REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TAMPICO
January 20, 2015
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 present as well. Village Clerk Kathy Leathers recorded the written and digital minutes.
Mayor Hill led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes of the January 6, 2015 Regular Meeting were approved as presented.
Mayor Hill read a letter to the village from residents, Al & Cathy Groll. The Groll’s wanted the village to know how much they appreciate what Police Chief Terry Strike, Commissioner Bruce Hill and the Tampico Police Department are doing to ensure the safety of residents in Tampico. The Groll’s wrote they have seen Strike at the school in the mornings watching out for the children and appreciate the efforts of the police department in patrolling the streets daily. The letter continued by saying their willingness to step and do the right thing so everyone will have a safe and growing community is to be commended. The letter also said the Chief’s tireless efforts to clean up the undesirables in town should be recognized and appreciated by all who live in the community. The letter thanked Chief Terry Strike for all your hard work. Mayor Hill, Commissioner Hill and the rest of the council thanked the Groll’s for their letter.
Cathy Groll asked if it was possible to have a Christmas Tree in town, somewhere on Main Street. Mrs. Groll would like to plant a nice tree and decorate it. Mayor Hill told Groll there is one up by the gazebo, it sits back from the street and is the one that is lighted for Christmas in the Country. Mayor Hill said it wouldn’t hurt to put one in Reagan Park too. Mr. Groll asked who did the barrels in town. Mayor Hill advised him resident, Alice Grimes donated all the trees and Royal Neighbors put them up as one of their projects. Mayor Hill said after that she and Avis Rosenow put on the finishing touches so there were several people involved. The Groll’s commented on how very nice they look. Mrs. Groll said if it could be looked into and a nice location found, she will donate the tree and have it planted. Mayor Hill said that would be very nice.
Mrs. Groll also asked about a water shut off that occurred several months ago during the evening hours. She asked her neighbor what was going on and was told it was posted in Casey’s. Mrs. Groll wondered if it was possible to put notices like that on the water bill for scheduled maintenance like that. Mayor Hill told Mrs. Groll it was when the water tower maintenance was being done. Mayor Hill said the village doesn’t usually know too far in advance when the maintenance company will be here. Mayor Hill said this time it was only two days notice. Mayor Hill stated it was put up on the village website. Commissioner Maupin said this is something he has talked to the Village Utilities Clerk about putting notices on the water bills. Maupin said unfortunately, the space on the bills that could be used is very small. Maupin said the village’s major concern is the added expense of mailing notices to everyone. Commissioner Maupin said he completely understands and maybe a solution can be found. Mayor Hill suggested text alerts. Maupin advised Groll on the day in question, public works had been pumping water on demand and the water pressure lowered when it was switched over to come from the water tower. Maupin advised the notice was posted at the post office and village hall. The village clerk advised it was also posted at the bank. Maupin said he would like to find a better way to deliver notices, the text messaging might be good. Mayor Hill advised notices are posted on the village website, www.tampicoil.com and the village tries to get the notices there just as quickly as they can. Maupin advised there is also a calendar of village events on the website.
Mrs. Groll told the council what she is really at the meeting for is to discuss a Neighborhood Watch Program. Groll stated there are Neighborhood Watch signs around the village except for the south portion of town. She said there are none near the school except for a Crime Stoppers sign. Mrs. Groll said she has looked into signs for those areas that do not have one. She said she has also talked with Chief Strike about Drug Free Zone signs. Mrs. Groll said for those signs that light up at night it’s $32.00 each. She said they would need approximately $200.00 for the signs. Mayor Hill asked what company she had checked with and gave her the name of a company that may be cheaper. Groll handed out copies of the signage prices and said she would pay for the signs herself. Groll said the village needs to have some sort of program in town even if they could get one person per block to participate. Groll said since she and her husband have lived here there have been houses broken into and cars have been vandalized. Groll said this is a nice town and there shouldn’t be that much going on. Mayor Hill said the council is trying to breathe new life into it. Mrs. Groll said 100 children stopped by their home on Halloween and they are the ones who are going to be affected by the problems in this town with drugs. Mayor Hill said the village needs to show them they are not welcome here. Mrs. Groll said not having anything in place and not having adults watching what is going on is wrong. Mayor Hill said she doesn’t think people are allowing it to happen there are some things that are out of control and there is also the liability that comes with being involved in those programs. Mayor Hill said you have sign up and go testify in court and that is kind of an intimidation factor to a lot of people and that is understandable. Mayor Hill said so long as a program is run well and you have a lot of people that are willing to not just run and get on facebook or run to the neighbor and tell them. The information has to be kept so the case can be carried out, there is a responsibility. Mrs. Groll said she spoke to four neighbors on her block about it and out of the four she has three that are willing. Mayor Hill said that is wonderful. Groll said she did not expect an answer tonite the council can discuss it or whatever needs to be done. Mayor Hill said what the Groll’s have done is a great start and they need to have the right people in place. Another resident on Main Street told the council how wonderful Chief Strike has been to them. They have been broken into several times and it’s pretty darn scary. Mrs. Groll said there a lot of people in town that do care and she thinks if they approach people in the right manner, all they have to do is open their eyes and let the proper people know and that’s what the program is really all about. Commissioner Hill told Grolls the village will help all they can.
