REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TAMPICO
June 18, 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, Ryan DeBrock and Tammy Kendell were present. Commissioner Al Wildman was absent. Police Chief Terry Strike, Police Officer Will Lukehart and assistant Clerk Jamie McIntire were also present. Village Clerk, Kathy Leathers, recorded the written and audio minutes. Commissioner Al Wildman arrived at 7:01PM.
Mayor Hill led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes of the June 4, 2019 Regular Meeting were approved as presented.
Reports of Village Officials
Mayor Hill reported that many Village residents have taken out the Initial Damage Assessment forms and have begun to turn them back in. It’s greatly appreciated because that will help us work with Whiteside County and getting to that next level for help from the State. It’s part of the litigation process which is lengthy and troublesome.
Mayor Hill advised that this is a Regular Village Meeting. It was spotted on social media that this is a Special Meeting when it is not.
Mayor Hill reported that the Village was hit with 5 more inches of rain this past Saturday. We were trying to get emergency generators and pumps for back up in case of any power outages. The Village was denied because the area is so saturated, we did not rank. Unless we have a failure, then we will be brought up another notch. The Village is trying to have a back up system in place. Mayor Hill said I’m working with the engineers to see if we can receive funds through the USDA. We’re hoping pipes won’t collapse once the water table goes down and we’re back to our normal flow. We’re hoping it won’t put too much pressure on the lines. We have had cameras in about 100% of our lines to help us pinpoint the more critical areas. We already lined up to have the cameras back to check the lines again once the water table goes down. Then we’ll also be able to access damages. Mayor Hill said a lot of people in town are in a horrible spot right now. I’ve tried calling insurance and they’re calling it an Act of God. I hurt for everyone in this community. We are doing everything we possibly can, including reaching out to every resource we have in our area. We ask everyone to please continue conserving water. Mayor Hill said she’ll be taking her laundry to Dixon because Sterling and Rock Falls are also fighting this same issue. Don’t flush your toilet ever time because that will help the overall system. The little things will help make a huge difference. At this time there are 113 known homes affected. Mayor Hill made a map of the town and crossed off the homes that are on slabs or that are trailers to better show just how many homes in the Village are being affected by this issue. The map also shows where the most critical points are. Mayor Hill said I’ve been praying to God, and hope that you all are also, that the rain has to stop. Homes are in worse shape now then ever from all this past rain. We have to work together to get through this and not pull apart.
Mayor Hill reminded everyone that the dumpster out front of Village Hall is for those with flood damage items only. People in town are abusing it for their own personal use. It’s there to help the people who need to be helped. Mayor Hill said we don’t want the sewer prices to go up. Continue to file your information with the Village and stay a united force so we may hopefully receive funds to help with the extra costs. Like many other communities fighting this issue, there is a possibility that prices will be raised for the sewers.
We can’t avoid it but we are doing everything we can to prevent it. Mayor Hill said my husband and I have been in and out of town all weekend long checking on the lift stations. Commissioner Coleman has also been going around town looking for those who could use some help. If anyone out there needs help, call Village Hall. If you have any suggestions on how to help the situation, please report it. It might be an idea we haven’t thought of yet or something we have looked in to and we’ll be able to explain why it’s not an option. Mayor Hill said we have to continue to work together but if you have to be mad at someone about all this, be mad at me. I do care about the Village and our team is trying to do our best. This Council has worked hard and their hearts are in it.
Mayor Hill had one more item to report. I am very concerned about our Tampico Grade School being shut down because that’s one of the options presented by the school board. I do know the Regional Superintendent is not in favor of it. There is a board meeting next Monday and it would be great if the residents of Tampico could attend. This could affect the whole Village and cost money. If we loose our school we will loose property value. It’ll be revenue out of all our pockets to keep our systems running in our community. Mayor Hill said not only that, but keeping the school open is in the best interest for our kids. One of the other options is to have learning centers. The younger kids would go to Prophetstown, the kids about 2nd through 5th grade would come to Tampico, then the middle school and high school ages would go to Prophetstown. Mayor Hill said I would hate to see a school that’s about 44 thousand square feet on 7 acres close down and then shove all these kids into a school at 31 thousand square feet on 2 acres. Our school has a designated cafeteria and gym which would work better for the older kids. Then the little ones can meet in the middle which would be better for them. Mayor Hill said anyone who’s willing to come help and talk out our view points for those 3 minutes allowed, please contact me. I have a teacher and a few others helping me coordinate so we can go in and give our case as to why this would be the best interest for our schools and our communities. That meeting is next Monday the 24th at 6:30PM at the Prophetstown board room. It’s for the best interest of our kids to keep the school, and for our community as well.
