REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TAMPICO – April 1, 2014 – 7:00 PM
Reagan Community Center
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, Mary Jo Sigel and Derrick Maupin were present. Police Chief Terry Strike and Sergeant Boyd VanDellen were present as well. Village Clerk Kathy Leathers recorded the written minutes.
Minutes of the March 18, 2014 Regular Meeting were approved as presented.
Minutes of the March 18, 2014 Closed Session Meeting Minutes were approved as presented.
On a motion by Commissioner Johnson, second by Commissioner Hill, a Class “C” Liquor License was approved for the Tampico Volunteer Fire Department to serve Alcoholic Beverages for their “Draw Down” fund raising dinner on April 12, 2014 for consumption on the premises only from 7 pm to 11 pm. “Yes” votes were Johnson, Hill, Sigel, Maupin and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
The Council heard a resident complain about the “school zone” signs still up around the old school building. He wanted to know why the police department had not taken them down. In an effort to move on, Commissioner Hill assured him they will take care of the sign.
Mayor Hill and Commissioner Maupin reported they are still working on the fee/rate schedule for use of the Reagan Community Center. Mayor Hill and Maupin have previously stated they want to make sure to set the fees up front than have to change them at a later time. Maupin stated he would like to have a set fee such as the basketball league has for those events that are recurring. He stated it’s $2.00 at a time or it could be paid quarterly with a discounted rate if you pay up front. He said that might be motivation for paying on time.
Commissioner Sigel had questions about the Recreation Committee’s recent dances held at the RCC. She wanted to know who was asked if the fee for the gym rental could be waived. Mayor Hill and Commissioner Johnson assured her the money raised for the dance and any concession revenue comes back to the village.
Clerk Leathers advised the council there has been no further activity for either the Safe Routes to School grant or the DCEO for sewer upgrades grant. Clerk Leathers did advise them she has made adjustments to the 2014-2015 Appropriations Ordinance to account for the income / expense of each grant. Mayor Hill advised it may be in September before the village hears anything.
Clerk Leathers next reported to the council an overview of the pending Appropriations Ordinance. Most budget figures have remained the same for existing funds with adjustments made for upgrading the Clerk and Utility Clerk computers and employee cost of living increases. Budget line items have also been created for income / expense tracking for the Reagan Community Center. She advised she would like to be able to report the income and expense for the RCC at the end of each month so the council will see how the building and its programs are doing. She advised the budget should remain in the black for the next fiscal year even with the ongoing sewer maintenance projects and Safe Routes to school program plans. She stated the Council has done well especially since the cost of everything seems to be going up and some state revenue payments are usually delayed. She is optimistic that the RCC should be paying for itself by this fall.
Mayor Hill advised she has been playing phone tag with Republic Services, Allied Waste, in connection with renewing the current waste hauler contract. She will advise them if she does not hear from them soon, the Village will put the contract out for bids.
Clerk Leathers advised she is still working on the requested variance to allow a resident to have a sewing business in his home.
Mayor Hill next advised the council to expect two resignations from the Tampico Historic Preservation Committee. She advised the members have moved out of town and have advised they will no longer need to be a part of the committee. Mayor Hill advised she has asked Denise McLoughlin to sit on the Committee since she is so involved in the history of the village. Mayor Hill advised McLoughlin has already been helping downtown building owners with their proposed restoration plans. Mayor Hill advised as soon as resignation letters are received from the aforementioned members, she would like to go ahead with the appointment of McLoughlin. They council will still need to appoint one other to the committee.
Building permits issued by Zoning Administrator, Ron Kuepker, include a new roof at 409 Glassburn Street and 206 Glassburn Street.
Commissioner Johnson advised he has contacted several area agencies who might have used fitness equipment available for purchase in the future. He has also checked with Second Wind fitness to see what prices would be to purchase used equipment, such as elipticals and treadmills outright. He suggested the council may want to consider housing a small fitness center in one of the temporary classroom buildings. Ideas range from having fitness stations to weight stations and having a place to change from street clothes to work out gear. Mayor Hill advised she too supported the idea and suggested a possible pass key / card system for paid members to access the fitness room or rooms without having to enter through the RCC. It was suggested Johnson research grants with committee member, Tim Hatten, to help fund the purchase of equipment. Maupin advised he like the idea but locker rooms / changing rooms could be discussed as well.
