REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TAMPICO

May 6, 2025
7:00 PM
Reagan Community Center

Mayor Bruce Peltier called the Regular Meeting of the Tampico Village Council to order at 7:00PM.

Commissioners Sherry Coleman, Susan Dean, Jim Coleman and Tammy Kendell were present. Chief Strike and Village Superintendent, Tyler Chriest, were also present. Village Clerk, Jamie McIntire, was present and recorded the written and audio minutes.

Mayor Peltier led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Minutes of the April 15, 2025 Regular Meeting were approved as presented.

Reports of Village Officials
Superintendent Chriest thanked the 4-H kids for helping out with the planter boxes along Main Street and picking up sticks at both parks. Chriest also thanked the PLT students for helping with the hopscotch and 4-square they painted at the playground on the West side of the Village Hall building.

Chief Strike reported that the 3 vehicles located at West Kimball have been removed. Chief Strike also informed that 20 letters have been sent about yard clean-up this week.

Remarks from Guests
Village resident, Beverly Adamson, was on the agenda to speak about her building plans. Adamson began by saying she’s lived in Tampico since 1972 and has raised 12 children here who have all graduated from college and are doing well. Her husband worked at Northwestern Steel and Wire and suffered from muscular sclerosis. Adamson said she was the one responsible for taking care of her family. She said they bought homes for their children. She said she’s been questioned about several buildings/houses and renters. Adamson said she currently has 5 empty homes. 202 N. Lincoln has been renovated and is ready to rent as well as 205 S. Grove. 208 N. Lincoln is currently being renovated and that’s why a lot of things are sitting outside. Adamson was informed that 1 bulk item a week can be picked up on Tuesdays by Midwest Disposal per the Village’s contract with them, so that’s what she plans to do for her 202, 205, 208 and 206 properties. Adamson said the building that’s in question, she would like to find out if there are any historical features attached to it, so she plans to look into that. At one time it was owned by the American Legion, then Earl Krantz and then Adamson bought it from him. That building is in a business zone. Adamson said she worked for the school district for 7 years then worked at the hospital until the age of 75. Adamson said she has a nice IMRF retirement. Adamson said the building that we’re talking about, in November of 2021, she gave Joseph Kuhns $6,500 for the property at 105 West Market Street. That was for the land, not the trailer that sits on it. Mayor Peltier said that would be between you and Kuhns and whatever contract you had together. Adamson said Kuhns told her that he was going to come back to Tampico to renovate the trailer and make it his home. Kuhns then sold the property and trailer to Henry Johnson. Johnson knew that Adamson had already purchased the land, but Johnson went and deeded the property in his name after Kuhns sold it to him. Adamson said she never deeded the property after purchasing it and that was her mistake. Henry wanted to build containment storage on that property for storage for his company, but that’s not allowed. He and his wife tried living in a camper on that property, but that’s also not allowed. Adamson said she reached out to Pat Burke for an estimate to take the building down located at 107 West Market Street and remove the trailer at 105 West Market. The estimate was $19,278 to take the building down and $5,000 more to remove the trailer. Johnson had no money to remove the trailer but was waiting for Adamson to take the building down so he could purchase that property from her. Adamson said she doesn’t want to take the building down. Adamson wants to renovate it. She had several businesses come and give her estimates to renovate the building. She got estimates for the roof and to bring the floor to code, amongst everything else that’s needed. Adamson said she now has a worker, Shane Schueler, who has been working with her since December. He is renovating houses and bringing her properties up to scale. Schueler will also be working on the building in question. Adamson said they’ve brought the floor up 3 inches, but you can only bring the floor up so far or else it will damage the foundation. Schueler has worked on renovating buildings for many years. Adamson said he’s tried hiring people in the past to work on her properties, but they wouldn’t show up. Adamson said she’s also contacted her attorney on the situation with Kuhns and Johnson. Mayor Peltier said that would be for the property with the trailer, not the property for the building in question, correct? You’re talking about two different lots. The trailer is on one lot and the building is on another. Adamson said the building is on 107 and the trailer is on 105. Superintendent Chriest said the situation with the 105 is a civil issue, and the Mayor and Council agreed. Adamson said that Johnson asked Schueler to buy the property and trailer for $2,500. Mayor Peltier said you keep talking about the trailer but what about the building. That building, the property next to the trailer, is why we’re here. The building that’s condemned. Adamson said because of this situation is why I didn’t take it down and now we’re renovating the building. Schueler said the building will be stable in a month. Adamson said it was almost $20,000 to take down the building, but it will cost much more to renovate it. Mayor Peltier said how long until this building will be completely taken care of and safe? I know the notice you received to take care of it from the Village was sent in March of last year. It appears you haven’t even begun working on it until just now. Adamson said I didn’t have a worker. Mayor Peltier said how much time do you expect us to give you to get this taken care of before it collapses on somebody? It has been over a year. Adamson said renovating this building will cost approximately $180,000 and I need a storage unit. I have all kinds of materials in that building for renovating houses. Adamson said it would cost more to build a storage unit than it would to take the building down. I’m trying to put $20,000 into this building and hopefully in a month it will be stable. Schueler said