Commissioner Coleman advised that the area in which I live, South Joy Street, was in such bad shape that the Village brought us in a port a potty so we could plug off our sewer to alleviate the problem. It’s not coming in anymore for us in my home. It stopped today. We’re using the port a potty out in the street because it’s better then having the water pour in. Mayor Hill said there are bladders available at Menards so you can block yours off. If you do happen to do that please let the Village know so we can get a port a potty stationed in your area as well. It’s an inconvenience but it’s also a health issue and I don’t want to see anyone go through that. We are trying to alleviate that as much as possible. Mayor Hill said I have spoke to the Health Department and they said if it does get to that point, they will bring in waters and mass porta potties. Lets pray the rain has subsided for a while and it won’t get to that point. Mayor Hill said my heart goes out to everyone in this community, but it could be far worse. The news said today that it was in 1974 the last time that this area had seen this much rain.
Remarks from Guests
The Mayor asked at this time if anyone had any comments or concerns that the Council could try to help with. There were several Village residents with questions and/or comments that went as follows:
One resident advised that she is also connected to the line that’s in bad shape on South Joy street and explained that she was never contacted or told that she is not to use her toilets or shower, and didn’t know she was suppose to be using a port a potty like others on that street. Mayor Hill explained that Commissioner Coleman made the decision to plug their sewer line. The Village helped them by placing a port a potty on their street because of that. Anyone is welcome to make that same choice but please contact the Village if you choose to do so we can also provide your area with a port a potty. The resident asked if the Village expects elderly residents to use a port a potty and in all hours of the night? Mayor Hill explained that it’s an option. If you choose to block your sewer this will be provided for you. We’re doing the best we can to help everyone in the community and trying to empty our system.
The next question from a Village resident was asking if the lift stations on Market street and Kimball street failed? Mayor Hill said no they did not. When the sirens go off it means they are at capacity. They can shut down and zero out. The red flashing light means they are over capacity. That’s why at one point we did try to pump out the lift stations to help the situation. Mayor Hill explained that the water table is so far over the sewer line that its infiltrating. When we did try pumping it out, it came right back in. We could pump all day long and it would keep coming in. If we try pumping too much it’s going to collapse our whole system then no one will have sewer.
A resident asked so the water table is getting in to our sewer line? That means whatever is in the sewer line is coming out. Isn’t that contaminating our ground water? Mayor Hill said it’s not contaminating the well water. That water is being tested constantly. Mayor Hill explained that we’re working very hard to update our system, but we’re starting with our water because our lines are too small to accommodate the hydrants. That’s one of our phases. Mayor Hill said I’ve been reaching out to hopefully receive some grants to help with these critical parts. We have lined and reinforced a lot of areas so it doesn’t fail. This is beyond expectation in any means.
A resident asked if they are liable for any State fines that could occur when pumping? Mayor Hill said the EPA has been contacted. Nothing is being discharged out of the sewer plant. We are ok.
A resident asked which lines in town were looked at with the camera? Mayor Hill said all of them have been over the past few years. The resident asked which ones have been done since all this has happened? Mayor Hill explained cameras can’t be put in now because the system is too full. They weren’t put up through the lines up to peoples homes. It was the main lines throughout the Village. It’s been done over the past few years. The last time it was done was about 2 years ago. Mayor Hill explained that unfortunately that doesn’t help us now because this was unexpected. We know which points are critical so those will be the first spots we tend to so there isn’t a domino effect down the road. The resident asked which spots are critical? Mayor Hill said it’s been all mapped out but I’m not sure off the top of my head. Clerk Leathers explained that nothing will be critical now until the water table goes down. The lift stations are not overwhelmed. Once the water starts moving and clearing out, then they’ll be able to camera again. Mayor Hill explained that the last time we were able to camera we did line a few areas that were critical at that point.