Commissioner Maupin said he would like to take a look over this stuff in the next couple of weeks and put it on the agenda for the next meeting and have the Groll’s back in case the council has any questions. Maupin asked Groll if she was prepared to be the spokesperson for the program. The Groll’s agreed. Maupin stated it probably won’t move at the speed of lightning but progress is progress. Mrs. Groll said all anybody has to do is watch. Mayor Hill said, document and watch. Mayor Hill thanked the Groll’s for their participation. Commissioner Maupin said this is productive and he feels really glad they are doing this because that’s what it takes to create a better town. He said it’s the people who step up and are willing to sacrifice their time with ideas and come in here and help us. Maupin said that is a positive thing. Maupin thanked the Groll’s for their letter read earlier in the meeting.
Commissioner Johnson told those present when he was a child, in the mornings all the parents came out on their porch with their coffee, read the newspaper and watched all the kids as they walked to school. Mayor Hill like a walking school bus is what it is called now. Johnson said his whole route to school was covered and they were able to walk to school as a kindergartener with no problem, so this sort of community volunteering really does help and makes everyone feel secure. Mayor Hill said unfortunately not as many parents can stay home like they did then. Mayor Hill said that is the sad part and that’s why the village will hopefully have the daycare running this spring. Commissioner Johnson said it’s an interesting aspect, something he hasn’t spoken about in years. Mayor Hill said the village is trying develop getting new sidewalks in and more designated routes too for the kids to walk to the school. Mayor Hill said that way everyone will know which way they are funneling and easier for Chief Strike to track when kids are out. Commissioner Hill said it’s a lot safer for them too. Mayor Hill said that way the kids can be kept away from areas that are not controlled and Chief Strike talks with the school a lot. Mrs. Groll said that parents and the kids are the ones we need to talk to, they are the ones who are not able to defend themselves. Commissioner Maupin said the parents of the young kids are the generation that will help make this town a better place, we can’t just scare them away. Maupin stated in order to keep the crime down people have to
make this a place where crime does not want to live. Maupin said it takes everybody doing their part not just the five people on the council, they cannot make all the difference in the world, it takes residents, too. Maupin told the Groll’s he was very happy that they have stepped up.
Clerk Leathers advised the council the village’s grant for the emergency storm warning siren has moved on to the next step.