it will take a month to make it stable then you can walk through it. It might not have the wiring completed. Commissioner J. Coleman asked how long have you owned the property this building is on? Adamson said she bought it in either 1997 or 1998. Commissioner Dean asked what the estimate is of how long it’s going to be before that property is no longer considered a hazard to anyone walking by it because honestly right now, it is a hazard. Schueler said it’s rough. Dean said absolutely, it’s falling in. Schueler said I hope to have the front of the building, the roof and the floor inside of the building done within a month. Adamson has recently had some renters leave, so Schueler has been working on those houses instead of the building. Chief Strike asked how much black mold is in the building? Schueler said there is mold, but I wouldn’t say it’s black mold. I’ve worked in there without a mask and it is a rough basement. Dean said you’re not intending to rent this building out, correct? Adamson said this building is only a storage unit for her personal use. Mayor Peltier said you can rent storage units. I don’t understand why you think you need to put $120,000 into this building for it to be a storage unit when you can rent a storage unit. J. Coleman said that’s a good point. Mayor Peltier said Bev, I don’t understand what you’re asking of us. We gave you that notice last year and you haven’t done anything with it yet until now. It seems like you’re asking for more time. Adamson said I’ve talked to my attorney and the courthouse. Mayor Peltier said that’s for the property with the trailer and has nothing to do with this building. Adamson said I had people come out and give me estimates. Schueler said I asked her the same question and asked why she would want to do this. Commissioner Kendell said there’s some properties that you just need to cut your losses and be done with it and that might be this property. J. Coleman said you could take down that building and sell the lot for someone to build something nice there, or you yourself could build something nice there. You’re just wanting to use it to put more things in it and I can remember a property on Main Street that you had completely full. How many houses do you have with all your stuff in it? Does it look like your vehicle here down at the end of the street? Adamson said I was helping a lady that was put into a nursing home and her family has taken everything out of her house. I helped her take everything out of her house today for 3 hours. Mayor Peltier said I think we need to get to the point of what it is you’re asking or what you’re asking from us. Kendell said I don’t feel your intentions are bad, but I think you need to look at that property, in particular, and look to see if it’s worth what you want to put in it or cut your losses with it and make it a lot that you could use as a storage facility. That building is dilapidated, and I don’t think it’s worth it for you financially. Superintendent Chriest suggested the Council offers Adamson 30 days to get a contract with a contractor to have the repairs taken care of and then go from there. No offense to anyone but just one handy man is not going to be able to handle that project.
Schueler said I am a licensed contractor, and I asked her why she’s doing this. It can be a nice looking building. The steps are rotten, and the upstairs is horrible. It needs to be gutted. It is her building, and I understand what you guys are saying, but I can have the building looking good in a month. The roof alone will cost at least $10,000. Dean said to Schueler so you’re a contractor, it shouldn’t be an issue to be able to put down on paper what is going to be done, a timeline for when it will be done and present that to us with you’re signature on it for the intentions of the work with the dates of completion. Kendell said to the best of your ability with slight fluctuation due to weather. We have to have a timeline down. Dean said and if there’s no movement, it’s null and void. Schueler said sure, I tried to talk her out of it too. Dean said we need it to where it’s not a hazard to anyone in the building or outside of the building. Dean said bring us a list of repairs with a timeline by the next meeting scheduled for May 20th. Adamson said I have recently had several renters that I’ve asked to leave. Mayor Peltier said I understand your renters just moved out, but you were given this notice over a year ago. I feel we’ve let this process go on for as long as we can. Adamson said Schueler has been working for me since December and the last few weeks we’ve been cleaning up houses. Mayor Peltier said I understand what you’re saying but you’re talking about the last 2 weeks. What about the last year and 2 months? Adamson said I couldn’t hire anyone. Mayor Peltier said I’m sorry but all I’m hearing are excuses. I’m done with this issue, and we would like to see you present your plan for this building and it’s renovations by the next meeting and then we’ll discuss how to move forward from there. Adamson said 2 weeks is not enough. Mayor Peltier said 2 weeks isn’t long enough for you to make a business plan? The work doesn’t need to be done, but the plan needs to be done. Dean said we need something on paper because that goes a lot further than just saying what you plan to do. If your contractor is licensed and he puts his signature on the business plan, that goes a whole lot further. Mayor Peltier said this is what I don’t want to happen, I don’t want us to say go ahead and fix it up then you do a little bit then it gets put to the side again, then we’re back in this situation next year. It’s either going to get fixed or we’ll move forward with the process of a condemned building, and it will get torn down. Mayor Peltier said that’s where we’re at and the Council agreed. Dean said so we’ve given you more time, but now you have to be responsible for the timeline. Dean said with Schueler being a contractor, it should be nothing for him to be able to make this business plan of what work will be done and when it will be completed. Mayor Peltier said if you’d like to talk more individually, I am available at certain times throughout the week. Will you be able to present to us your business plan at the next meeting? Adamson said yes. Mayor Peltier said ok, then I would like to move on with the rest of the meeting.

