REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TAMPICO
September 5, 2017
7:00 PM
Reagan Community Center
Mayor Kristine L. Hill called the Regular Meeting of the Tampico Village Council to order at 7:00 PM.
Commissioners Robert Sigel, Scott Meier and Todd Tornow were present. Commissioner Derrick Maupin was absent. Police Chief Terry Strike, Officer Brian Oostenryk and Assistant Clerk Jamie McIntire were also present. Village Clerk, Kathy Leathers, recorded the written and audio minutes. The meeting was also video recorded.
Mayor Hill led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Hill advised that at the last meeting, the recorder failed. They thought that would be okay since the meeting is also video recorded but there was no audio with the video recording. The minutes are based off of Clerk Leathers written notes taken at that meeting. Commissioner Sigel said he does like how the minutes have been done in the past here recently. Mayor Hill said it’s hard to go verbatim without the recording, no one has that kind of memory. Mayor Hill said luckily, Clerk Leathers does keep good records.
Minutes of the August 15, 2017 Regular Meeting were approved as presented.
Minutes of the August 15, 2017 Closed Meeting were tabled until Commissioner Maupin can be present to review with the rest of the council.
Reports of Village Officials
Mayor Hill started with an apology to the council and the Village. She said apparently, she jumped the gun and handled something very poorly. Mayor Hill heard that Art Spencer would like to come back and mow for the Village, but apparently that was not the case. Mayor Hill said she did not do her fact checking and hired Spencer back for $11.00 when he was making $11.25 when he left. Mayor Hill expressed her deep apologies on that. Mayor Hill said the re-hiring of Spencer will be retracted at the next meeting. Spencer does not wish to come back. Mayor Hill said she ran with it and she apologizes to everyone involved and for any hardship caused. Mayor Hill stated she went over and apologized to Spencer personally, and asked if he might reconsider coming back, but he said no. Things are going on in Spencer’s life right now that he wouldn’t be able to come back. Mayor Hill wanted to make it public that this is her fault and that’s the way it goes sometimes. Mayor Hill said if she’s wrong, by gosh she’ll admit it and this time she was totally wrong with this one. Mayor Hill said she should have gone to Spencer’s house and took care of things ahead of time. Commissioner Sigel said he doesn’t really see anything wrong with what Mayor Hill did.
Next, Mayor Hill wanted to clarify some things from the last meeting. Mayor Hill began discussing the concern that Commissioner Sigel had with the new officer, which was Will Lukehart. Sigel said yes. Mayor Hill said Lukehart was hired December 18, 2012. Mayor Hill began reading the minutes from that meeting. “Police Chief Strike recommended the council hire William Lukehart, Erie, as a part-time, as needed police officer. Strike told those present Lukehart is available to work weekends when other officers are not available. On a motion by Commissioner Hill and a second by Commissioner McNinch, approval was given to hire William Lukehart as a part-time, as needed police officer. “Yes” votes were Wildman, Hill, Sigel, McNinch and Mayor Hill. Motion was carried.” Mayor Hill just wanted to clarify when Lukehart actually came on.
Mayor Hill then said the Village might see a new guy tonight that the Village also has had working for a while now. Mayor Hill wanted to jump ahead on this one before there were any questions. Mayor Hill wanted to clarify that he is a Whiteside Sheriff’s Deputy. Chief Strike said yes, a Deputy. Mayor Hill began
reading the minutes from the August 16, 2016 meeting. “A motion was made by Commissioner Meier, seconded by Commissioner Hill, to hire Kristian Montanez as a part-time, as needed police officer at $16.50 and hour. Mayor Hill said that is typical of what the officers come in at. “Yes” votes were Maupin, Hill, Meier and Mayor Hill.” Mayor Hill said she just wanted to clarify this in case there were any questions. Strike said Montanez will be on tonight. Mayor Hill said once she found that out, she wanted to clarify this before there were questions. Clerk Leathers said it isn’t often that Montanez can come down. Mayor Hill said many have probably never seen him. Commissioner Sigel said with him, this guy, Lukehart, walked up to him and he had never seen him before. Sigel said Lukehart asked a few questions about a building and after he left Sigel thought to himself who the heck was that. Mayor Hill said Lukehart has been on for a while. Sigel said he didn’t know and appreciates her saying that.
Alex Abell did not make it in as planned. Mayor Hill said she met with Abell who is with the Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts. Abell has a project he’s wanting to do out front of the Village Hall building. He wants to start it out front of the boiler area and do a landscaping job and maybe some benches or something in that nature. Mayor Hill said Abell has to present to the council before he gets all the approvals. Mayor Hill met with Abell and signed his papers saying yes, please feel free to come and help with the bushes and mulching, nothing high maintenance. Abell wants to do something low maintenance and he thought this would be a good project to help with his Eagle Scouts. Mayor Hill said he was going to be here to present but didn’t make it in. Commissioner Sigel said he’ll give Abell a call after the meeting. Sigel said he’ll get a hold of him. Chief Strike asked if he is a Freshman. Clerk Leathers said he is a Senior this year. Sigel said Abell helped his nephews last year on their project. Mayor Hill said she can call Abell and ask him to reschedule for the next meeting. Once he gets all the approvals he would like to get rolling with this. Mayor Hill said she thinks it’s fantastic that Abell wants to look toward the Village and wants to do something proactive. Mayor Hill said she spent four hours weeding the Village Hall and if anyone wants to help weed that sounds great because she is allergic to everything on the earth and is still paying for it. Sigel said to let him know, seriously. Mayor Hill said to just do it. If you see weeding needing to be done, pull it. Sigel said alright. Mayor Hill said the Village is also working with Abell to get the flag pole put back up.
Mayor Hill asked if there was anything else. Commissioner Sigel said that Superintendent Pierce is on vacation this week. Sigel and Pierce and still looking to get a few roads straightened out but nothing major because the major projects are already in line.
Remarks from Guests
There were no remarks from guests at this time.
Unfinished Business
There was no unfinished business at this time.
New Business
There was no new business at this time.
Building permits issued by Zoning Administrator, Ron Kuepker, were 204 Glassburn – new roof, and 202 W. 4th – new roof.
Communications
There was no communications at this time.
Mayor Hill said even though there isn’t a lot on the agenda, it’s still important for the council members to meet. Commissioner Sigel said anything like the explanation of the police officers or anything like that is appreciated.
Bills were ordered paid on a motion by Commissioner Meier with a second by Commissioner Sigel. “Yes” votes were Sigel, Meier, Tornow and Mayor Hill. The motion carried.
Mayor Hill said Willett & Hoffman will be present at the next meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 7:09 PM. The next Regular Meeting of the Tampico Village Council will be Tuesday, September 19, 2017 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 19th DAY OF September , 2017
**These minutes are not official until signed, dated and sealed by the Village Clerk**
