January 22, 2013 – Regular Meeting in Tampico Village Hall
Mayor Kristine L. Hill called the above meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Commissioners Al Wildman, Bruce Hill, Mary Jo Sigel and Carlos “Butch” McNinch were present. Public Works Superintendent Tom Pierce, Officer Boyd VanDellen and Art Spencer were also present.
Only one sealed bid was received in the clerk’s office for the 1986 Ford F8000 Dump Truck with snow plow. The lone bid of $505.00 was submitted by Jeff Behrens, Rock Falls, IL. On a motion by Commissioner McNinch, second by Commissioner Wildman, the council voted to decline the offer at this time. “Yes” votes were Wildman, Hill, Sigel, McNinch and Mayor Hill. The motion carried. After the vote, Pierce suggested taking the older truck to a consignment sale in the spring.
Resident Chris Abell voiced his concern with neighbors driving through his front lawn between the sidewalk and the street. He said there are ruts there now he will have to take care of in the spring but his main concern is for his children if they should be out front when vehicles come flying through there. Mayor Hill told Abell the Village is trying to eleviate the problem in Abell’s neighborhood. She told him the Council understands his concerns. Officer VanDellen will contact the residents involved and advise them of the child safety issue and the property damage.
Local business owner Bonnie Anderson was present to ask the Council why she has been charged a license fee of $25.00 per Video Gaming Terminal when the Council told her it would only be a $10.00 charge for the gaming license when it was discussed in previous meetings. Anderson maintains the Village will already be receiving 5% of the revenue the video gaming terminals bring in. Mayor Hill told Anderson she would look into the issue with the hope of getting it straightened out.
Anderson also asked the Village to let her know when the first of the gaming revenue is received from the state. Anderson stated she has already heard the state is two (2) months behind in sending the first checks out. She is concerned the state will not be holding up their end of the bargain. Mayor Hill advised Anderson to check with the Village Clerk from time to time to see when it does arrive.
Mayor Hill apologized for the water main break and subsequent boil order the Village recently experienced. Superintendent Pierce told the Council in such cases the water services related to the break should have been able to be isolated with the use of valves. Due to the Village’s 100 year old system, there are only a few in place and those were not able to be used in last week’s break.
The Council learned IEPA loan funds have been received for payment of two Willett, Hofmann & Associates, Inc. invoices in the amount of $14,745.00. The clerk’s office had also received IEPA loan funds of $70,114.00 for re-imbursement of engineering fees the village has already paid out for pre-project engineering fees. Those funds will be put back into the sewer money market account and in the water/sewer fund operating account.
Leathers advised the council she is currently waiting for the requested CDAP grant funds to pay the second invoice from D.J. Sickley Construction Company, Inc.
There were no new IEPA Loan Funds or CDAP draw down requests for the meeting.
Commissioner Sigel reported to the Council she has not heard anything from Attorney Ron Coplan in regard to the downtown building remediation status.
Clerk Leathers advised the Council there will be a Public Hearing of the Zoning Board at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 in Tampico Village Hall. The Zoning Board will consider proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance involving excessive storage and the general upkeep of buildings in the Historic Downtown buildings. The ordinance will also raise Zoning Code violation fees to not less than $100.00 nor more than $750.00. If the Zoning Board approves the proposed amendments, it will then return them to the Village Council for their approval. The Ordinance must pass with a 2/3 majority of
council member votes. Clerk Leathers told the Council the proposed ordinance may be reviewed at Village Hall during regular business hours.
The Council learned premiums for employee medical insurance with Humana have gone up around 13.5% for their February 1, 2013 renewal date. Leathers told the council, even with the increase of $477.11, the premiums were still less than the previous company, The Principal. Superintendent Pierce advised he has not been happy with Humana due to little to no claim payments and discussions over prescription issues. Clerk Leathers noted his concerns and will contact Humana to see if the problems have been resolved. On a motion by Commissioner Wildman, second by Commissioner Hill, approval was given to pay the increased Humana premium rate for 2013. “Yes” votes were Wildman, Hill, Sigel, McNinch and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
The Ordinance for the sale of surplus property was not approved because the Council did not accept the lone $505.00 bid for the 1986 Ford F8000 dump truck.