Commissioner Bruce Hill presented information to council members about a used police care the village has been offered for purchase. Hill said he and Chief Strike had gone down to Colona last week to take a look at the Dodge Charger, a real nice car. Hill told the council the current white car is starting to nit pick the village and it has over a hundred twenty thousand miles on it. Hill said the car they looked at is in much better shape and actually comes with the whole police package, the siren package, the lightbar on the top. The Colona Police Department replaced their vehicles and wanted a smaller community to have the opportunity to purchase it. Hill said Colona contacted Terry through another department and originally wanted $8,000.00 for it and the village can have it for $4,500.00 if it would like to. Hill said all the vehicle really needs is tires, it’s all equipped and ready to go with the exception of downloading the police radio. Hill said the car is a 2006 with 80,000 miles on it and has been well maintained. Mayor Hill said the equipment on the car alone is worth what they are asking for the car. Commissioner Hill said there is $5-$6,000 worth of police equipment on the car alone. Commissioner Hill said the car is a nice set up, all the electrical components are in the trunk on a slide out so it can be worked on. Commissioner Hill said he figures he can take all the equipment out of the current car and either use it later or sell it to another police department if they need something and the village can just get rid of the white car. Commissioner HIll told those present there is enough money in the budget to pay for the car outright. Hill said the money from village fines and a grant Chief Strike had applied for cover the cost of the newer car. Commissioner Maupin said it’s possible to possibly get one-third the price of the newer car back from selling the surplus police equipment from the current police car and the for the car itself. Commissioner Maupin said at that point it is a smarter decision to just upgrade with the cost saving. Maupin said there was not way the village would have been able to pay the original full asking price of the newer car. Maupin said this is such a good deal and if it eliminates the headache for the next few years, then it’s totally worth it. Commissioner Hill said the LED lightbar on the car alone is worth $1,700. On a motion by Commissioner Hill and second by Commissioner Maupin, approval was given to purchase a 2006 Dodge Charger police car from the Colona Police Department for the cost of $4,500.00. “Yes” votes were Johnson, Hill, Sigel, Maupin and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
A discussion was held regarding the meeting dates for the next fiscal year. Resident Sue Frank told the council it would be really nice if the agendas were posted on the village’s website 48 hours before a meeting. Mayor Hill said she thought they were on there. Sue Frank told the council they weren’t. Mayor Hill advised the agenda was sent to the webmaster if there is a problem she can check it out. Clerk Leathers advised she e-mailed the agenda to the webmaster, Sauk Valley News, the Prophetstown Echo and the Village Attorney and posted at Village Hall. Frank could not hear the clerk’s answer so Mayor Hill reiterated the information. Mayor Hill said she didn’t know why it wasn’t posted but she would find out. Clerk Leathers advised Frank the newspapers do not print the agenda, she notifies them in case they want to send someone to cover the meetings. Mayor Hill told Frank the agenda is posted on the door here at the RCC and for years the village did not have a website. Mayor Hill told Frank the council is trying their best to do that.
On a motion by Commissioner Sigel, second by Derrick Maupin, the Village Council Meeting Schedule for the fiscal year 2015-2016 was approved as outlined and attached. “Yes” votes were Johnson, Hill, Sigel, Maupin and Mayor Hill. The motion carried. A copy of the meeting schedule will be posted in the office of village hall.
Realtor Wes Anderson was present to advise the council there has been an offer for the old village hall located at 104 W. Market Street. Anderson said it is a cash offer and meets the requirements for the sale of
surplus village owned real estate. Anderson said there are few details to work out such as the zoning of the building. Anderson stated he is aware that the buildings on South Main Street are zoned as B-1, as a business and there is an exclusion that does not allow a residence on the main or street level of the property. It must be a business. Anderson said when you head west on West Market Street is zoned as B-2 property that is zoned business and therefore does not require that the main floor not be used if someone wants to reside there. Anderson said as an example, there is the old village hall, the meeting building next to it and then a residence all within the B-2 zoning. Mayor Hill said there is also the old barber shop building across the street. Anderson stated that property is now an apartment. The prospective buyers wanted to make sure that the property could be used as a residence if they decide to do so because of the fact that they are considering the wheelchair access and it would be a prime property for someone who is disabled or the elderly. Anderson said the only other request from the buyers is a pest inspection. Anderson told the council it is customary for a seller to have that done. Mayor Hill reported the village has an offer for the building of $18,000.00. Mayor Hill said it appraised at $22,500.00. Mayor Hill said she thinks the offer is very reasonable and a chance to move on. The Mayor said the village has had no other offers and she thinks it would be a good thing to do. Anderson reported to the council the potential buyers made the initial offer without the knowledge of the minimum price the village could accept as 80% of the appraised value. Anderson said only after the buyer made their offer could Anderson advise them of the minimum price the village could allow.
A motion was made by Commissioner Hill, second by Commissioner Johnson, to approve the $18,000.00 offer for the real estate at 104 W. Market Street. In addition, the buyers may use the main floor as a residential property with no restrictions. “Yes” votes were Johnson, Hill, Sigel, Maupin and Mayor Hill. The motion carried. Clerk Leathers will have village attorney, William Shirk, draft the official ordinance for the sale as per law.
