REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TAMPICO

May 7, 2019 7:00 PM
Reagan Community Center

Mayor Kristine L. Hill called the Regular Meeting of the Tampico Village Council to order at 7:00PM.

Commissioners Jim Coleman, Scott Meier and Todd Tornow were present. Commissioner Al Wildman was absent. Police Officer Will Lukehart was also present. Village Clerk, Kathy Leathers, recorded the written and audio minutes.

Mayor Hill led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Minutes of the April 16, 2019 Regular Meeting were approved as presented.
Minutes of the April 16, 2019 Closed Meeting were approved as presented.

Reports of Village Officials
Mayor Hill reported that the E-Recycling is back on. Currently the trailer is full that will require some volunteers to load up and transfer. What’s been worked out with the company is Rock Falls will be a pick up location along with Prophetstown. Prophetstown said they will service Tampico and Lyndon. Village residents will still drop off their E-Recycling here at the trailer behind Village Hall, then it will be transferred over to Prophetstown when they have a pick up day scheduled. Everything currently in the trailer will need to be moved by the end of the month. Mayor Hill asked volunteers to contact herself or Clerk Leathers and said it would be greatly appreciated. There are a lot of larger items to be moved. Mayor Hill said eventually, a garage door will be cut into one of the trailers to make the process easier. Mayor Hill said Whiteside County worked really hard and I think it’s great we have it back. The only cost is materials needed to transfer the items to Prophetstown. Mayor Hill said this should occur a couple times a year, it just depends on how full the trailer is. Village resident Sherry Coleman said she would be able to help coordinate this and hopefully have it done by this Saturday. Mayor Hill said that would be great and should only take a few hours to accomplish.

Commissioner Coleman mentioned that resident and Zoning Administrator, Ron Kuepker, had previously asked about the Canal St. house. I know there is a lot of paperwork involved with all that, but what about the house on South Fremont? Mayor Hill said that house is in foreclosure and it owned by a company out of St. Louis. Coleman asked how long has that house been like that? Mayor Hill said a very long time. Coleman asked how can our community speed up the process? Mayor Hill said our hands are tied on a lot of it and it cost a lot of money to get it cleaned up. When you have a lawyer out of St. Louis buy it as a tax right off, they don’t return your calls. The Legislator is where we need to go for help. We need to have laws that say if it’s for the best interest and safety for a community that we can step in and do something.

Village resident and business owner, Bonnie Anderson, asked how she can find out who owns a property next to her? Mayor Hill said you can go on Whiteside County GIS and that’ll tell you the property owner. You can also call Whiteside for the information. Clerk Leathers also offered to look it up for Anderson. Anderson said the only thing Whiteside would tell her is the purchase price, but she does not what to pay that much when it really just needs to be torn down. Anderson said it’s full of garbage and I’m not putting up with that smell this summer. Mayor Hill said I don’t blame you and completely understand. Clerk Leathers will try to find out who owns it and see if there is any action we can take. Mayor Hill said Leathers had mentioned that adverse possession is a very lengthy and costly process for the Village. Rock Falls is able to get involved with some grant processes, but we’re such a small community that it’s hard for us to be able to right the grants to get the kind of money it takes to take care of these kinds of situations. It cost to just hire a grant writer. Mayor Hill said I’ve tried working the Rock Falls City Coordinator to see if there’s a way we could work with them to offset some of the cost, but we’re a small town with limited resources and funds. Officer Lukehart said grant writers cost thousands of dollars but you have to have them. There is a lot of paperwork involved. Mayor Hill said it’s sad to see these houses that use to be owned by nice families look this way, but we just have to keep trying to come up with ways to make it fix it and make it better.

Bonnie Anderson said she has a few questions that concern the Tampico Festival coming up. Mayor Hill said there will be a Tampico Festival Committee meeting for that within the next few weeks. Please come to that with all your questions and the committee will answer them there.

Remarks from Guests
Mayor Hill said I believe this portion of the meeting was already covered.