A resident explained that they talked to a relative that runs the City of Sterling. He said there is no way you can camera at this point, and the chances if water leaking out of the pipes is not going to happen, but because the water table is so high it’s putting on all that pressure on the pipes. Mayor Hill said right, and that’s why it has to gradually come down. I wouldn’t trust any clear water, but for the most part anything that is being put down from the bathrooms is on an express way. Unless you are on a dead end, then that’s another issue because they can’t get on the express way and merge. But for the most part that’s getting out to the treatment plant.
A resident asked so we can’t quickly pump out the lift station? Mayor Hill said no. The resident said I know the Fire Department would be willing to help the community by pumping. Mayor Hill said at this point it’s just going to fill back in. We talked at the last meeting about having Alton Irrigation come in and pump the lift stations but they told us no because we would have a complete collapse. A resident asked if anything has collapsed yet? Mayor Hill said no, we haven’t seen any evidence of that happening. Everything is still trying to flow through the lift stations. There has been no indication of a stoppage. Commissioner Coleman said when they were pumping out the lift station on the West end, you could see the level drop as they filled the truck. By the time they hauled off to the plant and came back it was right back up. And they did that about 20 times. Mayor Hill advised everyone that the Village is low. It was named after a swamp.
Mayor Hill said it’s very frustrating and we’re trying to look at every angle of how to help the issue. The Councils main concern right now is trying to look down the road of when this all subsides, what will then be our best action. I’ve talked with Tony McCombie several times and IEMA, the Whiteside County Health
Department, the Emergency Management Systems, Cheri Bustos. We’re trying to get it to the Federal level. We’re trying to push through the system to get what we need to litigate this crisis.
A resident asked if J.B. Pritzker has done anything to help? Mayor Hill said he has declared a disaster. Now the wheels have got to turn. That was declared at the end of May. The government is slow.
Mayor Hill said there was an emergency repair South of Tampico on 172 because one of the storms took the berm out and now you can see the gas line and the utility lines. The road isn’t closed at this point because it’s still stable but you would not want to pull off on those shoulders. The State is aware of it and they’re trying to work on it. Mayor Hill said there are a lot of areas where they’ve been restricted to bring heavy loads through because of the high table. They are going to restrict our Main street from heavy loads coming through.
Mayor Hill said anything you see that needs attention, please contact Village Hall. They send me emails and let me know what goes on. We’re a good team that works together.
A resident said sand is starting to come through the cracks of his foundation. There’s going to be long term damage. Mayor Hill said we’re not only looking for the water to subside, but there could be a good 18 months worth of repercussion from all this. That’s another reason why we’re trying to keep a map of homes when we receive these reports so we know all the critical points. Unfortunately it’s probably only going to get worse. Mayor Hill said if there was something I could do to help the situation, I would have done it by now. The stations have not failed at all. The count has zeroed out but they’ve kept running. Those stations are working hard.
A resident asked if the Village will make sure to not use plastic pipes for the future project so we won’t have to worry about this happening again? Mayor Hill said we actually have clay right now. We will be going with something different such as PVC or something more sustainable. This is a very old system that we’ll be updating. Some has been replaced and we keep chipping away at it. A resident said Hahnaman road was suppose to be covered by the County. Mayor Hill said they did replace some of that. Swanson replaced some over on Market street. We do know what’s the oldest. I don’t have the map memorized to tell you right now where those spots are at.
Mayor Hill advised that it has been recommended for those with an older basement to keep the pressure equal, unless your utilities are going to be damaged. The more you pump out, the more pressure will be on your walls. It might be a gamble but it could possibly be better to let it be. That option is completely up to the homeowner. It’s not a sure thing but it has been recommended.
