moved back to be used at the October 18, 2014 fund raising event scheduled at the RCC by the Tampico Historic Preservation Advisory Committee. THPAC will hold a Brat Fest that will possibly include wine tasting or a micro-brewery in the park on October 18. Commissioner Maupin said they have been planning the event as a committee and subsequently, the event gets so big there are not nearly enough people to plan it. He has suggested local organizations contact the Recreation Committee if more help is needed for their planned events around the village.

Mayor Hill advised the Day Care project is doing great. She said flyers will be handed out or mailed soon. Mayor Hill stated any excess items they collect during the initial start up will be kept on hand
September 16, 2014 – Village of Tampico – Regular Meeting Minutes, for later use or if there are too many, they could be donated to area churches and other non-profits so the committee is donating back to the community as well and it’s possible a fund raising event / sale could be held with the proceeds benefiting the day care program. Commissioner Sigel asked if a potential start up date has been decided. Mayor Hill told her no date has been set. The group is gathering a waiting list and they are working really hard toward getting everything in place. Mayor Hill advised everything to do with the daycare has to be done in the proper way for the group to get it open and they have been working very hard toward that goal. Mayor Hill said it’s a lot of work to get it set up but so worth it.

Clerk Leathers told the Council petitions for the April 7, 2015 Election for the office of Mayor and four (4) commissioners may be picked up at Village Hall starting September 23, 2014. Commissioner Sigel asked if all four commissioners were up this time. She questioned why there were not that many in the last election. Mayor Hill explained those seats came up in the last election to fill the unexpired terms of council members who had resigned or moved on to other things.

Chief Strike and Commissioner Hill reported they have been sending out notices of ordinance violations and working with other agencies to get foreclosed properties cleaned up.

Commissioner Johnson reported possible graffiti on a village street and also an issue with the backing on a stop sign. Mayor Hill advised she would check into the sign since it’s her department and she will have someone look into the graffiti issue.

There were no communications.

Bills were ordered paid as presented on a motion from Commissioner Johnson, second by Commissioner Hill. “Yes” votes were Johnson, Hill, Sigel, Maupin and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:31 PM. The next regular meeting of the Tampico Village Council will be Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at 7:00 PM in the Reagan Community Center located at 202 W. Second Street.

Kathy A. Leathers
Clerk

Kristine L. Hill
Mayor

MINUTES APPROVED THIS _7th_ DAY OF __October______, 2014

**These minutes are not official until signed, dated and sealed by the Village Clerk**