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

August 5, 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, Jim Coleman and Tammy Kendell were present. Commissioner Susan Dean was absent. 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 July 15, 2025 Regular Meeting were approved as presented.

Reports of Village Officials
Mayor Peltier advised that he spoke with Dan Pepin in regard to the DCEO grant to repair the sidewalks on the way to the school and in front of the post office. Pepin didn’t have an update. They’re waiting on DCEO to make the announcement. Mayor Peltier said he’s not sure if it will be completed this summer, but Pepin said everything looks good and we shouldn’t have any issues. We’re just waiting for the approval from DCEO.

Mayor Peltier reported that he’s had a concern brought to his attention of people blowing grass in the road when mowing. Mayor Peltier asks that if people do blow grass in the road when mowing, make sure to blow it out of the road when you’re done so there isn’t grass all over the road.

Village Superintendent, Tyler Chriest, reported that they’ve continued working on inventory for the service lines the past two weeks. That list has been narrowed down considerably. There’s approximately 15 that still need to be taken care of. Chriest said we may have to look into exploratory digging for the properties that won’t allow us to personally get the information needed. Matt Hansen is going to reach out to some contractors to see the cost of that. Commissioner Kendell asked if that would be at the Village’s cost. Chriest said I imagine, yes. When all the inventory is completed, we’ll be able to go forward with the grant to get the lead and galvanized services replaced at no cost to the property owners.

Chief Strike reported that he had one person interested in working part-time that moved here from North Dakota, but the training board won’t accept him unless he goes through the academy again. Mayor Peltier said he had reached out to me after seeing the article from Around Ptown when we spoke about possibly hiring a part-time police officer, so then I put him in touch with Chief Strike, but unfortunately it doesn’t sound like it will work out unless he goes back to the academy. He was a police officer in North Dakota for 10 months, but the training board wants a minimum of two years.

Remarks from Guests
No guests were on the agenda to speak, but several were present with concerns. Village resident Katie Johns was first to speak. Katie said she has concerns about the house on the corner of Canal and Market Street. Katie said she was confused because she heard way back when, that someone had lived there and at one time there were drugs made in that house, and it sat empty forever. In the last couple years, people have lived there. I don’t think that house should be livable. There was a previous tenant who was very vocal on Facebook about concerns that there was mold in the house and things in the house were not holding up well and that it should be condemned. Katie said I have all the print outs from that. I’ve also seen kids live in that house and as a mom of three little ones, I can’t sit there and watch that anymore. I know that kids have gotten on that roof before and there’s a piece of that roof that looks like it’s going to fall in. Right now, there’s three trailers of junk sitting outside of that house, and the property along Main Street isn’t even cleaned up so I feel like that’s what they’re going to keep doing. Commissioner S. Coleman asked Chief Strike if he had anything to add to that. Chief Strike said the property along Main Street is just about cleaned up. I was told that the trailers are going to be moved today or tomorrow. If they’re not, they will receive citations. Katie asked if they’re moving the trailers to Canal Street. Chief Strike said the trailers there are the ones that will be moved. The home along Main Street is about clean. Tyler did some mowing, and I spoke with the landlord today and he’s taking it over and has someone in mind for it that’s a Tampico person that I think will work out. If you go by the property along Main Street, it has been cleaned up but there is a little more to do. I was promised by the end of the week that it will be cleaned up. Katie said the problem is, now they’re across from me. S. Coleman asked if they could fill out a complaint form. Clerk McIntire said there is a stack of complaint forms on the back table. Katie said that’s my other request. If those complaints are filed, I just ask that they’re taken seriously and that fines are given. Chief Strike said we take them seriously. Katie said fines definitely need to be given because it holds them accountable and it can’t be pushed off like other properties have been.

