REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TAMPICO
February 6, 2018, 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 Derrick Maupin, Al Wildman and Todd Tornow were present. Commissioner Scott Meier was absent. Police Chief Terry Strike and Assistant Clerk Jamie McIntire were also present. 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 January 16, 2018 Regular Meeting were approved as presented.
Reports of Village Officials
Mayor Hill said I have a couple things to discuss. It was brought to my attention that it was found on Facebook that our water bill will be going up $30.00. That rumor is not true. That was the worse case scenario brought up at our last meeting. It stated that if we did not get our loans and our grants to do our water project, then we’d have to raise the amount but it’s not in the cards that we have to.
Mayor Hill said there is also a rumor that the ball diamond was going to be sold. It is not going to be sold. We just wanted to take care of those rumors completely.
Village resident Deb TerBush said in this paperwork it said it will be going up. Commissioner Maupin said he had to put it in there. In order to apply for the grant they have to put it in there to state how we’d pay for it if we don’t get the grant. Mayor Hill said it’s the worse case scenario. Maupin said if we don’t get the grant funds we can choose to not proceed with the project. Basically in the absolute worse case scenario, we’re not going to continue with the project because we’re not going to raise the amount. Mayor Hill said we have no plans of doing that. Maupin said the language had to be in there so that way they could apply for everything.
Mayor Hill began to discuss clean up dates for the Recreation Board. Mayor Hill said Commissioner Tornow and I met with the Recreation Board and we’re going to have clean up March 3rd and 10th from 8:00am to 12:00pm for anyone that would like to come and help. We’d really appreciate the help. There will also be sign up for the baseball program. Fliers have been sent out to the school and if there are any other questions please feel free to contact the board members or Clerk Leathers here at the office and she can direct you. We had a really good meeting with a lot of good discussion and I think we’re going to have a great season. It looks really positive. We got the paperwork to work toward a 50/50 raffle to help raise funds. We’re moving in the right direction.
Mayor Hill said Whiteside County Senior Center is having a Frozen Ball on March 23rd at Deer Valley Country Club. What this does is help take people around in our community. It’s not just for seniors. It’s for people who maybe don’t have a license or just don’t drive. It’s very cheap transportation for them to get around and to get to their jobs, shopping or doctors. It’s a great service for our communities. Anyone who’s interested, Clerk Leathers also has more information on it. Mayor Hill said you can also contact myself as well.
Remarks from Guests
Cindy Slock and Girl Scout Troop #253 was present. Slock said we came here tonight to first off say thank you for letting us have our meeting here at the Reagan Center. We appreciate you letting us use the building. Currently this year, our Tampico Troop #253 has our biggest year yet with 11 members ranging from age 5 to 12. It’s Daisy through Cadet level. This year we’re trying to earn badges and span across all of them. We’re currently working on our Citizenship Badge. We’re learning about what makes our community special. We thought it was unique that today is Ronald Reagan’s birthday as well. That is one of the things that makes Tampico unique as well as what type of government we have and how many active citizens. Prior to the meeting we met with Mayor Hill and the girls were able to ask her some questions and learn a little bit more about our government here in Tampico. We’ve also been learning about the state of Illinois. Each girl introduced themselves, said what level Girl Scout they are and shared a symbol or fact about Illinois. Slock said every year we do talk as a troop about giving back to our community. We want to thank all of you for your service that you do for our community and we wanted to let you know that if there are projects that you feel we can help out with in any way, we would be more then happy to do that. So thank you very much. Mayor Hill and the rest of the council thanked the girls for coming to the meeting and sharing.
Mayor Hill gave the floor to Kris Schmidt. Schmidt said I don’t want to take too much time of the council but thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk right quick. My name is Kris Schmidt and I’m running for Whiteside County Sheriff. The main thing I want to do first and for most is introduce myself personally to the board, and I’d like to put it out there that if any of you ever have any questions, comments or suggestions please reach out to me because I’m definitely an open person. Chief Strike and I were talking before hand and I take pride, like you guys do, and the service you provide for your community. Likewise I take pride in the service I provide for your community and for Whiteside County as well. In working with Chief Strike, I think there’s a lot of good things that we can do together as far as the future for Tampico and working with the Sheriff’s office. I’m willing to stay afterwards if anyone has any questions. We can talk a little bit more and expand on those ideas. Mayor Hill and the council thanked Schmidt for coming in.
