REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TAMPICO
November 18, 2014
7:11 PM
Reagan Community Center
Mayor Kristine L. Hill called the regular meeting of the Tampico Village Council to order at 7:11 PM after a Public Hearing on Grant Funding for a Storm Warning Siren System.
Commissioners Toby Johnson, Bruce Hill, Mary Jo, Sigel and Derrick Maupin were present.
Police Chief Terry Strike, Sergeant Boyd VanDellen and Public Works Superintendent, Tom Pierce, were in attendance as well.
Mayor Hill led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes of the November 4, 2014 Regular Meeting were approved as presented.
Remarks from Guests
Resident Al Morthland asked again about the water situation. Commissioner Maupin asked him what he wanted to know. Morthland asked Maupin what the council found out since the last meeting. Maupin advised Morthland the water at the Kickback Saloon was tested and the results found ‘0’ (zero) bacteria. Maupin stated as for the various other things, he would try to cover them all. Maupin reported he had asked the Village Utilities Clerk to contact several area municipalities within 15 miles of Tampico to see what their policy is for water complaints. Maupin advised the consensus was the same as the Village’s; if a resident has rusty or dirty water, please run it for a while, check and clean water softeners often. Maupin said if water softeners are let go, from time to time they can develop problems. Basically, those asked say they respond in much the same manner as Tampico does. He said one town, Wyanet, said they encourage their people, if their water is bad, to take their water samples to the county and provide a sample to the municipality as well to assure the same results are found. Maupin stated he has also talked with the Village Engineer. As for the sewer smell the engineer is on the same page. He doesn’t feel as long as everyone’s sewer is draining properly he doesn’t see how it could be a problem on the village’s end. Maupin said the engineer sees it as a homeowner’s problem and they should be in contact with a licensed plumber and have an inspection done. Maupin said it is important to point out that in Whiteside County, “no person except as provided for below shall engage or carry on the business of constructing, installing, altering or repairing any sewage disposal system or component unless such person is duly licensed by the health officer who performs such services. In order to obtain a license, an individual must pass the examination for private disposal system installation contractor’s license given by the Illinois Department of Health. The fee for the sewage disposal system installer’s license shall be set out as current fees as issued by the department and as approved by the county board. A license fee to install sewage disposal systems shall not be required as a resident owner or intended owner who may personally install said system for his own single family residence. This does not apply to builder’s of speculative homes. However, such exception does not relieve the installer from obtaining a permit to install and from complying with the other provisions of this chapter.” Commissioner Sigel asked where Maupin got his information. Maupin told her the information came from Whiteside County’s website. Maupin offered to give Sigel the link to the website. Commissioner Maupin continued by saying, that being said, if residents are going to complain to him about a sewer smell, he would like to see written proof of an inspection done by a licensed plumber. He said technically a resident is not allowed to work on their own stuff without first passing the licensing test or proving that they are competent to the health department. When asked what is considered to be a licensed plumber, Maupin said what the State of Illinois considers a licensed plumber and at this time there are none in the village. Resident Susan Frank asked if a licensed plumber inspects the plumbing, say at the tavern, and they sign off of it saying the plumbing is perfectly fine and that’s it. Commissioner Maupin told her then the conversation would be continued. Frank asked if that would be the end of the conversation or not. Maupin said no. Mayor Hill said if they signed off then it’s back on the village’s end, but up to this point the village’s portion is fine. Commissioner Maupin said everyone here knows that the village’s water system is old and out-dated, that’s why the village is applying for grants to upgrade things. Maupin stated it’s not like the village is not trying to update things. Mayor Hill said also on the sewer end of this, you have to take this into consideration and appreciate this, the village was just notified by the Illinois Rural Water Association, Tampico has been nominated in consideration of the Illinois Rural Water Association’s award for Waste Water System of the Year. Mayor Hill read the notification letter to those present and said that speaks volumes that the village’s system is being ranked very highly as a whole.