Village resident Wendi Johns said I have confronted Chief Strike and asked him last Easter, I said can we do something. There were mattresses that were thrown out the top window that went down the roof and on to the front yard and two of them laid there for months. The kids were trying to have Easter and had family coming in from out of town. I asked if we could get them to clean it up. Commissioner S. Coleman said we understand your complaints. Wendi said they picked it up and the mattress laid there for another three weeks. Chief Strike said we have garbage clean up that takes one bulk item a week that will pick that up. Wendi said that’s why I’m here because have we done everything that we can do? Are we issuing citations? I’ve lived in my house for over 20 years and the first couple years I lived there, I had a Ford Explorer that sat out in front of my house. I was sent a citation saying you move the vehicle or you’ll be fined. I didn’t want to be fined so I moved the vehicle. Wendi said I don’t know if you all have been down my alley because if you go down Washington Street, you cannot see it. If you go down Market Street, my pool blocks it. The only way that you see what I have to see every day is if you come to my house. S. Coleman said I drove down your alley. Wendi said there’s a refrigerator, a stackable washer and dryer, there’s two great big trailers full of scrap. Even if they could pull them maybe between the garage and the trailer where my company doesn’t have to look at it. I’ve had people come and visit me and they ask what happened. Wendi said right now there’s no skirting on it which previously was made of doors. I need extra police surveillance. There is so much suspicious behavior that goes on to where a guy brings a backpack, and I don’t know what’s in the backpack, but the guy doesn’t leave with the backpack. Then 30 minutes later the guy gets on a bike, and he has the backpack. The guy then comes back with no backpack. A couple hours later, the guys returns with a backpack. I heard he kicked his nephew out because there was meth in the garage. I just hope the whole alley doesn’t blow up one day. Commissioner J. Coleman said that’s what we’re working on right now. We have paperwork here from another lawyer that isn’t representing some of the owners of these properties. We’re trying to find someone who can help us legally, help Chief Strike with writing the tickets every single day to get this stuff going. Wendi said the only way this is going to end is if you got something sitting in your yard that isn’t supposed to be, you got 30 days to get it out and if not, you get fined. The mess that was in front of the house along Main Street was totally ridiculous. During Tampico Days, that’s the house you see when you come into town. That was a disgrace. There should have been fines issued before Tampico Days. That was a disgrace to our town. Chief Strike said they were sent fines and are in court. Our other attorney is working on them. Chief Strike said I issue the tickets, but I can’t get the money. That’s done by the court system. Wendi said I needed to make a point that you’re not going to see the mess around my house unless you go down the alley. Chief Strike said I’ll check it out. Wendi said I get that he scraps, I’m not against that, but can you confine it to where the rest of us don’t have to look at it. And don’t tell me to put up a fence. Commissioner Kendell said I don’t think anybody should have to put up a fence. I agree 100% that the people living in that house have to get fined but our next step after we send letters and fines, we then have to go to the homeowner. It’s a chain. You have to start with the people who live there and if they don’t pay, then we have to move on to the owners of the property. Chief Strike said they receive two letters before they receive a citation. That’s what our ordinance is. They have a certain amount of time to get it taken care of and if they don’t, they get a citation. Then they’ll get one every four days if it isn’t taken care of. Kendell said I’m with you 100%. You can ask Chief Strike. I drive to the end of my road every single day and about have a heart attack because of what people driving into our town
have to look at. We get it 100%. Wendi said that used to be a beautiful home. Don’t you guys agree that citations should have been issued before Tampico Days? Chief Strike said you can come in my office and I can show you the citations. Kendell said they were getting them. Chief Strike said I’m doing what I have to do, legally. Wendi said that’s what I wanted to know. Chief Strike said that’s what I’m doing. If you fill that complaint form out, I’ll be at that place tomorrow. And as far as the backpacks, I can’t tell you about that right now.

Katie Johns said she had a question about when a house is condemned. I was told the town would be responsible for the cost to take down the building, which is fine, but I’m afraid that regardless, we’re going to end up with a bunch of Radake houses. Look at that thing. It’s still up. We were going to buy that property and they told us we had to knock it down if we do buy it. We got a quote and back then it was $10,000. I get that’s an issue but at the same time, all these 11 properties around town, I’m not saying they all need to be condemned but are we going to have all these 11 properties turn to crap? Mayor Peltier said hopefully not. Like I said, we are working on that. It’s a lengthy process. That’s the reason why we hired another lawyer to make sure we’re doing everything the right way so it’s fair on both sides. It is a lengthy process and it’s expensive. Commissioner Kendell said we’re picking and choosing where to start. Commissioner J. Coleman said we’ve found out that some of these properties aren’t even owned by people who live in this state. Kendell said Radake’s property isn’t even owned by someone who lives in this state.

Sydney Forbes asked if there need to be a separate complaint for each property. Commissioner Kendell said yes. Mayor Peltier said I would, yes. Sydney said well you better get 11 of them. That was my question, thank you. Kendell said in order for us to follow the steps and run our due diligence, we have to make sure we’re doing it right. Clerk McIntire said we do have more complaint forms in our office if anyone should ever need any. Mayor Peltier said they’re also on the Tampico website to print off.

