REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TAMPICO
November 15, 2016
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 and Derrick Maupin were present. Commissioners Phalen Vancil and Scott Meier were absent. Police Chief Terry Strike was in attendance and Village Clerk, Kathy Leathers recorded the written and audio minutes. The meeting was also video recorded.
Mayor Hill led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes of the November 2, 2016 Regular Meeting were approved as presented.
Reports of Village Officials
Mayor Hill made mention that the first E-Cycling will be held Saturday, November 19 from 9:00am to 11:00am in the back alley by the trailers. She said this will not be the last opportunity to use the E-Cycling. She urges everyone to call in if they would like to participate, that way we’ll have names and numbers to contact people and let them know when the next E-Cycling is scheduled. The list of items to be recycled are on the towns website and we have a list in the office. It’s pretty much anything electronic or to do with communication.
Mayor Hill made mention of correspondence from Ameren stating crews will be in the community as part of infrastructure improvements. They’ll be upgrading residential and business customers electronic and natural gas meters. They’re scheduled to begin this spring and work through 2016. Customers will begin receiving notifications explaining the meter upgrades and how it works. If you have any questions feel free to call Village Hall.
Commissioner Maupin told the council that men’s basketball at the RCC is going well.
Remarks from Guests
Village resident Susan Frank stated that they read on the agenda that the water and sewer prices were going to be raised again. Mayor Hill said no, they are not being raised. Frank wanted to know how much money does the council plan on taking out of the water and sewer fund. Mayor Hill said it’s on the agenda to discuss and the council will be doing that shortly. Frank said this is the 3rd time that money has been taken out of that account. She thinks the full amount should be disclosed. Commissioner Maupin said it has been and will continue to be. Mayor Hill said we will get to this topic and Frank can ask questions when the council is done discussing the topic.
Resident Al Morthland asked why there isn’t a flag up at the municipality. Mayor Hill explained that it fell on the police car but the village is in the process of getting a new one put up.
Morthland also asked about the flags on Main Street. Mayor Hill said some of the brackets need to be adjusted so they put up what they could. Morthland mentioned lights out on Main Street. Mayor Hill said the company is sending the parts to repair them under warranty. Morthland then asked about the rail fence down at Reagan Park. Mayor Hill said it requires repair from time to time.
Resident Mary Jo Sigel asked why the new employee hired for the daycare is working at the Tiger Club. Mayor Hill corrected her, letting her know that the gentleman was hired for Tiger Club, not the daycare. Sigel thinks there should be a profit loss statement for both the daycare and the Tiger Club. Mayor Hill explained that there is. There is no way to cover anything up because of audits. Sigel asked to see the audit. Clerk Leathers explained that the head auditor had a death in the family, and applied for an extension with the State Comptrollers office and with the County Clerk. That is why the audit has been delayed. Leathers also explained the profit loss margins are done on a monthly basis. They are available to be seen at the office.
Village resident Kari Matthews asked if she’s correct in understanding that Sarah at the daycare receives a lot of donations. Mayor Hill said yes, she receives donations and grants. She’s constantly searching for opportunities and it’s going very well and she’s getting more kids all the time. Clerk Leathers said there are currently 7 kids at the daycare now, and it’ll be up to 9 in a couple of weeks. Mayor Hill said with a small community, it takes a while for something new to get running. But the daycare is doing very well. Commissioner Hill said like most businesses, it could take 3 to 5 years to really get rolling or to even get ahead. He hasn’t missed a meeting since getting on the board and said this topic gets brought up a lot. He said that if the council feels it’s going on the wrong direction, or if something needs to be changed, it’ll be presented at the meetings and to the public. We won’t let it get the town of Tampico in debt. The more new, young people that move to the town, the more kids will be here to use this opportunity. Resident Matthews said she helped a woman in Prophetstown, through Facebook, find out about our daycare. Word of mouth will help it succeed. Mayor Hill said the ages they’re currently taking are 2 to 6. And the goal to what the daycare is building up to would be to take on infants. Sarah is at the daycare around 6:00am and stays some nights until 6:00pm.
Unfinished Business
The council learned there are no new updates regarding the Water Main Replacement Project.