Unfinished Business
The meeting turned to a resolution requesting permission from the Illinois Department of Transportation to close a portion of Main Street (IL RT 172) on Friday, July 19, 2019 through Sunday, July 21, 2019 at 6:00 PM in celebration of Tampico Festival. A motion to approve the resolution was made by Commissioner Meier, second by Commissioner Tornow. “Yes” votes were Coleman, Meier and Tornow. Mayor Hill abstain. The motion carried.

Next the Council discussed approving Resolution NO. R01-19-05-07 authorizing opening a checking account at Peoples National Bank – Tampico Banking Center for the monies raised during Tampico Festival. Mayor Hill said all the money that’s being deposited is all the money that has been donated by sponsors to create an active account and to pay bills and vendors. A motion to approve the resolution was made by Commissioner Meier, second by Commissioner Coleman. “Yes” votes were Coleman, Meier, Tornow and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.

Mayor Hill asked the Village Commissioners if they had anything they’d like to share as they step down. She also thanked them for serving the Village and said it’s not an easy job.

Commissioner Meier said I wish I had more time to spend. I would like to help more. Mayor Hill thanked him again for his time that he has put in.

Mayor Hill also said thank you for allowing me to step up again for another 4 years. She said I really do love this town and that’s why I’m doing it again.

Village Clerk Kathy Leathers announced the Abstract of Votes Cast in the 2019 Consolidated Election as certified by Whiteside County Clerk, Dana Nelson. On April 10, 2019, Clerk Nelson canvassed the returns of an election held April 2, 2019, and certified that the following list of candidates each received the number of votes recorded for the office listed as follows: MAYOR: Kristine L. Hill – 49 votes. She ran unopposed. COMMISSIONER: Ryan DeBrock – 44 votes; James Coleman – 51 votes; Tammy Kendell – 45 votes. All 3 were running unopposed which leaves an open seat on the Council. Kristine L. Hill was declared elected Mayor. Ryan DeBrock, James Coleman and Tammy Kendell were declared elected Commissioners. The term of office is for four years.

Following a short break, the newly-elected Council took their place at the Council table. Village Clerk Kathy Leathers administered the oath of office to the newly elected Council and will provide the new members with booklets of information to assist them in carrying out their duties.

New Business
The Council discussed approving a Council Commissioner to be appointed to the vacant seat. Mayor Hill said Al Wildman has agreed to join the Council once again. I would like to appoint him back as our Police Commissioner and Public Safety because he has done it for many years. It’s a good transition and he’s a huge resource for what we’ve done in the past. He’s currently out of town but will return for the next meeting. Commissioner Coleman made a motion to approve appointing Al Wildman to join the Council, second by Commissioner Tammy Kendell. “Yes” votes were Coleman, DeBrock, Kendell and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.

Mayor Hill said I’d like to start Tammy Kendell out at Streets and Public Improvements, have Ryan DeBrock at Water / Sewer / Garbage and Parks & Recreational. Commissioner Coleman has been helping a lot with the Water / Sewer so the new project that’s been in the works will not be unloaded on DeBrock, and Coleman will stay with Accounts and Finance. Mayor Hill said this isn’t set in stone and can be moved around but I think this is a good fit for everyone starting out.

Building Permits issued by Zoning Administrator, Ron Kuepker, were 212 S. Fremont St. – Garage Roof.

Communications
There were no Communications at this time.

Bills were ordered paid on a motion by Commissioner Kendell with a second by Commissioner DeBrock. “Yes” votes were Coleman, DeBrock, Kendell and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.

Mayor Hill asked if anyone had anything else. Resident Beth Etheridge mentioned that others have commented to her about the burning situation in town and that they are also upset about it. Etheridge advised those people to come to a meeting and speak up about it. Mayor Hill said Commissioner Coleman and herself are going to look into the Village burning ordinance to see if they can tighten it up. Etheridge said she’d really like to see no burning allowed during holidays. Mayor Hill said that’s a good point and they’re going to see about getting that taken care of.

The meeting adjourned at 7:40 PM. The next Regular Meeting of the Tampico Village Council will be Tuesday, May 21, 2019 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 21st DAY OF May, 2019

**These minutes are not official until signed, dated and sealed by the Village Clerk**