Whitney Niccoli, who lives on East Market Street, was present with a concern. Whitney said I live one house away from the house on Market and Canal Street. I know you’ve already addressed the mess issue, so I won’t bring that up again. My complaints are more so that I’ve only lived here for five years and I’m locking my doors in a town of a little over 500. I moved here with my kids so they could walk home from school. The first week we lived here, my husband had to run down the block and tackle a man off of his bike for taking pictures in our backyard. They lived in that house. Chief Strike also knows that we had an issue with one of the tenant’s sons messing with our daughter, sexually. I had to make a report on that. Whitney said recently I went to go lay in bed and I saw a video of a man beating two dogs that I cannot get out of my head. I found out that this is another tenant of one of these properties. I also had to call the police at 1:00AM so they could do a well check on the animals. As far as I know, those dogs were not taken, and I don’t know why. I haven’t followed up with County on that but there’s been a lot of things where…I had to go and buy an $80 security camera to put in the back of my house. This is a small town. I shouldn’t have to do that. I also heard that someone thinks that they are doing God’s work, and I just want to say that God would protect the children. I cannot stress that enough. Whitney said obviously you see me getting emotional because I feel like I’m living in an inner city, and I’m not. I’m scared for my kids wellbeing. I hate that I have to lock my doors in a tiny little town. I hate that I can’t let my 12-year-old walk home from school with his sister. I hate that there’s burnouts right outside of town and that I have to watch people go at an oven with an axe because they get in a fight, so I have to bring my kids in because there’s all kinds of swear words being thrown around and people fighting in the backyards. I can see it all and my kids can see it all. There were guns being shot in their backyard, just 50 feet from my daughter. That’s what I’m worried about. Commissioner J. Coleman asked did you call 911 when these events happened? Whitney said I’ve called County and Chief Strike knows because I’ve talked to him about it. As far as the guy who was taking pictures, my husband took care of that. J. Coleman said good. Whitney said I’m not going to call because they’re fighting in the backyard, you know. Every time I hear a name, I go to Judici and I look it up. Then I see all of the felonies. It’s usually two pages worth of records. Why are these people living one house away from me? Why is there another one living down the street from me? J. Coleman said unfortunately, the owner of these rental properties thinks they’re doing something good by bringing this trash from Dixon or wherever they’re coming from and giving them a second chance. I’ve heard it several times now and I’m getting sick and tired of it myself. And I would like that on the record. Whitney said I’ve also heard the landlord said these people need help. They’re not going to get help in a town of 500 people. These people would be better off in Sterling, Rock Falls, Dixon, etc. to get the help they need. They’re not going to get it here. And during our community dumpster day, I didn’t know about that until last minute, however I did watch all day a trailer going back and forth all day from that Canal Street house and there was a trail of garbage up and down the road that was falling off the trailer. By the time we went to drop something off, it was full. This town paid to clean up that property. Mayor Peltier said we’re going to pay anyway at some point. At least now it’s in the dumpster and it’s gone. Whitney said that’s true. Wendi Johns said my 76-year-old mother never used to lock her doors and she now has security cameras and is scared every night. Mayor Peltier said we understand and it’s a hard thing to hear. Wendi said it’s sad. I was born and raised here, and I’m scared. We’re scared of the ones that she’s moving in. Mayor Peltier said we understand, and we hear your concerns. We feel them too. We’re going to do the best we can to get things figured out. J. Coleman said that today, yesterday and whenever all this stuff is going on, the Police Commissioner will go out and travel around. It was said in one meeting that she was stalking people instead of patrolling the community like she’s supposed to be doing. I see it all the time. She doesn’t carry any weapons or a badge. She goes out and tries to get all the help we can get from the County and everyone. I will let you know that. I don’t know if it’s helping but we are trying. Commissioner S. Coleman said those complaints can be for anything. If you see a minibike buzz by or a high speed car go by, please take your camera out and take a picture if you can, and please fill out a complaint form. It does help.

A renter in the Village, Misty Shaward, said the stuff in her yard is getting cleaned up. We finally got the guy out of the house, so it is going to be cleaned up. I’m working on it. Mayor Peltier said ok. Misty said I have to figure out what I have to give back to him and what I can throw out, so I don’t get in trouble. Commissioner S. Coleman said I did notice that tonight. Thank you.

