RE-SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TAMPICO
May 11, 2016 – 7:00 PM
Reagan Community Center
Mayor Kristine L. Hill called the Re-Scheduled Meeting of the Tampico Village Council to order at 7:00PM.
Commissioners Bruce Hill, Scott Meier, Derrick Maupin and Phalen Vancil were present.
Police Chief Terry Strike was also in attendance and Village Clerk, Kathy Leathers, recorded the written and audio minutes.
Mayor Hill led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes of the April 19, 2016 Regular Meeting Minutes were approved as presented.
Larry Specht, Tampico Men’s Club, was present to request a Class C Liquor License for a beer garden to be operated by the club during Tampico Festive Days in June. Following a review of the application, Commissioner Vancil motioned, second by Commissioner Maupin, that a Class C Liquor License No. 100-17, be approved for the Tampico Men’s Club, 202 S. Benton Street from June 24 through June 26, 2016. Hours of operation are: Friday – June 24, 2016 – 5:00 pm to 12:00 am; Saturday June 25, 2016 – 5:00 pm to 12:00 am; Sunday, June 26, 2016 from 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The fee of $5.00 was paid. “Yes” votes were Hill, Meier, Maupin, Vancil and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
A fence permit was issued to Carlee Kelly, 201 W. Market Street, on a motion by Commissioner Hill and seconded by Commissioner Meier. “Yes” votes were Hill, Maupin, Meier, Vancil and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
A fence permit for Chris Lauritzen was tabled to the next meeting when he can be present.
Reports of Village Officials
Commissioner Maupin reported he and Commissioner Vancil have been working with Matt Hansen, Willett, Hofmann and Associates, Inc., to see about the next round of water upgrades and fixes. Maupin gave other council members copies and said Hansen provided them with eight options of the different things the village can do in replacing water mains, different amounts of water mains with the various costs around town. Maupin said he thought to share all the information with the council so they can see it. Maupin stated the next step will be for he and Vancil should meet with Hansen and have him clarify anything the village thinks they will need. Maupin said after that, they would have Hansen come to a village meeting to talk it out and figure out what the village would like to do since it is a fairly big project with high dollar numbers. Maupin reported Hansen did say the village would qualify for a million dollar Rural Development Loan. Maupin also told the council the village would be eligible for grant funding up to 45% of project costs or a maximum of a million dollars. Mayor Hill told him that’s a good start. The rest would come from loans. Maupin said it represents a pretty good chunk and there is still a lot to cover so he does not want to make this decision lightly and he is not in a hurry to make this decision. He said he wants to make sure they do the right thing. Mayor Hill asked council members to look through the report and gather any questions. Maupin said they are welcome to talk to him and Commissioner Vancil about it.
Commissioner Vancil said he has had reports of the storm sewer backing up and flooding. He said he knows when the village has heavy rains it does and it’s not always the best. He said he realizes the village has an old system but it is stuff that has been brought to his attention several times, specifically in front of the Tornow’s house. Mayor Hill told him public works has plans for repairing the Lincoln Street storm sewer this summer and will help with water by the lift station. She said that should help alleviate a lot of that problem there. Mayor Hill said they all live in a flat town and if there are torrential rains, it’s hard, since there is nowhere for things to go.
Mayor Hill next told the council in a follow-up to the drainage issue on Main Street. Dan Tobin from IDOT, came down and reviewed the situation and the village received the following letter. “During recent inspections in Whiteside County, it was found that the Village of Tampico is not in compliance with the 1994 agreement between the Village and the Department of Transportation as it pertains to items 6 and 9 highlighted on the attached copy of the agreement. If the Village is not compliant with items 6 and 9 by June 15, 2016, this issue will be forwarded to Chief Counsel’s Office for Prosecution. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Dan Tobin.” Mayor Hill continued by reading the highlighted items of the agreement.