Next, Shawn who lives outside of Village limits at 309 East Third Street, was presented and requested to speak to the Council. Shawn said there are constant calls and complaints about his music. I’m a black guy who drives a black Dodge. I also have a grey Tahoe. I get complaints about my music at both my home and my vehicles. I respect everybody. My brother also drives a black truck. We respect your time limits and noise ordinances. When is this going to become a harassment thing? Sunday, the police were at my house. They were going to arrest me for a totally different charge because they can’t arrest me for the music at my house. Mayor Peltier asked was it one of our policemen? Shawn said no, it was County, but the complaints are coming from everyone on my street. It comes from Brall and the last house on Fremont. Commissioner Dean said unfortunately, we can’t tell people they can’t call the police and complain. Commissioner J. Coleman said we can’t do anything because their house is out of Village limits. Shawn said so I can have a gun pulled on me and be threatened with a gun. Technically you guys can’t do anything, but the people calling that live in town and complain can’t do anything either. Brall pulled a gun on me and threatened to shoot me and my dog. Dean said at that point I would have called the police. J. Coleman asked did you call the police? Shawn said yes. They said I should have video taped it. Mayor Peltier asked did Whiteside County come out for that? Shawn said yes. Mayor Peltier asked what’s your suggestion? What would you like us to do? Shawn said I want to start pressing charges because now it’s not just harassment but it’s also a racial thing. The cop told me I’m ignorant and illiterate. Commissioner Kendell said if that officer was with Whiteside County you need to file a complaint against them. Dean said unfortunately, the Village can’t do anything about the Whiteside County Police. Shawn said I first rented that house through Dale and Cory Tompkins and now Paul owns it. I’m respectful if someone is respectful to me. I had animal control at my house this morning and it was confirmed that the complaint came from a Village resident. I have 3 pit bulls and none of them are registered, and the complaints are coming from people in town. I can’t do nothing, but you can. Mayor Peltier asked what can we do? Shawn said you have towns people constantly calling and complaining. You’re supposed to be the mayor. Mayor Peltier said I’m not telling them to call, and I also can’t tell them not to. You should file a harassment charge if you feel that’s what’s happening. Shawn said but the cops can constantly come to my house. Commissioner Kendell said it’s not our cops. Chief Strike said part of the problem is the motorcycles and scooters going down the road. Shawn said we have minibikes and 4-wheelers. We ride them on the property and sometimes when we turn, we are on the street. We stopped riding them because the police were called even though we should be able to ride them on our property. We also have motorized mountain bikes and people complain about that. Those are street legal. Dean said my recommendation would be to file counter complaints because the Village can’t tell people that they can’t call the cops. J. Coleman said just like we can’t stop you from what you do on your property. This conversation at this meeting shouldn’t even be happening because you don’t live within Village limits. It’s sad but I don’t know what we can do for you. Your neighbors are calling and complaining to Whiteside County. Shawn said they’ve even called your cops, and Terry has stopped by, and we had a respectful talk. Skylar has been there, and we’ve had respectful talks. I listen and respect everything they say to us. Chief Strike asked when did Brall pull a gun on you? Shawn said in March of this year. Cory Tompkins was there and witnessed it. But I was supposed to tell this man to hold on so I can get my phone out and video it. He was going to shoot me and my dog. The cops didn’t do nothing. Two cops pulled up, talked to him, then talked to me and said I was illiterate and ignorant then left. That’s the second time Brall has pulled a gun out, but nothing is being done. If that situation would have escalated and I was the way I used to be, then what happens? I’d go to jail for the rest of my life, and you all would be happy. Mayor Peltier asked Shawn what are you seeking for an end result? What would you like us to do? Shawn said you need to get a meeting with him here and everybody on that street. This is supposed to be Tampico strong and this and that. Why can’t you all get everybody together? Chief Strike asked so if we get everybody in here, can we settle this? All the dirt bikes would stop and…Shawn said a whole lot of things would stop but you’re not going to threaten my life. Mayor Peltier said ok, we’ll move on with the meeting. If me and Chief Strike can get with you after this, we will, but we need to move along with the rest of the meeting. I don’t know what the end state looks like, but we’ll figure something out. I will get with Chief Strike on this. Shawn said harassment charges are going to start getting filed. At this time, Shawn and his group exited the meeting.