Unfinished Business
The Council began to discuss / approve how to handle gWorks situation. Mayor Peltier said we received a letter from Mr. Shirk about this and it sounds like nothing else can be done. Commissioner Kendell said really? Commissioner S. Coleman asked if she read it all. We would have to go to court in another state. Mayor Peltier said I’ll take some of the credit for that when I reviewed the contract. Clerk McIntire said same. Mayor Peltier said moving forward, we’ll make sure multiple people review the contract, for whoever’s department it falls under. Clerk McIntire said it was very well hidden. Mayor Peltier said it was a shady situation because they had it all under links, so if the contract was printed off, you couldn’t click the link to fully review it. You could only read what was there. Now we can move on and look for who we can get to replace it. Clerk McIntire said I’ve mentioned in a previous meeting, there is a LOCiS Inc. company, locis.com, that I’ve heard many good things about through my Illinois Municipal Treasurers Association chain of emails. I haven’t completely reached out yet because I was waiting for this situation to be done. I briefly spoke to one person from their company, so I can reach back out to them for more information.

Last under new business was to discuss / approve hiring part-time police. Mayor Peltier said this was discussed with Chief Strike and asked the Council their thoughts. Mayor Peltier said we did receive some information from Mr. Shirk that it must be posted in a local newspaper and it has to show the wage and benefits, if any, with the job listing. Clerk McIntire said I would need to know what you’ll put for the hourly pay for the position. Commissioner S. Coleman asked Clerk McIntire, can you come up with some ideas for us about what we can raise it to, or what’s allowed for the budget. Clerk McIntire said that budget is already set. Commissioner Kendell said it’s tough because we’re a small town. It’s going to be hard to find somebody, and Chief Strike knows this. For what we can offer, that’s what makes it tough for a small town. Money doesn’t fall out of the sky. I say we post it and see if we get any bites. We have to at least try. Mayor Peltier said we’ll put together a job description and we can look it over before we post anything, then go from there. We should post it and see if anyone is interested. Commissioner J. Coleman said someone might want some part-time hours.

New Business
First under new business was to review / discuss / approve increasing utility deposits and adding a “red tag fee”. Mayor Peltier said this came about based on the number of red tags there is every month. Based on the amount of accounts we have, it’s roughly a quarter of the accounts. Clerk McIntire said that after the article came out of the discussion from our last meeting about this, a lot of people have got their bills paid up to date. Commissioner Kendell said it’s only fair to the people who do come and pay their bills on time. It makes it harder because it’s more work, it’s more paperwork, it’s more mailing, it’s more of Tyler and Jennifers time. Mayor Peltier said he did see concerns for the people with fixed incomes, but we’re willing to work with people and make payment plans. Commissioner J. Coleman said we’ve always said that. Commissioner Kendell said can’t people call who don’t get the social security checks until a certain day and ask to pay on a different date? Clerk McIntire said the bills will always be due the last business day of the month per our ordinance, but if someone calls the office before the red tags go out to set up a payment plan, they’ll still get a late fee, but they won’t receive the red tag. We have always told people that as long as they reach out to us, we are willing to work with them. Mayor Peltier asked is this the route to go or do we need to change when they receive the red tags, so they aren’t so far behind? Clerk McIntire said I don’t think that would help. A lot of the red tags we have are people thinking that’s their bill and only pay that past due amount.
Clerk McIntire said I’ll have to reach out to Mr. Shirk to get this updated in our ordinance, specifically if you want to increase the deposit amount. I’ll also let him know we’d like to implement a red tag fee if that’s what’s approved. We’ll have to approve that ordinance amendment before we can move forward with it. I just need to know what amounts you’d like me to tell him. Mayor Peltier said the current deposit for owners is $40.00 and it’s $75.00 for renters. Clerk McIntire said the minimum utility bill right now for water/sewer/garbage is $91.72. Then if you add on the late fee and the new minimum bill when someone is behind, their new balance would be $192.61. That’s when they would receive the red tag and possibly have their services disconnected. Mayor Peltier asked should it just be the minimum bill for both? J. Coleman said let me ask you this, I put that deposit down, so you know I’m going to pay my bill every month, then if I move away that deposit goes towards my last bill. Clerk McIntire said when people let us know they are moving, we’ll let them know they have that deposit to put towards their last bill. Years ago, those amounts might have covered their last bill, but the deposits haven’t been updated along with out increases. Mayor Peltier said I don’t think it should matter whether you are an owner or renter. Kendell said it should be the same across the board. J. Coleman said it’s sitting in your account. It doesn’t matter how much it is, it’s still their money as long as they pay their bill. They’ll get it back when they move. Mayor Peltier said I think it would be ok to do $100 deposit for both owners and renters. The Council members agreed. J. Coleman said we’ll see if that works and if it doesn’t, we’ll have to increase it again.
Clerk McIntire asked what they would like the red tag fee to be. Kendell asked how many do you do a month? Mayor Peltier said 50 to 60 red tags a month. Kendell said that’s a lot. Commissioner S. Coleman said and that’s a lot of work for Tyler and Jennifer. Clerk McIntire said it was proposed $25.00 for the red tag fee. Mayor Peltier said I think that’s reasonable because by the time you get a red tag, you’re two months behind on your bill. Clerk McIntire said we’re trying to help people because if you pay your bill on time, you won’t get the late fees and you won’t have your services disconnected. When that happens, you have to pay your bill in full and pay the $50.00 shut off fee before your services can be reconnected. Mayor Peltier said you don’t think we’re doing too much since they already have the fee to have the services reconnected. The clerk I got this idea from, they fine them for all of that because it’s gotten so ridiculous in their community. They were trying to get it under control because it’s so hard on the system every time you have to shut someone off then reconnect them. Superintendent Chriest said when you get the red tag, you have approximately 7 days to pay your bill before you do get shut off. And like we’ve said, the girls in the office will work with them. This is going to curb that actually work and cost of the red tags, hopefully. Clerk McIntire asked do you want the red tag fee to be $25.00 for every time you receive a red tag? The Mayor and Council agreed that would be fair. Clerk McIntire said I’ll email this information to Mr. Shirk tomorrow to get that ball rolling, and hopefully I’ll have an updated ordinance for you to review and approve at the next meeting. What date would you like all this to take effect? If you wait until October first, we can try to put a note about it on the September utility bills. The Mayor and Council liked that idea to give people notice before it begins. Clerk McIntire said she will contact Mr. Shirk.