Item #6 reads; “The Village has on file, and agrees to enforce, an ordinance dated June 19, 1967, restricting parking along Main Street to parallel parking only, and will in the future prohibit parking on or immediately adjacent to this improvement as may be determined to be necessary by the STATE from traffic capacity studies.” Mayor Hill said that pertains to, especially the Post Office, the village is going to have to make that parallel parking now and any where else the village sees that anyone is parking diagonally other than where they have allowed and designated down near the doctor’s office. Mayor Hill said that was part of another deal unless they come through and in the future they do any grading and resurfacing to that parking area, it will be all parallel parking as well.
Item #9 reads; “The Village agrees not to permit the construction of additional entrances, (private or commercial), onto Main Street, Illinois Route 172, within the limits of this improvement without the concurrence of the Department of Transportation.” Mayor Hill stated there is no permit allowed in front of the Kickback. She said she really didn’t pay much attention to this and no one seemed to be concerned until it had become a drainage issue. The Mayor said when they, [IDOT], came down here, she was informed by Dan Tobin, that the gravel and everything needs to be taken back out and it needs to be back to green space so drainage can be allowed there and it’s not flooding the sidewalk. She said there is to be no driving on the sidewalk, which is not permitted by state law, unless it’s a driveway, so somebody driving on that sidewalk can be ticketed. Mayor Hill said she does not want to cause big issues, but these are the facts and this is where the village is at now. Mayor Hill stated it doesn’t matter who put the gravel in, the village has agreed to go in, take the gravel out, put dirt in and seed it back in as the state has asked the village to do. She said if that doesn’t resolve the issue, the council will re-visit it and see what else can be done. The mayor said so there’s the point and the council will go forward from now. She said it’s not a big deal and in looking over the agreement it says, “The Village agrees to enforce an existing ordinance, adopted August 11, 1964, prohibiting the discharge of sanitary industrial waste water into storm sewer drainage systems.” Mayor Hill said therefore, the village cannot allow anyone pumping into our system. She said it’s an EPA issue too. Mayor Hill stated if the village does not abide by the agreement, the village could lose its maintenance funding on Main Street. She said the village cannot afford to lose any more money so the village is going to try to do it’s best to comply with the state and move forward. Village Clerk Leathers advised if this goes further there would be substantial fines. Mayor Hill said the EPA could also come in and the village cannot absorb all that ,[fines],and the cost would have to be passed on to who is doing it. Mayor Hill said that’s all the village can do because the village is not actually permitting any of this and the village has to abide by the IDOT contract. The Mayor said she just wanted to give an update and the council did follow through and things are rolling on that end.
Former Mayor Larry Specht asked if there will be parallel parking in front of the post office. Commissioner Hill told him yes. Specht said permission was granted a long time ago for the diagonal parking in the downtown area of Main Street by the doctor’s office. Mayor Hill stated that is correct, however, if the state comes in and does Main Street it’s, [diagonal parking], is gone the village would have to go back to parallel parking. Mayor Hill said if they, [IDOT], come in and re-do Main Street, it will never be there again. She said a lot of places when they do the primary surface, they give the towns options like asking if the towns want them getting into parking lanes. If they do, the municipality will lose it’s parking as it is now. She continued by saying if IDOT goes in there and they paint it, the village is done. Commissioner Hill said the people will still pull in there the way they always have because they are so used to it. He said the village may not do anything about it but if you back up and get in an accident, both parties would get a ticket. Mayor Hill said the village has to encourage residents to parallel park because it is a safety issue. Specht said a past council did Main Street years ago only to increase parking but he said now it’s not a big deal the extra parking is not really needed. Mayor Hill said she just wanted to give everyone an update so they know what is going on. Mayor Hill asked those present if they had any questions. There were none.
Remarks from Guests
Resident Sandra Tornow said she knows the mayor mentioned the village is still working on the drainage thing, but she brought it to the Utilities Clerk’s attention to leave Tom Pierce a note. Tornow said they went out while it was flooding like that and there is a spot that was bubbling up and it is right in line where the drain runs down the street. Tornow wonder if maybe it froze and cracked or something there at some point. Mayor Hill said further down the road the village is addressing that issue too. She said that should alleviate a lot of that because there are issues. Tornow said maybe it was an issue where they put those pipes and it got broken there. Mayor Hill said there are problems they are looking into. Clerk Leathers stated a few weeks ago public works had a company come in and clean out the storm drains in question. Leathers said they did identify a few spots that were starting to fail. She told those present as soon as the village’s summer help starts, those issues will be taken care of.