A resident asked once the rain stops, will the Village spray for mosquitoes? Mayor Hill said we do use the pellets but there’s too much standing water right now for that. That is something for us to look in to because we don’t want people getting bit up. Commissioner Kendell asked if the Village still has its fogger? Mayor Hill said no. An option would be to get in touch with Prophetstown and possibly use theirs. Clerk Leathers said if we do that I’ve been told that we’ll have to get another NPDES permit, because what’s sprayed in town goes out to the drainage ditch and through the storm drains. The EPA requires that you have a permit to do that. That would cost us $2,500. The Council would have to discuss this and make sure that it’s still required by the EPA. That was one of the reasons the Village stopped doing it. Mayor Hill said it was another $2,500 expense and we had residents complaining of respiratory problems. Leathers said it can be looked in to because the mosquitoes are going to be bad.
A resident asked for insurance purposes, will the Village now be deemed a flood zone? Mayor Hill said I have fought for this for years. My fight with Whiteside County was I know we’re over a lake. I told them one day the lake is going to rise and it’s going to bite us. They did an assessment and said no. Lake water, or flood water, is not considered a flood. We’re not a flood plane. I tried to get flood insurance but you pay twice as much. I don’t know why you pay twice as much if you’re not in a flood plane. It’s so costly to get flood insurance and that’s why you pay twice as much if you’re not in a flood plane. I did a review of the communities and they said we did not qualify. I hope they’ll revisit that after this year. They’ll probably deem it a 500 year flood. Clerk Leathers said it’s been reported 12.75 inches of rain in the last month and 1 week. A resident asked if the Mayor will ask them to reconsider. Mayor Hill said I’m sure there will be a discussion. I hope they do reevaluate some of this.
Unfinished Business
There was no Unfinished Business to report at this time.
New Business
The Council began to discuss Amending Village Ordinance to deal with Dangerous Buildings. Officer Lukehart said there is a certain building in town that’s causing us to look in to this ordinance. Fulton has a nice ordinance that we’re looking in to adopting. Mayor Hill said we’ll get copies of it to the Council so we can look in to it at the next meeting. This was recommended by our Village attorney.
Building Permits issued by Zoning Administrator, Ron Kuepker, were 108 N. Fremont St. – Siding.
Communications
Clerk Leathers said we received a fax sheet from the Illinois Municipal League about the Century Sales Tax Law. The current law and what they want to do to it, as it impacts brick and mortar retailers and the sales tax of online sales, they’re going to go after that very heavily to make sure Illinois gets its share of that.
Bills were ordered paid on a motion by Commissioner DeBrock with a second by Commissioner Kendell. “Yes” votes were Coleman, Wildman, DeBrock, Kendell and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
Mayor Hill advised that the dumpster out front of Village Hall is for flood victims only. Please be respectful of that. A resident asked how long the dumpster will be there? Mayor Hill said I can’t tell you a for sure date. We are on dumpster number 6. A resident suggested placing anything that can be scrapped next to the dumpster to save room. The scrappers go by there every night looking for those metal items. It will help them and help with more room in the dumpster. Mayor Hill said yes, that’s a good idea. Commissioner Coleman said we have a trailer for any electronics. Mayor Hill said yes, please don’t put TVs in the dumpster. We have the electronic trailer out back for that. Contact Village Hall to place those items in the electronic trailer out back. They have the key and will work with you on getting in there. There is a list in the office of what electronics are accepted. More so anything with gold or silver components in it.
A resident asked what is the deadline to get the damage assessment forms in to the office? Mayor Hill said we’d like them by this Friday. We will take them after that date but would prefer them by Friday so I can start compiling more ammunition to send to Whiteside County. I have already sent an excel sheet of the number of homes affected, extra hours put in and the dumpsters used. We’re trying to keep pushing and letting them know that we need help. Feel free to place the forms in the drop box out front when the office is not open. If you can’t get in to the office to pick up a form, call in and we’ll make arrangements to get one to you. We are keeping track of water and/or sewer in the homes. We’re also keeping track of the Red Cross kits being handed out in case we need more of those
The meeting adjourned at 7:40 PM. The next Regular Meeting of the Tampico Village Council will be Tuesday, July 2, 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 2nd DAY OF July, 2019
**These minutes are not official until signed, dated and sealed by the Village Clerk**