Susan Frank addressed the council about the last time she was at a council meeting complaining about the sewer smell in her house. Frank said Pierce came over and jetted out the sewer over in that area and the smell stopped. She said she had it twice very lightly since Pierce did that. She stated the smell didn’t last as long as in the past so the jetting worked. Frank asked if the council was telling residents that before they can come in and complain about a sewer smell that they have to have a licensed plumber. Mayor Hill replied she is not saying the village does not have problems, but over the village’s system is very well rated. Frank said it is well rated, but Pierce came out and jetted the sewer. Mayor Hill said it was because there was an incident / complaint. Frank accused Mayor Hill of double talking. Pierce told Frank the only reason he jetted that area was because he had it out doing something else and since it had been brought up, he thought he would go over and jet that section out. Frank said it worked. Pierce advised he went through and went back but did not bring anything out. Frank said she didn’t care if he did bring anything out, it still worked. In addition, Frank said as far as the water goes, last Wednesday the village had the water tank cleaned and she understood there was like three or four pails of black water coming out of that. Frank stated it was witnessed by somebody and Frank then asked if that was bacteria. Pierce reported they clean it with a pressure washer and the village pump is running the whole time, the water supply is not on the tower anymore but on the pump. Pierce stated after completion, the water tower was refilled and a water sample taken to Dixon which came back negative for bacteria and they switched the supply from the pump back to the water tower. Frank questioned Pierce about where he puts the chlorine. Pierce advised her it goes in as the water comes from the well before it goes into the water tower. Frank complained that whenever that was done she swore the smelled burnt her eyes, burnt her nose and was highly, highly chlorinated. Pierce told Frank it was probably because the pump was running constantly. Frank complained that it’s not healthy. Pierce advised it is the only way to do it in a one tower system. Frank complained the village should warn residents it is going to highly chlorinate the water. Pierce advised the water was not chlorinated any more than usual. Frank complained it was. Pierce told her he could show her the level of chlorine he puts in every day. He said the difference was it did not go into the tower first. Frank advised she is going to get a pool test and if the chlorine smell is high again she is going to test for it and complain again. Frank stated she is fed up with it. Frank told the council there is rust in the water and she would not be surprised if there was bacteria in it as well. Commissioner Maupin stated the village is having an extra iron bacteria and manganese test done. Frank demanded to know where the water would be taken from. Pierce advised Frank of the three places water would be drawn and tested from. Pierce also advised those present the EPA tells him what address he is to take samples from. He said the EPA determines that, he has no say in it.
Resident Al Morthland was again present to continue his complaint of the filthy water at his residence. Pierce advised Morthland he tested the water at an address two houses from his that was crystal clear. Morthland demanded the council talk to his landlord. Commissioner Maupin told Morthland the village was not going to complain to his landlord when it is Morthland’s responsibility. Morthland complained that it doesn’t do any good to come to the council and complain.
Commissioner Johnson said the council has been very clear residents can take all the speculation out of it by having a licensed plumber do an inspection and bring it in to the council. Johnson said the council is not saying residents can’t come in and complain, there is an open meeting now and you can come in if you want, every day. Johnson said if you want to add weight to that, take out all the speculation, maybe what Tom did helped your water, maybe it had a lot of chlorine, take all the guesswork out of it by getting a plumber’s opinion or note and just bring it in. Johnson stated those residents present want the village to end it by doing a test and the council is asking residents also to end it by doing a test. He said let the village and residents both work together. Frank asked what her plumber was going to test for water. Commissioner Maupin said then take it to the EPA. Frank said she has already had her water tested but only for two things, she can’t afford the big test or she would have had it done. Frank admitted to Maupin the test came back fine. Pierce told Frank the beginning of next month when he takes his samples to Dixon, he will go over to their house and pull the meter to take a water sample. He told Frank that way it wouldn’t cost much, it would be one more sample going to Dixon. Frank wanted to know what it would be tested for. Pierce told Frank it is for all types of bacteria. Morthland said he would let Pierce in his house to look at his bathroom fixtures. Pierce told Morthland he just needed the sample as it comes out of the meter.
Commissioner Maupin stated he does not mean it rudely when he says all the village cares about is if it gets to the meter clean. Maupin said if it’s clean out of the meter and your stool is dirty, that’s a homeowner’s problem, it’s not a village problem. Residents asked if all they needed to do was bring a written plumber’s word. Mayor Hill said the plumber would evaluate the homeowner’s whole system. Commissioner Maupin said he has seen some older homes where people get a sewer smell from their cast iron sewer pipe that has a crack in it and they don’t see it. Maupin said not very often are sewer pipes entirely full so you won’t notice a leak. Maupin said if you develop a crack in the top of the sewer pipe, you’re not going to notice a leak, but the crack will allow the gas to leak. Maupin advised plumber’s have a smoke test they can do and can smoke test your entire home and if they inject your sewer line, your lines with smoke and they go around and see smoke pouring out of it that means the homeowner has a leak. Maupin said the main thing is everybody is saying as far as sewer smell is as long as your sewer is draining correctly, meaning it’s leaving your house and not gurgling, nothing like that, and it’s draining correctly, the only way the smell is getting in is through something that’s not trapped. There’s no water in a trap or you have a cracked pipe. Commissioner Sigel asked where it was the homeowner’s responsibility, inside the house for the sewer or all the way to the alley. Maupin told her all the way to the main. Frank asked sewer line meaning where. She was told out at the street. Frank said he must have meant the alley because she has been told that’s where the sewer lines are. Pierce told Frank it varies where each of the sewer and water lines were located in the village. Some are in alleys and other are in the streets. Commissioner Maupin said while residents are responsible for the sewer lines to the main, they are also responsible for the water lines from the shut off into their house. A resident asked if there was a filter on the water meter.
