REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TAMPICO
February 4, 2014
7:00 PM
Tampico Village Hall
The regular meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Village of Tampico was called to order at 7:00 PM by Mayor Kristine L. Hill.
Commissioners Toby Johnson, Bruce Hill, Derrick Maupin and Mary Jo Sigel were present. Police Chief, Terry Strike, was present as well.
Minutes of the January 21, 2014 Regular Meeting were approved as presented.
Minutes of the January 27, 2014 Special Meeting were approved as presented.
In remarks from guests, local resident, Carol Camper, asked the council if they would consider changing Village Ordinance to allow her to keep chickens at her residence. She explained several communities have amended their ordinances to allow the keeping of chickens. She told the council, those communities who allow them, put limits on the amount that may be kept and do not allow for roosters, citing the noise factor. She further explained, in the research she has done, some communities state they must be kept a minimum 15 feet from the neighboring property line. She would like to start having them in the spring. She told them her interest comes from wanting them for the organic eggs and food they provide. She also stated they eat insects and provide organic fertilizer. Camper provided a copy of her research so the village clerk may provide copies to council members. Mayor Hill advised Camper the Council will consider her request.
Local business owner, Bonnie Anderson, from the Kickback Saloon, asked the council to address snow removal policy for village parking spaces. She advised the council she has had to pay for snow removal from parking spaces near her business and she does not think that it is right. She is requesting the council make sure it gets done. Commissioner Sigel advised she has talked to public works about it and they have been through there. Sigel also told her there was an issue when much of the village snow removal equipment was down from the extreme cold. Sigel agrees, but, the next time public works should have been through there. Mayor Hill and Sigel agree there has also been an excessive amount of snow. Anderson has a problem with it absolutely not being done. Mayor Hill stated public works gets as close as they can to the parking blocks and rebar without damaging the blade. Anderson takes issue with snow removal at parking spaces at the now closed Dutch Diner but not those near her business. Mayor Hill advised the village is reimbursed by the state to maintain Main Street and part of that is removing the snow from it. Hill told her, public works has been pushing the snow to the former Diner parking area to get it off Main Street so there are no problems seeing cross traffic at the Market St. intersection. Commissioner Hill stated there has been more snow this year than for the last several years and it’s a problem throughout the area. He reported some roads look narrower because there is only so much snow that can be pushed back. Mayor Hill told Anderson Commissioner Sigel will check into the issue and Commissioner Sigel advised she would talk to public works about it.
The old grade school building was the next item to be discussed. Since Commissioner Sigel was absent from the last meeting, Mayor Hill wanted to make sure Sigel was okay with naming the
February 4, 2014 Tampico Village Council Regular Meeting, facility the Reagan Community Center or the RCC for short. The council had discussed the name in previous meetings. Commissioner Sigel advised she is okay with that. Mayor Hill reported to the council, she would like to have an Open House there on Saturday, March 1, 2014. Mayor Hill said the carpet is getting laid February 17th and the painting is almost done. She advised it’s getting close. They’ve cleaned a lot of things out and are clearing out back cupboards and closets to clear out everything they can.
Mayor Hill asked council members to review a tentative draft of the RCC Gym Rental agreement and let her know if they have anything they want to add. The agreement requests the usual information, name, address, phone, date needed, deposit amount and leaves space for determining if deposit amount will be refunded. Mayor Hill suggests requesting an added $10.00 if the event will include bounce houses. This would cover the cost of added electricity costs. The council also wondered if a tarp or something should be placed under the bounce houses to prevent damage to the gym floor. Mayor Hill also explained mentioning the “no generators allowed” in the rental agreement. She suggested it’s possible rather than paying the extra fee, someone may try to use a generator instead to provide power to the bounce house.
The council also discussed scheduling the different sports programs residents would like to start and fees if any that should be charged.
As to the RCC Open House, Mayor Hill suggested it could be held in the proposed Council Meeting Room from 10 am to 2 pm. That way people could see Tim Hatten’s program and how nicely the gym works for parties. She advised she has contacted KSB to see if they would like to come down with any health programs, but hasn’t heard back from them. The Whiteside County Transportation Program would like to be part of the open house as well. Mayor Hill will try to get a few more groups or programs so people can come in and see what the Village has done so far. The Council hopes to use the larger facility for these types of events.
Commissioner Hill asked if the estimate for the lowered ceilings materials had arrived yet. According to Chief Strike, it has not. Mayor Hill advised she would contact the business tomorrow and request the pricing.