Johnson reported to the Council a meeting of the Recreation Committee would be held the next day. Items to be discussed would be having a parks clean-up day. Mayor Hill advised Royal Neighbors and the local 4-H club will cleaning up the parks as part of their service projects on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at 10:00 AM. The village will donate garbage bags. Mayor Hill advised she had recently attended a meeting with local area groups and learned of the project then. She also advised she would have a village employee available to assist the groups with hauling the trash away, etc. She also stated that Royal Neighbors welcomes the public’s help as well.
Commissioner Johnson advised it may be time to do some maintenance on the “skate park” equipment in Booth Park. It’s down to the bare metal. He also advised the fencing around the tennis court will need attention soon. Commissioner Hill added that the pavilion in the park will also need rewiring and putting in a ceiling to discourage kids sitting up in the rafters.
Commissioner Sigel advised she had contacted several people about the soon to be vacancies on the Historic Preservation Committee. She said there was only one who might be interested in being on the committee. Mayor Hill and Sigel discussed consulting with Denise McLoughlin in regard to appointing a new member. They agreed McLoughlin is well versed in the parameters to be set with historic preservation.
Commissioner Maupin advised he is working on trying to get help for people who are subject to late payments. He would like to spend some time with the Utilities Clerk, Anna Wetzell, to understand the process. Maupin stated he would like to see the village accept automatic payments, on-line payments, debit or credit card payments for village water / sewer bills. Maupin also asked if there were plans to move the Utility Payment drop box from the old Village Hall to the RCC soon. Mayor Hill advised they have just been waiting for the frost to go out of the ground.
Commissioner Sigel asked about reports of rusty water. Mayor Hill and Clerk Leathers advised her public works has had to run several water hydrants in an effort to get water moving in areas that may have frozen over the extreme winter. Mayor Hill stated the water is not harmful although some residents may want to drink bottled water if they choose to do so. Clerk Leathers stated she has had some rusty water in her neighborhood but it usually clears up after a few minutes. Mayor Hill advised it has just been an unusual winter all around.
Commissioner Hill asked about the flowers and plants around the welcome signs. Mayor Hill stated she has asked a local resident to find a few people to form a group who may be interested in putting in the plants and maintaining the care for the signs and their landscaping. Mayor Hill stated she has also talked with Joan Johnson, the caretaker of the Reagan Birthplace, about putting one of the old, tin “Welcome to Tampico” signs like those at the time of Reagan’s visit and the one featured on a post card. Ms. Johnson had told Mayor Hill many of their visitors are curious about the sign and some would even like to take a picture in front of it. Mayor Hill is checking into replicating the old style sign as a replacement of the one damaged in last year’s windstorm if the cost is reasonable.
Commissioner Johnson asked if there are still planters on Main Street. Mayor Hill advised him there are and Royal Neighbors, other groups and / or the businesses plant and maintain them. The village also likes to keep an eye on the planters too.
Commissioner Maupin asked if there has been any thought about what to do as far as landscaping the front of the RCC. Commissioner Hill advised it might be best to take all the trees and shrubbery out and fill the area in with concrete. He stated there appears to be some foundation erosion that allows water to seep in through the ground and subsequently into the building. Maupin is not sure he likes the idea but Commissioner Hill advised it’s the only thing they can do. Hill said they can always install planters every so often down the front of the building and add other things such as benches. Maupin feels as long as they keep the gutters extended further away from the building and keep them clear in the winter and not let snow pile up against the building it may not be a problem. Maupin would like to see it landscaped rather than just concrete. Commissioner Hill advised with the concrete a “french drain” could be installed as well. Commissioner Hill advised it would make it easier to clear the snow from the walks, etc.
The council discussed placing benches, tables and planters along the concrete if that is how it has to be. Hill agreed with Maupin it would be nice to see landscaping out there. Mayor Hill advised she would draw something up.
Recently hired employee, Chris Lauritzen, has advised the village he has been offered full-time employment elsewhere. Mayor Hill advised new employee, Matt Jaquet, is doing a great job.
The council also discussed maintaining the gym floor until other solutions can be found.
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 meeting adjourned at 7:48 PM. The next regular meeting of the Tampico Village Council will be Tuesday, April 15, 2014 in the RCC at 202 W. Second Street.
Kathy A. Leathers
Clerk
Kristine L. Hill
Mayor
MINUTES APPROVED THIS _15th_ DAY OF ___April_______, 2014
***These minutes are not official until signed, dated and sealed by the Village Clerk***