Resident Al Morthland advised he has a few things for the council. Morthland questioned the placement of a dog kennel in the alley between Lincoln Street and Washington Street. Mayor Hill told him she doesn’t know that it is and really unless you live on an alley, you shouldn’t be on an alley. Mayor Hill told Morthland if he has an issue he should talk to the police chief or the Zoning Administrator.
Morthland addressed Commissioner Meier about the Men’s Club alley and the holes there.
Morthland reminded the council about the lake on Lincoln Street. Mayor Hill told him the council is looking into getting that project underway. Morthland said he was talking to Meier. Mayor Hill said she was answering his question since she is the presiding officer. Morthland argued it is Meier’s department. Meier told Morthland they were working on that.
Morthland then asked the water commissioner if the village had any lead in the water. Mayor Hill told him absolutely not. Commissioner Vancil told Morthland the village just got an EPA report and everything is fine on that. Mayor Hill said Pierce ran a report that goes back as far as records have been kept and the village has never had an issue. Morthland said he just asked because a lot of towns around here are having problems. Clerk Leathers told Morthland the village tests for lead every three years. She said the IEPA chooses at least ten (10) houses throughout the village where testing is done and those results have always been negative. She told those present with so many lead issues like the one in Flint, Michigan, the IEPA will start testing every two (2) years. Public works is now waiting for the list of residences the IEPA wants tested for this year.
Next Morthland wanted to know why a resident got a water bill for $93.00. Mayor Hill told Morthland they should address their own issue. Mayor Hill told Morthland that it’s not for them to talk about at the council. She said Morthland should know that. Morthland asked the mayor why ain’t it?
Mayor Hill asked Morthland if he had anything else. Morthland replied what good does it do when the mayor interrupts everybody that talks and she doesn’t let the council members run their departments. Morthland was asked if he was done.
Specht advised the council the Men’s Club would like to get their posters out by the end of May for Tampico Festive Days if anyone wants to put anything on them. Mayor Hill told Specht there has been a lot of chatter from people wishing there could be a carnival. Specht said he had heard some of it. Mayor Hill stated it would really be good if some group or committee , or something would come forward and do that, the village itself can’t do it. She said that’s at least a year out in planning. Specht told the council, the Men’s Club can’t do it. He said years ago you could do it, they could bring a carnival in. He stated there for a while the Men’s Club would have them come in and not ask for any of the profit just to have them come in. Specht said those days are gone, now you have to pay someone to come. He said it’s hard to stick your neck out that far. Mayor Hill and Commissioner Hill agreed with liability and insurance issues. Specht thinks it would possibly cost around $3,000.00 to get a carnival to come in and the Men’s Club does not want to stick their neck out any further. Mayor Hill said it would be great, but it’s just not feasible.
Commissioner Maupin told Specht it sounds like the guys uptown want to have a cruise night. Specht said he had just heard that. Mayor Hill said the group has it pretty well organized. Commissioner Maupin said it sounds like it is pretty much ready to go. Specht said he would get it on the posters. Mayor Hill said it looks like Dana, [Fellows] has been funneling in the different events and he is taking care of a lot of that this year, which is great. Mayor Hill encouraged Specht to call Village Hall and leave a message for the council so the Village can pass on information as well if people don’t know who to contact. Clerk Leathers asked if Main Street would need to be closed for the planned cruise night. Maupin asked if the village was or was not closing Main Street. Mayor Hill told him the village will, the council just needs to decide how long it should be closed. Leathers advised she had only included Sunday in the resolution to IDOT. Mayor Hill said it could be adjusted. It was learned the cruise night would be held on Saturday of the Tampico Days weekend. Maupin said he bets they would want the street closed. Commissioner Hill stated probably at least for a few hours. Mayor Hill said typically the resolution says from Sunday just in the morning until around 10 at night and then it could be opened if the council wants it. Maupin said he would contact the cruise night group to see what their ideas are.