The council has been discussing changes to the Village Liquor License Code to allow liquor establishments to open earlier and stay open later on Sunday’s. Mayor Hill advised she only received the draft from the attorney that afternoon and some things were left out. She advised the dance hall provision can be taken out. The amended ordinance will also allow the council to approve a change in hours request above the 6 per year allowed by the Liquor Commissioner, Mayor Hill. Those requests would need to be approved by the full council. Kickback owner, Anderson advised the council she will need the village to fax or e-mail a copy of the ordinance to her video gaming machine’s provider so they may change the hours of operation with the state. Anderson provided the clerk with the contact information so an approved copy of the ordinance may be sent.
There have been no recent updates to the South Main Place sewer project.
Mayor Hill advised the village will be selling the surplus real estate located at 126 S. Main. The closing will be Friday, February 7, 2014. The building was sold for $8,000.00 as previously approved by ordinance on January 27, 2014.
Mayor Hill told those present the Safe Routes to School Program Grant has been submitted. Mayor Hill advised the project will include sidewalks near the Kickback from the alley at the rear of the building to the east and then around and then north to Second Street. It will include handicap ramps at intersections. The grant could be as much as $160,000.00 with the village paying a portion of the costs above the grant amount. Mayor Hill reported the council and village engineers have grouped together several different projects under the grant platform. The program also includes education for the schools and residents to work with the village to provide safe routes to school for the children. She advised it will be December before the grants are awarded.
The Council reviewed a list of persons required to file Statements of Economic Interest. The act states that members of boards or commissions who function in an advisory capacity are not required to file this annual document. Members of the Tampico Zoning Board, Tampico Recreation Board and Tampico Historic Preservation Advisory Board are not required to file these statements.
Clerk Leathers handed out Project Plan sheets to council members as well as 2014-2015 fiscal year budget worksheets. Mayor Hill asked the council to use the sheets to determine anything that needs to be done in their departments. Leathers advised the village clerk and utilities clerk will need to upgrade their computers in the next fiscal year. She advised it could be done in an economical manner. She also requested they complete their budgets as soon as possible so the Annual Appropriations Ordinance may be compiled for their approval. Leathers told them if they had any questions she would be happy to help and if she did not have an answer, she would contact the village auditors. She also told them she would be adding new line items to the budget to accommodate new income and expenses for the RCC and its programs.
Mayor Hill reported starting next month, testing of the Emergency Siren will resume on the first Tuesday of the month at 10:00 AM from March through October. She advised she has been trying to work with Representative Mike Smiddy to replace the siren.
On a motion by Commissioner Maupin, second by Commissioner Sigel, the Annual NAEIR surplus program membership will be renewed at a cost of $495.00 for four (4) catalogs. The village is able to obtain office and plumbing supplies, tools, etc. through the membership for the price of shipping and handling. “Yes” votes were Johnson, Hill, Sigel, Maupin and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
REPORTS OF VILLAGE OFFICIALS
Mayor Hill asked about taking down the Christmas wreaths on the downtown street lights. Commissioner Johnson will coordinate with Public Works to take down the Christmas wreaths and put up the flags for Reagan’s Birthday celebration on Thursday. He stated it’s been one thing after another in trying to arrange a time to take the wreaths down. Mayor Hill asked him to check on the banner in front of the Birthplace as well. The village has a replacement if needed and it could be switched out while they are up there.
Mayor Hill advised the council, next Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at 6:30 pm in the gym at the RCC, Representative Mike Smiddy will be holding a town hall meeting. She encourages everyone to attend and tell him your concerns for him to take back to Springfield. Smiddy’s office will take care of promoting the event to the public. At the suggestion of the council, Mayor Hill will try to get flyers from his office to put up in village businesses.
Commissioner Hill reported salt from the sidewalks is being carried into the gym. He asked that people using the gym please change into their gym shoes before entering the gym itself. He suggested finding benches for that purpose. Leathers advised entryway mats have been requested from Aramark to cut down on the amount of debris carried in on shoes.
Commissioner Hill reported he will be doing maintenance on portions of the gym floor where a couple of boards need reset. Mayor Hill advised Tim Hatten is working on a grant to help with redoing the floor.
Mayor Hill advised the closed session will be rescheduled for the next meeting.
Clerk Leathers advised the village has received correspondence from Maguire Iron, Inc. The company will be performing maintenance on the water tower this year. They have provided a brochure with information for the council.
Bills were ordered paid on a motion by Commissioner Johnson, second by Commissioner Hill. “Yes” votes were Johnson, Hill, Sigel, Maupin and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 7:46 PM. The next regular meeting of the Tampico Village Council will be Tuesday, February 18, 2013 at 7:00 PM in Tampico Village Hall.
Kathy A. Leathers__________________
Clerk
Kristine L. Hill ________________
Mayor
MINUTES APPROVED THIS _18th_ DAY OF _February____, 2014
**These minutes are not official until dated, signed and sealed by the Village Clerk**
