REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TAMPICO
January 5, 2016, 7:00 PM, Reagan Community Center
Mayor Kristine Hill called the Regular Meeting of the Tampico Village Council to order at 7:00 PM.
Commissioners Bruce Hill, Scott Meier, Derrick Maupin and Phalen Vancel were present. Also present were Police Chief Terry Strike and Tampico Fire Chief Brian Wetzell. Village Clerk Kathy Leathers recorded the written and digital minutes.
Mayor Hill led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes of the December 15, 2015 Regular Meeting were approved as presented.
Reports of Village Officials
Commissioner Vancil reported the Recreation Board had met and finalized plans for the Daddy/Daughter Dance to be held on Saturday, January 16, 2016.
Commissioner Maupin advised the council he and Anna, village utilities clerk, have been reviewing the water / sewer billing policy in regard to multi-unit residences. Maupin stated he would like to see the charges be more uniform and fair. Maupin said garbage could remain the same since mult-units would be generating enough trash to charge for each. Mayor Hill told Maupin it could be put on the next meeting’s agenda to review what he has so far. Maupin will review the changes and go over them with the Village Attorney.
Chief Wetzell reported to the council that the Emergency Storm Warning Siren is operational. He advised he has met with Whiteside County. Wetzell said the county would like to have an agreement between the village, the fire district and county. Mayor Hill advised Wetzell the village attorney has already written up the form to turn the Emergency Siren over to the Fire Protection District so it will be up to them to deal with Whiteside County. Mayor Hill said the village will bequeath it to the Fire District. Wetzell said they looked it over and he just needs to know how to operate it. Mayor Hill said Whiteside County is supposed to be able to….Commissioner Hill said they can manually set it off at the fire station. Mayor Hill said typically Whiteside County would initiate that. Wetzell said county just wants an agreement. Wetzell said he would bring the matter up at their meeting next Tuesday night. Commissioner Hill said the county will be doing a monthly test of the siren. Wetzell said the first Tuesday of the month. Mayor Hill wanted to know if the test would be all year round or just March through November as it has been.
Wetzell also advised he talked with Tom Pierce about the water lines to the old ambulance building.
Wetzell asked the council what the village was going to do with the old siren. Mayor Hill said actually it, the old siren, was fire department property and the village would have no purpose for it. She said if they can preserve it would be nice.
Commissioner Vancil advised the Council he still does not have figures for fence repair / replacement for the ball diamond and Booth Park. He will try to get that information this week.
The council next considered an amendment to the Public Safety Ordinance. Commissioner Hill advised the council he and Chief Strike are waiting for information back from the village attorney. Hill said it sounds like a couple things might come through for us. Mayor Hill told those present, Terry and Commissioner Hill had had a meeting with the attorney to try and hash out ideas and how the council wants to have it presented. The mayor stated there are several variables that have to be considered. She said she wants to make sure of the direction the council is going to avoid confusion.
Consideration was given to Employee Health Care Insurance coverage. Clerk Leathers advised the council that the current policy was grandfathered in when the Affordable Care Act, (ACA), came about. She told them as of 2016 they are no longer allowing the grandfathered policies and they must be switched to an ACA compliant plan/policy. She reviewed the information the council was given on rates for Blue Cross / Blue Shield, United Health Care and United Health Care River Valley. Leathers said from talking to the agent today and reviewing each option, she thinks the United Health Care River Valley would be comparable to what employees have now but at considerably less cost. She said the only difference is the out-of-pocket expense is a little higher and that comes with ACA policies. She said office visit and prescription co-pays will stay the same. Leathers said at this time, she is just reviewing the options with the council. Commissioner Maupin wanted to make sure there will be no hassles to the employees from switching. Leathers said she hopes the lower costs were not just for a “honeymoon” period and then premiums go up considerably at renewal. Maupin stated he understood. He said it seems like most employers switch carriers every year due to increases in the premium. Mayor Hill stated the matter will be tabled until the next meeting. Mayor Hill stated she would like to do a six month review in the future.
Communications
Clerk Leathers reviewed information from the Illinois Municipal League regarding State Shared Municipal Revenue revised estimates for Fiscal Years 2016 & 2017. She also told them the State now owes the village almost $30,000.00 since some forms of revenue haven’t been paid to the village since September 2015.
The council learned Mediacom rates have gone up again.
The Village Council was advised that the village was mentioned in an Illinois Rural Water Association newsletter about their Sewer Video inspection service.
The council was given a copy of the Ancel Glink “Question of the Month”.
Bills were ordered paid on a motion by Commissioner Maupin with a second by Commissioner Vancil. “Yes” votes were Hill, Meier, Maupin, Vancil and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
Commissioner Maupin mentioned that in the last two weeks he has noticed a few basketballs used by the Men’s Basketball League Night have been damaged. He said he wanted to bring it to everyone’s attention. The Men’s Basketball League charges a minimal fee to players that is used to purchase basketballs and other equipment they need. Maupin said the two basketballs they use the most have been damaged. He said he doesn’t want to have to keep replacing them.
The meeting adjourned at 7:25 PM. The next regular meeting of the Tampico Village Council will be Tuesday, January 19, 2016 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 19th DAY OF January , 2016
**These minutes are not official until signed, dated and sealed by the Village Clerk**
