REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TAMPICO
January 19, 2016, 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 Bruce Hill, Scott Meier and Derrick Maupin were present. Phalen Vancil was absent. Also present was Police Chief Terry Strike. Village Clerk Kathy Leathers recorded the written and digital minutes.
Mayor Hill led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes of the January 5, 2015 Regular Meeting were approved as presented.
Mayor Hill reminded those present of a Town Hall Meeting with Representative Mike Smiddy to be held on Tuesday, January 26, 2016.
Mayor Hill also reported Hatco Sports programs have been canceled until further notice by Tim Hatten.
Commissioner Maupin reported there were approximately 125 – 130 people at the Daddy / Daughter Dance. He said everyone seemed to be having a good time.
Resident Mary Jo Sigel told the council she had read an article in the paper concerning water meters on duplexes and buildings. Mayor Hill said yes, that’s coming up further down on the agenda and it is actually good news. Sigel asked if they were going to be put on new buildings, existing buildings. Mayor Hill told her the council will get in to that when they discuss the agenda item.
Sigel said she was reading in the minutes consisting of rental properties and police calls. Sigel stated she did not know if they had been on-line or not, but she would hate to be fined, and she does not know if that is legal. She and her husband have contacted a lawyer and they are waiting for him to call back. Sigel asked Chief Strike if he is being called out why isn’t he issuing them citations. Chief Strike answered Sigel by saying first of all the village is checking into things, but no citations. Strike said it’s nuisance stuff more or less they are concerned with; being called out and having no one be there. Mayor Hill said Sterling has a policy in place and the village is looking into something like it at this point. Strike told Sigel the police department is only looking into it at this point. Mayor Hill stated residents need to understand, the village is spending a lot of money on false calls. The Mayor continued by saying when her children were home, she was responsible for them. Mayor Hill said if you have people on your property there are times when you need to be responsible for them too. Sigel replied that if the police are getting called out more then maybe the village should have a cop in town. Mayor Hill said property owners should know who their tenants are because chances are if they are causing problems, they are causing problems with your property too. Sigel advised they have requested they be notified if there is a problem with any of their rental properties. Commissioner Hill told Sigel the village wants something in place so if this does happen, the village has something to back it up with. Sigel wanted to know why the people who are causing the problem are not issued tickets. Mayor Hill told her when the police department has that chance, they do. Mayor Hill said something is needed that has more teeth to it. Commissioner Hill stated all they are trying to do is make it a good place to live. Commissioner Hill said they are not attacking anyone who has rental properties, they just want it to be a nice village. Mayor Hill said it would also make it nice for landlords if the village has this. She said it would be easier to evict them. Mayor Hill told Sigel the issue is still up for a lot of discussion, it’s nothing is in stone. The Mayor said the council is exploring options that will help the landlord as well as make people more responsible too. Sigel said she just couldn’t see getting penalized for something she didn’t do. Commissioner Hill told her it is nothing like that. Mayor Hill said as long as people are working together to make things better, that’s all the village is looking for.
Resident Al Morthland asked the council how much money is taken in by the police department. Mayor Hill said for example, the money the village took in for fines was used to buy the police car. The Mayor told him it helps fund the department as well. Chief Strike replied to Morthland and said the police department writing tickets could not be used for revenue.
Morthland told of his concern regarding broken glass near a downtown building. Mayor Hill told him that was up to the property owner to clean up.
Morthland also complained about a downed tree on Main Street. Morthland feels Commissioner Hill should make them take the rest of it down since he is responsible for public safety. Mayor Hill and Commissioner Hill both told Morthland they are sure the property owner will take care of it as soon as it is possible.
Morthland also wanted to know if the council ever got a loan or permit for the sidewalk around the Kickback. Mayor Hill told him the funding has not been available. She said the state is not really funding anything right now. Mayor Hill advised she has said it about 50 times, as long as these projects are on the shelf, they are the first ones the politicians want to grab when funding is available.
Morthland asked Commissioner Meier if he ever studied out on Lincoln Street. Commissioner Meier asked if he meant the standing water, then no. Mayor Hill said not this time of year and there are other issues that concern more people too regarding the infrastructure and such.
Discussion of the Recreation Board Fence Repairs was postponed until Commissioner Vancil could be present.