Nels Miller, owner of the Kickback Saloon, was present to request a road closure for an event he’ll be hosting at the Kickback Saloon on May 16, 2024 from 4:00PM to 9:00PM. He would like to close off the alley behind the Kickback Saloon and a partial road closure from Main Street to Joy Street. Mayor Peltier said they did this last year for their bike night. The Village would place barricades at those sections. That area would not be open for through traffic but would be open to those attending the event. The Mayor and Council agreed to the road closure for the event.

Unfinished Business
First under unfinished business was to discuss leasing Village owned lot next to Tampico Township building to the Tampico Township. There were no updates on this topic, so it was tabled until the next meeting.

Next on the agenda was to discuss a donation to the Tampico Township for a digital video billboard. There was no updated information on this topic, so it was also tabled until the next meeting.

There were no closing remarks at this time.

Clerk McIntire announced the Abstract of Votes Cast in the 2025 Consolidated Election as certified by Whiteside County Clerk, Karen Stralow. On April 16, 2025, Clerk Stralow canvassed the returns of an election held April 1, 2025, and certified that the following list of candidates each received the number of votes recorded for the office listed as follows: COMMISSIONER: James Coleman – 81 votes. He ran unopposed. James Coleman was declared elected Commissioner. The term of office is for two years.

The newly elected Commissioner took his place at the table. Clerk McIntire administered the oath of office to the newly elected Commissioner and provided him with information to assist him in carrying out his duties.

New Business
Next the Council discussed adjusting Part-Time Police Officer Employee Wages. Mayor Peltier said this is for Reece Strike. When we did our last raises, he was still under his probationary period. He is currently at $19.00 an hour and this would be to approve a $1.00 raise, placing him at $20.00 an hour effective immediately. This would put him at the same rate as our other part-time officers. A motion to approve was made by Commissioner Dean, second by Commissioner S. Coleman. “Yes” votes were S. Coleman, Dean, J. Coleman, Kendell and Mayor Peltier. The motion carried.

Building Permits
Building Permits approved by Zoning Administrator, Tyler Chriest, were 106 N. Benton St. – Roof.

Communications
Clerk McIntire reported that she will place on the next meeting agenda to approve cancelling the June 3rd meeting as she and 2 Commissioners will be out of town.

Clerk McIntire also advised that the time is coming up to decide whether or not to impose a Grocery Tax Ordinance to replace the 1% Grocery Tax that the State has decided to end effective January 1, 2026. This was spoken about in a past meeting and Mr. Shirk advised that a decision would need to be made by July to make for sure it was taken care of in time. The choice would be to do nothing and lose that 1% Grocery Tax, or the Village can implement their own tax in increments of .25%, .50%, .75% or 1%. Mr. Shirk would put together the ordinance on whatever is decided, and the Mayor and Council would review, then approve. It would be a loss in funding from the State if no tax is imposed. This tax would affect any grocery items that are purchased. Commissioner Dean said everyone is already being taxed for this currently, this would just replace that once its no longer effective. Commissioner S. Coleman said the consumer wouldn’t see a difference. Dean said it would drop off and pick up at the same time. The Mayor and Council decided to move forward with the ordinance to replace the 1% Grocery Tax.

Bills were ordered paid on a motion by Commissioner Kendell, second by Commissioner J. Coleman. “Yes” votes were S. Coleman, Dean, J. Coleman, Kendell and Mayor Peltier. The motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 7:44 PM. The next Regular Meeting of the Tampico Village Council is Scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM in the Reagan Community Center located at 202 W. Second Street.

Jamie M. McIntire
Clerk
Bruce Peltier
Mayor

MINUTES APPROVED THIS 20th DAY OF May, 2025

**These minutes are not official until signed, dated and sealed by the Village Clerk**