Reports of Village Officials
Commissioner Maupin reported he recently had a meeting with Matt Hansen, Willett, Hofmann and Associates, Inc., and Public Works Superintendent Tom Pierce. Maupin said they were discussing the projects involving the water and sewer that were started back in 2010. Maupin stated the village had put in for a grant for some sewer issues this year and the grant was denied. Maupin said Hansen suggested the village use some of the money that was built into the water bills, that the village has been saving for this stuff, to go ahead and attack a few of the things on the sewer. Maupin said they will be the last two things that were on the sewer this year, upgrading the Kimball Street Lift Station and fixing the sanitary sewer on South Main Place. Maupin reported all the equipment is outdated on the Kimball Street station and the sanitary sewer is just way too small on South Main Place. Maupin said they discussed some numbers and it is well within the village’s budget to do it. Hansen suggested right now is the best time to do it, to start getting bids because the plans are already drawn and everything is ready to go because of the grant. Maupin said now is the time since contractors are looking to line up their work for the summer so the best bids come in this time of year and this will be an all cash thing from us, no grants, no loans. Mayor Hill agreed with Maupin that the village can save grants for other things potentially the water side of the deal. Maupin said another thing he talked with Hansen about was starting to move forward and starting to plan the water side. Maupin said this would basically finish the high priority items on the sewer side and then the village could start to move forward with plans in 2016 for the water end of the deal. Maupin said it would be how the village could attack it since there are a few things on the water side that are really expensive. Maupin said Hansen told him the village should start with the lines, the water lines themselves because there is no sense in upgrading the other structures until the delivery method is perfect. Maupin stated upgrading the water lines is the most expensive part. Hansen will look into funding options and will make himself available for not the next meeting, but the following meeting, he will be here to take questions and explain everything a little further. Maupin said February 17.
Resident Sue Frank asked Maupin how the rust and manganese count in the water. Maupin advised her he does not have any new tests and he has not had any new complaints. Mayor Hill said Maupin did talk with the village engineer. Maupin advised he had talked to Matt Hansen about the issue and he verified everything Maupin has been able to find on the internet. Maupin said they are secondary concerns to the EPA and are considered a nuisance item, the iron and manganese. Maupin said they are not really controlled and the village does not need to do anything further. Frank said the combination of the two is what creates the problem. Maupin told her he understands that and what Hansen said is it’s a nuisance item, it is not a health risk at all and it is just purely for the discoloration of the water that is the worst sign of it. Maupin said it’s just a nuisance and Hansen said the village could build a water treatment system but then the village is looking at a million and a half dollars for the system just to take it out of there.
Frank said the magnesium and the rust together is where you get the slime. Maupin said it’s manganese. Frank said that’s where you get problems. Maupin said he understood what the problem is but it’s no big secret. Maupin said he is telling her is the village is using the phosphates to treat the problem which will hide the discoloration because it is a secondary item. Maupin said Hansen suggested that the village continue to move forward with the phosphates so that is what the village will continue to do. Cathy Groll asked Maupin if a resident were to put a water filtration system in their home if it would take away that problem. Maupin said he could not answer that with any authority be he would think there is some type of water filtration system that a homeowner could install. Groll said she is thinking of those water pitchers and it filters it. Maupin said he would think there is some sort of system but she would have to speak with a plumber. Maupin said he is not an authority on the matter. Mayor Hill said everything she has read with the EPA too says you would have to have a huge amount before it could harm you. Commissioner Hill said it’s not just Tampico. Groll told Frank if she is having a problem within your own home, then maybe Frank should look into putting in a system. Audience members continued to discuss the issue with Frank citing it would be cost prohibitive. Someone else suggested a system for around $500.00. Mayor Hill called the meeting back to order. Maupin said that is it as far as water / sewer.
Commissioner Johnson told the council the Recreation Committee will be meeting tomorrow to get baseball rolling. Johnson said they wanted to do it early last year and it did not happen. He said this time they are going to do it. Johnson said he has a meeting with Anita Elgin, who runs the program, to go through everything to see what to delegate and see what she is up to doing. Johnson said he will bring that information back to the committee and the council. Johnson reported they should be able to get baseball started in the month of February, registration and literature. Mayor Hill said scheduling maintenance and all that stuff too. Commissioner Maupin said Tim Hatten has been a big help the last few weeks. Hatten told them everyone has been concerned with maintenance at the diamonds because the committee did not get lime, like they thought they needed to in the fall. Maupin said Hatten explained a way they could get lime in the spring and still have the diamonds ready to go when the season started. Maupin said Hatten is going to help them do all that and they are going to try to keep this thing going as it has done the past few years.