Unfinished Business
The council began discussing Adopting Building Codes for Unsafe Building Ordinance. Mayor Hill asked the council if they’ve all had a chance to look through the information. Council members said they got a start on it. Mayor Hill said we can table it once more but I’d like to get it going for this spring so we can start hitting it because I know it takes time and I’d also like for you all to understand it and be comfortable with it. The council agreed they’d like the topic tabled once more for further review. Chief Strike said you can get a hold of us with any questions. Mayor Hill said we’re just trying to make it more applicable to us and usable.
The meeting turned to discussing 2018 Project Plans and Budget Worksheets. Mayor Hill asked if everyone has been working hard on those. Clerk Leathers said I’ve had Assistant Clerk McIntire make the first pass through so she could highlight any areas that we’ve gone over or where we still have room to maybe cut back. She and I are going to go though that and make recommendations if you’d like. Mayor Hill said I encourage you to bring to the next meeting your worksheets that way if you have any questions we can work on them and get things rolling. Leathers said we should probably get with Superintendent Pierce on the Motor Fuel Tax to see if he has any projects for the summer with the alleys or anything.
New Business
The council began discussing the approval of the Watermain Replacement Project Engineering Report to replace the Engineering Agreement dated October 11, 2016. Clerk Leathers said all that is is an update because it was so long ago that we agreed to it. It’s basically the same thing. They just needed an updated form to make sure we’re good with Rural Development and the EPA. A motion was made by Commissioner Maupin with a second from Commissioner Tornow. “Yes” votes were Maupin, Wildman, Tornow and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
The meeting turned to Recreation Board Appointments. Mayor Hill said we had two vacancies that we accepted the resignations of two of the members and I was actually able to find two people to step up. One happens to be my daughter, Mallory Wetzell, and the other is Amanda Kendall. They actually played on the same team years ago. They’re both willing to participate and help and we appreciate that very much. I need a motion and a second to accept them to the Recreation Board. A motion was made by Commissioner Tornow with a second by Commissioner Wildman. Clerk Leathers said a motion has been made to approve the following Recreation Board Appointments: Mallory Wetzell and Amanda Kendall. “Yes” votes were Maupin, Wildman, Tornow and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
A motion was made by Commissioner Maupin, seconded by Commissioner Tornow at 7:15 PM, to leave the regular meeting and go into a closed session to discuss the Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Discipline, Performance or Dismissal of Employees of the Public Body and 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 Maupin, Wildman, Tornow and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
A motion was made by Commissioner Tornow, seconded by Commissioner Maupin at 7:19 PM to leave the closed session portion of the meeting and return to the regular open meeting. “Yes” votes were Maupin, Wildman, Tornow and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
The council began to discuss Hiring of Part-Time Summer Mowing Help. Mayor Hill said we’ve had a few applicants over the fall and winter but there has been issues with licenses and such. We have someone who has put an application in. I would like to present Doug Coffman to be hired to mow for the Village of Tampico at $10 / HR. That is an “as needed” basis. A motion was made by Commissioner Wildman with a second from Commissioner Tornow. “Yes” votes were Maupin, Wildman, Tornow and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
Communications
Clerk Leathers said we had one. Mediacom is raising the cost of your local channels by five cents. Mayor Hill said they would of saved that by not printing this out. Leathers said they sent the letter certified return receipt.
Bills were ordered paid on a motion by Commissioner Maupin with a second by Commissioner Tornow. “Yes” votes were Maupin, Wildman, Tornow and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
Mayor Hill asked if anyone else has anything they’d like to say, ask or comment on. There was none.
The meeting adjourned at 7:22 PM. The next Regular Meeting of the Tampico Village Council will be Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at 7:00 PM in the Reagan Community Center located at 202 W. Second Street.
Kathy A. Leathers
Clerk
Mayor
Kristine L. Hill
MINUTES APPROVED THIS 20th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2018
**These minutes are not official until signed, dated and sealed by the Village Clerk**