Next under new business was to review / discuss / approve purchase of generator(s) through MRT Electric & Generators, LLC. Clerk McIntire provided the Mayor and Council a breakdown of where the funds would come from, what that account currently has, and any known upcoming payments coming from that account. Clerk McIntire said the funds for this purchase would come from the water/sewer account. I think we were confused at the last meeting and said it would be coming from the general fund. Mayor Peltier said I would like to see this done, if we can make it work, before winter. That’s when they’ll be needed most. If we can make this work before we start seeing weather, that would be ideal. Superintendent Chriest said lead time on equipment is a minimum of 8 weeks. Mayor Peltier said so the sooner the better. Do you guys think we’re good to go with it now or should we wait? There’s over $239,000 in the accounts right now. Commissioner Kendell asked what was the total cost for them? Mayor Peltier said it was right around $30,000 or a little over. Clerk McIntire said that was for two, one at each lift station. Chriest said correct. Mayor Peltier said as long as it’s not going to put us short anywhere else, I’m fine with it if everybody else is. Kendell said if it’s not going to put us short, I’d rather get it done and over with now. If it’s going to put us short, I say do one then wait and get the second one later on. Clerk McIntire said since the final payment with the bank for the water projects isn’t until 2027, I think purchasing sooner the better. It’s either do it now or wait until we know if we will be receiving those grants funds. I’m not sure when we’ll find that out. Mayor Peltier said I think the award date was in 2026. Kendell said we might as well do it now. A motion was made by Commissioner J. Coleman, second by Commissioner Kendell, to approve the purchase of two (2) generators through MRT Electric & Generators, LLC at the estimated cost of $35,000.00. “Yes” votes were S. Coleman, J. Coleman, Kendell and Mayor Peltier. The motion carried. Superintendent Chriest said he will get in contact with them to get the ball rolling and thanked the Mayor and Council.

Last under new business was to review / discuss the 2024-2025 Treasurers Report. Clerk McIntire said the audit is done so this is a condensed version of all that information for your review. If there are any questions, please let me know. I will place this on the next meeting agenda to approve.

Building Permits
Building Permits approved by Zoning Administrator, Tyler Chriest, were 208 S. Main St. – Deck and 106 S. Washington St. – Carport.

Communications
Mayor Peltier said there is an email from Courtney Kennedy in your meeting packets. She’s the lawyer we’ve been speaking with, and it has information on the property maintenance code. She broke down the whole process.

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

The meeting adjourned at 7:45 PM. The next Regular Meeting of the Tampico Village Council is Scheduled for Tuesday, August 19, 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 19th DAY OF August, 2025

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