He was told no.
Frank said she is glad that Commissioner Maupin is taking a more active part in being commissioner of the water and sewer department. Mayor Hill said Maupin is doing an outstanding job. Morthland said now all residents need to know is what the city is going to do. Commissioner Maupin told Morthland the village is going to do what it has been doing, the council is following the plan laid out by the engineers as to how to upgrade our system. Maupin said the village understands that it has an old system. Maupin said unfortunately money is an issue and the village can only fix it as the money comes in.
Commissioner Maupin reported he has heard nothing from Mediacom contacts about the cable franchise. Comissioner Maupin and Mayor Hill advised the village clerk to take it off the agenda.
Status and update of DCEO and CDAP grant for the South Main Place sewer main project. Mayor Hill asked Dan Pepin of CFPS if they had anything to report. Pepin advised they sat down with a representative of DCEO just that morning. Pepin said they learned the village was not awarded the grant. Pepin stated when a grant is not awarded they like to sit down with DCEO and find out why the project was not funded and what can they, as grant writers do better. Pepin told the council, CFPS writes grants to be awarded. It is Pepin’s understanding there were 165 applications to the state for this grant funding. Of those 165, 35 of them were funded. Pepin said this program has gotten less money than they have in the past and unfortunately, they are getting a little less and less every year. Pepin told the council, the grant process has DECO rating each request and this year the lowest score they awarded grant monies to was a 76 of out 100. He said points were possibly given as follows. Possibly 50 points for project readiness, 25 points for threat to public health and safety and then another 25 points for low to moderate income. The village’s application score was 68 points. The village received as much as they could in 50 points for project readiness and 10 points out of 25 for public health and safety since there were no current mandates from the EPA to be done right away and 8 out of 25 for the low to moderate income score. Pepin said unfortunately, the people that had a bad readiness, a bad threat to public health and safety were saved by the fact that they had 95% low to moderate income people that live in their community pushing them in front of Tampico. Mayor Hill asked Pepin if there will be another opportunity coming up to resubmit. Pepin told Mayor Hill they think an opportunity will come up again in June. Pepin said any letters or mandates from the EPA involving public health and safety would be helpful. Wood commented that photos, proof of sewer back-ups, etc. would help. Commissioner Maupin said the sewer system award is not going to help that. Pepin said the village’s treatment plant may be doing exactly what it needs to do, however getting to there, one never knows. Mayor Hill stated the village is doing lining and video inspections, there are other things the village can do. Pepin stated he knows that’s what a lot of the grant was for in addition to the Kimball Street Lift Station. Pepin said they, CFPS, Inc., have discussed the matter and they will resubmit the grant at no fee to the village. Pepin also said his company would like to see this project funded. He said obviously next year they may have to re-work the numbers a bit and put more time into it. Pepin advised they have 90% of the information already pulled together they can resubmit if the village is still interested in doing so. Mayor Hill replied she thinks so, anytime the village can do funding like that. Mayor Hill said there is nothing the village can do until next summer anyway. Pepin agreed stating the project probably would not start until 2016, a little ways away. In addition, Pepin said their company could look at some of the water issues as well. Mayor Hill agreed the issues can be grouped together. Pepin said they would like to sit down with the village and Willett, Hofmann and Associates to regroup. In closing, Pepin advised the already completed income surveys have become outdated and the village will need to conduct another one before resubmitting anything to DCEO. Mayor Hill suggested going out and canvassing residents after the first of the year. Pepin offered to help the village if there is anything they can do. Commissioner Sigel thanked Pepin and Wood for all their help. Mayor Hill said they have done great. Wood told the council she needed some forms signed and she also asked if the village had a drug free workplace policy. Mayor Hill advised the village does have one in place. Mayor Hill signed grant forms for the storm warning siren CDAP grant and the USDA portion of the same grant. They will provide the village with copies of the documents.