New Business
Clerk Leathers said we received a renewal notice from the Illinois Risk Management Association for Workman’s Compensation, Auto Liability, Portable Equipment and Property. The premium is going to be $31,131 per year. That’s half of the village’s property tax levy. Leathers did some looking around, but at this point the IMLRMA is holding us to a binding agreement because they weren’t notified in time that we wanted to switch. That is the reason we’re taking the money from the Water and Sewer accounts, because the State is behind on paying their bills again. There is no explanation as to why those payments are late. Leathers said the Illinois Municipal League is working with State Leaders to try and figure out why that money can’t be distributed. Leathers said the State owes the village at least $20,000. That’s just in Sales Tax Revenue and Income Tax Revenue. We haven’t received anything from them since the August taxing period. The Insurance has to be paid, so the council will have to borrow money from the Water and Sewer Accounts. When the budget was made many years ago, Matt Hansen at Willett Hoffman built it in so that that amount was set aside in that budget so that this wouldn’t hurt any other infrastructure projects going on. The insurance is up 8% from last year. Clerk Leathers said she has made some contacts with other insurance agencies, to work on getting some quotes before this comes up again. Leathers said we’ll be taking $10,000 from the Water Fund and $10,000 from the Sewer Fund. This will be the first withdrawal for this fiscal year. Mayor Hill reiterated that these amounts were built in to the budget and everything is well documented. She said the council is very frugal with their budget. Village Resident Susan Frank asked the council to either take away village employees insurance, or make them start paying into it so that we don’t have to transfer money like this in the future. Commissioner Maupin said we will not take away from our employees benefits. This is Workman’s Compensation Insurance that has to be paid. When money is received from that State of Illinois, it will be put back in to the two funds. Clerk Leathers stated that the company does offer a discount if the amount is paid by a certain time. Commissioner Hill made the motion to approve the 2017 Annual Contribution to Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association in the amount of $30,819.69. Commissioner Maupin seconded. Yes votes were Maupin, Hill and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
Clerk Leathers stated a motion is needed to Approve the Transfer of Such Surplus Funds in the Water Department to General Corporate Fund Checking. Commissioner Maupin made the motion. It was seconded by Commissioner Hill. Yes votes were Maupin, Hill and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
Commissioner Maupin made the motion to Approve the Transfer of Such Surplus Funds in Water Department to General Corporate Fund Checking. It was seconded by Commissioner Hill. Yes votes were Maupin, Hill and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
Mayor Hill made mention how lucky the village is to have an engineer with enough foresight to allow the council to have the Surplus for cases such as this. She said that way the village isn’t raising sewer and water bill and not raising property tax or other referendums. It’s been great having Willett and Hoffman help the council all these years so they efficient in what they need to do.
Commissioner Maupin informed the council that the cost of the Topographical Work for the Water Main Replacement Project is in the Water and Sewer Accounts. Village Engineers hope to have it finished before winter. He said they will not have to borrow any money to have it finished because the funds are accounted for in the Water and Sewer Department.
Building permits issued by Zoning Administrator, Ron Kuepker, were: 101 E. Forth St. – New Roof – House, and 302 N. Main St. – New Roof – House.
Communications
Clerk Leathers reported there were two items for Communications. The Illinois Municipal League State House Briefing. The General Assembly returns to session this week. There is a list of things they’ll be talking about.
There was also an email from the Illinois Municipal League that states what they’re doing about trying to get the State Shared Revenues released.
Bills were ordered paid on a motion by Commissioner Maupin and seconded by Commissioner Hill. “Yes” votes were Maupin, Hill and Mayor Hill.
The motion carried.
Commissioner Maupin addressed the meeting, reiterating that he’s aware that the fact that money has to be transferred from the Water and Sewer funds isn’t liked, it isn’t liked by the council as well, but it has to be done. Circumstances with the State have forced the need of it. It’s not being done lightly. By doing it this way, it is in turn saving the Village money by having it done this way and having it done quickly. Once we get the money the State owes us, we should in fact be ahead.
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM. The next regular meeting of the Tampico Village Council will be Tuesday, December 6, 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 6th DAY OF December, 2016
**These minutes are not official until signed, dated and sealed by the Village Clerk**