Commissioner Hill thanked Al and Cathy Groll for everything they are trying to do with Neighborhood Watch. Hill told them he and Chief Strike will try to help them however they can.
Commissioner Sigel asked what account the daycare….Clerk Leathers told Sigel for right now it’s coming out of the RCC line items. Commissioner Sigel asked if there was a reason she, [the administrator] is putting in full time. Mayor Hill told Sigel she is not full time. Sigel said, well, her full time the council agreed on. Mayor Hill said she has a lot of work to do and she is doing a great job and she is actually donating a lot of that time. Mayor Hill stated she is maxing out over that and is really giving a lot of her free time and she is only charging what she agreed to. Commissioner Sigel said she is just wondering since the village does not have the daycare up and running and with her putting in that amount of time. Mayor Hill said if she wants it up and running, yes. Mayor Hill stated there is a lot of red tape to get this going and she probably the one who is going to do it the fastest and most efficient. Commissioner Sigel said okay, she just thinks it’s a lot. Mayor Hill said the administrator has done this for thirty years. Sigel said when Staci was trying to get it up and going she was not putting in that kind of hours. Mayor Hill said Staci was not doing the level of work that Connie is doing. Commissioner Sigel said okay, she just thinks she has lot of hours. Mayor Hill said Connie could probably be working full time now, easily, and she is not, she probably is working full time. Mayor Hill advised it takes a lot to get this going and she is doing a fantastic job. Clerk Leathers stated it works out to about four hours a day. Frank wanted to know when it was going to get started. Mayor Hill told her they are hoping for this spring, this year. Commissioner Sigel wanted to know if the village has all the licenses up and going yet. Mayor Hill told her they are working on it and
that’s why it is taking time to do this. Commissioner Johnson said ideally the village would not pay a paycheck until it received the first check from a parent but it’s not realistic, you would need somebody like Connie, like Staci, to volunteer twenty hours or more a week. Johnson said it’s impossible to find that. Mayor Hill said most day cares have a start-up nest egg they use. Johnson said the village still has a grant or a donation so the village is still looking for some. Johnson said the village may able to bring in some money to help with the cost, the start up cost. Johnson said they still have a pretty sizable donation they received from Prophetstown were still working with. Mayor Hill said there are other foundations and she is very good at grant writing. Mayor Hill said she thinks she is doing a fantastic job and would be glad to pay her more than that, honestly, and that’s not, it’s twenty hours a week, not forty, it’s two weeks. Sigel said she understands that.
Commissioner Maupin said when he was out and about, somebody was telling him they heard that Tampico is getting a day care and they brought the administrator’s name up and said she had done it for a really long time and she was really good at it. Mayor Hill agreed and said she will be one the village’s best advertisements because she has such a reputation of being an outstanding day care director and people will follow her. Maupin said that came from someone in Morrison. An audience member asked if she was in Sterling. Mayor Hill answered yes at Helping Hands and she has a wonderful reputation. Mayor Hill they are so lucky they happened to be friends with her and she did retire so the timing was perfect. Commissioner Hill said he heard directly from Connie that she wants to get this going as soon as she can get it going. A member of the audience said it’s great to have it in such a small town. Mayor Hill said it’s going to help with our grade school, it’s going to help keep younger families here. Commissioner Sigel said there are a lot of people interested in it. Commissioner Maupin said it’s just another attraction to attract the right kind of people. Mayor Hill said having the day care here keeps sex offenders out of town completely.
Communications
Clerk Leathers reported Allied Waste, the village garbage and recycling contractor has changed their name to Republic Services.
Rock River Energy has sent information regarding the latest scam some energy companies are using. They are calling ComEd customers and falsely claiming people owe a bill and if it’s not paid over the phone, the service will be disconnected. ComEd does not initiate a phone call for payment over the phone. Rock River Energy just wanted customers to be aware. Leathers advised she would keep copies in village hall for those who want them.
Bills were paid on a motion by Commissioner Johnson, second by Commissioner Hill. “Yes” votes were Johnson, Hill, Maupin and Mayor Hill. Commissioner Sigel voted “No”. The motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 7:58 PM. The next regular meeting of the Tampico Village Council will be Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 7:00 PM in the Reagan Community Center located at 202 W. Second Street.
KATHY A. LEATHERS KRISTINE L. HILL
Clerk Mayor
MINUTES APPROVED THIS 3RD DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2015
**These minutes are not official until signed, dated and sealed by the Village Clerk**