At 7:16 PM, Commissioner Maupin made a motion with a second by Commissioner Meier to leave the regular session portion of the meeting and to into a closed session to Discuss the Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Performance or Dismissal of Employees of the Public Body. “Yes” votes were Maupin, Hill, Meier and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
At 7:24 PM, Commissioner Hill made a motion with a second by Commissioner Meier to adjourn the closed session and return to the regular meeting session. “Yes” votes were Maupin, Hill, Meier and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
On a motion by Commissioner Maupin, second by Commissioner Hill, to approve Employee Health Care Premium costs with United Healthcare in the amount of $3,822.00 per month. “Yes” votes were Maupin, Hill, Meier and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
Commissioner Hill advised he and Chief Strike were still waiting to hear back from Village Attorney, William Shirk, in regard to the proposed Health and Safety Ordinance changes.
Mayor Hill signed a Proclamation urging all citizens to participate in activities planned by the Tampico Area Historical Society & Museum and the President Ronald Reagan Birthplace to remember President Reagan’s birthday on February 6, 2016.
Discussion and Approval of Recreation Board Members were tabled to the next meeting until Commissioner Vancil could be present.
Discussion turned to Approving Emergency Storm Siren Agreement with Tampico Fire Protection District. Mayor Hill advised the siren is up and ready to go. She told council members she would prefer to wait to approve the agreement until the grant figures have been finalized and possibly have the grant writer, Sharon Pepin in attendance.
Commissioner Maupin told the council the Village Utilities Clerk, Anna Wetzell, had brought to his attention that not all apartment buildings are being billed the same. He said some of the duplexes were being billed differently and she thought it would be a good idea to update the ordinance and try to make it more uniform. Maupin said what they came up with….instead of the duplexes being billed for two minimum bills, currently when there is only one meter in the building. Maupin advised they decided to change that and make it one actual reading. He said that way they are only being billed for the reading instead of two minimums. As an example he said instead of getting billed for two minimum bills of 5000 gallons each, there would be only one bill for 10,000 gallons. He said a bill for 10,000 gallons is still cheaper than two minimums. Maupin said this should help make everything more uniform. He stated he doesn’t think it is fair to bill for two minimums when there is only one meter. The village should only bill for what they know they are supplying. Maupin advised trash will still be based upon how many residences there are because each resident generates their own amount, a residential amount of trash. He said the break will come from the new water/sewer billing. Mayor Hill said however, moving forward, anyone who splits a house out will be required to put two meters in. Maupin said new property or new duplexes will be required to have a meter per residence. Mayor Hill commented that the village is not making existing owners rush out to do something. Maupin advised that was correct, it would just be moving forward. Maupin stated they would need to send something over to the village attorney and have him draft an ordinance change for the meters. Maupin said he doesn’t think they need an ordinance change to change the billing, just for the meters. Mayor Hill said the change would make it more uniform and fair since it has been kind of hodge-podge throughout the village. Maupin said this would be across the board fair.
Mary Jo Sigel asked if the council, with the cold weather, have they said to have the water running. Commissioner Maupin said he doesn’t think it’s been cold enough to get that deep. Mayor Hill said if someone is concerned or they have had that happen before, definitely run it but let the village know. Mayor Hill advised there is nothing wrong with being cautious. Commissioner Maupin said the thing he would like to stress is call in as you are doing it, don’t call the Utilities Clerk and say you ran the water last month. Maupin said if someone called in and told him right away, that’s okay, that’s fine. He said if someone says they did this it makes him wonder if they really did.Maupin reported it eliminates everything from the beginning.
Clerk Leathers advised Rock River Energy Services Company, has sent an alert out regarding an e-mail being sent out by a company called “Buy Commercial Energy” that may be a scam. If anyone has any questions they should contact Village Hall or Rock River.
The Village also received news from the Ronald Reagan Trail Association regarding their scheduled events.
Bills were ordered paid on a motion by Commissioner Maupin with a second by Commissioner Meier. “Yes” votes were Hill, Meier, Maupin and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 7:38 PM. The next regular meeting of the Tampico Village Council will be Tuesday, February 2, 2016 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 2nd DAY OF February, 2016
**These Minutes are not official until signed, dated and sealed by the Village Clerk**