Clerk Leathers had asked the Council to review meeting dates for the month of February. On her list of meetings for the 2012-2013 Fiscal Year she inadvertently left out the second meeting, or February 19, 2013. Leathers asked the council to have both February meetings because of infrastructure project draw down requests around the first meeting and the Zoning Board Hearing on the second. The Council agreed to her request.
Council discussion was held on the proposed ordinance change to the Liquor License Code, Chapter 5.04. Mayor Hill had suggested the change because of a request from Casey’s General Stores to sell liquor at Tampico’s S. Main Store. Their current license allows the sale of beer and wine. Commissioner Sigel questioned whether the liquor will be stored in a secure location and away from minors. Both Officer Van Dellen and the Kickback Saloon’s owner, Bonnie Anderson, told the council, the Prophetstown store keeps theirs in a locked, glass cabinet. Before approving the ordinance, Mayor Hill stated the council should know more before approving the change. Hill also discussed the proposed cost of the new category license. She recommended the fee of $1,200.00 per year. It would be $600.00 for each renewal in April and then again in November. Mayor Hill postponed the vote until those questions could be answered.
The Council also discussed the Debt Recovery Program offered by the State of Illinois in regard to delinquent water/sewer accounts. Through the program, if a resident owes a delinquent bill, the State of Illinois would withhold any state payments to the resident, such as a state income tax refund and instead forward the payment to the Village. The Council will research and review the program before deciding whether to enroll
In reports of council officials, Commissioner Sigel asked if anything could be done about the water in front of the post office. She asked if there were any way to do some type of drain at the Post Office and the Kickback. Sigel stated the water seems to gather in those places. Owner of the Kickback, Anderson, asked about curb and gutters for that portion of Main Street. Mayor Hill told Sigel and Anderson, since Main Street is a state highway, IDOT would have to do the design and the labor for any repairs or upgrades. Water around the Post Office and at the drain behind continue to be issues. Mayor Hill stated the Post Office has a private owner who is responsible for any drain problems behind the Post Office. She told them basically the Village’s hands are tied.
Sigel also asked about the protocol for water main breaks and resultant boil orders. She stated she was in touch with the health department and wasn’t sure who had been notified. Clerk Leathers told Sigel, the Utiltities Clerk, Anna Wetzell, notified all the schools and local businesses right away about the boil order. The Whiteside County Health Department was notified right away. Leathers also reported the local TV news channels, local radio and local newspapers were notified as well as putting up notes at Casey’s and the Post Office. The answering machine message was also changed to reflect any changes to the boil order.
Commissioner Hill reported one of the abandoned, foreclosed properties has been cleaned up. He is still attempting to contact the bank of record to clear up any issues that remain with the property.
Hill also updated council members on the membership in the State of Illinois Surplus Property program. He said he has contacted the “head guy” and it is hoped progress will be made soon so the Village can take advantage of any of the surplus goods.
Mayor Hill reported she will be attending the next P-L-T District school board meeting to discuss acquiring the soon to be vacant Grade School building on W. Second. The school district has recently completed their building projects and will no longer need to use the Grade School building when its students move to the current Middle School Building.
Mayor Hill stated there could be so many uses for the building that would benefit the Village. Bonnie Anderson, owner of the Kickback, asked Mayor Hill if the council was aware of the costs involved heating the building, the cost of the other utilities, janitorial services and general upkeep. She said the council would be amazed at the cost to keep it up. Anderson told them she had heard that a business has an interest in the building. Commissioner McNinch told Anderson, the village keeps losing things, business, housing He is concerned if the building is used for a business how long it will be before the building is abandoned.and let go. If the village takes over the school at least it could be kept up. Mayor Hill stated the building could be used for fitness, office space and eventually a day care. She told those present at the meeting it will be up to the school district who they will choose to be in line to have the building.
On a motion by Commissioner Wildman, second by Commissioner Sigel, bills were approved as presented. “Yes” votes were Wildman, Hill, Sigel, McNinch and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
There being no further business or discussion, the meeting adjourned at 7:56 PM. The next regular meeting will be February 5, 2013 at 7:00 PM in Tampico Village Hall.
Kathy A. Leathers Kristine L. Hill
Clerk Mayor
MINUTES APPROVED THIS 5th DAY OF February, 2013
*These minutes are not official until signed, dated and sealed by the Tampico Village Clerk*