Mayor Hill said there is still time to decide and see if there is anything else that the council would like to have the street closed longer, say Saturday at Noon until Sunday at 10 pm. Hill said just in case anyone else will have something going on and she does not know if the Fire Department has anything going on or not. Maupin will contact the group and find out for sure. Commissioner Hill thought it should be closed anyway for things like the 5K run. It was decided the 5K was on Sunday morning so Main Street would already be closed. Specht asked if Main Street was usually closed on Sunday or if it is closed a few hours before the parade. Mayor Hill said usually right before the parade even though the village does have permission for earlier. She said they could make it for earlier. Clerk Leathers advised the request to IDOT is usually from 8 am to 6 pm on that Sunday. Commissioner Maupin said it’s nice to have the street closed off for the Firemen’s Pancake Breakfast since people are spilling out in the street and walking across. Approving the resolution to close a portion of Main Street for Tampico Days will be tabled until the next meeting.
A $300.00 donation to Whiteside County Public Transportation was discussed and approved on a motion by Commissioner Maupin and a second by Commissioner Vancil. “Yes” votes were Hill, Meier, Maupin, Vancil and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
A $300.00 donation to Tampico Memorial Cemetery was discussed and approved on a motion by Commissioner Meier and a second by Commissioner Hill. “Yes” votes were Hill, Meier, Maupin, Vancil and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
At 7:25 PM, Commissioner Vancil made a motion and a second by Commissioner Maupin to leave the Regular portion of the meeting and go into a Closed Session to discuss Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Discipline, Performance or Dismissal of Employees of the Public Body & Possible Action on Any Item Discussed in Closed Session as Allowed by 5 ILCS 120 / 1 and the Illinois Open Meetings Act. “Yes” votes were Hill, Meier, Maupin, Vancil and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
At 7:37 PM Commissioner Vancil made a motion with a second by Commissioner Maupin to adjourn the Closed Session portion of the meeting and return to the Regular Meeting session. “Yes” votes were Hill, Meier, Maupin, Vancil and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
Discussion turned to employee cost of living increases. The council proposed a 3% cost of living increase for Public Works employees, Tom Pierce, Art Spencer and Colin Jaquet; the Utilities Clerk 3%; the Village Clerk 3%; Peggy Hadaway, RCC Maintenance, 3%. The Day Care Board has suggested employee cost of living increases for their staff as follows: Sarah Kuepker, Administrator, $1.00 per hour; Michelle Quinn and Katie Haak $.25 per hour. A motion was made by Commissioner Meier made a motion to approve the increases with a second by Commissioner Hill. “Yes” votes were Hill, Meier, Maupin, Vancil and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
Commissioner Vancil advised the council the Recreation Committee is struggling this year with keeping things up with all the rain we’ve been getting. Vancil said the committee thought they had someone that was going to be good and who would get in there and do it, but he had a higher bid than what the committee thought they were going to get from him. Vancil said he and another committee member will be off work for awhile now and they would like permission to have access to the village’s mower during the week so they can mow the diamonds themselves. He said then the village guys won’t have to worry about it and committee members will be putting their time in on it and they won’t have to pay someone. Mayor Hill said committee members would already be covered by insurance and she doesn’t see an issue, in fact she said that would be great. Vancil stated the only thing they would ask of the village is to spray for weeds. Vancil said there are a lot of weeds over there and games start next Thursday. Vancil said it’s hard with this being a volunteer program. Commissioner Maupin said communication will be the biggest part so if the committee has a bad week and can’t get it mowed, they should let public works know when they want it mowed, even if it’s border-line over- communicating. Mayor Hill advised the village is hoping to get another mower on board too so if there are breakdowns the village won’t be running way behind and that has happened before. Vancil said the should have the diamonds covered for this year. Mayor Hill said that is nice to see because years ago it was volunteers over there. She remembers painting the Tampico Ball Diamond side of the building and there was a lot of pride in it. Vancil said he sees all the people complaining about it all the time but if they put as much time into helping as they do complaining about it then there would be better progress on everything. He stated you kind of have to take the good with the bad. He said that’s where they are at with it. He advised if they have access to the mower, they will take care of it and with volunteers, they will get the diamonds all taken care of.