While the paperwork was being signed by the Mayor, a resident asked if was acceptable to sign more than one petition for the upcoming election. The Village Clerk told her the only requirement is that the person signing the petition is a registered voter in Whiteside County and resides in the village.
Tax Levy Worksheet. Clerk Leathers requested direction from the council in determining the amount of property tax to be levied for the next tax year. She advised them they are merely directing her to determine the new tax levy at 105%. They are not approving the tax levy ordinance itself that will be needed once a draft of the levy ordinance is completed. Leathers will complete the worksheet and compile a draft of the 2014 – 2015 tax levy. Mayor Hill explained to those present how the levy of 105% over last year’s levy is a tool used to allow for the cost of living increases in goods and services the village will need. A resident in the audience asked if the increase in property tax can only be raised a certain amount a year and if the council always choses to do that. Mayor Hill and Commissioner Maupin explained that it keeps the village from asking for more tax money if a difficult money issue arises. Mayor Hill explained the village’s utilities go up, payroll goes up like everyone else’s. Clerk Leathers explained how the property tax monies are dedicated to certain funds such as the Audit Fund, the Work Comp Insurance Fund and Social Security / tax liability fund. She advised most of the property taxes paid by residents goes into those funds. She advised the tax money that goes into the General Fund is really a small portion of the property taxes residents pay. She told them most of the monies used in the General Fund comes from state revenue such as state income tax, state sales tax and the like.
Clerk Leathers advised council members she has received the annual invoice to renew the village’s Worker Compensation and General Property / Liability insurance coverage with the Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association. The total premium due would be $27,827.45, an increase of approximately 6.4%. Leathers advised them the company allows a two-payment option. It would mean $13,913.73 would be due by December 19, 2014 and the remainder in May 2015. Leathers told them the two-payment option would allow for a more flexible cash total in the General Fund. On a motion by Commissioner Johnson, second by Commissioner Hill, approval was given to pay the IML Risk Management Association invoice in two installments of $13,913.73 each. “Yes” votes were Johnson, Hill, Sigel, Maupin and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
A motion was made by Commissioner Sigel, second by Commissioner Maupin, a resolution was approved to pay final MFT project costs in the amount of $23,921.30. “Yes” votes were Johnson, Hill, Sigel, Maupin and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
The Council next discussed an Ordinance to create a Day Care Board for the proposed village day care center. Mayor Hill advised the council Village Attorney had drawn up a proposed ordinance for creating a Day Care Board of Directors. Mayor Hill told the council the highly qualified proposed board members do not all live within the village limits and they did not want to restrict the requirements for membership. She stated there are people involved who want to help with the community and the kids but they may not necessarily live right in the boundaries. Mayor Hill advised everything else was the same. She asked council members if they had any questions or if there was anything they would like to change. Mayor Hill reported the proposed day care center is going along really good, there have been wonderful donations and there was another work day Saturday. A motion was made by Commissioner Johnson, second by Commissioner Hill to approve Ordinance No. O02-14-11-18 Creating a Day Care Board in Chapter 2.32, Title 2. “Yes” votes were Johnson, Hill, Sigel, Maupin and Mayor Hill. The motion carried. The ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after it’s passage and approval as required by law. Mayor Hill told council members the day care board of directors and a director will need to be officially approved soon.
There were no building permits issued by Zoning Administrator, Ron Kuepker.
Commissioner Sigel asked Pierce about part-time as needed employees and how they were working out. Pierce advised they were just fine. He said public works is getting ready for snowplowing season.
Communications: It was learned the Girl Scouts will be taking cookie orders door-to-door from January 9 through January 30, 2015 with delivery February 17 through March 22, 2015.
Bills were ordered paid on a motion by Commissioner Johnson, second by Commissioner Hill. “Yes” votes were Johnson, Hill, Sigel, Maupin and Mayor Hill.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:03 PM. The next regular meeting of the Tampico Village Council will be December 2, 2014 at 7:00 PM in the Reagan Community Center located at 202 W. Second St.
Kathy A. Leathers _______________
Clerk
Kristine L. Hill______________
Mayor
MINUTES APPROVED THIS 2nd__ DAY OF __December ___, 2014
**These minutes are not official until signed, dated and sealed by the Village Clerk**