Commissioner Hill said that’s why the council is looking at getting a new mower. He said the current one has so many hours on it. Hill reported sometimes it has broken down three times in one day. Mayor Hill said she thought the first key in communication is getting our equipment where it needs to be.
Mayor Hill told the council, the village has a chunk of property that is an alleyway and it happens to fall next to a gentleman who has contributed to the community through his entire life. Mayor Hill stated she would like to propose to the council they dedicate this alley way as a park way to Ben Hoover. Commissioner Hill explained the location is between the 400 hundred blocks of W. Market and E. Booth Streets. Mayor Hill said she has spoken to all the neighbors and they really are on board with honoring Hoover. She said, if it is approved, she would like to put up a sign with his name on it to dedicate it to him. Mayor Hill stated it would be nice to have such a positive thing. She reported the neighbors have been mowing the green space for years and they will continue to do so and the village will still have an easement. Commissioner Maupin said he doesn’t see a problem with that, it’s a nice gesture. Resolution #R01-16-05-11 establishing Ben Hoover Park was approved on a motion by Commissioner Vancil and a second by Commissioner Maupin. “Yes” votes were Hill, Meir, Maupin, Vancil and Mayor Hill. The motion carried. Mayor Hill advised she would set a dedication date in the near future. She thought maybe even Tampico Days.
Building Permits issued by Zoning Administrator, Ron Kuepker, were 202 W. Kimball Street – Room Addition and 320 S. Main – New Roof.
Communications
Clerk Leathers advised the council she has updated information on the State of Illinois and the Replacement Tax issue. Earlier this year, the Illinois Department of Revenue, [IDOR], discovered incorrect Corporate Personal Property Replacement Tax over payments to municipalities and other local government agencies. Leathers said the Village of Tampico was only over paid by $217.48. She reported the Illinois Municipal League, of which the village is a member, has been watching the issue closely. The latest update advised no action will be taken to recover those over payments until at least January 2017. The IDOR’s proposed plan is to recoup the money over a period of two years which is equal to the period in which the over payment occurred. It is unknown if they will deduct the over payments from future disbursements or if they must be paid separately. Future payments will be in the correct amount.
The council learned ComEd is asking the Commerce Commission for a rate increase. The average increase will amount to bills to $2.00 more per month per household.
Rock River Energy, the village’s energy supply consultant, has advised the village ComEd energy supplier summer rates will be 6.195 cents per Kwh, and non-summer rates, from October 2016 through May 2017, at 6.315 cents per Kwh, will be lower than the village’s current aggregation supplier, First Energy Solutions, rate of 6.72 cents per Kwh. The village’s municipal aggregation contract with First Energy has language in it that has price match. There is a price match guarantee. Rock River Energy Services has reached out to First Energy to see what they would like to do. If First Energy decides not to do the price match guarantee they will offer allowing the village to return to ComEd to take advantage of the cheaper rates. Rock River Energy will advise when they hear back from First Energy.
Bills were ordered paid as presented on a motion from Commissioner Maupin and a second by Commissioner Vancil. “Yes” votes were Hill, Meier, Maupin, Vancil and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
Al Morthland asked the council where the money is coming from for giving out all these raises. Mayor Hill told Morthland it’s just cost of living. Morthland said he thought we were hurting for money. Mayor Hill told Morthland the council is watching it wisely. Morthland remarked they could save a lot of money if they eliminated two cops. Mayor Hill told Morthland, the council was done here.
The meeting adjourned at 7:49 PM.
The next Regular Meeting of the Tampico Village Council will be Tuesday, June 7, 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 7th DAY OF June, 2016
**These minutes are not official until signed, dated and sealed by the Village Clerk**
